PurpleheartOklahoma (scroll down)

Blue Star Mothers

Blue Star Mothers of America

http://www.okdeptbluestarmothers.org/

DEPARTMENT of OKLAHOMA
BLUE STAR MOTHERS OF AMERICA
P O BOX 1265
SAND SPRINGS OK 74063-1265
918-814-2722

CURRENT DEPARTMENT OFFICERS

President

 

Linda Lane

1st Vice President

 

2nd Vice President

Judy Medlock

3rd Vice President

Cindy Hood

Recording Secretary

 

Financial Secretary

Jo Weaver

Treasurer

Cathy O'Shields

Sergeant-at-Arms

Gayla Lunn

Parliamentarian

 

2007-2008 DEPARTMENT OFFICERS

President

Patsy S. Varnell

1st Vice President

B. Susan Hull

2nd Vice President

Judy Medlock

3rd Vice President

Terri York

Recording Secretary

 

Linda Lane

Financial Secretary

Sandra Bullock

Treasurer

Betty Dobson

Sergeant-at-Arms

Durenda Estrada

Parliamentarian

 

Dixie

Lee

 

 

 

MISSIONSTATEMENT

The Department of Oklahoma Blue Star Mothers is a non-partisan, non-political organization. The

Mission

of the Department of Oklahoma Blue Star Mothers of America is to assist, organize, regulate, and educate all Chapters within the State so that the National Mission of the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. is accomplished. The Department of Oklahoma shall be patriotic, educational, social, and for service to the community and others; to maintain true allegiance to the government of the United States, to assist families of service men and women, to get acquainted, and to foster democracy, to be ever vigilant against invasion of un-American activities; to uphold the American institutions of freedom, justice, and equal rights, and to defend the United States of America from all enemies.

The Department of Oklahoma serves as an administrative entity that assists in the establishment of new Chapters within the State and to ensure that Chapters are compliant with the National Blue Star Mother of America, Inc.’s Constitution, Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, IRS regulations governing 501(c)3 non-profit organizations, and

Oklahoma

laws are followed with accountability. The Department serves as a central repository of information as well as donation of goods to be distributed to the Chapters within the State who needs assistance, to promote the organization, to enable growth for both the Department and the Chapters in a highly effective and efficient manner, to teach and promote patriotism, and to lend support to each other, our veterans, military personnel and their families.

WHO IS A BLUE STAR MOTHER?

A Blue Star Mother is a Mother whose child(ren) is either presently serving in the military, or whose child(ren) has already served and was honorably discharged. A Step-Mother who undertook the rearing of children at age thirteen or earlier also qualifies as a Blue Star Mother.

CAN OTHERS JOIN THE ORGANIZATION?

There is a category of membership available to Dads whose child(ren) is presenting serving in the military, or whose child(ren) has already served and was honorably discharged. Another category of membership is available to anyone who wishes to be a member and help carry out the

Mission

of the organization.

WHERE ARE CHAPTERS LOCATED IN THE STATE?

As of May, 2006, the Department has Chapters in the following towns:

 

Oklahoma

(

Tulsa

Chapter 1

 

Tulsa

Wagoner Chapter 2

Wagoner

 

Muskogee

Chapter 3

 

Muskogee

Sand Springs Chapter 4

Sand Springs

 

Broken Arrow

Chapter 5

 

Broken Arrow

 

South Oklahoma City

Chapter 6

So. Oklahoma City/Moore/Norman

Coweta Chapter 7

Coweta

Edmond/North

Oklahoma City

Chapter 8

 

Edmond

 

Lake Area

(Mannford) Chapter 9

Mannford

Mounds Chapter 10

Mounds

Enid Chapter 11

 

Enid

Green Country Chapter 12

 

Muskogee

Grand

Lake Chapter

13

Grove

HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF BLUE STAR MOTHERS

Contact the Department at the phone number, e-mail address, or mailing address listed above. If you do not indicate on your application the Chapter you wish to join, you will be referred to the Chapter nearest you.

NO CHAPTER IN YOUR AREA?

If there is no Blue Star Mothers of America Chapter in your area and you would like to have one, please contact the Department. It only takes five (5) Moms who are willing to serve to apply for a Chapter Charter.

ARE CONTRIBUTIONS TAX DEDUCTIBLE?

Blue Star Mothers of America is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, which is tax exempt and tax deductible. Your personal tax consultant can best advise you on the deductibility of your donation.

DEPARTMENT NEEDS

      1. The Department is in need of a warehouse/office type building to house donations that comes in for distribution to the Chapters, to provide office space and facilities for training/meetings.
      2. Office furniture, tables, chairs, shelving, storage bins
      3. Computer equipment, printer, copiers, Power Point Equipment

TROOP BOXES

The following list of items are products most often used in BSM Care Packages. They may vary from shipment to shipment based upon the season, holiday, or known need of the individual or where he/she is assigned:

      1. Disposable Razors
      2. Shampoo / Conditioner (Small sizes)
      3. Deodorant (Small sizes, no spray cans)
      4. Baby Wipes (Small sizes)
      5. Toilet Paper (Some areas still need this item, other do not)
      6. Feminine Hygiene Products
      7. Tooth Paste (Small sizes)
      8. Mouth Wash (Small sizes)
      9. Dental Floss
      10. Chapstick or Lip Balm
      11. Eyewash
      12. Q-Tips
      13. Small boarhair brushes
      14. Hand Sanitizer
      15. Foot Powder (Small sizes)
      16. Lotion
      17. Shatter-proof sunglasses
      18. Cool Ties/Hand or Foot Warmers
      19. Sunscreen (Lotion or cream – no spray)
      20. Socks – White/Gray
      21. Candy, gum individually wrapped
      22. Beef Jerky
      23. Snack Foods (Small cans – Peanut butter, Vienna Sausage, Fruit, tuna, etc.)
      24. Condiments
      25. Ramin Noodles
      26. Instant Oatmeal
      27. Energy Bars
      28. Snack Bars and crackers
      29. Fruit Roll-Ups
      30. Drink Mixes (Individual sizes, tea bags, dry powder only – no liquids)
      31. AA and AAA batteries
      32. Small games (playing cards, puzzle books, handheld games, small Frisbees, small stuffed animals such as Beannie Babies)
      33. Paperback books (for both male and female)
      34. Mosquito repellant coils
      35. Writing materials
      36. Cards, pictures made by children, letters
      37. Zip lock bags – all sizes
      38. Packaging Tape

Cash donations are always welcome to help cover cost of mailing the boxes, assisting military personnel, veterans and their families and all other aspects of our service to our communities and others. Checks, money orders, or cashiers checks should be made payable to Dept of OK BSM.

 

Official Statement on the War on Terrorism

By Jean Burlingame
National President
Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc.

We, the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc., can no longer sit by quietly while our sons, daughters, veterans and their families are dishonored. No one dislikes war more than the military and their families. But, we proudly stand by our children in their decision to "serve" this wonderful country. We are neither for or against the war; we are FOR our children.

We will not support any cause that undermines the military and increases the potential harm to them. Such causes are detrimental to our troops, veterans, families and our fallen warriors. With our freedom of speech comes the responsibility to use it without causing harm to our fellow Americans.

We will continue in our efforts to support our troops, honor our fallen heroes, grieve with their families, take care of our veterans and remember our POW/MIAs.

 

President of Mounds Chapter 10, Judy Medlock, was recently locally nominated for the

Jefferson

Award & interviewed on Fox 23 News this week.

"In 1972, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft, Jr. and Sam Beard founded the American Institute for Public Service, a 501c3 public foundation, to establish a Nobel Prize for public and community service - The Jefferson Awards.

The Jefferson Awards are presented on two levels: national and local. National award recipients represent a "Who's Who" of outstanding Americans. On the local level, Jefferson Awards recipients are ordinary people who do extraordinary things without expectation of recognition or reward. "

Our Congratulations to Judy for receiving this nomination! Good Luck to her in the National reviews.


Ode to Our Military

You go out into this world
You fight for what is rightly moral
The boys & girls of this town
They are so thankful for what you‘ve found
Why did those bad guys have to start
Why did we have to be a part
This war we fight we have to end
The world counts on you for them
The world can peacefully sleep tonight
In knowing you are there to fight
Please come home to us safe and sound
Kisses, Hugs & love abound
Oh Military Oh Military
How special you are to me

LDAB 2005