VFW WI District 8

The State of the 8th District By Cmdr Steve Conto

Posted at 10:54 AM on Thursday, January 7, 2010 by Mike Borg, District QM in District Commander's Letters

Veterans of Foreign Wars

Department of Wisconsin

8^th District

State of the District

I hope one and all had a most joyful and blessed holiday.  As we head into 2010 I wanted to write you all a letter on the state of the District as I see this at this point of my term as your District Commander. 

You all are to be commended for the fine work you do for your Post and for veterans and their families.  I sincerely thank you for supporting our District and Department programs.  I salute you for the help you have given your communities.  You truly live up to our motto "Honor the Dead by Serving the Living". 

With these all being send there is still much work to be done and concerns to be addressed. 

First of all is Membership, our present and our future.  Let me give you where we stand at of today, December 27, 2009 for our District.  We stand at 92.66%, 283 members short of 100%.  4 Posts are > 100%, 26 Posts need <10 members for 100% and 7 Posts need > 10 members for 100%.  They are Manitowoc - 33, Green Bay - 29, Appleton - 27, Kaukauna - 22, Kewaunee - 16, De Pere - 12 and Liberty Grove - 11 = 150 members, the rest of the 26 Posts = 133.   This is not bad at all.  WE CAN DO IT. 

Here's how.  The following are things I have done and continue to do as Quartermaster of our Post that you can use.   First, is unpaid annual members, I keep a record of all their addresses and phone numbers.  I send out a formal letter reminding them to pay their membership.  I follow this up with a phone call.  In my letter I just don't tell them to pay up.  I tell them what our Post has been doing the past year and what we are continuing to do.  I remind them of when our meetings are and invite them to come.  I mention about our life membership installment plan that they can purchase.  Next, as for recruiting new members, we ensure we have applications at our Post and when we sell raffle tickets we have a membership poster and applications at the same table.  This year we again have placed silent recruiter boxes out for a free drawing of an American Flag and Pole.  This recruiting drive you can purchase through the VFW store.  It has been very successful for us.  We also, have a Public Affairs Officer who gets the word out about what our Post is doing in the community.  We’re currently in work on a welcome aboard packet for new Post members.  Best of all our Post supports the Adopt a Unit Program.  Our Post has two units we sponsor and have received numerous new members from these units.  These individuals are truly our future.  Remember an active Post is an attractive Post. 

Also, when Department sends you a list of prospective members, ensure you send them an invite letter to join your Post.  Last of all, but can be most effective, always carry a membership application with you.  Even in a casual meeting you can have an individual join.  Without members we can't help veterans and their families.

Next is Programs.  Don't fall by the wayside on this one.  I've heard too many excuses why Posts don't become active with VFW programs.  How hard is it for a Post to make a motion and get it past to donate at least to these programs?  Answer is not hard at all.  Also, I don't buy into all the lame excuses not to act on these programs.  You all wore the uniform in service to our country.  Don't act like a civilian, act like a veteran!  Don't tell me it's too hard or that everyone else is doing it or that we tried it and it didn't work or no one wants to help or we're getting too old.  Is this what you told your First Sergeant or Master Chief?  I don't think so.   So, I want you all to roll up your sleeves and get to work.  By selling raffle tickets in the final month.  By conducting Buddy Poppy Drives for your Relief Fund.  Yes, Relief Fund.  You're suppose to have one.  And this money is ONLY to be used to help veterans and their families.  Donate to District and Department programs.  You have the money, use it to help veterans.  It does no good just sitting there.  You couch potatoes get off your duffs and get active in your Posts.  Don't always rely on others to carry the load.  At all times be receptive and respectful to one another.  Come with an open mind to your Post meetings.  Embrace new ideas and act on them.  The worst thing you can do is to turn off new and potential members with internal bickering and arguing.  Stop the negative talk and let's move forward.  Who would want to be part of a downtrodden organization?  I say again, an Active and Fun Post is an attractive, growing Post that bests serves its veterans.  Also, you’re not active if you don’t hold regular Post meetings.

Post Commanders review your CD and ensure your Post is running accordingly.  Dust off your last inspection report and FIX those discrepancies.  Get your audits and election reports in on time.  Oversee your Post's ledger and ensure it is accurate.  Trustees become educated in your duties.  Stop pencil whipping audit reports!  Ask the tough questions and get the right answers.  Posts, communicate with your members via e-mail and newsletters regularly.  Attend District meetings and bring your suggestions and concerns along.  We're here to support your efforts.  

Finally, report all your outstanding efforts on the Post Action Report.   Only 20 of 37 Posts in our District are reporting.  If you're not computer smart, find someone in your Post who is and get them to enter the data.  It's really not hard to do.  Give credit where credit is due.  Never stop being active in your community.  Work with other Veterans Organizations in joint events when possible.  Examples are Flag retirements, Funeral honors, Memorial Day and Flag Day parades to name just a few.  Dual membership is always a win/win combination. 

In closing, I want to put this all into perspective.  We all can remember how it was to serve our country.  Each of us came home a different person from when we left.  Each war gave us our own set of troubles and needs.  This war is no different.  This new veteran coming home needs us now more than ever.  Who are they going to turn to if we're not there for them?  Don't give them the same excuses.  They deserve better. 

They deserve are our thanks, our help and our respect.  Don't look for the civilians to do it.  It's up to us.  Be there for them as fellow brothers and sisters n' arms.  I ask you not to do this for me but for them, for my son.  

"As you do to the least of my brothers, so you do unto Me"   

The state of our District is good but it can be better.  I want us to grow not shrink.  I want us to act not standby.  Gods speed in all you do.  I look forward to seeing each of you at our next District meeting in Ashwaubenon at the Community Center on January 31, 2010.

Yours in Comradeship,                                                                              December 30, 2009

Steve Conto

VFW 8th District Commander

 Department of Wisconsin