Sharon Connolly, National Chief of Staff
2022-2023 National Extension & Revitalization Ambassador

VFWA Headshots 2022

Spring is here for some of us and right around the corner for our northern members. So, it’s time to clean up your garden (Auxiliary) and get it ready for planting in April (Election of Officers).

The first thing you should do is to identify those troublesome “weeds” (challenges). If you go to MALTA Member Resources and select Extension and Revitalization, you will find a list of them under VFW Auxiliary Meeting Challenges & Solutions.

Here is a list of those weeds:

  • Members do not know when meetings are scheduled.
  • Our meetings are too long.
  • There is no agenda.
  • There is too much socializing.
  • Certain members speak too many times.
  • Members see no reason to come or do not feel needed or involved.
  • We do not seem to get anything done to benefit veterans.
  • There is a lack of respect for other members and too much gossiping.

 

This VFW Auxiliary Meeting Challenges & Solutions document also addresses how to get rid of these bothersome weeds. If you let them take over, you could eventually have no garden at all.

 

Working in a garden is a lot of work. Don’t forget to reward your helpers with a Good Job Award. They will appreciate this small token of thanks and will be more than willing to help you again. A full-page award or business card size template is under Extension and Revitalization in MALTA Member Resources. Just print as many as you need.

 

Remember the Extension & Revitalization Award for Members No. 1. Your Department Chief of Staff will choose the nominee who best “assisted the Department Chief of Staff in nurturing/strengthening a struggling Auxiliary and utilizing Building on the VFW Auxiliary Foundation in their efforts.” The nomination form can be found in MALTA Member Resources or in the 2022-2023 National Program Book and is due to me by April 30, 2023.

As a reminder, when you get rid of the weeds, be kind. You’ll want your garden to thrive and grow. April will bring new plants (Officers) or the perennials will return. Either way, with a little work, your garden will be beautiful!