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FAQs

DAV Auxiliary > FAQs

The Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary is an organization of men, women, and children with a desire to assist disabled veterans and their families across the United States and Puerto Rico.  The organization was founded in 1922 and has grown to over 100,000 members.  These members volunteer at Veteran Administration Medical Centers, Nursing Homes, Schools, Churches, Communities, and also promote Patriotism and reach out to legislators for concerns related to veterans and their families.  The DAV Auxiliary is founded on the mission of “Making a difference in the lives of disabled veterans and their families.”
DAV Auxiliary Education Scholarship Program for students meeting the eligibility criteria of up to $2,500. The organization is redeveloping a Service Program to expand services to disabled veteran families. DAVA for Kids assists with transportation expenses for military children to attend Camp Cor-ral, a camp dedicated to children of military members for their own reflection and growth. The Care-giver Initiative Program, launched in 2018, focuses on veteran caregivers respite care and advocacy.

Extended family members of an honorably discharged veteran (includes all veterans – whether disabled or not disabled) or extended family of DAV Auxiliary members may join the organization.

DAV Auxiliary Education Scholarship Program for students meeting the eligibility criteria of up to $2,500.  The organization is redeveloping a Service Program to expand services to disabled veteran families.  DAVA for Kids assists with transportation expenses for military children to attend Camp Corral, a camp dedicated to children of military members for their own reflection and growth.  The Caregiver Initiative Program, launched in 2018, focuses on veteran caregivers respite care and advocacy.

A life membership can be started for $20 down, and the amount owed is based on the applicant’s age.  A life membership can be paid in any amount of time, giving a more flexible payment option.  A child under the age of 17 can secure a complimentary junior membership or can begin a life membership at any time for $250, with $20 down and an unlimited amount of time for repayment.
There are two ways to find a unit near you.  The first is by visiting https://auxiliary.dav.org/membership/resources/find-a-unit/, and selecting a search by zip code or state.  The second is by calling the national headquarters office (877.426.2838, option #8), where staff can provide additional contact information for representatives in your state.
Sign up online!  Members in your community will also have membership applications available for you to fill out and mail in, or you may call national headquarters and a staff member can assist you with an application and payment over the phone. National headquarters staff can also send you membership applications if you do not have internet access.
Yes!  If no unit is specified on your application, you will be placed in the national at-large or if you prefer you can be assigned to the state at-large.  You will still be supporting the organization with your membership; however, you would not have a voice or vote at a state or national convention.
Yes!  Membership cards are sent to adult members and full-paid life junior members within three to five weeks of membership processing.
No, there are no insurance benefits available at the present time.
Yes.  You have access to highly-trained DAV National Service Officers who can answer your questions concerning VA benefits.  Also, you can find a list of member discounts on our web site.
Yes.  However, only one issue is sent per household.
No. Members are welcome to join the unit of their choice.
Yes, provided the multiple memberships are not in the same state.
If you attend unit meetings, ask for the name of the VAVS Representative at the facility where you wish to volunteer or call your local VAMC and speak to the Voluntary Services Department.  You will be provided with information on the application process, given a tour of the facility, informed of various volunteer positions, and assisted with setting up an appointment with Voluntary Services.
The DAV Auxiliary offers “How to Form” kits that offer valuable information on how to organize a new unit.  The new unit will need to have approval from the DAV parent chapter and ten new senior members with complete applications and dues.  National and state at-large members can also count toward the ten new member requirement.  There is a $25.00 charter application fee, as well as an applicable IRS Fee.  Upon receipt of the “How to Form” kit, work with your State Department for one-on-one support!
The membership year runs from July 1 through June 30.

The fiscal year runs July 1 through June 30.

Yes.
DAV is excited to announce we are very close to the “go-live” of one of the most significant and beneficial infrastructure upgrades in our organization’s history, our new Customer Relations Management (CRM) platform.  In addition to other DAV tools, CRM will replace the Membership System, so it has now been permanently shut down.  In the meantime, all of the service and support you would normally find in the Membership System can still be obtained by reaching out to the Membership Department at [email protected] or by calling 1-888-236-8313.  We’ll be sure to update you as soon as possible.
Should you lose your card or it is damaged, please contact national headquarters and a staff member will happily assist you.  Please remember, card processing can take three to five weeks.
Bylaws and other DAVA fraternal sale items are ordered through the DAV Store at www.davstore.org.   The constitution and bylaws are also available to view with printing capability on the website under the Membership/Publications tab.
An interim committee performs an annual review of the constitution and bylaws and considers all resolution submissions.  Recommendations of this committee are presented to the national convention committee and changes are adopted on the convention floor by the registered delegates.  Also, changes are made to the listings of national officers, chairmen, and national executive committee members.
Each unit is required to conduct an annual election for each individual office.  All officers must be installed in accordance with the DAV Auxiliary bylaws.  DAV officers cannot install Auxiliary unit officers.
Various methods can be used for annual election notification:  postcards, newsletters, emails, letters, or phone calls.  If your unit sends out one newsletter per year, you can list the date of the annual election and this would be considered proper notification even if it is months in advance.  The important point is that all senior members must be notified.  Elections to fill a vacancy may be held at a regular business meeting without advance member notification.
Outgoing officers should be prepared to turn over all records and possessions to their successor at the time of installation.  On the state level, however, it may be difficult for the outgoing treasurer to turn over the checkbook since the newly elected treasurer would not be added as an authorized check signer.  Regardless, the outgoing and incoming officers should come to an agreement to assure a timely transition of property.
Yes.  However, if you want to have a voice and/or vote on the convention floor, you must be a member of a chartered unit in good standing with your dues paid and be selected as a delegate in accordance with the national bylaws.
Units are required to hold a minimum of four meetings per year; however, units tend to find that more frequent meetings provide better productivity.

Units are required to pay an annual $25 national mandate which, in most cases, is deducted from the unit’s membership distribution.  Should there not be ample membership distribution, an indebtedness statement will be sent quarterly advising the unit as to the remaining amount owed for their national mandate.

The audit committee shall consist of three senior members excluding the Commander, Senior Vice Commander, Junior Vice Commander (when signing warrants, vouchers, check requests), Adjutant, and Treasurer.  Members of the State Finance Committee may not serve on the State Department Audit Committee.

The Treasurer establishes and maintains a bank account in the name of the Unit, Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary.  The three required authorized Unit signatures shall be the Commander, Senior Vice Commander, and Treasurer.

Any of the three authorized account signers have the authority to check/review the account status.

Two signatures are required on all unit checks.  Authorized unit signers are:  Commander, Treasurer, and Senior Vice Commander (in the absence of the Commander or Treasurer).

Funds can only be paid out on properly signed warrants/vouchers/check requests as voted upon by the Unit or in accordance with Unit Standing Rules. The Adjutant shall initiate and sign all warrants/vouchers/check requests and have them cosigned by the Commander.  In the absence of the Adjutant, the Junior Vice Commander shall sign all warrants/vouchers/check requests.  The Treasurer may then issue a check.

Membership dues should be sent to Auxiliary national headquarters immediately to allow for timely processing and membership card mailing.

Yes!  Beginning in 2007, the IRS required all non-profit units and state departments with gross receipts less than $50,000 to file the 990-N e-Postcard.  Units and state departments with gross receipts of more than $50,000 are required to file IRS Form 990 (or variation of, depending on gross receipts).

After three consecutive years of not filing a 990-N e-Postcard, the IRS will revoke the tax exempt status of a unit or state department.  Upon said revocation the affected units/state departments will be required to fill out IRS Form 1024, IRS Form 8718, submit a copy of the unit/state department charter, a copy of the national constitution and bylaws, and a fee (generally $700) to IRS for reinstatement.  Copies of each must also be sent to national headquarters. Until reinstatement has been achieved the unit/state department membership distribution will be held by the national organization.

Four senior members shall constitute a quorum.  One member present must be the Unit Commander or a Unit Vice Commander.

It is recommended that units establish standing rules to cover unique situations specific to that particular unit.  Standing rules may be changed at any regular business meeting by vote of the unit members present.

No.  As a member of this organization, the Commander has the right to cast their vote on any issue.

If, for some reason, the Commander cannot attend a meeting, this would not be grounds to cancel a meeting as the bylaws allow for the Senior Vice Commander (or Junior Vice Commander) to fill that role and conduct the meeting.  In the event of inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances that would prevent members from attending a meeting, these would be instances where a meeting is cancelled by the Commander with proper member notification.

Yes.  The Commander, Senior Vice Commander, and Adjutant can log in under their membership number and password.  The system will recognize you as an officer and certain permissions will allow you to generate reports under the “Request for Information” tab.  Contact national headquarters in the event of questions, or if the “Request for Information” tab is not visible upon log in.

This identifies the type of membership they hold.  F = Full-paid life member; P = Part-paid life member; J = Junior member.

Q = the unit has achieved the established quota set for that membership year; I = this is an Independent unit that has no parent chapter.

These letters were established many years ago to identify unit status.  B = the unit has achieved (Beat) Quota for the current membership year; R = the unit has Reached last year’s total membership, but has not met quota.

Any communications from the national organization shall be sent to the unit adjutant whose responsibility is to appropriately disseminate the information.

Make junior members feel welcome by including them in unit activities.  Educate them on what the DAV Auxiliary does and how they are a vital part of the future of the organization.  Information on juniors can be found on the DAV Auxiliary website.  Junior memberships are complimentary.

No, a junior charter is not required.

Send a request to National Headquarters with a list of the juniors to be on the charter.  The list will be compared to the current membership list to make sure no juniors are excluded. There is no fee for a junior charter.

The chapter suspension does not include suspension of the Auxiliary unit and does not affect unit functions or voting strength at state or national conventions.  If your unit approves a fund raiser, though, the parent chapter will not be able to grant approval (under suspension) and the unit must contact the DAV state department for said approval.

The reason for the hold status will be explained in a letter to the unit Adjutant and/or Commander.  While on hold, units can meet and carry out the normal business of the unit as well as vote at state and national conventions (provided the unit itself is not indebted to the organization).  The effect it will have on the unit is that fund distribution and mailings are withheld.

The DAV Auxiliary has an Education Scholarship.  More information is available on the website, or by calling national headquarters.  The deadline for the application is typically mid-March

No.

Contact national headquarters by phone (859.441.7300, option #8) or email ([email protected]) and they will be happy to forward you an electronic or printed version of the application.

The unit should always follow the chain of command.  If an issue cannot be resolved on the unit level, the state department should be contacted for assistance.  Should a state department not be able to assist in resolving an issue, it should then be brought to the attention of national headquarters.  Any requests for national headquarters assistance should be submitted in writing with as much detail as possible.

Please contact national headquarters or send an email to [email protected] with the quantity of items needed and where they should be sent.  These items are free of charge and are sent from national headquarters.  Please limit requests to 250.

Yes!  The logo may be used on stationery, business cards, name badges, etc.  Items bearing the organization’s logo may be sold to other members at cost, but never for profit.  In other words, the logo may not be used on items as a fundraiser.

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