From the President – Dinner, a Movie, and Time Together
Written by: Ed Bejarana | Published on: August 16, 2026
One of the things I enjoy most about The Veterans Club is that sometimes the best thing we can do is simply spend time together.
We talk a lot about our mission of reducing isolation among veterans and first responders, but accomplishing that mission doesn’t always require a new program or complicated plan. Sometimes it means sitting around a table over dinner. Sometimes it means meeting for coffee. And sometimes it means going to the movies together.
We’ve got two great opportunities coming up, and I hope you’ll join us.
Don’t Forget to RSVP for Our August Dinner
Our next Patriot Dinner Gathering is Thursday, August 27th, from 5:00–7:00 PM at the Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn.
These monthly dinners have become one of my favorite Veterans Club activities because they bring people together from all of our weekly meetings. You get an opportunity to reconnect with friends you haven’t seen for a while, meet members from another Patriot Pour, bring your spouse or significant other, and simply enjoy a couple of hours together.
If you’re planning to attend, please RSVP so we can have an accurate headcount.
We’ve made it pretty easy. You can RSVP online through The Veterans Club website, RSVP at your regular weekly Patriot Pour meeting, or simply email us at info@theveteransclub.org and tell us you’re coming.
However you do it, just make sure we know you’re joining us.
And if you haven’t been to one of our dinners before, this is a great time to come. You don’t need to know everyone. That’s part of the reason we have these gatherings in the first place.
Let’s Go to the Movies — Thursday, August 20th
Before our dinner, we’ve got another opportunity to spend some time together.
We’re putting together an informal Veterans Club movie outing to see THE BRINK OF WAR on Thursday, August 20th at 12:55 PM at Hayden Cinema.
The Brink of War is a historical political drama centered on the 1986 Reykjavík Summit between President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The two leaders met in Iceland during one of the most consequential periods of the Cold War to discuss nuclear arms and the possibility of dramatically reducing the world’s nuclear arsenals.
The film focuses on those high-stakes negotiations and the people involved in decisions that had enormous implications for the United States, the Soviet Union, and the world.
The cast includes Jeff Daniels as President Ronald Reagan, Jared Harris as Mikhail Gorbachev, J.K. Simmons as Secretary of State George Shultz, and Hope Davis as Nancy Reagan.
For those of us who served during the Cold War, I suspect this movie may be especially interesting. Many of us remember the Soviet Union not as something from a history book, but as part of the world in which we actually served.
This isn’t a formal Veterans Club event with purchased tickets or reserved seating. We’re simply saying, “We’re going to the movies. Come with us.”
Thursday, August 20th
Hayden Cinema
Showtime: 12:55 PM
Everyone is responsible for purchasing their own ticket. I recommend arriving a little early so we can find each other and hopefully sit together.
Sometimes Mission Looks Like Friendship
I think it’s important that we remember why we do these things.
The Veterans Club doesn’t have to turn every gathering into a fundraiser, service project, meeting, or organized program.
There is tremendous value in simply giving veterans and first responders another reason to get out of the house and spend time with people they enjoy.
Come watch a movie with us on Thursday.
Come have dinner with us the following week.
Show up at your Patriot Pour.
Invite someone who hasn’t attended for a while.
Because somewhere along the way, these simple gatherings become friendships. Friendships become community. And community becomes a place where people know they belong.
That’s what The Veterans Club is all about.
I hope to see you at the movies on the 20th and around the dinner table on the 27th.
Ed Bejarana
President & Founder
The Veterans Club
Upcoming Events
Patriot Lunch Gathering – October
251st Navy Birthday Ball
Western States Caterpillar Tour
What She Said… Off the Record
Army vs. Air Force – 2026
Army vs. Navy – 2026
The Veterans Club is a Idaho Registered Nonprofit Corporate with 501(c)(3). Email info@theveteransclub.org if you are interested in getting involved or learning more about how you can support the effort.
Sponsors
Retirement Nationwide - Jim Lusk
Retirement Nationwide, led by Jim Lusk, provides ongoing support to The Veterans Club. Specializing in retirement and income planning, Retirement Nationwide helps individuals and families prepare for the future with confidence and clarity.
Rex Grace Insurance - Rex Grace
Rex Grace Insurance, led by Rex Grace, provides ongoing support to The Veterans Club. Through personalized insurance solutions, Rex Grace Insurance helps individuals, families, and businesses protect what matters most.
Zenith Exhibits, Inc. - Ed Bejarana
Zenith Exhibits, Inc. provides in-kind support to The Veterans Club through technology, website, and communications tools used every day. Zenith Exhibits helps organizations stay connected, organized, and working effectively.
Karen Reade - LifeWave
LifeWave and Karen Reade help underwrite select women’s gatherings at The Veterans Club. LifeWave focuses on wellness technologies that support healthy living. We are grateful for Karen’s generosity and commitment to stronger community connections.