Thirty two years ago when I joined the VFW, I never thought I would be standing in front of American’s elite group of combat veterans as their Department Commander.

Comrades’ becoming your State Commander is not a task you take on without very special people helping you along the way.

First, I would like to thank my bride of 37 years, BARBARA, some of you know her as my first wife, for all her support, and my DAD who has always been my hero and made me what I am today, Jim Durkin.

This journey was started not so very long ago in Orlando Fl. just outside of the Department Hospitably room at the National Convention. A few of us got together to understand what it would take to run from the floor for Jr. Vice.

As soon as I got home I called a very good Marine friend of mine PSC Ron Bush. I ask Ron about running for State Commander.

I did not get from him the response “you need to wait your turn” (which then was 41 years). Ron supported the idea and thought that we could do it.

I then called a talked to two other good friends Non-Marines, PSC Jim McNally and PSC Hal Burke. They also thought it was time for someone to step forward.

So I started the process of running for State Jr. Vice.

I needed help during past four years to get here. Most of the help came from general membership by letting me hear your issues, working on solutions. Other assistance came from comrades who stuck their necks out to help me.

First was PSC Jack Haight who asked me to be his Budget Chairman, my first state Chairmanship.

The following year PSC Allen Davenport selected me to be his State Inspector. This action put an end to our rotation system.

This year my advisor will be PSC and Nation Council Member Ron Bush. But on the way here I have used the council of many others including Jim McNally, Mel Garrett, Tony Farrarese, Jimmy Longendyke, Bob Barnhart, Ben Thompson, Jim Vinsonhaler, Don Doell, Hal Burke, Karl Rohde, Harry Worth, and Allen Davenport.

I have found in my work experience that if you surround yourself with people who think like you do, then you don’t really need them. I will need different points of view and people who have experienced things that I have not, in order for us to make good decisions. This is why I will continue to use the council of many different people within the department this coming year.

Membership - We lost more members this year in the department and our numbers continue to fall.

 “WE NEED TO STOP THE BLEEDING THIS YEAR.” a quote from DOC.

Michelangelo once said “The Greater danger for most of us is not that we aim too high and we miss it, But that we aim too low and we reach it.”

So let’s not aim for 100% membership this year.

 Let’s aim high and go for 110  NO 120%. We really need to get back to numbers we had six or seven years ago to keep our current programs funded.

Our future leaders, comrades and replacements are out there we just need to bring them in with open arms.

OTI - This year it be done at the District level per the National By-Laws. The department will supply training CDs as requested that way the OTI schools across the State teach the same thing. The Department will also send in an OTI team of three Instructors to conduct your District OTI if requested. Our goal is to have Districts complete OTI by the 1st of October 2012.

Most of the problems we have today at the Post level are issues addressed in our By-Laws. Many leaders at the Post level have never been to an OTI or have seen a By-Laws manual. District and County Commanders I will charge you to get these comrades to OTI this year.

All State Awards - requirements are going to follow Michelangelo’s goal of Aiming High. Doing the bare minimum per the by-laws does not make us All State material. By taking the extra steps to be a shining star, make us All State Material. Read the requirements and get a good understanding of the points system for this year.

All State / All American requirements will be posted on the Department Web page VFWNY.com shortly after convention. They will not be mailed out due to budget cuts this year.  

Remember this

What we think or what we know or what we believe… in the end is of little consequence. The ONLY consequence is what we do and NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS than us. So let’s AIM HIGH THIS YEAR  

Thank you Comrades