The Department of Massachusetts is seeking a qualified VFW member for the position of State Adjutant . In consultation with the current department line officers, we all agreed that this position requires consistency, dedication, and long-term commitment. We have made the decision that this position will be appointed for no less than a three-year commitment with options for re-appointment based on job performance and job evaluations. We feel that we must seek the best qualified individual with the commitment to serve our membership, and our organization to the fullest. This is a full time position with a salary ranging from 45-50k annually. Hours of employment at the state headquarter office is subject to needs of the department and will be negotiated with any potential applicants. Anyone interested in applying for the State Adjutant position is urged to contact the State Commander Eric Segundo at esegundo@vfwma.org. Attached you will find a full job description with duties and responsibilities.

  MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM, IDEAS & GOALS

Attention ALL Post Commanders, Quartermasters, Officers, Membership Chairman & VFW members – you have been duly appointed on behalf of the Department as Retention NCOs & VFW Recruiters!
  Membership is the lifeblood and sole reason our organization continues to thrive.
Without our existing members and recruiting new ones – the VFW ceases to exist!

HOW TO RETAIN & RENEW EXISTING MEMBERS

The Post Quartermaster has login authority to review your posts membership list:
(this includes current paid members, unpaid members and inactive members unpaid for more than two years).  PRINT OUT THIS LIST!

REACH OUT TO YOUR POST MEMBERS

Call them, send a letter or email them.  Ask how they are doing, check on their health & welfare, do they any need assistance, do they need a ride to your meetings & events, do they need assistance with a VA claim, etc.  They will appreciate you showing a concern for them.  Additionally, sometimes you will sadly discover that member may now be in the hospital, nursing home or even deceased.
  CURRENT PAID MEMBERS:  Remind members to check the valid dates on their membership cards, see if they have expired or will in the next month or two.  Your Officer of the Day should be checking the valid dates of their memberships when your post meetings are opened up in due form.  Have a special “Membership” section in your post newsletter, mailing and bulletin board showing each month what your post membership percentage is and how many renewals and/or new members away the post is from reaching 100%.
  Disabled, Seniors, On Hard Times, Deployed and Active Duty members:  Consider having your post sponsor these individuals by paying the department & national dues of only $27.50.     Your post can use its Relief Fund to assist these individuals – why not help out a comrade!

Department At-Large & Unpaid Members:  The Department provides these lists as a tool of many potential members your post can recruit.  Why not take advantage of this information!  Consider sending out a mailing to these individuals – invite them to be part of your post, tell them when you have meetings, events, etc.  For the price of a postage stamp of .46 cents, what’s the risk?  … you might get a new member out of it … doesn’t get much easier than that.  Just be sure to verify At-Large members eligibility in the VFW by checking their DD-214.

IDEAS & RECRUITING TOOLS FOR NEW MEMBERS

Always keep a membership application in your wallet, purse, desk at work and in your glove compartment.  Eligible members are EVERYWHERE just waiting to be asked to join!

1. Visit your local National Guard and/or Reserve units – especially during their drill weekends and annual training.  Consider having your post sponsor a unit by sending care packages to deployed troops and holding them a BBQ in the summer or an meal at your post.       Provide the First Sergeant & Commander with your VFW information.  If your VFW has the ability, consider offering their first year membership free.  If they are deployed or active duty, consider paying their dues to thank them for their service.
   

1. Poppy Drives, VA Hospitals, Shopping Malls, Grocery Stores, Parking Lots, restaurants, literally anytime & everywhere – if you see an individual wearing a Vietnam, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, USS Ships Name, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard hat – ask them “which VFW do you belong to?”  if they say “Post 3264” say “thanks for being part of the family” … if they say “I don’t belong” say, “we would love to have you become part of our post”
   

Be sure to share that your VFW is more than just a lounge or hall, but all the great things your post does … volunteering at the VA, sponsoring the scouts, youth sports and little leagues, scholarships, disabled & senior veterans, police, fire, EMTs and that we provide service officers to assist with filing VA disability claims and much more.

DISTRICTS COMMANDERS & QUARTERMASTERS

Yes it is the responsibility of the Post Commander, Quartermaster and their post to manage their membership and reach 100% or more … but this is a TEAM EFFORT!  You are their District leadership – you can and should take ownership as well to see your posts succeed … because when they succeed, YOU succeed, the Department succeeds and the VFW succeeds!

Consider having the District sending out a mailing to unpaid and inactive members.  Again, the price of a stamp is only .46 cents, isn’t it worth helping out BOTH your Posts and your District in retaining its membership, getting your posts & district to 100% and earning All-State?

THANK YOU in advance for your efforts in keeping our organization alive and strong!

Michael Raymond, Department Membership Chairman
mraymond@vfwma.org / (603) 608-6898

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM

Calling ALL Post CDRs, QMs, Adjutants, Officers and Community Service Chairman – we want and need you to show us and the world how awesome your VFW Post is and all of the great work you perform in your communities!

Let’s help break the reputation that VFWs are just a lounge or function hall.  Let’s show our communities ALL of the great things we do for our towns, veterans, youth, seniors & more.

You know what’s going on at your post - the CDR runs the meetings, the QM writes out the donation checks and the Adjutant records the meeting minutes of what’s going on - here alone is where you can collect all of the information needed to properly report and be recognized for all of the community service and donations by your post.  Reminder - Community Service reporting is one of several items required for BOTH a Post & District to be eligible for All-State.

REPORTING

The Department is simplifying the reporting process.  PLEASE email the Department Chairman at (mraymond@vfwma.org) and he will email you the new simple Community Service Report form in Microsoft Excel format.  Just enter all of your information and email the completed information back.  If you do not have MS Excel or don’t use a computer, don’t worry - you can complete the form and mail it into the VFW State HQs.

RECOGNITION & AWARDS

National Award:  The Department evaluates all community service reports submitted by every post and determines one winner who then receives the “National Outstanding Community Service Post Award.”   The winning post will receive a street sign to display in front of their post, a plaque to display inside, a stipend of $599 to attend the National Convention and two post representatives are invited to a special awards luncheon at the convention.

State Award:  The Department awards the Runner up with the “Department of Massachusetts Outstanding Community Service Post Award.”  The winning post will receive a street sign to display in front of their post and a plaque to display inside.

DISTRICT COMMANDERS:  This is a TEAM EFFORT!  You are their District leadership – you can help ensure your posts are properly credited with all of the great things they do!  Reach out to the Post CDRs, QMs and/or Adjutants – remind them to report it and you in turn can report it to the Council of Administration meetings.

THANK YOU in advance for reporting all of your hard work and efforts.  We are VFW strong!

Michael Raymond, Department Community Service Chairman.    mraymond@vfwma.org 

(603) 608-6898

Community Service Report Excel link: