HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE U. S., INC. GENERAL ORDERS NO. 4 Series 09-10 October 2009
(To be read or distributed at a regular post meeting and filed)
1. Newly elected Jr. Vice Commander Olin Parks and State Surgeon Phil Pippins were installed at the September Council of Administration meeting. Department offices are now filled for the 2009 – 2010 year. 2. The 2009-2010 Homecoming for Commander Dave Morgan and Ladies Auxiliary President Yvonne Massey was a great success and fun for all. Dave and Yvonne wish to thank all that attended. The Homecoming will be a day they will always remember. 3. The 2009 Big 10 Conference will be hosted by the Department of Nebraska October 16 – 18, 2009, in Omaha, Nebraska. Those wishing to attend should contact Department Headquarters for copies of information on registration and events. Room rate is $109.00 per night. The cut-off date for early reservations was September 24, 2009. Late fees now apply. 4. The annual trip to the National Home for Children will be October 23-25, 2009. This year, the Department of Missouri will host the Halloween Party for the children. We are asking every post to provide a tentative headcount to the National Home Chairman so he can reserve a block of hotel rooms. Cost of the trip is $175.00 per person. Traditionally, posts have paid for the cost of their commander and guest to go on the trip. We’re asking that you would continue this custom. This is one of the most important and enduring programs supported by the VFW. The deadline to sign-up is October 1, 2009. For further information, contact Kevin Speis at 636379-1986 or e-mail: kevinspeis@vfwpost5077.org. 5. National By-Laws and Manual of Procedures Article VII, sec. 708 was amended at the National Convention to now require Posts, Districts, and Departments be incorporated. Included in the amendment, was specific language required in the incorporation, review by Department and approval of the Commander-in-Chief. National By-Law amendments become effective 30 days after the close of the convention. More information on By-Law changes was distributed at the September C of A. Posts may have to file amended incorporation requests to be in compliance with the National By-Laws. All Posts are encouraged to purchase the 20092010 edition of the National By-Laws and Manual of Procedures when they become available in October. National By-Law templates are available by calling Department Headquarters.
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6. All posts are now required to file a Federal Income Tax return. NO EXCEPTIONS! Posts may obtain forms 990EZ, 990 and/or 990T from any IRS Office or “On Line” at http://www.irs.gov. Posts with a year end of 30 June must file with the IRS prior to 15 November 2009. If your gross income (from all sources) is less than $25,000.00 per year, you will file form 990N “On Line” from now on. Go on line to the IRS site, http://www.epostcard.form99.org/ and follow the three (3) steps to sign up and file. 7. The National By-Laws and the Missouri All-State Program require the Post Commander or a Post Representative to attend all meetings called by the District Commander. Post Commanders should familiarize themselves with Article II sec. 218 – Officers: Duties and Obligations and ensure they are meeting their obligations. The Council of Administration approved a “Disciplinary Procedure for Posts that Fail to Attend District Meetings” at the Council meeting held September 20, 2008. Posts Officers are encouraged to attend the next scheduled District meeting. 8. All Commanders will assure themselves that all accountable officers in their Posts are properly and adequately bonded with a reputable bonding company. The premium for the bond must be paid from the posts funds. See Section 703, National By Laws. 9. Posts with club room operations are reminded that the Club Rooms are for use by the members and bona fide guests only. Attention is called to the fact that the VFW National ByLaws provide for only one type of membership, “active (dues paid) membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars”. There are no provisions in the National By-Laws, nor authorization given, for issuance of club membership cards, associate membership cards, honoree membership cards, courtesy membership cards or other special types of cards. Posts issuing such unauthorized cards are in violation of the National By-Laws. Conducting club room operations open to the public may endanger the Post’s non-profit organization standing with the IRS. 10. Post Quartermasters are reminded that the quarterly audit reports for the period ending 9/30/09 are to be submitted to Department Headquarters by October 31, 2009. If your Post has not sent one in for the period ending 6/30/09, please do so immediately. A blank audit report form can be found on page 5 of the 2009-2010 beige Post Commanders and Post Quartermaster Handbook. All quarterly reports must be received at Department Headquarters before or by 07-31-09, 10-31-09, 01-31-10, and 04-30-10 to qualify for All-State. 11. Posts that have not conducted a recruiting drive are urged to conduct a membership recruiting drive in early October. Department membership goals for All State require a 5% increase in new and reinstated members and 100% in Post membership. All posts must do their part. Membership retention and growth must be a Post priority. Your Post, the Department, and the National Organization cannot survive if we continue to decline in membership. 12. Posts that did not hold a Buddy Poppy drive during the spring of 2009 are urged to conduct one during the forthcoming Veterans Day period. All Poppies must be ordered through Department Headquarters. An order form can be found on page 4 of the 2009-2010 Commander and Quartermasters Handbook & Post Membership Program book. Be sure to
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allow 4 - 6 weeks for delivery. At times, the factory is backlogged with orders and it takes more than 4 - 6 weeks for delivery. Four to six weeks delivery is a minimum. Be sure the “date Poppies are needed” blank on the form is completed by you when ordering. If it is blank, orders are NOT treated with priority in mind. Poppy supplies must be ordered directly from National Headquarters. Posts must order their quota of poppies each year to qualify for All State Program. Post Buddy Poppy quotas are listed on page 22 in the Post Commander and Quartermaster Handbook & Post Membership Program. 13. Post contest judging for Voice of Democracy, Patriots Pen, and Teacher Award should start nd. on November 2 Post winning entries should be sent to the District for judging by November th 15 . The District winning teacher, Voice of Democracy, and Patriot’s Pen entry forms, with a summary report compiled by the District chair should be sent to the Department Chair, by December 15th. Program entry forms can be downloaded (copied) from the following site: http://www.vfw.org. Program Chairs are: Voice of Democracy and Patriots Pen, Ken Davis; and Teachers Award, Charlie Jamis. When you honor a teacher, your Post will benefit with Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy entries in the future. Honor a teacher at each teaching level, Elementary, Middle School, and High School. 14. All members who paid for their Christmas cards in 2008 should receive another box in October. The profit from this program goes towards the Veterans Service Program. Please be generous and remit your donation as soon as possible. 15. All Posts should plan some type of observance on Veterans Day on November 11th. 16. The following District Meetings for the month of October 2009 are announced: DIST 1 2 3 9 11 14 15 17 Official: Jessie Jones Adjutant POST 4926 5608 6760 5077 6137 5168 3174 2446 LOCATION Keytesville St. James St. Joseph O’Fallon St. Louis Forsyth Sikeston Hannibal DATE 10-10-09 10-25-09 10-03-09 10-11-09 10-27-09 10-18-09 10-25-09 10-18-09 MEETING TIME 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. 12:00 noon 1:00 p.m. REPRESENTATIVE Bob Wonnell Bob Wonnell Dave Morgan Olin Parks Bob Wonnell Earl Boyer Olin Parks Jeff Bibb By order of: Dave Morgan
Commander