Written for the jurisdictions listed here.
The board. "The Chelan County Veterans Advisory Board was established with the purpose and function established in accordance with the Revised Code of Washington (RCW 73.08.035) and by the Chelan County Board of Commissioners. The board advises the BOCC on the needs of local indigent veterans, the resources available to local indigent veterans, and programs that could benefit the needs of local indigent veteran and their families. Board members must be residents of Chelan County, be a Veteran as defined by Washington State Law (RCW 73.08.005), serve as volunteers on this board, and must be appointed by the BOCC." The 2026 regular meeting schedule is every other month - January 22, March 19, May 21, July 14, September 16 and November 18 - in the first-floor conference room of the Chelan County Administration Building, 400 Douglas St., Wenatchee, 1 to 2:30 p.m., with Zoom links posted. The January 2026 minutes list the members: Jim Walters (Chair), Robin Bloch (Vice Chair), April Featherkile, Norm Gutzwiler, Butch Sims, Jim Cook, Josh Williams (voting members) and Tony Sandoval (non-voting). The county's September 17, 2026 news item advertises three vacancies for 2027 - applicants must be veterans with a primary residence in the county, VSO membership preferred though not required, "No fewer than a majority of board members must belong to a nationally recognized veterans service organization" - applications by 5 p.m. November 11 to
[email protected] or 428 Orondo Ave., with a DD-214 Member 4 optional; terms run 2027-2029 and members may serve three terms.
The fund rules the board reworked. The January 22, 2026 VAB minutes record the Policies, Procedures, Forms and Associated RCWs pass: "Changes were made to the definition of the VRF, eligibility - dishonorable discharge is not okay. Service needs to considered as a whole, not just the last discharge, a decision was made for a 150% poverty level, deductions, interpretation of rental property, transportation, the use of a grocery store app, non-cosmetic dental/medical care, auto repair - require liability only ... If the VSO goes over a $1,500 limit, the VAB will discuss the amount at the next meeting. Total max allocation is $3,000 in 12-month period. VSO staff will work on the revisions for the policies, procedures and associated forms and send the 'redlined' edits to the VAB for their approval."
The same minutes record the regional proposal: "There has been discussion between Chelan County Commissioners and Douglas County Commissioners to merge the two Veteran Relief Funds to create a regional approach to veteran services. The Economic Services Department is working on putting together a proposal to present to the two commissions for official approval to move forward" - the Commissioners' February 9-10, 2026 board discussion names the same work ("Potential to combine veteran services from both counties into a single location; Ron Cridlebaugh and Jordyn Giulio to collaborate on developing a joint Veterans Services proposal") and the August 10-11, 2026 Chelan-Douglas Joint Commission Meeting carried "Veterans Services Office - Ron Cridlebaugh & Amber Hallberg". The board also seeks a new venue for the 2026 Purple Heart event after scheduling conflicts moved it out of Pybus Market.