Good afternoon,
I just wanted to check in with everybody and give a short membership update. Next weekend, Department Commander Michael Kimlick, the three Department Vice Commanders, and I will meet with Leading National Commander Candidate Jay Bowen to brief Virginia’s membership plan for this year. In that meeting, we will receive Virginia’s membership goals for 2027. Once this happens, we will begin our regular cadence of weekly membership reports and monthly membership virtual meetings. Communication will be key this year. Part of good communication is face-to-face interaction. We can have this dialogue at your respective District Meetings; however, we have to be invited. So, if you want me, the Department Commander, or the three Department Vice Commanders to attend your District Meetings, just invite us.
Our next National goal/milestone is 50% by September 9th. The first renewal notices from National have been sent out. Unfortunately, I have received reports that some renewal notices sent out list the wrong membership dues amount. If your Post has experienced this, please let me know ASAP. When we are at National next week, we will try to rectify these issues. Also, some Posts have notified me that the continuous years on their membership cards are missing or incorrect. Again, let me know what Post and the magnitude of the problem. Let me know if you have any issues, and I will do my best to resolve them.
Many of you have noticed that the new membership cards do not work with the old blank card template you used previously. I have attached a new blank card format you can use (thank you, Post 176 Springfield Membership Team!). You may need to play with it and tweak it for your specific printer settings, but it should work.
Every year, we struggle with getting our Honorary Life Members paid up. Please make paying your Honorary Life Member’s membership dues your first priority.
In closing, thank you all for assuming and taking on an important role this year with membership. I am looking forward to working with all of you. Thank you, and remember, membership is everyone’s responsibility.
Kevin
Kevin P. Gaddis
Department of Virginia Membership Chair
703 863 5265