VFP CHAPTERS
Editor: Woody Powell
woody@veteransforpeace.net
January 6, 2009
This is the 11th edition of the Chapters Newsletter – yet about 100 of you are receiving it for the first time because I am using the email list from Chapter Contacts roster to mail out this newsletter from my own address.
Let me explain:
Yesterday I discovered there were about 100 chapter contacts not listed on the VFP Chapter Contacts listserve. I had always assumed all of the chapter contacts were on it and merrily sent out newsletters and questionnaires, wondering all the while why the responses were so thin.
It all came to light when a discussion arose over the way the chapter contacts listserve was being used; as more as a forum for discussion than for inter-chapter communication. It had just morphed into that and consequently a number of you opted off the listserve because you were either getting too much information, too much discussion or were getting what you needed along those lines from other sources.
That left us with a communications hole; we needed to re-establish a way for the chapters to talk to one another and with National. At this writing I do not know what will be decided; whether to establish a new listserve devoted solely to chapter business, or to let things go as they are and try to get the chapter contacts back into the fold.
Opening the communications lines
I have an interim suggestion. Along with this newsletter I am attaching an up-dated chapter contacts roster sorted by state and in pdf form so everyone can read it. It will give you the means by which to communicate with each other. You will be able put together regional events, question each other on successful programs reported in the regular VFP newsletter or in the occasional e-issues put out by this office.
STORIES WANTED
This newsletter is essentially intended as way to exchange information on chapter activities. I am requesting, from each of you, stories about chapter actions and events; the successes, the failures (lessons learned) and your plans for the New Year, perhaps with other chapters in your area.
They need to be short and factual. We’ll leave the polemics to the other forum. If they are over-long, I reserve the right to edit them down to what I think are the essentials. I hope you will be comfortable with that.
I may be opening a flood gate. I hope so.
QUESTIONNAIRE
A while back I sent around (to the listserve) a questionnaire attempting establish the relative activity levels of the chapters as a helpful guide for our Board of Directors. As I indicated, the response was thin (for reasons now apparent). I’d like to send it out again with this newsletter. Only those who have not seen it, and replied, need respond. I can just add you to the old tally. When all the replies are in, I will share the results with all of you.
Chapter number _____________
1._____ Very Active – Meets regularly. Engages in vigils, marches, members give talks, tabling, etc.
2. ______ Active – meet fairly regularly, do vigils, some talks, a parade or two.
3. ______ Fairly Active – meet three or four times a year, an action or two.
4. ______ Inactive – No meetings, no collective activities.
In the latter case, if there is absolutely nothing going on as a group, we should probably pull the EIN number and retire the chapter; unless you see the possibility of a resurgence of interest in the near future.