Department of Colorado

This time of year is always exciting with the holidays recently past, family get-togethers, parties and finally some time for rest. The daylight hours are now
getting longer each day to allow us to once again reflect why we belong to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

 

Our mission is to foster camaraderie among United States Veterans of overseas conflicts, to serve our Veterans, the military and our communities. We are to advocate on behalf of all veterans. To be honest, the most common words heard as I travel the state is: “we need more new members to do the work”. How then are
we to promote patriotism, honor military service, serve our communities, and finally, ensure the care of veterans and their families?

 

The state of the Department of Colorado in my opinion is healthy and robust. Look at all the Community Service Reports for all the good work so many Posts and Auxiliaries are doing continuously. Look at the membership reports to see how those same posts are growing and working hard to increase our ranks. This VFW administrative year is now half over and already our Department is at 92.58% membership. The goal of course is 102%. This is excellent work by so many working not only for the Department goal but their individual Post and District goals. As of this writing, we have 9 Districts over 90% and 4 Districts over 95% membership. District 5 is the present membership leader sitting at 95.22%. The Posts in the state are strong with 3 posts in the 70% and 22 posts in the 80% range. We have 10 posts over 100% and 51 in the 90% range. Leader today is at 108.10% and that honor goes to Post 8898 in Boone. Can our Department get to 102% in the next 5 months?

 

If you want to leave a legacy for your VFW Post, go to your Quartermaster and ask them if you can make phone calls to help get your unpaid members up to date with their dues. Don’t lose your post membership base. Be a worthy comrade and call a buddy to the next meeting. Your post may have members serving overseas in the military. You can pay their dues with your relief fund. You may have elderly or physically impaired members who can’t get into your meeting. They too should have their membership paid from your relief fund. Stay in touch with them in person and by phone.

 

Carol Thomas
Department Sr. Vice Commander