Merry Christmas from your chapter officers!

 

Tri-Chapter Rally in March 2023

 

 

 

MVC President's Veterans Day Message

Happy Veterans Day!

Veterans Day (Armistice Day) is a federal holiday for honoring military veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

I decided to do a little research about veterans for Veterans Day. There are about 19 million U.S. veterans. Gulf War-era veterans are the largest share of veterans. The numbers according to the VA are 7.9 million - Gulf War, 5.9 million - Vietnam, 933,000 - Korean and 240,000 - WW II. An additional 22% of all veterans served in peacetime.

7% of all U.S. adults are veterans. This is down from 18% in 1980. Less than 1% of the population serves in the military today.

17% of the current Congress are veterans. This is down from over 75% in 1975. This is disturbing when you consider the possible impact on funding for veteran services. However, the good side is that a recent survey found that 72% of U.S. adults supported increasing funding for veterans’ benefits and services.

These facts are interesting. The number of veterans is decreasing in the general population and in Congress. However, a large majority of the public support services are for veterans. This is good news for both existing veterans and future veterans.

Thank you all for your service to our great country.

 Bob Weithofer,  Pres. Of MVC

 President’s Report

September 3, 2022

We had a very successful Chapter Fair and meeting at the National Convention in Lincoln, Nebraska.

I distributed Veteran ribbons to the Veterans in attendance and thanked each veteran for their service.

FMCA made arrangements for a seminar by a Veteran Outreach Specialist (VOS) which was attended by between 40 and 50 vets. The VOS staffed a mobile office for two and a half days meeting with veterans who had specific questions about their benefits and helping them to resolve benefit issues. This is the second time that FMCA with assistance from MVC has brought a VOS to our convention. The first was in Tucson earlier this year. The need for continuing the involvement of a VOS was obvious from the number attending the seminars and the fact that almost all the office time available was booked. We will be sending a thank you letter to FMCA and offer assistance in continuing this benefit to our members. 

The MVC table at the Chapter Fair was staffed by Bob and Pat Weithofer and Phyllis Trottier. They were kept busy talking with potential members, signing up new members and selling our signature caps. In all, between the Chapter Fair, the meeting and online, we signed up 23 new members, sold 10 hats and had 3 renewals. See the attached list of new members.

We had 29 memberships represented at the annual meeting. I want to thank our National Director, Marty McMahon and Susan McMahon who staffed the check in table and Pat Weithofer and Judy Heiges who staffed the membership table. Judy Heiges served as our temporary secretary. Her minutes are attached. The Officers present were Bob Weithofer, President, and Marty McMahon, National Director.

There are a couple of items from that meeting that I’d like to highlight.

Rocky Lippold, one of our new members, was elected as the Alternate National Director.

The Nominating Committee of Sam Libby as Chair, Pat Weithofer and Jerry Young was elected. I announced that I will not be running for a third term as President. I feel that four years as President is sufficient and new leadership with new ideas will benefit MVC.

MVC is the host for the Tri-Chapter rally in spring. Pyllis Reid and Tom Trottier assisted by Pat Weithofer are the hosts. They would welcome participation in planning and executing this rally from other members.

Terry Leeming discussed the need for area chapters of MVC. Either totally independent or as a subchapter. This would greatly assist in providing a presence at the Area rallies as well as at the National Conventions. Terry is focusing on Oklahoma. I would appreciate any thoughts on this initiative and volunteers to implement it in other Areas.

I want to thank all those who have stepped up to help with the various tasks. Any chapter is only as strong as the member participation. MVC needs members in the various areas to step up and organize and participate in representation at all the Area Rallies. Your officers cannot do this alone. We need some assistance with the Tri-Chapter rally. We need you to nominate veterans organizations that MVC will support with a donation. We need you to suggest and help implement new activities. We need you to step up and be an officer. Think about how you can participate. It doesn’t have to be a major commitment if everyone participates. Just paying dues is not sufficient to make this a great chapter.

Bob Weithofer

President

Bob2w@hotmail.com

National Directors Report of the August 2022 Governing Board meeting at Lincoln

FMCA's 105th International Convention & RV Expo Lincoln Nebraska, August 24 - 27, 2022.

DON’T LET IT SLIP BY!

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO REGISTER!

The FMCA’s 105th International Convention & RV Expo Lincoln, NE on August 24-27.

The Tri-Chapter Rally is the pre-rally that MVC is a part of. It is scheduled for 8/13 - 8/16 (more than a few days before the Golden Getaway).

During the Convention, be sure to stop by our booth at the Chapter Fair to say “HI” and bring a friend who is a Vet but not yet a member! Then put this on YOUR schedule - Our

Chapter's Annual Meeting is on Friday Aug 26 at 5:30 PM in Seminar 8. You will also want to know that there is a repeat of the VA Benefits seminar that was presented at the Tucson FMCA Convention. It won’t be an exact repeat since it will address YOUR questions and concerns! I attended it and it was well worth the time. The VA Benefit Seminar is on Wednesday Aug 24 at 1 PM. Location will be listed in the brochure. Additionally, a VA Benefit councilor will be on site on Wednesday from 2:30 to 5 PM. Also, on both Thursday and Friday from 10 AM to 3 PM. Take advantage of this personal, one-on-one encounter with someone with resources and in the know.

Enjoy the rest of your summer while keeping your eyes and ears open to ways in which we can carry out …..

Our Mission: Veterans Helping Veterans!

Happy 4th of July United States.

 

Happy 4th of July 🇺🇸 — often described as Our Country’s Birthday!  I wanted to share some thoughts that have been popping into my head as I try or not try to keep up with current newsfeeds.  Please consider them in light of history, the freedom for which we fought and our future! July 4th is the day dedicated to celebrating the great country we live in. A country that we served in a unique way. A country that continues to grow and adapt to the changing circumstances of the society and environment we live in. This country was founded on compromise by the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Not everyone’s ideas were included the final document but those ideas that were most widely supported became the Constitution.  The framework they developed established the great country that we live in. We need to continue our commitment to this great country by helping it change for the better. For only through change can it continue to be the great example of self-government that it is.  Share your thoughts and ideas with others in a positive manner. Listen to the thoughts and ideas of others. They will not be the same but recognize that you are not always right and that others have good ideas and reasons for supporting them. And like our founding fathers listen with the intent to compromise for the betterment of our country. Have a safe and enjoyable day celebrating our country. Bob Weithofer MVC President

 

Tri-Chapter Rally, August 13 - 16, 2022