With the start of the new year, we as members of
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 548 must consider the future. The future of the Post depends
on all of us, and without membership participation in the activities of the Post or
recruiting of members, the Post will not survive in the next century. With that being
said, here are five goals for the new year for membership and participation.
1. Consistently have over 25
members attend weekly meetings.
Currently, we have on average about 17 members attending the business meeting and
making the decisions for the Post. It is not a truly representative amount for a 600
member post. Member attendance is a must.
2. Recruit at least 25 new members for
the post.
Each year membership in the Post decreases due to attrition. We need to actively
recruit new members from among our World War II, Korean (1950-present) , Vietnam, Gulf
War, Bosnia and other regional conflicts where men and women have fought and died. There
are numerous veterans out there who do not know they are eligible, but they are, and we
need them. (If you do not know the eligibility criteria, call and ask your Quartermaster
he can assist you on eligibility questions.)
3. Become more active in the community.
Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Pearl Harbor Day are the only times
we are seen in public, but there is so much more we could do for the community.
This year we donated food to four needy families in the Morgantown area and donated time
to ring bells and raise money for the Salvation Army.
This year we need to plan events for the children and parents of our community lest they
forget our sacrifices and have to live them again.
4. Plan for and participate in events
celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the VFW and the 80th of our Post.
The VFW turns 100 years old and we as a Post need to participate in the celebration.
Our Post also will be celebrating its 80th anniversary in November of 2000, and we need to
plan for this throughout the next year to be prepared for that prestigious event.
5. Teamwork.
We hear so much about teamwork, but few of us practice it in our day to day
activities. We at the VFW practice it rarely if at all. It seems that all we here is
"I did…", "I want…" and "I need…"
"We" is such a great word in
that it implies a togetherness, a Team.
The VFW is a team, and we
need to pull together to accomplish our goals. It is only through solidarity and teamwork
will the Post and the VFW survive into the next millennium.
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