Proposed:
That the KWVA Support Department websites
The first thing that you might want to do is to take an extensive look at our website and wander through all the links it contains, at the address: KWVA Department of California
That will give you a clear look at where we have been in its development. Should you choose to take that journey for your department, it will give you sort of a template from which you might begin. We have deliberately made it open and as clear as possible about our intentions and actions. We have profited from comments from those who saw the possibility of changes that would benefit the purpose of it all. So, you might ask, what is the "purpose of it all?" The design is not elegant, and we're working on a new one that will be, but that's later this year.
You can see how I feel about KWVA Departments, for instance, on our Home Page, and I'll reprint the letter placed there:
II. ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION: WHY?
Why are we to have a California State Department? Why must we belong, and why should we support it? Those are questions that deserve an answer, and below, we do that, to the best of our ability. From the beginning, we said that we wanted to keep it simple, and for the need to be open and transparent. The KWVA, Inc. Bylaws set forth that four (4) chapters are the minimum needed to establish a state department. We already have that, and a few more. Naturally, though, it is desirable to have as much diverse participation as possible.
ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION:
“WHY SHOULD MY CHAPTER SUPPORT
THE KWVA DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA?”
That is a good question, no doubt on the minds of many, and deserves an answer. Let’s begin with what it says in the KWVA Bylaws: http://www.kwva.org/bylaws/bylaws_2005.htmTo belong to a chapter, you must be a KWVA, Inc. Member in good standing. If you are a chartered chapter, you are automatically considered a ‘unit’ of the state department.
“Article V, Korean War Veterans Association, Inc. 2005 Bylaws
II. Chapters
Section 1. Organization. Initially a Chapter shall consist of not less than twelve (12) National Regular members in good standing who wish to form a Chapter in their area. Effective October 5, 2005 each person who becomes a new Regular member of a Chapter must first become a National Korean War Veterans Association, Inc. Regular member, and must maintain National Regular membership to remain a member of a Chapter. When a KWVA Department within a State has been formed, Chapters are considered to be a unit under the Department and will cooperate as a unit of the Department.”
Please note that the operative verb is ‘cooperate’ rather than ‘participate.’ Moreover, the imperative form would have said ‘shall’ instead of ‘will.’ Whatever the intent of those who wrote that bylaw, or its merit, it was duly voted into existence by the Board of Directors. It can be interpreted fairly to mean that to participate is an elective choice on the part of a chapter and its members, and that the intent is not to force participation. Let’s leave it at that; and bring forth some valid reasons for you, and your chapter, to participate, and to serve in some useful fashion.
1. It is reasonable to assume that you joined the KWVA; and your chapter, for the very understandable, fraternal desire to meet other veterans of like experience, who shared an extremely unique period in their life: a vicious, bloody, and tough war, which literally transformed them from boys to men. You may have joined your chapter first, or the KWVA first, no matter, since it is a requirement of the KWVA, Inc. bylaws that you belong to both. You and they are linked together, and now there is an effort, through the use of a department as an extension, as a more practical means to gather in more of your Korean War kinfolk, located within your state, for another shared experience. A true definition would call it a federation, just as the U.S. was formed of the collective states in 1787, to serve both local and national common interests. Despite all the disputes on what to do and how to do it, that system has served all citizens well for over 200 years, yielding definite and tangible progress.
2. There may and will be disagreements between the national and local entities about what those interests are, and how to best serve them, but hopefully, with reasonable views, there will be the happy result of reaching out and bringing in more veterans.
3. Your relationship with organizational tiers in the military was no different. As it was in the military; you can look at it all as an extended family, each member with its own obligations and duties.
4. Even if only four (4) chapters (that is the minimum required to form a state department) get together to discuss their local and common problems, useful, appropriate actions are more likely to result in needed changes at the national level.
5. Ultimately, the individual (you) is served best when there is a link from your local (chapter) organization to other chapters, and the shared experience of the Department is the only practical way to do that. Shared actions, rooted in discussion and debate, will certainly result in better results than complaints by way of individual emails.
6. Will our chapter lose anything, such as our identity, by joining the state department? Actually, your chapter will automatically become part of the Department, once the Department is granted a charter. Your only elective choice will then be whether or not to participate in Department business.
7. Will the department interfere with chapter programs? No. Absolutely not. But the Department may be able to help with them.
8. Will we gain some advantage over those that do not participate? There should be the natural advantage of closer ties to fellow California Korean War Veterans, their spouses, and their children. The basic idea is twofold: get to more Korean War veterans, and extend our hand of welcome and help to the Korean Service Veterans. Many citizens do not know of their sacrifice, or that a state of war still stands between our countries. Also, many of these veterans do not know the KWVA even exists. Your participation could help change that.
9. Will there be any cost to the chapters? The Department Officers, which will come from the chapters, certainly will have to justify to their chapter brothers, whatever assessment may be requested of them. The standard of less is best should be the standard for them.
10. Does the National KWVA give the state department any financial support? If so, for what? Not at the moment, if you go by the current National bylaws, but in our draft bylaws we are seeking compensation for incorporation costs. Look at our proposed bylaws: KWVA California State Bylaws
11. Your chapter is in the north of the state. Ours is in the south. Where would we meet for elections, etc? What do you think? We think teleconferencing may help solve that very real problem. We plan to give it a try, and to actively explore support from National for at least part of that. It should be an agenda item for Department business.
Ok, you might say. We like it, we’re in. What can we give or do to help the California State Department grow and function to serve? The answer is akin to what happens when you move into a new home. As a family member, you look around, see what needs to be done, and begin with what you can do for your family. A person your age has surely developed a tool or two to contribute useful service.The worst that can happen to you as an individual, or your chapter, is that you gain at least one, and almost certainly, more friends than you have now. The decision you will make to join us or not, serve with us or not, or share with us or not is certainly a personal one, and so will be correct, whatever it is. Your time is yours to spend; it’s really all you have to give of real value in this life. Most likely you are in your 70’s, and are rightfully asking yourself why you should get involved at this time in your life, in anything more or new at all.
Why indeed, but that question can only be answered by you. |
Many of the items in that letter can be reinforced and even made possible by the addition of a Department website.
You can examine ours and see for yourself, at KWVA Department of California
Admittedly, it is presented at this time pretty much as a simple bulletin board, with links to pages we have developed for one purpose or another, as we grew to the point of the grant of a department charter, and a bit beyond.
Consider some of the interesting results:
- It has clearly brought at least some of the chapters together, as Department President Mike Glazzy contacts them for one reason or another.
- Our website can be used as a template for other states wishing to have the same tool, for both informative and administrative purposes. We consider what we have is a start to what can be, and are happy to offer help to any state that's interested in having one.
- As a for instance, it has enabled us, together with Chapter 270, to help candidates for the KWVA 2008 National Election elaborate on their views, and intent for post-election performance in office, by adding access via an election page dedicated to that purpose.
Here is my proposal, which if elected Director; I will place on the Board of Directors Agenda as soon as possible:
That the KWVA, Inc. furnish, supply or support:
- Server space for all fifty state websites;
- A template set of website files with which a state department webmaster can begin development;
It was suggested by the KWVA Webmaster that for departments, a single, registered domain name be used, such as "kwvadepartments.org" There would be a single, simple Home Page saying "Welcome to the KWVA Departments website..." and there would be a link to that page on the KWVA Homepage. then list a click-on link for each department onsite...with that format, links would be as follows: Note - All below would have 'http:/www.' preceding the domain name.
A. kwvadepartments.org/dca (for California)
B. kwvadepartments.org/dny (for New York)
C. kwvadepartments.org/dtx (for Texas)
There would be a link to the Department Home Page on the KWVA National website, which would tie the two systems together.
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Software tools needed to revise and tailor the department website to fit the state's needs. In a discussion with the KWVA Webmaster, he informed me that the software program Microsoft FrontPage is what they use, and would be best as the state department software also; the retail cost is around $150.00, but the KWVA could use its non-profit status to buy a 50-seat license at a reduced cost.. My recommendation is that that cost be passed on to the participating department for that individual license. All recurring costs would be covered by the KWVA. A detail of those costs would be submitted to the Board of Directors, as a part of this proposal.
- A Bylaw revision and an implementing specification/procedure in the Standard Procedure Manual would need to be generated and approved by the Board. Since security considerations must always be foremost, the great advantage of connecting a state database to that of the National must not compromise the absolute need for confidentiality; AND
The state department would furnish the labor to implement and maintain the website; and whatever coordination that would be required with the National Webmaster.
Don't write your Congressperson; please write me with your comments and questions.
Let’s talk.
Respectfully and fraternally to all..
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