MONTHLY NEWS LETTER

Charles Koehler AMVETS Post 1240

COMMANDER

Comrades,

I would like everyone to know that we recieved the Golden State Award at the June Department Convention. I am very proud of our accomplishment. Keep up the good work.

                                                           Dennis Starkey

                                                              Commander

AMVETS

Department of California

240 E. King Ave.

Tulare, California 93274

GOLDEN STATE AWARDS PROGRAM

State Awards Program

The concept of this program is to bring all Post within the Department of California into the “communication fold” in order to get all Posts communicating with the Districts, Areas, and the Department Headquarters. This Department Level “Quality Post” Award Program is designed to be very similar to the National Program except that here are many more opportunities/categories for Post to receive points.

The Department recognizes that various Posts have “specialty” projects that they are involved in. Hopefully this new initiative takes into account just about anything that a Post can dream up. This Department Award Program allows for whatever the Posts may be involved in as long as they are reaching out into their communities and assisting veterans and their families.

This program will be administered by our three Department Area Commanders and their appointed 1^st and 2^nd Vice Commanders. These officers will be responsible for receiving the reporting information and verifying the information presented, and tallying the point totals to determine which Posts are in fact eligible for the AMVETS Golden State Award and passing this information on to the Department 2^nd Vice Commander to post on the tally sheet.

Each Post that is eligible for this award will receive recognition from the Department in the form of a plaque for the Post and a Golden State Award device for each of the elected Post Officer (maximum seven). These Posts will be recognized at either our Department Convention or at a DEC depending on the adoption and start date of this program.

This AMVETS Golden State Award Program is a simple points program that required each Post to not only compile but to also REPORT a certain number of points in order to be eligible for this special recognition program. The Department is hoping that this additional activity will create lines of communication between the Post, Districts, Areas and Department Executive Board.

Opening these lines of communication might bring into the operational process many of the Posts who at this point have never or are not currently working with the Department levels of AMVETS Department of California.

FUNDING – Currently we have a vastly under-utilized Department Award Committee. It is the Departments belief that this Department wide program could easily be administrated completely by the AMVETS Department of California Awards Committee.

Golden State Awards Reporting

Categories are as Follows:

Revalidation:                 Post must be revalidated on time – verified by Department HQ.

100% membership:    Post must have AT LEAST the same number of members at

                             the beginning of the fiscal year as at the beginning of the last fiscal year.

Membership Quota:    10 new members or 10 reinstated Annual Members.

                                       Each member   will be worth 3 points up to a maximum of 30 points.

Program Reporting:     Online Reporting verified by the Department 2^nd Vice Commander.

ROTC/JROTC:                   For Posts that participate in the ROTC/JROTC Programs.

Americanism:                   Programs that can be verified by the Americanism Chairman.

Community Service:      Programs verified by Area 2^nd Vice Commander that don’t fit other categories.

Hospital – VAVS:             Programs verified by District or Area Commanders.

Scholarships:                    Programs verified by District or Area 2^nd Vice Commanders.

Freedoms Foundation: $25.00 donation verified by the Department 1st Vice Commander.

Freedoms Foundation: $50.00 donation verified by the Department 1^st Vice Commander.

Dept. Delegate Dues:     $20.00 per DEC and Department Convention pre-registered.

Educational Seminar:   Participation at DEC, Convention, or Area Meetings Post Education Program.

AMVETS Golden State Awards Point System

Revalidation

40

100% Membership

50

Membership Quota

30

Program Reporting

30

ROTC/JROTC

10

Americanism

10

Community Service

10

Hospital – VAVS

10

Scholarships

10

Freedom Foundation $25.00

20

Freedom Foundation $50.00

35

Dept. Delegate Dues

10

Educational Seminar

10

Total points possible                                            275

Required for AMVETS Golden State Award          230

       Blue Star Mothers of the Foothills

               This is a newly Chartered Chapter based in Fontana

Blue Star Mothers is open to anyone who has a son or daughter in the Military. They will be meeting the 3rd Sunday of each month at 12 PM and the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM. Meetings will at the V.F.W. hall 9190 Fontana Ave. Fontana Ca.

    For membership information contact Audra Lamolli

                  (909) 465 - 5630 or (909) 260 - 5980

AMVETS PROGRAMS

Americanism;

Americanism Essay Contest

Americanism Poster Connotes

Americanism Flag Drawing Contest

Scholarship Programs:

K through 12

ROTC Programs:

Outstanding Senior Cadet Program

Outstanding Junior Cadet Program

The Ted Leszkiewicz

AMVETS Against Drugs and Alcohol Abuse (AADAA) Program:

Community Service Programs:

National Homeless Veterans Programs

White Clover Program

Blood Donor Program

Organ Donor Awareness and Bone Marrow Donor Programs

Special Wish Program

Special Olympics

Child Abuse Awareness

Scouting Programs

PAWS With a Cause

Habitat for Humanity

If you are interested in working any of these Programs PLEASE attend our meetings for more information.