Youth Activities: Involve Youth in ALL Auxiliary programs!

Joan Penney
2015-2016 Youth Activities
National Ambassador

What does it mean to sponsor and work with youth groups?

Under the Auxiliary Youth Activities Program, an Auxiliary can sponsor a youth group and engage youth in any one of our programs, including activities to honor our veterans or assist our active-duty military and their families.

Remember that involving youth in service to veterans in conjunction with your Auxiliary can bring new membership to your Auxiliary. When youth and the whole family are included, members feel more invested in your Auxiliary.

Project examples to enlist the help of local youth groups include:

• Visiting and volunteering in VA facilities.
• Raising funds for community veterans memorial.
• Volunteering to help veterans and active-duty military and their families with yard work or household repairs.
• Teaching veterans computer skills.
• Creating and mailing cards to veterans.

Love is in the air! Who doesn’t want to be remembered on that one day of the year? But why must it just be on February 14? Our veterans in nursing care, deployed or alone need to realize we love them and appreciate them EVERY DAY. I challenge you to truly make EVERY DAY VETERANS DAY.

Veterans & Family Support: All About the Military Assistance Program (MAP)

Laurie Dale
2015-2016 Veterans & Family Support
National Ambassador

Every day the VFW and VFW Auxiliary are supporting our troops around the world. Our members offer support in so many ways:

• Sending care packages to deployed troops
• Hosting send-off and welcome-home events
• Assisting military families get through long deployments 
• And the list goes on and on. 

We know how important troop support is because all of our members have been there. This is why the VFW Military Assistance Program (MAP) was created. It is the outstretched hand between the VFW and the local military, offering support around the world. Since 2005, MAP has sponsored events supporting more than 1.8 million service members and their families.

A large part of MAP is the Adopt-a-Unit program. Through Adopt-a-Unit, VFW Posts and Auxiliaries adopt hundreds of military units around the world. The goal of this program is to develop supportive relationships with units before, during and after deployments to help deliver the vast network of resources the VFW has available to the military.

Here is some basic information about Adopt-a-Unit and how to get the funds you may need to do this great work:

Who can Adopt-a-Unit?

• VFW Posts
• VFW Auxiliaries
• Joint effort of both organizations

Why should you Adopt-a-Unit?

• To support your local military members & families
• To help connect military members with the network of resources the VFW has available
• To help you recruit new members

How do you find a military unit to adopt?

• Contact your local National Guard, Reserve and Active Duty units
• Access the “Find a Unit Flyer” which is available at www.vfw.org/troopsupport
• Speak with other VFW Posts & Veterans Service Organizations who may have information
• Contact a local Family Readiness Group

When should you Adopt-a-Unit?

• There’s no time like the present! Our military members & families need you now more than ever. Your assistance is important whether they are home or deployed overseas.

 Where to get answers to Adopt-a-Unit questions?

• Call the Military Assistance Program office at 816-756-3390 or email at map@vfw.org

How can you apply to Adopt-a-Unit?

• Submit an Adopt-a-Unit Application to the MAP Office. Find the form online at www.vfw.org/troopsupport. 

What’s a MAP grant?

• It’s financial assistance given to a VFW Post or Auxiliary for troop support activities to build relationships and provide information to their local military about VFW programs and services.

Who can apply for a MAP grant?

• VFW Departments, Post and Auxiliaries that desire to support their local military. 

What kind of events can MAP Grant funds be used for?

• Common events include, but are not limited to:
• Family Days
• Picnics
• Festivals
• Welcome Home and Deployment Ceremonies
• Holidays Events

Where do I get a MAP Grant Application?

• MAP Grant applications can be found behind member login on the VFW website at www.vfw.org or on the VFW Auxiliary website here: http://www.vfwauxiliary.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/MAP-Grant-Application.pdf 

Need more information? 

• Download the MAP Grant Information Packet and Application here: http://www.vfwauxiliary.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/MAP-Grant-Packet-Nov-2015.pdf 
• Read the MAP Grant FAQ here: http://www.vfw.org/uploadedFiles/VFW.org/Community/MAPGrantFAQ.pdf
• Read the MAP Grant Guidelines here: http://www.vfw.org/uploadedFiles/VFW.org/Community/MAPGrantGuidelines.pdf 

Scholarships: Tips for the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest

Kim Lewis
2015-2016 Scholarships
National Ambassador

I’m hearing about the fantastic number of entries you've received and the ways you recognized those who participated in the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen Contests:

• Department of Oklahoma Scholarships Chairman Sheila Crawford is about to burst as they received 6582 entries for Patriot’s Pen! 
• Department of Delaware Scholarships Chairman Sue Beachboard sent photos of the creative displays and unique areas they used to promote both contests. 
• Many of you have used social media such as Facebook to tell about your Department Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen award banquets. You’ve been presenting awards to students not only at your local VFW and Auxiliary meetings, but also at School Board Meetings, School Assemblies and PTA meetings. Good job everyone!

It’s time to put that same enthusiastic effort into our Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest! We still have time to promote this scholarship contest. Have you asked your Voice of Democracy participants to enter this contest, too? Have you asked the students in your neighborhood, at your church and the children or grandchildren of your friends? We want to increase student participation in this contest. We had 3,443 entries last year and we want to exceed that number.

Make sure the students participating have the best possible chance to have their entry move up through the levels of judging. While the U.S. Flag is often used in entries, it can also be the biggest source of problems. Common mistakes include:

• Not enough stars or stripes
• Stripes in the wrong order or place
• The Flag appears to have something standing on it, written on it or lying on it.  

Please have copies of the Federal Flag Code available for the students.

Time is running short to enter submissions for the Continuing Education Scholarship. The application is available HERE and the deadline for receipt of the application at National Headquarters is February 15, 2016.  This is an excellent opportunity for yourself, your spouse and your children!

Our National Hospital Ambassador suggested in her January blog that the Auxiliary Hospital Chairman "Partner with your Scholarships Chairman and invite your Post's Patriot's Pen and/or Voice of Democracy winners to share their essays with hospitalized veterans. You could also invite the winner of the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest to share their artwork at the same time."  What a great way to have our youth, who possibly would never have this opportunity, to visit with and spread some cheer to our hospitalized veterans. You might just end up with a new hospital volunteer!

QUESTIONS:

1. Several of the Department Scholarships Chairman has asked about a National Scoring Sheet for Patriotic Art and a Release for Patriotic Art. Both documents were contained on the 2015-2016 Program Year CD given to your President at Senior-Vice Training. For those who don’t have it, the documents (and others) are listed below:

• National Scoring Sheet for Patriotic Art
• Release of Artwork for Patriotic Art 
• Fillable Local Auxiliary Media Release for Patriotic Art
• Patriotic Art Helpful Hints that should be used when making sure the entry from your student has the best possible chance for being a National winner 

1. To see how your Department Voice of Democracy winner places at the National level, watch The Parade of Winners. It will be live streamed on www.vfw.org beginning at 6:00 p.m. EST on Monday February 29, 2016.

Legislative: Hot off the Presses: 2016 VFW Priority Goals

Lois Callahan
2015-2016 Legislative
National Ambassador

The 2016 VFW Priority Goals have been released. These legislative initiatives center on quality of life and health initiatives for all our nation’s veterans, past and present.

This year, the Priority Goals are grouped under nine areas of concern:

• BUDGET
• ACCOUNTABILITY
• HEALTH CARE
• COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
• TRANSITION ASSISTANCE
• EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT
• DEFENSE & HOMELAND SECURITY
• MILITARY QUALITY OF LIFE
• POW/MIA

You can easily access detailed information about each of these Priority Goals on the VFW Website.

• Go to: www.vfw.org. 
• Click on the tab: VFW IN D.C. 
• The Priority Goals are listed on the right-hand side of the page. 

As you select each Priority Goal, specific objectives for each goal are listed. When you familiarize yourself with these goals, you will understand what the VFW is focusing on and what is expected from our Legislators on all levels.

You can now confidently visit with and contact your Legislators. You can ask the appropriate questions to ensure that they are paying attention to the issues which are most important to our veterans.

Your voice and your vote does count! Don’t waste either one! 

Together we can (and do) make a positive difference in the lives of our veterans!  

Hospital: Everyone Benefits When Programs Work Together!

Grace Matz

2015-2016 Hospital
National Ambassador

Happy New Year! Many of you have probably made a resolution for 2016. One resolution to consider would be to give more time volunteering for our veterans.

I’ve been impressed as I read promotions from across the country. You've been very creative in getting the message out to members about the Hospital Program's National Goals:

• Volunteer Service in Medical Facilities
• Volunteer Recruitment & Recognition
• Veterans Voices Writing Project
• Veteran and Military Suicide Awareness

I recently learned that an Auxiliary worked jointly with their VFW Post and involved local facilities, businesses and the entire community to bring awareness for Suicide Prevention. They also included information on our other programs during the event. Congratulations on a job well done!

As I mentioned during one of my presentations, you can work with other Program Chairmen when planning an activity for the Hospital Program and everyone benefits. Some ideas include:

• Work with your Youth Chairman and recruit a youth group to help with an event, make cards or volunteer at a medical facility.
• Partner with your Scholarships Chairman and invite your Post's Patriot's Pen and/or Voice of Democracy winners to share their essays with hospitalized veterans. You could also invite the winner of the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest to share their artwork at the same time. 
• Your Americanism Chairman would likely be happy to help give out American flags or help plan a ceremony and/or party to celebrate a patriotic holiday at a medical facility.
• Team up with your Legislative Chairman and share the VFW Action Corps Weekly e-newsletter with those confined to VA Hospitals and other medical facilities.  
• Numerous activities cross over into Veterans & Family Support. VA Hospitals may sponsor a “Stand Down,” “Welcome Home,” or picnic. Hospital volunteers are always needed to help with those activities.

Just remember that when working with another Program Chairman, the hours and monies should be shared between the programs when reporting.

Keep up the good work – our veterans need us now more than ever!

Chief of Staff/Extension: Seven Benefits of Being Open-Minded

Barbara Melnick
2015-2016 Chief of Staff

Another year has come and gone. I hope everyone is rested up from the holidays and energized to begin another year.

Remember that all dues have to be received by June 30 at National Headquarters for our continuous members or they will have to re-apply and will no longer be considered continuous members.

Everyone is doing a wonderful job with instituting new Auxiliaries and trying to keep the Annual Members from lapsing.

How many members have filled out the Member Questionnaire available in the Healthy Auxiliary Toolkit? Their (and your) ideas and opinions are important and we need their (and your) feedback to improve the organization.

Be a path-maker, not a path-blocker.

The Seven Benefits of Being Open-Minded:

•  Letting go of control – Experiencing new thoughts and ideas.

•  Experiencing changes – Opening up your mind to new ideas allows you to the opportunity to change what you think and how you view the world.

•  Making yourself vulnerable – In agreeing to have an open mind view of the world, you are admitting you don’t know everything and that there are possibilities you may not have considered.

•  Making mistakes – When you open your mind and allow yourself to see things from others’ perspectives, you allow yourself not only to recognize potential mistakes you’ve made, but also to make new mistakes.

•  Strengthening yourself – Open-mindedness provides a platform on which you can build, piling one idea on top of another. You can learn about new things and you can use the new ideas to build on the old ideas.

•  Gaining confidence – You have a strong sense of self. You are not confined to your own beliefs nor confined by the beliefs of others. Open-mindedness helps you learn and grow, strengthening your belief in yourself.

•  Being honest – There is an honesty that comes with an open mind because being open-minded means admitting that you aren’t all knowing.

It’s a new year; let’s start out fresh with new ideas from our new (and current!) Auxiliary members. Remember to listen before speaking. That is a sign of a good mentor and a good friend.

Americanism: Understanding Auxiliary Traditions

Mary Stroud

2015-2016 Americanism
National Ambassador

Happy New Year! As we look forward to another exciting year, now is a great time to review "Understanding Auxiliary Traditions." This is valuable information to share with new and current members alike.

Entering a Meeting
•  At a local Auxiliary meeting, you will enter the meeting room and once the doors are closed, all members must show a current dues card.
•  At Department and National meetings, your card will be asked for at the door.

Raps of the Gavel
•  One rap = Attention
•  Two raps = Rise
•  Three raps = Be seated

Attention & Parade Rest
•  “Attention” in the VFW Auxiliary means hands at side, head up with eyes looking straight forward.
•  “Parade Rest” means the left foot is moved slightly to the side while bringing the arms to the small of the back. Clasp the left thumb in the right hand. The head is bowed slightly during prayer.

Showing Proper Respect to the Flag
•  During our Ritualistic meeting, the President will say “Salute” when the flags enter and leave the room, as well as when we say the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the national anthem. Salute the Flag by placing the palm of the right hand flat over the heart.
•  During Auxiliary meetings, the heart salute shall be used at all times where the salute is used.
•  A member who is also a veteran may use the military salute.
•  When the Flag is displayed AND the national anthem is played and/or sung, all present should face the Flag and salute.
•  When the Flag is NOT displayed and the national anthem is played and/or sung, all present should face the music and salute.
•  Members should stand when the flags are moving.

Showing Proper Respect for the Altar & Bible
•  Members will remain seated while the Chaplain opens and closes the Bible, provided the Colors are not at the Altar.
•  Whenever the Chaplain is opening and closing the Bible, everyone should stop all movement and talking.
•  Members will not cross between the President’s station and the Altar, as this is considered sacred ground symbolizing where our Comrades who have answered the final roll call are at rest. However, when the Bible is closed, members may pass through this area.

Addressing the President  & Making a Motion
•  All remarks must be addressed to the President and not by one member to another. A member wishing to address the President will rise and say, “Mister/Madam President,” but shall not speak further until he or she has been recognized by the President.
•  Making motions is your right as a member. To make a motion, you should stand and be recognized by the President and then proceed.

For those who are replacing banners, there is a wonderful Dedication Of The Colors ceremony on page 98 of your Ritual section of the 2016 Podium Edition: Bylaws and Ritual. I encourage you to hold this Dedication so that your members are once again reminded of what power our flag and banners hold.

Reminder: Smart/Maher National Citizenship Education Teacher Awards are due to your Post by February 15th!

Keep Calm and Wave On!

Membership: Making Great Strides to Grow the VFW Auxiliary

Joyce Bilyeu
2015-2016 Membership
National Ambassador

Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were filled with lots of family, friends, faith and most of all, love. Congratulations to all of you for working so hard to reach the 90% membership goal by December 31.  A huge “Thank You” goes out to all the Department Treasurers for processing the membership transmittals. We could not reach our goals without your hard work and commitment to get the job done. Every Department in the country is working the membership program and making great strides to grow our organization. 

Annual Members:  The time has now come for us to work even harder on our retention efforts. We have to focus our attention on retention of our annual members and getting those dues paid. If a member’s current dues are not paid by June 30 of the membership year, they are terminated by National as a member and must rejoin by reapplying for membership. 

If dues were not paid by December 31, 2015, there is a grace period until June 30, 2016 to become a member in good standing again and be able to hold an office and attend meetings.

Retention:  Work with members because we DO NOT want to lose any current members. We need to retain the members we have as we continue on our journey to reach 100% in membership. It is very important to have regular communication with your members since many lapsed members have reported never receiving a dues notice from their Department or Auxiliary.

Third Quarter Milestone:  We are now working on our third quarterly milestone of being 95% by March 31, 2016 in order to receive $500. Many departments are very close to earning that extra $500 for their Departments.  Congratulations to the Departments who have already reached and/or exceeded the milestone:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Rhode Island
• Virginia

80% in Membership by September 30, 2015:  Award = $250
90% in Membership by December 31, 2015:   Award = $300
95% in Membership by March 31, 2016:     Award = $500
100+% in Membership by May 31, 2016:       Award = $1,500
101+ % in Membership by June 30, 2016:      $500 Bonus Award

Making Positive Strides with Male Members:  In the last four months, you have all recruited more than 9,300 males into our organization! Everyone is doing an incredible job in recruiting and welcoming males into your Auxiliaries. Therefore, I would like to ask that for each male member you have signed up and/or will be signing up that you give them the “Just-One” card. I know for sure that if you ask them to sign up “Just One” member they will do that for our veterans. However, if you do not ask you will be missing out on a great recruiting opportunity. 

Membership Week:  Now is the time to start preparing for National Membership Week in April. Please share your ideas on social media, in your local newspaper, on radio stations and with your communities. In addition, work closely with your National Certified Recruiter Trainer to help your Auxiliary reach its goal. They offer wonderful ideas and suggestions for recruiting and retaining members. Make sure to go to the National VFW Auxiliary website and print out all the UPDATED membership materials and resources that you might need to help in your recruiting and retention efforts. 

Over the past five months Departments have been working very hard towards making history and leaving an amazing legacy for generations to come. Every day we have been moving closer to breaking two decades of declining membership. The work that members are doing is setting the direction for the future of existence of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary. 

If we continue to stay focused on our goals and most of all our veterans and their families we WILL succeed. I have no doubt that if we keep supporting one another, utilize our resources, stay focused, keep moving forward, don’t slow down, and stay united on this journey we can become a half million strong. There are no more excuses. This year is the year that we set a precedent for next year and years to come for “Our Veterans – Now and Forever.”

This is YOUR time.

Past and future generations are depending on you.

 

No Excuse...Just Recruit!