In July of 2018, I was appointed the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award Program Chairperson for the Department of Connecticut. In an effort to help my fellow VFW comrades, I hope to document the process to make it easier.
- Get appointed.
- Go to VFW.org and download the PDFs including the chairman guide
- Get a big 3-ring notebook and some page protectors.
- Realize the program progresses in three large steps: Promotion, Supervision, Completion
- Promotion:
- Learn about the program.
- Market the program.
- Mailed Flyers
- Social Media
- Get applications from VFW programs
- Communicate with district commanders
- Make email and phone list
- Make one Post email with attachments
- Call each commander to verify they got email
- Explain they can just forward the email to their district chairperson
- Ask that they CC you when they send the email
- That is so you can automatically get the chair’s email
- Communicate with district chairpersons
- Make email and phone list
- Call each chairperson to verify they got the email
- Explain that they can just forward the email to their post chairpersons
- Supervision:
- Communicate consistently with chairpersons
- Communicate less frequently with district commanders
- Send emails with suggestions, information, or motivation
- Promotion:
Still working on the program….