The Official Voice of Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. ®
An organization chartered by the U.S. Congress
May/June 2005
MEMBERSHIP MATTERSConvention Planner, Part 4
BY BOB THOMSON, MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR This is the fourth and final in a series of articles to help you prepare to attend this year’s National Convention as a delegate, representing your chapter or state council. By now, all chapter elections have been held and chapters should be ready to register all their delegates. If you haven’t started the delegate-registration process, it’s a good idea 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 for delegates (see left). The registration form will be published in this and the July/August issue of The VVA Veteran. It also can be printed from our web site at www.vva.org/meetings/05reno.html
To register as a delegate, you need to complete the “For Delegates Only” section of the registration form. Please take time to read and understand the directions printed on the form. Unless you are a state council president, two officers of your chapter or state council must sign the registration form. Your registration will not be processed without these signatures. Registering early will save 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 use 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.
Under the Credentials Committee’s guidelines, no VVA membership transfers may be made during the 90 days prior to the Convention, except for the formation of a new chapter or when a member’s residence changes. VVA transfer requests received after May 9 will be processed after the Convention.
The final item on your Convention planning checklist is to be sure your chapter or state council annual financial report for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2005 (as well as all previous fiscal years) is on file at the national office. Delegates will not be allowed on the Convention floor if the financial reports are missing. To be sure there are no last-minute problems at the Convention, it’s a good idea to bring along a copy of each delegate’s DD-214 and a copy of your current financial report.
Please contact the VVA Membership Department at membership@vva.org or 800-882-1316, ext. 115, if you have any questions on planning your delegate representation at the Convention.
|
Visit The VVA Veteran
archives |
E-mail us at TheVeteran@vva.org