New Orleans 2022 Convention Journal | Text edition← Open flipbookNew Orleans 2022
AMVETS National Convention Journal Book · Selectable text edition
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Document page 1: Front cover
THE JOURNAL
• AMVETS • LADIES AUXILIARY • SONS OF AMVETS • JUNIORS • LEGENDARY RIDERS • SAD SACKS • SACKETTES
77th ANNUAL NATIONAL CONVENTION
NEW ORLEANS
NEW ORLEANS
2022NATIONAL
CONVENTION
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Document page 2: Sponsor: Humana and USAA
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Document page 3: Table of contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
AMVETS Founders...................................................................................................................
Past Nat’l Commanders/Presidents.........................................................................................
National Officers........................................................................................................................
Greetings:
• National Commander Greg Heun..........................................................................................
• National Auxiliary President Joan Sirek................................................................................
• Sons of AMVETS National Commander Paul Speigle..........................................................
• Louisiana Convention Chairperson........................................................................................
• V A Secretary Denis Mcdonough............................................................................................
• Senate V A Committee Chairman Jon Tester...........................................................................
• Senate V A Committee Ranking Member Jerry Moran...........................................................
• V AC Minister Feng Shih-Kuan..............................................................................................
Convention Agenda...................................................................................................................
Joint Opening Ceremony..........................................................................................................
Guest Speaker - Dep. Minister Lee Wen-Chung....................................................................
Convention Rules......................................................................................................................
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13
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21
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Document page 4: AMVETS founders and past national commanders & presidents
AMVETS FOUNDERS (Continue)
PAST NATIONAL COMMANDERS & PRESIDENTS
Lamarr Bailey
William E. Blake
George E. Burke
Thomas H. Chunn
Floyd Cooper, Jr.
Carl G. Freudenberg
Albert C. Geremia
Glen A. Harmon
Horacio C. Holdridge
Roy E. Hughes
Elmo W. Keel
E. Henry Miller
Paul Moody
Claude C. Morgan
Joseph Motta
Raymond O’Brien
Edward P. Trudell
Floyd L. Williams
TERM
1944-1945
1945-1946
1946-1947
1947-1948
1948-1949
1949-1950
1950-1951
1951-1952
1952-1953
1953-1954
1954-1955
1955-1956
1956-1957
1957-1958
1958-1959
1959-1960
1960-1961
1961-1962
1962-1963
1963-1964
1964-1965
1965-1966
1966-1967
1967-1968
1968-1969
1969-1970
1970-1971
1971-1972
1972-1973
1973-1974
1974-1975
1975-1976
1976-1977
1977-1978
1978-1979
1979-1980
1980-1981
1981-1982
COMMANDER
Elmo Keel*
Jack Hardy*
Raymond Sawyer
Edgar C. Corry, Jr.*
Harold A. Keats*
Harold S. Russell*
Harold S. Russell*
John L. Smith*
Marshall E. Miller*
Henry J. Mahady*
Rufus Wilson*
Rudolph G. Pesata*
Dominick L. Strada*
Stuart J. Satullo*
Dr. Winston Burdine*
Harold T. Berc*
Harold Russell*
Edwin F. Fifielski*
Dante E. Spagnolo*
Edmund M. Gulewicz*
Lincoln S. Tamraz*
Ralph E. Hall*
A. Leo Anderson*
Anthony J. Caserta*
Joseph V . Ferrino*
Robert B. Gomulinski*
Robert W. Showalter*
Joe F. Ramsey, Jr.*
Joseph R. Sanson*
Berge Avadanian*
Essley B. Burdine*
Paul C. Welsh*
Tom McDonough, Sr.*
Frank Ruggiero*
Ted Leszkiewicz*
Joseph R. Koralewski*
Ernest F. Pitochelli, Sr.
Donald R. Russell*
PRESIDENT
Edith G. Males*
Kathryn N. Snyder*
Adeline P. Fogg*
Evelyn Lauritson*
Evelyn M. Flasco*
Dorothy Sullivan*
Darlene Gordon*
Beatrice F. Russell*
Ruth K. Nickerson*
Florence B. Stripe*
Gloria I. Clark*
June L. Miller*
Mae Boone*
Aldean M. Sorrells*
Lucia C. Russo*
Anne E. Hall*
Alice Oana*
Leah Monastero*
Marie Redden*
Jewel W. Fifielski*
Ellen Bogatay*
Rita Potvin*
Kathleen Hengely*
Marie Miller*
Betty Torner*
Dorothy M. LeRoy*
Doris L. Burdine*
Dorothy J. Bussard Ruph
Grace G. Osborn*
Toni Gomulinski
Doris G. Shrake
Pearl V . Barnett*
Jane Ashley*
Lila B. Longworth*
Anne Brown*
Margaret Rummel*
AMVETS 77TH NATIONAL CONVENTION4
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Document page 5: Past national commanders & presidents (continued)
AMVETS FOUNDERS
NEW ORLEANS | 2022
1982-1983
1983-1984
1984-1985
1985-1986
1986-1987
1987-1988
1988-1989
1989-1990
1990-1991
1991-1992
1992-1993
1993-1994
1994 -1995
1995-1996
1996-1997
1997-1998
1998-1999
1999-2000
2000-2001
2001-2002
2002-2003
2003-2004
2004-2005
2005-2006
2006-2007
2007-2008
2008-2009
2009-2010
2010-2011
2011-2012
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
2015-2016
2016-2017
2017-2018
2018-2019
2019-2021
Robert Martin*
Robert L. Wilbraham*
John S. Lorec*
Robert A. Medairos*
Joseph T. Piening
James B. King
Jimmy T. Smith
Warren Eagles, Sr.*
Vaughn L. Brown Sr.*
James L. Singler*
James J. Kenney
Donald M. Hearon*
Arthur W. Klingel Jr.*
Kenneth E. Wolford
David E. Ovesen
JosephusVandengoorber*
Cecil R. Aultman*
Charles L. Taylor
Arthur C. Stahl
Joseph W. Lipowski
W.G. “Bill” Kilgore S.
John Sisler*
William A. Boettcher
Edward Kemp
Tom C. McGriff*
J.P. Brown, III
John “Chad” Hapner*
Duane J. Miskulin
Gerald “Jerry” Hotop
Gary Fry
Cleve Geer*
John H. Mitchell
Larry Via
James Pidgeon
Harold Chapman
Marion Polk*
Rege Riley
Jan Brown
Ruth Singler
Agnes P. Kolano*
Elizabeth M. Wineland*
Mary S. Barrow
Sylvia Lipowski*
Dorothy J. Stoddard
Betty J. Leisure*
Jean Baxter*
Nita I. Cornell*
Dorothy R. Bull*
Betty S. Lawson
Barbara S. Hinsley*
Janet M. St. Michel*
Cathy S. Fishero
Brenda A. Kilgore*
Denise LaBatt
Janice Hapner*
Linda L. Johnson
Beverly A. Box
Susan Sisler*
Sandye Aultman*
Virginia Hayes
Carol King
Bonnie A. Scott*
Barbara K. Guth
Heidi Dineen-Serpis
Charlene Kee
Patty Piening
Dee Kreiling-Riley
Lynda Taylor
Leslie Wunderle
Linda McGriff
Sylvia Rowland*
Kathryn M. Berning
Evelyn R. McElvin
Marvell Ruppel
Barbara Valley
Dee Baggett
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Document page 6: AMVETS national officers
AMVETS 77TH NATIONAL CONVENTION
AMVETS National Commander......................................................................................................................Gregory Heun
National First Vice Commander.........................................................................................................................Don McLean
National Second Vice Commander..........................................................................................................................Bill Clark
National Third Vice Commander........................................................................................................................Paul Shipley
National Judge Advocate..........................................................................................................................PNC James B. King
National Finance Officer..................................................................................................................................Donald Stream
National Provost Marshal.......................................................................................................................................Art Majors
National Chaplain.................................................................................................................................................Gary Sallade
National District I Commander.................................................................................................................James Laflin (ME)
National District II Commander.........................................................................................................Billie Ainsworth (DC)
National District III Commander............................................................................................................Allen Doubek (AL)
National District IV Commander...........................................................................................................Steve Bidstrup (MI)
National District V Commander.....................................................................................................Deborah L. Wehrli (NE)
National District VI Commander............................................................................................................Milton Farley (OR)
National Ladies Auxiliary President.......................................................................................................................Joan Sirek
National First Vice President........................................................................................................................Karen Simmons
National Second Vice Commander...................................................................................................................Amy Stopyra
National Third Vice Commander......................................................................................................................Cynthia Rice
National Treasurer..............................................................................................................................................Barbara Guth
National Auxiliary Chaplain...............................................................................................................................Alice Delzer
Sergeant-at-Arms...................................................................................................................................................Debra Gass
National Americanism Officer.......................................................................................................................Mary Lanphere
National Scholarship Officer.................................................................................................................................Laurie Shea
National Hospital Officer......................................................................................................................................Laura Bugaj
V AVS Representative...........................................................................................................................................Marie Rorrio
National Parliamentarian......................................................................................................................PNP Marvell Ruppel
Junior AMVETS Coordinator.........................................................................................................................Denise Speigle
National Service Foundation President..............................................................................................PNC William Kilgore
Sons of AMVETS National Commander............................................................................................................Paul Speigle
Sad Sacks National Saddest.................................................................................................................................Cathy Argyle
Sackettes National Snappiest...........................................................................................................Faye Rischardson-Green
Junior AMVETS National President...............................................................................................................Joseph Stopyra
AMVETS Riders National President..................................................................................................................John Reando
AMVETS NATIONAL OFFICERS
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Document page 7: Greetings: National Commander Greg Heun
NATIONAL COMMANDER
GREG HEUN
NEW ORLEANS | 2022
Our members are the reason AMVETS enjoys prominence as one of the nation’s top veteran service organizations. It
is only because of your tireless service that AMVETS is able to successfully carry out our mission to serve veterans
of all conflicts. We have built this incredible reputation through the tireless efforts of our members, and over the past
year, we have accomplished nothing short of a substantially impactful chapter in our story.
This year, National has continued to represent this organization to the best of our ability. Through our H.E.A.L.
program, we’ve spearheaded conversations with Veterans Affairs regarding the benefits alternative treatments like
cannabis provide veterans suffering from visible and invisible wounds. We’re on the forefront of issues such as men-
tal healthcare and suicide prevention shortcomings for veterans with sdvocacy efforts like Rolling to Remember this
past Memorial Day weekend and my testimony before Congress back in March. We’ve honored AMVETS leadership
who built on our organization’s legacy, such as Dr. John Henry Felix, who I presented a Silver Helmet award to earli-
er this year. None of this would be possible without you, our leaders across the nation, who attend these gatherings to
ensure AMVETS’ bright future with regards to serving American veterans.
It has been an honor to serve as your National Commander. I would like to thank you for your support, and I wish us
a successful convention and a great week in “the Pelican state.”
Yours in service to American Veterans,
Dear AMVETS family,
I am very pleased to welcome you all to our 77th National Convention in the
beautiful city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Over the next week, we will come
together to have a great dialogue about where our organization is and where
we envision ourselves in the future. We will conduct important business, honor
some very deserving award recipients, remember great AMVETS who are no
longer with us, and share in fellowship and camaraderie as we build on our
service to American veterans and their families.
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Document page 8: Greetings: National Auxiliary President Joan Sirek
NATIONAL AUXILIARY PRESIDENT
AMVETS 77TH NATIONAL CONVENTION
Welcome to New Orleans!
It has been an honor and privilege to have served as AMVETS National Ladies Auxiliary President.
Together we have “Honored our Heroes” this past year for our communities, states and most importantly for our Veter-
ans. At Convention it is time for all of us, to be proud of our years achievements and accomplishments as we celebrate
with our AMVETS, AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary, Sons of AMVETS, Junior AMVETS and AMVETS Riders at our
National Convention. THANK YOU for a job well done!
To the incoming officers on the Local, Department and National Level, it is up to you to continue the momentum
to support and defend the freedoms offered by this great country.
I wish you all a successful, productive convention.
God Bless you, God Bless America, and God Bless the servicemen and women who have served and continue to serve
in order to preserve the freedoms we share.
Joan Sirek, National President
AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary
2021-2022
JOAN SIREK
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Document page 9: Greetings: Sons of AMVETS Commander Paul R. Speigle
NATIONAL SONS COMMANDERS
NEW ORLEANS | 2022
National AMVETS Commander Heun, Officers, Members and Guests,
It is my pleasure to extend greetings and best wishes to you on behalf of the National Sons of AMVETS Officers,
Headquarters Staff and membership as you convene National Convention.
Nationwide, the Sons of AMVETS have had a busy year working hard for our Veterans, their communities, and fami-
lies. I am pleased to inform you that our volunteer hours continue to rise. This is proof positive that our members live
up to our motto “If you want something done, ask a Son!”
As announced to the AMVETS family at the 2022 Spring NEC, I was faced with finding another worthy cause to
call my Commander’s project. On May 20, I visited “Operation Second Chance”, a 501c3 organization that supports
wounded service members. A 275-acre retreat center, located atop a mountain that sprawls across the Maryland/Penn-
sylvania boarder, provides a safe haven for “Helping Heroes Move On”. After my tour, it was clear to me that Opera-
tion Second Chance (OSC) was just the place I was looking for. OSC is committed to serving our wounded, injured and
ill Veterans. OSC recognizes the stress families experience from combat-related trauma and the importance of strong
family support More information is available on their website www.operationsecondchance.com.
Commander Heun, congratulations on a great year and I wish you a successful, productive convention.
It has been an honor to serve as National Sons of AMVETS Commander this year and I appreciate the support and
guidance that many of you have given me.
God Bless America and our Veterans.
PAUL R. SPEIGLE
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Document page 10: Louisiana convention chairperson welcome
LOUISIANA CONVENTION CHAIRPERSON
AMVETS 77TH NATIONAL CONVENTION
AMVETS, Ladies Auxiliary, Sons of AMVETS, Juniors, Riders, and Sad Sacks,
Welcome to New Orleans, Louisiana. AMVETS Department of Louisiana is proud to be your hosting Department and
we too welcome you from across the entire nation to lively New Orleans for the 76th National Convention.
Needless to say, things are slowly getting back to normal and routine since the many displacements COVID 19 has
created. Our programs have bounced back stronger than ever, our members are able to convene in person again, and
we are back to serving our veterans and their families to the best of our abilities. We are all grateful to our National
Officers and National Staff for helping AMVETS to operate through all the many issues so that our organization did
not become another casualty.
Commander Mark Ashley, LA AMVETS Department Commander 2021-2022 wishes everyone a productive and
memorable convention; enjoy the many activities here in New Orleans as well as throughout the Pelican state.
Please feel free to seek out members of NC AMVETS should you have questions or problems and we will do our best to
get you to the appropriate person for a solution.
Veterans Helping Veterans
Louisiana Department of AMVETS
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Document page 11: Greetings: VA Secretary Denis McDonough
VETERANS AFFAIRS SECRETARY
NEW ORLEANS | 2022
AMERICAN VETERANS (AMVETS) 77th CONVENTION
CONVENTION LETTER
Whenever someone signs up to serve in the military, our country makes them a simple promise: if you take care
of us, we will serve you when you transition out of the service. That promise dates all the way back to President
Lincoln’s second inagural address, when he charged a wounded Nation to care for those “who shall have borne the
battle,” and for their families, caregivers and survivors. And it echos into today, when President Biden reminds us
that our Nation’s “most sacred obligation” is to prepare and equip the troops we send into harm’s way, and to care
for them and their families when they return home.
For generations now, the Department of Veterans Affairs (V A) and AMVETS have been keeping that promise to
Veterans-together. As the first Veterans Service Organization chartered by Congress after World War II, you have
been at the very forefront of initiatives to serve Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors. And amid the
pandemic, our shared work-our our-shared mission-has never been more important.
I am proud to say that-together-we are stepping up for Veterans during this critical time. Since President Biden took
office, we at V A have provided more care and more benefits to more Veterans than ever before. Though the V A
V oluntaty Service programs, AMVETS members have volunteered nearly 130,000 hours of their time across 86 V A
medical centers. And this Memorial Day weekend, you once again put on an amzing Rolling to Remember event,
bringing attention to tragedy of Veterans suicide and those Servic members still missing in action.
Looking ahead to the next year, we are going to do even more to deliver the timely access to care and benefits tha
Veterans have earned and deserve. That means ensuring that Veterans have access to world-class V A health care,
ehrnever and wherever they need it; it means making sure that all Veterans feel safe, welcomed and served at V A;
it means implementing the Honoring our Promis to Address Comprehensive Toxic (PACT) Act of 2022, the largest
expansion of V A benefits in the history; and much, much more.
Simply put, it is our shared responsibility at V A and AMVETS to fight like hell for those who fought for us-and I am
so proud and grateful to count AMVETS as a partner in that fight-today, tomorrow and always.
AMVETS 77th Convention
My best wishes to you for an enjoyable and productive 77th convention. May God bless our Nation’s Veterans,
their families and survivors-and, together, may we always give them our very best.
Sincerely,
Denis McDonough
DENIS MCDONOUGH
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Document page 13: Greetings: Jon Tester
SENATE V A COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
AMVETS 77TH NATIONAL CONVENTION
Dear AMVETS members,
Thank you for attending the 77th AMVETS National Convention. We appreciate your
service to this nation.
For generations, AMVETS has played a key role in helping veterans and their families get the benefits and care they
have earned in communities across the country. And as Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I am
proud of what we are accomplishing each and every day for America’s bravest.
I am grateful to you, as veterans and advocates, for never taking your foot off the gas and pushing Washington to do
the right thing by passing comprehensive toxic exposure legislation. Together, we delivered the Sergeant First Class
Heath Robinson Honoring our PACT Act. It provides all eras of toxic-exposed veterans their earned health care and
benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs for the first time in this nation’s history, and I am proud to have
been part of making it a reality.
We continue to be laser-focused on holding V A accountable in making sure it implements landmark laws we cham-
pioned—including the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act—the way
Congress intended. With you as partners, we will also continue our push to bolster veterans’ access to lifesaving
mental health care and resources through the Support The Resilience of Our Nation’s Great (STRONG) Veterans
Act, so that our fighting men and women have the tools they need to treat the invisible wounds of war when they
return from service.
Thank you again for your unwavering support and dedication to veterans and their families. Your service continues
to be felt in every corner of this country—including in my home state of Montana, where every one in ten Mon -
tanans is a veteran. I look forward to continuing to work hand-in-hand to make good on our promises to those who
have served and sacrificed.
Sincerely,
Jon Tester
Chairman
Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
JON TESTER
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Document page 14: Greetings: Jerry Moran
SENATE V A COMMITTEE RANKING MEMBER
JERRY MORAN
NEW ORLEANS | 2022
To our veterans:
I want to offer my sincere gratitude to you for your service to our country, both in uniform and out. Each one of
you has sacrificed much, and our nation owes you a great debt.
My name is Jerry Moran, and I represent the great state of Kansas in the United States Senate. I also have the
honor of serving as the lead Republican on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The opportunity to serve our
nation’s veterans is one of the greatest privileges of my life.
Through the help of organizations like AMVETS, we have accomplished important victories for our veteran
community in recent months. One of these key wins is the SFC Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022.
This legislation delivers on a promise that veterans exposed to burn pits will not have to wait decades for disabili-
ty benefits as Vietnam veterans were forced to do after Agent Orange exposure.
After being signed into law, this legislation will deliver immediate access to health care for all generations of vet-
erans suffering from toxic exposures, streamline disability claims consideration for toxic exposure-related illness-
es and prescribe a fair and transparent process for the V A to add additional disease presumptions.
Additionally, another bill I introduced, the V A Electronic Health Record Transparency Act of 2021, was recently
signed into law. As the V A works to modernize its health care records, this law will make certain it is done in a
transparent and efficient manner.
I want to thank you all for your advocacy for our nation’s veterans. You bring both issues veterans are facing
and solutions to Washington, D.C. to help Congress fulfill its responsibility to care for our veterans. As Ranking
Member, my promise to each of you remains the same – to support our veteran community and to make certain
our nation’s heroes have a Department of Veterans Affairs worthy of your service and sacrifice. I look forward to
continuing our work together on behalf of all who have served our great nation.
Sincerely,
Jerry Moran
Ranking Member
Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
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Document page 15: Greetings: General Feng Shih-Kuan
V AC MINISTER
AMVETS 77TH NATIONAL CONVENTION
Thank you for the invitation. New Orleans is the place I am familiar with. The cafe shops there are so special
that I miss the flavor deeply. I am really enthusiastic to attend your National Convention held in New Orleans.
The COVID-19 pandemic is still raging, and we are affected by the disease. I value your National Convention
and long term friendship deeply, but as Minister, I have to prepare the opening session of Legislature. Deputy
minister Lee, Wen-Chung will attend the convention on behalf of me by my request.
V AC convention is usually held on Oct. 26 every year. This is the third time we failed to invite the delegates
of our brother organization like AMVETS and overseas ROC veterans associations back to Taiwan for V AC
convention due to Covid-19. I truly regret that.
I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate you on the tremendous success of AMVETS’s 77th Nation-
al Convention along with lasting friendship. Promotion of cultural and educational exchanges between us will
go on as the epidemic subsides.
General Kent Feng (Ret.)
Minister
Veterans Affairs Council
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Veterans Affairs Council
Republic of China
GENERAL FENG SHIH-KUAN
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Document page 17: Convention agenda (1 of 4)
TUESDAY , AUGUST 16, 2022
EVENT LOCATIONTIME
8:00 AM 9:30 AM National Service Foundation Meeting
8:30 AM 12:00 PM Convention Registraton
12:00 PM 5:00 PM AMVETS Expo Set-up
9:30 AM 10:30 AM AMVETS Charities Board Meeting
10:45 AM 12:00 PM National Finance Committee Meeting
1:00 PM 1:45 PM AMVETS Joint First Timer’s Orientation
1:00 PM 2:30 PM National Finance Committee Meeting Convention Bids
1:30 PM 4:00 PM Convention Registraton
2:00 PM 2:45 PM POW and MIA Committee
2:00 PM 2:45 PM V A VS & Medical Committee
2:00 PM 2:45 PM Community Services
3:00 PM 4:00 PM Uniform Committee
3:00 PM 4:00 PM Diversity Committee
3:00 PM 4:00 PM Suicide Prevention Committee
3:00 PM 4:00 PM Civil Service Committee
3:00 PM 4:30 PM Grievance Committee (Closed)
3:00 PM 6:00 PM Junior AMVETS
5:00 PM 6:00 PM Women Veterans Committee
6:00 PM 11:59 PM Junior AMVETS Coordinator Training
6:30 PM 7:30 PM Traditions Committee
WEDNESDAY , AUGUST 17, 2022
TIME EVENT
7:30 AM 8:30 AM NEC Registraton
8:00 AM 6:00 PM Junior AMVETS
8:30 AM 10:30 AM Pre-Convention NEC Meeting
8:30 AM 11:30 AM Convention Registration
9:00 AM 5:00 PM AMVETS Expo
9:00 AM 5:00 PM Quartermaster
10:30 AM 11:00 AM Americanism Committee
10:30 AM 11:00 AM Honor Guard Committee
10:30 AM 11:00 AM Armed Service Committee
11:15 AM 11:45 AM Personnel Committee
1:00 PM 3:00 PM AMVETS Joint Opening Ceremony
*Secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough
3:00 PM 3:45 PM AMVETS Joint Memorial Service
4:00 PM 5:00 PM AMVETS First Business Session
*National Committees Reports
*National Executive Director Report
LOCATION
Balcony I
Galerie Booth
Carondelet
Balcony I
Balcony I
Balcony L
Balcony I
Galerie Booth
Salon A
Salon B
Salon C
Salon C
Balcony L
Salon B
Salon F
Salon G
Galerie 3
Salon A
Galerie 3
Salon A
Rhythm
Galerie 3
Salon H-G
Galerie Booth
Carondelet
Salon A
Salon B
Salon B
Salon C
Acadia Bissonet
Acadia Bissonet
Acadia Bissonet
CONVENTION AGENDA (Continue)
AMVETS 77TH NATIONAL CONVENTION
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Document page 18: Convention agenda (2 of 4)
CONVENTION AGENDA
NEW ORLEANS | 2022
6:00PM 7:00PM PRE-AW ARD VIP RECEPTION
7:00 PM 10:00 PM Silver Helmet Awards
*7 PM Desserts & coffee. Cash bar
*7:45 Awards presentation
*Business or Cocktail attire.
THURSDAY , AUGUST 18, 2022
TIME EVENT
7:00 AM 9:00 AM California Meeting
8:00 AM 2:00 PM Junior AMVETS
8:00 AM 8:50 AM 1st Vice/Recruiting Training
8:00 AM 8:50 AM 2nd Vice/Programs Training
8:00 AM 8:50 AM 3rd Vice/Legislative Training
8:00 AM 8:50 AM Finance Officer/Bookeeping Training
8:00 AM 8:50 AM Public Relations Officer/Media Training
8:30 AM 11:30 AM Convention Registration
9:00 AM 5:00 PM AMVETS Expo
9:00 AM 10:00 AM 1st Vice/Starting A New Post
9:00 AM 10:00 AM 2nd Vice/Reporting and Training
9:00 AM 10:00 AM 3rd Vice/Resolution Writing Training
9:00 AM 10:00 AM Fundraising 101 Training
9:00 AM 10:00 AM Public Relations Officer/Social Media
10:30 AM 12:00 PM AMVETS 2nd Business Session
*National Programs Presented
*Membership & Programs Awards
1:00PM 2:00PM AMVETS 2nd Business Session (cont.)
*1st Round of Nominations for National
Officers Elections
1:00 PM 4:00 PM Convention Registration
2:00PM 3:30PM Disciplinary procedures
2:00 PM 4:00 PM Riders Registration
2:30 PM 3:30 PM Membership Roundtable
2:30 PM 3:30 PM Programs Roundtable
2:30 PM 3:30 PM Legislative Roundtable
2:30 PM 3:30 PM Finance Roundtable/Fundraising
2:30 PM 3:30 PM Communications Roundtable
3:45 PM 4:45 PM Bylaws Committee
3:45 PM 4:45 PM National Americanism Poster Judging
LOCATION
Bacchus
Salon DE
Blacony I
Galerie 3
Salon A
Salon B
Salon C
Balcony I
Salon H
Galerie Booth
Carondelet
Salon A
Salon B
Salon C
Balcony I
Salon H
Acadia Bissonet
Acadia Bissonet
Galerie Booth
Salon A
Salon H-G
Balcony I
Salon B
Salon C
Balcony I
Salon H
Balcony L
Balcony M
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Document page 19: Convention agenda (3 of 4)
FRIDAY , AUGUST 19, 2022
TIME EVENT
7:00 AM 9:00 AM California Meeting
8:30 AM 12:00 PM Convention Registration
8:00 AM 5:00 PM Junior AMVETS
8:00 AM 12:00 PM AMVETS 3rd Business Session/Resolution Review
*Resolutions & CBL Amendments
*2025 Convention Site Picked
9:00 AM 9:30 AM Pre-Convention NEB
9:30 AM 10:00 AM Officer’s Call
9:00 AM 1:00 PM AMVETS EXPO
10:00 AM 11:00 AM CBL Committee
11:00 AM 11:30 AM Communications/Publications Training
1:00 PM 2:00 PM Council of Past National Commanders/Awards
1:00 PM 1:30 PM Membership Roundtable
1:00 PM 2:00 PM Uniform Committee
2:00 PM 4:00 PM Riders Registration
2:00 PM 2:30 PM Programs Roundtable
2:30 PM 3:15 PM Audit Committee
2:30 PM 3:30 PM District I Meeting
2:30 PM 3:30 PM District II Meeting
2:30 PM 3:30 PM District III Meeting
2:30 PM 3:30 PM District IV Meeting
2:30 PM 3:30 PM Distict V Meeting
2:30 PM 3:30 PM District VI Meeting
3:15 PM 4:00 PM Finance Committee
3:45 PM 4:00 PM Convention Rules Committee
6:00 PM 7:00 PM General Reception
7:00 PM 9:30 PM National Commander/Presidents Banquet
*7PM Plated fried chicken meal; cash bar
*Business Attire/Formal
LOCATION
Balcony I
Galerie Booth
Galerie 3
Acadia Bissonet
Salon H-G
Salon H-G
Carondelet
Salon H-G
Salon H-G
Salon H-G
Salon H-G
Salon H-G
Salon H-G
Salon H-G
Salon H-G
Balcony I
Salon B
Salon C
Salon A
Balcony M
Balcony N
Salon H-G
Balcony L
Acadia Bissonet
CONVENTION AGENDA
AMVETS 77TH NATIONAL CONVENTION
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Document page 20: Convention agenda (4 of 4)
CONVENTION AGENDA
FRIDAY , AUGUST 20, 2022
TIME EVENT
7:00 AM 9:00 AM California Meeting
8:00 AM 5:00 PM Junior AMVETS
8:00 AM 10:00 AM Convention Registration (Registration closes at
10AM sharp)
8:30 AM 11:30 AM AMVETS 4th Business Session
*Doors close, election starts at 10AM
9:00 AM 10:00 AM Long Range Planning
9:00 AM 11:00 AM Meeting Wrap-Up
10:00 AM 11:00 AM Riders Registration
11:30 AM 12:30 PM NEC Registraton
12:30 PM 1:30 PM AMVETS Post Convention NEC Meeting
2:00 PM 6:00 PM National Convention Meeting
2:00 PM 3:00 PM AMVETS Joint Installation Ceremony
3:30 PM 4:30 PM National Service Foundation Post Meeting
3:30 PM 11:00PM Commander’s Hospitality Suite
LOCATION
Balcony I
Galerie 3
Galerie Booth
Acadia Bissonet
Salon H-G
Salon H-G
Salon H-G
Galerie Booth
Acadia Bissonet
Salon H-G
Acadia Bissonet
Acadia Bissonet
Riverview II
Rhythm
Bonaparte
NEW ORLEANS | 2022
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Document page 21: Joint opening ceremony
JOINT OPENING CEREMONY
AMVETS 77TH NATIONAL CONVENTION
JOINT OPENING CEREMONY - PROGRAM OF EVENTS
Welcome Remarks and Introduction of Processional… …Joe Chenelly
Invocation… …Gary Sallade
Presentation of Colors… …Color Guard
Pledge of Allegiance… …Art Major
National Flag Anthem, Republic of China
National Anthem, United States
Retirement of the Colors
Preamble
Armed Forces Medley
Welcome Remarks, AMVETS National Commander… …Greg Huen
Welcome Remarks, AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary National President… …Joan Sirek
Welcome Remarks, AMVETS Convention Chair… …Emmett Bailey
Welcome Remarks, AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary Convention Chair… …Ginny Rominger
Welcome Remarks, Sons of AMVETS National Commander… …Paul Speigle
Welcome Remarks, Junior AMVETS National President … …Joseph Stopyra
Welcome Remarks, AMVETS Riders National President… …John Reando
Introduction of Keynote Speaker… …Greg Heun
Keynote, Veterans Affairs Council, R.O.C. Deputy Minister Lee Wen-Chung
Honors to Colors… …Color Guard
Remarks, Minister of the Veterans Affairs Council, R.O.C.
Benediction… …Gary Sallade
Honors to Colors… …Art Majors
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Document page 22: Guest speaker: Lee Wen-Chung
AMVETS 77TH NATIONAL CONVENTION
SENATE V A COMMITTEE RANKING MEMBER
LEE WEN-CHUNG
Mr. Lee Wen-Chung served in the National Assembly from 1992 to 1999, then in the Legislative Yuan until his resig-
nation in 2006.
Heavily influenced by the 1979 Kaohsiung Incident, he edited tangwai publications and pushed for the school to
permit direct elections for student body president alongside Liu Yi-te and Lai Chin-lin. He became active in Taiwan’s
labor rights movement. Lee was also active in the Wild Lily student movement of 1990.
Within the Democratic Progressive Party, Lee is allied with the New Tide faction. Elected to the National Assembly
in 1991 and again in 1996, Lee launched his first campaign for a seat on the Legislative Yuan in 1998. Shortly after
the 1999 Jiji earthquake, Lee proposed a number of bills intended to aid rescue efforts. In his first term, Lee helped
uncover a financial scandal involving Taiwan Pineapple Group and members of the Taiwanese judiciary dating back
to November 1999.
He won reelection to the legislature in 2001. Lee spent the end of his second legislative term advocating that the gov-
ernment acquire extensive military equipment. After winning reelection in December 2004, he continued advocating
for military upgrades.
Despite his resignation, Lee declared his candidacy for the 2008 legislative election cycle. He next represented the
Democratic Progressive Party in the 2009 Nantou County magistracy election. Lee later became director of the party’s
Department of Organization. He launched his second campaign for the Nantou County magistracy in June 2013 and
was formally confirmed as DPP candidate in November. He was named deputy minister of the Veterans Affairs
Council in 2016.
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Document page 23: Convention rules (1 of 7)
CONVENTION RULES
NEW ORLEANS | 2022
I-REGISTRATION
In accordance with Article V§ 9 of the AMVETS National Constitution and Bylaws, the following Rules for
National Convention have been presented during the 2018 Spring NEC Meeting and have been adopted as the
governing procedures for the 74th Annual National Convention.
1. Pre-Registration: The national department shall send each post and department official convention registra-
tion materials and instructions of online pre-registration process. Each delegate, alternate, or national officer may
pre-register no later than 30 days prior to
the start of the convention. Those submitting pre-registration via U.S. Mail must be postmarked no later than the
30 days prior to convention start date. You may continue to register on-line up to on full week prior to the 1st day
of on-site registration at the convention at the on-site rate. Post and Department revalidation are prerequisites to
acceptance of post and department pre-registration requests by the Credentials Committee at the national conven-
tion.
2. Membership Transfers: A member who has transferred from one post to another must be a member of the new
post for at least six months prior to the opening of the national convention to be eligible to register as a delegate or
alternate at the convention.
3. Registration at the National Convention:
• In accordance with National Convention Article V§ 5, to register at the national convention, a dele- gate, alter-
nate or national officer must be a member in good standing on national membership rolls for at least 30 days prior
to the opening of the national Convention.
• Members registering for subordinate organizations; i.e. amVETS Riders and / or Sad Sacks must also register as
an amVET delegate or guest.
• In accordance with the national constitution, Article V § 2(a), Posts must be chartered no later than May 1st each
year to be eligible to vote at the national convention.
• At the registration desk, each registrant will complete the registration Form, present a valid membership card and
a government issued, photo identification card. Those non-members wishing to register as a “guest” are required to
present a photo identification card and complete a guest questionnaire.
• Registration fees will be as follows:
a. Pre-registration (either online or postmarked no later than 30 days prior to start of convention): $50.00
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Document page 24: Convention rules (2 of 7)
CONVENTION RULES
b. Registration (all registering after pre-registration is closed: $60.00
• Once the credentials have been verified by the Credentials Committee and payment is received, the registrant’s
name shall be entered in the registration computer database; and, the registrant will re- ceive a convention
badge, unless the respective post or department has not been revalidated as required by the amVETS National
Constitution Article IX § 8(a) and/or Article X § 3.
• All accounts payable or any other requirement for accreditation must be settled prior to registration.
• Once the credentials have been verified by the Credentials Committee and payment is received, the registrant’s
name shall be entered in the registration computer database; and, the registrant will receive a convention
badge, unless the respective post or department has not been revalidated as required by the AMVETS National
Constitution Article IX § 8(a) and/or Article X § 3.
• All accounts payable or any other requirement for accreditation must be settled prior to registration.
Note: Delegate fees are non-refundable, but are transferable within the same department.
Convention Registration Desk: All national convention registration will be conducted at the registration desk
only, according to the schedule below.
NO REGISTRATION WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER 9:00A.M.
Saturday, August 20. 2022
(Those in line at 9:00 A.M. will be registered)
The hours of operation are:
(All times are local New Orleans, LA)
Monday- August 15, 2022,1:00-3:00pm (pre-registered only)
Tuesday: August 16, 2022; 0830-noon and 1330-1600
Wednesday: August 17, 2022; 0830-Noon
Thursday: August 18, 2022; 0830-1130 and 1300- 1600
Friday: August 19, 2022; 0830-noon
Saturday: August 20,2022; 0700-0900
Notes: 1. Wednesday registration closes at noon as opening ceremonies begin at 1:30pm.
2. Monday’s hours are for pre-registered delegates only.
3. Friday’s hours are to allow for set up of banquet and reception.
II-DELEGATE STRENGTH
As defined by Article 5, § 2, delegate voting strength is defined in the following manner:
Post: Delegate voting strength is defined by post voting strength as of July 1. Each post shall select two (2)
delegates and two alternates for its first 50 members or fraction thereof.
Thereafter, the post will be entitled to one (1) delegate and one alternate for each additional 50 members or
fraction thereof. The example below demonstrates the formula for determining post delegates:
AMVETS 77TH NATIONAL CONVENTION
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Document page 25: Convention rules (3 of 7)
III -The Meeting
• A minimum of two hundred and fifty registered voting delegates shall be required to constitute a national con-
vention. In excess of 50% of the delegates registered at the national convention must be present on the floor of
the convention to constitute a quorum.
• Except as otherwise specified by these rules, Roberts Rules of Order, shall govern the proceedings of this na-
tional convention.
• At all general meeting of the convention, delegates and alternates shall be seated by department. Other AM-
VETS’ members or guests, who are registered, but not delegates or alternates, shall be seated in a separate area
as designated by the national commander.
• The chairman shall preserve order and shall call upon the national provost marshal and his deputies to assist
him, if necessary. The chairman shall require adherence to these rules and shall decide questions of order and
procedure, subject to the decision of a majority of delegates present and voting on the convention floor. The
order of business shall be determined by the chairman in accordance with the published agenda of the conven-
tion.
• Delegates, alternates, and guests must have their registration badges prominently displayed on their clothing to
be present on the convention floor.
• Dress Code: Business casual is acceptable for all delegates, alternates and guests. At no time will shorts,
T-Shirts, tank tops, flipflops or ball caps be allowed on the convention floor. Lack of an AMVET cover is not a
reason to be barred from the convention floor. Final decision on acceptable dress will be made by the National
Commander. Reasonable accommodations will be made for delegates with disabilities.
• To assist in minutes preparation and floor control, each delegate desiring to address the convention body, shall
proceed to the nearest numbered microphone and wait to be recognized from the podium. Upon recognition,
the delegate shall clearly state for the record his/her name, post number and department. The national provost
marshal, assisted by the deputy provost marshals, shall maintain order at the microphones.
• The national provost marshal shall be the sergeant-at-arms for the convention and shall be assisted by such
deputy provost marshals as the national commander may appoint.
• Instances of disorder or misconduct by and AMVET member shall be reported to the national provost marshal
who shall report the same to the national inspector general. Upon request of the national commander, the in-
spector general shall investigate the matter and refer the offender(s) to the floor for dismissal from the conven-
tion.
• At the first credentials report, a state will be drawn for voting order of all elections with the states to follow in
alphabetical order.
CONVENTION RULES
NEW ORLEANS | 2022 25
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Document page 26: Convention rules (4 of 7)
CONVENTION RULES
AMVETS 77TH NATIONAL CONVENTION
IV- RESOLUTIONS
1. No resolution shall be discussed on the convention floor unless it has been previously considered by appropriate
national convention reporting committee(s). Resolutions originating from the convention floor will be read and
referred by the chairman to the appropriate committee. Copies of such resolutions shall be provided to each de-
partment for review to consideration by the convention body. In any case, no formal vote shall take place on any
resolution originating from the convention floor until a minimum of one hour has expired after the first reading to
the assembled body.
2. All resolutions originating at the national convention shall be typewritten, submitted in proper resolution form,
and duly signed by originator or appropriate national committee chairperson.
3. Each convention reporting committee shall consider only the resolutions in which the subject matter pertains
to the duties and functions of that particular committee. Resolutions that a committee does not consider its proper
charge shall be referred by such committee to the proper committee. All resolutions received by the Resolutions
Committee shall be assigned to one or more appropriate national committee. The Resolutions Committee shall
take no other actions on resolutions other than assignment or reassignment. Decisions involving the assignment or
reassignment of resolutions committee shall be final, including the return of a resolution to the committee to which
it was originally assigned.
4. All committee chairpersons or their designated committee representatives shall be present on the convention
floor during the consideration of resolutions to report committee recommendations. Absence of a committee chair-
person or designated committee member will not preclude final action on resolutions considered by that commit-
tee, including resolution originated by that committee.
5. All resolutions shall be treated as main motions and shall require a second in order to be considered. Upon
receiving a second, the Convention Chairperson shall open debate by requesting the considering committee(s)
recommendation. If the recommendation is in the negative, the committee spokesperson shall state the reason for
such recommendation. After committee recommendations, the Convention Chairperson shall open discussion to
the delegates.
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Document page 27: Convention rules (5 of 7)
V-DEBATE
1. Debate shall be limited to five minutes for each speaker. No more than five speakers on each side of a questions
shall be permitted to speak upon the same subject except by a unanimous consent of the convention body.
2. Total debate on any subject shall be limited to one hour. However, debate on a resolution may be extended to
a greater time by majority vote of the delegates present on the convention floor, and the time so allotted shall be
evenly divided between the proponents and opponents of the resolution. The floor shall be permitted only one time
to any individual delegate on any one subject except by unanimous consent of the delegates present. However, a
delegate who originally proposes a matter may be accorded one minute in rebuttal.
V-DEBATE
1. Each delegate shall be entitled to one vote. An alternate shall have all the rights and privileges of their delegate
except they shall only vote in their delegate’s absence. No delegate’s vote will be counted unless he/she can pres-
ent a registration badge.
2. V oting shall be by voice or standing vote at the discretion of the presiding officer, except when a roll call is
ordered by the chairperson or upon request of at least five department delegations. The election of national officers
shall be by roll call vote unless candidates for national office are unopposed.
3. Each department shall select a chairperson who shall announce the vote of his/her delegation. When any del-
egate thereof entitled to vote demands the roll call of any department delegation, the Credentials Chairperson,
using the registration files, shall call the roll of the posts and the names of the delegates appearing therein. As each
delegate’s name is called, he/she shall be required to announce his/her vote at the floor microphone so that it may
officially recorded. Subject to the above limitations, any voting delegate of the convention may demand a count of
any delegation thus casting its vote for the sole purpose of determining whether an equal number of voting dele-
gates present on the convention floor supports the announced vote.
4. If there are fewer delegates present on the floor than the vote announced, the Credentials Committee shall use
the registration file to poll the delegation(s) to obtain correct vote.
5. V otes cast by a department cannot be challenged after the next department has been called.
Unit rule and proxy voting will not be permitted.
CONVENTION RULES
NEW ORLEANS | 2022
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Document page 28: Convention rules (6 of 7)
AMVETS 77TH NATIONAL CONVENTION
CONVENTION RULES
VII- COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. Each reporting committee chairperson or his/her accredited substitute shall present a report of that committee’s
meeting to the convention body for approval.
2. The Credentials Committee shall report at the beginning of each daily session of the convention and whenev-
er called by presiding officer. A final report shall be submitted for printing in the publication of the convention
reports.
VIII-NOMINATIONS
1. Duly registered delegates shall make nominations and supporting speeches for National Officers from the floor,
except that nominations and supporting speeches for National Commander may be made from the podium.
2. Nomination and election of national officers shall be conducted in the following order:
(a) Trustee, National Service Foundation (3 year term)
(b) Trustee, National Service Foundation (3 year term)
(c) Trustee, National Service Foundation (unexpired term(s)) (if required)
(d) National Judge Advocate
(e) National Provost Marshal
(f) National Finance Officer
(g) National Third Vice Commander (Legislative)
(h) National Second Vice Commander (Programs)
(i) National First Vice Commander (Membership)
(j) National Commander
3. Nominating and seconding speeches for national officers other than national commander shall be limited to two
minutes. Nominating speeches for national commander shall be limited to five minutes each. Not more than two
seconding speeches may be made on behalf of candidates for national commander and one such speech for candi-
dates for other officers.
4. Persons wishing to be nominated for office, but unable to be present during nominations shall make such wishes
known, in writing to the Credentials Chairman. Such request shall include a statement that the person promises,
if elected, to fulfill the duties of the office to the best of his/her ability, be duly signed and dated, and comply with
Article VI Section 1 (d) of the national constitution.
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Document page 29: Convention rules (7 of 7)
CONVENTION RULES
NEW ORLEANS | 2022
IX-ELECTIONS
1. Election of national officers shall be by members present and voting on the convention floor. After the first bal-
lot for any office, the candidate receiving the lowest number of votes shall be dropped on the succeeding ballot.
Following each ballot thereafter, the candidate receiving the fewest votes will be eliminated from the ballot and
balloting will continue in this manner until one candidate receives the majority of the votes cast.
2. A candidate elected to and accepting a national office shall be ineligible for nomination or election for any
other national office.
3. No department may change or correct its vote or be challenged by a delegate of that department within the
same ballot after the next state has been recognized. A department may pass, however, when first called upon to
vote.
X-SUSPENSION OF RULES
1. A section or sections of these rules may be suspended by a two-thirds vote of the delegates present on the floor
if such suspension is not in conflict with the National Constitution and By-Laws.
XI-MISCELLANEOUS
1. Posting of banners and signs (except the signs placed by the Convention Committee designating the seating
arrangements for the departments) in the convention hall or banquet hall is prohibited, as well as, in those areas
prohibited by hotel and convention center management. Areas in which posting banners shall be prohibited will
be posted on the convention bulletin board.
2. No convention bids will be received on the convention floor unless they have been previously submitted to the
National Finance Committee in accordance with the rules of that committee.
3. A permanent log shall be kept by the Credentials Committee of proof of eligibility of candidates to be attested
to by the Credentials Committee Chairman or Co- Chairman and one other member of the Credentials Commit-
tee.
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Document page 30: Sponsor: Army & Air Force Exchange Service
AMVETS
4647 Forbes Blvd. Lanham, MD 20706
Office: (301) 459 - 9600 - Fax: (301) 459 - 7924
www.amvets.org
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Document page 31: Back cover
AMVETS
4647 Forbes Blvd. Lanham, MD 20706
Office: (301) 459 - 9600 - Fax: (301) 459 - 7924
www.amvets.org
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