PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Matt Cary, VMFP President

VMFP Members:

I am pleased to announce our monthly Internet Newsletter for all paid members. I would like to share some major achievements of your National organization and some of the activities with which it has been involved since our founding conference in Washington, D.C. in September of 2005.

Event of Note - Recruiting National Leadership

The Board has nominated and appointed Chairpersons to lead the various Standing Committees included in our VMFP Bylaws document.

Each national committee has a minimum of 3 members to a maximum of 10 members. We are currently recruiting for someone to take charge of a periodical electronic newsletter. When that is in place, they will include reports from these committees.

Event of Note - Training VMFP Leadership

On February 17th & 18th, 2006, a VMFP Leadership Conference was held in Durham, N.C., to discuss the goals and objectives of VMFP as a 501(c) 4 organization and how to achieve our Mission at the grassroots level. VMFP Officers, Directors and Committee Chairs participated.

Goals were established in the areas of membership recruitment and fundraising. National Operating Procedures were adopted for the establishment of State and Local Chapters. VMFP thanks Membership Chair Lamonica Coleman for handling the planning and logistics of this Conference.

Operating Procedures to guide VMFP members in their various roles have been created, including Committee Operating Procedures for each National Committee.

Event of Note - Collaborating with Other Veterans' Organizations

In February of 2006, VMFP assisted VETPAC (Veterans Alliance for Security and Democracy) a Non-partisan Political Action Committee with a one-day conference in Arlington, Virginia.

Approximately 40 Veterans who are running for the U.S. House of Representatives attended and participated in a Press Conference, Workshops, and a Fundraiser on Capitol Hill. VMFP assisted in arranging for the hotel, staffing the workshops and coordinating the transportation.

A well deserved thank you goes to Julie Tackett, VMFP National Secretary, Pat Heineman, Executive Director of the DC / Metro Chapter of VMFP and Bill Dooling, VMFP National Vice-President for their hard work on this event, as well as D.C. area VMFP volunteers.

Event of Note - Outreach to veterans and military families in the Native American Community

In April of 2006, VMFP President Matt Cary and VMFP Vice-President Bill Dooling attended the National Indian Gaming Association's annual trade show in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in an effort to reach out to Native American veterans and their families.

VMFP Board Member Jim Overman was extremely helpful in handling the logistics for this event. Jim is the most highly decorated Native American Air Force Veteran.

VMFP was given a booth, free of charge, which allowed us the opportunity to speak with Native American Veteran attendees and their families and to distribute our brochures. VMFP will continue to reach out to NIGA leaders to bring our mission and objectives to the Native American Community.

Event of Note - Announcing our formation to the press, our elected officials and the American Public

On Wednesday, May 17th, VMFP held a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington DC to announce our newly formed organization to the Media and to the American public. The VMFP Media/PR Committee was very involved with this activity. We appreciate the efforts of Committee Chair Maura Satchell and Committee Members Tom Howe, Sarah Morrison, and Paul Marvel.

In attendance were VMFP Board Members Ned Jaros, Robert Brannum, National President Matt Cary and National Secretary Julie Tackett. VMFP Gov't Affairs Committee Chair Dr Nancy Clark and Executive Director of the DC/MD/NVA Chapter Pat Heineman also attended. Attached to this E-Newsletter is the Press Release and the Statement of VMFP President Matthew Cary from this event.

Event of Note - refining our Website

The Communications Committee is currently upgrading our Website (www.vmfp.org) in an effort to make it more user-friendly, improve its content, and develop quality links to relevant sites. VMFP would like to thank Rick Sperko for his hard work in setting up the initial website, and to Dennis Mansker and Pat Heineman for designing a majority of our new site. The Website will be reviewed on a constant basis to reflect new information and changes to keep us current.

Event of Note - VMFP Operations & Projects begin

Finally, a letter has gone out to all U.S. Senators and Congressmen, and will soon be sent to all Veterans Service Organizations, announcing the formation of VMFP. You will be notified of grassroots activities for this and other pending Operations you can participate in.

VMFP Member Challenge - continue to grow our membership

I urge you to speak with fellow veterans and military family members about joining VMFP, and supporting veteran candidates and their family members running for elective office.

Regards,
Matt Cary, President
Veterans and Military Families for Progress

Veterans and Military Families for Progress is dedicated to ensuring that the rights and needs of veterans, active-duty service members, and their families are understood by the American public, endorsed by our elected officials, and protected by legislation, regulation and public policy initiatives.