FAQS

What is the difference between VFW and the American Legion?

 

Both VFW and A.L. accept anyone who are serving in, or have been Honorably Discharged from, the U.S. Armed Services. The requirement to be a U.S. citizen has been removed since there are citizens of other countries who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. VFW requires the veteran to have served in a combat area during an actual conflict; A.L. does not. VFW accepts veterans who serve or served in the U.S. Armed Services (Army, Navy, Air Force, USMC, Coast Guard and Space Force). A.L. accepts all those plus Merchant Marines.  

 

Officer Elections at the Post level: 

Can a member, who cannot make it to a meeting to vote for Post Officers, vote by proxy or absentee, in Post elections?

     o   No --- Proxy votes and Absentee ballots are specifically prohibited in elections --- observed by both VFW and A.L.

 

·       VFW Post Officer Nominations are always held in March & April; their election is in April for 6 elected VFW Post Officer positions:

            1)  Commander 

2)  Senior Vice Commander 

3)  Junior Vice Commander 

4)  Quartermaster 

5)  Chaplain, and 

6)  3-Year Trustee 

 

The VFW 3-Year Trustee automatically rolls down to be next year's 2-Year Trustee; the VFW 2-Year Trustee automatically rolls down to be next year's 1-Year Trustee. It is a procedural move i.e. they are not elected --- having once been elected the 3-Year Trustee.

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·       A.L. Post Officer Nominations are held in March, April & May; elections are in June. There are 11 elected A.L. Post Officer positions:  

1)  Commander 

2)  1st Vice Commander 

3)  2nd Vice Commander

4)  Adjutant 

5)  Finance Officer 

6)  Service Officer 

7)  Chaplain 

8)  Post Historian 

9)  Sergeant-At-Arms 

10)             Member-At-Large #1, and 

11)             Member-At-Large #2.

 

These 11 elected officers make up the Post Executive Committee. Some Posts make the Member-At-Large #1 their Judge Advocate to mimic National.

 

·       National VFW By-Laws forbid any VFW Post member from holding more than one Post Officer position in his/her Post; not the case in the A.L. --- their National A.L By-Laws do NOT forbid that. It is not uncommon to find, at the A.L. Post level, one A.L. Post member holding 2 or more Post Officer positions. 

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As a VFW member, do I have to wear a VFW cap (official cap) during VFW meetings? 

 

No. In the Ritual section of the VFW Podium Edition, which also contains the ByLaws section and the Manual of Procedures section, General Rule 13(d) says: "Official caps will be the only head covering allowed to be worn at regular meetings of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States."


You will notice that 13(d) does NOT say that a VFW cap MUST be worn i.e. you are allowed to attend a VFW meeting without wearing any head covering.

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As a VFW member, do I have to remove my VFW cap during prayers during VFW meetings and when I do, is there a specific way that I am to hold my VFW cap?

It depends. In the aforementioned Ritual section, General Rule 13b) says: "members will follow the action of the Chaplain or presiding officer relative to  removal of caps during prayers; if uncovering, the hat shall be placed on the extended closed fingers of the right hand in such a way that the Cross of Malta is exposed and held over the heart"

 

General Rule 3(b) says "if uncovering" in reference to the "action" of either the Chaplain or the presiding officer --- while the Post Commander is usually the presiding officer, prayers are usually conducted by the Post Chaplain.  If the Chaplain or presiding officer does not call "uncover" but you feel that you should, you may do so.

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Are there specific meanings to the number of raps of the gavel, when the presiding officer raps the Gavel?  

Yes. General Rule #6 says: 

      "One rap of the gavel calls attention -or- seats the body when standing." 

      "Two raps of the gavel call everyone to standing attention." 

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Are there any rules about discussing politics in a VFW meeting?  

     Yes --- In the VFW Podium Edition, ByLaws, Article VII - Miscellaneous Provisions, Sec. 702 - Politics, it says:

 

o  "No officer or member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) shall in any manner use the VFW for partisan politics and no discussion of partisan questions shall be permitted at any meetings nor shall any nominations, recommendations or endorsements for political office be made, provided this shall not apply to discussion of policies of any organization that seeks to alter our present form of government by force, violence or other unlawful means.

 

o  Participation in activities supporting or opposing legislation or administration of laws for veteran’s welfare or relating to other matters pertaining to the purposes of the organization shall be permitted. Such participation shall be consistent with the legislative and welfare programs and policies approved by the National Convention.

 

o  No Post … shall participate in a labor dispute --- either on behalf of labor or management. No member of the VFW shall wear the VFW uniform or VFW cap in any plant or picket line or meeting of employees where a labor dispute arises.

 

o  Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the organization of a lawful Political Acton Committee (PAC) to further the purposes of the VFW as set forth in … the Congressional Charter (1st section of the Podium Edition), nor prevent any discussion of the activities of such a committee.

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Are there any rules about discussing religion in a VFW meeting?  No --- However, in the VFW Podium Edition; Manual of Procedure; Article II - Posts; Sec. 218 - Officers Duties & Obligations; (a) – Officers; (1) Commander, (c) says: 

 

"Insist that Post business and activities be conducted in such a manner that they do not violate any applicable governmental law, ordinance or regulation --- nor bring, or tend to bring, dishonor or embarrassment upon the Post, its members or the VFW.”

Since religion is personal, any discussion of it, other than private, has potential to cause discomfort and possibly embarrassment --- so please don't bring up religion during any VFW Post meeting. If you feel it is very important, you can bring it up privately. 

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Can a Post Officer be removed from office prior to normal elections?  

        Yes --- In the VFW Podium Edition, ByLaws, Article IX - Discipline, Sec. 905 - Suspension from Office, it says:

 

o     To effect a suspension order under Section 905 of the Bylaws, the Commander-in-Chief, or the Department Commander having jurisdiction, will issue a Special Order notifying the member, the Commander-in-Chief and the respective Post, County Council, District or Department Commander of such action. 

 

          By definition, if the Post Commander is suspended, the office shall be temporarily filled by the Senior Vice Commander until the next elections are held.

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Note: Soon after the following 5 VFW Post officers are elected in April each year:

·       Post Commander

·       Senior Vice Commander

·       Junior Vice Commander

·       Quartermaster/Adjutant

·       Chaplain  


they each receive a copy of the latest version of the VFW Podium Edition. In additon, the appointed Officer of the Day and Adjutant, if not the Quartermaster, will get their own copy. They have roles that require them to read from the VFW Podium Edition during the initiation of new members. We keep older versions, so any member who wants to borrow one for reference, they just have to ask.

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FAQ's

Annual membership dues are $45, and due on the anniversary of the date you joined the VFW or the date of annual renewal. Our Quartermaster (QM) will notify you if your Annual membership dues are due; if you become a Life Member, you no longer pay annual dues.


Student Vet's Annual membership is $20.

We have our own Service Officer (Tim Miller) but we send most members to meet with what is called the Service Team which meets at Wilcox Hall @ 22909 56th Ave W in Mountlake Terrace every Tuesday and Wednesday.

The key person on the Service Team is Rob Caldwell. There are roughly 8-10 veterans who volunteer; some of whom are trained in VA benefits and two of which (Rob Caldwell & Bob Capriles) are lawyers. They are very good. They specialize in helping veterans with PTSD.

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