Monroe County Council Veterans of Foreign Wars

200 West Avenue, Rochester, NY 14611

Danforth Community Center

585-436-6130 or e-mail MONROEVFW@PEOPLEPC.COM

·       County Council Meeting 9/1/09 – Perinton Memorial Post  @ 300 Macedon Center Road, Fairport (Route 31F)  – 7 PM (Please note new location for this meeting)

·       Ladies Auxiliary Meeting 9/1/09 – County Headquarters @ 200 West Avenue – 12 Noon

From the Commander:

                Greetings! It is time to start another year of Monroe County Council business. I hope you all had a fine summer. Soon the kids will be back in school, the leaves will be changing and falling from the trees and activities in your posts will be picking up. I wish you all a successful year as leaders of your posts.

                Before we talk about what’s to come, I feel it is important to review what we have done in the past year. As any that were at the Department Convention in Buffalo heard, we have some issues that need to be dealt with as an organization. A review of recruiting programs used in the past is taking place. The VFW has a serious problem retaining members. It seems that techniques used in the past few years were somewhat successful in the quantity of members recruited. The retention of these members is the problem, and it is up to each of us to provide a quality program that keeps new members active in our organization. Interesting, meaningful programs are the key to keeping these members that you work so hard to recruit.

                At the county level we had 6 posts last year that achieved 100% membership or better. These were Post 16, Post 2890, Post 4658, Post 6597, Post 8495 and Post 11118. Congratulations on this fine achievement. Additionally, 3 posts achieved All State status – Post 16, Post 8495 and Post 11118. Well done.

                I would also like to congratulate Post 307 and Post 9483. While not achieving the 100% mark, these 2 posts were very successful in recruiting new members, with Post 9483 recruiting more new members numerically than any other post in the county. With continued efforts, All State is in the near future for each of these posts.

                As a county, we had a very successful year distributing Buddy Poppies. As a council, our posts ordered over 61,500 poppies to help support programs for the veterans in our community. This is a tradition that must be kept going, and going strong. If your post has only distributed poppies in May, consider doing so around Veterans Day in November. Start working now with your community partners to ensure a prime location to set up shop in May.

                You will note that we’ve moved the first meeting out of county headquarters and into a post home. Please plan to join us for this kickoff meeting. Many issues need to be addressed on a county level, such as:

Ø       The retention of the county charter. National no longer recognized County Councils. Perhaps we should be proactive and begin forming a new district.

Ø       Are monthly meetings necessary? A review of the bylaws shows that only quarterly meetings are necessary. Should we change.

Ø       Where is it best to hold the County Council Meetings? Should we rotate the meeting place?

Ø       Committee chairmanships. We have many openings for leadership opportunities. Perhaps you have a talented individual in your post just waiting to be asked to step up.

Please join us Tuesday, September 1^st at Perinton Memorial Post 8495 – (300 Macedon Center Road – 31F) -- for our first council meeting of the year. We will begin promptly at 7 PM. Please plan to stay after the meeting for socializing with your comrades.

                In closing, I want to thank all who have worked so hard in the past to make our council something special. Over the summer we lost some friends to death and relocation. Peter Verzillo passed away over the summer. Peter was such an important part of our youth programs for many years. He encouraged many of our youth through their participation in Voice of Democracy and Patriots Pen. I speak for all of us when I say he will be missed. We extend our condolences to his family and comrades in Post 6105.

                On a happier note, George Whitfield has moved to the Las Vegas area for a much-deserved retirement. George was also heavily involved in our youth programs as well as providing leadership in positions in his post, our County Council and District 8.

                I look forward to meeting all of you. As I still work, I will not be at county headquarters during the day. However, I can be reached at any of the following numbers. All have machines, so please leave a message, and I’ll return your call as soon as possible.   

Home:     381-5197 Work:     753-4048 Cell:        738-1905 ragdmzvet@aol.com

Thank you all. Please join us Tuesday evening.

Rick Gough – Commander -- Monroe County Council

From Jr. Vice Commander: 

One of my duties this year is as Membership Chairman.  I am also Membership Chairman for the 8^th District.  By now, your Continuous Members have received their renewal notices from National Headquarters.  Now is the time to start getting out your own reminders from your Post.  Let those members needing to renew of the several ways they can do so.  Dues may remitted directly to National using the forms they received in the mail.  Members may also pay their dues directly to their Posts and the Post Quartermaster can then forward them to National.  Another method is by logging onto www.vfw.org and clicking on the e-membership link.  Remind them of the convenience of becoming Life Members, eliminating the hassle of having to remit their dues annually.  National VFW has even set up a one and two year installment plan.

Do you have members you haven’t seen for a while?  Perhaps some of them continue to show up on your rosters as unpaid year after year.  Commanders, either you or one of your representatives should get out and knock on their doors.  Make sure they are well.  I have done this at my own post, and unfortunately learned of some comrades that have passed on.

One other thing, I would like to mention this month.  Last year it was mentioned that I wanted to organize a County Color Guard.  A representative or two from each post in the county is requested to represent Monroe County Council at several parades in the area as well as presenting the colors at the various County Council functions.  Also, after attending a class, they could also function as an Honor Guard.  With so many of our predecessors passing, the County Honor Guard could help lighten the load of the local reserve units and our fellow vets organization (American Legion) Honor Guard.  This is an excellent opportunity to get some of your newer members involved in the VFW.  Please contact me at 271-4485 with information regarding those interested.

In Comradeship

Jim Vanderpool

Monroe County Council Ladies Auxiliary September Newsletter

Dear Sisters:

First I would like to say “Thank you” to all the sisters of Monroe County Council Ladies Auxiliary because at the June State Convention held in Buffalo, I was awarded my “President of the Year” medallion.  I was totally surprised by the award.  I sincerely appreciate everyone’s support of the Monroe County Council Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW. 

In July, I attended OTI and as expected, I learned many new things about the Ladies Auxiliary.  Dean Helen Weeks and the Past Department Presidents and current Line Officers did a very good job in teaching various subjects.

During OTI, Department Treasurer, Marianne McLane, provided a status on the Group Exemption Process for processing our 990 forms.  Marianne advised that she has been in contact with the IRS Consultant, and she is still waiting for the paperwork to be processed for our Group Exemption.  Marianne expects a response in early October. 

Auxiliary Presidents and Treasurers, if you have not already done so, please ensure that dues reminders are sent out to all auxiliary continuous members.  Department President Barbara Hodges’, needs to achieve 90% in membership by December 20^th in order for her to receive her VIP medallion and have her night on the town.  If you need a copy of the dues reminder form, please contact me and I will make sure you receive a copy.  Monroe County Council achieved over 100% in membership last year; I know we can do it again this year.

In addition, the Department of New York Ladies Auxiliary will be sending out dues reminders to all continuous auxiliary members who have not paid thus far.  I expect that these reminder notices will be sent out by mid-September.

If you have not already done so, I would like to suggest that all auxiliaries at your September meeting please process your Donation Report Form as well as your Health & Happiness donation. 

Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen – This program has a deadline of November 1, 2009.  Fliers were given to each Auxiliary President in their folders on this program.  This flier can be copied and distributed to schools, boys and girls clubs, Boy and Girl Scouts, and home schooled students.  Your auxiliary will receive credit if you post the flier to promote the program.  If you have questions or need additional copies, please contact me. 

Buddy Poppy Report – If you have not already done so, please forward your Buddy Poppy Drive Report to me, as Department Veterans and Family Support Chairman, at 19 Calgary Lane, Binghamton, NY  13901.  Please report the number of poppies that were distributed, the number of hours spent, the number of sisters who participated, and the total amount of donations received. 

Reporting – It is very important that each auxiliary sends in their reports to the Department Chairman prior to the 10^th of each month.  Many auxiliaries participated in Loyalty Day, Memorial Day activities, and picnics with our veterans.  Please remember to send in your reports.

Our next Monroe County Council Ladies Auxiliary meeting is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, September 1 at the Danforth Community Center at 12 Noon.  I hope everyone will be able to attend.

The September District Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, September 13 at Geneva Post 2670.  The audit will be held at 1 PM and the business meeting will be held at 2 PM.  All sisters are welcome and encouraged to attend.  Postcard reminders are in process of being sent to the Auxiliaries.  At the District Meeting, I am requesting that the auxiliaries bring school supplies (pencils, crayons, color pencils, spiral notebooks, erasers, rules, pens etc) per our Department Community Service Chairman’s request.  After the meeting, these items will be divided between the areas for distribution to elementary schools.  Your support will be truly appreciated.

I will be attending the National Convention in Phoenix, the week of 8/15 – 8/20 and I am looking forward to bringing back new ideas and information to share with everyone. 

Lastly, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the new Presidents for Auxiliaries 8495 and 9251.  I look forward to working with you this coming year.

I am sure this year we all will “Shoot for the Stars for our Veterans”, which is Department President Barbara Hodge’s theme, as we work for our veterans, our troops, and our communities.

Loyally,

Karen A. Dotson

Monroe County Council

Ladies Auxiliary President

Upcoming Events --Mark Your Calendars

9/13/09            District 8 Meeting – Post 2670 – Geneva

10/16-10/18     Fall Conference -- Albany

10/24/09          District 8 OTI – Post 2670 - Geneva

11/1/09            Deadline for submissions for Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen to Department of New York.