It was with great pleasure to be able to represent the Gateway Chapter at this year’s annual convention. The following is some of what transpired at the convention.
As always, the President offered opening remarks and then all the Executive Committee gave their reports followed by individual chapters.
National PVA is in great shape financially heading into 2025, which is one of the main functions of the national convention (approval of the FY2025 budget).
PVA Account Balances as of end of March 2024
Checking $13,300,000
Operating Reserve $21,200,000
BOD Designated $74,800,000
TOTAL $109,300,000
The FY2025 budget that was approved totaled $48,907,932, a $2,814,579 increase over 2024. Primary reason for increase was 3% COLA increase for all personnel, increase in insurance cost and an increase in travel costs. PVA has 273.5 FTE employees whose salaries and benefits total 37% of the budget.
As for the PVA 32 Chapter Assets, only 12 has assets less than $1,000,000. Total assets of all chapters are $40,874,044. Gateway was ranked ninth with total assets of $1,468,542. All but one chapter exceeded the 65% program threshold. National PVA grants to the chapters will remain the same in 2025. I raised the question why National received a 3% COLA increase and why not the chapters. Their reasoning was that 2/3rd of chapters has over a million in assets and they felt it was not needed. They believe the chapters need to do more fundraising and not depend on national.
The 2024 award recipients, as selected by the awards committee were:
John M Price Most Outstanding Chapter – Mid-Atlantic Chapter
5tanley D. Brown Most Improved Chapter – Colonial Chapter
Outstanding Chapter Website – Vaughn Chapter
Bob Webb Excellence in Newsletter – Northwest Chapter
Chapter Volunteer Service – Colonial Chapter
Sports & Recreation Award – Buckeye Chapter
This year 100% of chapters contributed to the Research and Education Fund. Donations ranged from $500 to $10,000 each for the three separate initiatives. Gateway contributed $1,000 to each of the three foundations. See photo on Gateway’s presentation.
During the convention we also elected, or reappointed the President, Treasurer, Secretary, Senior National Director, and National Directors. The new Senior National Director is Tammy Jones and the new Secretary is Marcus Murrey (again). The former Secretary Lawrence Mullins moved to a National Director position.
During one of the discussions on non-profits and fundraising the following facts were presented. I found it interesting and hope you do also. PVA has 92,000 facebook followers, there are 44,000 Veteran non-profits in the United States ,40% of males in 1970 were veterans, 18% in 1980, 4% in 2024. 25% of Americans are disabled and 85% of financial decisions are made by women. It’s getting harder to get donations. At national, donations were down 7.6%. If you do have sponsors, you need to keep them informed of your successes. Likewise, when soliciting sponsors, we need to make the pitch on how we can help them, not only on how they can help us. PVA has several videos on the PVA website that we are welcome to use to promote PVA at the chapter level.
National believes that at the chapter level we need more participation by membership. First you need to get involved in chapter events. It is important to communicate with members on a regular basis. Go out to membership and find out their interests, be it sports, cards, racing, fishing, movies, etc. Then group these like-minded individuals and bring them together where they can socialize either face-to-face or via zoom.
Once you have members interested in the chapter activities, you can then try to get them to help with fundraising and participation is other chapter activities.
They need to understand what the chapter can do for them, socially, financially, and physically. ENGAGEMENT IS KEY.
There were many other areas and committee briefings, but I believe they will just bore you, so I will quit now. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at dfeldott6867@gmail.com and I will get back with you.
It has been my honor to have been your National Director for the past three years. Age and health issues prevent me from continuing, but be assured I will remain an active member of the Gateway PVA Chapter. God Bless.
