LAVFW of North Carolina

Pres Icard attends Statue of Liberty celebration

Posted at 10:15 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011 by VFW Ladies Auxiliary Department North Carolina in Department News

Department President Barbara Icard, along with members from NC, traveled to NYC on October 27th so that they could participate in the annual Statue of Liberty birthday celebration the next day. This year was extra special, as it was the 125th birthday of Lady Liberty. Visitors came from around the world to attend festivities which lasted all day. The celebration also was the last day to visit the statue for a while, as it is being closed for a year to undergo a $27.25 million renovation that will make the interior safer and more accessible.

 

Although the weekend weather was a mixture of rain and snow, Friday's activities were blessed with sunshine and mild temperatures. But our NC ladies heeded the weather forcast, and left the area after the ceremony - before the snow moved in and crippled travel in the area.

 

Joining President Icard for the trip were three of our PDPs: Lillie Crews, Deborah Crowder and Helen Carter.

Email Address Contest from National

Posted at 09:38 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011 by VFW Ladies Auxiliary Department North Carolina in Announcements

National is holding a contest – to register as many new emails as possible. This allows you to stay informed on matters of importance such as Legislative alerts and other important news and changes. They want to be able to reach as many members as possible. So spread the word to all of your members!

 

To register your email, log into the National Ladies Auxiliary VFW website (www.ladiesauxvfw.org) and select “Members Login” from the bottom of the page. This takes you to the page where you either log in or register. If you have not yet registered, you do so by following the directions under “Account Activation.” You will need your membership number to register. Members who have registered prior to this contest are not eligible to be counted in this competition.

 

There will be one State in each Membership Group selected with the most emails added between 6:00 AM on August 1st and 6:00 PM on December 31st. Changing an existing email address does not count. Selection will be based on percentage of increase in the number of emails addresses added through the member logon feature.

 

Helen Carter, Dept Secretary

General Orders #5

Posted at 09:34 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011 by VFW Ladies Auxiliary Department North Carolina in General Orders

 

These General Orders are to be read at the first meeting following receipt before being filed for reference.

1.    According to Section 801 of the National Bylaws, “… a Trustee may hold another elective or appointive office other than President, Secretary, or Treasurer.”

2.    Section 912 of the National Bylaws states that “… the names and addresses of the members of the Auxiliary shall be considered confidential and shall not be made available for commercial or political use.”

3.    According to Section 210 of the National Bylaws, “A change in the regular monthly business meeting date, time, or location shall be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Auxiliary members present at such meeting.  Notification of such changes shall be sent to the National, Department, County Council and District Secretaries within ten (10) business days.”

4.    Attention District and Auxiliary Secretaries:  It is requested that Auxiliary minutes be sent to the District President, and the District President forward copies of the Auxiliary minutes along with the District minutes to the Department President each month.  Please do not wait for these minutes to be approved at your next meeting. If corrections are needed, they should be noted in the minutes of your next meeting, stating that “the minutes were approved with the following corrections” and then include the specific changes.

5.    The Holidays will soon be here when it is hard to collect dues.  Auxiliaries are encouraged to stress the National dues increase effective January 1, as well as the incentives offered in the 2011-12 Membership Program.  Treasurers of all Auxiliaries achieving 100% paid-up membership for 2012 received at National Headquarters by December 31, 21011 will receive a “Special Pin”.

6.    The next Council of Administration meeting will be held at the North Raleigh Hilton Hotel in Raleigh on February 3-5, 2012. Room reservations should be directed to the hotel by calling 919-872-2323.

7.    Information regarding all NC Scholarships can be found in the 2011-12 Department Program Book.  Auxiliary Presidents should provide copies of this information to all eligible graduating seniors.  It is very important that the current applications be used by the student and that the Post Quartermaster or Auxiliary Treasurer complete the section regarding payment of current and past years dues.

8.    The Charter of James P. Lowder, Jr. Auxiliary VFW 8163 in Norwood is hereby cancelled by the National President of the Ladies Auxiliary VFW.

 

Attest:                                                                                     By Order of:  

Helen Carter, Secretary                                                       Barbara K. Icard, President

General Orders #4

Posted at 09:28 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011 by VFW Ladies Auxiliary Department North Carolina in General Orders

 

These General Orders are to be read at the first meeting following receipt before being filed for reference.

1.    At the Ladies Auxiliary National Convention in San Antonio, several changes were made to the National Bylaws and Ritual.  Members are encouraged to purchase an updated copy from the National Supply Department after the changes are approved by the VFW and are printed.  These editions should be available after December, 2011.

2.    At the National Convention, a resolution was approved to raise the National Dues from $3.50 to $5.00 annually.  This change goes into effect January 1, 2012.  Annual memberships received at National by December 31, 2011 pay the existing price of $3.50.  Therefore, all members are encouraged to pay their 2012 dues by mid-December so the Dept. Treasurer can process them and forward them to National in time to avoid this increase.  The option of purchasing of a Life Membership will avoid any future increases. 

3.    Members are reminded to use the proper chain of command when bringing forward issues.  Ladies Auxiliaries are to go to the District President, who will take the concerns directly to the Department President for her consideration.  They should not contact National directly with concerns.

4.    The VFW may not challenge the eligibility of a Ladies Auxiliary member. Section 115 of the Auxiliary Bylaws specifies the process if an Auxiliary wishes to question a member’s eligibility.  The process must be followed carefully and a copy of the minutes wherein her eligibility was questioned must be forwarded through channels to the National President.  

5.    At any time, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary may change her eligibility by amending her application card and presenting the necessary proof of eligibility, unless the eligible veteran is a member of the Post affiliated with that Auxiliary.  When a member’s eligibility is changed, there is no vote taken as she was previously accepted.

6.    According to Section 809 of the National Bylaws, “…resignations of Officers shall be in writing and sent to the Secretary…  Resignations are effective when issued.”

7.    Ladies Auxiliaries are requested to send their meeting minutes to the District President each month.  District Presidents also forward the Auxiliary minutes to the Department President.  The Department President is interested in each Auxiliary, and reading the minutes gives her and the District President a chance to see how well the Auxiliary is functioning and if any attention is needed.

8.    Auxiliaries are reminded of the annual competitions for youth and for teachers.  Applications for the Voice of Democracy, Patriot’s Pen and Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year awards are due to the VFW or Auxiliary Chairman by November 1, 2011.

9.    Ladies Auxiliaries shall make suitable arrangements in cooperation with the Post for the observance of Veterans Day.  Section 215 of the National Bylaws states that “In the event that the Post does not intend to commemorate a specific holiday, the Auxiliary may make its own arrangements for observance.”

10.  Pictures, articles, etc. to go in the Department Historian's Book should be sent to the Department Historian Farres Upton.  Please include the name and date of the event, and identify all people in the pictures.

11.  Ladies Auxiliaries are requested to send their contributions to the Cancer Aid and Research Fund and other Department funds as soon as possible.  Mail all Department contributions to Department Treasurer, Jeanne Gilbert, and make checks payable to Ladies Auxiliary VFW, Dept of NC. 

Attest:                                                                                      By Order of:   

Helen Carter, Secretary                                                          Barbara K. Icard, President

General Orders #3

Posted at 10:55 PM on Monday, September 5, 2011 by VFW Ladies Auxiliary Department North Carolina in General Orders

 

These General Orders are to be read at the first meeting following receipt before being filed for reference.

1.    The Fall Council of Administration and Promotion of Programs will be October 7-9, 2011 at the North Raleigh Hilton, 3415 Wake Forest Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609. This will also be the Department President’s and Commander’s Homecoming.  See the agenda elsewhere in this mailing.  Please contact the North Raleigh Hilton directly at (919) 872-2323 for reservations.  Mention the VFW when you call to obtain the special rate of $111 per night plus tax.

2.    North Carolina won a number of awards at our National Convention in San Antonio.  Please attend the Fall Council of Administration meeting in Raleigh to hear Past Department Janice Butterworth make her report. 

3.    Our representative for the Council meeting will be 2011-13 National Council Member #9 Helen Bell from South Carolina.  Please join us as we welcome her to North Carolina.

4.    Ladies Auxiliary Mid-year Conference will be held February 23-26, 2012 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort and Spa, Honolulu, Hawaii.  Agenda and reservation information can be found in this mailing.

5.    Auxiliaries are encouraged to work with their Posts on Buddy Poppy drives this fall.  If the Post will not be participating Auxiliaries may order Poppies through the NC VFW Dept. Headquarters, PO Box 25337, Raleigh, NC 27611.  Cost is $109.00 per thousand.  Order forms can be found in the Department Program Book.  All moneys derived from Buddy Poppy drives go into the Relief Fund to aid needy veterans and their families. 

6.    VFW National Home:  It is time for each Auxiliary to send their Health and Happiness Contribution of ten cents or more per member for all members on record as of June 30, 2011.  Please earmark checks ‘Health and Happiness’ and mail to Ladies Auxiliary VFW, 406 West 34th St. 10^th Floor, Kansas City, MO 64111. 

7.    It is very important that all District Presidents attend the Council Meeting and Promotion of Programs.  If the District President is unable to attend the Council Meeting, she should contact the District Senior or Junior Vice President to be sure someone represents the District. 

8.    Sections 211, 505, and 605A state in part that an Auxiliary, District, and Department 'may establish Standing Rules to provide for specified operations, activities, events, expenses, and disbursements allowable between meetings provided such rules do not conflict with the National or Department Bylaws. Custom has the status of a standing rule, and standing rules may be amended, modified, or rescinded at any meeting (and in the case of Department Standing Rules-any Council of Administration meeting).’  Such Standing Rules should be reviewed by the membership each year to insure they are still appropriate.

9.    Auxiliary Treasurers are reminded that dues must not be held.  They should be transmitted as soon as possible after receipt, and do not require a vote of the Auxiliary. Other funds which are collected or raised for a particular purpose, and have been voted on by the Auxiliary, should not be held and should be sent as soon as possible.

 

Attest:                                                                                      By Order of:   

Helen Carter, Secretary                                                          Barbara K. Icard, President

Governor Purdue declares September as Military Suicide Awareness Month

Posted at 11:37 AM on Monday, September 5, 2011 by VFW Ladies Auxiliary Department North Carolina in Announcements

NC Beverly Perdue has designated September as Military Suicide Awareness Month in North Carolina

Military suicides have reached numbers equal to that of combat deaths in recent years. And since suicides which occur after leaving active duty are not counted in these numbers, the numbers do not tell the full story.

Frequent deployments and the stress of combat and prolonged separation from their families have increased the stress on our military personnel and their families. As trained warriors, military personnel are highly reluctant to ask for help when they are depressed because they do not want to be seen as weak. But untreated depression is the number one cause for suicide.

Military personnel and veterans know that it is important to preserve mission effectiveness through individual readiness for themselves as well as for their families and the military civilians. They must maintain their readiness to carry out the mission – both to their families, as well as to their buddies and their military mission. Therefore, they are urged to:

· Find balance between their life as a member of the military and a member of a family.

· Engage in activities that relieve stress.

· Maintain a strong buddy system of support and that no soldier stands alone

· Remember the importance of self-care, engaging in activities that are positive in nature that relieve stress and improve your state of mind.

· Know that all people should not hesitate to ask for help from trained professionals when self-care is not enough.

· Be aware that help is available through a variety of resources, including the military, the Veterans Administration and Suicide Prevention hotlines.

· Understand that their concerns will remain confidential and will not be discussed among the ranks.

· Policies exist that do not discriminate against those who seek help for behavioral health issues.

No one is expected to do it all by themself, not because they lacked strength, but because life is not an individual endeavor. It is comprised of a series of relationships that support us, such as our families, friends, things that comfort us, religious commitment, and experiences that prepare us for whatever we may find along our path.

As a state with a high military presence, North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue joins the North Carolina Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in recognizing September as Military Suicide Awareness Month in North Carolina and in urging all active and former military members and their families to seek the help they need to remain strong – for their families and the country.

District 4 summer meeting postponed

Posted at 02:39 PM on Thursday, August 25, 2011 by VFW Ladies Auxiliary Department North Carolina in Announcements

The District 4 meeting, originally scheduled for Sunday Aug 28th in Newport has been postponed due to the extreme weather approaching.  Posts and Auxiliaries will be notified when it is rescheduled.  We urge all members to stay safe during this time.

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