Virtual VFW Post Project

[Guest]

[ZAP44]

Somehow I missed your post until today.  As it’s your first post in these forums, and everyone else seems to have missed it too, I’d like to be the first to welcome you.   I don’t find anything in your post to disagree with.   I had thought the American Legion and VFW’s part in the “Silent Majority” that kept the Nam war going and fueled the public’s resentment of those fighting it might be what is haunting the membership now.  And it may be…but it seems all NPO’s like the Lions and others are in decline along with the VSO’s so I don’t know.  I do know people are spending more time on their computer than at their local bar or club canteen.  Which is one of the reasons I believe a virtual post has merit.
Community involvement by all the VSO’s is very much desired.  How to do that with a virtual post is something that needs to be figured out.  There are many loose ends that need attention.  Will a virtual post complete with you and other brick and mortar posts for members?  I guess the short answer is yes.  But I suspect those you don’t get would be only numbers to you because they would not give you any active participation.  If a member is able by work and family, community minded, and has a post obviously doing things like you are they probably wouldn’t be interested in joining a virtual post.  Traveling around I find posts come in many different flavors…I look at an e-Post as just another flavor. 
Congratulations and best wishes for continued success.

[ZAP44]

I just ran across something very interesting and thought I'd share it with everyone. WHile research stuff for the virtual post project a ran across some material on a "Veterans' Community Center" located within Second Life. I was curious so I downloaded Second Life, created a free account and went to check it out.

All I can say is "Wow"...I was very impressed with what I found. In this virtual "Veterans' Community Center" are represenatived from VFW, American Legion, DAV and even the Veterans' Administration (VA). In addition to that there were probably a dozen veterans hanging around and chatting. You've got to see this, it is pretty cool.

Anyways, I'll be at the Tesm Speak meeting if I'm able. Take care and hope to "see" all of you then. 

Looks like the Army agrees with you!!!


U.S. Army Recruiting in Second Life
12.05.08

  Total posts: 1
by 1UP Staff

Two years ago, countless corporations spent thousands of dollars to build a presence in the virtual world Second Life only to discover that they had one too many sips of the hype-flavored Kool-Aid.

That hasn't stopped the U.S. Army, which according to Kotaku, is trying its hand at virtual recruitment. To its credit, the Army admits that its probably been "oversold."

"Second Life avatar dudes" will find an Army island in the virtual world, according to William S. Wallace, the commander of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).

In reality there will be two: a welcome center with relevant information and another that will offer "virtual experiences like jumping out of airplanes, rappelling off of towers, and using a weapon," he said.

Those recruited in Second Life might find the transition to the Army a little more comfortable than expected thanks to the Army's recent $50 million investment in the "Games for Training" program, which will further utilize videogames in the training process.

[Redmaxx 7546]

Has the virtual Post fizzled out? I was gone from the forum when this whole thing started and I am trying to get up to speed. It sounds like a good idea but it looks like it has been 7 months or so since anything was worked on.

[ZAP44]

No not really.  You will find the document posted here http://www.vfwwebcom.org/forum/index.php/topic,3829.0.html  that we went over and returned to Troy who gave it to some team working website etc at National.

My post took up the meaning of the word “present” as contained in the national By-laws for those attending meetings and voted to allow those attending via the computer using VOIP to be considered present and allowed to vote.  So although we are a brick and mortar post and not a true e-post we will allow members to attend via the internet.  We had the need but not the means and now we have the means and not the need.  When those two come together we will do it and I'm already making a list of invited guests.
 
And the issue keeps coming up in various working groups of younger veterans’ that National is asking input from.  So no it isn’t dead.

[dmh1566]

I am now back from the sand box and I'm still interested in helping with this project in any way I can. Please shoot me a private message if there is anything I can do. I still think this is a great idea.

[LenTeve]

I note that there have been no replies or updates to this forum since late 2008 or early 2009.  Is this subject, "Virtual Post" still active.

[IJK3770]

LenTeve,
    Welcome to the forums.  Yes, the thread seems about dead but if you have something so say on the subject jump right in and get it going again.  No thread is ever completely dead , we are just gathering our thoughts for the next entry.
Cheerily
IJK

[ZAP44]

VFW national is running all over the internet setting up groups in social networking sites like twitter, facebook etc and their official blogspot that nobody has made a comment on in over a month.  Also they still have their funky official forums on e-membership that nobody ever visits.  Have they shown any interest in a virtual post, or allowing posts to hold meetings using web conferencing and VOIP?  No - they are stuck in the pre-internet days and are insistent meetings require physical presents; but they are hoping to fish in recruits by joining all these social networking sites and my guess is that isn’t working very well either. Welcome to VFWWebcom forums LenTeve…also join us at http://my.vfwwebcom.org/.  There is a chat room and lots of stuff there including Teamspeak which is a VOIP application your free to use if you like.