
Wives, widows, mothers, foster and stepmothers
(who have performed the duties of parent),
grandmothers, daughters, granddaughters, foster
and stepdaughters (who attained that status
prior to the age of sixteen and for whom the
duties of parent were performed), sisters, half
sisters, foster and stepsisters (who attained
that status prior to age sixteen) of persons who
were or are eligible for membership in the
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Members must be citizens of the United States
and not less than sixteen years old.
Women eligible for membership in the Veterans of
Foreign Wars of the United States shall be
eligible for dual membership in the
Auxiliary.
Many of our Post members do not realize that all
of these members of their families can join.
Some believe that is just their wives. So,
please encourage members that you know who have
sisters, mothers, etc., who are not already
members to join. They do not have to live within
the same state as your membership to join the
Auxiliary. We already have many out of
state members within our own Auxiliary. Some joined here, then moved, and some were
signed up by one of their family members here.
Organization
As part of a National Organization, there are
several different levels to the
Auxiliary. These same levels are used in our
Parent Organization (the VFW) as well.
Local Auxiliary
Local Auxiliaries are established as a
subordinate organization to the local VFW Post. One business meeting must be held each month
(some Auxiliaries hold more than one). Local
officers are elected every April, and are
installed later on (usually in May). The new
officers assume their duties after the
installation of the State (Department) President
at the Department Convention (usually in June).
County Council
The National Bylaws allow for a level called the
County Council, made up of all Auxiliaries and
Post within the County. Texas does not have any
County Councils, although some states do.
District
Each state may be broken up into Districts. Most
States have Districts (but not all). Districts
meet once each quarter, with the location
rotating to different Posts in the District.
Districts are formed to act as a school of
instruction to members. The District President
acts as the liaison between the State Officers
and the Local members. She visits each Auxiliary
in her District each year, and insures that they
carry out the business in a proper manner. But
she also brings information from State, and
carries the concerns of the members to the
attention of the State Officers.
Each District President is also considered a
State Officer, since she represents her District
on the State level. She sits on the State
Council of Administration, which votes on the
business of the State.
Any member in good standing of any Auxiliary in
the District may attend the District meetings
and may be a District Officer. District officers
are elected at a District Convention at the
spring meeting each year. The District Officers
are installed at that same meeting, and assume
office when the State President is installed.
State (Department)
The Department holds three meetings each year, a
Fall Council meeting, a Winter Council Meeting,
and the State Convention in June, where the
State Officers are elected and installed.
The Department Convention is the governing body
of the State organization. However, between the
Conventions, the
Council of Administration conducts the business
of the State. Members of the Council of
Administration are the State Officers, the
District Presidents, and the four most recent
Past Department Presidents.
Any member in good standing of any Auxiliary in
the State may attend the State meetings and may
run for Department Officer.
Conference
The National Organization is broken down into
four different Conferences. Each Conference
holds two meetings per year, one in the Fall
(location rotates to each state in order within
that specific Conference) and one held in
conjunction with the National Convention each
summer one held within the National Convention. Conference Officers are elected and installed at
the summer meeting.
Elected Officers of the Conference are the
President, Vice President, Chaplain and
Treasurer. The President appoints all other
officers. The President of the Conference
rotates to each state in order, so each state in
that Conference has a Conference President only
once in 14 years.
National
To ensure that National Officers are not all
from the same part of the country, each year, a
Conference takes a turn in submitting candidates
for National office. Therefore, once each 4
years, the National Guard will be selected from
candidates from that Conference.
Any member in
good standing of an Auxiliary in that Conference
may run for National Guard. Once elected as
Guard, it is customary that they proceed up
through the chairs until they serve as National
President. However, according to the Bylaws, any
member in good standing of an Auxiliary may run
for any elected office.
Twice each year, members from all over the
nation gather. Just like at the State level, the
delegates to the National organization meet to
promote programs, give awards and elect National
officers. But in addition, they vote on proposed
changes to the National Bylaws, and see special
people being honored as outstanding achievers. The National President holds the Mid Year
Conference in the spring each year in a location
selected. The Auxiliary National Convention is
held in August each year, in conjunction with
the VFW National Convention, with the location
being selected by the VFW Headquarters.
The National Convention is the governing body of
the National organization. However, between the
Conventions, the National Council of
Administration conducts the business of the
organization. Members of the Council of
Administration are the National Officers, the
National Council Members that represent each
National District, and the most recent four Past
National Presidents.
The VFW National Headquarters is located in
Kansas City, MO, in the same building as the VFW
National Headquarters. The Auxiliary National
Secretary-Treasurer is located in that
Headquarters office, along with a support staff
and the Auxiliary Supply Department.