DEPARTMENT OF GEORGIA
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES
2007 - 2008 Series - General
Order No. 3 April
2008
TO ALL POST AND DISTRICTS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
GEORGIA
Mandatory reading at Post/District Meetings
1. The following Convention Appointments are hereby announced:
BUDGET AND FINANCE (AUDIT)
BY-LAWS
Ray E. Brooks, Chairman, Post 2785 Albany
John F. Gwizdak, Co-Chairman, Post 5080 Lake City
PARLIAMENTARIANS
John F. Gwizdak, Chairman, Post 5080 Lake City
Albert Spears, Co-Chairman, Post 6330 Jonesboro
Al Lipphardt, Post 12002 Alpharetta
RESOLUTIONS
George Langford, Chairman, Post 6542 Barnesville
Ed Irby, Co-Chairman, Post 4830 Moultrie
Charles “Billy” Brown, Post 6688 Summerville
Pledge Cannon, Post 9948 Warner Robins
H. Dwayne Epps, Post 5897 Lavonia
Herbert Ward, Post 6330 Jonesboro
RULES AND CREDENTIALS
William Satchell, Chairman, Post 660 Savannah
Dick D. Dickens, Co-Chairman, Post 6686 Eatonton
Al Lipphardt, Post 12002 Alpharetta
Randy Coggins, Post 5080 Lake City
Dean E. Smith, Post 5290 Conyers
TIME AND PLACE COMMITTEE
Ron Keller, Chairman, Post 8385 Kings Bay
Leo Ott, Co-Chairman, Post 6330
Edward Grealish, Post 3200 Augusta
William Johnson, Post 658 Macon
Albert R. Spears, Post 6330 Jonesboro
John (Jack) Mefford, Post 2588 Brunswick
AWARDS COMMITTEE
Dean E. Smith, Commander, Post 5290 Conyers
H. Dwayne Epps, Senior Vice Commander, Post 5897 Lavonia
David G. Pipes, Junior Vice Commander, Post 8385 Kings Bay
Leonard D. Ott, Judge Advocate, Post 6330 Jonesboro
Albert R. Spears, Adjutant/Quartermaster, Post 6330 Jonesboro
Ed Irby, Surgeon, Post 4830 Moultrie
Ronald E. Keller, Inspector, Post 8385 Kings Bay
REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE
John F. Gwizdak, Chairman, Post 5080 Lake City
Pat Callahan, Post 10822 Dunwoody
Sammy Cates, Post 5290 Conyers
Edward P. Grealish, Post 3200 Augusta
Sheila A. Lynch, Post 5080 Lake City
2. Eligibility: Installing Officers will ensure that the provisions of the National By-Laws and Manual of Procedure are properly carried out and that Post, District and Department Officers elected are members in good standing and qualified to hold office prior to installing Officers for the current year. All Officers elected and appointed on all levels shall not be installed or assume the duties of their office until proof of eligibility has been submitted and properly reviewed by the Adjutant.
3. Officers Obligations: District Officers shall be given the Officers’ Obligation before the adjournment of the meeting at which they are elected but shall not assume the duties of their office until the Department Commander is installed following the Department Convention.
4. District Convention Delegates: Delegates and alternates to the District Convention, who shall serve until the next Post election of delegates, shall be elected at a regular meeting of the Post held not less than thirty (30) days prior to the District Convention at which District officers are to be elected; one (1) delegate and one alternate for each fifteen (15) members or fraction thereof in good standing in the Post at the time of the election.
5. Department Convention Delegates: Delegates and alternates to the Department Convention shall be elected at a regular meeting of the Post held not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Department Convention, one (1) delegate and one alternate for each ten (10) members or fraction thereof in good standing in the Post as of April 30, 2008.
6. National Convention Delegates: Delegates and alternates to the National Convention shall be elected at the last meeting night in June of each year; one (1) delegate and one alternate for each fifty (50) members or fraction thereof in good standing in the Post at the time of the election.
7. National Delegate Fees: Posts are reminded to complete and mail advance registration form and payment of delegate fees in accordance with Section 222 of the National By-Laws which requires that each Post shall register, in advance, at least one (1) delegate to the National Convention in the amount of ten dollars ($10.00) prior to the convening of the National Convention. Failure to do so will be result of your Post being in arrears.
8. Department Delegate Fees: In accordance with National By-Laws, a delegate registration fee shall be paid by each Post for every delegate to which each Post shall be entitled, based upon and as shown by the Department Quartermaster’s records as of April 30, 2008. The Delegate registration fee shall be forwarded by each and every Post regardless of the number
of delegates present at the annual Department
Convention. The delegate fee is $4.00
per delegate plus additional $5.00 for the Post Commander. Posts failing to forward the full
delegate registration fee shall be considered delinquent and in arrears.
9. Election Reports: Properly completed election reports must
be sent into National immediately
after election. Please send a copy also to Department Headquarters. If
National does not have the election report for the 2008-2009 year by June 1st,
the Post will be placed on suspension subject to automatic termination.
Reporting of Post Commander and Post Quartermaster is a must. The Post Election
Report must be received by National Headquarters to make up the new
officer mailing lists. In addition Posts will not receive their Dues Kits,
programs material and 2009 Membership Renewal Notices until the Post Election
Report is received by National Headquarters. The Department lost three Posts in
2007-2008 for failure to submit Election Reports.
10. Life Membership Payout 2009: The Life Membership Board of Trustees have determined
that the Life Membership Fund can support a payout of $3.50 for each life member in Plans
A, B, and C to Posts, Departments and National in 2009 and $9.00 for Plan E members.
With respect to Plan D, the payout will be $4.46. Payment will be made in September 2008
for all life members recorded as of August 31, 2008. In addition, payment will be paid for each life member in January 2009 for all life members processed during the period September
1 through December 31.
11. Resolutions: All resolutions for the Department Convention consideration shall be
typewritten, four (4) copies, and shall be in the hands of the Department Commander or
Adjutant at least thirty (30) days prior to the convening of the Department Convention (no
later than May 12th) so that a copy can be recorded by the Adjutant and copies for study
forwarded to the Committee Chairperson concerned at least fifteen (15) days prior to the
convening of the Department Convention.
By-Laws: All By-Law Resolutions must be submitted to State Headquarters no later than
April 15, 2008, so proper distribution can me made.
12. State Convention: Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Department of Georgia will convene the 66th Department Convention in Macon, Georgia at the Ramada Plaza June 12-15, 2008. Room rate is $69.00 plus tax. Cost of advance registration $40.00, cost for registration at the Convention is $45.00. Registration includes entertainment for the weekend, the Saturday Banquet, Badge, and Convention Book. Tickets will be issued on a first requested basis. In order to meet hotel requirements for meals, we ask that you register as soon as possible but no later than May 30, 2008. You may advance register by email, fax, or phone without sending the money by providing name, address, and post number at that time. You must pay upon arrival in Macon.
13. National Convention: Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States will convene the 109th National Convention in Orlando Florida, August 16-21, 2008. All reservations must be made through VFW Housing Bureau. Reservation forms were sent to all Posts with Election Reports in early March. One night deposit or credit card is required. Deadline for hotel reservations is July 14, 2008. Room rates are $119-for single/double, $135 for triple, $155 for quad. All rates per room are subject to 13.5% tax.
14. VFW W. W. Jones Memorial Cookout: Ninth Annual W. W. Jones Cookout at the
Milledgeville Georgia War Veterans Home sponsored by the Department of Georgia will be
held May 10, 2008. Volunteers need to be there by 10:30 AM. Monetary donations to help
with the expenses should be sent to Department Headquarters, earmark check “W. W. Jones
Cookout”.
15. VFW Golf Tournament: June 7-8, 2008 in Griffin, Georgia. Please contact Rich Slaney, (706) 769-4366 for more information. Entry fee cost and form can be found in the January-February-March issue of the Georgia VFW News.
16. Community
Service Reports: All reports,
Community Service, Youth, Safety, and Americanism are due into Department
Headquarters by April 30, 2008.
17. Buddy Poppy: The Department still needs your help on Buddy Poppy distributions. We are behind last year in our purchase of Buddy Poppies. Order now for Memorial Day. Orders received after April 30th cannot be guaranteed for delivery on time for your Memorial Day sales.
18. Joe L. Smith Memorial Plaque: Presented to Mr. VFW of the year. Please give
consideration to a worthy comrade for this most prestigious award. Nominations must be
submitted to
State headquarters no later than April
30, 2008.
19. All State Team: Deadline date of April 30th is fast approaching for Commanders and
Quartermasters to reach their criteria. Please refer to the Commanders Yearbook to see what
requirements you must achieve, those you have achieved, and those remaining.
20. Arrearages: Posts and Districts are reminded to take care of any outstanding bills and or
obligations owed to National or the Department by June 5th. Check with State Headquarters
if you are not sure if your Post or District owes the Department money. (Buddy Poppies,
Admission Fees, Delegate Fees, Bonds, etc.)
21. Georgia Leadership Training (GLT): To be held August 1-3, 2008, at the Ramada Plaza, Macon, Georgia. Registration cost will be $20.00. Information concerning accommodations, time and schedule to follow but the training’s planned to start on Friday morning with targeted workshops.
22. Post Service Officers Guide: Post Commanders must ensure that the Post Service Officer
has the primary tool to assist the membership and auxiliary with claims, medical and other
VA entitlements. The Post Service Officers Guide shall be ordered from the VFW Emblem
and Supply Catalog. The Stock Number is 4107 and cost $6.90.
23. Displaying Military Service Symbols: Military Service flags, insignias, etc. should be
displayed in the following order (L - R), Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast
Guard.
24. Council of Administration Meeting: The Council of Administration will meet on
Thursday, June 12, 2008 immediately following Memorial Services to conclude 2007-2008
business.
25. General Order Information: To be read in is entirely at a regular meeting and filed. It has
come to our attention while visiting Posts throughout the State, that some Post Commanders are not reading the General Order from Department Headquarters at their meetings. The information is for all members and it is the responsibility of the Commander to insure that it is relayed to the membership.
BY ORDER OF:
Dean E. Smith
State Commander
Official:
Albert R. Spears
Adjutant/Quartermaster