May 30, 2004
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Saturday, 8 May 2004. New officers of our DAV Chapter 9 Puna, Big Island Hawaii... 3 females! Yep, I'm one of them. The one in the center is also an officer in the DAV State Executive Committee (hence her white cap).
A former commander of the chapter was VERY upset that 3 women were (duly) elected (2 unopposed!). He stated in a letter that the women were not contributors, nor attended meetings until recently. HAH! We've attended more meetings than he has! We also don't take credit (like he has done) for stuff we didn't do, nor use 501.3c funds for personal interests.
We have alot of goals for the chapter. The main one is to get more of our members to attend meetings. Over the past year or so, attendance has dwindled to just 15% of the members of our chapter. This has come about for several reasons, including dissention. One thing we all need to realize is that we're not there just for us, but for all Veterans. It doesn't matter if another Veteran is a chapter member or not, we're Veterans helping Veterans.
I have proposed that we make a chapter website. This isn't so much my idea, as others have made comments about lack of information dissemination; mentioning that we need to send out emails, etc. There has been the opinion that members don't have computers. That number is actually small nowadays, & those who don't often seek public computers for information access.
I read something in our local paper recently regarding recycling old computers. One of our waste transfer stations has a recycling setup & has acquired several computers & perifials. They're also seeking more, to benefit non-profit organizations. At the next Executive Committee meeting, I'm going to suggest we look into it to possibly acquire computers for some of our members with financial hardships, or at least find out what we can do to get some for the chapter. Currently, our chapter's 'office' is in the basement of a church. I'm not thrilled with this, because I've learned that some of the items belonging to the chapter have been glommed onto for use by another organization one of our chapter's members also belongs to (a former commander, whom I won't name). I wouldn't want any acquired computers to go the same route. I'd also like for them to be accessible to any & all members of the chapter within certain guidelines.
Comments (3)
don't forget to inquire with compusa. they recently held a recycle/donate your old computer/monitor program. and those replacements are not that old or too bad that they can't be reused.
I'm proud of you, what what you have done, and what you are trying to do. Don't let some old dinosaur get in your way!
men are always the same. god, how old-fashioned. but hey, you are standing there anyway!!! go girl!!!
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