DEPARTMENT OF ALABAMA
VETERANS OF
FOREIGN WARS
July 6, 2007
1. Having been duly elected at the 73rd State Convention on June 17, 2007 and properly installed as Commander, Department of Alabama, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, I Edward Pritchard hereby assume command.
2. The following officers having been duly elected and installed will be accorded the proper recognition:
Sr. Vice Commander – Dave Alvey, Post 4190 Decatur, AL
Jr. Vice Commander – George Jones, post 6073 Scottsboro, AL
Quartermaster – Travis Whaley, Post 924 Anniston, AL
Judge Advocate – Wayne Dial, Post 924 Anniston, AL
Surgeon – Tom Baltzell, Post 5228, Smiths, AL
Chaplain – Val Obregon, Post 3568 Bay Minnette, AL
Immediate Past Commander – Roland Ray, Post 668 Birmingham, AL
District 1 Commander – Frank Rhodes, Post 5173 Guntersville, AL
District 2 Commander – Ray Holland, Post 8600 Gadsden, AL
District 3 Commander – James Wheeler, Post 218 Pleasant Grove, AL
District 5 Commander – George Fulkerson, Post 5404 Auburn, AL
District 6 Commander – Larry Dean. Post 4572 Wetumpka, AL
District 7 Commander – Tom Ferguson, Post 6020 Daleville, AL
District 8 Commander – Jimmy Whigham, Post 6622, Opp, AL
District 9 Commander – Buddy Pound, Post 49 Mobile, AL
District 10 Commander – Luther Parden, Post 5106 Thomasville, AL
District 11 Commander – Donald Bender, Post 6022 Tuscaloosa, AL
District 12 Commander – James Farley, Post 4919 Sheffield, AL
3. All previous appointments are hereby null and void.
4. The following appointments are hereby announced:
Adjutant – John Hancock, Post 3550 Eight Mile, AL
Chief of Staff – Jim Giles, Post 924 Anniston, AL
Inspector – Jim Walden, Post 12072 Phenix city, AL
Sgt.-at-Arms – Rod Stone, Post 3016 Selma, AL
Department Service Officer – Mickey Payne, Post 1349 Prattville, AL
Department Service Officer – William Errol Law, Post 4572 Wetumpka, AL
Convention Committee Chairman – Charles Stephens, Post 3128 Ft. Payne, AL
5. All other appointments are listed in the 2007-2008 Roster and Programs Book furnished to all State, District and Post Officers. These comrades will be accorded the proper recognition.
6. GENERAL ORDERS: All material and State General Orders are directive in nature and will be read to the membership at the post regular membership meetings each month.
7. ATTENTION COMMANDERS: at all levels is directed to Section 703 of the National By-Laws which requires that each accountable employee and officer be bonded with and indemnity company in the sum at least equal to the amount of liquid assets for which he may be accountable.
8. The next Business Session of the 2007-2008 Council of Administration will be July 22, 2007 at 9:00 AM at VFW State Headquarters. Any member having any item(s) to come before the Council, should contact their representative and provide them with the information. Any item (s) not received by the State Adjutant at Department Headquarters at least seven (7) days (July 20, 2007) prior to the Council Meeting will not be added to the agenda.
9. ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES VISITS: All Commanders are required to notify the Department as soon as possible and no later than 72 hours after any contact by phone, letter or visit by Federal, State or Local Enforcement Officers of the ABC Board, IRS Office, local Sheriff, Police Departments or any other agencies of their visit and any violation or request noted or any information requested.
10. SOLICITATION OF FUNDS: Section 214 Manual of Procedures states, “ A Post shall not solicit funds or donations or other wise engage in fund-raising activities or projects outside the immediate geographical area or community of the Post.” This includes selling raffle tickets, etc. without complete compliance with Section 214.
11. CONTROL OF UNITS: National By-Laws Section 709 states, “No
Post, County Council, District or Department and no activity, clubroom or
holding company or unit sponsored, conducted or operated by, for or on behalf
of any Post, County Council, District or Department may own any property
jointly or in common with any individual, firm, partnership, association,
corporation or other business or charitable entity, including veterans
organizations nor may they participate in any arrangement whereby the funds of
such Post, County Councils, District or Department or activity clubroom,
holding company or unit sponsored, conducted or operated by, for or in its
behalf are expended on property held by another entity for the joint used of
such Post, County Council, District and Department and other individuals,
firms, partnership, associations, corporation or other business or charitable
entities, including veterans organizations.”
12. Heritage Corporation/American Veterans Publication will be telemarketing in Alabama working and making telephone calls on behalf of the Department of AL, VFW. This is an authorized program.
13. The Commander-in-Chief’s slogan for the 2007-2008, membership year is “Veteran Forever Serving”. Our State Commander’s slogan is “Caring and Serving All Veterans and Families”. Let’s all participate by our commitment to serve our Post, District and Department working on all Programs including membership.
14. WEARING OF HATS: Attention of Commanders at all levels is directed to action of the National Council of Administration prohibiting the wearing of VFW sport caps and/or western style caps at VFW meetings in place of the regulation cap of the VFW official uniform as set forth in Section 803 of the National By-Laws and Manual of Procedure. This prohibition is in accordance with previous directive of Commanders-in-Chief that it is held to be objectionable and contrary to accepted rules of order and proper decorum implicit in the ritual of the Veterans of Foreign Wars to permit the wearing of other than the official VFW caps at VFW meetings. This also applies to informal meetings.
15. POST DUES RESERVE: Attention is directed to Section 218, Manual of Procedure, which mandates Post Quartermasters to maintain a dues reserve fund to which shall be credited no less than one/half of the Post’s part of the current year’s (2008) dues paid by each member prior to July 1, 2008, except dues remitted by the post. No post Quartermaster shall disburse, nor shall an obligation be incurred against this fund until after July 1, 2008, at which time it shall be transferred to the Post General Fund and be available for expenditure.
16. ATTENTION OF POST COMMANDERS: is directed to Section 218, Manual of Procedure, Duty of Trustees, which states that Post Trustees shall prepare and submit quarterly, through their Post Commander, a Post Trustees Report of Audit (Supply Department Stock No. 4212) to the Department Inspector. The first report is due at the close of September. Do not mail these reports to National Headquarters.
17. BUDDY POPPY: 2007-2008 Buddy Poppies will cost $62.50 for 500 and $125.00 for 1,000. This includes postage. Minimum order is 500. Order early for Veterans Day. Support the disabled veterans in the VA Hospitals that make Buddy Poppies by having a great program for 2007-2008.
18. A House Committee is elected to act as management for the business affairs at the club. State VFW Club Regulations for Alabama organizations and By-Laws explains in detail their overall responsibilities.
19. National Headquarters Special Order No. 272, dated June 11, 2007, terminating the membership of Johnnie W. Russell, 1301 Adams Avenue., Apt 514, Montgomery, AL 36104, Membership No, 9602943, Harper-McClelland Post No. 5035, Tallassee, AL, because of ineligibility.
20. National Headquarters Special Order No. 287, dated June 26, 2007 suspended the membership of Kenneth M. Lucas Life Members No. 1449476 Park-Miller VFW Post 4767, Aliceville, AL due to disciplinary action.
21. Due to the unavoidable change in the State School of Instruction dates item #6 page 2-7 of the Roster and Programs Book is wavered. These 25 points will not be counted towards ALL STATE for anyone.
22. Phone number change: Roster and Programs Book: page 1-2, 1-11 and 2-29 change Larry Dean to read C-334-328-4546.
BY
ORDER OF:
EDWARD
PRITCHARD
STATE
COMMANDER
OFFICIAL:
JOHN HANCOCK
STATE ADJUTANT