Sultan spotlights volunteerism, business

Every month, the city of Sultan's Volunteer Spotlight program honors someone in the community for an above-and-beyond level of volunteerism. The program recognizes individuals, groups, organizations and committees. Along with the Volunteer Spotlight is the city's Business Spotlight, a parallel honor that recognizes and highlights local businesses.

Sultan Grants and Economic Development Coordinator Donna Murphy facilitates the monthly presentations. She meets with volunteers, volunteer groups and business owners to learn more about what they do and compiles the information to create a formal presentation. The monthly Business and Volunteer Spotlight recipients are honored before the Sultan City Council and given a certificate of appreciation signed by Sultan Mayor Carolyn Eslick.

Last week, Murphy recognized and honored Sultan VFW Post 2554 as the city's "Stars and StripesGÇ¥ Volunteer Spotlight for the month of August. Joe and Dawn Schlicker, owners of JD Slicks Bar & Eatery, were honored as the Business Spotlight.

Stars and Stripes Spotlight

Just three short years ago, the Sultan VFW was facing possible dissolution. A post member was caught embezzling funds, and made off with more than $90,000. Post Commander Chuck Donahue was stunned when he found out. He worried about whether or not the post could recover.

The VFW is a nonprofit organization dedicated to veterans service, community outreach and veteran advocacy. In order to be eligible for VFW membership, a veteran must have served in a combat zone. Relatives of VFW members are able to serve in the VFW Auxiliary.

After learning of the theft, Chuck and his wife, Judy, who serves as the president of the Sultan VFW Auxiliary, joined forces and worked to save the organization.

Sultan's Post No. 2554 is now prospering, with membership climbing rather than dwindling. The VFW's emergence onto social media has served to raise awareness of the post and further bolster its level of community engagement. Three years ago, meeting attendance limped along with maybe four or five attendees ' not even enough to have a quorum. Today, meetings are well-attended and the robust post boasts more than 50 members.

Its thrice-yearly newsletter, edited by Judy, won First Place Newsletter at the state and national level in both 2014 and 2015, and this year, the post was recognized as District 1 Post of the Year, All-State Post and All American Post.

Its 150 percent retention and recruiting rate was acknowledged as the highest in the state, and in July, the post received notification from the Veterans of Foreign Wars that Chuck had achieved All American status as a post commander.

Chuck Donahue gives all the credit to his dedicated post members and his wife of 45 years.

"I'm a very proud commander,GÇ¥ Donahue said. "Thank you.GÇ¥

Business Spotlight

For the Business Spotlight presentation, Murphy provided Sultan city councilmembers with information about JD Slick's. Open since June 1, 2013, JD Slick's Bar & Eatery is owned and managed by Sky Valley residents Joe and Dawn Schlicker. They have four sons, all of whom cover shifts at the bar when needed.

"They're a full bar featuring specialty cocktails,GÇ¥ Murphy said. "All drinks are made from scratch, using real fruit, not mixes. They serve fryer food, burgers, BLTs and salads, and offer pull tabs.GÇ¥

The bar sponsors poker tournaments, pool leagues, a dart league and horseshoe competitions. After recently venturing into the world of hosting competitive arm wrestling competitions, Joe and Dawn Schlicker are looking forward to sponsoring the Canadian American Arm Wrestling Championship in 2016. They also offer live music, karaoke and DJ music.

Joe is the lead singer of a band called the Joe Slick band, and has performed at Sultan community events, such as the 2014 Sultan Veterans Day Ceremony.

In the next two to five years, the Schlickers plan to expand their business by increasing the size of their beer garden, expanding the building and offering a more comprehensive menu, with additional lunch and dinner items.

"We're trying to grow and get better and bigger,GÇ¥ Joe said.

For more information on JD Slicks, visit www.facebook.com/jd.slicks?fref=ts. For more information on Sultan VFW Post 2554, visit www.facebook.com/SultanVFW2554?fref=ts.