From the President — September 13, 2026
Written by: Ed Bejarana | Published on: September 13, 2026
On Friday, I published my thoughts on the 25th remembrance of September 11, 2001. This week, I choose to move forward in honor of all who served, all who sacrificed, and all who never came home. Remembering them should do more than take us back to a painful day. It should inspire us to live with greater purpose, strengthen the relationships around us, and continue building a community worthy of their sacrifice.
On Saturday, three people gathered for lunch. Our monthly lunch gathering, like our monthly dinner gathering, is one more opportunity for veterans and first responders to experience moments of life together. Sharing a meal may sound like a simple thing, but it gives people time to talk, laugh, tell stories, and form relationships outside our regular Patriot Pour meetings.
Karen is doing a great job building the Patriot Ladies group. In a few weeks, we will launch The Veterans Book Club, and this fall we plan to attend more sporting events at North Idaho College. Each of these activities brings veterans and first responders together in a different setting where relationships can develop and flourish. That variety is important because not everyone connects in the same way or enjoys the same activities. The program may change, but the purpose remains the same: Connection saves lives.
Improving Our Website and Its Accessibility
Over the past four months, I have worked hard to improve The Veterans Club website and make it easier to use and navigate. The organization invested in new calendar and email software, and our pages have been updated to make information easier to read, find, and share.
One of our most important improvements happened this week. Although the new calendar system offers many advantages, it remained difficult for people using screen readers to navigate and understand our event listings. We now have an accessible event-list page designed to make that information easier for people who are blind or visually impaired to use.
The page is available to everyone at theveteransclub.org/event-list, but it should be significantly easier to navigate with a screen reader. We are also evaluating software that can automatically convert our articles to speech, allowing visitors with visual impairments—or anyone who prefers listening—to hear information published on TheVeteransClub.org.
Our website is an important tool in our effort to reach new veterans and first responders. During the past 28 days, the website has appeared in internet searches more than 8,100 times, and more than 1,500 people visit each week to find events, read articles, and learn about opportunities to connect.
Help Us Share Community Events
Coming soon, we will add a form that community members can use to submit events for possible inclusion on our calendar. Several of you are involved with other events and programs created for veterans or first responders, and we would like to help more people learn about them.
Until the form is available, please email the event flyer and all relevant details to info@theveteransclub.org, and I will do my best to get the event listed. Please understand that The Veterans Club Board of Directors retains final editorial and publication authority over all submitted content.
September Dinner Gathering
Our next monthly dinner gathering will be held Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn. Space is limited, and an RSVP is required. You may RSVP in any of the following ways:
- Register through the September dinner calendar listing.
- Email info@theveteransclub.org.
- Call or Text your RSVP to (208) 209-7170.
- Tell your facilitator at any Veterans Club meeting.
We tried passing around a paper sign-up sheet, but we quickly learned that forms completed during a busy meeting can be difficult to read. Please use whichever RSVP option is most convenient for you so we can provide the Best Western with an accurate attendance count.
Share Your Story and Join the Book Club
Do you have a story you would like to share? Do you love to read? Would you like to join The Veterans Book Club? Our first two selections will be books written by members of The Veterans Club, giving us an opportunity to support our own members while enjoying meaningful conversations together.
If you are interested in participating—or have a story you would like to share—please email info@theveteransclub.org.
A Reminder About Political Activity
As we move into the political season, I feel compelled to remind everyone that, as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, The Veterans Club cannot support or oppose candidates running for public office. Although each of us is free to express personal opinions as an individual, The Veterans Club does not take organizational positions for or against political candidates or ballot issues. Candidates actively running for office will not be permitted to speak or campaign during Patriot Pour meetings.
The Board is considering whether members of The Veterans Club should be allowed to submit personal opinion columns for possible publication on our website. If you have thoughts about this proposal, please share them with a Board member before our next meeting.
The Board will meet at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16, at Jeff Snell’s home. To protect his privacy, we will not publish Jeff’s address online. If you would like to attend, please email info@theveteransclub.org for the meeting location.
On The Veterans Club Calendar
There is always something happening at The Veterans Club, and we’d love to see you there. Whether you’re looking for a weekly Patriot Pour gathering, a community meal, a family-friendly activity, or a special event, these opportunities are designed to bring veterans, first responders, and their supporters together through conversation, friendship, and shared experiences. Below are the next several events on our calendar. We hope you’ll mark your calendar, invite a friend, and join us.
Bird Aviation Museum & Invention Center Tour
Veteran & First Responder Dinner Gathering – September 2026
The American Spirit: Songs of Faith & Freedom
The American Spirit: Songs of Faith & Freedom
Navy vs. Air Force – 2026
Spokane County’s 7th Annual Veteran Resource Fair & Stand Down
Patriot Cigar & Whiskey Lounge
Patriot Lunch Gathering – Coeur d'Alene
WNBA Finals 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(opens in new tab)
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(opens in new tab)
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(opens in new tab)
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(opens in new tab)
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.