Team New Mexico,

 

The last 2 months have been a fast paced,  I have had the opportunity to see many great things our department is doing across the State.  I had the opportunity to march in the Independence Day parade in Anthony celebrating Our Great nations  250TH  Birthday.  Visit many posts and see the progress they are making in updating and modernizing their post facilities.  I got to spend some time with Post 11999 ‘s Assault on the Mountain program for Soldiers and Families from Ft Bliss Transitioning out of the military due to injuries and illness sustained while in service.  I have had the opportunity to attend multiple post meetings.  Represent the Department at our National Convention in Reno, elect officers and vote on By-laws and other items that keep our organization strong.  We had an amazing turn out More than 30 comrades were in attendance, and more than half were first time attendees.  They were not just attending they were actively participating, showing their passion for our Veterans and this organization.  Fall Conference is approaching fast, and the deadline for VOD, Patriot Pen, and Teacher award will be upon us quickly. 

 

Over the past several years, our department has built tremendous momentum through strong leadership and the hard work being done at the Post level throughout this state. We took major steps forward in communication through our Commander Calls, and this year we will continue building upon that success with increased training, collaboration, and leader development during our regular meetings. 

 

I believe we have an opportunity—and an obligation—to modernize our department. We must use the tools available to us to improve efficiency, strengthen communication, reduce unnecessary costs, and increase engagement with our members and communities. Modernization is not about abandoning tradition. It is about ensuring the VFW remains strong, relevant, and capable of thriving for generations to come. If we are serious about growth, we must be willing to evolve. Modern communication, training platforms, and technology will help us connect with younger veterans and their families in ways previous generations could not. The status quo will not sustain us. Growth requires effort, innovation, and leadership. Our responsibility is not only to maintain this organization, but to make it stronger for those who follow us. 

We must build today with tomorrow in mind. The wisdom, traditions, and values passed down to us are priceless, and we will continue honoring the proud legacy of the VFW. But honoring the past does not prevent us from moving forward. True leadership means preserving our traditions while building a stronger future. This vision cannot be fully accomplished in a single year, but together we can blaze a trail for future leaders and lay a solid foundation that will benefit this Department for years to come. To accomplish this, we must all commit to improving communication and embracing the tools that help us lead more effectively. Every officer should have access to email and be willing to learn the systems we implement to train, communicate, and collaborate more efficiently.

  

Technology may be challenging at times, but it is already part of every aspect of our daily lives. We should embrace the tools that make us better leaders, better communicators, and better servants to our members. We will invest in our leaders, our Posts, and our Districts. We are building a model at the Department level that can be shared throughout the organization to strengthen every level of leadership across New Mexico. Let me be clear: modernization does not change our core mission.