Jul/Aug 2008 - Korean War Veterans Association

From the President
My first remarks
are to those who
voted in this last election.
I appreciate those
who voted for me and their confidence that I
have the capability to continue the good policies
that were set during the last four years of
the previous administration. I also appreciate
those of you who voted for others. That, of
course, is the way democracy operates.
I hope to show you that even though the
candidates who some of you supported
were not elected, you might become convinced
that those who were are dedicated to
work for the betterment of the KWVA. I
will work to improve upon the successes of
the past administration and to revamp those
policies that have not been accepted by the
membership.
Transition from one administration to
another may seem like an easy task, but
without the cooperation of the past administration,
often times it is a long and tedious
job. In this case, Past President Dechert and
his staff have been very helpful, including
with the change in the Membership Office
staff and relocation and the sudden passage
of our request to be chartered by Congress.
The financial changeover was made
during the first few days after June 25.
Thus, we were able to maintain dues
deposits and bill paying with no interruption.
In fact, dues are now direct deposited
after being received at the Membership
Office in Charleston, IL. We no longer have
to mail checks to be deposited by the
Treasurer in another state.
I have requested that each Director, both
newly elected and those carried over,
inform me in what capacity they would like
to be considered to serve the membership,
either as a Committee Chairman or on a
Committee.
As I prepare this message, I am still
receiving requests for assignments. I do not
want to fill the positions with individuals
who are not interested in improving the
operation, but with those who are dedicated
to doing so. Therefore, I have decided not
to rush the appointment process, because it
is more important to obtain Chairmen who
are qualified individuals and are ready to
tackle any and all problems as they arise. I
will keep those already filling the slots until
the Board has approved new individuals.
All elected Officers and Directors have
been sworn in by Business without a
Meeting and took office on June 25, 2008
per the Bylaws.
Obtaining the Charter has now been
accomplished. The process of fulfilling the
requirements that come with the Charter
must be obtained, and processes to accomplish
these requirements placed into effect.
This also will be a slow process. Other
requirements have also come to light, and
solutions need to be found for them.
I ran for this office knowing a few of the
problems, and I will say that the major
problem was unrest by some of the membership.
The main problem has been either
the misunderstanding of the processes the
Board of Directors works with or of how to
communicate between individuals. I will be
working to solve this problem.
Let’s start with this: if you hear things
that you believe might be true—or
untrue—please check with a Board
William Mac Swain
All elected Officers and Directors have been sworn in by
Business without a Meeting and took office on June 25,
2008 per the Bylaws.
The Membership Office Has Moved...
Due to personal reasons, our dear friend
Annelie Weber, who has manned the KWVA
Membership Office in Alexandria, Virginia for
the past 1-1/2 years, is unable to continue
working for the KWVA.
The new Membership Administrative
Assistant is Jamie Reynolds. She has been
assisting Annelie for the past year and is
already up-to-speed on what needs to be done
to help our members! Jamie is the daughter of
our Webmaster, Jim Doppelhammer.
The phones and FAX are now working in the
new location and we can all call and welcome
Jamie as the office begins operations.
Use the email address to report changes in
Member you trust and try to solve a possible
misunderstanding before sending an e-
mail to other members, and especially outsiders.
The possibility is that any problem
can be solved once the facts are learned and
explained.
A problem disseminated by e-mail does
not solve the problem; it only causes the
problem to become larger by added mistakes
in answers or untrue statements. True
statements are easy to make if the facts are
obtained and the other person really listens.
If people refuse to listen, there is no use
in arguing to try to convince them.
The Board of Directors will be voting
on all of those Committee Chairmen who I,
along with the 1st and 2nd Vice Presidents,
request to be approved. I hope that each of
our members will give the Board of
Directors his or her support, and give us the
time to become a team for you.
God bless the KWVA and its purpose
for veterans of the Korean War era.
William Mac Swain
KWVA President
Department, Chapter and Member information
or to get information concerning same.
New Mailing and Email Addresses:
Korean War Veterans Association
PO Box 407
Charleston, IL 61920-0407
Email Address: Membership@kwva.org
New office telephone and FAX numbers are:
Phone: 217-345-4414
FAX: 217-345-4415
Thank you—and Welcome Aboard, Jamie!
William F. Mac Swain
National President and Chairman
of the Board
3
The Graybeards July - August 2008