Department Commander John Keene presents his membership program in these two videos. 

Department of Colorado Veterans of Foreign Wars

2023 - 2024 Membership Program

Fidelity | Fraternity | Philanthropy

*For the full program (pdf) see attachments below or click here 

Introduction

There are three words that I want to guide us through this year: Fidelity, Fraternity, and Philanthropy. The first, fidelity, is inspired by the Marine Corps Motto “Semper Fidelis” and reminds me of how we open every meeting with the words “let us uphold always the obligations of unselfish comradeship and loyalty to our organization and to the government of the United States of America.”

Likewise, the first purpose of our organization, as stated in our Congressional Charter, is fraternal. Specifically, to “preserve and strengthen comradeship among its members, to assist worthy comrades, to perpetuate the memory and history of our dead, and to assist their surviving spouses and orphans.”

Philanthropy, on the other hand, is the principle that ties everything together. Through our elections we form boards, whereby each Post runs as a philanthropic organization. Our members consistently promote the welfare of others through the generous donation of their time. We also seek and rely upon the philanthropic nature of our supporters through donations and grants.

I believe we will have an excellent year together by keeping these words in your mind as we work our programs to engage with the community, grow our relief funds to assist our comrades in need, and promote our legislative goals to advocate for all veterans and their families. I look forward to working with each and every member to prove that “no one does more for veterans” than the VFW.

Mission

To recruit, retain and mentor a stable membership base that includes all generations of veterans. To cultivate a membership that is well versed in institutional knowledge and is actively involved at all levels of the organization and in the local community. To foster the growth of our strong tradition of service, leadership, and community outreach.

Goals

• Build a strong organization for the future
• Work together to achieve the VFW’s goals.
• Support our communities' veterans and their families

Objectives

• Recruit new and recover unpaid members
• Retain and mentor existing members
• Involve members directly in VFW functions at all levels
• Ensure Posts are financially stable legal entities
• Engage the community in a meaningful way
• Foster stronger relationships between Posts and their Auxiliaries

Department of Colorado Membership Recruiting Awards***

Every VFW member and Auxiliary member is eligible for the following rewards
Every new or reinstated member in the VFW or the Auxiliary counts†

Department Membership Classes for 2023 - 2024

Attachments:

Department Membership Program 23-24.pdf

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The Department of Colorado will select All-State Post Commanders to make up the Department of Colorado 2023–2024 All-State Team of Post Commanders. The team will be presented at the first Council of Administration following the 2024 State Convention. However, any Post ineligible to vote at the State Convention shall be ineligible for All-State honors.

Awards

Post Commanders – An official VFW All-State Team white cap, a $75 check, and an All-State Commander Certificate.

Qualifications

• Membership – Post must have attained 102% of the prior year’s membership as determined by the VFW National MemStats Report on June 30, 2024
• Service Office - Post must donate to the Department of Colorado Service Office*
• Programs - Post must submit at lease one VOD, one Patriots Pen, and one Teacher of the Year to their District

When the above qualifications have been met the Post Commander is eligible for entry into the All-State Team of Post Commanders contest. Based on the following point schedule the top 10 Post Commanders will be awarded All-State honors and be offered a stipend to attend the first COA following the 2024 State Convention. All other qualifying Post Commanders will receive an All-State Commander Certificate and will be eligible to purchase an official VFW All-State Team white cap.

*Service Office donations should be commensurate to the size and financial abilities of the Post. No minimum amount is required. Additional points can be earned by donating at least $100.

• Each new or reinstated member recruited by the Post Commander (10 points)
• Each #StillServing, UTCH, or MAP grant received (10 points)
• Hold a Department Service Office fundraiser and donate $100 or more (10 points)
• Partner with a VFW Auxiliary for Young American Creative Patriotic Art Scholarship, Voice of Democracy, and / or Patriot's Pen program (7 points each)
• For submitting VFW Public Servant Awards nomination to Department (5 points)
• Submitting a Chaplain of the Year nomination to Department (5 points)
• For submitting Scout and/or JROTC of the Year nomination tor Department (5 points)
• Each Council of Administration meeting attended by the Commander (5 points)
• Each Council of Administration meeting attended by Post Sr Vice Commander (5 points)
• Host or participate in a Loyalty Day Event (2 points)
• Participate in a #StillServing Day of Service Event (2 points)
• Hold a VFW National Home for Children fundraiser and donating $25 or more (2 points)
• Each membership recruitment event conducted by your Post (2 points)

All Commanders who are eligible for the All-State Team of Post Commanders will be notified by the Department and provided an official entry form. COA stipends are subject to the reimbursement policy for District Commanders.

The Department of Colorado will select All-State Quartermasters to make up the Department of Colorado 2023 – 2024 All-State Team of Post Quartermasters. The team will be presented at the first Council of Administration following the 2024 Department Convention. However, any Post ineligible top vote at the State Convention shall be ineligible for All-State honors.

Awards

Post Quartermasters - An All-State Jacket, a $25 check, and an All-State Quartermaster Certificate.

Qualifications

• Membership – Post must have attained 102% of the prior year’s membership as determined by the VFW National MemStats Report on June 30, 2024

When the above qualifications have been met the Post Quartermaster is eligible for entry into the All-State Team of Post Quartermasters contest. Based on the following point schedule the top 10 post Quartermasters will be awarded All-State honors and be offered a stipend to attend the first COA following the 2024 State Convention. All other qualifying Post Quartermasters will receive an All-State Quartermaster Certificate and will be eligible to purchase an All-State jacket.

• Participation in a membership recruitment event conducted by your post (10 points)
• Quartermaster holds a Trustee School of Instruction (10 Points)
• Each Audit Report completed correctly and submitted on time (25th of the month following the close of the reporting period) (5 points)
• Each day of Department COA Workshops attended by Post Quartermaster (5 points)
• Post Trustee attends one Department COA Workshop (5 points)
• Each new or reinstated member recruited by the Post Quartermaster (2 points)

All Quartermasters who are eligible for the All-State Team of Post Quartermasters will be notified by the Department and provided an official entry form. COA stipends are subject to the reimbursement policy for District Commanders.

Duane T. Sarmiento

Commander-in-Chief

* For the full 2023-24 National membership Program see attachments below of click here 

Membership Mission

To recruit, retain and mentor a stable membership base including all generations of veterans. To cultivate a membership that is well versed in institutional knowledge and actively involved at all levels of the organization and in the local community. To establish Posts with an established vision of service, leadership, and community outreach.

Introduction

Today, the Veterans of Foreign Wars is 124 years old. During those years, we have had WWI, WWII, Korean, Vietnam, and other veterans joining en masse. Today, however, we have lost many of these honorable men and women. As history has proven, the Post-9/11 veterans will join our organization like others have when they are ready, however usually not until their kids grow or their retirements are in place.

We must not stereotype any of our future members regardless of sex, color, or personal beliefs. If a member qualifies, bring them in. The only way to make this success permanent is to retain those members, recover past members, and continue to recruit new veterans into our ranks. There are still many veterans eligible to join and at all ages. However, our focus needs to be on our Post-9/11 veterans, for they will be our future.

You might ask, how do we build our organization? It’s simple, leadership by example. If you are a Commander of a Post, District, Department, or the National Commander, then get out there and recruit members yourself and show your team that if you can do it, so can they. A good way to do this is to improve the way we communicate with our members at all levels of the organization. Posts, Districts, Departments, and our National Officers need to use all methods available to convey information for news and training to our membership through newsletters, emails, social media, recruiting booths and outreach teams.

We need to know who our members are and how we can address their needs and concerns. It’s time to step it up and recruit Post-9/11 veterans. Each of us needs to do our part and recruit at least one new member. Think about it. If we all recruit one each, we would show substantial growth in membership in just one year.

Membership Goals

1. Build a strong organization through recruiting new members while retaining our current membership that creates a solid baseline for the future.
2. Work together to achieve the VFW’s goals. The VFW National Headquarters staff is available to assist in coordinating programs, developing membership initiatives and building awareness among our membership and the entire veteran community.

Membership Objectives

• Achieve 102% in Membership.
• For everyone to recruit at least one new member and then mentor that member.
• Increase membership drives and/or events.
• Develop new Posts and/or revitalize existing Posts.
• Increase Life Membership and Legacy Life Membership

Membership Resources

In order to assist our Posts, Districts, and Departments in meeting the goals set out by the Commander-in-Chief in this membership program, the National Headquarters has a wealth of resources at your disposal. Many of those are available free of charge to our members.

• Membership materials ranging from applications, recruiting brochures, posters, and benefits brochures can be ordered directly from the Membership Department using the Membership Order Form (located under Membership Quick Links once you log into vfw.org )
• Resources for Post Development, Membership Campaigns, and Mentorship such as training guides, videos, and webinars are available in the Training & Support section on vfw.org
• Promotional tools such as radio spots, sample advertisements, public service announcements, and media kits are all available through the Media Room on vfw.org
• See the trend? Just about anything you will need is at vfw.org, check it out.

The VFW National Headquarters staff is ready and trained to answer any questions you may have concerning membership, VFW programs, or other issues. You can contact our Member Service Center directly at 1.833.VFW.VETS, or the Membership Department at 1.888.JOIN.VFW.

Attachments:

VFW National Membership Program 23-24.pdf

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