ARCHIVED PIN POINT ARTICLES
April 2008 Advance Issue
$50 to the Auxiliary who makes the Department 100%
$50 to the Auxiliary who makes the Department 105% by June 29, 2008
$100 to the Auxiliary who makes the Department 110% by June 29, 2008
Now is the time to SHOUT your Auxiliary successes! I’m excited about this year! The Auxiliaries of Arizona have been competitive on a
National level. Everyone has done a fine job and now is the time to report your activities.
Question 9 on End of Year (EOY) Report specifically asks: Were VFW Comrades made aware of the VFW Member Award for recruiting a
minimum of three Auxiliary Members? If they were made aware and if you know of comrades who have helped your Auxiliary in this manor;
please be sure to give them special thanks from your Auxiliary! This can be done via your Post Newsletter. We ALL are part of the same
TEAM and we all like a pat on the back!
NOTE: If you prefer, e-mailing of EOY Reports is acceptable at shutts@citlink.net
Chapter IX
Postcard Final Dues Notices are important. This is a last attempt to have payment received in time to maintain continuous service with the
Ladies Auxiliary VFW. Avoid having to re-instate a sister when this 2007-08 Auxiliary year comes to a close. Collect today!
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence!
Calvin Coolidge
March 2008 Issue
It is recommended that Auxiliary Program Chairman & District Program Chairman begin working End of Year Reports by early March. There
is a reason for this. Reports done quickly, and without thought are not likely to be a comprehensive reporting of your Auxiliary’s
achievements. Remember that volunteers are reinforced by seeing their hard endeavors acknowledged and recognized.
If I can be of help, do not hesitate to call 928-754-5079 or e-mail shutts@citlink.net
Chapter VIII
1. If you have not reviewed your End of Year Report do so now!
2. Make sure the Membership Report has Sheila Shutts shown as the Department Chairman. Reports mailed to previous chairman
(caused by using an outdated report) may be received late, which would disqualify your Auxiliary from receiving an Award they may rightly
deserve.
3. Use additional sheets of paper for written documentation, and supporting pictures.
4. Answer one question each day until the report is complete.
5. Ask others for input. Maybe something significant has been overlooked.
6. Review Meeting Minutes for motions that were passed, check Newsletters for Program Coverage, look for fliers that were posted, and
newspaper articles that were published.
7. Team reporting (chairman working together) is an excellent approach.
8. Review your answers, improving the documentation with each revision.
9. Remember that simply writing NO REPORT does not work!
February 2008 Issue
Have you been watching the National Membership race? The State of Arizona has consistently been ranked in the top three (3) nationally.
Auxiliaries are working effectively by collecting dues, re-instating members, and recruiting new sisters into this great organization.
Membership Chairmen are informed about LAVFW Programs and they work tirelessly mailing and calling our members. Did you know that
each of us has a Membership Goal? If each Auxiliary sister recruited just one new member……we would double our Membership from
9,187 to 18,374. Do you have siblings, children, or grandchildren who are not members? Sign them up! We have the opportunity to be #1
in the Nation, and that is our goal!!!!!!!
Chapter VII A Few Good Reasons to Join
DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS
You can learn how to work with the media, develop interpersonal skills, learn how to run an effective meeting, and gain self-confidence as
you sharpen your public speaking skills before peers and community groups. Start as a local Auxiliary committee chairman and work your
way up to the National Presidency as you gain experience as a leader.
SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY
Ladies Auxiliary VFW members volunteer 1.8 million hours each year at VA Medical Centers and nursing homes throughout the country.
Members also volunteer for organizations such as the March of Dimes, Special Olympics, Ronald McDonald Houses, and Make-A-Wish
Foundation.
ENJOY ACTIVITIES AS A FAMILY
The Ladies Auxiliary, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Junior Girls Units, and Sons of the VFW provide opportunities for your entire family to be
involved. Soon you will consider other members as your extended family.
FRIENDSHIP
You will make friendships that you'll treasure throughout your life and enjoy the camaraderie as you work together to help others, share a
laugh, or cope with crises.
January 2008 Issue
Our VFW Comrades can order from the Membership Department Supply…. Door Hanger Self Mailers $1.25 with 25 per package. These
can be used on door knobs in your neighborhood, or on antennas in a parking lot. Is there a visual sign that tell you a vet lives here, drives
this car etc. Use the hangers! If you recruit a Comrade you probably gain a sister!
From Our Podium Edition By-Laws & Ritual
MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING Sec. 110
The calendar year of the Auxiliary is from January 1 to December 31. A member who has paid her dues to December 31 is in good
standing. She ceases to be in good standing on January 1 immediately following the year for which her dues have been paid. She shall
not again be in good standing until her dues have been paid for the current year.
RITUAL Page 6 (In Italics) Directions from the President
The President instructs the Treasurer to determine the status of members standing. Those who have not paid their current dues will be
required to pay said dues or leave the meeting.
CHAPTER VI
Do you know where to get additional copies of the Ladies Auxiliary Magazine, and why you might want them? They can be ordered from the
Communications & Publications Department at National Headquarters. As you prepare your membership booth, what better tool than our
Ladies Auxiliary Magazine to let prospective members know we are a National Organization working hand in hand with our Auxiliaries.
Along with the Facts Leaflet, Share the Joy, applications and National program Book you will have the “hands on” material available to
review and take home.
December 2007 Issue
URGENT – URGENT - YOU MUST ACT TODAY!
Annual members who have not paid their 2008 dues in time to be credited at National Headquarters prior to December 31, 2007 will lose
their Cancer Insurance. Courtesy reminder telephone calls are needed today! Flier reminders too!
Sisters are no longer in Good Standing on 1-1-08 if their dues is delinquent. Our Madam Conductresses must be vigil in checking for the
current Members Dues Card of all those attending meetings in the New Year. Remittance for delinquent dues is required to remain in your
Auxiliary meeting beginning in January 2008. (See Sec 1120 Members in Good Standing)
Suggested Telephone Call Content
“I’m calling today as a courtesy from your Ladies Auxiliary VFW. 2008 dues need to be remitted ASAP to avoid losing your 2008 Cancer
Insurance. Can I help by stopping by to pick up your check?
Every Comrade and Sister should carry BOTH Membership Applications. Seems odd to me that the Department of Arizona VFW has
25,589 members, and the LAVFWAZ has only 9,187! Most comrades have one, two, three, four or more relatives that qualify for the Ladies
Auxiliary…….WE NEED VFW HELP! And we must reciprocate by helping with their membership goals. Strength in Unity 2007-2008!
CHAPTER V
Here’s a MIX & MATCH situation. AMERICANIS>BUDDY POPPY>MEMBERSHIP
Question 9 from your Americanism End of Year specifically asks, “How many Patriotic Citizen Award Certificates did you present to
businesses or citizens for displaying the American Flag or the POW/MIA Flag?”
Here’s what to do! Send your local business an Americanism Thank You Letter, and in turn, they support you for your next Buddy Poppy
Campaign………… and of course you turn that opportunity into a Membership Drive. A more direct route is through the resident that flies a
proud American flag! Include a membership application for VFW & Auxiliary with the Resident Americanism Thank You Letter.
Be creative can do members in this great Veterans Organization. Be proud, and let it show!
November 2007 Issue
Have you ordered the Join Us Brochures, and Share the Joy Brochures? Does your locale have other groups interested in military and
veterans issues i.e. 1st Marine Division Association, Vietnam Veterans of America, Fleet Reserve Association, Military Order of the Purple
Heart etc? More important, do you have a Military Mom’s Organization? You do realize that these moms have sons and daughter serving in
Iraq. Does your Post hold welcome home celebrations? NOTE: The Auxiliary could vote to purchase annual memberships for wives of our
young soldiers deployed or returning home. You should be saying YES, YES, and YES Sheila. Now you know what I want next! Have you
spoken to these groups and potential members? Have you taken them application forms? Have you offered one year FREE membership
for the wives of our current day heroes?
Potential is NOTHING if not acted upon!
Chapter IV
I never joined the Ladies Auxiliary VFW until I moved to Arizona. WHY…..because no one asked me. I would sit there at the post, and visit
with the California sisters, and never once was I asked to join. And look what they missed! SHEILA IS SMILING
Now this job as Department of Arizona Membership Chairman has required that I put on my thinking cap! Learning from my personal
experience….I have tracked down local friends who are near and dear to the Ladies Auxiliary, but for whatever reason have not joined. And I
am having success! Please talk about the programs, the National Organization, the cancer insurance. These are all benefits! Recruiting
can be fun……..enjoy the challenge, and prove that Strength in Unity brings success!
Recruiters Guide
http://www.lavfwaz.org/files/Recruiter_s_Guide.pdf
Download Reminder Notices 2007-2008
https://www.ladiesauxvfw.org/eweb/images/Dues%20Reminder%20Notice%2008.pdf
October 2007 Issue
Stars and Stripes Recruiter Award I
Drawing: One winner from each Membership Group. Each member who signs up one new or reinstated member between July 1, 2007,
and June 15, 2008, must be received at National Headquarters by
June 30, 2008, will be entered in a drawing to win $100. The drawing for winners will be held after July 1, 2008. A separate entry form must
be submitted for every new or reinstated member collected.
Stars and Stripes Recruiter Award II
Drawing: One winner from each Membership Group. Each member collecting dues for 10 continuous members between July 1, 2007, and
June 15, 2008, must be received at National Headquarters by June 30, 2008, will be entered in a drawing to win $100. The drawing for
winners will be held after July 1, 2008. A separate entry form must be submitted for every 10 continuous dues collected.
Here’s a good Reason to join your Auxiliary Membership Committee!
National Aide-de-Camp Award
Each Auxiliary member who secures 20 new or reinstated members from July 1, 2007, through June 15, 2008, must be received at
National Headquarters by June 30, 2008, will be named National
Aide-de-Camp to the National President and an award will be given at National Convention. She will be entered in a drawing for 10 awards
of $100. Organizers of new Auxiliaries are eligible for this award. The drawing for winners will be held after July 1, 2008.
NOTE: Official Award Entry forms are included in the National Program Book.
CHAPTER III
Does your Post & Auxiliary host Welcome Home events for local returning Military personnel? Does the serviceman/servicewomen’s family
attend these Welcome Home Parties? Has the Post signed them on as new members? Maybe paying for their first years annual
Membership? Are you offering the proud mothers, sisters, and wives application forms? If these answers are NO…..then you are missing
a huge opportunity! The Share the Joy……of being and Auxiliary Member brochure is the perfect tool. These brochures are available FREE
from the Ladies Auxiliary Supply Department, and the order form is on your Auxiliary CD provided to Auxiliary Presidents at Leadership
Conference. Order today!
September 2007 Issue
MIX & MATCH OPPORTUNITY – SAMPLE PUBLICITY –CHANGE WORDING AS APPROPRIATE
Bullhead City – The Colorado River Valley Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post 10005 seeks new members. Qualifying DD214, discharge papers,
and separation documents can be ordered FREE on-line to most next of kin, GO TO: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-
records/dd-214.html
Membership is open to wives, widows, mothers, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sisters, half sisters, and even under certain
circumstance foster & step family members.
Application forms are available by calling Sheila Shutts 928-754-5079.
CHAPTER ll
Here’s a pop quiz on Membership. How’s does your Auxiliary shape up?
If you are, or have been an auxiliary President…..did you appoint a Committee to work membership via personal contact?
Does the Post & Auxiliary hold a Joint Early Bird Activity?
Example - FREE dinner to anyone paying their annual dues, changing to LIFE, or an existing Life Member…….our treat to you!
Does your Auxiliary get a list of new members from the Post, and send welcome letters and applications for eligible family members to join
the Auxiliary?
Has your Auxiliary laid down a Membership challenged to the Post?
If you live in rural Arizona, where newspaper publicity is easy to come by……do you solicit for new members through this medium?
July-August 2007 Issue
Here’s what to expect for the 2007-2008 Membership Program Year……
The Membership Chairman’s page on the Department’s website (http://www.lavfwaz.org) will include past articles from Pin Points.
Membership E-Press Newsletter information will also be available on-line. These resource tools are being provided for easy computer
reference. Feel free to copy/paste pertinent information, and share with your sisters via Post/Auxiliary newsletters, fliers, and business
meetings.
During Leadership Conference, details on this year’s Department Membership Challenge will be revealed. Each Auxiliary should set, and
issue a challenge to the Post Comrades. There is Strength in Unity, and together the VFW & LAVFW will have fun while reaching our goals.
What is your CHALLENGE going to be?
Each Pin Point article will have a Chapter with step by step instructions to insure 100% Membership for your Auxiliary. Some may have
missed the Laughlin Convention, but National Conductress Cortina Barnes passed on this information. Membership is quite easy! Think
about it! Each sister makes a promise to recruit one new member, or re-instate a member. Every VFW Comrade can generate several
new memberships. Sign them up!
NOTE: A cute Messenger Bear will be awarded (while supply lasts) to each Auxiliary reaching 100%.
The Ladies Auxiliary has always shown a Tradition of Caring. Make this year an example of that caring for others to follow.
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Chapter I
Auxiliary Rosters include non-pays for several years. WHY? One way to reach 100% is through re-instates. National leaves the non-pays
on the roster to act as a tool for the Membership Committee.
The By-Laws Ladies Auxiliary Sec. 810A states that the Auxiliary President shall appoint a committee of not less than five (5) members,
including the Treasurer, to contact all members during the year for payment of dues. They shall also contact those who have not paid dues
for the preceding years. This committee shall report on all contacts made, and turn any money collected over to the Treasurer as soon as
possible, but no later than the first meeting following the collection.
| Membership Chairman ~ Sheila Shutts Send me an E-Mail |