First, I would like to congratulate Post 10969 and Auxiliary for a job well done for our Midwinter Conference. Every thing ran smooth and was a credit to all that volunteered to make it happen.

I was disappointed in the overall turn out of members. This is why I’am writing this message. We should all be wondering why more members don’t show up….especially the elected leaders of Posts and Districts.

We all make up the Department of Wyoming. The State Commander relies on the posts and districts to make things happen. Ever wonder why we have posts, districts and departments? Why do the services have Generals, Officers and Enlisted ? The same reason we have Posts, Districts and Departments. It takes everyone as a team to work together.

2011 is history and we only have 6 months left to complete all our goals for the rest of the year. Posts should be going over where they stand now and have a game plan for the rest of the year. When you go to your spring District meeting, you should report to the District commander where you are and what you intend to accomplish the rest of the year. The District Commander should record those accomplishments and future plans of each post in the District so he/she knows who needs help and ensure goals are accomplished. The Department Officers attending the District meeting are there to assist you in accomplishing those goals.

Look at your Post, District and Department Officer Duties…They are all the same. But if the Post Commander doesn’t care it reflects clear to the top. We have only one reason for being a part of the VFW. That is to ensure we take care of Veterans. WE MUST CARE. WE as a TEAM ..can do..

Harold E. Lowe

As the year comes to a close I thought I’d take a minute to remind everyone of a few things:

Reporting Deceased Members
Please get information to our Chaplain J. Dee Darnell, at beckied@rtconnect.net or snail mail to, PO Box 10 – Jeffery City, WY 82310, when a member passes. This has nothing to do with National it’s just so the Chaplain can send a sympathy card to the family and insure the name is recorded in our Memorial Booklet at the State Convention. Please provide an address, name of spouse, if known and the when the member passed. (we don’t want to send a card to someone that passed 6 months ago)

Program Reports
As always VFW Members seem to have a little trouble putting pencil to paper and then sending reports to the Chairman. Posts that would like to be recognized for all the work they do really need to let the chairman know what they are doing, in all programs.

Community Service
Reporting seems to be a bigger than normal problem, my guess is because the Ladies Auxiliary no longer has this as one of their programs! I know we are all doing things around our community’s so why not take a few minutes each month and send in a report to Wayne Mordahl at vfwpost4343@gmail.com  or snail mail to 604 Artesian Rd –Cheyenne, WY 82007. Maybe you could ask one of the Ladies to show what they had been doing? All Wayne needs is number of hours and any money (or value of things donated) and a short description of what was done.

Remember this, the IRS can audit the Department or any Post at any time to insure we are fulfilling our charter as a nonprofit by working within our community and helping Veterans. Without some documentation of activities we could have a problem with them. I, for one, sure don’t want that headache. All program chairman are listed on the Department website, including contact information, but if you don’t know who or how contact me and I’ll be glad to help.

Bob DeBernardo
Adj/QM Dept of Wyoming
307-333-5975
307-333-1347 fax

2011-2012 NATIONAL APPOINTMENTS

Commander Larry Parkins has made the following National Appointments:

Nat'l Dep. Chief of Staff

Earl Sellers Post #4343
4350 East Lincolnway
Apt #11
Cheyenne, WY 82007

Assistant Inspector General

J. Dee Darnell Post #954
PO Box 10
Jeffery City, WY 82310

Special Aide-de-Camp

Everett Winkler Post #11453
2619 Whitney Rd
Cheyenne, WY 82001

National Aide-de-Camp

Ray Cassell Post #7756
1201 E. 7th Street
Gillette, WY 82716

National Aide-de-Camp

James Pedersen Post #2673
340 Trout Peak Dr.
Cody, WY 82414

National Aide-de-Camp

David "Badger" Hamel Post #10969
4450 Smoke Rise Rd.
Casper, WY 82604

National Aide-de-Camp

Rex Rudd Post #6680
PO Box 70
Medicine Bow, WY 82329

National Aide-de-Camp

Buck R. Patterson Post #4471
PO Box 596
Guernsey, WY 82214

National Aide-de-Camp

Randy Reed Post #3093
622 Sagebrush Dr.
Worland, WY 82401

National Aide-de-Camp

John Huckman Post #2281
624 N 5th Street
Thermopolis, WY82443

National Aide-de-Camp

Robert Gonzales Post #2221
105 Satanka Rd
Laramie, WY82070

National Aide-de-Camp

James Paulus Post #954
PO Box 651
Lander, WY 82520

National Aide-de-Camp

Larry Condelario Post #991
PO Box 325
Mills, WY 82644