August 24, 2012
Once again this year, everyone who was able to participate in VFP’s convention in Miami found it a great opportunity for renewal of mind, heart, conviction and commitment. It is a privilege to gather with people of the quality of our members.
After the convention, people contacting the office will often say, “Have you recovered from the convention?” or something to that effect. It is true that preparing for the convention is a major effort for the office staff as well as the hard-working convention committee. Yet it amuses me just a bit, the idea that there is a letdown after the convention. Instead there is just a change.
For some of us there are lots of follow up contacts and conversations to pursue. There is a lot of bookkeeping, billing, paying bills to pursue. And we launch almost immediately into preparing candidate information and ballots for the Board election. Detailed information on candidates and issues must be prepared and posted to the website. A companion mailing and ballot is required to go out within 6 weeks of the convention. Board members are involved in preparing much of this material and a lot of careful coordination is required.
This year the ballot mailing is especially interesting because for the first time it allows all verified veteran members to vote on By Law changes and Resolutions. We look forward to seeing how members respond to this opportunity.