To: ALL Post, County and District Commanders (Dec. 7, 2011)

To be read at your meetings:

Membership, Membership, Membership – WE all know that membership is the backbone of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. The clubs preach this year after year, week after week. I wish to thank all members that have already paid their dues in advance of the New Year, and remind those that have not paid dues by 31 December 2011 that their membership will not be in good standing. Do not wait until the last minute!

       All Officers - Commanders, Senior Vice Commanders, Junior Vice Commanders, Quartermasters, Etc. will be removed from positions and will be unable to serve in any position in the Post, County, District or State for the remainder of membership year 2011-2012. "PLEASE, let’s ALL stick together and Get your dues paid early." Last year, National was required to remove 937 officers that did not have dues paid. So far this year, we have already pulled charters and removed ten posts that did not file an election report. Formerly, the NY Department comprised 700 plus posts, today WE are down to around 500 posts with less than 65,000 members. Just a few years ago, our Department of New York had more than 110,000 members.

         Comrades without membership WE will no longer have the strength in Albany or on Capitol Hill to make OUR voices heard when it comes to Veterans Benefits and Hospital care. As this news article goes out, some Congressional members in Washington D.C. are looking for ways to cut benefits that we were promised. WE have fought for and need to continue to fight for benefits in the years to come. Without legislation that WE as members struggle to preserve and lobby for we will continue to lose MORE pledged benefits year after year.

Comrades, all veterans, "Look into a mirror" and ASK.

When is the last time I brought a NEW member or a PAST member back that has not renewed THEIR dues into OUR great organization?

          The "Veterans of Foreign Wars" of the "United States"

     If WE do not try building on OUR membership the reduction in OUR Posts, will continue and be no one’s fault but our own. Quoting one of our Past-Commander-In-Chiefs, "If every member out there went out and recruited or reinstated at least one member, what a great organization this would be." Remember WE as VETERANS have to keep on fighting. We are ALL Comrades and have to stick together, cover each other’s back and keep on fighting.                     

                                           Recruit, Reinstate and Retain.