GENERAL ORDERS

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS		DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA
NUMBER 1	SERVICE, HONOR, PRIDE	July 1, 2002

At the 80^th Annual State Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Virginia, held in Richmond, Virginia, June 6-9, 2002, I, Lawrence F. Mattera, being duly elected and installed as State Commander in Accordance with Article V, Section 517 of the National By-Laws, do hereby assume Commander.

All previous appointments are hereby declared vacant as of June 9, 2002, except those set forth in the By-Laws.

Commander	Lawrence F. Mattera, Post 5500
Senior Vice Commander	Peter M. Snelling, Post 2157
Junior Vice Commander	Michael J. Hoiness, Post 4809
Adjutant/Quartermaster	Robert J. Klausing, Post 2216
Judge Advocate	Tommy W. Hines, Post 7166
Surgeon	Daniel D Boyers, Post 7726
Chaplain	Edward L. Powers, Post 392
Assistant Chaplain	C. Gordon Bryant, Post 3103
	Albert Rodgers, Post 3103
Chief-of-Staff	E. Ray Chapell, Post 1115
Assistant Chief-of-Staff	James L. Booth, Post 2216
	William R. Shifflett, Post 9292
	James K. Martin, Post 1503
	Bobby R. Walls, Post 176
	Jimmy Lee Wallace, Post 1503
	Carroll Danielson, Post 8163
Inspector	Henry E. Cluney, Post 4809
Past Department Commander	James E Tucker, Post 10654
Historian	Kim DeShano, Post 392
Service Officer	Fred Fralin, Post 4522
Assist. Service Officer	All Agents of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Commonwealth of Virginia
Civil Service & Employment	James F. Werner, Post 632
Environmental	Ernest B. Glynn, Post 7327
Legislative	John P. McAnaw, Post 8469
Military Assistance Program	M. Connie Agresti, III, Post 3150
Resolutions	John P. McAnaw, Post 8469
Parliamentarian	Charles B. Wilkerson, Post 9808
Graves Registrar	Edward Powers, Post 392
Sergeant-at-Arms	Melvin Webb, Post 1115
Guard	Melvin Webb, Post 1115
Captain Honor Guard	George E. McCracken, Post 609
Commander District 1	Harry Lee Gilbert, Post 9636
Commander District 2	Donald Bunch, Post 9382
Commander District 3	Frank J. Latham, Post 10657
Commander District 4	Fred Wolking, Post 2163
Commander District 5	James Lee Terry, Post 8467
Commander District 6	Berkley W. Simmons, Jr., Post 4920
Commander District 7	Christopher E. Birch, Post 9760
Commander District 8	Gerald E. Jones, Post 1811
Commander District 9	Wesley H. Dixon, Post 9696
Commander District 10	David G. Jacobson, Post 7327
Commander District 11	Donald L. Hall, Post 2216
Commander District 12	Kenneth Suthard, Post 6975
Commander District 13	Charles W. Hughes, Jr., Post 8947

COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN:

Advisory	Gerald E. Jonas, Post 1811
Americanism	J. Gary Wagner, Post 3150
Audit	Thomas Gimble, Post 1503
Awards & Citations	Randolph E. Moon, Post 8436
Buddy Poppies	Robert J. Klausing, Post 2216
Budget & Finance	Paul T. Moore, Post 4491
By-Laws	Jerry Hooper, Post 392
Community Activities	Kenneth J. Vitale, Post 2163
Credentials	Bobby R. Walls, Post 176
Disaster Relief	Kenneth Jansen, Post 3150
Diversity	James S. Kerr, Post 3150
Fund Raisers	Robert J. Klausing, Post 2216
Homeless Veterans	Leon J. Fields, Post 4522
Hospital	Lynn Harris, Post 7166
Hospitality/Refreshments	Joseph O. Longstreet, Post 3219
Loyalty Day	Roger Webb, Post 8356
Maintenance & Building	Harry C. Huff, Post 2216
Membership/Life Membership	Peter M. Snelling, Post 2157
National Convention Patriotic Rally	George E. McCracken, Post 609
Officer-of-the-Day	Ninevah A. Carter, Post 6002
Political Action Committee	James W. Rickard, Post 3219
POW/MIA Coordinator	Charles D. Crouch, Post 3150
Public Relations Officer	Donald Trausneck, Post 1115
Safety	Victor Weaver, Post 9808
Time & Place	Clarence Clements, Post 2239
VA Cottage & Natl. Home	Wirt C. Alvis, Jr., Post 9808
Veterans Advocacy	James S. Kerr, Post 3150
Voice of Democracy	Earle P. Weekley, Jr., Post 8644
Welfare Service	Samuel L. Brown, Post 1264
Youth Activities	Donald L. Hall, Post 2216
Patriotic Pen	Earl E. Harris, Jr., Post 2216
2003 State Convention	E. Ray Chapell, Post 1115

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Advisory	James E. Tucker, Post 10654
	All Past Department Commanders
Americanism	Michael Hall, Post 2216
Deputy Chief-of-Staff	Joseph O. Longstreet, Jr. Post 3219
	Henry E. Cluney, Post 4809
	Victor A. Weaver, Post 9808
	Emanuel Booth, Post 3103
	James D. Haulsee, Post 4667
	William A. Vigar, Post 632
	Ronnie L. Robbins, Post 8979
	Randolph Moon, Post 8436
Audit	C. Lee Willoughby, Post 1503
	Waynard E. Caldwell, Post 4522
	M. Connie Agreati, III, Post 3150
Awards & Citations	Hal Roesch, Post 3219
	Monroe Tuggle, Post 8902
	Fred C. Davis, Post 5313
	David G. Jacobson, Post 7327
Budget & Finance	Bobby R. Walls, Post 2216
	James L. Booth, Post 2216
	George E. McCracken, Post 609
	Daniel D. Boyer, Post 7726
By-Laws	Conrad Yetter, Post 993
	Donald Dobbins, Post 1115
Credentials	Douglas S. Hayes, Post 647
Environmental	Lynn O. Harris, Post 7166
Homeless Veterans	Leon J. Fields, Post 4522
	Shelby Lassester, POst 4809
Honor Guard	Ronald L. Mills, Post 647
	Howard A. Ahola, Post 993
	Dean Breeding, Post 993
	Douglas S. Hayes, Post 647
	Ray Hayes, Post 647
	Phillip L. Hewitt, Post 9808
	Melvin Webb, Post 1115
	Fred L. Wolking, Post 2163
Hospitality/Refreshments	Daniel D Boyer, Jr., Post 7726
	Hal Roesch, Post 3219
	Earl E. Harris, Post 2216
Legislative	Ernest B. Glynn, Post 7327
	James S, Kerr, Post 3150
	Charles A. Pulley, Post 622
	Waynard E. Caldwell, Post 4522
	Edward Essertier, Post 8469
	Earl E. Harris, Post 2216
	John King, Post 5500
Maintenance & Building	Michael. Hall, Post 2216
	Eugene Chavis, Post 10826
Membership/Life Membership	All Past Department Commanders
Mentor for Districts 1, 3 , 4	Michael J. Holiness, Post 4809
Mentor for Districts 2, 5, 6	Tom W. Hines, Post 7166
Mentor for Districts 7, 8, 9	E. Ray Chappell, Post 1115
Mentor for Districts 10, 11	Peter M. Snelling, Post 2157
Mentor for Districts 12, 13	Daniel D. Boyer, Jr., Post 7726
Parliamentarian	Eugene Wiseman, Post 632
POW/MIA	Eugene Chavis, Post 10826
	Thomas Abrials, Post 1115
Resolutions	J.B. Young, Post 7327
	Jeffrey L. DeWeese, Post 8469
Time & Place	Lynn O. Harris, Post 7166
	Kenneth Jansen, Post 3150
Voice of Democracy	Joe Neary, Post 392
Patriotic Pen	William F. Carleton, Post 1503
2003 State Convention	James L. Booth, Post 2216
	Paul T. Moore, Post 4491
	Melvin Webb, POst 1115
	Robert J. Klausing, Post 2216

VAMC HOSPITAL REPRESENTATIVES:

Virginia Veterans Care Center	Frank H. Powell, Post 4522
Deputy	James F. Werner, Post 632
Hampton Representative	Wayne P. Pierce, Post 4809
Hampton Deputy	Charles G. Bohlinger, III, Post 824
Hampton Deputy	Donald Bunch, Post 9382
Hampton Deputy	James R. Maley, Sr., Post 176
Martinsburg Assoc. Repr.	James A. Couper, Post 621
McGuire Representative	Clarence E. Clements, Post 2239
McGuire Deputy	Lloyd R. Davis, Jr., Post 10654
McGuire Deputy	James D. Rose, Post 9808
Mountain Home Assoc. Repr.	Emory H. Sykes, Post 6975
Mountain Home Deputy	Kenneth Suthard, Post 6975
Salem Representative	Percy N. Bolton, Post 1841
Salem Deputy	Waynard E. Caldwell, Post 4522
Salem Deputy	Guy S. Clifton Post 484
Washington DC Assoc. Repr.	William F. Carbin, Post 609

LADIES AUXILIARY:

President
Pat Baldwin

Secretary Kathleen Birch

Treasurer Barbara Grossnickle
GENERAL ORDER CUT OFF DATES:
Membership Transmittals must be received at State Headquarters no later than July 30, 2002 to be counted for the month of July. PLEASE NOTE: ANY information to be published in the General Orders must be in by the 25^th of each month. Changes of address or phone numbers within the Department must be in writing or via e-mail.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
The Department of Virginia, VFW now has a Homepage. Your General Orders can be found on the Homepage at http://www.vfw-virginia.com. It is now possible for individual Posts, with their own Website, to become linked to our Homepage. Posts already with Website’s can incorporate a Department of Virginia, VFW link on their Website. Please contact Robert Klausing at State Headquarters: 1-800-888-3521. Also, the State Headquarters E-Mail address is KLAUSING@AOL.COM. The Adjutant/Quartermaster has a pager and the number is 1-800-680-7682. The State Headquarters also has voice mail, where you can call and leave messages before or after business hours. The State Headquarters also has a mail box located right outside the front door, where you can drop things off before and after business hours.

DISTRICT MEETINGS:

FIRST - 09-29-02,	EXMORE POST 4856, Meeting 11:00 a.m., Representative Michael J. Hoiness, State Junior Vice Commander
SECOND - 08-17-02,	VIRGINIA BEACH POST 392, Meeting 12:00 Noon, Representative Lawrence F.Mattera, State Commander
THIRD - 09-07-02,	THIRD DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS, Meeting 2:00 p.m., Representative Peter M. Snelling, State Senior Vice Commander
FOURTH - 08-11-02,	SOUTH HILL, POST 7166, Meeting 1:00 p.m., Lunch to follow, Representative Lawrence F. Mattera, State Commander
FIFTH - 08-17-02,	HALIFAX POST 8243, Lunch 12:00 Noon, Meeting 1:00 p.m., Representative Peter M. Snelling, State Senior Vice Commander
SIXTH - 08-18-02,	VA MEDICAL BUILDING 10 (HOSTED BY POST 4299 CLIFTON FORGE) Meeting 2:00 p.m. Representative Lawrence F.Mattera, State Commander
SEVENTH - 09-08-02,	LURAY POST 621, Meeting 11:30 a.m., Representative Tom W. Hines, State Judge Advocate
EIGHTH - 09-22-02,	CULPEPER, POST 2524, Meeting 1:00 p.m., Representative Daniel D. Boyer, Jr., State Surgeon
NINTH - 09-22-02,	NARROWS POST 6000, Registration 10:30 a.m., Joint Session 11:30 a.m., Lunch 12:00 Noon, Meeting to follow, Representative Tommie Hines, Judge Advocate
TENTH -
ELEVENTH - 09-08-02,	STAUNTON POST 2216, Meeting 11:30 a.m., Representative Daniel D. Boyer, Jr., State Surgeon
TWELFTH - 09-01-02,	CLINTWOOD POST 8979, Lunch 11:00 a.m., Meeting 12:00 Noon, Representative Peter M. Snelling, State Senior Vice Commander
THIRTEENTH -09-08-02,	MINERAL POST 8947, Meeting 1300, lunch to follow, Representative Michael Hoiness, Junior Vice Commander

STATE COMMANDERS MESSAGE:
Comrades, it is with great honor that I accept the position as your Department Commander. But as I have stated several times this is not my Department only, it belongs to the membership of the Department of Virginia. Therefore, I feel no remorse in asking for the help of each individual. As we begin the new year I’d like to start out by saying welcome to the “United We Stand” year. Each year there is a lot of work to do, some work that was started the year prior and some that needs to be started. It is with full confidence I say to you that we have a team ready and willing to assist in anyway it can to make the Department of Virginia best it can be.

Each District has been assigned a mentor, this will allow each District Commander an individual ready to assist on notice. If the mentor can not assist he will know where and what to do, to get the answer. Please check the calendar attached to the General Orders for important dates.

Our School of Instruction is taking place at the Holiday Inn Select, Lynchburg, on 12-14 July. Please make your reservations as soon as possible. This School of Instruction is designed for Commanders and Quartermasters, but is open to anyone that would like to attend. If you or members of your Post plan to attend please let the Department Adjutant/Quartermaster know as soon as possible as reservation closeout is approaching fast.

Please take a moment to review the report forms, as they have changed. Please keep in mind these forms are to be sent to the CHAIRMEN ONLY (ADDRESSES ARE ON THE FORMS) DO NOT SEND TO STATE HEADQUARTERS!

In closing I wish to extend best wishes for a Happy Fourth of July, and may it be a safe one for you and yours.

Yours in Comradeship
Lawrence F. (Larry) Mattera
State Commander
REPORTS AND FORMS:

PLEASE NOTE THE INDIVIDUAL RECRUITING AWARD FORM, THE DECEASED COMRADE FORM, THE COMMUNITY ACTIVITY REPORT, HOMELESS VETERANS REPORT, HOSPITAL REPORT AND EVALUATION GUIDE CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEBSITE AND ALSO IN THIS GENERAL ORDERS. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE E-MAIL PLEASE LET US KNOW AND WE WILL SEND THE FORMS TO YOU. PLEASE SEND FORMS TO THE CURRENT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, CHAPLAIN.

ALSO, STARTING SEPTEMBER 2000 ALL AUDIT REPORTS NEED TO BE SIGNED BY AT LEAST TWO TRUSTEES BEFORE SUBMITTING TO STATE HEADQUARTERS OR THEY WILL BE RETURNED.
Forms Revised May 2002
QUARTERLY AUDIT REPORTS:

Attention is directed to Section 218, Manual of Procedure Duty of Trustees, Form P-113. Trustees Report of Audit, must be prepared in detail at the close of each quarter, one of which ended June 30^th which is NOW DUE at State Headquarters.
STATE CONVENTION:

Enclosed are the Minutes of the Council of Administration Meetings held Thursday, June 6, 2002 and Sunday, June 9, 2002.
State Convention Council Minutes
MEMBERSHIP-MEMBERSHIP-MEMBERSHIP:

The number one program in the VFW is membership. Without members there would be no way to accomplish all of our other outstanding programs. We are now in a new membership recruiting/retention year. The goal for the Department this year is 103%. This goal can be reached if all comrades will help sign up eligible individuals. We ask that everyone put forth maximum effort to help the Department reach our goal.

The Membership Campaign for the new year is on the Department Website. I encourage everyone to read it. If you do not have access to the Website, a copy may be requested from Department Headquarters. There are numerous changes. An example is:
An annual member who recruits 5 New or Reinstated Members (MIPs not included) will receive: Annual Dues paid, for the current year, by the Department. Name and membership number entered into a drawing for a Life Membership. (For each additional 5 members recruited an additional entry will be made in the Life Membership Drawing).
A Life Member who recruits 5 New or Reinstated Members (MIPs not included) will receive: Name and membership number entered into a drawing for a $300.00 cash award. (For each additional 5 members recruited an additional entry will be made in the cash award drawing).

The Department will conducting Membership Drives throughout the state. District Commanders will be organizing these drives and Department Officers will be assisting. Look for us to be in your District to assist you and your Post.

Peter M. Snelling
Membership/Life Membership Chairman

CHANGE TO THE MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN

Page three (3), paragraph ten (10) of the 2002-2003 ALL STATE TEAM section should read: ADDITIONAL POINTS for MEMBERSHIP - When the Post has completed all the above programs, one fifth of one point will be assigned for each additional member above 100%.
MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN:

Enclosed in this General Orders is the 2002-2003 Membership Campaign. Also, enclosed is the Individual Recruiting Awards Form for new/reinstated members. All individual recruiting awards must be certified to State Headquarters by the Post Quartermasters no later than May 31, 2003.The names of the individuals recruited, Post Number and the name of the recruiter must be received before any award is given.
Membership Campaign Information

IMPORTANT 2001-2005 DATES:

August 23-30, 2002	National VFW Convention, Nashville, Tennessee.
September 12-15, 2002	Commander-in-Chief’s Homecoming, Ontario, California.
Oct 31 Nov 3, 2002	Southern Conference, Little Rock, Arkansas.
March 9-12, 2003	Community Service Conference, Washington, DC.
March 10-13, 2002	Legislative conference, Washington, DC.
August 23-29, 2003	National VFW Convention, San Antonio, Texas.
August 14-20, 2004	National VFW Convention, Cincinnati, Ohio.
August 20-26, 2005	National VFW Convention, Salt Lake City, Utah

BUDDY POPPIES:

Enclosed is the new Buddy Poppy Form please note the increase in price of the Buddy Poppies. The price is now $102.00 per thousand.
Forms Revised May 2002

SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION:

2002	July 11-13	Holiday Inn Select, 601 Main Street, Lynchburg, Virginia 24504; Rates are $65.00; phone 804-528-2500
2003	July 10-12	Holiday Inn Select, 601 Main Street, Lynchburg, Virginia 24504; Rates are $69.00; phone 804-528-2500

VIDEO CONFERENCE:

The Veterans of Foreign Wars will conduct a satellite training program July 27, 2002. This training will be conducted at Third District Headquarters, Dale City Post 1503, Staunton Post 2216 and Christiansburg Post 5311.
NATIONAL CONVENTION MEETING:

August 24-30, 2002 Nashville, Tennessee

Enclosed is a list of events.

Housing Forms should be mailed to Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, 2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN 37214. You may also make your reservation by calling the hotel at 615-883-2211.

National Convention Registration-Section 222 -Constitution and By-Laws require each Post to register, in advance, at least one delegate to the National Convention by the payment of a fee in the amount of $10.00. The on-site registration is $12.00. Posts failing to comply with the provision shall be considered delinquent and in arrears (Section 213). All advance registration fees should be mailed to the VFW National Headquarters, 406 West 34^th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111, ATTN: Convention Registration.

The Distinguished Guest Banquet will be held Monday evening, 7:00 p.m., August 26, 2002. Enclosed is a form if you would like to attend.
National Convention Information

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE PARTY:

DATE	Wednesday evening, August 28, 2002
LOCATION	Scoreboard Bar and Grill located across the street from Opryland's main entranced less than 2 blocks, an easy walk, some transportation also provided for those needing it
TYPE SETTING	Outdoors, large parking lot, large tent (1,000 people), tables and chairs. Each state will have their own area with tables, chairs, state flag, etc.
MENU	Bar-B-Que & brisket, baked beans, coleslaw, cornbread, planning to feed 2,000 plus
DRINKS	Mixed drinks, beer, soda and iced tea
ENTERTAINMENT	"Branded Country Band" is a show-type band doing many impersonations of country entertainers - good listening or dance, very entertaining

FALL COUNCIL MEETINGS:

2002	September 12-14	Holiday Inn Select, 601 Main Street, Lynchburg, Virginia 24504; Rates are $65.00; phone 804-528-2500
2003	September 11-13	Holiday Inn Select, 601 Main Street, Lynchburg, Virginia 24504; Rates are $69.00; phone 804-528-2500

DONATIONS:

Please send any donations (WWII, phone cards, etc.) To VFW State Headquarters, P O Box 2067, Staunton, VA 24402.

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY:

2002-2003	THEME:	"Freedom's Obligation"
2002-2003	DEADLINES:	Student Entry - November 1, 2002
		District Deadline - December 15, 2002
		Department Deadline - January 15, 2003
		National Deadline - February 1, 2003

PATRIOT’S PEN:

2002-2003	THEME:	"My Pledge to America"
2002-2003	DEADLINES:	Student Entry - December 1, 2002
		District Deadline - January 15, 2003
		Department Deadline - February 1, 2003
		National Deadline - February 10, 2003

VFW NATIONAL HOME:

My name is W. J. Leonard I am a lifetime member of Post 7327 Springfield, Virginia. I have been in the VFW since 1965 and Life since 1967. I have worked with different children groups all my adult life, some are as follows: Little League Baseball, Little League Football, Optimist Club Member their theme is Friend of Youth, Hugh O’Brian Youth Foundation B, Director 10 years of VA State, VFW Youth Activities, Scouting, JROTC, Varsity high school baseball scorer 10 years, Timer for varsity high school basketball for 20 years. So you see I have been and still am involved with our Youth.
I would like your vote when the VFW National Home for Children sends out the ballots (approximately July 15-September 15, 2002) to the VFW members of our National Home for Children.

Any questions or need more information just ask. E-mail: WJLVFW@AOL.COM; Phone: 703-354-0568; address: 7006 Catlett Street, Springfield, VA 22151-3901.

W. J. Leonard
Candidate for National Home
ENVIRONMENTAL:

The summer months bring long days and the urge to get out doors.Summer however, is not the month of choice to plant trees or shrubs.That means we can turn our attention to doing other things.

The Virginia Veterans of Foreign Wars Environmental Program is intended to make Virginia a better place to visit-live-work-raise our children and retire. There are many ways we can do this. A good first step is for each of our Post Commanders to select a hard working comrade to take a tour of their Post area. Make notes of clean up or fix up programs that would enhance the area. Play yards, School yards, Church yards and Cemeteries, streams and highways. A visits with a local Librarian will develop programs which may be underway or planned for their area. The Audubon Society, Izaak Walton League and garden clubs may have programs for your area. Local nurserymen, park rangers and foresters may have plans but not the manpower or money to carry them out. They may share them with you and save you some time. Clean up plans require MONEY, Motivations, manpower and materials. Major firms are often willing to contribute something, ask them to participate and let them contribute if they wish. Once the list of possible programs is put together you can decide one that is within your budget. Keep in mind that one fourth of the money coming to the State Treasurer comes from the Tourist and Travel Industry. One out of every six persons that has a job in Virginia owes that job to the products of the forest. Paper making, lumber, furniture making just to name a few. Seedling trees are a bigger source of income each year in Virginia.

Some jurisdictions are willing to cooperate by providing park out collection points for heavy appliances, old furniture, vehicles, tires, batteries and chemicals on special days. Others may be willing to furnish fire fighting equipment to make a controlled burning of trash and rubbish and fallen branches. Each of these programs will improve the appearance of your Post area. Your program may also be the inspiration for adjoining property owners to demolish vacant or obsolete buildings or signs. After you have decided on the type and date of your program take some pictures and send them to the local radio, TV and News Media. Ask them to help out with the publicity. They are usually happy to learn of programs that are going to make their area better.

Keep a record of the money, man-hours and material spent, include it on your Community Activity Report. On the work day keep VFW membership applications handy. Ask every volunteer to join the VFW if eligible. Good volunteers make good members. All this helps all those members we lose out the back door or by death.

Ernest B. Glynn
Environmental Chairman
LEGISLATIVE:

SUPPORT FOR U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE BILL 3838-AMENDMENT OF THE VFW CONGRESSIONAL CHARTER

HR Bill 3838 would amend the VFW’s Congressional Charter and permit military personnel who receive hostile fire or imminent danger pay to be eligible for membership in the VFW. As of 27 June 2002 the Bill was in the House Judiciary Committee awaiting full committee passage. Once the Bill is approved by the full committee, it will be ready for action on the House Floor.

Now is the time for all Virginia VFW members to contact their U.S. House Representatives and urge them to move with celerity and pass this Bill. Also both U. S. Senators from Virginia should be energetically pursued to incorporate the provisions of HR Bill 3838 in the companion Senate Bill.

Commencing Monday, 1 July 2002, all members of the U. S. Congress will be turning to their District or State Offices. This is the ideal time to meet them personally or contact them via telephone and express your support for HR Bill 3838.

RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE WRAP-UP

The Resolutions Committee met three times prior to the Department Convention in Richmond, 6-9 June 2002, a total of 117 National and Department Resolutions were carefully reviewed. Recommendations for approval or rejection were made for each one. Cited recommendations were presented to the assembled delegates at the Convention. Space limitations prevents a down of the important resolutions voted upon at the Convention.

I extend my sincere thanks to the following members of the Resolutions Committee who took their work seriously and spent many hours researching and reviewing the documents presented them. These individuals are Ed Essertier, Ernie Glynn and J. B. Young. My thanks also goes to those Posts in the Commonwealth who submitted resolutions, particularly Post 3150 and 7327.

UPCOMING 2002 ELECTION

This year Virginia voters will select all 11 members of the U. S. House of Representatives and one member of the U. S. Senate. All VFW members should check early on to determine what Congressional District they are in since the boundaries have changed since the General Elections of 2000. Too often members do not receive their voter registration cards, containing current information, in a timely manner-if at all.

There are several ways to get your pertinent voter information now. The first is to contact your County/City Registrar. For those with e-mail capability, go to the following website: www.sbe.state.va.us click on “ELECTION”. The “WHERE DO I VOTE” block will appear. Follow the instructions and your current voter information will be provided.

Three key things that we can do in our GET OUT THE VOTE Campaign in 2002 are as follows: Host a Town Hall Meeting; Organize a voter registration campaign and Educate the candidates on the issues.

The General Orders for June 2002 contains an article on how to conduct a Town Hall Meeting. Any VFW sponsored event should be coordinated with the Ladies Auxiliary. Information on the event should also be disseminated to other Veterans Organizations in the area.

The number of Legislators in the U. S. Congress and at the state level with military experience continues to decline. It is our job to educated candidate regarding issues of importance to the Veteran Community. We want patriotic veteran legislators to represent us at the Federal, State and Local level. Also, we want legislators of good character who we can count on to honor their commitments to the veteran community. It is up to us to get our members and families to the polls in November to ensure that those elected share the concerns of veterans. Do your part and make yourself count!

Legislators are well aware of the importance of the veterans community to their future employment. Why? We vote.

VFW NATIONAL BY-LAWS AND MANUAL OF PROCEDURE-MENS AUXILIARY

On 8 June 2002, at the 80^th Annual Convention of the Department of Virginia, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, proposed amendments to the National By-Laws and the Manual of Procedure regarding (Article XIII) (Mens Auxiliary) were addressed.

A motion was made and seconded to table proposed amendments until the 81^st Annual Convention in June 2003. This motion was approved by Convention delegates consequently, no Post in Virginia may form or charter a Men’s Auxiliary.

John P. McAnaw
Legislative/Resolutions Chairman

Official:	By Order of:
Robert J. Klausing	Lawrence F. Mattera
State Adjutant	State Commander

President	Pat Baldwin
Secretary	Kathleen Birch
Treasurer	Barbara Grossnickle