Choosing Chairmen Tips for a successful Program Year

Choosing Chairmen Tips for a successful Program Year

Appointment Tips • Do not appoint any Chairmen until AFTER the Senior Vice-Presidents’ Conference. • Think about 2 -3 people who would be a good fit for each Chairmanship. • Appoint people who are suited for the position; do not appoint someone because they are a good friend.

Characteristics of Effective Program Chairs • Knowledge of the Program • Will ask questions if they don’t know the answer • Enthusiastic • Organized • Dependable • Will meet deadlines for awards and reporting

Characteristics of Effective Program Chairs • Approachable/Friendly • Good communicator • Thinks outside the box • Checks and responds to emails daily or weekly • Must be email savvy • Comfortable using Facebook • Each National Program has a private Facebook group for Department Chairmen

Communicate and Manage Expectations Once appointed, meet with all your Chairmen. Share what Headquarters expects of them. Writing promotions, reading National Ambassadors’ promotions, reporting, communicating with the National Ambassador and members of your Department. Share what YOU expect of them.

Communicate and Manage Expectations Department Chairmen must communicate with their National Ambassador throughout the year. It’s suggested all Department Chairmen send an introductory email or letter to their National Ambassador in June 2022 and include the following: o Which Department they are from o Contact information o How long they have been a member and o Ways they plan to promote the Program in their Department.

Communicate and Manage Expectations • Circle of Excellence requirement: • The Department Chairman of each National Program must send at least four (4) promotionals and/or communications to their National Ambassador. • Remember, it’s not the quantity of promotional material; it’s the quality of promotional material Department Chairmen will be judged on for National awards.

Communicate and Manage Expectations • All Department Program Chairmen will receive quarterly promotional Program information from the National Ambassador via email. • The Department President, Secretary and Treasurer also receive this Program information via email. • Make sure your Department Chairmen are aware of any deadlines related to their Program, especially the National Year‐End Report. • They must have their National Year‐End Report to you, the Department President, by May 1. • You will input all the Year‐End Reports into an online report for National Headquarters.

Questions? Megan Zinn-Sanchez Director of Program Communications VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters P: 816 -800 -8756 E: mzinn-sanchez@vfwauxiliary. org