General Order 8 March 2021
If you are receiving this email it is because you are an Officer of a Post in the VFW or You have signed up to receive monthly communications from us.
Department of Massachusetts
Veterans of Foreign Wars
General Orders # 8
DISTRICT 100% FEBRUARY CHALLENGE
  • Districts attaining 100% membership by February 28, 2021 will be awarded a 6’ VFW Tablecloth.  Includes marketing handouts (bling) for membership drives.
NATIONAL COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF VISIT
Commander-in-Chief Harold “Hal” Roesch, II is scheduled to visit Massachusetts on March 11-14, 2021. Due to COVID restrictions we will not be having a reception gathering for the Chief but we are providing a couple opportunities for members to meet the Commander-in-Chief on Saturday March 13th.

 1st - Commander-in-Chief Roesch will be visiting the VFW Massachusetts Food4Vets Packing Event at the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation Inc. Warehouse at 208 North Street, Foxboro, MA. This is a great opportunity to help support the biggest and best Veterans support food distribution organization in the NE. Food4Vets has benefited hundreds of VFW members this past year and this is the least we can do to help support them back. This event starts at 9:30AM and runs till 1PM with the Chief’s visit tentatively scheduled for 10:45-11:00AM.

         2nd – Commander-in-Chief Roesch will be visiting the Walpole Post 5188, 109 Robbins Rd. Walpole, MA to present numerous Post Anniversary Citations and visit with members. This event is tentatively scheduled to start at 1:00PM.
 
MEMBERSHIP
Membership is vital to the success of our organization and to the services we provide. Most of the time getting a new member is as easy as saying hi and where did you serve? Every community has younger veterans who are eligible, and it should be the priority of every post and every member to let them know the VFW is here and ready to serve them. Massachusetts is at 90.98%. That leaves us with 1,639 members needed to just keep up with last year. In Massachusetts there are approximately 85,000 VFW eligible veterans out of a total of 365,000 living here. If they are not members of any organization, their voices are not being heard. If we want to maintain the benefits and services we
have worked so hard to obtain, we must remain a loud and viable voice in front of our lawmakers. The need has never been higher. All it takes is everyone just signing up one more person or getting that member who left for whatever reason to sign back up. Let’s all work together to get to at least 100%.

See attached flyer for National Membership Challenges
District 100% March Challenge
Districts attaining 100% membership by March 31, 2021 will be awarded a 6’ VFW Blade flag. Includes marketing handouts (bling) for membership drives.
 
Commanders March Membership Challenge
March 1st through March 31st, Massachusetts VFW Posts that Recruit the Most New members (Annual or Life) will be entered into a Drawing for two (2) $250 cash awards
This is a new challenge and does not include previous recruiting challenges.
 
Sponsor–A-Vet Program
Starting March 15, 2021 the Sponsor-A-Vet program is back and ready to help. The Department of Massachusetts is seeking sponsors to help our older members and those affected by the pandemic with their membership dues. The Past year has been one we won’t forget and one that hit our Veterans in the pocket where it hurt the most. In addition we currently have many members over the age of 85 in our “At-Large” Post and many live on fixed incomes, have been housebound or hospitalized.
Any Post, Auxiliary, or person that would like to Sponsor-A-Vet for $27.50 will be entered into a $100 cash drawing. For every sponsored Veteran, you will receive one entry in the raffle.  Keep in mind that Posts and Auxiliaries can use their relief fund. Contest Starts March 15th through May 31, 2021. Look for the Flyer in your Email or online at vfwma.org.
 
COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION
The CoA meeting is scheduled for March 20, 2021 and will be held in person in District 10 at the North Andover Post 2104 located at 32 Park St. N. Andover, MA. Masks will be required and all social distancing and safety precautions will be adhered to.

·      Massachusetts VFW Foundation Meeting – the Foundation will meet at 09:30AM prior to the CoA. All members are encouraged to attend.
·      CoA Meeting – the CoA will start promptly at 10:30AM.
 
 
 
MEMBER DUES
Members are reminded that under the subscription dues model, an annual member’s dues expire on the last day of the month of which they paid the previous year. Annual members are encouraged to renew their dues prior to their anniversary month to avoid a lapse in continuous membership. Better yet, have them upgrade to a Life Membership!
 
Life Membership: The VFW offers the lowest Life Membership fees of most organizations and even offers a 12 month no interest payment plan. It is Easy; It is Cheap, and you never have to worry again. Plan E Life Membership fees shall be charged in accordance with the following Plan E fee schedule effective January 1, 2007:
The applicable fee from the effective life membership fee schedule will be determined using the applicant’s attained age as of December 31st of the current calendar year in which the application is submitted, regardless of actual date of birth.

DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATIONS
The Department has worked very hard to ensure that All members are getting communications in a timely manner. We have the VFWMA.org Web site, Department Newspaper (Published & Electronic), General Orders, Email directly from the State Adjutant and Email from our Communications team through Constant Contact. However, we are still getting members who are saying they are not getting communications.
 
We have provided all Posts and Districts an email account (Postxxx@vfwma.org or Districtxx@vfwma.org ) through Go Daddy that must be used in addition to any other emails you are using. If you have given your Personal or separate Post/District email address to the Adjutant and the Communications team you should be receiving at least two (2) of the same emails from different sources. Please share this information with your Post members so they can get on the mailing lists if interested. If you have questions or need assistance with getting email contact PSC Eric Segundo at esegundo@vfwma.org or adjutant@vfwma.org .
 
VFW NATIONAL CONVENTION HOUSING
122nd National Convention housing will officially open March 19, 2021. Housing reservation information will be located on the convention website accessed through the main VFW website at vfw.org/convention. The convention website will also have general convention information including the registration form and links to other convention related information for Baltimore, MD, July 31 – Aug. 5, 2021, including a tentative agenda.

CONVENTION REGISTRATION
Section 222 of the Manual of Procedure states each Post will pay, in advance, a national convention registration fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) which shall entitle the Post to a packet of convention information and materials and one identified registered delegate for the VFW National Convention. Each additional delegate attending the national convention will pay a ten dollar ($10) delegate fee provided the Post has paid the mandated $25 advance registration fee. All advance registrations should be mailed to the VFW National Headquarters, 406 W. 34th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111, ATTN: Convention Registration or you may register online by going to vfw.org.
 
ORDERS
 
1.    Post Elections: Attention is directed to Section 217 of the National Bylaws and the Manual of Procedure covering the nomination, election and installation of Post Officers. Nominations of Post Officers shall open in March and remain open until the Post is ready to vote. Post officers shall be elected in April. The order of nominations and elections shall be Commander, Senior Vice Commander, Junior Vice Commander, Quartermaster, Chaplain and Trustee(s). Post-Election Reports should be submitted immediately using the online Membership System (OMS) or they can complete the form and return directly to National Headquarters immediately following the election of Post Officers but not later than June 1, 2021.
 
PLEASE BE ADVISED:  ALL NOMINATIONS ARE DONE IN MARCH AT THE POST LEVEL WITH ALL ELECTIONS HELD IN APRIL. INSTALLATIONS ARE DONE PRIOR TO THE DEPARTMENT CONVENTION BUT THE OFFICERS CANNOT ASSUME DUTIES BEFORE THE NEW DEPARTMENT COMMANDER IS INSTALLED.
 
2.    District Elections: Pursuant to Section 403 of the National Bylaws and the Manual of procedure, each District shall hold an annual District Convention for the purpose of electing District officers, such convention to be held not less than ten (10) days nor more than seventy-five (75) days prior to the convening of the Department Convention. Pursuant to Section 417 of the National Manual of Procedure, District officers shall not assume the duties of their office until the Department Commander is installed. District officers shall not be installed or assume the duties of their office until proof of eligibility has been submitted and properly reviewed in accordance with Section 416 of the Manual of Procedure.
 
 
  1. Organizations exempt from income tax under Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code are generally required to file Form 990 by the 15th day of the fifth month following the close of their accounting fiscal year. For the current IRS requirements (beginning on or after January 1), if the organization’s annual gross receipts are normally more than $50,000, the organization must file Form 990 or 990-EZ. Small tax-exempt organizations whose annual gross receipts are normally $50,000 or less are required to electronically submit Form 990-Nalso known as the e-Postcard. There is no penalty assessment for late filling the e-Postcard, but an organization that fails to file required information returns for three consecutive years will automatically lose its tax-exempt status. The revocation of the organization’s tax-exempt status will not take place until the filing due date of the third year.
If you have any questions concerning the Form 990 contact the Department office.

4.    Post Inspections: Section 518 provides that the Department Inspector shall require that each Post be inspected in accordance with Department and National guidelines. The purpose of the inspection is to assure that the Post operates in a manner that supports the purposes set forth in the Congressional Charter, complies with the By-Laws, preserves the financial integrity of the Post and protects the interest of the member. Every Post is expected to be inspected at least once each year. It will also be a requirement for All State. It is the duty of the District Inspector to notify the Post Commander, Quartermaster, Adjutant and Trustees of the date and time that the inspection is scheduled. The inspector should allow you enough time to prepare for the visit. The Post inspection will go a lot smoother if it is conducted at some time other than a Post meeting night. If, for any reason, a Post cannot be inspected thoroughly, a report stating the facts must be submitted. It is the responsibility of the Post Quartermaster and Post Adjutant to provide the records necessary to complete the duties of Inspector. When the inspection of a Post is completed, the Post Inspection Form will be made out in triplicate. The yellow copy will be mailed to the Post Commander and a copy should be retained for your files.

***ALL POSTS ARE TO BE INSPECTED BY ORDER OF THE STATE COMMANDER ***    
                                                    
5.    All Commanders are reminded that Section 709, Manual of Procedure: Control of Units, requires that any activity, clubroom, holding company or unit sponsored, conducted or operated by, for or in behalf of a Post, District or Department shall be at all times under the direct control of such Post, District or Department and that all money, property or assets of any kind or nature, must be placed in the care and custody of the respective Quartermaster. All Commanders should ensure that all provisions of Section 709 are enforced.

6.    Loyalty Day and Memorial Day observance: Section 223 of the National Bylaws and the Manual of Procedure provides that each Post shall make the necessary arrangements for proper observance of Loyalty Day and Memorial Day. Officers should see that suitable grave markers, wreaths and flags of the United States are placed on the graves of deceased veterans.

7.    Scout of the Year: Scout of the year entries were due to the Post on March 1st. Post entries are due to the Department Scouting chairperson, State QM John Larney, by April 1, 2021. Let’s make sure we recognize the young men and women in our communities.

Department Working Tools
COMMANDER'S MESSAGE

MEMBERSHIP

“Comrades, I hope all is well with you and your families. If you remember last year at this time the pandemic was starting to hit everywhere and the state shutdown for two weeks. Well, here we are one year later and the state is just now starting to relax many restrictions and reopen. Also at this time last year our membership took a huge hit and we lost over 2000 members. For whatever reason these members did not renew and no one ever called to find out why or to make sure they were okay. We are only 2% behind last year’s membership at this time and that’s not too bad, however remember we lost over 2000 members. We still have time left but you need to start now contacting your current members who need to renew and those who didn’t renew last year. I must reiterate that Membership is vital to the success of our organization and to the services we provide. If Veterans are not members of any organization, their voices are not being heard. If we want to maintain the benefits and services we have worked so hard to obtain, we must remain a loud and viable voice in front of our lawmakers. I ask everyone to give me 5 minutes a day to contact one member who didn’t renew and see if they are okay. We can all do this if we just pick up the phone and call.”