FOSH Request for Support in Year-End Fundraising Drive

Tags

Fundraising

Dear Friends,

Ten ago this coming month, we did our first volunteer event at the Armed Forces Retirement Home-Washington. Although the Covid-19 pandemic and closed access of the Home campus limited us in 2020 and 2021, we were able to hold the traditional July 4 and Fall Fun festivals and send holiday gifts. 

We are hopeful in 2022 to return our past in-person volunteering, community festivals such as July 4 and Fall Fun Fest, and pilot access walking and biking. 

Your financial support makes this possible.

Click “donate” on friendsofsoldiers.org or send a check to Friends of the Soldiers Home, P.O. Box 3170, Washington, D.C., 20010.

If you are a federal worker, retiree or member of the military, please select #56535 to donate through the Combined Federal Campaign.

Thank you so much for your support and have a wonderful holiday season.

Save the Date: Fall Fun Fest is September 26th!

Tags

Community events, Fall Fun Fest

• 

Save the date: Celebrate the 4th at the AFRH

Tags

Community events, Fourth of July

FOSH’s November Saloon Night Has Residents Stomping and Clapping

Friends of the Soldiers Home’s monthly Saloon Night for residents on Nov. 7 was so packed there wasn’t even a place to sit for a while! The bluegrass band Fretnauts played “down home” music that had several attendees dancing. As usual, Friends also brought in beer and pizza to share, and residents and volunteers had a great time! Saloon Night next month will be replaced with the holiday tree lighting party. But Friends of the Soldiers Home will be back in January with a full slate of Saloon Nights in 2018! Put them on your calendar and join us — these events are always the first Tuesday of each month. To volunteer, write Lori Lincoln at volunteerfriendsofsoldiers(at)gmail(dot)com.

Photos courtesy of Lori Lincoln.

Lady Bug, Tooth Fairy, Col. Sanders: Halloween Fun at the Soldiers Home

Tags

Halloween, Volunteering

It was a wonderful evening celebrating Halloween at the Soldiers Home this week. There were so many residents in costume! There was the Tooth Fairy; Lady Bug in deep conversation, and great chats with residents and volunteers. Come and join us in November as we move into the holiday season!

There are lots of opportunities to volunteer. Check out our web pages for upcoming events and drop a line to our volunteer coordinator, Lori Lincoln, at volunteerfriendsofsoldiers(at)gmail(dot)com.

Story by Liz Cocke, photos by Liz and Lori

Tee It Up! 2016 Golf Memberships Available at Soldiers Home-D.C.

Tags

golf, Sports and Recreation

Friends of the Soldiers Home for the fourth consecutive year is pleased to announce that through our organization, members of the community have an opportunity to become associate members of the Armed Forces Retirement Home Golf Course.

This is an exciting opportunity to use a nine-hole golf course located on the Home’s beautiful, historic campus in the heart of Washington, D.C.

This opportunity shows continued growth in the Friends-Home partnership that will includes more than 50 activities this year, including the upcoming Spring Fling festival on Saturday, May 7.

Below is everything you need to know about getting a membership.

What is the membership fee?
People may pay $514.26 for a six-month membership from April 1 to September 30th. People who begin memberships later than April can pay a pro-rated amount of $85.71 per month. Fees beyond September will not be collected.

Are there any fees per round?
Your membership includes unlimited rounds walking. Carts are extra.

Can my spouse be included in my membership?
Yes.

What are the guest fees?
During the week, fees are $12 for nine holes, $20 for 18 holes (play the same nine holes twice). On the weekend and holidays, the fees are $15 for nine holes and $25 for 18 holes.

How much for a cart?
Riding carts are $12 for nine holes, $20 for 18 holes. Pull carts are $3.

How much to hit balls on the driving range?
Full service range and three sizes of buckets of balls available $3, $5, $7

Are there clubs available to rent?
Yes, $5.

Can I get lessons?
No.

Are there other amenities/restaurants on site?
No, at this time there is only a small starter house with vending machines.

Are there tournaments?
Yes there are monthly tournaments that are followed by cookouts on site.

What is the condition of the course?
The condition is comparable to local D.C. public courses.

How many current associate golf members are there?
Right now there are over 100 associate members. The course hardly ever gets backed up.

Where can I get more information about supporting Friends of the Soldiers Home?
In order to continue to build this wonderful partnership between the community and the Home, Friends of the Soldiers Home requests a $30 donation from each person who purchases a golf membership by clicking the “donate” button on our website http://friendsofsoldiers.org/ or sending a check to Friends of the Soldiers Home, P.O. Box 3170, Washington, D.C., 20010. We also ask that you be willing to volunteer at some of our activities.

What is the next step to get a golf membership?
There is a membership form that can be picked up at the golf course that needs to be filled out (or click here to get the membership form electronically https://friendsofsoldiers.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/afrh_member_app_only21.pdf). Once approved you will receive a golf membership card and car decal that will allow you onto the AFRH grounds.  Once you have the form filled out take it by the golf course or email it to aaron.franklin (at) afrh (dot) gov

What is the contact information for the golf manager?
Aaron Franklin
(202) 541-7773
aaron.franklin (at) afrh (dot) gov

FALL FUN FEST CANCELLED

Tags

Fall Fun Fest, Oktoberfest

Dear Friends, We are so sorry to report that because of expected weather patterns this weekend, the Armed Forces Retirement Home and Friends of the Soldiers Home are not going forward with Fall Fun Fest. We are so sorry to do this because we were so much looking forward to a fun day, and we know that you are too. But forecasts are for an extremely wet, windy weekend, and we feel this decision is best for all. Have no fear! Fall Fest was cancelled in 2013 because of the federal government shutdown and we came back strong in 2014. We expect great things in 2016!

Lincoln’s Cottage Has Two Big Events Coming Up

President Lincoln’s Cottage, which does so much to preserve the history of the Armed Forces Retirement Home-DC campus, has two big events coming up. The second-annual Freedom 5K featuring running icon Joan Benoit Samuelson is Saturday, Sept. 26 at 8am. Early-bird registration at a cost of $25 ends Aug. 26. Register here.

all images copyright Max Krupka. Reproduction with permission only
Do not remove watermark

Then, the fourth-annual Family Day is Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10am to 3pm. This free event includes a Civil War encampment, petting zoo, arts and crafts and live music. For those who want to take a cottage tour as part of Family Day, normal prices apply. Meanwhile, planning is underway for the third Fall Fun Fest on Sunday, Oct. 4. This will be a major collaborative effort of organizations including Friends of the Soldiers Home, the Home’s staff and residents, and Lincoln’s Cottage. Mark your calendars, more details will be coming soon!

Photos courtesy of Lincoln’s Cottage.

May Jingo Spirited and Fun

As usual we had great volunteers and a spirited game at Jingo this month!  3 young Marines and friends and family of our volunteer coordinator, Lori Lincoln, helped Friends host another nice event for our neighbors at the Home. After getting off to a slow start, Ms. Bradford took home the night and just won and won and won!  The volunteers who helped her went home walking on air too – there is much belief in good luck at Jingo!

Volunteer Denver and Mr. Palmer were enjoying each other’s company as usual, and so much so that they forgot to yell out “Jingo!” as soon as they’d won a game; however, when they discovered the mistake a few calls later, the new winner Chris graciously split the big $10 pot with him. Big prizes all evening: $5 per game, and one $10 restaurant gift card!

Come join us next month – bring one of our veterans a little bit of your luck!

Friends Shares Soldiers Home Natural History With 30 Students

Tags

Education, Natural History, Tours

Phil Blair captures students’ attention when he talks about how the geology of the campus developed.

Friends of the Soldiers Home helped link the American history of the veterans’ campus with its natural history. After students from Michigan State University and Mississippi State University toured President Lincoln’s Cottage on Saturday, Friends arranged a walk for them with naturalists Mary Pat Rowan and Philip Blair. The students were able to explore geologic, aquatic and woodland features of the site as part of their coursework on “Elements of Federal Policy Development in the Natural Resources Arena.” Mary Pat and Phil lead similar naturalist tours for the Friends as part of the Spring Fling celebration each May. Friends would like to thank veterans of the Home for opening their space for this wonderful educational endeavor. We also thank the students’ instructor, Executive in Residence Mark Rey, for making this historic and important campus a part of the students’ study.

Photos by Isabelle Hughes.

Students learned about the ancient, underground Tiber River on campus and previous efforts to channel waterflows.

Mary Pat Rowan gestures to surrounding trees as she talks about the property as an example of a healthy upland forest.