|
PUBLIC RELATIONS/PUBLICATION CONTEST
|
||||||||||||||||
|
We are here to serve Veterans. In that regard, we must project a positive image to the public at large. This must be done to maximize our exposure for:
All District and Post officers must ensure that their words and conduct reflect a positive image and official doctrine as enunciated by national and state directives and publications. Whether making a statement through personal initiative or if asked by journalists or the public, one must be aware of the effects of one’s words and conduct. When in doubt, refer to Department personnel. You are an official representative of the VFW when identified as an officer of the VFW. In an effort to improve communications with the public, the following is advisable:
|
||||||||||||||||
|
HOW TO REPORT All activities should be reported on-line via the Department website under Communit Service at http://www.vfwca.org/membertools/programform12rpt.html or by submitting a report (Form-12) to the Department Public Relation/Publication Contest Chairman. Important! — To qualify for awards a Post must send a copy of the Program Reporting (Form 12) to the Department Chairman with all applicable attachments. |
||||||||||||||||
|
AWARDS Awards will be presented as follows unless otherwise noted elsewhere in this guide:
|
||||||||||||||||
|
If your Post or District has a Newsletter and you would like to submit it for the Publication Contest please forward a copy of three (3) issues to the Department Headquarters so that they will be available for judging. All Publications for judging must be in to Department Headquarters by February 1, 2009. All issues published between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008, are eligible. Judging will be based on news contents, layout and graphics; and general excellence. Judging will be categorized by the circulation of the District or Post they represent. For the Publication Contest, District and Posts will be defined as: District
Post
Awards will be presented in 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for each category. All national entries must place first in Department-level contests and be forwarded to the Publications Department at National by the State Adjutant/Quartermaster.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
The Department Public Relations Chairman and Committee will select the best Post and District Website from any entries submitted to the Department for consideration. The winners will be presented plaques at the State Convention.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
SAFETY AND BLOOD DISASTER PROGRAMS
|
||||||||||||||||
The Safety Programs of the Veteran of Foreign Wars continues to provide and promote programs designed to safeguard our communities. This long-standing commitment to safety has grown through the years to include every possible program or event associated with safeguarding people. Be creative and develop a safety activity and REPORT all accomplishments on the Program Reporting Form-12 The six basic categories in the National Program are as follows:
|
||||||||||||||||
|
HOW TO REPORT All activities should be reported on-line via the Department website under Safety and Recognition at http://www.vfwca.org/membertools/programform12rpt.html or by submitting a report (Form-12) to the Department Safety and Recognition Chairman. Important! — To qualify for awards a Post must send a copy of the Program Reporting (Form 12) to the Department Chairman with all applicable attachments. Reportable activities include Disaster training, CPR/First Aid classes, providing assistance during a disaster, or setting up a disaster relief site equipped to house veterans and their families for at least a twenty-four (24) hour period in case of a major disaster.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
AWARDS Awards will be presented as follows unless otherwise noted elsewhere in this guide:
|
||||||||||||||||
| I IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THIS PROGRAM PLEASE READ Our Disaster Fund and Blood Assistance funds have been combined into a Member Assistance Fund which is designed to provide certain benefits to our members. The primary purpose of fund is to provide our member's assistance of up to $1,000.00 emergency relief assistance in case property is lost due to a fire, flood or other disaster and reimbursement for costs associated with blood replacement.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
COVERAGE Each member of a Post is already enrolled; all members in good standing within the Post shall receive up to $1,000.00 as emergency disaster relief upon approval of their application by the Department of California.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
DISASTER GUIDELINES
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
NOW HEAR THIS The Assistance Fund shall be used to help the VFW members and under no circumstances shall be used for landlords who have suffered a loss to rental property or for losses incurred by a business or businesses owned by a member of the VFW. After any disaster, fire, flood, or earthquake, a mandatory cut-off date will be established. The aforementioned starts from the 1st day after the event and extends for thirty (30) days thereafter. This time limit may be extended at the discretion of the State Commander and the Safety/Recognition Chairman. |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
BLOOD DONOR AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Many generous Americans, nationwide have been donating blood to ensure a sustained and a secure blood supply for all Americans. Together with the Red Cross, these heroes are ensuring that the safest possible blood is readily available whenever and wherever needed - for the military, for other blood centers in America and for all 5,000 of America's hospitals. We all expect blood to be there for us, but barely a fraction of those that can give, do. Yet sooner or later, virtually all of us will face the time of vulnerability when we will need blood; and that time is all too often unexpected. From its beginnings the American Red Cross has formed a community of service, of generous, strong and decent people bound by beliefs bound by themselves. The honor, spirit, and resources of the American people comes forth with neighbors helping neighbors in need; during floods, fires, storms, and also for deeply personal and major disasters that require a gift of blood. To find out where you can donate visit www.givelife.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE, 1 -800-448-3543.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
BLOOD ASSISTANCE This program should not be considered an insurance carrier or company. Our Blood Assistance Program has been revised to make certain that members of our Posts will be able to obtain a reimbursement for blood costs that are not covered by any private insurance carrier.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
COVERAGE Each member of a Post is already enrolled; all members in good standing and their immediate family members residing in the VFW Member's home are eligible to receive the cost equivalent of a total of ten (10) pints of blood in each fiscal year (July 1 through June 30). There will be no benefits for any member who joins the VFW for the purpose of placing a burden on the VFW or has a pre-existing hemophilia condition.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
BENEFIT The equivalent cost of up to ten (10) pints of blood that has been used due to illness or accident. not covered by any other health, accident or blood replacement insurance.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
BLOOD REPLACEMENT GENERAL INFORMATION Complete a Blood Assistance Claim Form (Form-2). All information required is to be furnished or the request will be returned to sender for compliance. A final hospital or blood bank bill or statement, or copy of same, showing the amount of blood used, not covered by other insurance or paid for by other means MUST accompany the request. A letter from the insurance carrier must also be submitted to show that insurance does not cover the replacement. All requests must be signed by the Post Commander or Quartermaster, confirming year and date dues were paid by person for which blood replacement is being requested. There is a limit of ten (10) pints per year to any recipient. This includes the payment of processing fee (1 for 1, 2 for 1 or 3 for 1) of blood used. |
||||||||||||||||
|
PROCESSING FEES Processing fees will be paid in cash when the blood bank or hospital issuing the blood will not accept blood as a replacement. Processing fees must be shown on the hospital bill or blood bank bill as such and will show if blood replacement is 1 for 1, 2 for 1, or 3 for 1, payment to hospital or blood bank only. VFW will only pay the processing fee to a maximum of ten (10) pints of blood.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
CLAIMS No claims ove six-months old will be acted upon.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
HOW TO REPORT All activities should be reported on-line via the Department website under Safety and Recognition at http://www.vfwca.org/membertools/programform12rpt.html or by submitting a report (Form-12) to the Department Safety and Recognition Chairman. Important! — To qualify for awards a Post must send a copy of the Program Reporting (Form 12) to the Department Chairman with all applicable attachments.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
AWARDS A plaque will be awarded for the most outstanding Post and District Blood Donor/Assistance Program as determined by the chairman.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIREFIGHTER & EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN PROGRAMS
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States realizes that duties performed in the fields of law enforcement and emergency services, whether carried out in public view with the ensuing public acclaim, or performed in ways which gain little public recognition, are both exemplary and of great value to the nation. Refer to the National VFW Programs Chairman’s Guide for helpful tips and ideas in recognition programs. All Posts and Districts are encouraged to publicize this program in the local media. Additional material are available from VFW Emblem and Supply, or by visiting www.vfwdepartmentresources.org
|
||||||||||||||||
|
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION TO POST IS OCTOBER 1, 2008 DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION TO DEPARTMENT IS NOVEMBER 1, 2008
|
||||||||||||||||
|
AWARDS
NOTE: Every Post and or District is to notify this committee with information about every Law Enforcement Officer, Firefighter or EMT that is killed in the line of duty. Every fallen public servant reported to Department will be honored at the Department Convention. By doing so the Department of California and all of its Posts/Districts therein will demonstrate that Public Servants are appreciated and respected by members of the VFWDepartment of California.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
NATIONAL GOLD MEDAL AWARDS FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS Each year, the Veterans of Foreign Wars selects a law enforcement officer, firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT) to receive VFW National Gold Medal Awards. The presentation of these awards is made at the VFW National Convention in August. Post Chairmen are encouraged to submit a candidate for these awards to their Department Headquarters by November 1. The Department must select a single candidate for each award and submit those to VFW National Headquarters by December 1. Eligible candidates for each award are as follows Law Enforcement Any individual who serves in a municipal, county, state or federal unit tasked with enforcement of the laws pertaining to their area of responsibility. This award does not apply to individuals employed by private companies or security services. Firefighters Any individual who actively fights fires as a member of any public or volunteer company organized to fight fires and give assistance to our nation’s citizens. Emergency Medical Technician Any individual, who actively gives emergency medical treatment, provides rescue service or civil disaster assistance as a member of any public or volunteer company organized to give emergency medical care, provide rescue and civil disaster assistance to our nation's citizens.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
CRITERIA FOR ALL NATIONAL GOLD MEDAL AWARDS Candidates must have demonstrated:
Comrades pick a person with a record of impressive service over several years. A rookie officer is not going to beat out a veteran officer for the National Award. Find the very best in your Community.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR ALL CANDIDATES
|
||||||||||||||||
|
NOMINATION Post Chairmen should send the scrapbook to Department Headquarters to arrive no later than November 1, 2008 This is very important. The Department Committee members can help improve the scrapbook but we need time in which to help YOU! Submit as early as possible.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
HOW TO REPORT All activities should be reported on-line via the Department website under Safety and Recognition at http://www.vfwca.org/membertools/programform12rpt.html or by submitting a report (Form-12) to the Department LE/FF/EMT Chairman. If a District or Post does not submit a scrapbook, the Post/District can still report your activities under Safety & Recognition on (Form-12). Present a certificate or plaque to an eligible individual police officer, police department, firefighter, fire agency, EMT or Emergency Service Provider. The report must state the name, agency, date of presentation. You must report what you do. Important! — To qualify for awards a Post must send a copy of the Program Reporting (Form 12) to the Department Chairman with all applicable attachments.
|
