Department of Utah Disabled American Veterans |
|
273 East 800 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 |
|
VIETNAM WAR VETERANS OF AMERICA MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA WOMEN’S ARMY CORPS ASSOCIATION
|
|
This past few years have certainly been one of challenge for the DAV, both on a national as well as Department level. As you know, the national organization took dramatic action in purging out more than 211000 deceased names from our membership roles. Additionally, the national organization projects a trend that the DAV will lose approximately 2,900 World War II veterans a month for the foreseeable future. No question that our task is becoming more difficult as time marches on. Membership must be a top priority of our department this year and all years to follow. Our membership chairmen JC Wicks has committed himself to the task, but he needs our help, (See JC’s enclosed article). Great accomplishment can be achieved when the task is undertaken with vigor and enthusiasm. As evidence, just look at what our transportation program has achieved since its inception in 1997. At that time we had only 3 vans, 2 in Utah and the other in Idaho. We now have a fleet of 11 vans from four different states: Utah, Idaho, Nevada, and Wyoming. This resulted from outstanding efforts of the coordinators, volunteer drivers, department finance committee, VA medical center, and all our members. The replacement expense of the vans is challenging, however, we have been able to not only replace old vans, but add new routes as well. Additionally, the cost of replacement van is only going to increase in the future. The program has just recently reached the 3 million mile mark and a check at last month’s national numbers shows our program to be the sixth highest for miles traveled in one month out of I 72 van programs national wide. On the financial side, we are holding our own and making progress. This last year we were able to recover both the Department headquarters and the garage roofs as well as replace the carpet it the building. We overcame two major pluming problems and still showed an increase in our liquid assists for the year. The Finance Committee is continuously looking at ways to increase income, and many ideas are being considered. Unfortunately, the challenge of effective fundraising requires |
|
resources: personnel and working capital. Renting of the hall has been somewhat successful and the contractual agreement we have with Unity Church has worked out well. Hall rentals does require input from our staff as it is in our best interest to have someone on premise during each rental, as well as requiring us to set up tables, chairs, etc. These tasks are currently being done by the Department Adjutant. Couple these, and other ongoing challenges, with the staggering economy, declining interest rates, and declining membership dues and you can see what we are confronted with. Another issue of importance is taking the effort to become proficient in the electronic age of communications. This being an issue that we also will be stressing this year. As we move from the age of paper work to the more efficient era of immediate electronic communications, we must advance our skills to meet the demand. I do feel it is very important and that DAV Chapters and individuals make every effort to utilize these resources It has been pointed out that future requirements of day-to-day business communications will one day be only available through computers, meaning that the current system of paper back up reporting will one day be history. In addition, I would like to see a department electronic newsletter created and distributed to our member, chapters, and units. This newsletter you are now reading can easily be put on computer and delivered to those entities. Think of not only the convenience but the costs savings as well. Postage in an ever increasing costs, while computer transmissions are free. This trend of electronic transmission is here. Our organization must make the transformation and make it soon. There will be a time, shortly, where the only means of reporting between the local DAV and the National organization will be electronically. On the Department Level, we now file our annual financial and officers reports on the DAV National Web Page membership section. Our monthly transportation reports are filed electronically and sent directly to the DAV office in Washington, DC. And the best past of this Membership section is that it is available to all chapters and units!!! Signing on with one’s DAV membership number automatically assigns your range of utilization. Department Commanders and Adjutants can not only view all information on the site, but can also change and update information as necessary. Such things as department status and contact information can be updated while chaptercommanders and adjutants are allowed the same responsibly regarding their chapters. Everyone signing on to the web site can view all the information, however, only specific individuals can actually change and update the information. There is a world of useful and interesting information on the site such as chapter standings, individual members information, mailing labels, complete membership listing by name and/or zip, recruitment statistics, and how to process membership applications. Also available from the national organization is the availability of individual web sites space for all chapters and departments in the DAV. This web site space is displayed in an easy to follow format that requires only the typing of the individual chapters information; there is no complicated programming to do. The department of Utah DAV has a Web Site at www:utdavorg. If you need assistance with any of the electronic communications available within the organization please contact the Department Adjutant at 801-359-8168.
|
|
FROM THE DESK OF THE DEPARTMENT ADJUTANT |
|
From The Desk Of The Adjutant Below |