The VFW WebCOM Network: Community, Communications & Commerce
Aug. 25, 2006 at 1:56 PM
by Blogmaster
VFW National Headquarters, the 54 Departments, and all 9,000 plus of the VFW Posts in the organization now have a universal networked web presence at their disposal. The Network is already built! This "sponsored" Network approach to the organization's communications needs is being provided at a "zero cost" liability to the organization, is the first of its kind, and represents over four years of development input from membership and the Departments of North Carolina, Virginia, Missouri, and Delaware.We have been integrating two distinct Communication Protocols Infrastructures - External and Internal and the relationships and resources needed to support them. With these tools you can better serve your membership (enabling more input), veterans, our military personnel and their families, our communities, and our country. There can be a cross-pollination across the organization of those things that work those that don't. You can more efficiently reach out to new membership and collectively speak as one, when legislation or lack of funding threatens veteran entitlements.
We and our internet partner, Policlicks will be rolling the network out in stages.
External communications: The first step is weblog deployment. We are encouraging each level of the organization to "claim" their FREE network or blog. This is the face of the organization to our country, state, and communities. Your Post blogs serve as a newspaper, newsletter, magazine, radio station and tv. Information can be distributed evenly and efficiently from the top down and from the bottom up. We have built in the ability for broadcasts to be made in a matter of moments across the network nationally, by conference, or by department, enabling instant communications to the world. The Departments and the Posts, once they have staked their claim, maintain final say as to what stays, meaning broadcasts can be deleted at the editor's discretion. The key to network success is your user generated content. This is the place to share with everyone what your Posts do! They can post pictures of parades, honor guards, bingo jackpot winners, white hat presentations at the State Convention (hint, hint), etc. They (or you) can announce and write about Community Service projects, returning military units, or link to stories of interest to membership. You can share obituaries of Comrades who have passed away or cover events you feel are of larger interest to the membership. You can ask members to email you items of interest. You can read other blogs for ideas. There are lots of things in the VFW to blog about!
Internal communications: This is the second step. We will roll it out in two parts. In the next few weeks for our Departmental partners, their Department Commander, each state line officer, the District Commanders and Quartermasters, and all Post Commanders and Quartermasters will be issued a free Department specific VFW e-mail address. These email addresses will be transferable to whoever holds that respective position. We re going to provide the ability to fill out, submit and print reports. After leadership has had an opportunity to use the system, we will issue a free Department specific personal VFW email account to each and every comrade and sister. This account will belong solely to the member and will remain theirs as long as they remain a member in good standing. The member can retain any email address they are currently paying for or they can use their new provided address just like any aol/earthlink/anything address! It is important to note that to create the email database, no personal information of membership is used. Accounts are created with members’ name and post number ONLY.
VFW Department Tool Bar: This is the third step. Each Department will have a Departmental toolbar. You will be able to download the tool bar to your computer. There is no spy ware in the tool bar. The tool bar will be a key network management tool for you. You will be able to search the Internet with the bar. Each time you use the toolbar to search the Internet, you will generate revenue for the organization.
Calendars: This will be the fourth step. Each Post will have a calendar page where they can list their Post events, meetings, schedule hall rentals, etc. You will be able to easily manage and update your calendar.
VFW Post and Department Stores: This will be the fifth step. Each VFW Department and Post will have its own store! This store will come pre-stocked with National and Department approved products and services. You will have the ability to place your own products in the store, track sales and receive revenue off all products sold through your store.
Advertising Sales:
This will be the sixth step. This step, with your store, are the
revenue centers of your blogs. This is how we pay for the tools
and services. The merchandise world is turning more and more to
advertising on the Internet, and there are many companies that are
primed and ready to advertise to people who meet the VFW demographic
statistics. Each blog, email account, and calendar will have a
National, Department, and Local advertising channel. An example
of how revenue is generated - when membership clicks on advertising or
information of interest to them, we get paid. Sometimes those
click-throughs can pay up to a $1 or more. That's per
click-through! 50% of the Local net revenue streams from the
local channel belong to the Post. Local businesses, candidates,
and the like are provided the ability to "advertise their support for
the VFW" by biding to place their advertising on your site. They bid,
they pay, they upload their ad, you have final approval on the ad,
their ad campaign plays, and you get a check. The market and how
actively you are building your Local and Department VFW Online
Community dictates the revenue possibilities. The more membership
uses the network, the more revenue it generates!
Those of you who have been Department Quartermasters and Adjutants for the last five years have been receiving updates on our project progress at various meetings, including the AQM Association meetings. We are proud to announce that the project is ready for implementation, and it will cost you NOTHING. Now is certainly the time to realize the power of the Internet, and to get on board. The more Departments that come on board and "claim" their blogs (and then get their posts to "claim" their blogs), the more advertising clout we will have.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me here at North Carolina Department Headquarters or to speak with me or my Policlicks partners at the National Convention in Reno.
