The Official Voice of Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. ®
An organization chartered by the U.S. Congress
March/April 2006
AVVA REPORTElections, Membership, the Web Site, And Tucson
BY MARY MILLER, AVVA NATIONAL PRESIDENT
By the end of April, AVVA members affiliated with VVA chapters that hold annual elections should have completed that process. Remember that the process is not completed until the post-election report has been submitted to your State Representative/President. This is essential in permitting the flow of communication of affiliated-member activities by the Affiliated Chapter Representative to the State Representative/President, and then on to your Regional Director and National.The Michigan State Association has been holding an AVVA membership drive. The membership drive has been running from January 1 to March 31. The member who brings in the most AVVA members will be awarded $100. Good luck with your membership drive.
Bob Thomson, AVVA’s Executive Director, and Sonja Holybee, AVVA’s Web Coordinator, have devoted many long hours to improving AVVA’s website. It will be up and running by the time this issue comes out. Fabulous work, Bob and Sonja.
Don’t forget that our Project Friendship for the Tucson Biennial Meeting will be the National United Spinal Association. At the local level, it will be the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network. Those who attend the Biennial Meeting will be able to share their fund-raising ideas and learn new ones during the seminar on Friday afternoon.
Together Always.
2006 Fellowship Awards
BY KATHY ANDRASIt is again time to consider nominations for the Fellowship Award to be presented at the AVVA Convention in Tucson. Past recipients were recognized for their work for veterans and their country. We in AVVA want the Fellowship Award to remain a prestigious honor.
The requirements for nominations are:
1. Applicant must be a current member in good standing of AVVA with no pending disciplinary actions.2. Applications must be postmarked no later than May 12.
3. Include a report, no less than one page but no more than two pages, describing the individual’s attributes and accomplishments.
4. Include documents or articles to reinforce the submission.
5. Submissions should be sent to: Judy Bolio, Awards Committee Chair, 26-16th Avenue, Silvis, Il 61282-1809; or e-mail fnjbolio@aol.comThe Awards Committee is responsible for the awards selections. The award will be presented during the AVVA Luncheon on Thursday, July 13. All submissions will remain the sole property of the Awards Committee.
Election Report
BY KATHY ANDRASBy now everyone should have received their elections packets. If you have not, please contact me, and one will be mailed to you. Elections for National and Regional Directors will be held during the VVA Leadership Conference in Tucson, July 11-16.
It is the duty of the State Representative or State President to communicate with all Chapter representatives about the candidates who will be running for Regional Director in their areas as well as the declared candidates for AVVA National Officers.
To all candidates: The deadline for form 012 is June 11. A letter of intent should be submitted at this time. Submit your letter of intent as early as possible so that the State representatives will have time to review the information with their membership. There are no provisions in AVVA’s Policy & Procedures for any unannounced candidates to run off the floor for any elected office at any level.
Delegates: Your deadline for form 021 is June 11. You will receive a verification letter from the Election Committee once your membership has been verified. There will be no delegate registration at the National AVVA Convention by the Election Committee.
If your AVVA Chapter is having an election for Chapter representative it must be held between January and April. Within 45 days of the election, you must notify the State representative or State President with the name of the person who has been elected as your Chapter representative.
This will be a very busy and active year for AVVA. Remember the deadline for the Candidate and Delegate forms is June 11. There will be no exceptions to this rule. Mark your calendars for the Convention in Tucson. Your participation in our organization is essential.
Better Chance Scholarship
BY JUDY VARGOIn 1998, AVVA established the Better Chance Scholarship Fund as a way to improve the lives of veterans and their families through education. The program targets students who want to go to college but cannot afford the escalating costs. Typically, one $1,000 and two $500 scholarships are awarded.
A candidate must be an AVVA or VVA member; the spouse, child, or grandchild of a KIA or MIA Vietnam veteran. Interested? Visit the AVVA website, www.avva.org for details.
AVVA Project Friendship
AVVA/VVA has designated the United Spinal Association its charity for 2006. You may visit the group’s web site, www.unitedspinal.org to see what amazing work this organization does for veterans, for children, and for all people with spinal injuries.In addition, we have selected the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN), a non-profit group that works with people with AIDS, as our local charity to work with. Many veterans have contracted AIDS; some, unfortunately, have passed the virus to family members. TIHAN’s wish list includes: personal-care products, paper products, socks, greeting cards, gift cards, candles, and cash.
Please be generous.
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