The Official Voice of Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. ®
An organization chartered by the U.S. Congress
January/February 2003
MEMBERSHIP MATTERSMembership Affairs Update
BY BOB THOMSON, DIRECTOR, MEMBERSHIP AFFAIRS
There's a lot going on in the Membership Department these days. Here are some of the things we're up to:National Convention: One of our jobs in the Membership Department is to support the VVA National Convention by determining the authorized number of delegates for each state council and chapter. In accordance with the VVA Constitution, the number of delegates for the Eleventh National Convention will be based on membership strength as of February 28, 2003.
This is the number of paid IND, LMP, LMT and IVI members (those members in ACTV status on your roster) whose new memberships or renewals have been processed through our remittance address (the Baltimore P.O. Box) by the end of February. The Membership Department will send a letter to each state council and chapter to notify them of their authorized delegate strength. Normal monthly membership rosters will also be sent.
M.E.R.I.T. Program: To date, we have completed two rounds of the Membership Excellence Recruitment Initiative Team Program, awarding one life membership and one Veterans Collectibles gift package to top recruiters of new VVA members. The third M.E.R.I.T. period has been extended until February 21. To be eligible for consideration, recruiters must be VVA members in good standing, affiliated with a chapter or in at‑large status, and must have recruited at least eight new members during the current M.E.R.I.T. period (October 24, 2002, to February 21, 2003). These new members must be in a ``paid'' status, with their DD‑214s on file at their chapter (or at the national office for new at‑large members). The names of recruiters, along with a listing of the new members they have recruited, must be submitted by the state council membership chair (or, if there is no state council, they can be submitted directly to VVA). The next M.E.R.I.T. period will be February 22 to April 25, 2003.
Membership Survey: Surveys help guide organizations like VVA into the future. Since it has been over ten years since our last survey of the VVA membership, it's time to find out what you're thinking. A survey has been mailed to 8,000 randomly selected VVA members, seeking your opinions on how well VVA is serving your needs as members and the needs of Vietnam veterans in general. If you receive a survey, please take a few minutes to answer the questions and return it in the postage‑paid envelope. Your confidential responses will help VVA shape its programs for the next several years. Your answers will make a difference.
Renewals: You'll notice that membership renewals are being mailed more frequently. Members can expect to receive their first renewal notice sixty to ninety days before their membership expiration date. Responding to the first renewal helps save printing and postage costs. Members can send their renewals either to their chapters or to the national office using the enclosed pre‑addressed reply envelope.
As always, if you have any membership questions, please call me at 800‑882‑1316, extension 115, or e‑mail me at bthomson@vva.org
|
Visit The VVA Veteran
archives |
E-mail us at TheVeteran@vva.org