A publication of Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. ®
An organization chartered by the U.S. Congress
December 2000/January 2001
Membership Matters
Renewal and Eligibility
By Allen Green, Director of Membership
I am pleased to report that VVA and AVVA membership processing is on track. Renewals are arriving and, on average, we handle several hundred transactions each day. Our goal is for annual members to receive their new cards within three weeks from the date VVA or AVVA deposits the payment. Life member packets take additional time because we custom-produce each life member card and certificate.
A second renewal reminder form is en route to those annual members with expiration dates of February-April 2001. Members with expiration dates of May 1, 2001, or later will not receive a renewal reminder for several weeks. For members who mailed their dues payments in late December or early January, there may be some overlap with the second renewal reminder. Normally, these can be discarded, but double check to see if your payment has cleared the bank before discarding the form. VVA/AVVA Membership can e-mail an up-to-the-minute roster showing renewed members if there is any question. Contact me at agreen@vva.org if you need a quick roster update.
VVA Membership Eligibility Changes
There have been several questions about eligibility status for VVA members who fall outside of the dates we now use for membership. Eligibility dates changed on March 1, 1999, to accommodate changes in VVA membership policy and the creation of Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America (AVVA).
Currently, veterans are eligible for membership if they served on active duty in the U.S. military (for other than training purposes) between August 5, 1964, and May 7, 1975, or if they served in Vietnam between February 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975.
Previously (before March 1, 1999), veterans were eligible who served on active duty in the U.S. military (for other than training purposes) between January 1, 1959, and May 7, 1975.
As a result of the previous dates of eligibility, VVA’s membership includes some veterans whose active service included service in Vietnam between or during January 1, 1959, and February 27, 1961, or service between or during January 1, 1959, and August 4, 1964.
Following its 1999 National Convention, VVA changed membership eligibility dates. Since then our policy has been to enforce the current dates of membership eligibility strictly. This has caused confusion because some long-time members who joined VVA when the previous dates of eligibility were in effect have had their status questioned because of the current membership eligibility dates. We want to simplify the policy so that veterans who met the previous eligibility dates can retain their memberships if they were active VVA members before March 1, 1999, and have not had a break in membership since March 1, 1999.
Chapters and state councils may include members who meet these criteria on their active rosters. Such members will have full membership in VVA, whether annual or for life. This includes eligibility to be a delegate to a VVA convention and to be elected a director or officer within the organization. Contact VVA Membership at at 800-882-1316, extension 115, if you have any questions.
VVA and AVVA membership rosters are now available by e-mail. Send your Chapter/State/Region Membership Chair or Chapter President’s e-mail address to agreen@vva.org Include your Associate Liaison’s e-mail address if you would like the AVVA roster sent to a different address.
E-mail us at TheVeteran@vva.org