Michelle Brinson (601) 734-8160 EMAIL monthly report form
Hello everyone. What a way to start the new year with so much cold, ice, and snow for much of the state! I hope everyone has recovered that we’re affected by the weather and look forward to seeing all of you in March in Gulfport for the Council of Administration/School of Instruction.
Let’s look at what Membership means to our organization but, most importantly, to our Veterans.
Membership is the lifeblood of our organization and, without members, we would not have the voice that we have and would not be able to accomplish the great things that we do in support of and for our Veterans. Without each of you and without new members, who will take care of our Veterans? It’s scary to think about, or should be. Why? Because each of you matter not
only to your Auxiliary, District, Department, and Organization, but because each of you matter to our Veterans.
Again, as a reminder, if you have officers who have not yet paid their dues for the year, in accordance with Sec. 109 of our National Bylaws, “…No officer may be relieved of their office except for the following reasons: Non-payment of dues prior to December 31.
Once relieved from office, the member may not be re-elected or appointed to any position until the member’s dues are paid…” Auxiliary presidents/Secretaries, please log in to MALTA, click on Duties, click on Reports, and click on Unpaid Members Report for your Auxiliary. If your Auxiliary has an officer who did not renew their dues by December 31, 2023,
please notify your District President along with our Department Secretary Gloria Grady, Department Treasurer Benita Lyman, Chief of Staff Laurie Williamson, and Madam President Barbara Franklin. Don’t forget, you will need to call for nominations and hold an election at your next meeting if you have not already done so to fill the vacant position(s).
This year, we need to retain 778 continuous annual members (annual members who renew or convert to a life member) compared to 840 continuous annual members last year. First, I want to say a huge “Thank You” to all of the auxiliaries who have been working retention so hard. Since December, you have renewed 76 members! As of January 30, 2024, we have
had 570 annual members renew their dues and 58 annual members convert to a life member.
So, what does this mean? This means we still have 133 annual members who have not yet renewed their dues or converted to a life member. The question we need to answer is why.
Why are we losing so many members who do not choose to renew their dues, and what can we do to change this trend and keep members active and involved? With that in mind, please be sure to continue to work hard to make contact with those annual members who have not yet renewed their dues or converted to a life member. Remember, you can generate dues reminder
notices in MALTA to mail to your annual members and/or you can reach out to them by phone, letter, text, message, email, or face-to-face. Please encourage their participation and let them know how important they are to your auxiliary, our organization, and to all Veterans and their families. Also, please be sure to remind them of the eligibility requirements for the Cancer
Grant, which are as follows: “Applicant must be a member of the VFW Auxiliary for one (1) full year and current dues must be paid…” While we all hate to lose members for any reason, we surely do not want any of our members to lose their eligibility for the cancer grant because they
are not current in paying their dues.
So far this year, we have gained 62 new annual members, 10 rejoin annual members, 22 new life members. and 2 rejoin life member for a total of 96 new members, which is up 9 new members from December. Sadly, however, we have also already lost 1 annual member and 45 life members who have passed away. As of January 28, 2024, our “Current Total” Membership (excluding our 46 deceased members) was 2,783 or 96.43% and our “Paid
Total” Membership (including our 46 deceased members) was 2,829 up 151 members from December or 98.02%.
So, Lights, Camera, Action:
Remember, this year, we are incorporating movies into our Membership Program, and we want to make it fun for all and help our Southern Conference Director win the prestigious award for Best Picture of the 2023-2024 Program Year. So, let’s all “Band Together” to help make this happen by inviting new members, investing in all members, and including current members.
Keep all members informed, encourage their participation, and get them involved in
activities/events. Have a Plan that includes:
- Contacting current members
- Outreach to former members;
- Recruiting events for new members;
- Picking a mentor for a new member;
- Planning at least four recruiting events in your community each year.
Membership Program Awards:
● Awards for Members:
- Lights, Camera, Action! pin to each VFW and VFW Auxiliary member who recruits five (5) new members to the VFW Auxiliary from July 1, 2023, through May 31,
- The Department Treasurer must enter membership in MALTA with credit given to the recruiter by June 10, 2024. Lights, Camera, Action! pin will be mailed directly to the member from National Headquarters.
- National Membership Achievement (NMA) Award to each VFW and VFW Auxiliary member who recruits 20 new members to the VFW Auxiliary from July 1, 2023, through May 31, 2024. The Department Treasurer must enter membership in MALTA with credit given to the recruiter by June 10, 2024. NMA Award to be presented at the
2024 National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. If a member is not in attendance, the award will be mailed directly to the member from National Headquarters after the National Convention. - Lights, Camera, Action! VFW Auxiliary Recruiter Drawing. Each VFW Auxiliary National Membership Achievement Award recipient will be entered into a drawing to receive a $500 Visa Gift Card (VFW Recruiters are not eligible). Recruiter Award Forms are no longer needed for VFW Auxiliary members. Reports are compiled by VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters from information entered in MALTA. VFW members who
recruit new VFW Auxiliary members will need to fill out the required VFW members-only form that is available on MALTA Member Resources. Completed form must be received at VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters and Department Treasurer must enter membership in MALTA by June 10, 2024.
● Awards for Auxiliaries: - $25 to each Auxiliary that reaches 98% Plus in Paid Total Membership by March 31, 2024*.
- $25 to each Auxiliary that reaches 100% Plus in Paid Total Membership by June 30, 2024*.
- Lights, Camera, Action! VFW Auxiliary Drawing. Each VFW Auxiliary that
reaches 101% Plus in Paid Total Membership by June 30, 2024* will be entered into a one time drawing to receive $500.
I am very happy to report that 23 auxiliaries have already met or exceeded some or all of the aforementioned goals. That’s up 4 auxiliaries from December!
● Awards for Departments: - Silver Department Award #2: $250 to each Department that reaches 98% Plus in Paid Total Membership or 2,829 total members (including deaths) by March 31, 2024*. As of January 29, 2024, we have met our goal!
- Gold Department Award #3: $300 to each Department that reaches 100% Plus in Paid Total Membership or 2,886 total members (including deaths) by June 30, 2024*. As of January 28, 2024, we only need 57 annual members to renew or convert to life and/or new or rejoin annual/life members. Remember, we have 133 annual members
who have not renewed; so, we could easily reach and exceed this goal. - Platinum Department Award #4: $400 to each Department that reaches 101% Plus in Paid Total Membership or 2,915 total members (including deaths) by June 30, 2024*. Departments that receive the Platinum Department Award #4 for $400 will still receive the Gold Department Award #3 for $300 for a combined total of $700. As of January 28, 2024, we only need 86 members in order to reach this goal. Remember,
we have 133 annual members who have not renewed; so, we could easily reach and exceed this goal.
● Conference vs. Conference: - $50 to each Department within the Conference with the highest total percentage by January 31, 2024*.
- $50 to each Department within the Conference with the highest total percentage by June 30, 2024*
*Based on the June 30, 2023, year-end membership numbers.
Report Your Membership Activities Monthly. Please remember to complete the monthly reporting form online at http://www.vfwauxms.org/report-forms/ or by downloading and
completing the form and sending it to me via regular mail at Michele Brinson, or by email at no later than the
5th day of each month if possible. If you have problems completing the reporting form online or sending it via regular mail or email, you may call me or text me with your information at 901-734-8160.
I have had the honor to work with you and have seen what all of you have done for the past 2 years and what you have done so far this year, and I believe that we can reach and exceed our goal! We are fast approaching March 31, 2024, and what an amazing gift it would be to
renew your membership or convert to a life member in honor of your Veteran(s). Auxiliaries, please continue to reach out to your lapsed/unpaid members and encourage them to renew or
convert in honor of their Veteran(s) today but no later than March 31, 2024, and please continue to recruit new members into our organization. Let’s continue to honor our Veterans, our Service men and women, their families, our communities, and our organization by keeping our membership current, being involved/active, and by asking others to join. Remember, our membership and service matter–You matter and, by “Banding Together,” we can do so much for those who have sacrificed and done so much for our Country and for all of us. God bless our Veterans, Service Members, their families, our organization, our department, and all of you.
Hope to see all of you in March in Gulfport.
Roll On Mississippi And Keep Soaring Above and Beyond for Veterans,