The Official Voice of Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. ®
An organization chartered by the U.S. Congress
March/April 2005
MEMBERSHIP MATTERSConvention Planner, Part 3
BY BOB THOMSON, MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR This is the third in a series of articles to help you plan your participation in the VVA National Convention this August. By the end of March, a letter will have been sent to each chapter and state council, indicating how many delegates they can send to the Convention. This is based on the number of active VVA members as of February 28. If you believe the membership totals in your delegate authorization letter are incorrect, contact the VVA Membership Department, and we’ll work with you to resolve any problems.
This is a good time to review the VVA Constitution (Article I, Section 6) to be sure you understand how delegate representation works. Also, you should be familiar with the Credentials Committee’s rules (published in this issue) for delegates. Then you will be ready to start the delegate registration process. The registration form will be printed in each issue of The VVA Veteran until the Convention, and it can be printed from our web site at www.vva.org/meetings/05reno.html
Please be sure to complete the “For Delegates Only” box at the bottom of the registration form. Indicate the chapter you will represent at the Convention, or the state council you will represent. Please enter only one or the other, not both. A copy of your DD-214 is not required if you are a Life Member or a state council president or were a delegate at a Convention since 1999. If you are not in one of these categories, include a copy of your DD-214 with the registration form. Unless you are a state council president, two officers of the chapter or state council you are representing must sign the registration form. Registration forms without the required signatures will be returned.
Registering early will save you time and money. If you mail your delegate registration by July 7, you will receive the early-bird discount of $35 off the registration fee, and at the Convention you can go to the express line for pre-registered delegates. Please do not mail registrations after July 7. After that date, you must register on-site at the Convention. This will cost more, and you’ll have to wait in line to get credentialed and registered.
You want to be sure you have a current VVA membership card at the time of the Convention. If you’re a Life Member and you need a new card, just let us know, and we’ll send one to you. If your membership is due to expire before the Convention, be sure to renew in advance so that you’ll have a current card when you arrive in Reno.
Another part of the planning process is to keep in mind that no membership transfers can be made after May 9, except for the formation of a new chapter or when a member’s residence changes. This policy is set by the Credentials Committee. You can read the committee’s report in this issue. Take a look at your membership card now, and be sure it shows the chapter you want to belong to. If it doesn’t, make arrangements to transfer your membership to the right chapter. Transfer requests received after May 9 will be held until after the Convention.
Contact the VVA Membership Department at membership@vva.org or 800-882-1315, ext. 115, if you have any questions on planning your delegate representation at the Convention.
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