The following is correspondence regarding trying to expand membership to the Battle of Bulge - VBOB
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To Bob Rhodes, et al,
I feel the suggestions put forth by Bob Faro are very good ones.
Along with the "Cornerstones of Freedom" , we should also try to
locate age appropriate
Bulge book(s) for the Middle School and High School.
(Just a note: my name in the listing is spelled incorrectly and the
email address is wrong: should be Judy or Judith Greenhalgh
(left off for privacy) Please
make those corrections.)
Sincerely,
Judy Greenhalgh
On Jan 8, 2010, at 4:43 PM, Bob wrote:
Mr. Rhodeas and others:
I am an Associate Member of the Lehigh Valley Veterans of the
Battle of the Bulge. We have a small but growing Associate Team
that is now presenting
the agenda at 2 monthly meetings per year in 2010. We are
dedicated to the men and women who comprise VBOB and their legacy.
My uncle Tom Reda
who served in the 106th Infantry became a POW on December 16, 1944,
the first day of the battle. My mother's cousin, Tom O'Brien who
served in the 26th Infantry (Yankee Division)
was KIA on January 25, 1945, the last day of the battle. So for me
I have a vested interest as well as being a Vietnam era veteran
myself.
To expand upon Mr. Rhodes' list of ideas I offer the following:
1. With the suggested revision of the website should come an
expanded reach to the sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters
and others by the veterans still with us today.
What greater marketer than those who were there and for whom we
shall carry on their legacy.
2. Perhaps even a Junior Membership for the youngsters of family
members to get them interested and "card carrying" early on. I
believe children are more involved when they
have a sense of belonging such as their own membership in such
a storied organization.
3. Marketing VBOB to younger veteran organizations with emphasis
that all veterans should carry on for each other and obviously the
youngest veterans have time and energy
on their side. This would include every veteran from Korea to
date which would include the youngest such as my son Joe, 19, a
Marine, deploying for Afghanistan any day now.
4. In regards to composing a team to preserve the legacy there
should be local VBOB teams that have such a membership especially
if as it should be education in the schools
will be continued. Our VBOB does an outstanding job in the
education program led by our Vice President, Associate Judy
Greenhalgh. This is a real case in point of how
outstanding Associates such as Judy have already been long and
hard at work to preserve the VBOB legacy.
5. On a note I have mentioned to others at the national level
before I believe the Executive Council MUST be open to all
interested members regardless of geographical location.
I had expressed an interest several years ago but learning that
you meet at Ft. Meade, MD, eliminates perhaps well over 90% of your
membership. In this day and age we
have availability of video conferencing, telephone conference
calls, etc. While meeting in person may be nice for those who can I
believe it unwittingly eliminates some
dynamic individuals who might be willing to really jump in and
help.
6. In my own case, past work and volunteer efforts, I have always
believed that thanking and marketing can go hand in hand. As such,
2 years ago I had a highway here in
Pennsylvania renamed (portion of) the Veterans of the Battle of
the Bulge Memorial Highway. I have written numerous letters and Op
Ed pieces honoring VBOB members.
I regularly tell others about VBOB and praise our individual
organization as "family" because we are truly a large extended
family who interact in many ways other than
just at one monthly meeting.
7. Before i forget, a few years ago I found what I thought was an
extraordinary book on the Battle of the Bulge by "Cornerstones of
Freedom" that I am told speaks to the
3rd-4th grade level. I showed it to several of our VBOB members
who thought it was quite good. Perhaps the "National VBOB" can come
up with a new version and market
it directly to schools via an education median.
I am proud to be an Associate Member and I will be glad to assist
as best I can.
Sincerely,
Bob Faro
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Rhodes
Sent: Jan 8, 2010 3:29 PM
Dear VBOB Regular Members, VBOB Associate Members, and Friends;
During the November '09 VBOB Executive Council Meeting I offered to
help expand VBOB's Associate Member Program during my tenure as a
trustee.
I am writing to all of you - regular members, associate members and
others - committed to preserving the legacy of all those heroic
veterans of the Battle of the Bulge. I am most interested in any
and all suggestions designed to improve and expand our associate
member program.
I will be briefing the executive council next Tuesday, 12 January,
during their regularly scheduled council meeting and ask for your
suggestions before the meeting. Apologies galore for a short
turnaround . . . (I was in Florida for the past couple of weeks -
poor me!)
I intend to discuss:
- Revision of the VBOB website <www.battleofthebulge.org, as
appropriate, with special efforts designed to appeal to associate
members - sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, others.
- Preparation of letters co-signed by Dee Paris, president of VBOB,
and myself to all current regular members, current associate
members, and former associate members. highlighting the important
benefits of membership with special attention toward preserving the
legacy of all VBOBers and their families.
- Expansion of the marketing of VBOB to include school children
across America, other veterans organizations, Belgian and
Luxembourg families and friends, etc.
- Insuring that all links on our website to 'Bulge' military units
are current and active as a source for historical research and for
connections to comrades in arms.
- Composing a team (not a committee) of those interested in
preserving the historical legacy of the battle and its participants.
- Suggestions provided by you . . .
May I wish all of you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.
Bob Rhodes
VBOB Trustee
Alexandria, Virginia
H: (703) 360-5110
PS: Pls look over the addressees, above, and let me know if I have
inadvertently left potential teammates out.