VFWMG Report

Unit 1 – The Woodlands

This Unit has meetings every three months. Members of the Unit make ride every month to participate in community activities. They have become very active with the Patriots Guard Group protecting the Funerals of our fallen heroes. They have participated in several parades and Veterans programs, such as the Run for the Wall to DC. One of the members joined other VFWMG Unit members in Weatherford and rode to Alabama for a 4-state, 5-day portion of the run. Plans are being made to make this a major run for all Units next year. This Unit has grown from 33 members at Mid-Winter to 42 members now.

Unit 2 – Abilene

They hold a monthly meeting and weather permitting, a monthly ride. This Unit has grown from 28 members to 36 members. This Unit was very helpful in co-hosting the State Hog Rally in Abilene. They have recruited members for both the Post and the Auxiliaries.

Unit 3 – Alvarado

They hold a monthly meeting and weather permitting a monthly ride. This Unit chartered in March. They have grown from the original 23 members to now having 40 members. This Unit is accredited with recruiting several Post and Auxiliary members. They have also renewed the interest in several members that had become inactive with the post activities. They have collect monies for the National Home, Cancer Aid & Research and Youth Scholarship Programs for their Post and Auxiliary. They are very active with their post activities and lend a helping hand in all functions hosted by, their Post, Auxiliary, or District. Two of their members represented the group all the way from Weatherford to DC on the Run for the Wall Run that comes through every Memorial Day Weekend.

Unit 4 – Midland

This Unit holds 1 meeting a month and weather permitting 1 run a month. They applied for their charter in February after Mid-Winter. They are now up to 45 very active members and they will be presented with their charter this weekend. As the result of this Unit, they have recruited 4 Post, and 14 Auxiliary members, and were the driving force behind starting a Men’s Auxiliary in their Post. This Unit is one of the fastest growing Units. They are very active with community activities. They have co-sponsored some very impressive programs. The largest being the Ride for the Wall Run that came through Midland on their way to DC and members of the group ran all the way to Alabama with up as many as 900 riders at different points of the ride. Then they participated in a Memorial Day Program in Big Springs were they ran with 640 other riders.

Unit 5 – Austin

This is the newest Unit to start up. They held their elections a couple of weeks ago and will be given their start up packed later this weekend. This Unit is starting 12 members.

We now have a total of 175 members; 109 VFW – up from 54, 13 VFW Support – up from 10, 29 Ladies Auxiliary – up from 13 and 23 Men’s Auxiliary – up from 7 that have joined since we got permission at the State Convention in June of 2005. We have still another Unit, which will be the 6^th Unit for another 10 VFW Members in the mail at present. I get questions and new membership applications faxed to me at least every other day. This Motorcycle Group has become a good recruiting tool and a good way to get new members involved with their Post. I would like to thank this year’s Commander, Duane for allowing me to take the lead on this project. I feel that these Units, are a great asset to their Post and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Texas.

Respectfully Submitted,

Norm Brawner

Norm Brawner

VFWMG – Unit 1-12024 President