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COMMANDERS MESSAGE – AUGUST 2008
It is almost State Fair time already!! The membership and DAV fiscal year has ended as of June 30th. We had a great year!
We ended the year with a 1st place finish in the nation in membership recruiting ( highest percentage over quota in Life Memberships )! We will be awarded 1st place finish in our District and we will receive the Judge Marx award for the highest over quota in the Nation at the National Convention in August. This is a 1st time for MN!! Thanks to our NSOs for a fine recuiting year and to each and every one who recruited a new member last year.
The DAV also finished the year within budget… in fact our fundraising enterprises had a good year and we were able to expand some of our programs and also to increase our reserves. I thank the Enterprise Committee, and George, Tim, Gina and Janie at Dept. HQ for their focus, their efforts and their results.
In addition, our DAV Transportation program, along with the DAV volunteer drivers from across the State have finished the year again being one of the best in the Nation when measured in hours of volunteer time, miles driven and veterans transported. The significance of this program is enormous when one looks at the measurements. Thanks to all who have played a role in this program. Our Transportation Coordinators (Hospital Service Coordinators) , Steve Johnson at the Minneapolis VAMC and Fred Anderson at the St. Cloud VAMC are the magic behind the scenes in this program. Recently, we purchased a new van ( with financial assistance from the National DAV Columbia Trust ) for the Minneapolis VAMC.
Our MN delegation is preparing for the DAV National Convention in Las Vegas. MN DAV has been asked to present the our membership recruitment success story to the Convention Membership Seminar there.
We are looking forward to our Fall Conference in Brainerd Oct 10 and 11th. Our focus will be educational/skill building seminars on Leadership. Effective organization/meetings, and DAV History. We also hope to highlight special seminar for female veterans.
My challenge to all DAV members is to continue to focus on our purpose.. “ BUILDING BETTER LIVES FOR OUR COUNTRIES DISABLED VETERANS AND/OR THEIR FAMILIES”. I ask that you play a role in this purpose by doing whatever you can to serve veterans in your community.
Enjoy the rest of the summer.
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