This podcast is intended to provide educational support to members of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (LAVFW). Thousands of members are dropped from membership list yearly due to non- renewals and to deaths. This podcast is intended to aid in recruiting of new members by role playing. According the LAVFW ByLaws and Ritual, the rule is as follows in Sec. 101:

Membership in the Auxiliary VFW shall be limited to wives, widows, mothers, foster and stepmothers [who have performed the duties of parent], grandmothers, daughters, granddaughters, foster and stepdaughters [who attained that status prior to age sixteen (16) and for whom the duties of parent were performed], sister, half sisters, foster and stepsisters [who attained the status prior to age sixteen (16)] of persons who were or are eligible for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Members must be citizens of the United States and not less than (16) years old.

The following skit is intended as instructional material only to aid in membership recruitment in the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The scenario is: an Auxiliary member, Samantha meets a family friend who has just came back from active duty in Afghanistan. Samantha: Hello John, how are you? It is really good to see you! John: Great! How are you? Samantha: What a pleasure to meet you today. John: I just got back in town after being deployed to Afghanistan. Samantha: How is your wife, Stephanie? John: She is good but gets lonely while I am out of the country. I wish she could get out with more friends. Samantha: I can understand it must be difficult for her. Does she visit with the ladies in the Auxiliary at your local VFW?

John: No, she is not a member of an Auxiliary. Samantha: Really? Do you think she would like to be a member? John: Well, I think she would like to be a member, she just doesn’t know anyone and we haven’t been back to the VFW home post since I joined the Post. I have been busy out of the country. Samantha: The Ladies Auxiliary meet once a month, assist veterans with important programs such as mailing care packages to servicemen and women, walk in parades, teach child about the importance of the flag and pledge. We also pass out buddy poppies and raise funds for cancer aid and research. Would that interest her? John: Oh, I believe it would. She was always sending me care packages. Samantha: I have an application here John, would you like one? John: I don’t know, I was really on my way out to buy her a gift, to tell her that I loved her!

Samantha: You need a gift? What a perfect idea! Buy her a life membership to the ladies auxiliary! John: How much is the membership? Samantha: A life membership cost less than $200 and based on her age, best of all, it is for life! John: Okay, you have convinced me! Where is that application? Samantha: Here it is. John: It isn’t complicated to complete? Samantha: No this application allows for just one small application to be completed and only takes minutes of your time. John: Do you need me to fill out where I was stationed overseas; after all, you do know me? Samantha: Yes, I do. We need to know that you were stationed from February, 2009 to October 2010 in Afghanistan and earned the Medal of Global War on Terrorism.

John: I see that question on the application. I remember I had to fill that out on my VFW Post membership application. I gave them a copy of my active duty pay stub. Do you need a copy of it, too? Samantha: No, John. Since you are a member of the VFW Post and Stephanie will be a prospective member to the Auxiliary of the same Post, we do not need any additional papers to show your eligibility. John: That’s great. I didn’t have a copy of my pay stub with me! (chuckle) Samantha: Thank you John. Did you want to pay with your credit card? John: Yes, I have it here. Let me record the information. Samantha: Thank you. Her application is now complete. I will take the application to the Auxiliary president and the membership can vote on her application. John: Thank you, Samantha! Can you put a bow on it? (chuckles) Samantha: Well I could wrap your receipt!