VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS DEPARTMENT OF IOWA MARCH 2016 GENERAL ORDERS No. 9 1. GENERAL ORDERS: Are to be read at the Post Meeting and posted in your Post. 2. MEMBERSHIP: Congratulations to the following Posts for achieving 100% or better: District 1: Post 3949 District 2: Post 5234 & 6174 District 3: Post 4069 & 5661 District 5: Post 674, 738, 5242 & 8174 District 6: Post 1899 & 5060 District 7: Post 5510, 8998 & 11355 District 8: Post 6129, 6537 & 7373 District 9: Post 2440, 3771, 5603 & 11503 District 10: Post 6161. The Department is at 92.76% as of Feb. 26, 2016. We are in 6 th place in the Big Ten and 20 th place out of 54 Departments in membership. This is the year we make 100% so let s roll up our sleeves and get busy on our recruiting efforts and do not forget the new members you signed up last year and get them to renew their membership. Use the unpaid lists that were sent out to get members back into the VFW. If you need a copy of this list let us know and we will get it to you. 3. SCOUT OF THE YEAR: The Department Scout of the Year Chairman is Stuart Juarez, 1125 Frazier Ave, Des Moines, IA 50315. The deadline for Scout of the Year award is as follows Entry to Post- March 1, 2016 Entry to Dept. April 2, 2016 Entry to Nat l May 1, 2016 4. 2016 STATE CONVENTION: The 95 th Annual Iowa State Convention will be June 2 thru June 5, 2016 at the Grand Harbor Resort & Waterpark Hotel, 350 Bell St, Dubuque, Iowa 52001. Please call 563-690-3270 to reserve your room. Be sure to mention you are with VFW State Convention. The single room rates are $80 a night for Thursday & Friday and $129 for Saturday night. For each additional person there will be a $10 charge. The cutoff date for this rate is May 3, 2016. If you are on the VFW Council of Administration let me know which room to book for you, King or Double Queen. Page 1 of 6
5. DISTRICT MEETING NOTICE: District Commanders please ensure that Department Headquarters receives your District Meeting Notice form so that the Department Representative will have information on the time and address where your meeting will take place. 6. DISTRICT CONVENTION DELEGATES AND ALTERNATES: Post Delegates and Alternates to District Convention shall be elected at a regular meeting of the Post held not less than 30 days prior to the District Convention. One Delegate and one Alternate are to be elected for each 15 members or a fraction thereof. (Section 222 National Bylaws) District Commanders are reminded to use strict observance of these Bylaws. 7. RESOLUTIONS: Posts desiring to submit resolutions for consideration by their District prior to the convening of the State Convention, must present said resolution to their District in time for their Spring meeting, and upon approval by the Districts, copies of the resolution must reach State Headquarters by May 20, 2016. 8. DISTRICT ELECTION REPORT: District Commanders and Adjutants, your attention is directed to Section 413 of the National By-Laws which requires ALL DISTRICTS to submit a properly completed District Election Report to National Headquarters prior to the convening of the Department Convention. You are also requested to submit a copy of your 2016-2017 District Election Report to VFW State Headquarters no later than May 20, 2016. 9. 2016 SPRING DISTRICT MEETINGS: District 1 7641 New London, Sat. Apr. 15, 2016 Jake Gruber, Dept. Jr. Vice Cmdr. District 2 4077 Anamosa, Sat. Apr. 30, 2016 Travis Holden, Dept. Commander District 3 4561 Cresco, Sat. Apr. 9, 2016 Tom Watters, Dept. Jr. Vice Cmdr. 103 2 nd Ave SE, Cresco, IA 52136 Wilma Fickess, Dept. Chaplain District 4 775 Ottumwa, Sat. May 7, 2016 Jerry Black, Dept. A/Q Char Schneider, Dept. Jr. Vice District 5 9662 Des Moines, Sat. Apr. 30, 2016 Tom Watters, Dept. Sr. Vice Cmdr. 1309 NE 66 th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50313 Kathy McDonald, Aux. Conductress District 6-2642 Carroll, Sun. Apr. 24, 2016 Travis Holden, Dept. Commander District 7 3415 Atlantic, Sat. April 9, 2016 Travis Holden, Dept. Commander Elk s Lodge,501 Poplar St, Atlantic, IA 50022 Char Schneider, Dept. Jr. Vice District 8 4514 Spirit Lake, Sat. May 7, 2016 Tom Watters, Dept. Sr. Vice Cmdr. Donna Sorenson, Dept. Sr Vice Pres. District 9 Elkader, Sat. Apr. 23, 2016 Tom Watters, Dept. Sr. Vice Cmdr. District 10 5232 Armstrong, Sun. May 1, 2016 Jake Gruber, Dept. Jr. Vice Cmdr. Donna Sorenson, Dept. Sr Vice Pres. Page 2 of 6
10. VFW IOWA LICENSE PLATES: We have received the official design from the Iowa Department of Transportation for the VFW special license plate. If you would like to purchase one fill out the application and send it to the State Headquarters, 3601 Beaver Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310. Auxiliary members may also purchase the plate. The deadline to apply for a VFW plate is July 1, 2016. We need 500 paid applications before July 1, 2016 in order to get the plates made. 11. NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF POST OFFICERS: Nominations for Post Officers for the 2017 membership year are to be made at the March meeting, with nominations to be held open until the election is called at the April meeting. Section 217 of our National Bylaws provides in detail the procedures for Nomination, Election, Installation and Terms of Office. Please read over Section 217 in the Manual of Procedures, under Election, which states: Post officers shall be elected in April. 12. APPOINTED OFFICERS: At the 114 th National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, the delegates voted to make the Surgeon and Judge Advocate, appointed positions to help small Posts in completing their Election Report. These officers are now able to hold two positions on your Election Report. 13. ELECTION REPORTS: Be sure that the Election Report of Post Officers for 2016-2017 year is sent in immediately following your April meeting. Your current Post Quartermaster will receive this Report Form from National along with the National Convention Registration Form for your Post. If your Report of Election is not received in Department Headquarters by 1 June 2016, your Post Charter may be suspended by National Headquarters and the Department Commander can recommend that your Post Charter be revoked for failure to submit a properly completed Post Election Report. Now is the time to line up your officers for the 2016-2017 year. You do not have to wait for the Officers to be installed to send in this Election Report, send it in as soon as last call and election is made at your April meeting. Make 3 copies of the PROPERLY COMPLETED REPORT, keep one copy, and send 1 copy to the District Commander and one copy to Department Adjutant/Quartermaster by Awards Day, May 10, 2016 so that we can have the 2016-2017 Roster Books printed and distributed in a timely manner. 14. HOSPITAL FUND 2015-2016: Our joint (VFW & VFWA) Hospital raffle 2015-2016 will be for just one item but it is fantastic! The winner will get an Aruba sit-in 10 Kayak!!!!! The drawing will be held on Saturday, May 28, 2016 with the winner announced at the Joint Session during State Convention (June 2 5). Both Department of Iowa VFW & VFW Auxiliary gives to our VA Hospitals and Iowa Veterans Home each month. We would like to have you sell tickets and maybe buy some yourself. Before you start selling them, please make more copies of the ticket pages. Tickets are $5.00 each or 5 for $20.00 to be divided between the VFW and VFWA Hospital Funds. A sheet of tickets are on the last page (Page 6) of these General Orders, please make copies. Please return your sold tickets and money to: Department of Iowa VFW State Headquarters, 3601 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50310 before May 28, 2016. Page 3 of 6
15. COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES REPORT: Send all Community Activity Reports to Chairman, Danny L. White, 1309 SE University Ave., #207, Waukee, Iowa 50263, PH# 515-369-9096, or email iavfwcars@gmail.com. Please use the new form when reporting your Post activities. 16. 117 th NATIONAL CONVENTION: The Veterans of Foreign Wars 117 th National Convention will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina on July 23-27, 2016. Reservations can now be made on the VFW National Headquarters website www.vfw.org, scroll down and click on the 2016 VFW National Convention banner on the right side of the homepage. You will also find lots of information about this year s National Convention. 17. 2016 BIG TEN CONFERENCE: The 2016 Big Ten Conference will be October 20 23, 2016 at the Radisson Hotel, 100 West Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007. Room rates are $109 a night. The deadline for the group rate will be Sept. 29, 2016 or until the room block fills up; whichever occurs first. 18. BUDDY POPPIES: Place your orders EARLY, AT LEAST 90 DAYS IN ADVANCE OF YOUR DISTRIBUTION DATE. Every Post should be able to receive donations for at least 500 Poppies, to qualify for All State Award your Post must purchase 1,000 poppies. Many Posts are not sending their orders in early enough to receive them prior to their scheduled date. GET THEM IN AT LEAST 90 DAYS IN ADVANCE OF YOUR DISTRIBUTION DATE. 19. VETERANS & MILITARY SUPPORT PROGRAM: For questions or concerns about connecting with Iowa Military Units, Adopt A Unit, Uplink Phone Calling, Unmet Needs (soldier/military assistance), Post Donor Cards, and MAP Grants for your Post/Auxiliary, contact VMSP Chairman Pat Stark at vfw.patstark@gmail.com or 641-780-9929. Please consider making a donation to Veterans & Military Support Program today. Regarding Operation Uplink, contact Uplink Chairman Pat Stark if you request a phone card for a hospitalized veteran who is in any hospital or nursing home other than one of the VAMF s. 20. STATE FAIR BOOTH DONATIONS: The Department is in need of donations for the Fair Booth. Individuals, Posts, or Auxiliaries willing to donate, please send your checks to Department of Iowa, Attn: Jerry Black, QM, 3601 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50310. Any donation will be greatly appreciated and help to defer the cost of the booth. 21. DALE SLOTH 90TH BIRTHDAY OPEN HOUSE: Long-time Dale Christensen VFW Post 4119 member Dale Sloth is celebrating his 90th birthday and will be honored with an Open House. Dale served as Post 4119 Quartermaster for many, many years. The Open House will be held on April 9th, from 1:00-5:00 PM, at St. Patrick s Parish Center, 102 Market Street, Audubon IA 50025. All Dale's VFW comrades are invited and encouraged to attend. Lunch will be served and adult beverages are available. If you have questions, please contact John Whetzal, 402-740-8180, or via email at jlw53@iowatelecom.net. Page 4 of 6
22. MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Council of Administration Meeting, March 19, 2016 at Post 9127, 4029 Urbandale Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310 at 0900 hrs. *** NEW Department of Iowa 95 th Annual State Convention will be June 2-5, 2016 at the Grand Harbor Resort Hotel, 350 Bell St., Dubuque, IA 52001. Room rates are $80 Thursday & Friday night, $129 Saturday night, plus tax. For each additional person there will be a $10 charge 117 th VFW National Convention will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina on July 23-27, 2016. 2016 Fall Pow-Wow will be October 7-9, 2016 at Lakeside Casino Hotel, 777 Casino Drive Osceola, IA 50213. Room rates are not available at this time. 2016 Big Ten Conference will be October 20 23, 2016 at the Radisson Hotel, 100 West Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007. Room rates are $109 a night. Department of Iowa 96 th Annual State Convention will be June 1 4, 2017 at the 5 Sullivan Brothers Convention Center, 205 W. 4 th St, Waterloo, IA 50701. Room rates at the Ramada Inn are $95.99 plus tax. OFFICIAL: Jerry Black State Adjutant-Quartermaster VFW Department of Iowa TH/jb By Order of: Travis W. Holden Department Commander VFW Department of Iowa Page 5 of 6
_ Page 6 of 6