JOHN WOLFE, CHAIRMAN & SOUTH
8800 Greenlawn Street
Riverside, CA 92508
(909) 656-2697

     COMMUNITY SERVICE is an important priority in our country, Community Service Programs are being discussed at all levels of government and the VFW is prepared to support these endeavors and give advice based on our many years of experience.

     The VFW has joined seventy (70) plus national not- for-profit organizations as a Partner in Connect America, a national movement to remind all Americans of what we an accomplish when we work together and move us to action. The Points of Light Foundation is the initial “lead partner” in the Connect America movement.

     It is suggested that Posts invited other Connect America partners such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, YMCA and local Volunteer Centers to participate with their members in activities on MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY, NATIONAL FAMILY VOLUNTEER DAY, and during NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK.

     VFW Posts make things happen through their involvement in the community. Community service brings positive publicity and good will to VFW units who are involved. Eligible veterans are proud to become members of a Post that is noted for its promoting community service. For ideas on how to motivate members, read the articles - Involving New Members in Community Activities, Recruiting Volunteers for the Long and Short Term Projects and Recruiting Military Volunteers - found on other pages in this booklet.

     The success of a Community Activities Program is dependent upon good leadership. Appoint a Community Activities Chairman who has demonstrated basic leadership qualities. Such a chairman will usually conduct a strong effective program. Make sure you give your chairman the Community Service Program Chairman’s materials you will receive from the National Community Service Department.

     It is a good practice to keep organized records of your completed community activities. Reporting of community service is good business and it provides your Department with information on your Post’s donated volunteer hours and the dollars spent in support of the community service projects. This information is beneficial to proving your Post’s not- for-profit status with state and federal agencies. Follow the Departments Reporting Guideline’s for
reporting your Post’s Community Service Projects.

     VFW units can achieve national recognition by nominating unique community service projects to the VFW Community Activities Special Projects Recognition Program. Note: The Post with the most outstanding project of the year will be recognized at the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary National Community Service Conference. Information about this program can be found in the National Community Activities Program Chairman’s Booklet. Your Post can also be recognized as one of the National Outstanding Community Service Posts at the National Convention.

     The members of the VFW and our Ladies Auxiliary have a long time commitment to community service. Annually over 14 million volunteer hours are reported. During the 2001-2002 year, Post Commanders can recognize their volunteers through the National Community Service Volunteer Recognition Program.

TEACHERS AWARDS

     The Teachers Award is a very important part of the Community Service Program that is offered by the National Veterans of Foreign Wars, (please refer to the brochure entitled VFW Honors America’s Teachers) which provides nomination forms, eligibility, deadline dates, etc. Judging should be done at Post level once a teacher is nominated. Teachers in Grades K thru 12 are eligible. Once your teacher has been chose, forward your entry to me before the deadline date. Only one winner in each category will be sent to National, where they will be announced at the
Community Service Conference in Washington, DC, in April 2002. $1,000 will be awarded to each winning entrant in each Category (K-5, 6-8, 9-12) they also receive an all expense paid trip to our Nation’s Capitol to receive their award as well.

     The Ladies Auxiliary has proven to be extremely helpful with this program. I encourage you to work closely with your Auxiliary to help promote this part of the Community Services Program. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

REPORTING

     In order to receive credit for Community Services at the Department level, a Post needs to report at least once on the Program Reporting From (CAVFW FORM-12).

     To be eligible for Department Awards you must also report at least twice using the Award
Recognition Report (CAVFW FORM-11)

     Note: All Reports should be submitted to Department Headquarters.

POST AWARDS

     1st in each membership division will be awarded a plaque.
     2nd and 3rd in each membership division will be awarded a distinctive citation.

DISTRICT AWARDS

     1st in each membership division will be awarded a plaque.
     2nd and 3rd in each membership division will be awarded a distinctive citation.
     All Districts that are 100% reported will receive a citation

INVOLVING NEW MEMBERS IN COMMUNITY SERVICE

     The key to involving those who have just joined your Post/Auxiliary lies in bringing them into the “Post family” as quickly as possible. To accomplish that, do the following:

     1. Time Your Meetings Properly. Make sure that it is possible for the ‘new’ members to come to the meetings. If much of your new membership is composed of working people change your meetings to times that will accommodate their needs (i.e. Saturday morning over coffee and donuts). Strive for “ease of participation”, because people will most probably become involved with the group that makes it most convenient for them to participate.

     2. Go Out Of Your Way to Personally Ask New Members To Attend. Consider having a “First Timers” meeting occasionally, aimed at all those who have never before attended a meeting. Or divide the new members among the officers and make telephone calls extending a personal invitation to each new member. Encourage senior members to “bring a new or non-active member” to the next meeting.

     3. Establish a “Designated Host” System. Have you ever attended a meeting in which you didn’t know anyone, and you spent the evening watching this group of old friends chat away happily while you tried to blend into the wallpaper? Did you go back for a second meeting? The purpose of the Designated Host System is to make sure that anyone attending a meeting for the first time has an enjoyable experience. The Designated Host(s) are stationed by the door to watch for new faces. When a new face (presumably attached to a member or prospective member) arrives, the Designated Host escorts them for the evening, introducing them to everyone, explaining what is going on, translating the acronyms and explaining the old war stories. And, of course, by the end of the evening, the Designated Hosts knows as much as possible about the interests and background of the new member so that a suitable interest can be found as quickly as possible. Past Commanders or Presidents, by the way, make excellent Designated Hosts; they know all the faces and being a Designated Host will keep them involved. (See the example of the 3” x 5” card that can be made up.)

     4. Create a “Mentor System”. Mentor Systems work off the buddy principle, in which each new member is ‘teamed’ with a more experienced member. The senior member is expected to get to know the new member, act as their guide, and figure out how the new member can best be involved in the group.

     5. Have a special “New Member Project”. If your new members arrive as a group (at least three), then consider creating a New Member Project, which is given as a responsibility to the new membership class. The New Members are responsible for thinking of the project, planning, and implementation. The benefit of this system to the New Members is that it quickly gives them a sense of ownership and control in the activities of the organization - they have something which is ‘theirs’. The system also benefits the organization, since it quickly identifies those among the new members who are creative and able to fulfill leadership positions. If you can’t have a separate project for the new members who are creative and able to fulfill leadership positions. If you can’t have a separate project for new members, try to have one meeting or event each year that is the responsibility of the new members.

PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR PROGRAM CHAIRMEN