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Membership Nov 23

Michelle Brinson Email 901-734-8160

Lights, Camera, and Action
Department of MS Membership
Flier for November 2023

Hello everyone. Hope all of you are doing well. It was great seeing so many of you at the recent School of Instruction in Gulfport. 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.

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. As of October 28, 2023, we have had 218 annual members renew their dues and 43 annual members convert to a life member; sadly, however, we have already lost 1 annual member who passed away. So, what does this mean? This means we have 516 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, now is the time to please be sure to contact those continuous 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.

So far this year, we have gained 35 new annual members, 14 new life members. and 1 rejoin life member. Sadly, however, we have also already lost 30 life members who have passed away. As of October 28, 2023, our “Current Total” Membership (excluding our 31 deceased members) was 2,386 or 82.67% and our “Paid Total” Membership (including our 31 deceased
members) was 2,417 or 83.75%.

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 the following auxiliaries have already met or exceeded some or all of the aforementioned goals. Congratulations to Auxiliaries 2618 and 79 for meeting the 98% Plus in Paid Total Membership goals; to Auxiliaries 3978 and 12121 for meeting both the 98% Plus and 100% Plus in Paid Total Membership goals; and to Auxiliaries 12124 and 10567 for meeting the 98% Plus, 100% Plus, and 101% Plus in Paid Total Membership goals. You are all so amazing!

Report Your Membership Activities Monthly. Please remember to complete the monthly reporting form online or by downloading and completing the form and sending it to me via regular mail, or 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.

Can we reach our goals? I have had the honor to work with you and have seen what all of you have done for the past 2 years, and I believe that we can! Veterans Day is fast approaching and what an amazing gift it would be to renew your membership or convert to a life member in honor of your Veteran(s). Please reach out to your lapsed/unpaid members and encourage
them to renew or convert in honor of their Veteran(s) by November 11, 2023, but no later than November 30, 2023. 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 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.
.
Soaring Above and Beyond for Veterans,
Michele M. Brinson
Department of Mississippi VFWA
Membership Chairman

Legislative Nov 23

Hello All!
We are off to a great start with our Legislative Program. Auxiliaries are reporting the great work being done in your community with your congressman and lawmakers. Continue to contact via phone, text, emails and town hall meetings.

Continue to use the VFW website or MALTA for Priority Goals and ideas needed to help make sure you are on the same page as the VFW.

Auxiliary Presidents, have your legislative chairman give a report at each meeting regarding current Priority Legislation, how it affects our Veterans, Service Members and their Family members along with the status of the bills.

To follow the progress of a bill through the stages of legislative process visit
congress.gov where you may find a specific bill by its number or by a key word or phrase (link to search phrase “Veteran”). KEEP UP GREAT WORK.

BANDING TOGETHER FOR OUR VETERANS !!!

Scholarships Nov 23

Beth Crow Email 662-552-9481

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope that you all are in full swing with your Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen submissions. Remember that Post Judging must be completed by Nov 15.

Our next scholarship deadline is for the Continuing Education Scholarship. Submissions must be received at National Headquarters by Feb. 15. A 300 or less word essay must accompany the application.

We should be actively promoting our Young American Creative Patriotic Art and 3-D Patriotic Art Contests in our schools. Please make sure you have contacted your local art teachers or the school counselors and supplied them with information and flyers. I keep a few of the flyers in my car or purse to give out to young people who I think display artistic talent. I carry brochures to any event and distribute them. You can order up to 50 brochures from National at no charge.

Fall is the time of year for festivals, farmer’s markets, and celebrations, take advantage of that and distribute flyers at these events.

Please remember to submit your reports monthly. I only have about a dozen auxiliaries who have submitted reports. I know there are more of you out there. Get those reports in!

Have a great Thanksgiving and I will see you all at Mid-Winter in January!

Hospital Nov 23

^{Carol Fetters Email 228-596-5014}

This year’s National theme “Banding Together for our Veterans”, and the Department of Mississippi’s theme, “Soaring Above and Beyond for Veterans” is the lifeblood of the Hospital Program. The volunteer efforts of our members and working together will make a huge difference in the lives of our hospitalized veterans.

HONORS ESCORT

The Honors Escort Program is an opportunity to honor each veteran in a respectful and open manner and provides an opportunity for a veteran’s family and friends, other veterans, and medical facility staff to participate in a display of high regard and reverence for the individual at the time of death.

We had an auxiliary participate in this very solemn service. Members of the hospital, other veterans, and onlookers paid their respect to a deceased veteran.

CELEBRATING NON-TRADITIONAL HOLIDAYS As we continue through the months, our National Hospital Ambassador would still like for all volunteers to think outside the box in organizing “fun” for our veterans. Our veterans love celebrating traditional holidays, but so do all the organizations who support our veterans. Maybe they would also enjoy celebrating some non-traditional holidays. Some of these November holidays are:

Plan an event that is different and usual! I am sure there are many ways to celebrate these and other different holidays for our veterans.

Nov. 1 – National scented candle Day

Nov. 4 – National Candy Day

Nov. 6 – Daylight Saving Day

Nov. 8 – Election Day

Nov. 10- National Vanilla Cupcake Day

These holidays are an excellent chance to show your veterans something different to celebrate. Make sure you take care of their caretakers also.

TRADITIONAL HOLIDAYS

Keep in mind the “TRADITIONAL” holidays are coming up! Thanksgiving and Christmas are near. The veterans look for the extra attention they receive during these months. Try to be with them more than usual.

I have received many reports and pictures from the activities for our veterans! Keep doing all the wonderful things you have been doing!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and share it with the hospitalized veterans!

Veterans and Family Support Program Nov 23

Becki Todd email 901-262-8183

“Soaring Above and Beyond for Our Veterans”

Happy Fall to all my Super Supporters!

November is one of our busier months in support of OUR Veterans and their families.

It is Military Family Appreciation Month. It is important to remember the spouses and children left behind by our deployed troops. Things that can be done for them is to adopt a family for the holidays, offer to run errands or offer to watch the children to give the parent a break.

It is also National Caregivers Month. Please remember these selfless souls. They are giving so much of themselves to take care of a Veteran, a spouse or children. Take them a meal, offer to give them a much needed break by sitting in for them or sending them to do something fun for themselves.

Veterans Day is only about a week away. Has your Post or Auxiliary planned an event, a banquet or will be involved in a parade to honor Veterans? Let me know and please share pics.

Thanksgiving will be here before we know it. Remember your Veterans and families that may be alone. It’s nice to take a meal or groceries to them but wouldn’t it be even more wonderful to invite them to share a meal with your family.

Thank you for all you do for our Veterans, service members and their families.

“Banding Together for Our Veterans”

I am always available for questions or to help with your reports.

REPORT the SUPPORT!

Youth Activities November 23

Betty Doucet email 228-990-6969

WOW! What a hot summer! I love the fall with the cooler weather and hopefully colder weather behind it. But I also love the Thanksgiving season which I celebrate all year round thanks to the dedication of the men and women that have selfishly given their time for the preservation of freedom for all of us back here at home.

FREEDOM and what that really means to us. What a great thing to instill in our youth! The love of freedom and we have that opportunity to do it each and every day and some of you are. Have any of you thought of going to the schools or ‘youth’ gatherings and talked of some of the reasons we have Thanksgiving and continue to have this wonderful holiday (and all holidays)? What wonderful things we can ‘pass on’ to our children. As everyone knows, kids of all ages watch everything we do and want to be just like Mom and Dad.

We have several programs that help to strengthen the love of country, freedom and the liberties we enjoy every day. Patriotism through programs such as ‘Illustrating America Art Contest’, ‘3 Dimensional Patriotic Art Contest’, and ‘Get excited about the Red, White and Blue’ or just a few. Several of you have asked about the Department coloring contest and we have brought it back this year. If your president didn’t get the pictures at Council, contact me and I will get them to you.

Are you helping your post promote the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen programs for our youth? Children in the ‘home school’ program are also eligible for all the above programs. If anyone needs help with anything, call me or check on our the web site for more information on any program the VFW or Auxiliary sponsor.

Please remember to fill out report forms on the web or send hard copies, anyway you want I’ll take them.

Thank you for the time you spend on this program and have a safe and healthy Thanksgiving and remember the veterans deployed this and every holiday season.

Buddy Poppy – November 2023

Tanya Constant email

MATCH GAME: NATIONAL HOME

When did the fire department start?	Sweetpea
In 1975 the home received a firetruck by raising soup labels. What did the firefighters name that fire truck?	11 in the beginning, eventually changed to 14
The national home fire department supported 2 cities’ fire departments as reserves. Name one.	5
How old did a child have to be to start training?	The Military order of the Cootie
How many fire trucks did the fire department own total?	In 1950/51 as part of Operation Fire Department.
What organization built the Fire barn?	Onondaga, Eaton Rapids.

Disaster

Billy Morrison email

Disaster comes in all shapes and forms. In the south we think of hurricanes, floods, tornados, and fires. It happens suddenly and cause much suffering or loss to many people. Actually, a disaster is any even defined by the need for external assistance.

The Department of Mississippi VFW Auxiliary has a Disaster Fund which is used to offset some of the losses sustained by our auxiliary members due to one of these occurrences.

You only have three ((3) months after a disaster to submit an application with supporting documentations (pictures, newspaper clippings, police or fire reports, etc.) to the Disaster Chairman. Only one application each per event please. You must be living in the residence at the time of the disaster.
We need donations to continue this fund. Due to all the disasters that we have had, donations will offset the depletion of funds. So, we are asking that any auxiliary that can give a little extra this year please do so.

Please send all donations to our Department Treasurer:
Benita Lyman

Awards:
Citation to each Auxiliary contributing to the Disaster Fund by 5/31/2024.

Auxiliary Outreach November 23

Deborah Turner, Auxiliary (601) 506-9430 Email

report form

REACH OUT FOR AUXILIARY OUTREACH

Search your community for great partnerships.

For example, and individual can cook for and feed several Homeless Veterans and people in the community and that’s honorable but if you partner with and established soup kitchen it can mean feedings hundreds per day and that is making a difference on a much larger scale.

Auxiliaries are responsible for so many good deeds that help our communities. Collectively, all our projects need to be counted to effectively show the importance of the local VFW and VFW Auxiliary to the community.

Thanks for all you do. Don’t hesitate to contact me

Youth Activities October 2023

Betty Doucet EMAIL 228-990-6969

Ladies and gentlemen….how time has flown! September is gone and holidays are around the corner. And speaking of holidays, has your auxiliary reported the Easter events during the month of April. As most of you know,

I have spoken to or left word with all the Presidents of each auxiliary regarding name and contact information for the Youth Committee chairman.

I have been surprised at all the various work you have done in and around your community for our veterans with and without the youth. I’m so glad I contacted each one of you. They were enlightening conversations. As most of you knew our reporting year ended on March 31 so I was jogging your minds about activities that may have been forgotten ie. Easter egg hunts, after school parties, pool parties, Vacation Bible school, Scouts activities, reading at the Library, Boys and Girls Club functions etc. etc.. AND don’t forget the pictures some of you have promised to bring. Some of you have already been on the ‘web’ to file your reports, thank you.

If you do activities that aren’t mentioned on my form I will gladly take those

also. Everything that is done can’t be mentioned on such short paper.

Working with the young people can be so rewarding and refreshing to our spirits. Does anyone need tips for ‘working with the youth’? There is a list of them on the web and I’ll bring some with me at our next Council of Administration in October.

Fellow brothers and sisters, the Youth of today are our LEADERS of tomorrow and we have the opportunity to shape that future for the good of our country. We set examples for the young and they watch us all the time.

If you have some free time, consider ‘adopting’ a school, classroom, youth club or group and get that ‘feel great’ feeling. You will not regret it.

Remember, report, report, and report. Thank you for all you do.