A MESSAGE FROM THE STATE COMMANDER

Comrades, Brothers and Sisters, Congratulations on ending the Membership Year 2022 – 2023 on a high note. VFWCA finished the 2023 year with 57,048 members, which is an increase of 832 from the previous membership 2022 total of 55,216 members. Congratulations to the entire VFWCA team for making this happen and reaching the mark of 101.59%. Now, we are at the beginning of a brand new membership year, 20232024, with the goal of reaching 102%. That is an increase of 1,149 for our year, and that is a mark that we shall attain. I’ve personally seen how engaged and focused you all are when talking to prospective members and their families.

“AS WE START THIS JOURNEY DURING THIS 2023 – 2024 YEAR, WE ARE “THE TEAM OF WE”–ONE VETERAN, ONE TEAM, ONE VFW. WE HAVE NEW POST COMMANDERS, NEW DISTRICT COMMANDERS, NEW CHAIRMAN, AND NEW OFFICERS AT EVERY LEVEL. WORK WITH EACH OTHER, HELP DEVELOP AND MENTOR ONE ANOTHER, AND SHARE IDEAS.”

-Tim Bryant, State Commander

Our Membership Chairman, Doug Scholl, has already developed a Master Membership Plan for the Department, in which he provided to every District the dates, locations, and events, such as Airshows, Fleet Weeks, Comic Cons, County Fairs, and Gun Shows throughout this great Department.

Coming August 1-31, 2023 there will be the “Convert your Annual Membership to Life Program.” Department has set aside $35,000 to provide those annual members the opportunity to upgrade to life membership. The members would pay half of the life membership, based on their age, and the Department would match it. This is on a first come first serve basis– once the money is gone, it’s gone. We also have the Post 9/11 membership program, which provides a free annual membership opportunity for those service members who were part of Operations Inherent Resolve, Iraqi Freedom, and other conflicts which occurred after the 9/11 attacks. There is also the Purple Heart Program where any Veteran who was awarded a Purple Heart would receive a free annual membership.

We also have agreed on the new enhancements to the Department Inspection Program. We have recruited Department Deputy Inspectors that will work with the Deputy Chief of Staff North Comrade Cearley, Past Department Inspector, Deputy Chief of Staff Central Comrade Wayne Wright, Past District 7 Commander and Deputy Chief South PDC Dale Smith. Additionally, along with each District Commanders and the Department, Chief of Staff and PDC Dusty Napier will conduct the inspection of each Post. These Department Deputy Inspectors will conduct a comprehensive inspection of each Post (using the approved Inspections reports), identify any discrepancies as well as best practices, and provide a get-well plan for those Posts who obtain write-ups. They will work with each Post to correct discrepancies to ensure they are in compliance with State,

Federal laws, and applicable VFW policies. Bottom Line: The “Team of We” is fully focused on providing the best possible service, compassion, and guidance to those Posts who may have discrepancies, to make them whole, healthy, and successful.

Finally, as we start this journey during this 2023 – 2024 year, we are “The Team of We”– One Veteran, One Team, One VFW. We have new Post Commanders, new District Commanders, new Chairman, and new Officers at every level. Work with each other, help develop and mentor one another, and share ideas. Also, at the same time, work to solve issues and concerns at the lowest level. Not every issue needs to rise to the Department level, try to solve them at the lowest level. Use the resources that are available to you at your Post or District. Your Deputy Chiefs of Staff are available to discuss and share things with.

In closing– enjoy, have fun, engage with your Auxiliaries, Riders, and MC’s in your community. Make this year yours, for your team and the VFW, make it a year to remember, the TEAM OF WE!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support as I was elected Senior Vice Commander at the State Convention in June. I would also like to thank all of those who attended the training we held at Convention. We heard a lot of great feedback and also recognize some members are frustrated that our training was held in the middle of the week. It is important for you to know that we hope to build a comprehensive training program during our weekly zoom calls, Schools of Instruction, and Council of Administration meetings. Stay informed by reading the weekly bulletins that are sent via email, or posted on our website. There are several training modules on the Department and National websites and I encourage you to look through them, especially if you are a newly elected or appointed officer of your post or district.

In July, many of us attended the National Convention in Phoenix, and we are eager to see the changes that were voted on by our membership. Make sure that you order a copy of the National Bylaws and Manual of Procedure (you can pre-order for delivery when it is published). The National Bylaws is one of many of the tools we use no matter the position we hold and the best way to stay current on the rules that govern the organization.

Congratulations to Past Commander Yingling for reaching All American status. This is an honor that is only achieved by the hard work and dedication of our membership. I look forward to Commander Tim Bryant, our “Team of We” and what new initiatives we are introducing this year. If you need assistance, guidance or membership, the line officers of the department are here for you.

SVC Deborah Johnson

David Kuta

I am honored to have been voted in by our members and leaders as the Junior Vice Commander for the great State of California for this year. As our Department Commander Tim Bryant says, this is a “Team of We” and I am excited to be part of this team. We will be continuing to build upon the membership momentum that put us over the 100% mark, landing on 101.48%. That outstanding accomplishment was because of the hard work of our members and just illustrates further the “Team of We” concept. I’ve had the privilege of meeting and talking with many of you about your plans to build upon our past programs and our membership accomplishments. This has helped me see a lot of commitment in the numerous members and leaders of the Department of California Veterans of Foreign Wars and I am confident that Together, we will be a great Team!

As we travel throughout the 17 districts of this state, we see so many posts that are out there spreading the message that we are here to support our veteran community 24/7. These past 3 years have been tough on providing support for our veterans as COVID-19 caused a shutdown of communities. Communities that come together to support our veterans and their families as well as citizens who just need a little help. Today is a time of regrowth and a time to rethink what we do going forward into the bright future. The time of a national shut-down for these communities caused all of us to think a little differently in how we continue to provide services to our veterans and our citizens. Unfortunately, we lost quite a few of our WWII veterans over these past years but thankfully we have their legacies which are preserved through our posts, and we have their mentorship to continue to guide us into the future.

That mentorship shows us that times change but the VFW mission never does. We have to reexamine how we provide the support to our veterans and how we spread that message of “No One Does More For Veterans” to the current conflict veterans and their families. How we show these newer and future veterans that we are here for them and their families, how we are a resource for their use. This is the key to growing and thriving as the premier Veterans service organization. These recent conflict Veterans are busy making new lives after their time in service to our country. They aren’t looking to waste their valuable time that is taken up with work and family commitments, so we must be a resource, a partner in their lives much like the resources they had when they wore the uniform. I believe If we show them how much we can help and how much we are here for them, they will be here for us. When they have the time to give back to a cause, that cause will be their fellow Veterans. Because they will return the support and caring they received from all of their comrades in the many VFW posts located throughout our great state. We honor the dead by supporting the living! This is using the mentorship of the past to plan our move into the future.

I am very excited for the support and confidence given to me in my new role as a state leader and I thank each of you. We are a team and that means that I will be out there helping provide assistance and guidance to the membership and posts as part of this exciting department leadership team. I want to say that State Commander Tim Bryant, State Sr. Vice Commander Deb Johnson and myself are all committed to ensuring that our members get the training and support they need to continue this critical mission to help all Veterans. This is about all of us coming across the line successful and with accomplishments that allow us to know and say, “We made a Difference”!

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to department or myself if we can help with something that stops you from supporting our Veterans. I look forward to working with all of you over this next year.

Thank you, David Kuta