Four members of VFW Post 7764 in Reidsville traveled to Macon for the annual State Conference on Saturday, June 25, 2022. Quartermaster Ronnie Thomas, Adjutant Billy Morgan, Service Officer Gina Hall, and Auxiliary President Joe Boyett made the trip to participate in the business meetings but did not attend the banquet on Saturday night. A major accomplishment for Post 7764 was being recognized as an All-State Post for the second year in a row, and “With Distinction” was added to the 2022 honor.
Quartermaster Ronnie Thomas accepted the honors for the post. Commander Ronnie McCall was scheduled to attend but cancelled after his wife, Barbara, injured her shoulder in a fall Thursday night.
Several issues were discussed during the meeting, which included a declining national and state VFW membership. For the first time in many years, national membership fell below one million members. State membership is down to 18,196 from roughly 19,900 last year. In his membership report, Jim Willis stated that the state had gained 870 members last year but 1700 died.
In the past three years Post 7764 increased from 41 members in 2020 to 57 in 2021 and 67 in 2022. Nationally and Statewide, COVID was seen as the biggest contributing factor to the declining membership.
State Redistricting was approved, and VFW 7764 will move from District 7 to District 6.
Buddy Poppy fundraising has exceeded goals; current national fundraising is up by $74,000.
James Gray reported that for Voice of Democracy (VOD), the state had 133 participating students representing 66 posts. Post level awards totaled $10,000, and State Awards were over $22,000. VFW 7764 submitted the entry judged best from seven local students and awarded a total of $275 in cash prizes to first, second, and third place as well as gift certificates from local businesses to all participants. 7764 has 23 contestants for Patriot’s Pen with a three-way tie, and all three contestants were awarded a first place price of $100.
A big “Thank You” is necessary to sponsors Village Pizza and Southern Flair Catering for their local support for VOD and Patriot’s Pen.
The Patriot’s Pen theme for the upcoming year will be “My Pledge to Our Veterans,” and the VOD theme will be “Why is the Veteran Important?”
There were 134 delegates registered for the state convention, including three from 7764. Gina Hall was among the first time attendees. The youngest present was 34 years and the oldest was 89, and the member with the most years in the VFW had 45 years in the organization.
VFW 7764 is in the running for All American honors again, and that award will be announced in August.
