According to Article VIII, Sec. 822 of the National Bylaws, “The Historian shall collect all authentic material pertaining to the history of their Auxiliary, carefully compile the same, and submit a report at the end of the year.”
The Auxiliary and District Historian & Media Relations
Chairmen
Our job as Historians & Media Relations Chairmen is to capture the 2023-2024 Program Year. At the Auxiliary/District/Department, we are the ones who shares the word about our Auxiliary to our communities. As Chairmen we should promote the Auxiliary through media, VFW & Auxiliary newsletters, websites and any other media that is available to us.
MEDIA: there are several resources available behind your MALTA login to help guide you through contacting/submitting news articles to the media. (Please share your submission with me as well)
VFW Auxiliary Publicity Guide – this is a how to guide book. Each Auxiliary received a printed copy of this during the August School of Instruction. (If your auxiliary President was not able to attend the District President was given your Auxiliary copy)
VFW-Auxiliary-Elevator Speech-What We Do – Through our National Programs, we assist the VFW pass or block legislation that impacts veterans and their families, provide nearly a million volunteer hours in the VA medical system, conduct patriotic programs with thousands of students and offer hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships for our nation’s youth.
VFW-Auxiliary-Local-Talking-Points – There are more than 3,600 Auxiliaries nationwide and we are working here in (your city/town name) to improve the lives of our nation’s veterans. Learn how you can get involved at www.vfwauxiliary.org and visit our Facebook page. Search for (list your Auxiliary name here).
and so much more….
This Program Year there are 2 projects for us. We are the tellers of the 2023-2024 story:
Make a digital or physical scrapbook for your President. – Capture the special memories and activities through photos and videos and inform the public about our valuable National Programs. As Historian we will need to keep a written report of the Program Year for the Auxiliary/District/Department and give it to your President after State Convention where your scrapbooks will be judged.
Connect with a legacy member and complete a three- to five-minute video interview
Ask why they joined.
Ask about their favorite memorable moment(s).
Place emphasis on bringing the past to life.
Your can also look to your District or Department for legacy stories.
Submit your video to me before by March 31, 2024 for judging. Videos will be judged and the 1st place video will be forwarded to National by April 30, 2024. Your winning video may be shown at National Convention!- wouldn’t that be amazing?
(send some pictures in for possible inclusion in the Mid-Winter book)
Don’t forget to grab a photo release consent form before taking pictures. Release forms can be downloaded here.
Ensure a Positive Member Experience Engage in Learning and Training Opportunities Develop and Empower Members for Leadership Roles
Mentoring helps broaden leadership skills and leadership provides guidance for mentoring members.
What is mentoring: A stronger membership on every level of our organization to enhance all types of Program activities. Vigilance in mentoring will make the difference in obtaining and maintain members.
CARE stands for Catch the member when they first join. Ask them to participate. Remember what it felt like to be new. Engage them in a program that fits them.
What is leadership? Willingness to listen to the suggestions of others and following the guidelines set in place for the office or position held.
This year, the Department of MS VFW Auxiliary will have a Member of the Year. The winner chosen for the Department will be sent to National to be considered in the running for National VFW Auxiliary Member of the Year. The criteria for this award are as follows:
Description of what the Auxiliary Member has done.
The Auxiliary member’s work must be done during July 2023 – March 2024.
The member cannot be a current Auxiliary, District or Department President.
The nomination does not have to go through district.
The Auxiliary member must have been a member in good standing without lapsing their membership during the 2023-2024 year.
The Auxiliary member must go above and beyond.
A committee will be chosen to review all nominations received by the Mentoring for Leadership Chairman.
I would like to thank Madam President Barbara for appointing me as her Chief of Staff for the upcoming year. I will do everything in my power to help our Officers and Ambassadors. I am looking forward to a productive year under President Barbara’s leadership.
As Chief of Staff and Extension & Revitalization Ambassador, I am here to provide guidance, resources and the tools needed to help our District Presidents, Auxiliary Presidents and Chairmen keep our Auxiliaries functioning in a healthy manner. I will do my best to be a sounding board for those that need to talk out a problem or concern. We need to ensure that Auxiliaries are conducting business in a way that works for their members and those members feel empowered and engaged.
The Department Chief of Staff and the District Presidents should always work together. The District President must be honest in their assessment of the Auxiliaries in their District. The Official Visit Report is the only way that President Barbara and I will know if an Auxiliary is in trouble or needs a little help. It is the responsibility of the District President to be honest in their assessment of the Auxiliary and make sure that it is in good working order. And when you see those “Red Flags”, the sooner we can catch those, the better.
I want us all to work on those Unaffiliated (Bachelor) Posts. District Presidents, let President Barbara or myself know about those in your District. President Barbara can set up a committee to go and present all the reasons that they need an Auxiliary.
Remember, we are all in this together. The healthier our Auxiliaries are, the healthier the Department is. Let’s all work together!
Please, contact me for any questions, concerns or issues.
Hi, I am Deborah Turner your Auxiliary outreach chairperson for 2023-2024. I am looking forward to an awesome year of reporting the things you are doing in your communities. Collectively, all our projects and hours need to be counted to effectively show the importance of the local VFW and VFW Auxiliary to the community.
I know that reaching our veterans and community are just as important to you as they are to me. So, let’s make a difference. report, report ,report we are better as a unit than apart.
If you are unsure about your project Feel free to contact me: Ph (601)506-9430 Email or Mail 1117 Sawmill Drive, Crystal Springs MS. 39059
Exert from Malta-member resources- Auxiliary Outreach: What’s Considered Auxiliary Outreach Examples include:
Working walks or runs that benefit other organizations as an event spotter, water station volunteer, timekeeper, etc. (Walking or running in the race is not part of Auxiliary Outreach; that’s participation, not partnering.)
Working with local police on child ID kits or with EMTs to host CPR Training.
Working with firefighters on fire safety and prevention.
Working with parks and recreation departments to plant trees, develop non-veteran related community art installations and on adopt-a-park initiatives.
Helping with a spay and neuter animal clinic.
Serving food at soup kitchens.
What’s Not Considered Auxiliary Outreach Auxiliary Outreach is for projects NOT AFFILIATED with VFW or VFW Auxiliary Programs. Volunteer work that is performed for the benefit of the Post or Auxiliary is NOT considered Outreach. Examples of projects that do not qualify include:
Repairs to, maintenance or beautification of the Post home.
Cooking or serving a meal for a Post or Auxiliary fundraiser.
“Buddy”® Poppy distribution.
VFW or Auxiliary meetings, conventions, conferences, or schools of instruction.
Providing an honor guard at a member’s funeral.
Flying the American Flag.
Conducting Flag retirement programs.
Church activities for one specific congregation and not the entire community (e.g., usher, elder, deacon, minister, etc.)
Remember to wear something that shows you are a VFW Auxiliary member. Get your Outreach program approved by the Auxiliary body. Thank you in advance, now let’s do great things.
Salutations Auxiliary Members! I am so excited to be asked to be chairman of this program for another year. Thank you to Madame President Barbara for entrusting me with it. I look forward to working with all of you again to see just how much support we can give. Our objective as auxiliaries is to provide support to the VFW and to serve our veterans, service members and their families. This is at the heart of our organization. Our veterans sacrificed so much for us and we need to work to support them now by providing direct aid in the form of meals, transportation, donations(money), the list is endless as to what you can do.
There are several programs within this program and they include: ● National Veterans Service (NVS) – helps to obtain benefits they deserve – at no cost. Every county in MS has a Service Officer who can help file claims or work to ensure they receive VA Healthcare. ● Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness – confidential support is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-MyVA411 for all VA Depts. OR call 988 & press 1, also online at veteranscrisisline.net or text 838255.
For our active duty or recently discharged service members these include: ● Military Assistance (MAPS) – funds ways for VFW & Auxiliary members to give more to their local military units. Contact VFW Veterans & Military Support at 816-756-3390 on how to apply. ● Unmet Needs – grants up to $1500.00 payable to a creditor to help with rent/mortgage, utilities, auto repairs and more. Visit vfw.org/assistance/financial-grants. ● VFW “Sports Clips” Help a Hero Scholarship – awards scholarships up to $5000.00 to help complete educational goals. Visit vfw.org/student-veterans-support
Also remember to utilize the Veterans & Family Support materials/resources available on the National website. Visit malta.vfwauxiliary.org and if you are not already signed up in MALTA, please do so.
May we always stand united, in front of, beside and in back of all our veterans, to always support them! I am always available for questions or help with your report form. You can reach me several ways and send those reports to any of them. Becki Todd
I would like to thank Madam President Barbara Franklin for asking me to serve as the 2023 – 2024 Membership Program Chairman for the Department of Mississippi. It is truly an honor to be asked to serve again, and I am very excited to be able to work with our National Program Ambassador/Executive Producer Ansje Lansing; our Southern Stars Conference Coach/Director of Grease, Evan Smiley; Madam President Barbara; and all of you in making this a very successful and fun year.
Lights, Camera, Action!
We all know that membership is the lifeblood of our organization. Without existing and new members, we would cease to exist. We often use the terms Invite, Include, and Invest when talking about recruiting and retaining new members. However, we should use the terms to Invite New Members, Include Current Members, and Invest in the Future of All Members and Our Organization.
This Program Year, we also want to make our Membership Program fun for all. Do you remember how much fun it was to go to the movies or did you ever attend a movie premier? This year, we are going to incorporate movies into our Membership Program. Will you be the talent scout, the director, the cameraman, the key grip, etc.? Every member is important and vital to getting the job done.
Invite & Recruit
Recruiting up-and-coming stars is a cornerstone of your Auxiliary’s mission. Be sure to keep scouting for that talent in your new recruits to help keep your organization alive and active. As members/talent scouts, it’s up to you to chat up a storm about our organization and show your enthusiasm about who we are, what we do, and why we do it. Also, be sure to invite more members to be talent scouts and then ask our seasoned members/actors to help guide, encourage, and motivate our newbies and get them involved. Our seasoned members have a wealth of knowledge and experience and can offer sound advice and, in turn, our newbies can show our seasoned members how to use new technology to enhance and expand our organization.
Always be sure to carry at least a couple of applications with you and a Fact Sheet or two about our organization. Fact Sheets help solidify what you are promoting and definitely may come in handy because you never know when the perfect opportunity may arise to recruit that up-and-coming star. Think about asking your potential members to come to an event and help in some capacity and, most importantly, put on your happy face and SMILE for the camera! See how easy it is to get people involved and connected?
Include Everyone
Now it’s time to get all cast and crew members involved in your Auxiliary. No matter how small or how large the jobs are in your Auxiliary, there is always something for everyone to do. Please don’t become a clique and make someone feel as if they aren’t needed because that’s a great way to lose a member quickly! Remember, we were all newbies once upon a time and learned as time went by from seasoned members who took the time to help and encourage us. New members need to feel welcomed and valued and need encouragement to help them stay positive.
This also means that you should shine a light on all members in your Membership Production. For example, did your Auxiliary President appoint a membership team to include the producer (Treasurer) to contact all members during the Program Year for payment of dues?
Follow Up
Before every movie progresses, Lights, Camera, Action!, you need to have a read through with the cast and crew. This is when you need to follow up with these new members. It’s when you need to call them about the upcoming meeting or event. Do they need a ride? Could you meet them before the meeting or event? It would also be a great time to explain the Rituals and Bylaws so they don’t feel left out and in the dark. Sit with them at their first meeting and make them feel welcomed! Always make potential members aware of the importance of the goals of our organization.
Encourage Participation
Everyone is important to making a great award-winning movie. The same holds true for your Auxiliary. From the key grip to the cameraman to the director, it’s up to each and every one of us to encourage ideas from all members. Remember, all ideas are important and maybe with some slight modification, they can work in your Auxiliary. Don’t shoot down an idea because it has been tried before. Give it a shot and try it with a different approach; it could turn into a star-worthy project. Everyone has different strengths and skills. Find out who excels in certain skills and encourage them in that area. Always be positive and appreciate all that members do. A simple thank you goes a long way, and it helps reinforce that ALL members are important to the Auxiliary.
Resources
There are a ton of membership resources available for everyone to use. Check out Member Resources in MALTA. It has everything you need to garner your potential new member. Just log in to MALTA and click on Member Resources and then Membership. Everything you need is there for the picking. • VFW Auxiliary Applications; • VFW Auxiliary Brochure Order Form; • New Member Engagement Guide; • New Member Orientation Checklist; • New Member Packet; • Retention Tools; etc. Our Directors (Conference Coaches) were chosen for their knowledge of the Membership Program, their strong leadership traits, and their great imagination. They pay attention to details as you can see with their taste in movies. They work well with others and are striving to help their Conference earn the coveted “Golden MALTA.” It is the dream of every Director to have their Membership story win the prestigious award for Best Picture of the 2023- 2024 Program Year. Let’s all work together to help make this happen for our Southern States Conference Coach/Director, Evan Smiley. How can we make this happen?
Invest
By investing in the future of your Auxiliary, you can grow into a successful franchise. With Lights, Camera, Action!, not only are we having fun, but we’re also Banding Together for Our Veterans. Remember, the VFW Auxiliary started with a small group of women who wanted to serve veterans; it has grown exponentially and now includes both males and females as members. There is only one way to add members: ask someone to join and, once they join, ask them to participate.
Ask Someone to Join
There are numerous places and times to ask someone if they want to join the VFW Auxiliary. Your approach will look different depending on who your audience is. In all cases, the potential member should have some knowledge of what the VFW Auxiliary is and what we do before they ever receive an application. Some important tools are: • Fact Sheet, available for free from National Headquarters; • Business card with contact information (Order yours from the VFW Store, vfwstore.org.); • MALTA Member Resources.
Follow Up!
Most likely, the first time you talk to someone new about the organization, that person may not be ready to commit. It’s important to ask for their contact information and then follow up within a week.
Ask Them to Participate
The key to keeping members is getting them involved. Call or email a new member within a week with the next meeting date and time or the next possible event or project. Offer to pick them up, or invite them to get coffee before or after a meeting. Put a team of members in charge of contacting new members or members who haven’t been to a meeting recently. The team should be friendly and knowledgeable about the Auxiliary.
Ways to Encourage Participation
• Monthly sign-up sheet for regular events.
• Emails and phone calls for special events.
• Public recognition of current volunteers. (Consider posters at your VFW Post Home, if permitted, that spotlight member involvement.)
• Be specific about what they will be doing, including the time commitment.
• Find out how that person best communicates, whether by phone, email, Facebook, or texting.
• Have another member stay with them for the entire length of the activity or event.
• If they say “no” to the first invitation, be sure to ask again!
• Plan family-friendly events! Members with children in the home want opportunities to do things with their family.
Have a Plan
Every Department and Auxiliary should have a Membership Plan. This plan should include: • Contacting current members; • Outreach to former members; • Recruiting events for new members; • Picking a mentor for a new member; • Before a membership year begins, set your calendar for these events.
• Make it as easy as possible for members to renew their dues. They can renew online in MALTA!
• Plan at least four recruiting events in your community each year.
Membership Program Awards
Awards for Members:
1. 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, 2024. 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.
2. National Membership Achievement 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.
3. 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:
1. $25 to each Auxiliary that reaches 98% Plus in Membership by March 31, 2024*.
2. $25 to each Auxiliary that reaches 100% Plus in Membership by June 30, 2024*.
3. Lights, Camera, Action!VFW Auxiliary Drawing. Each VFW Auxiliary that reaches 101% Plus by June 30, 2024* will be entered into a one time drawing to receive $500.
Awards for Department Chairmen:
1. $25 VFW Store gift certificate to one Department Membership Chairman in each of the 10 Program Divisions for the most outstanding training and promotion of the Membership Program.
2. Outstanding Performance Award to one Department Membership Chairman in each of the 10 Program Divisions based on criteria listed on Page 5 and for the promotion of the Program Goals listed at the top of Page 42. Winners will be announced and awards presented at the 2024 National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.
Awards for Departments:
1. Bronze Department Award #1: $200 to each Department that reaches 95% Plus in Membership by November 30, 2023*.
2. Silver Department Award #2: $250 to each Department that reaches 98% Plus in Membership by March 31, 2024*.
3. Gold Department Award #3: $300 to each Department that reaches 100% Plus in Membership by June 30, 2024*.
4. Platinum Department Award #4: $400 to each Department that reaches 101% Plus in Membership 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.
Conference vs. Conference:
1. $50 to each Department within the Conference with the highest total percentage by January 31, 2024*.
2. $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.
Vince Lombardi once said, “The achievements of an organization are the result of the combined effort of each individual.” 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, aking others to join, and “Banding Together” because our membership and service matter to all of them and because alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much.
