Membership: Ensure Members Remain in Good Standing – Collect Outstanding Dues

Ensure Members Remain in Good Standing – Collect Outstanding Dues

The end of the 2020 year is upon us. This has been a trying year for our Auxiliaries; however, one thing has stayed the same, the need for members to assist us in our mission to serve veterans. With this in mind our focus during the next few weeks must be on retaining our current members and collecting outstanding continuous dues so that our members remain in good standing.

Members: It is important for you to remain in good standing because failure to pay your dues by December 31 means that you:

• Cannot attend VFW Auxiliary meetings.
• Cannot hold a VFW Auxiliary elective or appointive office, or a Program chairmanship on any level.
• Are not eligible for a Cancer Grant, if otherwise eligible.

Auxiliary Membership Chairmen and Treasurers: Please work diligently to get all your continuous members paid by December 31. By now, all Auxiliaries should have mailed or emailed a second dues notice. Research shows that not receiving a dues notice is the main reason members do not renew. Remind your members they can pay their dues online in MALTA or convert to a Life Membership so they never have to worry about paying dues again!

December is a time for giving. Look at the list of unpaid members and find out if anyone needs financial support to pay their dues. If so, your Auxiliary can pay them out of the Relief Fund, or a member could pay them under the Adopt a Member initiative.

Department Membership Chairmen: You are doing a great job! Congratulations to the Departments of Hawaii, Nevada, Delaware, South Dakota and Alaska for reaching the first goal of 95% Plus by November 30 and banking $400. Remember that there is still $600 out there for Departments to claim. Your next goal is to be over 98% by March 31, 2021. You have more than three months to reach that goal and earn $400 for your Department. Continue to promote the Membership Program through your bulletins, at conferences and on social media.

Department Presidents: You will earn 10 points towards earning a place in the Circle of Excellence for your Department if the following is completed: Department, District and Auxiliary Officers’ (Presidents, Secretaries and Treasurers) dues MUST be paid by December 31, 2020 or submit an email or letter to relieve any non-paid Officers to National Headquarters by January 5, 2021. Clearly it is better to make sure the Officers’ dues are paid so that a letter is not necessary. Work with your Department Treasurer to ensure these points are earned.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! And always continue “Honoring Our Mission to Serve Veterans.”