MILWAUKEE— This weekend kicks of the Wisconsin Veteran of Foreign Wars state convention.

The organization is celebrating their 100 year milestone that took place during COVID-19, while also celebrating 101 years of service this year.

Each year at the state convention new leadership is announced, meaning one year is the amount of time a VFW state commander gets to make a difference in the lives of Wisconsin veterans.

The 2021-22 state commandeer for the VFW is Cory Geisler. This weekend he will hand over power to Michele Rathke.

“It’s bittersweet. As your time as commander starts you have this year and you think you have all this time to get things accomplished and then May hits and it goes like the snap of a finger,” Geisler said.

Geisler is an Army veteran who served as the VFW state commander for this past year. It’s been a whirlwind for him but he’s proud of the impact he’s been able to make made during his time as commander.

“It’s been a privilege. I’ll tell you what, it’s busy but it’s not a bad busy. It’s getting out and seeing all the people and my members and seeing all the people and what they are doing in the communities,” Geisler said.

He said one of his biggest goals as state commander was to do more outreach to veterans and veteran organizations across the state. He said this was something he was able to accomplish after an off-year due to COVID-19.

“We were really able to accomplish that. We were partnering with people we have never partnered with before. Such as War Fighter Advanced, Center for Veterans Issues, Team Red White and Blue, Warrior bass fishing, so many different organizations that we wouldn’t normally partner with in the community, we were partnering with on a daily basis,” Geisler said.

This weekend, Geisler’s time as commander will come to an end. It’s a bittersweet moment for him but he’s glad to pass the torch to Rathke. Rathke has been a part of the VFW for more than 17 years.

“It means a lot to me.  When I retired out in 2007 there was a big hole in my life and once I got involved in the post level it just filled that hole and the camaraderie was there,” Rathke said.

Rathke served 20 years in the Air Force and has found a new home with the VFW. She said her main goals are to push through legislation that would allow property tax returns for more disabled veterans and increase outreach to student veterans.

“I’m looking forward to getting out and seeing what the posts and districts do across the state. I’ve been out quite a bit and have met a lot of phenomenal people across the state,” Rathke said.

She said she is looking forward to the impact she can make as her time as state commander.