Region 3 Report

BY SARA McVICKER, DIRECTOR

Region 3 continues to grow. Our newest chapter is Chapter 1107 in Mooresville, North Carolina, giving us 114 chapters in the region. Since the last National Convention in 2013, we have added five new chapters and more than nine hundred more members—and now we’re fewer than three hundred members behind Region 2. Congratulations to all, and welcome to VVA.

If you’re planning to go to the Convention, be sure that your chapter or state council gets its reports into National as soon as possible. Bring to the Convention a copy of the acknowledgement that National sends out when they receive the report, or bring a copy of both the financial and election report with you, as you may end up standing in line to prove your eligibility to be seated as a delegate.

The proposed resolutions and Constitutional amendments will be sent out to the chapters before the end of May. Please be sure to read these and discuss them at your meetings so your delegates know what you think. Some of the Constitutional amendments are just housekeeping items, but others could make some major changes.

The Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2015 has been introduced into both the House (H.R.1769) and the Senate (S.901). Please contact your Senators and your Representative and ask them to co-sponsor. Get your friends and relatives to do so also. This is important.

AVVA continues to work on trying to change the In Memory Plaque so it will be more visible and won’t collect leaves and other debris. Eventually some funding will be required, and I encourage you to look at your chapter and state council budgets to see how you may be able to help.

The Gold Star Mothers have nearly completed their planning process to locate a memorial in Arlington National Cemetery. They also will need funding.

Thank you for all the work you do for VVA and for our veterans and their families. Contact me at smcvicker@vva.org with questions or concerns.

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Region 6 Report

JOHN L. MARGOWSKI, DIRECTOR

We had a very successful Region 6 Conference. Springfield, Ill., is central for many of us, so I encourage all of you to attend the National Convention in July. New resolutions and Constitutional amendments have been proposed, and, of course, there are the elections.

It has been an honor to serve as your regional director these past four years. We have accomplished a lot. Region 6 is growing and getting stronger, but it is time for me to pass the torch.

See you in Springfield.

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Region 7 Report

BY ALLEN MANUEL, DIRECTOR

It’s almost election time again and time to determine your priorities for the next two years. Region 7 hopes to bring 157 delegates to our National Convention in July. This will give us a strong vote.

I attended the Louisiana State Council meeting on February 25 in Baton Rouge. I presented VVA Achievement Medals to Richard Carman and Kathy Andras. Both work very hard for the state council.

During the meeting, we discussed holding a state council meeting with Incarcerated Chapter 689 at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola. The delegates approved the idea and asked me to speak with the warden. After many discussions, we were given permission to hold our February 2016 meeting inside Angola. This is a great step for Chapter 689 and for the state council, and will be an educational opportunity for both. The chapter will provide lunch. We are proud of Angola Warden Burl Cain; he believes in veterans.

I attended the National Board meeting on April 10-12 and the Texas State Council meeting on April 17-18.

All chapters need to submit their election and financial reports, plus the IRS form 990-N postcard before the first of July. Submit your nominations for VVA Achievement and Commendation Medals as soon as possible, too. You’ll find forms on the VVA website.

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Region 9 Report

BY DICK SOUTHERN, DIRECTOR

Congratulations to the members in Utah. They have become the Utah State Council and will now join the Conference of State Council Presidents.

A VVA National Convention is coming up, and it’s time for state councils and chapters to submit annual financial reports. They are due July 15. Don’t forget to include the IRS 990-N.

Now that chapter elections are over, you also will need to send in your election report. If in doubt about sending the report, send it in anyway. These reports have to be in before July 15 or your chapter will not be able to seat delegates at the National Convention in Springfield, Ill.

Every effort should be made to send the allotted number of delegates to the Convention. It is important that the members elect the Officers and Board members of the corporation and set the organization’s direction for the next two years.

There will be a combined Region 8 and 9 Pre-Convention Conference on June 27 at the Silver Legacy Casino Resort in Reno, Nev. Information on the conference can be found at here.