DEPARTMENT OF ALABAMA
VETERANS OF
FOREIGN WARS
July 1, 2008
1. Having been duly elected at the 74th State Convention on June 7, 2008 and properly installed as Commander, Department of Alabama, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, I Dave Alvey hereby assume command.
2. The following officers having been duly elected and installed will be accorded the proper recognition:
Sr. Vice Commander – George Jones, Post 6073 Scottsboro, AL
Jr. Vice Commander – Rod Stone, Post 3016, Selma, AL
Quartermaster – John Hancock, Post 3550, Eight Mile, AL
Judge Advocate – Wayne Dial, Post 924 Anniston, AL
Surgeon – Lester Kapelka, Post 5850, Eufaula, AL
Chaplain – Val Obregon, Post 3568 Bay Minette, AL
Immediate Past Commander – Edward Pritchard, Post 3073, Dothan, AL
District 1 Commander – Max Holt, Post 4543, Haleyville, AL
District 2 Commander – Melton Bernie Arnold, Post 6073. Scottsboro, AL
District 3 Commander – Tom Murray, Post 668, Birmingham, AL
District 4 Commander – James Giles, Post 924, Anniston, AL
District 5 Commander – George Fulkerson, Post 5404 Auburn, AL
District 6 Commander – Luther Parden, Post 5106, Thomasville, AL
District 7 Commander – Tom Ferguson, Post 6020 Daleville, AL
District 8 Commander – Harry Smith, Post 49, Mobile, AL
3. All previous appointments are hereby null and void.
4. The following appointments are hereby announced:
Adjutant – Travis Whaley, Post 924, Anniston, AL
Chief of Staff – Greg Usrey, Post 2702, Huntsville, AL
Inspector – Johnny Boyington, Post 3568, Bay Minette, AL
Sgt.-at-Arms – Stephanie Allen, Post 8640, Sheffield, AL
Department Service Officer – J. J. Aretz, Post 96, Montgomery, AL
Convention Committee Chairman – Charles Stephens, Post 3128 Ft. Payne, AL
5. All other appointments are listed in the 2008-2009 Roster and Programs Book furnished to all State, District and Post Officers. These comrades will be accorded the proper recognition.
6. GENERAL ORDERS: 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 2008-2009 Council of Administration will be July 19, 2008 at 10:00 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 12, 2008) 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. 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.”
11. 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.
12. The Commander-in-Chief’s slogan for the 2008-2009, membership year is “HONOR-SACRIFICE-SERVICE”. Our State Commander’s slogan is “OUR VETERANS-SECOND TO NONE”. Let’s all participate by our commitment to serve our Post, District and Department working on all Programs including membership.
13. 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.
14. POST DUES RESERVE: Attention is directed to Section 717, 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 (2009) dues paid by each member prior to July 1, 2009, except dues remitted by the post. No Post Quartermaster shall disburse, nor shall an obligation be incurred against this fund until after July 1, 2009, at which time it shall be transferred to the Post General Fund and be available for expenditure.
15. 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.
16. BUDDY POPPY: 2008-2009 Buddy Poppies will cost $65.00 for 500 and $130.00 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 2008-2009.
17. 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.
18. NOTICE: National By-Laws Article II Section 213 requires that the office of Quartermaster be bonded, that the Post be properly insured and that all trustee audits be submitted on time. Failure to comply will subject your Post Charter to suspension.
19. MANDATORY: National By-Laws and Manual of Procedures Article II Section 218 (a) (l) K required the Commander, and in his absence the Sr. Vice and in the absence of both of them the Jr. Vice Commander to attend all properly called District meeting, There will be no exceptions to this requirement.
20. The Congressional charter “An Act” Section 5 and the National By-Laws Article I Section 101 describe in detail the requirements for membership in the VFW and it does not allow for any type of Honorary or Associate membership, PERIOD.
BY
ORDER OF:
DAVE
ALVEY
STATE
COMMANDER
OFFICIAL:
TRAVIS WHALEY
STATE ADJUTANT