Updated March 22nd, 2023
These Are The Latest Things Happening Around the Post
Please Remember to Renew Your Membership We miss our expired members!! If your membership has expired or is about to expire please renew your membership at VFW Post 4031. You can renew your membership by going to our Membership Page by clicking on the Renew Membership button below.
and then follow the instructions contained there. Then send a check to Quartermaster VFW Post 4031, 1550 Main Avenue, Durango, CO., come into the Post and paying in person, or pay by credit card. You can pay using a credit card by clicking on the button below.
You can now make a donation to VFW Post 4031 to sponsor one of our key events. Your generous donation will make one or more of our events more special and meaningful to our La Plata County veterans and the community at large. The next VFW Post 4031 event is our Vietnam Veterans Commemoration Dinner. Click on the thumbnail below to see a larger image of the VFW Post 4031 Vietnam Veteran Commemoration Flyer.
Sponsor an event now by clicking on the Sponsorship button below.
Join the Adaptive Sports Association for Veterans Outdoors Ski and Ride Days. This event is free of charge for military veterans with a disability rating. The next Veterans Outdoor Day is March 24th. Reservations are required. Call the mountain office at (970) 385-2163 on email program@asadurango.com. Click on the thumbnail below to see a larger version of their flyer.
VFW Post 4031 will hold its annual Vietnam Veterans 50th Year Commemoration Dinner on March 29th between 5:00PM and 9:00PM. This dinner is held in conjunction with the National Vietnam Veterans Commemoration 50th anniversary celebration. In particular this year's event commemorates 50 years since 1973. The dinner will be catered by Serious Texas BBQ and will feature some "Serious Eats”. A & L Coors has generously agreed to supply beer again for the event. The Southwest Colorado Community Foundation, Mr. Craig Fairchild, Dalton Ranch Golf Club, and Star Liquors have also donated to support the dinner. Please consider adding your donation to support this event. See the event donation description in an announcement above. Click on the thumbnail below to see a larger version of the Flyer for the event.
On March 30th between 12:00PM and 1:30PM, the Post is pleased to sponsor a new mental health program called COMET™ (Changing Our Mental and Emotional Trajectory). The aim is to teach community members how to intervene when they encounter someone in a vulnerable mental state and help shift them towards a place of wellness. The program is designed to fill a gap in existing mental health resources, which often focus on crisis intervention, leaving many people with undiagnosed distress, moderate depression or anxiety. COMET™ aligns with the cultural values of neighbor helping neighbor, where communities are their own best resource. The program aims to empower friends and neighbors to be more prepared to support others’ mental health needs before a crisis occurs. It trains community members on how to initiate a supportive interaction for potentially emotional conversations using a simple, conversational seven-question guide. The course will be led by Anna Denali, Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator, San Juan Basin Public Health.
We are asking any one who wishes to attend, to RSVP for the event. The RSVP is just to get some idea how many people are going to attend. Click on the icon below to fill out an RSVP .
The National VFW has announced the themes for both the Voice of Democracy and the Patriot's Pen scholarship programs. These Youth Scholarships are one of the most important programs the VFW sponsors. The theme of the Voice of Democracy audio-essay contest is "What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy." The VFW National Voice do Democracy Winner receives $35,00.00 in scholarship funds. The theme of the Patriot's Pen essay contest is "How are you inspired by America." The VFW National Patriot’s Pen winner receives $5,000.00 in scholarship funds. Both these contests are due to VFW Post 4031, 1550 Main Avenue, Durango, CO. 81301. The essays are due no later than October 31, 2023. Click on the appropriate icon below to go to that scholarship page. Information and a link to the entry form download are contained on those pages.
VFW Post 4031 is sponsoring a Mind, Body, Spirit Fair on Saturday April 22nd between 9AM and 3PM. For more information contact CJ Marten at weipcj@gmail.com. Click on the thumbnail below to see a larger version of the flyer for this event.
Jill Bauer, member of our Auxiliary and the owner of Uptown Hair Salon located at 2929 Main Avenue is offering free haircuts to veterans the first Monday of every month. Appointments are necessary. Veterans should call Uptown Hair Salon at (970) 759-8379 to book your free haircut. Click on the thumbnail below to see a large version of the Free Haircuts Flyer.
VFW Post 4031 has added a Suggestion Box to our website. We welcome your suggestions on how to improve your Post. You can find the suggestion box on the News top menu and then scroll down. We will use these suggestions to improve our ability to better serve our La Plata County Veterans. You can also click on the icon below to go to the Suggestion Box.
We Need Volunteers!
The lifeblood of VFW Post 4031 are its volunteers. Without our volunteers we cannot accomplish our mission to support veterans. The following is a list of things for which we need volunteers to help us.
- The Post needs someone to manage the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen Programs.
- Color Guard/Honor Guard Members
- Help with the Vietnam Veterans Commemoration Dinner Event
- Members of the Public Relations Committee
- On Line Store Support staff
If you are interested in volunteering for one of these jobs please E-Mail Jeff Punches by clicking on the icon below.
Thank You Sponsors!!
In June 2022 the Post ran an Advertising and Sponsorship Drive. As a result of the Drive the following sponsors are helping VFW Post 4031 achieve its goal.
Sponsors who have sponsored us three years
Dalton Ranch Golf Club
Star Liquors
Sponsors who have sponsored us two years.
Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Wells Group
Serious Texas BBQ
A & L Coors
New Sponsors
DK Mortgage Norm Phillips Team
Durango Harley Davidson
La Plata County Republicans
Southwest Colorado Community Foundation
Mr. Craig Fairchild
Veterans Benefit BreakfastThe Veterans Benefit Breakfast is one of the most important events that VFW Post 4031 undertakes. The proceeds from these breakfasts directly support veterans in need. The next Veterans Benefit Breakfast will be held on Sunday April 2nd between 9:00 AM and 11:00AM. Great food and the public is welcome. Here is a link to our Veterans Benefit Breakfast Page. Click on the thumbnail below to see a large version of the Veterans Benefit Breakfast Flyer.
The next Veterans Relief Committee Monthly Meeting will be held on Monday March 20th at 5:30 PM.
Veterans Relief Committee NewsThe Veterans Relief Committee has disbursed more than $20,000.00 in 2022 and more than $1,000.00 in 2023 to help needy La Plata County veterans. For more information about Veterans Relief click here.
Future Planned Events
Veterans Relief Committee events in the upcoming months include the following. The Veterans Relief Committee along with the Elks Lodge 507 and American Legion Post 28 are hosting several events in the coming months including a Taco Tuesday featuring an Enchilada Plate on March 28th at the Elks, a VRC Fish Fry on April 11th at the VFW , and the Annual Veterans River Float on June 25th. To see the flyers for these events click this link.
The next Public Relations Committee Monthly Meeting will be held April 18th at 1:00PM. The PRC meeting will normally be held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month.
Public Relations Committee NewsThe PRC is planning a number of events in the coming months including a Vietnam Veterans Commemoration Day Dinner on March 29th, 2023, a Membership Drive in May, a Legacy Life Membership Drive in May, and a Sponsorship Drive in June. See the entry above to see the flyer for the event and for how you can donate to this event. As always the PRC welcomes all members to seek new members for the Post and the Auxiliary. Ask Jeff Punches how you can help. Contact Jeff at (503) 961-3201.
The Post 4031 final January 2023 Post Meeting Minutes and previous months as well as the February 2023 Post Draft Minutes are available for reading on the Members Only page. Additionally all the Public Relations Committee minutes are always available for reading. Go to the Log In button at the right of the menu above, click on Members Only and then log in.
