Department of Colorado Veterans of Foreign Wars

2024 - 2025 Membership Program

Carol Thomas State Commander 2024 - 2025

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

Introduction

I have a theme in mind that I want to guide us through this year: Restoring Veterans to the Forefront. The thee is bringing back the honor and dignity of those men and women who are willing or have fought for the freedoms we enjoy. As well as helping those veterans in all facets of their lives as they transition back into civilian life.

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.”

I believe we will have an excellent year together by keeping this theme 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” that 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 reengage lapsed 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 VFW Auxiliary member is eligible for the following rewards
A new and/or reinstated member in the VFW or the Auxiliary counts

Department Membership Classes for 2024 - 2025

The Department of Colorado will select All-State Post Commanders to make up the Department of Colorado 2024–2025 All-State Team of Post Commanders. The team will be presented at the first Council of Administration following the 2025 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, 2025
• Service Office - Post must donate to the Department of Colorado Service Office*
• Programs - Post must submit at least one VOD, one Patriots Pen, and a donation to Veterans and Military Support (VMS). (Donation must be $125.00 or more to qualify)

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 15 Post Commanders will be awarded All-State honors and be offered a stipend to attend the first COA following the 2025 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 $100 or more.

• 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)
• Each submitted Teacher of the Year nomination to District (5 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 of the Year nomination tor Department (5 points)
• Each Council of Administration meeting attended by the Commander in person or by Zoom (5 points)
• Each Council of Administration meeting attended by Post Sr Vice Commander in person or by Zoom (5 points)
• Host or participate in a Loyalty Day 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 2024 – 2025 All-State Team of Post Quartermasters. The team will be presented at the first Council of Administration following the 2025 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, 2025

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 2025 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 in person or via Zoom (5 points)
• Post Trustee attends one Department COA Workshop in person or via Zoom (5 points)
• Each new 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.

The Department of Colorado will select District Commanders to make up the Department of Colorado 2024 – 2025 All-State Team of District Commanders. The team will be presented at the first Council of Administration following the 2025 Department Convention.

Al Lipphardt

Commander-in-Chief

"Believe in what you do, do what you believe in."

* For the full 2024-25 National membership Program see attachments below or click here 

OPERATION: ALL IN

I: SITUATION:

Commander's Introduction:

Alfred J. “Al” Lipphardt was elected Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. at the 125th VFW National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

Al served in the United States Army from 1965 to 1979, earning his VFW eligibility by serving in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968, and from 1970 to 1971. In recognition of his heroic service in combat, he received the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Bronze Star with “V” device, Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service, Purple Heart Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with Silver Star and two Bronze Stars, among many others.

He joined the VFW in 2002 at Post 12002 in North Fulton, Georgia, where he maintains his Gold Legacy Life membership. Al is also a Triple Crown Commander, having been named as an All-American Post Commander in 2006, District Commander in 2010, and Department Commander in 2015.

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.

Specific Membership Numbers:

Our requirement this year is to continue growth and achieve at least 102% in membership. In the simplest of terms, we look at the prior year’s total (which is how many individual members paid membership dues last year) and want to see a 2 percent increase. If a member has been lost due to passing away or not renewing their dues, then that means we must fill that gap in addition to recruiting new members to meet the 102% goal. This should serve as an example to prove that we must maintain our focus on retaining and mentoring our existing members as well as bringing in new members to the organization. Bring in the members we need, keep the members we have.