DEPARTMENT OF ALABAMA
VETERANS OF
FOREIGN WARS
1231 Carmichael
Way
August 6, 2007
1. Department General Orders are to be read/discussed at the next Post/District meeting and filed for reference.
2. VFW STATE HEADQUARTERS OFFICE HOURS: is Monday through Thursday 0830-1630 hours. Friday-0830-1600 hours. Office is closed on all Federal Holidays, Fall Conference, Mid-Winter Conference and State Convention dates. Telephone #334-270-8399. Fax #334-270-9056.
3. OFFICIAL E-MAIL ADDRESS: for State Headquarters is vfw@alvfw.org and cdr@alvfw.org.
4. NATIONAL CONVENTION: The VFW National Convention will be held in Kansas City, MO, August 18-23, 2007. Members interested in attending the Convention should contact the State Adjutant for further information.
5. Posts are reminded they must register, in advance, one or more delegates to the VFW National Convention to be held August 18-23, 2007 in Kansas City, MO. (Section 222 of the National By-Laws). Advance registration fee is ten dollars ($10.00) per delegate and should be mailed to the Quartermaster General, VFW National Headquarters, 406 West 34th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111. Registration at Convention is $12.00.
6 NATIONAL VETERANS DAY IN BIRMINGHAM: The Awards Dinner will be on November 11th. Awards Dinner tickets are $23.00 each. The World Peace Luncheon will be on November 12th. World Peace Luncheon tickets are $21.00 each. Tables of 8 are available. Order your tickets from Department Headquarters. Cut-off date for tickets is October 10th. Order early! If your Post desires to enter a float, etc, you must notify Department Headquarters by October 31st. Hotel reservations can be made at the Best Western Medical Center Inn, 808 11th Street South, Birmingham, AL. Telephone #205-933-1900.
7. QUARTERMASTER BONDS: Quartermaster Bonds are due in August each year. The bond covers from September 1st thru August 31st. It is the duty of the Post Commander to see that the Post is properly bonded. Post Adjutants should submit their request for Post insurance directly to Tallman Insurance Agency at VFW National Headquarters, 406 West 34th Street – Suite 806, Kansas City, MO 64111 or contact an agency in your community. Please forward declaration page to Department showing amount of bond and policy dates.
8. WEAPONS: All Posts that have weapons that are used by Honor Guards must be controlled by the Post you must adopt regulations or rules concerning the use, care and security and return of the weapons. Any Post needing help in drafting these rules/regulations should contact the State Adjutant.
9. DISPOSAL OF POST PROPERTY: Section 709 National By-Laws require any Post desiring to sell or mortgage its property must give notice of the meeting to consider the sale or mortgage to each member of the Post and to the Department Commander ten (10) days prior to the meeting and the sale or mortgage must be approved by two-thirds vote of those members present and voting at the meeting.
10. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: The presence, dispensation and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages in VFW meeting rooms during VFW meetings are unacceptable and are prohibited. See Article X-Rules of Order-Section 1000 paragraph 24.
11. ATTENTION COMMANDERS – ALL LEVELS: Your attention is directed to action of the National Council of Administration prohibiting the wearing of baseball type caps and/or western style hats at VFW meetings.
12. ALL STATE TEAM: The State Commander will select an ALL STATE TEAM based on the performance of each individual post. Prerequisites are listed on page 2-6 and 2-7 of 2007-08 Roster and Program Book. It is every Commanders responsibility to know these requirements and points that are available. Being 100% will not always make the team.
13. The following individuals has received National Appointments from Commander-in-Chief for the National Convention in Kansas City, MO: Wayne Dial, General Resolutions; Charles Stephens, By-Laws; Larry Sepanski, Finance; Tom Ferguson, Veterans Service; John Hancock and Larry Dean, Security and Foreign Affairs and Greg Usrey, Military Assistance Program.
14. The VFW and our Ladies Auxiliary have completed its 2006-07 National Programs Year (May 1. 2006 – April 30, 2007). Number of Volunteer hours nationally 13,812,199: Alabama 29,567; Amount of money nationally $68,105,226: Alabama $241,651.46. Total money and volunteer hours value $259,254,968; Alabama $554,973. Thank you for a very “Veterans First in All We Do” year.
15. COMMANDERS: you are requested to insure that all members realize and understand that any conduct unbecoming during State Conference and Conventions where the State or District has contracted with any hotel or other business is subject to the National By-Laws and Manual of Procedure. Any and all complaints should be submitted either in written form or delivered directly to the Convention Committee Chairman or State Adjutant. The Convention Committee Chairman submits a report to the Hotel Management on all complaints received during the contracted period. Members, going directly to the hotel staff is not conducive to good of the Order and will not be tolerated.
16. Immediate Past Commander is as described in National By-Laws Article VII Section 719. The IPC for service on the House Committee when the current Commander repeats himself would be the last Commander that served as Post Commander that is willing, able and ready to serve.
17. Commanders are reminded that any member or guest barred from a Post for violation of By-Laws and/or conduct unbecoming will be allowed to attend all regular scheduled or special called post membership meetings. They may arrive fifteen (15) minutes before scheduled meeting and must leave immediately following close of meeting. They may not purchase any type beverages and entering upon the property at any other time subjects them to arrest for trespassing on VFW property.
18. Article XI Section 1101(f)(3) requires the President of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars at all levels to submit within thirty (30) days of taking office an itemized report of the financial and membership status of the Auxiliary. Nationals ruling on an itemized report of Finances is that it can be year ending Quarterly report or a report of the annual finances. It is left to the discretion of the commanders at each level.
19. ALL COMMANDERS: Article II Section 218 (a) (I) i, require you to insure that all reports are correctly prepared and properly forwarded, this includes update and correction to your post election reports. Failure to submit change of personnel or address changes on your officers and committee chairmen results in a lost of finances in postage expenses and decreases proper and timely connection between National, Department and the Post.
20. CONGRATULATIONS! to the following 2005-2006 ALL AMERICAN COMMANDERS: Roland Day, Commander, George Krigbaum, D-1; Jimmy Whigham, D-8; Jimmy Whigham, P6622; Tom Ferguson, P6020; Joe McCart, P4765, Tom Pyeatt, P4190; Henry Middlebrooks, P7055 and William Beard, P5184.
21. COMMANDERS: Some local ABC agents require all members and guest to be signed in while in the club during operating house. Some don’t require members to be signed in but guest must still be signed in. To prevent any confusion and establish consistency the State Commander in accordance with the National By-Law Article V Section 517 (a)(I)d is requiring all posts that have a canteen to utilize a sign-in log for all members and guests.
22 National Headquarters Special Order #292, dated July 2, 2007, approved the Disciplinary Action sentence of SUSPENSION OF MEMBERSHIP from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of Jim Bishop, Life Membership No. 1026213, Lake Harding Post No. 3212, Riverview, Alabama, and ordering the execution thereof.
23. National Headquarters Special Order #293, dated July 2, 2007, approved the Disciplinary Action of SUSPENSION OF MEMBERSHIP from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of Robert N. Stribling, Membership No. 3234145, Lake Harding Post No. 3212, Riverview, Alabama, and ordering the execution thereof.
24. National Headquarters Special Order #343 dated July 16, 2007 ordered that the name of J. Tracy Headley, Life Membership No. 9000167, be removed from the rolls of Harper-McClellan Post 5035, Tallassee, Alabama, and his membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States terminated by reason of ineligibility.
25. National Headquarters Special Order #345 dated July 16, 2007 ordered that the name of Marvin Best, Life Membership No. 6068841, be removed from the rolls of Battle-Malcomb Post No. 3454, Andalusia, Alabama, and his membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States terminated by reason of ineligibility.
26. National Headquarters Special Order No. 357, dated July 24, 2007, approved the Disciplinary Action sentence of TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of Fredy Finch, Jr., Membership No. 1499007, Francis J. “Frank” Ballard Post No. 6020, Daleville, Alabama, and ordering the execution thereof.
27. National Headquarters Special Order No. 361, dated July 25, 2007, terminated the membership of Walter W. Roberts, 195 Parrish Rd., Daleville, Alabama 36322, Membership No. 1569903, Francis J. “Frank” Ballard Post No. 6020, Daleville, Alabama, because of ineligibility.
BY
ORDER OF:
OFFICIAL:
EDWARD
PRITCHARD
STATE
COMMANDER
JOHN HANCOCK
STATE ADJUTANT