2024-25 VFW FL Mid-Winter

The 2024-25 Department of Florida Mid-Winter Conference will be held at the Westgate Lakes Resort in Orlando on January 24-25, 2025. All District and Post leadership should plan to attend at least on Saturday morning for the business session. The agenda is posted on the VFW Dept. of Florida website.

VFW Dept. of FL

Next 2024-25 VFW and Aux District Meeting

The next VFW FL District 6 Meeting will be held on Saturday, February 8th, 2025 at 10 am at VFW Post 7909 on the Westside of Jacksonville, FL in the Wesconnett area off Blanding Blvd. The event will kick off with a Joint VFW/VFW Auxiliary Meeting followed by the VFW and Auxiliary having their own meetings. All District and Post Officers and Chairpersons should attend; a roll call will be held.

Directions to Post 7909

2025 VFW FL Dist. 6 VOD Golf Tourney

The 36th Annual VFW Florida District 6 Voice of Democracy Golf Tournament will be held on Sunday, February 23rd at Bent Creek Golf Course on Jacksonville's Westside. For more details, email the event coordinator, Katie Smailis, at dkcawret@outlook.com.

Directions to Bent Creek GCEmail Coordinator

Membership

As yesterday's defenders of freedom, we want to welcome today's military service members into our ranks to become part of our elite group. If you are currently an annual Member, we ask that you renew your dues or become a life or legacy life member; use the links below! Your voice matters!

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WELCOME TO VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS DEPARTMENT FLORIDA DISTRICT 6

Teamwork ~ Leadership ~ Commitment

Our Mission: To foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts. To serve our veterans, the military, and our communities. To advocate on behalf of all veterans. 

Our Vision: Ensure that veterans are respected for their service, always receive their earned entitlements, and are recognized for the sacrifices they and their loved ones have made on behalf of this great country.

 
 
Don't forget to like us on Facebook at facebook.com/dist6!
 
 

Commander's Corner

Commander Rich Possert Jr.

July 2024:
 
Greetings Comrades, families, and supporters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Florida, District 6. I will be sending out Weekly Bulletins to all District Officers and Chairmen, Post Commanders and Quartermasters, and anyone else who requests to receive it. This is my guidance and my challenges to you all this year and moving forward:
 

1. We are in very challenging times in our organization, especially at the Post level. Although we have accomplished many things, many of us are fighting a losing battle against member attrition and retention. In my opinion, this is happening because we maintain the "status quo” every year; we fight against change, and we lean into the statement "We’ve always done it this way”. We are becoming stagnant. If you look at our District Calendar for the last 5 years, since I’ve been actively involved at the Post level or District/Department level, the only things that have changed are the dates (and that’s because of how the Julian Calendar works). We’re just recycling the things we do every year. I feel like many of us are just plain bored with what we are doing (and not doing). We have to bring back FUN. This is how we will get folks involved again.
 
2. My goal as your District Commander is to do my best to give you all a reason to want to stay involved, and to spread positive energy to all of our Posts and Auxiliaries – so much so that our energy inspires our latest generation of Veterans and their families to join our organizations and be active members. IAW section 230102, paragraph #1, which we say at every Post meeting: our purpose is to preserve and strengthen comradeship amongst its members. That being said, is your energy and the energy at your Post and in your Auxiliary positive or full of doubters and complainers?
   
     a. FACT: Energy is contagious; both good and bad. Don’t forget that. If you’re pissy and annoyed all the time, well, your members will reflect that. I’ve heard from Veterans that they were interested in joining our Posts but changed their minds because of the negativity and side-eyes they observed when coming in (breaking news: I have actually been told this folks – I won’t throw any of you under the bus but I have been told this by no less than 10 potential members over the past few years). 
 
3. I’m asking all of the Post Commanders/Officers and Auxiliary Presidents/Officers: 
     
     a. Why did you decide to run for the office of your position? 
     b. What are your goals for your Post or Auxiliary?
     c. Have you ever put together a strategic or business plan?
     d. What will you do to improve upon your Post’s or Auxiliary’s weaknesses?
 
4. We have the 3rd highest number of Veterans and Military Servicemembers in the United States here in Northeast Florida. What are we doing for them? We mention our programs, like the Youth Programs, Buddy Poppies, etc., but are we engaged with our local governments? Are we engaged with our County officials? Are we involved with our local military bases? Are we doing what we can to make a difference – think about that introspectively.
 
5. Have you ever tested the theory of the VFW’s perception by asking someone not affiliated with it, "When I mention the organization, 'VFW', how would you describe it?” How do we change that perception? What will you do to change that perception at your Post or Auxiliary?
 
6. Do any of your Posts or Auxiliaries encourage younger, newer members to run for elected office in your organizations? Do you have a system that provides mentorship to members who wish to get into elected offices? Are folks running for office because no one else will? If that is the case, why? What can we do to improve upon that?
 
7. Engage the community and invite outside organizations to participate in your events and meetings. Wounded Warrior Project, Irreverent Warriors, Carry the Load, Team Rubicon; these are just a few of many organizations and community partners that you can invite in to brief your members on things that are available for them in the Veteran Service Sphere. There are ways to get those other organizations involved with our posts and give our members information about other organizations that may be of benefit to them, and heck, we can recruit these folks to join our ranks in the VFW!
 
8. Speaking of: Membership: I know you’re sick of hearing of that term. But what will you do to make your Post a draw for new members and a reason for annual members to re-up or upgrade their membership to life or legacy life? If you don’t give folks a reason to join or stay active, you will struggle. Something I loved doing at our Post when I was a Post Commander is something that I encourage every Post to do – when you have new members present at the meeting you vote them in, use the "Member’s Obligation” from the "Initiation Ceremony (Brief Form)” and tailor it how you’d like. Make a big deal of our new members. Use Post funds to purchase VFW Member lapel pins, and, after your Post Commander’s reading-in of the new members, have the Post Commander or Membership chair pin that pin on the new member, and lead the Post meeting attendees in a round of applause! Make it mean something to them!
 
9. I would like to appoint a special or ad-hoc committee for District Bylaws review. Before the end of my term as your District Commander, I want us to have updated and optimized bylaws that go along with the National and Department of Florida Bylaws. Please let me know if you are interested in being on this committee ASAP.
 
10. My phone and email are ALWAYS open for you. If you have any issues at your Posts, or with anything, don’t let things get too bad. Call or email me. You will not be judged, and, if I can’t help you personally, then I will help you find an answer.
 
11. We say this at our meetings, and I ask you to hold yourself and your fellow members to it: "Do not let petty jealousies or trivial personalities influence our deliberations." It is amazing what we can accomplish when no one cares who gets credit for it!

LET'S MAKE IT AN AMAZING YEAR!
 
Yours in Service,
Rich Possert Jr.
Commander
2024-25

Announcements

  •  The 2024-25 Department of Florida Mid-Winter Conference will be held at the Westgate Lakes Resort in Orlando on Saturday, January 24-25, 2025. All Post leadership should plan to attend. 
  • The next VFW FL and VFW Auxiliary FL District 6 Meeting(s) will be held on Saturday, February 8th, 2025 at 10 am at VFW Post 7909 in Jacksonville's West Side/Wesconnett. We will start with a Joint (VFW/VFW Aux) Session and then break off to our individual District Meetings. All Post and Auxiliary Leadership shall attend!
  • Our 36th Annual Voice of Democracy Golf Tournament will be held at Bent Creek Golf Course on Sunday, February 23rd. Registration is open to VFW and VFW Auxuliary Members as well as the general public. All proceeds will go toward our Annual Youth Banquet. Registration closes on February 20th, 2025. Contact Katie Smailis at dkcawret@outlook.com for more details.

**We are looking for new website sponsors! If interested, please contact the District Commander at dist6cmdr@vfwfl.org.

News & Events

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Membership

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As yesterday's defenders of freedom...

 ...we want to welcome today's military service members into our ranks to become part of our elite group.

WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, Kosovo, War in Afghanistan, War in Iraq, War on Global Terror and other Peace-Keeping Expeditionary Campaigns throughout the globe.

Assistance & Benefits

Assistance & Benefits

The Veterans of Foreign Wars is dedicated

 to supporting those who sacrifice so much for this country, veterans, service members in the US Armed Forces, and their families and continues to be a voice for returning and currently deployed service members and their families.

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Statewide News

News & Info from your department

Requesting Veteran Records

Many have asked how to get a copy of their DD214 or correct their military records.

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Student Veterans of America

GI Bill benefits are the most widely utilized benefits available to veterans. Moreover, veterans on college campuses have demonstrated an eagerness to not only organize but to lead in their communities while pursuing higher education. By supporting the nearly 1 million student veterans on college campuses today, the VFW has a unique opportunity to not only showcase the amazing work of our organization, but we can also harness this leadership potential to grow our organization for future generations of veteran leaders.

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National News

Important info from National VFW

'Brothers After War' to Debut Nationwide February 28

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - From Executive Producer Gary Sinise and Director Jake Rademacher, "Brothers After War" combines footage from Ra...

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VFW Reminds Members to Stay Focused Amid Confusion in the Capital

WASHINGTON - Over the past few weeks, I, like many of you, have been inundated daily with news from our nation's capital about the...

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OUR MISSION

Our Mission: To foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts. To serve our veterans, the military and our communities. To advocate on behalf of all veterans. 

Our Vision: Ensure that veterans are respected for their service, always receive their earned entitlements, and are recognized for the sacrifices they and their loved ones have made on behalf of this great country.
 
In accordance with 36 US Code, Section 230102, The Purposes of the (VFW) corporation are fraternal, patriotic, historical, charitable, and educational, and are—
(1) to preserve and strengthen comradeship among its members;
(2) to assist worthy comrades;
(3) to perpetuate the memory and history of our dead, and to assist their surviving spouses and orphans;
(4) to maintain true allegiance to the Government of the United States, and fidelity to its Constitution and laws;
(5) to foster true patriotism;
(6) to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom; and
(7) to preserve and defend the United States from all enemies."