Another four weeks have passed and it is The Graybeards’ time again—time to write something that
you will not even receive until about sixty days from now. Only those officers and directors involved in
“copy” for The Graybeards can fully recognize the extent of the role this venerable publication has
in the Association. We are fortunate to be served by a top-notch Editor-Publisher team, one dedicated to
veterans. Thank you, Art Sharp and Dr. Gerald Wadley.
In last month’s issue there was a reprint of the article by Jimmy Faircloth, For the Good of the Order.
No other single article in any issue since 2003 has received as many expressions of understanding and support.
In contrast, when it first appeared in the May-June 2005 issue, not a single comment was received. I hope
this means that the rank and file of the KWVA are wearying of unnecessary conflict and are anxious to get
on with Founder Bill Morris’ vision for this organization.
This issue is the annual election issue. Ballots are distributed in this issue in accordance with the
Bylaws and under the direction of the Nominations/Elections Committee. Active voting members who
experience any problems in receiving a Ballot—to which they are entitled—should contact the Chairman of
the Committee. His name and relevant contact information are located across the page from where you see
these remarks. Please do not contact the editor or publisher of the magazine, or the President. Remember,
the election is the responsibility of the Nominations/Elections Committee. On election matters, the magazine
staff, the President, and all other members of the Administration take our orders from the Chairman of that
Committee.
This year is an election of Directors. Contrary to much of the heated and more often than not unwelcome
and uninformed rhetoric, Directors are not part of the Administration (unless appointed to a task other
than a Board Committee). I say this in an attempt to head off any false impressions being legitimately drawn
from the remainder of my remarks in this issue. As I am writing (March 14, 2007), I do not know who all
the candidates are. I do know the ones who I am supporting personally— just as do many of you—and I will
tell anyone who asks, again just as will many of you.
The remainder of this article deals with the Administration. I recently attended a thoughtful meeting
where the Requirements of a Successful Organization were posited:
- a Mission that matters
- a Leadership that leads
- the Necessity of Training
- a unifying Strategy
- flexibility in execution
- Risk-taking execution of operations
- High Technology support and approach
We have a Mission tracing right back to Founders’ Day—and it matters! (A copy of our Mission Statement
appears at the bottom of this page.) I must acknowledge that we seem to be the only organization on the
North American continent interested in securing our blood-bought victory and defense in Korea, which is
part of our Mission: Support a Free Korea. However, I am proud that the International Federation
of Korean War Veterans Associations (IFKWVA), our allies from 1950 through today, supports the same
objective.
The Leadership of the organization has led since July 2004. Indeed, that has been a continuing
source of conflict—it is change and (we) older folks don’t like change! But, change is going to happen,
because death and infirmity are inevitable and more probable as we age. We can choose to accept change
and thus become a positive force in the legacy of the KWVA, or we can curse change and its agents and sully
our own images/reputations and places in KWVA history after all the “Graybeards” are gone.
Training is a continuing weakness in our association. It will be a critical and non debatable
requirement if we attain a Federal Charter. And it will cost money. There is no room for argument about
training. We have done what we could in the past three years. It must get better.
Strategy is properly a function of the Board of Directors (of which I am Chairman). It is also
a result of training and longevity. Training money and a shortage of capable members willing
to run for office as Directors—and officers—limit the amount of effort we have been able to spend on
Strategies other than the campaigns for a Federal Charter (since 2003) and the care and maintenance
of our National Memorial (late in 2006).
We have exercised Flexibility in advancing our Mission, even while trying to catch up on
years of neglect within the organization. One example: members had long been told—prior to July 2004—that
we had 300 chapters. The truth is that at that time we had about 220 chapters. Reports and claims of having
more were false, leading the Administration to coin the phrase “Phantom Chapters.”
A similar situation existed in the matter of the Departments. We have chapters today which have only
a few members of the KWVA. Many of these chapters are led by non-members of the KWVA, including Commanders/Presidents
and other officials who are not KWVA members or are delinquent in dues. We have some Departments in the
same situations. Obviously, Flexibility and Risk Taking become limited when you are trying to put
together an organization on the go and train it after years of neglect.
In the last of the requirements we have been able to forge a High Technology compatible and based
membership and management information system. One product of this has been a world-class website useful
to all Korea and other veterans in the US and overseas. In a similar vein, we have a continually improving
world-class veterans’ magazine.
This is the state of the KWVA as I prepare these thoughts. Future leadership is, as always, in the hands
of the members. VOTE.
National President, KWVA/US
Chairman of the Board
