* * *
NEWS * * *
(Updated 29 MARCH 2013)
DEPARTMENT OF NEVADA 2013 CONVENTION
REGISTRATION FORM
(PDF)
REGISTRATION FORM
(WORD)
AD FORM
(PDF)
AD FORM
(WORD)
SEC 701 - CANTEEN OPERATIONS
*ALL POST OFFICERS THAT HAVE A CANTEEN IN THERE POST MUST
READ AND UNDERSTAND*
STATE COMMANDER MID-WINTER MEMO
NATIONAL
HEAD QUARTERS PROPOSAL TO INCREASE ANNUAL DUES
To: The department leadership From: State Adjutant/Quartermaster Subj: Proposed Annual Dues Increase of $10
In a previous email message to you, I attached a package from VFW Headquarters that attempted to explain the rationale for the proposal.
I did not express a position on that package for two reasons:
1. I did not believe that Headquarters comparing VFW annual dues to Costco or Sam's Club made sense; it seemed to me that the logical comparison for the annual dues amount would have been with other veterans' organizations, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, to name just three.
2. I was not happy with the allocation of the dues increase that put 60% of the increase toward VFW programs and only 30% toward veterans service; we are a veterans service organization and if we are going to increase dues by $10, it should first and foremost go to veterans service.
At the Junior Vice Commander/Adjutant/Quartermaster conference in early October, the National officers asked for the support of the department adjutants and quartermasters. They did not get it. That provoked a discussion with Adjutant General Kent over how the funds should be allocated should the dues increase be approved on the floor of the National Convention in Louisville. We, the A/Qs of the departments, were able to negotiate the allocations presented in the attachment:
1. 60% to veterans service; 30% to programs, to be assigned by the National COA.
2. A grant floor of $25,000 to help those departments who were going to lose their service officer due to much less funding for them under a new allocation formula.
3. A few other minor adjustments that are not critical.
The negotiated results were not free: The A/Qs had to commit to support the dues increase if AG Kent could "sell" the new allocation to the top three national officers and the Quartermaster General. All the department A/Qs agreed to this stipulation:
1. We got the allocation we wanted and negotiated.
2. We concluded and therefore agreed with the national officer position that the dues increase in critical to the future of the VFW and to our ability to actually maintain the fact and not just a facade behind our new marketing slogan: "No one does more for veterans".
Please review the updated package attached to this email. It will be a discussion topic at the Mid-winter Conference in Hawthorne and will be a floor vote to endorse the dues increase proposal at the State Convention in Elko. Take a moment to decide whether you can support the resolution. Either way, you and your members will decide the fate of this proposal, and I believe it should be decided by a thorough understanding of the proposal and not a visceral reaction to the increase.
As for me, I still have problems with the proposal's arguing the membership in the VFW is comparable to the same in Costco or Sam's Club because I still believe that the comparison is faulty logic. However, I am supporting the dues increase proposal and am prepared to argue in favor of the proposal one on one
and from the floors of the Mid-Winter Conference and State Convention.
NATIONAL HEAD QUARTERS MEMO
NATIONAL HEAD QUARTERS
VFW TALKING PAPER ON SEQUESTRATION
The Home Depot (HD) has just opened their final Community Impact Grants cycle for 2012 which will be in effect from November 12 through December 12, 2012.
VFW Posts can receive up to $5,000 to fix up their buildings. Although of course there are no guarantees (so please be mindful of that) I encourage all Posts to apply ASAP if there is a need for Post building improvement.
To begin the process, click on the following link:
http://homedepotfoundation.org/page/applying-for-a-grant.
Under the heading of “Community Impact Grants Program” go to click “here” to apply for a grant
You will complete this application directly via the Internet only (no telephone calls to HD, emails or written submissions will be accepted nor will you be able to turn this application in at your local HD store).
PLEASE OPEN AND CAREFULLY READ THE PDF ATTACHMENT TO THIS EMAIL AS IT WILL WALK YOU STEP-BY-STEP THROUGH THE PROCESS. We have tried to make the instructions as simple as possible. Any deviation from this guide will most likely result in not being able to submit the application.
ALSO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE TAX ID INSTRUCTIONS SECTION. You will use the Employee Identification Number (EIN) of your Post and upload the Post’s 501(c)(19) IRS determination letter at the end of the application.
If you receive funding it will come in the form of Home Depot gift cards that can be used to buy materials at your local HD store. You will need to recruit Post members or other community volunteers to do the work. The project must be completed within a reasonable time frame (usually less than 6 months though the sooner the better). You will also be required to complete a final report. Failure to do so will negatively impact your Post’s ability to receive any future funding from The Home Depot.
After submission of the application, you should receive a written email response usually in six weeks letting you know if you received the grant.
I wish each of you the BEST OF LUCK!
Should you have any questions and or concerns, please contact Richard Freiburghouse, VFW Foundation Manager of Grants Development at (816) 968-1124 or
rfreiburghouse@vfw.org
NEW STATE CHAPLAIN - CARLTON FOGG
STATE CHAPLAIN - VACANCY
Nominations are being accepted for the position of State
Chaplain. Please forward nominees to the State Adjutant no later
than 14 October 2012. Pertinent information about the nomination and
election process is contained below.
Members of the Council of Administration
Comrade Charles Jamison has resigned, creating a vacancy in the office of State Chaplain.
In accordance
with Section 520 Paragraph 2 of the VFW National Manual of Procedure, nominees from council members are
now being accepted. The nomination period shall close on 14 October 2012.
On 15 October 2012, the State
Adjutant shall advise the council members of the names of the comrades nominated and request a vote by email.
The email ballot shall be returned to the State Adjutant within one week (by 22 October 2012).
By the authority vested in me, I, Joe Rigsby, State Commander, appoint Department Adjutant Hollinger,
State Inspector Dybeck, and District 6 Commander Barquist to serve as tellers to tally the ballots. They shall
report the results of the election to me not later than 1 November 2012.
The nominee receiving the highest
number of votes shall be duly elected to the office of State Chaplain, to serve in that office until the installation
of 2013-14 department officers at the 2013 State Convention. He shall be installed in his office at the Mid-winter
conference.
The State Adjutant is directed to post the election results in the minutes of the Mid-winter Council of Administration meeting.
BY COMMAND OF:
Joe Rigsby
State Commander
Official:
M. Bruce Hollinger
State Adjutant
COMRADE LEADERS OF THE VFW
DEPARTMENT OF NEVADA
The VFW National Headquarters proposal to increase membership dues
for annual members. provided without editorial remarks from your
Adjutant/Quartermaster. I propose that this be an agenda item at the
Midwinter conference (19 January 2013, Hawthorne), to prepare us for what I an sure VFW HQ
will have proposed in the form of a National Convention Resolution
action that we will need to bring to the floor of the State
Convention.
Bruce Hollinger
State Quartermaster/Adjutant
Department of Nevada Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.
Email:
State.qm-adj@vfwnevada.org
Website:
www.vfwnevada.org
JULY 2012 VFW ELECTS NEW LEADERS
Our very own John W. Stroud was elected Junior Vice Commander in
Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars on July 25, 2012, at the VFW s
113th National Convention, held in Reno, Nevada. He is the first
Nevadan to be elected to this office.
Congressman Joe Heck has introduced a Bill (HR 6111) into the House to cease HUD from taking up to 30% of our home bound/disabled veterans Aid & Attendance and calling it income. If the veteran is living in HUD housing they take this portion of the Aid & Attendance because they say it is income. The VA and the IRS say it is not income but is a benefit and is not considered taxable. Congressman Heck first introduced this as an amendment to another bill but that one stalled so he re-introduced it as a separate bill. We need to spread the word to get full support on this because this affects ALL of our veterans across the nation