NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

BULLETIN
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE U.S.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI VOLUME 37, NO. 1 AUG. 2012

A
PROGRAMS:

L I F E T I M E

C O M M I T M E N T

DISPLAYING MILITARY SERVICE SYMBOLS. Military Service flags, insignias, etc., should be displayed in the following order (Left to Right as you face the flags): Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and then Coast Guard. For Military flags, click here: http://www.vfwstore.org/detail.aspx?ID=22300. PATRIOTS PEN PROGRAM CHANGE EFFECTIVE 2012-2013. VFW National Headquarters has been informed that, as a corporate entity, the VFW (at all levels) can no longer purchase U.S. Savings Bonds. The program will be modified to provide checks to our winners in the amount allocated for the purchase of the bond. As an example, a student who would have received a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond will now receive a $500 check instead. If the amount of the check is more than $599, the IRS requires that the recipient receive a Form 1099 identifying the check as taxable. The 1099 will be issued in the students name and will likely not create tax issues for the recipient. Anyone with questions about this change is encouraged to contact VFW Director of Programs Steve Van Buskirk at 816-968-1116 or via email at svanbuskirk@vfw.org. PATRIOT DAY, SEPTEMBER 11. Per Presidential Proclamation, September 11th is designated as Patriot Day. The President requests the flag of the United States to be flown at half-staff (sunrise to sunset) and a moment of silence observed in honor of the individuals who lost their lives on that day due to terrorist attacks on the United States. For flags and other patriotic items, click here http://www.vfwstore.org/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=211 NATIONAL POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY, SEPTEMBER 21. Posts should conduct an appropriate ceremony. Information on conducting a ceremony can be found in the current VFW Manual of Procedure. For POW/MIA merchandise, click here http://www.vfwstore.org/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=97. VFW HONORS AMERICAS TEACHERS DURING 2012-2013 PROGRAM YEAR. The VFW wants to recognize the nations top elementary, junior high and high school teachers (teaching at least half of the school day in a classroom environment) who teach citizenship education topics regularly and promote Americas history, traditions and institutions effectively through the VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award. Nominations can be submitted by fellow teachers, VFW posts, supervisors or other interested individuals (not relatives). Self-nominees are not eligible. Based on the nominees submitted by November 1st, local VFW posts will recognize one outstanding teacher in grades, K-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Posts then submit the winners names to their District level judging who will forward their winners to the Department (or state level) by December 15. After judging, each Department forwards the names of its winners to VFW National Headquarters for 1

consideration in the national awards contest. This is part of the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 All American Programs. VFWs National Citizenship Education Teacher awards include: three national $1,000 awards for the top K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 teachers for professional development expenses; $1,000 award to each winning teachers school; plaques for both the winning teacher and school; and, an all-expenses-paid trip to attend a VFW and Ladies Auxiliary National Event. A program brochure (designed to be duplicated for distribution) can be viewed at www.vfw.org/uploadedFiles/VFW.org/Community/Teacher%20Award%20Brochure.PDF or ordered through www.vfwstore.org or by calling 1-800-821-2606 and asking form item #4450. Order the Citizenship Education Teacher Recognition Citation from VFW Emblem and Supply, product #4320, http://www.vfwstore.org/detail.aspx?ID=23980 . Present to all teachers nominated at all levels for the national award. VFW NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVANT AWARDS. Departments are asked to submit three nominees (one for each career area) to the VFW Programs Office no later than February 1, 2013. VFW Programs will create citations for the following awards in each Department:
VFW National Law Enforcement Award VFW National Firefighter Award VFW National Emergency Medical Technician

Each Department will receive their three awards and contact their recipients to arrange a presentation. Department Commanders may present the awards at their Department Convention, but are encouraged to also present the award in front of the recipients peers at a professional association event, city council meeting, etc. The purpose of the second venue is to expose these VFW awards to the general public and especially other law enforcement personnel, firefighters and EMTs, many of whom are veterans eligible for VFW membership. POW/MIA FLAG -- OFFICIAL DISPLAY DAYS. Public Law 105-85 (November 16, 1997) indicates the days that federal agencies, military installations, and U.S. post offices are required to display the POW/MIA flag. The days are: Armed Forces Day, May 18 (third Saturday in May); Memorial Day, May 27 (last Monday in May); Flag Day, June 14; National POW/MIA Day, September 21 (third Friday in September); and, Veterans Day, November 11. To purchase a POW/MIA flag, click here: http://www.vfwstore.org/detail.aspx?ID=22305. BUDDY POPPY: Plans should be under way for the Veterans Day Buddy Poppy campaign. Contact your Department Quartermaster to place your order for Buddy Poppies. Remember that your Poppies should be ordered a minimum of 12 weeks in advance of your distribution date. Be sure to specify a date by which the poppies are required; do not use, ASAP. Miscellaneous items (coin cans, caps, buttons, posters, etc.) should be ordered directly from the VFW Store by calling 1-800-821-2606, visiting http://www.vfwstore.org/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=128 or the VFW Store/Emblem and Supply Catalog. PROCESS TO ORDER VFW BUDDY POPPIES: Your Post order for VFW Buddy Poppies starts with your Post Quartermaster, upon approval of the Post membership. Order the Poppies from your VFW Department Headquarters (you will need to contact the Department Headquarters for any special order form and pricing as this information is not available from National Headquarters). Your Department Headquarters will in turn order from National Headquarters the quantity desired, and the shipment will be made according to directions from the Department order. 2

DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT: Please remember VFW depends on your donations which cover 88% of the expenses for all VFWs life changing programs each year. Americas HeroesHonoring America and Our Heroes This month you will receive the 2013 Veterans of Foreign Wars Calendar Announcement which will offer a sneak peak of this years cover. We hope you are as excited about the 2013 Calendar as we are! The calendar was created to celebrate all of Americas veterans and will arrive in your mail box in September. Your support of the VFW 2013 Calendar program is vital. Your donations help your VFW Department serve veterans in need throughout the year. It is extremely important to keep the Department programs strong especially with the newest generation of veterans returning from the wars in the Middle East. Veterans in your area and across the country are counting on you! Watch your mail for this limited edition gift. Estate Planning Resources VFW has an extensive website designed to help you set up your estate plan so you can provide for your family after you are gone as well as continue to support veterans, service members and their families. You can find information on the types of documents you should consider, suggested planning steps by age, and various types of gift arrangements that could save your heirs from heavy taxation while at the same time helping veterans. Go to www.vfw.org/plannedgiving to read more. Have you heard about VFWs Partners in Patriotism? Would you like to support VFWs life changing programs for veterans, service members and their families without receiving all of the unwanted mail? VFW has developed an option that lets you support VFW programs on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis, as well as reduce expenses and eliminate unwanted mail. It is called Partners in Patriotism. As a member of Partners in Patriotism, you choose a set dollar amount for your donation (minimum amount of $10) that is either charged to your credit card or set up as an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) from your bank account. If you are interested in joining Partners in Patriotism, you may contact the VFW Development Department at 816-756-3390, ext. 6318, or email us at partners@vfw.org with Partners in Patriotism Application in the subject line. VFW Friends of Freedom If you are not already a member of VFWs online community, please visit www.vfw.org to sign up and look for KEEP UP WITH VFW. Members of this special online community will receive a monthly e-newsletter with new grassroots stories about VFW out in the communities assisting veterans in need, educating the youth, and assisting military families across the nation and overseas. These stories can also be found by visiting www.vfw.org/vfwatwork and clicking on Story Archive. Check back often to see newly posted stories! Also, as a member of VFWs Friends of Freedom you will receive special e-mails with breaking VFW news and unique opportunities to help VFW in assisting our nations veterans, service members and their families. Department Resources All the same great resources are still available for your Department to use now found at www.vfw.org. You need only go to www.vfw.org and log in. You will find Department Resources under the How to Get Involved heading. The latest program information, ideas and promotional tools from the Development Department can be found here. Download ad slicks, press releases, banner ads and buttons for your Department publications and/or website. Recent mailings and mailing schedules are also posted on a regular basis. Use the Department Resources tools to help strengthen your Department programs. Check it out today!

MEMBER BENEFITS: Long Term Care Information Long Term Care Insurance protects your retirement savings and helps you maintain your independence while providing you with quality care options. Through Long Term Care Financial Partners, the VFW offers a broad selection of long term care plans, services, underwriting and premiums to meet the needs of VFW members. Protection is also extended to spouses, children, parents, in-laws and friends. Long Term Care Insurance coverage helps you to: Stay in your home as long as possible Receive care in the facility of your choice Get the support you need when you need it Protect your retirement assets Contact a Long Term Care Financial Partners specialist today to learn about developing a plan for your family needs. Call toll free 1-800-821-2606, opt. 1 or visit www.vfwinsurance.com/LongTerm.htm VFW Member Benefits To receive information about various member benefits sponsored by VFW National Headquarters, please call 1-800-821-2606, opt. 1. MEMBERSHIP: Dues Notices - Just a reminder, the Dues Notice tapes are created on the last Friday of every month. To prevent dues notices from being sent to those who have already paid, all membership transmittals must be received in the Dues Processing Department no later than noon on the following closing dates: TRANSMITTAL DEADLINES FOR THE 2012-2013 YEAR:

MONTH

DEADLINE DATE

(DAY)

AUGUST August 31 (Friday) SEPTEMBER September 28 (Friday) OCTOBER October 26 (Friday) NOVEMBER November 30 (Friday) DECEMBER December 28 (Friday) JANUARY January 25 (Friday) FEBRUARY February 22 (Friday) MARCH March 29 (Friday) APRIL April 26 (Friday) MAY May 31 (Friday) JUNE June 28 (FRIDAY - MUST BE RECEIVED IN DUES PROCESSING BY NOON FOR YEAR END CLOSING)

ADDITIONAL REMINDERS: Shotgun Mailing Lists: We have lists that you can work to help build up your membership. Please call the National Membership Department for assistance. 4

National Membership Program: The 2012-2013 National Membership program is listed in the Leadership Reference guide. This can be viewed online via the OMS system. Dues Notices: An E-dues notice to unpaid members is scheduled to go out mid-August. We will send out another paper dues notice mid-September. Subscription Dues: The subscription dues resolution was approved at the National Convention in San Antonio, Texas. A briefing of this program was given at the National Convention in Reno. The program will not go into effect until January 1, 2014. Legacy Life Membership: Please pass the word on our Life Legacy Program available to all Life Members. This program offers 3 levels of membership each offering its own packages of prestigious benefits. Financial contributions to the Legacy Life Member program are tax deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. Annual Payouts (Natl., Dept. & Post): ________________________________________________________ Gold - $1200 Silver - $800 Bronze - $400 $18.00 $12.00 $6.00 Enrollment Cost:

What Legacy will you leave?

VFW FOUNDATION: COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN (CFC) The VFW Foundation needs your help! Each year, we participate in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) and state employee campaigns (similar to the United Way though geared toward public sector employees). The money we raise is used to support urgently-needed VFW programs for our troops abroad, military families back home and Americas often forgotten veterans. CFC and state campaign kick-off events are held around the country usually in September through Octoberno doubt there might be one in your city or town. We seek VFW and Ladies Auxiliary members to attend these events so as to encourage employees to donate to the VFW Foundation. Usually the event only lasts 2-3 hours and all promotional materials to pass out will be provided to you, free-of-charge. Over the last five years, the VFW Foundation has worked very hard to publicize fundraising opportunities for your Post such as The Home Depot grant. Now, we ask that you get involved in this tremendously worthwhile effort. If you would be interested in acting as a volunteer at a local CFC or state campaign kick-off event on our behalf, please contact Leila Jones, VFW Foundation Program Coordinator at (816) 968-1174 or email foundation@vfw.org. As an added bonus, your presence might be a way to meet veterans and to promote membership in your local Post. Many thanks! BOB EVANS RESTAURANTS Few things taste better in the summer than a slice of delicious apple dumpling pie. 5

Through August 22, participating Bob Evans Restaurants will donate 20 cents for each slice and 60 cents for every whole pie sold (both dine-in or carry-out). We ask that VFW members and their families consider dining (breakfast, lunch or dinner) with our great friends at Bob Evans as they in turn proudly demonstrate their patriotic support for Americas military service personnel. Bob Evans Restaurants are known for providing unique home-style food and friendly service to customers primarily in the East North Central, mid-Atlantic and Southern United States. For a complete list of Bob Evans Restaurant locations please visit: www.bobevans.com/Restaurant/Locate NATIONAL MILITARY SERVICES (NMS): Contact the NMS office at (816) 756-3390 ext. 261 for fundraising opportunities to qualify for AllAmerican. Posts: Hold a fundraiser with proceeds going to NMS ($100 minimum) Districts: Make a donation to NMS ($250 minimum) Departments: Department fundraising event for NMS (non-reimbursable minimum of $500 or donate $500 to the program) ROLL CALL OF DEPARTED COMRADES: JENKINS, SIDNEY L., All American Commander, Department of Europe, 1998-99 and a Life Member of Kitzingen Post 10436, Kitzingen, Germany, July 28, 2012. SODEN, RAYMOND R., Past Commander-in-Chief, 1973-74, Commander, Department of Illinois, 1964-65 and a Life Member of Tioga Post 2149, Wood Dale, Illinois, July 22, 2012. - 30 -