COMMUNITY SERVICE

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: How a Post interacts with its community determines the relevancy of the VFW. Someone once said, "People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” The VFW and its Auxiliary’s ability to impact veterans, youth, political issues, patriotism, civic pride, volunteerism, and almost anything you can name, is directly dependent upon the Post being recognized as a caring and involved participant in the community. Hopefully, this guide will provide some ideas as to how a Post can create and grow the kind of reputation that will benefit their community and themselves. The impact on the community is immeasurable. The benefit to the Post is new members, more effective fundraising, greater participation in events and tremendous goodwill. The Post is, for most Americans, the only thing they know about the VFW. Make sure those Americans in your community have a favorable opinion of our great organization and our veteran

CRITERIA:  Outstanding Posts should be able to demonstrate high positive visibility in the community reflecting efforts that include but are not limited to hosting and or participating in civic and patriotic events, active involvement with local military units as well as effective involvement in the schools with our scholarship programs, teacher awards and Veterans in the Classroom.  Active membership recruitment and an effective Buddy Poppy Program should also be considered.