HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE U.S., INC GENERAL ORDERS NO.

2
Series 12 - 13
(To be read or distributed at a regular Post meeting and filed)

August 2012

1. The next meeting of the Council of Administration will be held at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City on Saturday, September 29th, 2012, beginning at 8:00 a.m. All members of the Council, as well as Committees and Chairpersons, should make every effort to attend and be prepared to report in accordance with the agenda, which will be provided prior to the meeting. Room reservations must be made through the hotel by calling 1-800-338-8088, no later than th September 14 , 2012. A flat rate of $83.00 (plus tax) has been given to the VFW. Please be sure to tell the reservationist that you are with the Missouri VFW State Homecoming group to receive this rate. A testimonial banquet will be held Saturday evening in honor of the State Commander and State President. A registration form for the banquet is attached. 2. The National Commander-In-Chiefs Homecoming is scheduled for September 7 - 8, 2012, in Jacksonville FL. There is no Registration fee. Those wishing to attend should contact Department Headquarters for information on registration and events. 3. The 2012 Big 10 Conference will be hosted by the Department of Wisconsin, October 19 21, 2012, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Those wishing to attend should contact Department Headquarters for information on registration and events. Room rate is $89.00 per night. The cut-off date for early reservations is September 24, 2012. 4. The annual trip to the National Home for Children will be 26-27 October. The Department of Wisconsin will be hosting the Halloween Party for the children. We are asking every post to provide a tentative headcount to the National Home Chairman so he can reserve a block of hotel rooms. The cost to participate is $175 per person. Typically, posts have paid for the cost of their commander and guest to go on the trip. Were asking that you would continue this tradition. This is one of the most important and enduring programs supported by the VFW. Deadline to sign-up is 1 October. For further information, contact Robert Kirtley at 816-262-7277, or e-mail: natlhomechrm@mo.vfwwebmail.com 5. The following Posts have not submitted election reports for the 2012-2013 year. Post failing to elect a full slate of officers for the ensuing year have been placed on suspension under National Special Order No. 392 dated July 20, 2012 for a period of (45) days commencing July 20, 2012. At the end of the supervision period, Posts not having remitted 2012-2013 election reports will have their charter revoked, if not corrected promptly. Election report forms were mailed to the Posts in March and may be entered on line by the Post quartermaster.

General Orders #2, Series 12-13 Phil Pippins, Commander Page - 2 Post 5364 De Kalb Co. Memorial Post >>>>>>>>>>>>>District No. 3 Post 10687 Les Singer Memorial Post <<<<<<<<<<<<<District No. 9 Post 1502 Seymour Post <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<District No. 14 Post 8177 Clarence Post >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>District No. 17 6. At this time, VFW Mens Auxiliary for the following Posts have not forwarded their election report. As of August 15th 2012, the request for cancellation and revocation of its charter for violations of Manual of Procedure Sec. 218 may be made. National currently show they have not received one for M280, M1829, M2175, M2661, M3174, M3838, M4409, M5517, M5675 and M7560. Keep in mind, the Mens Auxiliary are held accountable to the same rules and regulations as a VFW Post. Per our 2011 Congressional Charter By-Laws: 7. All posts are required to file a Federal Income Tax return. NO EXCEPTIONS! Posts may obtain forms 990EZ, 990 and/or 990T from any IRS Office, or online at http://www.irs.gov. Posts with a year end of 30 June must file with the IRS prior to 15 November 2012. If your gross income (from all sources) is less than $50,000.00 per year, you will file the form 990N online from now on. Go online to the IRS site, http://www.epostcard.form99.org/ and follow the three (3) steps to sign up and file. 8. Article VII sec. 704 of the National By-Laws and Manual of Procedures establishes the requirement for all Posts to establish and maintain a Relief Fund. Expenditures from the relief fund shall be as prescribed in section 704 of the Manual of Procedures. Expenditures authorized include donations to Veteran Service, National Home, and support of the National Guard and their families. Audit Reports received at Department Headquarters indicate that many Posts may not be meeting this requirement. All Posts are to review their accounting practices and ensure they are meeting this requirement. 9. The Department has implemented a Calendar program this year. Each Post and Auxiliary should have received their allotted number of calendars for distribution at their school of Instruction. Every Post is encouraged to promote the program. For every calendar sold, the Post or Auxiliary retains $3.00 dollars, forwards a dollar to District and forwards the ticket and $16.00 to Department Headquarters. There will be an early bird drawing at the September C st of A for $300.00. All calendars must be sold by December 31 and tickets received in Department. Drawings start the 1st of January and all calendars must be accounted for. Instructions for handling the calendars are listed on the back of each calendar. If you need additional calendars, check with your District Commander. 10. All inspection reports should be mailed directly to the Department Inspector, Paul Frampton. His address is: 105 Southview Dr., Branson MO 65616. If a Deputy Inspector wishes to claim mileage for travel in connection with the inspections, he must submit his voucher to the Department Inspector for approval. 11. The 2013 Membership Campaign is now underway. All 2012 members are urged to renew as soon as possible. Dues reminder notices were mailed by National Headquarters to all 2012 members during the later part of June. A primary part of this years All-American

General Orders #2, Series 12-13 Phil Pippins, Commander Page - 3 program is a requirement of 85% retention of members. Keep this in mind when working your membership program at the Posts. 12. The National By-Laws and the Missouri All-State Program require the Post Commander or a Post Representative attend all meetings called by the District Commander. Post Commanders should familiarize themselves with Article II sec. 218 Officers: Duties and Obligations and ensure they are meeting their obligations. 13. Reminder to Posts and Districts: The Voice of Democracy and Patriots Pen Scholarship program needs your continued support. If your Post or Ladies Auxiliary would be interested in (co)sponsoring a scholarship, please forward $500.00 to Department Headquarters prior to September 10, 2012. Payments will be accepted in full amount or monthly installments. Scholarships will be paid out over a five year period to district winners. Scholarship sponsor's name(s) will be listed in the banquet program each year. 14. The 92 State Convention of the Department of Missouri voted to continue to fund the Department of Missouri and Ladies Auxiliary Voice of Democracy scholarship at its current level of $1,500. Post and individual donations are being accepted by Department Headquarters. If you have not submitted your Post donations, please do so soon. The Department still needs approximately $3,000.00 dollars to fully fund the scholarship. 15. The deadline for articles to be submitted into Department for the VFW Missourian is August 15, 2012. Email: adj@mo.vfwwebmail.com; fax: 573-636-2664; mail: P.O. Box 26, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 16. Anyone requesting a Department Officer to attend a function must submit a written request to Department Headquarters at least 30 days prior to the date of the function. 17. DIST 5 6 7 8 12 18 The following District meetings are announced for the month of August. POST # 8100 5925 5525 2593 6274 473 LOCATION Grandview Lincoln Stockton Arnold Ballwin Cabool DATE 08-05-12 08-05-12 08-05-12 08-12-12 08-19-12 08-04-12 TIME 2:00 PM 1:30 PM 12:30 PM 1:00 PM 12:00 Noon 10:00 AM REPRESENTATIVE Tom Mundell Phil Pippins Lyle Seelinger Tom Mundell Tom Mundell Lyle Seelinger
nd

Official: Jessie L. Jones Department Adjutant

By Order Of: Phil Pippins Commander