STATE COMMANDER’S UPDATE

January 16, 2008

Comrades and Sisters,

I write this letter hoping all of you enjoyed your holiday season and were able to take a little time off to spend with your families and loved ones. My family and I thank everyone for your many Christmas Cards and holiday greetings.

The Department Chairman have completed the Voice of Democracy, Patriot’s Pen, and Citizenship Education Teacher Award Judging. All of the State Winners have been notified and the Entry Packets have been forwarded to National Headquarters for the National Competition. I would like to thank all the Posts and Auxiliaries for your hard work and efforts in making this years program a success. We had an increase in VOD and Patriots Pen entries this year, however; we saw a decrease in the Teacher Award entries.

We now have thirty (30) days until the Mid-Winter Conference which will be hosted by VFW Post 3280 in Clovis. As of this morning the Department is 97.02% in Membership and we only need 347 members to be 100%. As you know, our goal for the Department is to be 100% in membership before the Mid-Winter Conference. The Department can easily reach this goal if all our Posts will take the time to perform a couple of tasks.

First, I would ask that every Post conduct a Membership Drive immediately. With the start of the new membership year on January 1st, we have a lot of continuous members who have not paid their membership dues. Every Post Quartermaster has access to contact information on these unpaid members. If you have a problem getting a list of your unpaid members, please contact Department Headquarters or myself and we will get you a list immediately. Get a couple of volunteers together and start calling your unpaid members. Urge them to pay their dues so they may be in good standing for the current dues year. Every Post in the State that is not 100% in Membership has more unpaid members than they need to make 100%. If you take the time to contact your unpaid members, you may be able to persuade enough of them to pay their dues and reach your goal of 100%.

The bottom line is, we set a goal to be 100% in membership by the Mid-Winter Conference. Let’s all work together and push to make our goal a reality. 347 members is not something we can’t accomplish by the Mid-Winter conference. Please, let’s keep on track and show the entire National Organization what New Mexico is made of and what we are capable of doing. I have no doubt in my mind that I am a member of the best Department in the Nation, now let’s put a foot forward and show everyone else the same!

The year is half-way over and as of today we have roughly 13 of our 46 Posts at 100% in Membership and one Post Commander who has already achieved All-American Post Commander. I realize I have asked a lot from all of our Commanders this year and we are having a great year. I thank you all for your hard work and support. We have thirty days to Mid-Winter and all I am asking is for you to please keep up the good work, be aware of our goals, continue doing what you do for our great organization, and above all; let’s “Shoot for the Top” and get our 347 members by the Mid-Winter Conference. Again, thank you all for your support. It is truly an Honor and a Privilege to be the State Commander of the best Department in the Nation!

I look forward to spending time with all of you in Clovis and would love nothing more than to report the Department being 100% in Membership when we get there. Have a safe trip traveling to Clovis and May God Bless each and every one of you.

In Comradeship and Service,

B.J. Lawrence

State Commander