Dept of Mo General Orders for March 2010

							                                 HEADQUARTERS
                            DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI
                     VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE U.S. INC.
                              GENERAL ORDERS NO 9
Series 2009-2010                                                                                       March 2010
                       (To be read at or distributed at a regular Post meeting and filed)

1.       The 90th Annual Convention of the Department of Missouri Veterans of Foreign Wars will be held at the
Holiday Inn Select Executive Center, Columbia, Missouri, June 17 – 20, 2010. All headquarters events will be
located in the Holiday Inn Select. Forms for reservations will be distributed soon.

2.       Post Commanders are reminded that nominations for Post Officers should occur in March and the annual
election of Post Officers must take place during April. The Post Commander-elect will select the installing officer
who holds or has held a rank at least as high as that of Post Commander. Post Officers shall be installed in their
respective offices prior to the convening of the Department Convention. Newly installed District and Post Officers
do not assume their duties until the Department Commander is installed on June 19, 2010. As soon as officers
have been elected, the Post Commander-elect should select his Installing Officer. Post officers, elected and
appointed, shall submit proof of eligibility to the Post Adjutant. Post officers shall not be installed or assume the
duties of their office until proof of eligibility has been submitted and properly reviewed. Officers being installed
should be reminded, (if they are an annual member) that they must pay their 2011 dues prior to December
31, 2010 to hold their office for the year they were elected.

3.       National Headquarters should have mailed a Report of Election of Post Officers to each Post Quartermaster
on record. The Men’s Auxiliary Election Report should also accompany this Post mailing. As soon as possible after
the Post election, but within one (1) week, this form should be completed in its entirety and mailed in accordance
with instructions on the form. Instructions for completing the form are included in the information packet received
from National. Completed election reports should be submitted to National HQ, Dept. HQ, and print a copy for your
files. DO NOT wait until after the installation to complete and submit or mail this form. Failure to submit the
report results in the Post not receiving their 2010-2011 membership supplies as well as important correspondence
for Post Officers. MAKE SURE YOU MAIL A COPY TO DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS.

4.        Pursuant to Article II, Section 222, paragraph (d), subparagraph 4 of the National By-Laws and Manual of
Procedure, all Posts are required to register in advance and pay for at least one delegate to the National Convention
whether or not any member(s) from the Post attends the convention. The registration form should have been
included with the mailing of the Post Election Report by National Headquarters. This form is not on the Web Site as
it requires a $10.00 payment with it. The form and payment should be mailed to National Headquarters. Failure to
pay National Delegate fees will result in your charter being placed on suspension by National. Don’t wait until July
to mail this Advance Delegate Fee.

5.       Delegates and alternates to the District Convention are elected at a regular meeting of the Post held not
less than thirty (30) days prior to the District Convention at which District Officers are to be elected; one (1) delegate
and one (1) alternate for each fifteen (15) members or a fraction thereof in good standing in the Post at the time of
election.

6.       Delegates to the Department Convention are elected at a meeting of the Post held not less than thirty (30)
days prior to the Department Convention; one (1) delegate and one (1) alternate for each ten (10) members or a
fraction thereof in good standing in the Post. All membership reports processed in National Headquarters on or
before May 10, 2010, will be considered in determining delegate strength. The delegate fee is required whether or
not someone from the post will be attending the Department Convention as prescribed in Article IX, Section 2 of the
General Orders #9, Series 09-10
Dave Morgan State Commander
Page - 2

Department By-Laws. Posts will receive notification of delegate dues owed prior to June 1. Failure to pay
delegate fees will result in your post not being allowed to vote at the Department Convention.

7.        All Districts will hold a District Convention not less than ten (10) or more than sixty (60) days prior to the
Department Convention for the purpose of electing District Officers and the transaction of District business. Blank
Reports of Election will be mailed to the incumbent District Commanders prior to the Convention by Department HQ.
District officers, elected and appointed, shall submit proof of eligibility to the District Adjutant. Additionally, District
Commanders, District Senior Vice Commanders, and District Junior Vice Commanders shall submit proof
of eligibility to the Department Adjutant. District officers shall not be installed or assume the duties of their office
until proof of eligibility has been submitted and properly reviewed.

8.      The State Commander is offering another chance for Posts to win $500 dollars at the State Convention in
June. All Posts that increase their reinstate percentage by 5% over what their reinstate % was on February 21
by the end of business on May 31, 2010, will have their Post placed in a drawing for a $500 dollar award. The
drawing will be held during the General Session at the State Convention in June.

9.     JOINT MEMBERSHIP DRIVE---MARCH AND APRIL. The Department Commander and Ladies Auxiliary
President are working together in a joint effort on membership. All Posts and Auxiliaries are asked to have a joint
membership drive at the Post during March and April. Post Commanders and Presidents are being asked to form a
team, pick a date, have their rosters ready and start making personal contact together with their members and
establish a personal relationship. District Commanders are to contact all their Posts by the end of each month for
an update on Posts’ plans for this membership drive.

10. All Posts should be making plans for a 2010 Spring Buddy Poppy Drive. An order blank is located in the Post
Commander and Quartermaster’s Handbook that should have been received by each Post Commander &
Quartermaster last August. Poppies must be ordered through Department Headquarters and paid in advance.
Poppies are shipped direct to you from the factory. A minimum of six weeks should be allowed for receiving
your shipment. Failure to list a date when the poppies are needed will result in delay.

11. The deadline for submitting bids for the 2013 Department Convention is March 15, 2010, as prescribed by the
Department By-laws. Any Post or group of Posts wishing to submit a bid should contact Department Headquarters
for the necessary forms.

12.      All Posts are reminded that they have to renew their Incorporation papers annually with the Secretary of
State’s Office, in Jefferson City, unless they have a benevolent incorporation. Please check with the Secretary of
State’s office to see if yours is current. Their phone number is 573-751-2379.

13.         The following District Meetings for the month of March are announced:

        DIST            POST #         LOCATION             DATE             TIME         REPRESENTATIVE

            11           6137        St. Louis         03-23-10          7:30 p.m.        Phil Pippins
            12           5468        Eureka            03-08-10          7:00 p.m.        Phil Pippins



Official:                                                                              By Order of:

Jessie L. Jones                                                                        Dave Morgan
Adjutant                                                                               State Commander