BLOG #4 NOVEMBER 2017 Honoring the Past by Making a Difference It was a privilege to attend this year s Celebrating America s Freedom Event in Williamsburg, Virginia, to commemorate the 236 th year of the Battle of Yorktown on October 19, 1781. This area is rich with history and is called the Historic Triangle. Jamestown, located on the western point of the triangle was founded by the first settlers in 1607. It is the site of the first permanent English settlement and the first colonial government in America. Williamsburg, located on the northern point, served as Virginia s colonial capital during most of America s struggle for independence. Yorktown located on the eastern point is where independence was won. It is the site of the final major battle on land and at sea which ended the American Revolutionary War and marked America s independence from Great Britain. Jamestown, is where America was born. Williamsburg is where our nation s ideals matured and Yorktown is where America became of age. America has a rich legacy of patriots. Our legacy can be no less! Every individual who served in our nation's Armed Forces, was prepared to give their life to preserve the precious freedoms and liberties for which our forefathers fought (and sometimes died) to acquire. This is the commitment that carried them into harm s way on foreign soil to meet and defeat the enemies of democracy on the field of battle. These brave patriots found meaning in something greater than themselves. As guardians of our free doms and liberty, they embodied the spirit of service. Their unselfish acts of ultimate sacrifice define all that is good about our nation. The baton has now been passed to us. It is our duty to advocate on behalf of our active-duty service members and our veterans to ensure the promises made by our legislators are kept. As advocates, we are the voice of our veterans, active-duty military and their families. Please continue the fight to hold the line!!! If not us, who? As you are reading this blog, we are nearly half-way through the program year. Following is a list of helpful hints to assist you in reporting your legislative achievements: 1. Submit Auxiliary s Legislative Reports: Now is a great time to submit your legislative achievements, including participating in your community efforts (interacting with your legislators through phone calls, emails, letters, social media and personal contacts), to your Department 1
Legislative Program Chairman. Share your efforts with them by sending photos, newspaper articles and promotionals through website, Facebook, newsletters, General Orders, etc., for inclusion in your Department s Legislative Program Year-End Report. Please track participation as it will make your end-of- year reporting easier if you start now while everything is still fresh in your mind! 2. Continue Effective Grassroots Advocacy: Reach out to your legislators in an effort to gain their support for legislation that affects our active-duty military, veterans and their families. Let us continue to work together to help educate them on our legislative issues. Then, we must hold our elected legislators feet to the fire to ensure they keep their campaign promises to support our veterans and their families. This challenge includes county, city, state and national levels. 3. Join the VFW Action Corps: Another legislative goal that we are working on this year is to get as many members, friends, neighbors and colleagues as possible to become Veterans Advocates by joining the VFW Action Corps. When they do, they will receive weekly email updates on current legislative initiatives, bills and receive special action alerts to let their voices be heard on issues affecting our veterans. Share the following link to join our Action Corps: http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/signup.htm. I am honored and humbled to serve our organization in this capacity. It is a privilege to work with, assist and help educate fellow members about the legislative process. We are the voice of our veterans, active-duty military and their families. We CAN make a difference. Let Our Voices Be Heard! My best wishes to you and your family this Thanksgiving. Carmelita M. Jones National Legislative Program Ambassador Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary 1295 S. 5 th W., Rexburg, ID 83440 1-208-356-0255 (home) 1-208-390-4772 (cell) carmjones1995@aol.com 2
RESOLUTION FOR DEPARTMENT TREASURER RESOLUTION TO BE ADDED TO DEPARTMENT TREASURER- Reports and Remittance-Dues SECTION 813C WHEREAS, the Department Treasurer shall maintain all membership applications from Auxiliaries within the Department in the application file until the member has been deceased for a period of six (6) years or has reached 120 years of age. WHEREAS, the Auxiliary Treasurer is now capable of entering dues into MALTA and is responsible to maintain their Auxiliary membership records. THEREFORE, let it be resolved, that this paragraph shall be added to DEPARTMENT TREASURER-Reports and Remittance-Dues; Section 813C: The Department Treasurer will retain copies of membership applications as back up for only those applications processed into MALTA by the Department Treasurer, when the Auxiliary Treasurer is unable to process the applications herself/himself. *The Department Treasurer is only responsible to maintain the Department Members at Large applications. Respectfully submitted by: VFW Department of Missouri Auxiliary Officers: President Nelda Clifton Sr. Vice President Carolann Osterloh Jr. Vice President Rowena Grigsby Treasurer Jeri Sherwood Chaplain Ella Edwards Conductress Janet Barlar Guard Judith Northcutt
District: Auxiliary: Date: Name: Phone No. Cell No. Address: City: State: Zip: Pins: $75.00 per bag (25 Pins) no of bags + $5.00 shipping per bag = $ Scarves: $7.00 each (minimum of 4 to ship) + $5.00 shipping = $ or One dozen (12) scarves for $84.00 plus $8.00 shipping is $92.00 x = Make checks payable to: VFW Aux. Dept. MO and mail order form with check to: Betty Akers, Pres. Pin/Scarf Chairman, 7805 East 99 th Street, K. C., MO 64134 Any questions please call 816 763-8580 District: Auxiliary: Date: Name: Phone No. Cell No. Address: City: State: Zip: Pins: $75.00 per bag (25 Pins) no of bags + $5.00 shipping per bag = $ Scarves: $7.00 each (minimum of 4 to ship) + $5.00 shipping = $ or One dozen (12) scarves for $84.00 plus $8.00 shipping is $92.00 x = Make checks payable to: VFW Aux. Dept. MO and mail order form with check to: Betty Akers, Pres. Pin/Scarf Chairman, 7805 East 99 th Street, K. C., MO 64134 Any questions please call 816 763-8580