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UNIT/STATE DEPARTMENT FUNDSUNIT/STATE DEPARTMENT DONATIONSWe have an obligation to our generousdonors to assure their donations will be usedto support DAV and/or DAV Auxiliaryprograms. There are very worthy non-profitorganizations; however, as a non-profitveterans’ service organization, we must beconscientious stewards of the funds raisedby and donated to our organization. Therationale being – had the donor wanted theirdonations to go to another non-profit group,they would have appropriated their funds tothat cause. Instead, they chose ourorganization, making it the responsibility ofour members, units, and state departmentsto ensure that funds collected are expendedas the donor intended.Examples of acceptable donations includethe DAV Auxiliary Education or ServiceProgram, Caregiver Initiative Program,Winter Sports Clinic, VA Medical Centers,State Veterans Homes, DAV Transportation,or the Disaster Relief Program.ACCUMULATION OF FUNDSUnits and State Departments may notaccumulate funds, whether for servicepurposes or otherwise, in excess of threetimes the expenses of their last fiscal year.Those entities affected must develop a planto expend funds within a reasonable time.The expenditure of excess accumulatedfunds must be for service purposes only.Units must develop a spend-down plan tocome into compliance. It is recommendedthat the plan span a five-year period ratherthan make an immediate spend down. Areasonable period of time for a spend-downplan is over a five-year period. The spenddown plan must be approved by the unit andsent to Auxiliary national headquarters forreview. Units should revisit and review theplan each year and make necessaryadjustments based on the financial positionat that time.State departments must provide nationalheadquarters with a budget that includes aspend-down plan following the next financecommittee meeting explaining how the fundswill be expended over the specified timeperiod. The plan should be revisitedannually and is subject to adjustment basedon the needs of the state department ornational organization and its programs.FIDELITY BOND INSURANCEPurchasing fidelity bond insurance is ameasure to protect the financial assets ofthe unit or state department, particularlythose entities with considerable funds. Suchinsurance covers financial loss due tonegligent or fraudulent actions.DAV AUXILIARY AS A 501(c)(4)DAV Auxiliary entities are covered by theDAV Auxiliary’s group tax exemption andareconsidered“socialwelfareorganizations” as defined in InternalRevenue Code 501(c)(4). As such, theseorganizations are not organized for profit butoperate exclusively for the promotion ofsocial welfare as it relates to theorganization’s exempt purpose which isservice to disabled veterans and theirimmediate families. DAV Auxiliary units andstate departments substantially devote all ofits resources towards activities that promoteits “exempt purpose.”Our organization cannot limit aid orassistance solely to its members and/or theirfamily members and must serve all disabledveterans and their immediate families.3

DAV AUXILIARY CONVENTIONS/CONFERENCESNATIONAL CONVENTIONThe official business of the organization isconducted at the annual national conventionwhere, among other important business,bylaw amendments are presented to thedelegates for consideration and approvaland elections are held for national offices.The national convention is composed of theelected national officers, the past nationalcommanders,andthedelegatesrepresenting the state departments andunits of the organization.The call to the convention is sent to the statedepartments and units (through the adjutant)andcontainsimportantinformationregarding the convention and instructions fornotifying national headquarters of thedelegates and alternates selected/elected torepresent their respective entity.State departments elect one delegate andone alternate to represent the statedepartment at the national convention.Units shall select one delegate and onealternate for its charter, and one delegateand one alternate for each twenty-five lifemembers or major fraction thereof. Example:A unit with 67 life members would be entitledto four delegates and four alternatedelegates. Delegates are selected at aregular unit business meeting. In the eventthere are more members wishing to attendthe national convention than delegates oralternates permitted based on totalmembership, an election will ensue todetermine appropriate number of n.In order to register as a delegate at anational convention, the delegates and unitsmust be in good standing. Refer to thenational constitution and bylaws.STATE CONVENTIONThe annual convention of the statedepartment is held at a time and placedetermined by the parent organization’sstate department. State adjutants are askedto send a call to convention with appropriateinformation regarding delegate notification.Units shall select one delegate and onealternate for its charter, and one delegateand one alternate for each ten life membersor major fraction thereof.NATIONAL FALL CONFERENCEThe annual Fall Conference is a gathering ofmembers where workshops are conducted,newly elected/appointed chairpersons givepresentations regarding their respectiveprograms, and a variety of information ispresented. This event is open to all.Conference information will be posted on theorganization’s website and newsletter, in theDAV Magazine, and sent to the adjutants toshare with the members.State departments and units are asked toadvise national headquarters of thedelegates and alternates attending thenational convention. The instruction for thisnotification will be included in the call toconvention.4

MEMBERSHIPMembership has long been referred to asthe foundation of the organization. Membersare critical to the organization’s existenceand providing service to our nation’s ill andinjured veterans and their families. On thelegislative front, the larger our numbers, thelouder our voice becomes.There are many great reasons to join theDAV Auxiliary: exclusive member benefits,exceptional volunteer programs, and anopportunity to serve veterans and theirfamilies directly. But the most importantreason for joining the DAV Auxiliary is thepressing need to protect the benefitsveterans have earned for the people theycare most about – their families.ELIGIBILITY:Section 1: Any person who is eligible formembership in the Disabled AmericanVeterans is also eligible for membership inthe Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary.Section 2: Any person who has served inthe armed forces of the United States ofAmerica, who has not been dishonorablydischarged or separated from such service,and who is not otherwise eligible formembership in the Disabled AmericaVeterans, is eligible for membership in theDisabled American Veterans Auxiliary.Section 3: The family and extended familymembers of any person (or any deceasedperson) eligible for membership in theDisabled American Veterans, are eligible formembership in the Disabled AmericanVeterans Auxiliary.Section 4: The family and extended familymembers of any person injured and may stillbe in active service in the armed forces ofthe United States of America and eligible formembership in the Disabled AmericanVeterans, are eligible for membership in theDisabled American Veterans Auxiliary.Section 5: The family and extended familymembers of any person who served with thearmed forces of any nation associated withthe United States of America as an ally, washonorably discharged, and became anAmericancitizen,areeligibleformembership in the Disabled AmericanVeterans Auxiliary.Section 6: The family and extended familymembers of any person who has served inthe armed forces of the United States ofAmerica and has not been dishonorablydischarged or separated from such serviceare eligible for membership in the DisabledAmerican Veterans Auxiliary.Section 7: The family and extended familyof Auxiliary members who are not otherwiseeligible for membership in the DisabledAmerican Veterans Auxiliary.Section 8: Any member in good standingand eligible for membership in both theparent organization and the DisabledAmerican Veterans Auxiliary shall be eligibleto vote, hold an elected or appointed officeand/or chairmanship in the DisabledAmerican Veterans Auxiliary when notholding an elected or appointed office and/orchairmanship in the Disabled AmericanVeterans.Life Membership Rates: Life membership fees are 250 forages 18-79. Age 80 and over shall becomplimentary.A member may secure a life membership bysubmitting the entire life membershipamount of 250 or with a minimum 20down payment. Quarterly billing statementswill be sent from National Headquarters untilthe balance is paid in full. There is nodefined amount of time required to pay thelife membership in full and members maypay as frequently as they desire. Tomaintain active member status, a membershould make a minimum 10 payment peryear. Once a life membership has been paid5

in full, no further dues are owed and a fullpaid life membership card will be issued.A member’s status will be consideredInactive if sufficient funds have not beenpaid toward the life membership toaccomplish the annual July 1 membershipdistribution.Membership dues paid on a life membershipare non-refundable.An Auxiliary membership year is July 1through June 30.HOW TO APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIPONLINE APPLICATION Log in to www.davauxiliary.orgUnder Membership tab select Join DAVA.Follow the online instructions which includepayment options such as full payment orautomatic withdrawals.PAPER APPLICATION Completeamembershipapplicationproviding all the required information. Indicate type of membership and amountpaid. Indicate credit card information on form (ifapplicable) and select automatic paymentwithdrawal option, if desired. Submit check or money order along TE: New members can always call thenational headquarters office and speak to a staffmember to provide their credit/debit cardinformation.PHONE APPLICATIONMembers wishing to apply by phone may callnational headquarters with the rmation.MEMBERSHIP PAYMENTSDues statements are sent on a quarterly basis(January, April, July, October). Members havethe option to: Submit the dues statement in the envelopeprovided. Pay by check, money order, or credit card.6 Do not send cash through the mail.Call National Headquarters with credit/debitcard payment information and/or to establishautomatic payment withdrawals.NOTE: New membership applications arenot voted on for acceptance.MOBILE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONA DAV Auxiliary membership application canbe downloaded to your phone or tablet,making recruitment as easy as a few clicksof a button. By downloading thismembership application, members have theability to recruit without the inconvenience ofcarrying paper applications. The applicantcan apply for membership by using themobile application and pay securely usingtheir debit or credit card.To start, open your Internet browsing app(Google, Chrome, Safari, etc.) on yourphone/tablet, type www.davauxiliary.org,and select “Join DAV Auxiliary.” Once thepage has loaded, bookmark the webpage orsave to the home screen of your device. Ifyou need assistance with the process,contact National Headquarters.JUNIOR MEMBERSHIPJunior memberships are complimentary frombirth to age 18. Families may secure a lifemembership for a junior at any time with a 20 down payment and unlimited amount oftime to pay the balance.Starting a life membership for a juniormember not only secures the current lifemembership rate, it also prepares the juniorfor their future as a senior member of theorganization. Once paid in full, no additionaldues will be required.MEMBERSHIP TRANSFERSLife and junior members of one auxiliary unitmay secure a transfer of membership toanother unit provided that their membershipis in good standing. The receiving unit shallnotify National Headquarters of its approvalor disapproval of the transfer.

Refusal to accept a transfer shall requirethat the receiving unit notify the member andNational Headquarters of such vote withinthirty (30) days after which a member mayresubmit transfer request.All rights of membership shall becomeeffective when written notification of theunit’s approval has been received bynational headquarters.A transfer shall not take effect as to duescredit or voting strength until the beginningof the membership year following completionof the transfer. Exception: Transfer ofmembers from National At-Large take effectimmediately.A member of a revoked unit upon request,may transfer membership to anotherchartered unit or become a member atlarge.7

LOCAL UNITDUTIES OF UNIT OFFICERSCOMMANDER Presides at all regular or specialmeetings.Chairs Unit Executive Board meetings.Appoints Unit Adjutant, Chaplain,committee chairmen, and other positionsdeemed necessary, with unit /checkrequestsissued.Performs all other duties that mayreasonably be assumed with the officeas set forth in the Constitution andBylaws of the National Auxiliary, theStandard State Bylaws, Standard UnitBylaws, and in the Official DAV AuxiliaryRitual.The commander shall also carry out suchother duties as may be lawfullydetermined by the unit.To ensure the safeguarding of funds,properties and other assets againstunauthorized loss or use.Unit Meeting Protocol:1. The official ritual and generalinstructions for conducting a unitbusiness meeting can be found in theNational Constitution and Bylaws.2. Open the meeting at the appointedtime, maintain order throughout, andfollow the proper sequence ofbusiness.3. To ensure the integrity of thebusinessmeetingpersonalgrievances/matters unrelated to thebusiness of the organization areprohibited and members should berespectful at all times.4. Properly recognize members whowish to speak.5. State and put to vote any motionsbrought forth during the meetingproceedings and to announce theresults of each vote.6. Declare the meeting adjourned whenthe Unit so votes or at the timeprescribed in the program of themeeting.At each meeting the Commander shouldhave available: National Auxiliary Constitution andBylaws. A list or agenda of the order ofbusiness. A list of all committees and chairmen. State Department Standing Rules. Unit Standing Rules.Practices of an effective CommanderCommanders are the unit's representativeand program coordinator for the duration oftheir term. In addition to conductingmeetings, a unit Commander should: Maintain a working relationship with theparent chapter and the state department. Appropriately represent the DAV Auxiliaryat all functions and events. TheCommandermaydelegateresponsibilities to another officer ormember in his/her inability to attend. Promotememberparticipation.Encourage committee chairmen andmembers to share information ofupcoming events or programs of interestto the membership. Appoint and empower members andcommittees to research and recommend,plan, or perform, activities and programsthat are beneficial to the purpose of DAVAuxiliary. Involve the Senior Vice Commander indecision making and practices.SENIOR VICE COMMANDERThe Senior Vice Commander shall performthe duties as set forth in the NationalConstitution and Bylaws and Official DAVAuxiliary Ritual. If given a chairmanship,such as membership, a report shall be given8

at each meeting. In the absence of the unitCommander, the Senior Vice Commandershall act in that capacity. Should the office ofCommander become vacant, the SeniorVice Commander shall move up in positionto fill the vacancy. If the Senior ViceCommander refuses to accept the office ofCommander, the position of Senior ViceCommander shall also be declared vacant.The Junior Vice Commander shall fill theoffice of Commander, and an election shallbe held for the offices of Senior ViceCommander and Junior Vice Commander.Check Issuance In the absence of the Unit Commander,the Senior Vice Commander may cosignthe Warrant/Voucher/Check Request fora unit check. In the absence of the Unit Commanderor Treasurer, the Senior Vice Commander may cosign the check.headquarters and the unit and is ons from national headquartersand the state department with the officersandmembers.Thecommunicationsreceived from national headquarters are notthe personal mail of the Adjutant and mustbe shared. JUNIOR VICE COMMANDERThe Junior Vice Commander shall performthe duties of the office set forth in theNational Constitution and Bylaws andOfficial DAV Auxiliary Ritual. Should achairmanship be a duty of the office, a reportshall be given at each meeting and theinvolvement of the membership should beencouraged. Should a vacancy in the officeof Senior Vice Commander occur, the JuniorVice Commander shall assume that position.If the Junior Vice Commander refuses toaccept the office of Senior ViceCommander, the position of Junior ViceCommander shall be declared vacant andan election shall be held to fill the SeniorViceCommanderandJunior ViceCommander positions.Check Issuance In the absence of the Unit Adjutant theJunior Vice Commander may sign theWarrant/Voucher/Check Request for aunit check.ADJUTANTThe Adjutant is the liaison between national9 The Adjutant is responsible for keepingthe unit’s records and managing theofficial correspondence of the unit.The Adjutant shall keep detailed recordsof action taken at the unit’s meetings andexecutive board meetings. Refer toProcedures for Taking Minutes onpage 12 in this section.Election Meeting Notification – TheAdjutant is responsible for notifying allauxiliary members of a meeting to holdannual nominations and elections. Saidnotice shall spec

nation associated with the United States of America as an ally, was honorably discharged, and became an American citizen . Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary shall be eligible to vote, hold an elected or appointed office and/or chairmanship in the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary when not holding an elected or