Historian/Media Relations: How to Share the Wonderful Things Happening in Your Auxiliary

How to Share the Wonderful Things Happening in Your Auxiliary

The editors at VFW Auxiliary Magazine are always working to develop interesting stories and are delighted to receive your information and photographs. As with other media outlets, stories that are unique, new or of special interest to Auxiliary members will take precedence over more routine contributed content.

Send information about various activities for our National Programs that shows your Auxiliary members making a difference in the lives of veterans and those in your community:

• Did your Auxiliary participate in a Stand Down?
• Did your Auxiliary work to raise awareness about veteran and military suicide prevention?
• Did your Auxiliary participate in Make a Difference Day?
• Did your Auxiliary adopt a veterans park or contribute to a veterans memorial?
• Did your Auxiliary educate youth about patriotism?
• Did your Auxiliary have a Family Freedom Festival?
• Do you have good candidates for Member Spotlight and My Veteran? Good photos, too?
• Do you have fun Our History photos from the year 2000 or earlier?
• Was there a particular Auxiliary event that was very unique and/or successful?

When submitting photos to VFW Auxiliary Magazine:

• Include the Auxiliary number, city and state of persons pictured.
• Spell names correctly and include titles of persons pictured.
• Identify members by first and last names.
• Try to capture a well-composed picture (For example, avoid closed eyes, background objects that stick out above a subject’s face, people eating, less flattering angles, etc.)
• Send photos in jpeg format, 1 MB or larger.
  • From computer – “Save as” largest file possible and then email the photo.
  • From smart phone – Email from your phone choosing the largest file size possible. On an iPhone, select “Actual Size.” On an Android phone, select “Resize Image” and change accordingly so that photo is at least 1 MB.
  • If it’s a print – Take a picture of it with your smart phone and then email from your phone choosing largest file size.
  • If scanning – Choose largest file (minimum 300 dpi) and then email the photo.

• Mail copy of your photo to National Headquarters so we can scan it in and return it to you.
  • When mailing, place photo(s) between cardboard and do not type or write on the front or back of the picture. Identify each person (no more than five per photo) on a separate sheet of paper.
  • Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want us to return your photo.

What NOT to send:

• News/pictures about Auxiliary Officer installations – These are important, but if we published one, we would have to publish all – around 4,000.
• Milestone birthdays – We understand how special these are. However, to be fair, we would have to publish news about every special birthday, and we do not have the space to do that and still include important news and other stories.
• VFW-focused stories – Unless it is for our “My Veteran” feature.
• Poetry – We do not publish any poetry.
• Photocopies of newspaper articles and/or photographs.

Note: There is a delay between receipt of information and its publication. Magazine issues are written two to three months in advance of the publication date and printed one month in advance. For instance, the January issue is actually sent to the press in late November.

All information should be typed. If emailed, information should be attached as a Word (.doc) document.

Email information to:
info@vfwauxiliary.org

Mail information to:
Editor, VFW Auxiliary Magazine
406 W. 34^th St., 10^th Floor
Kansas City, MO  64111

National Headquarters looks forward to seeing what’s happening in your Auxiliary!