This year’s 2014 Arizona VFW Department Convention was held at Fort McDowell Resort in Fountain Hills, Arizona on June 4th through the 7th. Our representatives for Post 1760 were Past Commander Ron Heraty, new-elect Commander Dan Wilson, Past Quartermaster Israel “Izzy” Pacheco, and our Financial Committee Chairman Bob Burns. In all it was a good weekend at the convention conclusion.
Friday Ron, Izzy and Dan arrived and went through registration, later joined by Bob Burns. A few meetings were attended along with both catching up with friends and making new ones. Meetings were discussions concerning goals for the upcoming year, current matters with the VFW (and yes, the VA too), and a focus from Senior Vice Commander Greg Kozakiewicz about putting more “fun” back into our organization.
On Saturday Dan returned for voting on 2016’s Convention location and with the Arizona Department’s new officers for the ensuing term year. After State Commander Tony Mangine’s address to the department, and the Ladies Auxiliary promenade & address to the department the voting then started. The first matter was where the 2016 convention was to be held. Of the three presentations (locations in Tucson, Chandler and again in Fountain Hills), it was chosen to be in Chandler, Arizona at the San Marcos Golf Resort. This decision was motioned to be tabled initially to January, but later found that this particular subject could not be tabled according to the By-Laws and location for the convention had to be decided on that day (or that the convention committee would later decide).
As for officer voting, there was contention for only two positions. For Department Surgeon there were four candidates, and after the first round of voting there was no majority 50% on any one candidate. So then the process calls for another vote, dropping the candidate with the least amount of votes. The second round of voting had the same resolve, thus came down to two candidates; Gene Wood and Dan Rowland. After a very close race in a third round of voting, Gene Wood won the position. The other position for vote was for the convention committee, and Angelo Lombardi won that office with very little opposition.
On Sunday, at 2pm Dan Wilson and other newly sworn in officers officially took command of Post 1760. There was a small get-together with some food to eat at the Post building and a nice time was had by all. Next year’s convention is in Tucson, at the Inn Suites. Group rate applies, and it is strongly suggested to get your reservation in if you have plans of attending as rooms do sell out (as it did this year).
