VFW Washington Weekly - August 29, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008 at 02:07 PM
by post8429
In This Issue:
1. Congress Returns Next Week
2. Airlines Drop Third Checked Bag Fee
1. Congress Returns Next Week: Congress returns from their August recess next week to many important issues that still await final action, such as VA funding, the Defense bill, and several veteran-related health and benefits packages. Call your elected members and let them know that you expect them to finish the work they started: To fund VA and pass important defense and veteran-related legislation before the federal government's new fiscal year begins Oct. 1. Remind your senators and representatives that you will be watching their actions and voting accordingly in the November election, when the entire House and one third of the Senate is up for reelection. To find contact information for your legislators, go to: http://capwiz.com/vfw/dbq/officials/.
2. Airlines Drop Third Checked Bag Fee: The VFW is saluting US-flagged air carriers for waiving the luggage fee they were charging traveling military personnel. The airlines had been allowing military personnel traveling on orders to check two bags without a fee, but the $100 industry norm for a third checked bag was creating a severe financial burden, especially within the junior enlisted ranks. In a press release, new VFW National Commander Glen Gardner praised the Air Transport Association for helping to negotiate the third checked bag fee waiver among its member airlines who carry passengers. The airlines are Air Tran, Alaska, American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, Horizon, JetBlue, Midwest, Northwest, Southwest, United and US Airways. To read the VFW release, go to: http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=4688.
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Convention 08: Video of New Commander-In-Chief
Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 04:10 AM
by post8429
ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 21,008--America’s largest organization of combat veterans has elected a Vietnam War veteran to head the 1.6 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
Glen Gardner, a resident of Round Rock, Texas, was elected national commander August 21 during the VFW’s national convention, held August 16-21 in Orlando, Fla. Gardner is the fourth Texan to head the 109-year-old veterans’ service organization.
Read more here or watch the video below.
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Reminder: Posts Need to File IRS Income Statement
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 10:40 PM
by post8429
(Modified for general release from information posted on
VFW North Carolina.)
The U S Internal Revenue Service (IRS) now requires, under the Pension Protection Act of 2006, that
all tax-exempt organizations file income statements each year .
1- If your post earns over $25,000 in gross income during your fiscal year, you must file an IRS Form 990 (which you should already have been doing, anyway!). Keep the same fiscal year you have been using in the past, be it the calendar year, the VFW accounting year (1 July-30 June) or the Department's fiscal year (1 June-31 May).
2 - If your post earns $25,000 or less each year, and you have access to the Internet, go to
www.epostcard.form990.org/default.asp where you will find instructions on how to login and file your own post Form 990N Electronic Postcard. You may use whatever fiscal year you want, but for simplicity purposes, we suggest 1 July-31 June, because 1 July is the date that you transfer your Post Dues Reserve each year to the Post General Fund, and that will remind you to file. The IRS Internet site will not let you file the Form 990N until after the end of your fiscal year.
3 - If your post earns $25,000 or less each year and you do not have access to the Internet, contact your District or Department to determine the proper procedure. There is no paper form that you can file with the IRS. If you do not file a Form 990 or 990N each year, your post will lose its tax-exempt status!!!
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Convention 08: Thank You Troops
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 03:16 PM
by post8429
During the recent National VFW Convention, UAW and GM offered convention attendees a chance to thank our troops:
You can view the other 145+ video messages
here.
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