Weekly Report 🎖
Nominations are OPEN for National Positions | Florida Coalition Commander needed
DID YOU KNOW…
Persons who have been dishonorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces are not considered Veterans or war Veterans.
Title 38 of the United States Code, Section 101(2)
This is why they cannot join Veteran organizations.
This week I met with the Southwest Georgia Coalition to explain the future of our national coalition and how I envision individual coalitions working together to help Veterans everywhere.
Becoming a 501c(19) provides the legal vehicle we need to ensure each coalition has the resources to carry out the mission.
Why 501c(19) instead of 501c(3)?
A c19 ensures that Veterans are legally charged with taking care of Veterans.
Nominations are open for National Commander, National Vice Commander, National Adjutant, and National Finance Officer.
Nominated individuals must be an Honorably Discharged Veteran and are willing to serve in the position. Please send nominations to HQ@COMMANDERSCOALITION.ORG
Nominees will be contacted and the final list of names will be sent out for the coalition to vote on. The elected officers will be added to the finalized legal documents when we send them to the IRS.
Constitution & Bylaws Feedback
Para 3.1 clearly defines Membership. Thereafter in Para 3.3 is as follows:
“The Membership and Outreach Committee shall annually verify and report to the Executive Committee that at least 75% of members are past or present members of the U.S. Armed Forces, , ancestors, or lineal descendants of such individuals, as required by IRC Section 501(c)(19). and at least 97.5% of all members are veterans, active-duty service members, cadets, or spouses, widows, widowers Records of this verification shall be maintained and made available for IRS review. If thresholds are not met, the Executive Committee shall take corrective action, such as suspending new memberships.” This para indicates that “ancestors or lineal descendants of members. I don’t understand why there is not specification on their joining the group in Para 3.1.”
What is the process for them joining?
After further research into IRC Section 501(c)(19), it appears that Commanders Coalition can achieve compliance by limiting membership to past and present members of the U.S. Armed Forces, thereby excluding ancestors, lineal descendants, cadets, spouses, widows, and widowers. The Commanders Coalition Constitution may reference an auxiliary by name to include these other classes of individuals. Once Commanders Coalition receives 501(c)(19) recognition from the IRS, an auxiliary could be established to encompass these additional categories of persons outlined in Section 501(c)(19).
So my plan is to revise the Constitution & Bylaws to reflect this change. The only other change is to review and/or update the current federally protected classes for discrimination.
-Edward W. Hood
For those wondering, NOTHING is going to change with our monthly meetings. They will still be held. Community partners and Veterans will still be able to attend. Commanders will still rotate leading the meetings. The only difference is we will have a board to handle nonprofit funds and grow Commanders Coalition.
I am thrilled to share that Major General Mike Snodgrass is returning to speak to MOAA Tallahassee again. His topics are always relevant and interesting, and he's able to share how current events are being impacted by world events. I hope you will join us to hear him talk about the collapse of Iran's Axis of Resistance and the future of peace in the Middle East. He may also discuss other world events, possible outcomes of President Trump's policies, and how internal pressures are forcing changes to how Iran proceeds going forward and possible outcomes if time permits.
General Snodgrass is a command pilot with more than 3,200 flying hours, 200+ of those in combat. He had over 100 combat missions in Iraq from 1996 through 2000 as both a squadron commander and Commander of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Group, Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait. He was U.S. Air Force Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for International Affairs; responsible for formulating and executing USAF Policy, Strategy and Programs for Building Partnerships and integrating Air Force policy with international partner goals, totaling over $40 billion total program value. General Snodgrass retired in 2011. He is currently president of SG Strategic Solutions LLC.
Please use this link to register. MOAA member dinner costs are $28, all others $30. We welcome all veterans, regardless of rank, to attend. RSVP windows closes Sunday, September 7.
Check in and Happy Hour starts at 5 pm
Business Meeting followed by dinner at 6 pm
Speaker starts between 6:45-7:00 pm