DAV WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT DISPATCH

Serving Those Who Served

OCTOBER 2026

October brings a season of momentum, reflection, and renewed commitment across DAV Wisconsin. As our Chapters return to full activity after a busy summer, this month offers us the opportunity to strengthen our leadership core, deepen our outreach, and continue advancing the mission we share: empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity.

Honoring Our Volunteers

Across Wisconsin, Chapters are participating in fall events, membership drives, service projects, and community outreach efforts. I want to extend my appreciation to every member volunteer who continues to show up with professionalism and heart. Your work ensures that veterans and their families receive the support, advocacy, and connection they deserve.

I encourage each Chapter to review its goals, assess progress, and identify opportunities to strengthen engagement. Every action — every ride, every claim appointment, every outreach call — makes a difference.

Commander Connect — Building Stronger Leaders

Our Commander Connect Monthly Leadership Series is now underway, and I am grateful for the participation, collaboration, and leadership demonstrated in our first sessions. Commander Connect is designed to unify our statewide leadership, provide consistent guidance, and create a space where Chapter Commanders and Adjutants can learn from one another.

October 19th, the third Monday, is our next Commander Connect session, and I encourage every Chapter Commander to attend and stay engaged as we continue building momentum. 

In October, we will be focusing on:

Membership Growth & Engagement 

Your engagement is essential. Together, we are building a stronger, more connected DAV Wisconsin.

Fall Conference 2026 — La Crosse, Wisconsin

October 29–31, 2026

CSO Training: October 28–29, 2026

This year’s Fall Conference in La Crosse is shaping up to be one of our most dynamic and impactful gatherings yet. With a powerful lineup of speakers, hands‑on training sessions, and opportunities to connect with DAV leaders from across the state, Fall Conference 2026 will strengthen our collective mission and elevate our Department’s readiness for the year ahead.

Conference Highlights Include:

CSO Training (October 28–29): Comprehensive instruction for new and returning Chapter Service Officers, focused on claims assistance, best practices, and updates to VA processes.

Leadership and Operations Workshops: Practical sessions designed to support Commanders, Adjutants, and Chapter officers in strengthening governance, communication, and member engagement.

Guest Speakers: Veteran advocates, mental health professionals, and DAV leaders sharing insight on emerging issues, legislative priorities, and statewide initiatives.

Program Breakouts: Transportation, VSO coordination, membership development, and community outreach strategies tailored to Wisconsin Chapters.

Networking and Collaboration: Opportunities to connect with fellow leaders, share ideas, and build partnerships that strengthen DAV Wisconsin at every level.

Fall Conference is one of our most important leadership gatherings of the year. I encourage every Chapter to send representatives and take full advantage of the training, resources, and collaboration available.

Continuing Our Commitment to Mental Health

Although September highlighted Suicide Prevention Month, our commitment to mental health does not end there. Veterans across Wisconsin continue to face challenges that require awareness, compassion, and action.

Please continue sharing mental health resources, checking in with fellow veterans, and encouraging participation in upcoming trainings and support opportunities. Our work in this area is ongoing — and it saves lives.

Key Mental Health Resources for Veterans:

Veterans have access to several confidential, 24/7 support options:

Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988, then press 1

Text: 838255

Chat: VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat 

These services connect veterans with trained responders who understand military culture and the unique challenges veterans face. Reaching out is a sign of strength, and support is always available.

Fall Legislative Awareness

As legislative sessions begin to shift into fall priorities, DAV Wisconsin remains committed to advocating for policies that strengthen veteran care, benefits, and access. I encourage Chapters to stay informed, remain engaged, and continue building relationships with local leaders and community partners.

Your voice matters. Your advocacy matters. And together, we ensure veterans remain at the forefront of public policy.

Looking Ahead to Veterans Day

With Veterans Day approaching next month, Chapters should begin preparing for ceremonies, outreach events, and community engagements. This is one of the most visible moments of the year for DAV Wisconsin, and I know our members will represent our Department with professionalism, pride, and unity.

If your Chapter is hosting a Veterans Day event, please share details with the Department so we can help amplify your efforts.

October is a month of steady progress and purposeful leadership. As we continue honoring our mission, strengthening our Chapters, and supporting veterans across Wisconsin, I remain grateful for your dedication and proud of the work.

Forward together,

Commander Tiffany Koehler

DAV Wisconsin

It’s been a busy month, and mostly a good one. I’ve had the opportunity to visit quite a few chapters this month as we continue working toward our membership goals.

Eight chapters have welcomed me to visit and speak about membership. I believe working closely with each chapter and the DECs will be one of the best ways to achieve our membership goals. If we work together, I’m confident we can reach—and hopefully exceed—the 105% membership goal I would like to see us achieve.

I also had the opportunity to help Chapter 27 with their Forget-Me-Not Drive at the Warrens Cranberry Festival. It was a great event and an excellent opportunity to help raise awareness, connect with our community, and recruit new members from Monroe County and across Wisconsin.

Remember, the more members we recruit, the stronger our voice becomes in Washington and Madison. Working together, we can continue to grow our membership and strengthen the DAV.

Since taking over as Junior Vice Commander it has been very busy. I have set my goals for this year which are 90,000 plus LVAP hours and at least 5 Youth Award nominations. I feel these are very achievable. All the Chapters in the Department work very hard to help veterans and their families.  Everyone also knows a Youth that helps them or another Veteran so put them in for the Youth Award. I have redone the Youth Award application, and it is available on the Departments website. I plan to request an increase in my budget from the Executive Committeeat Fall Conference, so I can increase the Youth Award prizes to 1^st place $500.00 2^nd place $300.00 and 3^rd place $ 200.00

LVAP is very important we need to make sure everyone is  reporting their hours at the Chapter level and then the Chapter needs to make sure these hours are reported to National. The hours help National when they talk on capital hill . It also helps when national is talking to major donors so they can see al we do for veterans and their families. If anyone is having trouble entering their hours on the website please contact me so I can assist you.

I am starting to make chapter visits with Senior Vice Hainline and look forwards to talking with everyone. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me anytime. I am here to help you and your Chapter succeed in the DAV mission. 

Strength and Compassion in a Changing Season

October arrives with the quiet turning of the leaves and the first cool mornings that remind us that another season is shifting. Fall has always been a time of transition; of harvest, preparation, and reflection. For many of us in the veteran community, this season mirrors our own journeys: moments of change, moments of gathering strength, and moments of honoring what has carried us this far.

As the colors deepen across Wisconsin, we are reminded that beauty often comes through change. Our veterans know this truth well. We have lived through seasons of challenge, seasons of rebuilding, and seasons of renewed purpose. Each chapter has shaped us, and each chapter has prepared us to support those who now walk their own path toward healing and stability.

This month, I invite each of us to pause and recognize the quiet resilience within our community. Whether you are a caregiver, a veteran navigating the VA system, a volunteer serving your chapter, or someone offering a listening ear to a fellow comrade, your presence matters.

Let us also remember those who face the colder months with uncertainty: veterans living with injury, illness, or isolation; families carrying heavy burdens; and those grieving the loss of loved ones. May we be attentive, compassionate, and ready to act. A phone call, a ride to an appointment, a warm meal, or a simple word of encouragement can be the difference that turns someone’s season toward hope.

In closing, I would like to offer this prayer:

Source of peace and strength,

Bless our veterans, families, and caregivers as we enter this new season. Grant comfort to those who struggle, courage to those who serve, and compassion to all who lift up their neighbors. May our hearts remain open, our hands ready, and our community united as we continue the work of honoring and supporting those who have borne the battle. Amen.

Comrades, thank you for all you do; seen and unseen. May October bring steadiness, warmth, and renewed purpose to each of you.

In September, the House reached the needed 218 signatures on the discharge petition for its companion bill, H.R. 2102, allowing the bill to move forward procedurally in the House.

At this time, there is no scheduled action in the Senate to vote on its version of the Richard Star Act.

I would be surprised if we see action on this before the midterm elections in November. So far, the Senate has made little progress on this legislation, and there has been little indication that it will be brought forward for a vote before the elections.

This brings us to the midterm elections. It is more important than ever that each and every one of us, as veterans, understand what is at stake for our future and carefully consider who we believe will best represent us in protecting the benefits we have earned.

Each and every one of us earned these benefits through our service. Some of our brothers and sisters gave their lives so that the rest of us could continue to receive the benefits that were promised when we signed our names on that line years ago.

Remember, elections have consequences.

It does not matter what party you have always voted for. What matters is that you do your due diligence. Take the time to research the candidates running for office and understand their positions on the issues that affect veterans.

Do they understand our issues? Do they have a military background? What is their record when it comes to veterans’ issues and legislation?

Voting means much more than simply putting a mark next to an “R” or a “D.” Our votes can have lifelong consequences for our brothers’ and sisters’ benefits. We should not vote simply because it is what our family has always done, or because someone else tells us how we should vote.

It is about taking the time to study the candidates, understand their positions, and make an informed decision based on what matters to you and to the veterans we represent.

As disabled veterans, we also need to remember our fellow veterans. We are a small subgroup of a small percentage of the American population, and we have given far more than we have ever asked for in return. We have simply expected the promises made to us to be honored.

We must stand together.

Fall Conference

At the end of the month, it will be time for our Fall Conference. I look forward to seeing all of our members there.

I will be conducting BPTL training on Friday morning from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the conference. This training is for all Chapter BPTL officers.

BPTL materials will be distributed to each Chapter BPTL. We will also bring everyone up to date on both the Department BPTL program and the National BPTL program.

Day at the Capitol

This year’s Day at the Capitol will be held in February 2027. More information will be provided at the conference.

I hope to see a great turnout in La Crosse for the conference. I look forward to seeing everyone in a little over three weeks!

Our committee’s purpose is simple: to connect Women Veterans with one another. Not to overwhelm anyone with more events, but to create opportunities where women can show up, feel safe, and be supported by others who understand their journey.

This month, I had the honor of attending the Women Veterans Empowerment Retreat. I didn’t know what to expect, but what I found was powerful — a room full of women who created space for one another to breathe, share, and grow. I felt seen. I felt supported. I felt empowered. That is what I want for every woman who served. That is why we do this work.

Have women events in your area in Wisconsin or events members are attending, feel free to submit to the Committee Chair: Christina Baurichter 715-503-0046.

Save the Date

Women Veterans Luncheon – Eau Claire Area

November 21, 2026 | 12:00–2:00 PM

VFW Post 305 1300 Starr Avenue, Eau Claire, WI

Cost: Free

A welcoming space to connect, share, and lift each other up.

Chapter Constitutions and Bylaws need to be updated. Just as the state Constitution and Bylaws are submitted for review every year, chapter Constitutions and Bylaws should be reviewed and updated at least every 10 years.

When changes are needed, they should be penciled into the current Constitution and Bylaws.

However, once changes are made, the document needs to be updated and approved by National. Outdated Constitutions and Bylaws should not be used as the current governing document.

The following chapters have Constitutions and Bylaws that are 15 years old or older and need to be redone:

15+ Years Old:

• Chapter 20 – Kenosha
• Chapter 55 – Wisconsin Rapids
• Chapter 57 – Marshfield
• Chapter 45 – Oconto-Marinette

20+ Years Old:

• Chapter 2 – Madison
• Chapter 5 – Waukesha
• Chapter 27 – Monroe County
• Chapter 53 – Manawa
• Chapter 64 – Wausau

25+ Years Old:

• Chapter 38 – Juneau
• Chapter 40 – Grant
• Chapter 29 – Tomahawk
• Chapter 24 – Manitowoc/Two Rivers
• Chapter 65 – Calumet

You can go to DAV.org and find the fillable Constitution and Bylaws form under Membership Resources. Look under Quick Links for the fillable Constitution and Bylaws document. You can then add the information needed to fit your chapter.

I would also recommend reviewing your quorum requirements and adjusting them to three to five people, depending on your chapter’s typical attendance.

Constitutions and Bylaws need to be voted on twice by your chapter before they are sent to the State Department and then to National for approval.

Other chapters should also take this opportunity to review their Constitutions and Bylaws to determine whether updates or adjustments are needed.

Hope to see everyone at Fall Conference!

DAV Wisconsin,

Out with summer and in with the Fall. September has been a busy month as the office has been working on the department audit and department AFR. The AFR finance subcommittee has been doing a great job of reaching out to and helping those chapters that are asking for help.

We also have been getting ready for the Fall Conference. Remember, the deadline for submitting your registrations and reserving your rooms is approaching quickly. Big shout-out to Chapter 12 for sponsoring the breakfast and the food in the hospitality room.

The Fall Conference will offer extensive training, including two full days of Chapter Service Officer Training (CSO). The CSO training will be on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday and Saturday will be training on Chapter Officer duties. You must have a laptop for CSO training, and I highly recommend your chapter officers bring their laptops for the Department Training. All reports are now to be submitted online through mydav.org. The Department is your support system, not a do-it-for-you system. If you volunteer to hold an office in the chapter, please make sure you can conduct the duties of the position.

Each chapter's success depends on its membership, volunteering, outreach, and recruiting. You are the support system in your community. Without you doing the hard work you do for the DAV, veterans would not receive the care and support they desperately need. No one out there understands the time and effort you all are putting into your community more than me. I know each day is a blessing, and every DAV member out there helping veterans in your community is an even bigger blessing. Thank you all for giving your precious time to an organization that truly cares for Veterans.

“DAV is not just an organization, but a dedicated force committed to keeping our promise to America’s Veterans. We accomplish this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them, fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill, providing employment resources to veterans and their families, and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life.” This is our mission, our values, and our inspiration.

I have always said, “If it were not for the veterans of our past, we would not have the benefits we have today; therefore, it is our job to continue to fight for the benefits for the veterans of the future.” I still believe in this and always will, and I am very thankful to the veterans who came before me. 

Matt Kempainen

Adjutant

DAV Wisconsin