For my VFW friends, I was asked tonight if I would be willing to share what my announcement is for me in the VFW early and I can. I was planning, and will still do so, to formally announce to my district at the November district council meeting but I will do so over the next few days to some individuals that will basically remove any reason to keep this to myself. As the Department of Virginia continues to serve our 33,000 members and as we work to support the Troops, Veterans, Families and Communities of all of Virginia and work to do so as part of the entire VFW, I feel that some things need to be continued, changed and new ideas need to be introduced. We have a need to stabilize both our membership (annual, life and legacy) and finances in the VFW or else there will be nothing to fund our programs and no Comrades to work those programs. We must realize that while we are the premier veterans service organization, we are a non-profit organization which means we must act like business minded individuals in many ways. Additionally, we must work to do more for our military be they Guard, Active or Reserve and that means stronger National Military Service work, more unit adoptions and projects to support these units while at home, not just away. Furthermore, we need to get into our communities with our current programs and projects and also with new ones to promote our service-minded and community focused mentality. We need to work on our public relations abilities and include modern technology and the social media as well as newspapers or all sizes. We need to deepen our commitment to those in hospitals and in need of long-term medical care. Lastly, we need to take a hard look at every post of every size and location and honestly say what each weakness of each of them is so that we can strengthen it. That will mean confronting those who only spend time at the canteen and never attend meetings or functions. Those Comrades who are holding up the system and preventing change, progress or fair elections need to be gone and bad leaders need to be relieved. I am part of the new generation of veterans that the VFW works hard to recruit and I hope to continue the example of service that my generation wants the VFW to continue and grow. I believe in these things as much now as I did when I fought to bring US Nationals into the VFW and support our Comrades in American Samoa. I believe in these things now as much as I did when I was Commander of the post that wrote the now National HQ legislative priority to repeal the 90 day requirement for federally activat Guard and Reserve members to get a DD-214 so that they can get their hard earned VA benefits. I am not worried about the famous "Comrade NO" who opposes everything. We have only lasted since 1899 and will only last another 114 years by continuing to be the organization that adapts. All that said, I am officially declaring my candidacy for the position of State Surgeon for Virginia for the 2014-2015 year and I appreciate all of the support I get from all of you and the service you give to our great organization and country.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Oct 2013 01:14:50 +0000