For me, it all started with a simple email to Blue Star Families. I was looking to be a part of a volunteer group, but I could not find Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska on their list of chapters. Perhaps they were forming an Alaska group? And maybe the website just hadn’t been updated? I sent off that email to find out. Blue Star Families wrote me back saying there was not an Alaska chapter, but would I be interested in organizing and leading one? I took a week to think about it. Starting a new chapter from scratch would be tough!