RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard Association’s annual membership drive kicked off Oct. 5, 2021, following the launch of the redesigned membership request form housed on the VNGA webpage. The membership drive runs Oct. 1, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2021. All new and renewed membership will count from the day of submission through Dec. 31, 2022.
“This is a phenomenal opportunity for leaders to demonstrate their commitment to organizational improvement,” said Maj. Andrew J. Czaplicki, VNGA president. “I know many squinted their eyes or turned they’re head at that comment, but I’m serious. We always talk about ways to improve the [Virginia National Guard], but very few of us actually get to do it. Joining forces with hundreds of other Warrant Officers and Officers throughout Virginia is a proven method and we have two solid years of results.”
In 2020, the VNGA championed Senate Bill 753, which increased the pay rates that Soldiers and Airmen receive during bouts of State Active Duty, or SAD. In 2021, House Bill 2261 and 1979 removed the vehicle registration fees for currently serving and retired members of the Virginia National Guard.
“These are tools in our leadership rucksack,” Czaplicki said. “They don’t solve all the problems, but they help.”
The membership drive is uniquely timed during the Fall of 2021, which is different than past years’ membership drives, Czaplicki explained.
“We wanted to raise membership prior to going into the [Commonwealth of Virginia’s] 2022 General Assembly Session beginning in January,” said Czaplicki. “It’s a different approach for sure, but our national partners, the [National Guard Association of the United States] amended their membership policies and I think it’ll work out for the best– there’s already so much that automatically renews in October, so why not your membership dues?”
Continuing from the 2021 membership drive is the financial incentive for Major Subordinate Commands. Each command is eligible to receive a cash award to their unit’s informal fund upon achievement of membership targets. Lifetime members and complementary members count towards these targets as long as their unit information is up-to-date. Cash awards range from $250 for units with smaller targets all the way to $1,000 to units with large Warrant Officer and Officer populations. The membership drive closes on Dec. 31, 2021, all other renewals and new memberships posted after Dec. 31, 2021, will not count towards the contest figures.
The VNGA has set an active life and active annual membership goal of 35% for 2022, which is roughly 440 Warrant Officers and Officers from across the Virginia National Guard formations of about 1,300. Strength is calculated by total number of officers currently authorized in the state divided by active life and active annual memberships. Retired life and affiliate memberships do not count towards achieving strength goals.
“I am fond of saying that ‘Membership Matters’ and it really does,” said Czaplicki. “Anytime we have a national of local issue pop up, I can rely on our members to take action; whether that is sending an email, making a phone call or even just commenting on a post, our members do something about the issue.”
Official rules and guidelines may be downloaded here.
OFFICERS AND WARRANT OFFICERS MAY JOIN OR RENEW AT THIS LINK.
ARNG and ANG specific flyers can be downloaded here.
Membership Drive Toolkit can be downloaded here.