Vote! Vote! Vote! - Korean War Veterans Association
Vote! Vote! Vote! - Korean War Veterans Association
Vote! Vote! Vote! - Korean War Veterans Association
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them. The standard of less is best should be the standard for them.<br />
10. Does the National KWVA give the state department any financial<br />
support? If so, for what? Not at the moment, if you go by the current<br />
National bylaws, but in our draft bylaws we are seeking compensation<br />
for incorporation costs. Look at our proposed bylaws:<br />
11. Your chapter is in the north of the state. Ours is in the south.<br />
Where would we meet for elections, etc? What do you think? We think<br />
teleconferencing may help solve that very real problem. We plan to<br />
give it a try, and to actively explore support from National for at least<br />
part of that. It should be an agenda item for Department business.<br />
Ok, you might say. We like it, we’re in. What can we give or do to<br />
help the California State Department grow and function to serve? The<br />
answer is akin to what happens when you move into a new home. As<br />
a family member, you look around, see what needs to be done, and<br />
begin with what you can do for your family. A person your age has<br />
surely developed a tool or two to contribute useful service. The worst<br />
that can happen to you as an individual, or your chapter, is that you<br />
gain at least one, and almost certainly, more friends than you have<br />
now. The decision you will make to join us or not, serve with us or<br />
not, or share with us or not is certainly a personal one, and so will be<br />
correct, whatever it is. Your time is yours to spend; it’s really all you<br />
have to give of real value in this life. Most likely you are in your 70’s,<br />
and are rightfully asking yourself why you should get involved at this<br />
time in your life, in anything more or new at all.<br />
Why indeed, but that question can only be answered by you.<br />
Many of the items in that letter can be reinforced and even<br />
made possible by the addition of a Department website. Again,<br />
you can examine ours and see for yourself, at http://www. dcakwva.org.<br />
Admittedly, it is presented at this time pretty much as a simple<br />
bulletin board, with links to pages we have developed for one purpose<br />
or another, as we grew to the point of the grant of a department<br />
charter, and a bit beyond.<br />
Consider some of the interesting results:<br />
We have had over 2000 visits to the website since September.<br />
It has clearly brought at least some of the chapters together, as<br />
Department President Mike Glazzy contacts them for one reason<br />
or another.<br />
Our website can be used as a template for other states wishing<br />
to have the same tool, for both informative and administrative<br />
purposes. We consider what we have is a start to what can be, and<br />
are happy to offer help to any state that’s interested in having one.<br />
As a “for instance,” it has enabled us, together with Texas<br />
Chapter 270, to help candidates for the KWVA 2008 National<br />
Election elaborate on their views, and intent for post-election performance<br />
in office, by adding access via an election page dedicated<br />
to that purpose.<br />
Here is my proposal, which if elected Director; I will place on<br />
the Board of Directors Agenda as soon as possible:<br />
That the KWVA, Inc. furnish, supply or support:<br />
• Server space for all fifty state websites;<br />
• A template set of website files with which a state department<br />
webmaster can begin development;<br />
It was suggested by the KWVA Webmaster that for departments,<br />
a single, registered domain name be used, such as<br />
BUSINESS<br />
“kwvadepartments.org” There would be a single, simple Home<br />
Page saying “Welcome to the KWVA Departments website...” and<br />
there would be a link to that page on the KWVA Homepage. Then<br />
list a click-on link for each department onsite...with that format,<br />
links would be as follows: Note - All below would have<br />
‘http:/www.’ preceding the domain name.<br />
A. kwvadepartments.org/dca (for California<br />
B. kwvadepartments.org/dny (for New York)<br />
C. kwvadepartments.org/dtx (for Texas)<br />
There would be a link to the Department Home Page on the<br />
KWVA National website, which would tie the two systems together.<br />
• Software tools needed to revise and tailor the department<br />
website to fit the state’s needs. In a discussion with the KWVA<br />
Webmaster, he informed me that the software program Microsoft<br />
FrontPage is what they use, and would be best as the state department<br />
software also; the retail cost is around $150.00, but the<br />
KWVA could use its non-profit status to buy a 50-seat license at a<br />
reduced cost.<br />
My recommendation is that that cost be passed on to the participating<br />
department for that individual license, at cost. All<br />
recurring costs would be covered by the KWVA. A detail of those<br />
costs would be submitted to the Board of Directors as a part of this<br />
proposal.<br />
A Bylaw revision and an implementing specification/procedure<br />
in the Standard Procedure Manual would need to<br />
be generated and approved by the Board. Since security considerations<br />
must always be foremost, the great advantage of connecting<br />
a state database to that of the National must not compromise<br />
the absolute need for confidentiality;<br />
and<br />
The state department would furnish the labor to implement and<br />
maintain the website; and whatever coordination that would be<br />
required with the National Webmaster.<br />
Don’t write your Congress person; please write me with your<br />
comments and questions.<br />
Let’s talk.<br />
Respectfully and fraternally to all..<br />
George E. Lawhon LR18750<br />
California Chapter 6, Santa Clara County<br />
Secretary & Webmaster<br />
KWVA California State Department<br />
email: george@lawhon.org<br />
THE GRAYBEARDS DEADLINES<br />
Articles to be published in the The Graybeards must be sent<br />
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that issue. —Editor.<br />
Jan-Feb ............................................................Jan 15<br />
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May-June ..........................................................May 15<br />
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23<br />
The Graybeards March-April 2008