1. Having been duly elected and installed into the office of Commander, Department of Colorado, according
to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, I hereby assume command
of the Department of Colorado. All previously appointed officers and committeemen's term of office is hereby
declared expired and now ineffective.
The following officers have been duly elected and installed at the 88th Annual Convention held June 18-21, 2008,
Gunnison, CO., and will have full authority to act and shall be obeyed accordingly:
COMMANDER:
Steve Rylant, #41
130 E 22nd Street
Loveland 80538
970-669-1832
SR. VICE COMMANDER:
William Esch, #2121
4311 W 22nd St.
Greeley 80634
970-330-9138
JR. VICE COMMANDER:
Ronald Crumley, #336
7112 Lane 24
Sugar City 81076
719-267-4968
QUARTERMASTER/ADJUTANT:
Dick Wellensiek, #4171
1400 Carr Street
Lakewood 80214
303-421-1630
CHAPLAIN:
Warren Anderson, #4331
9134 W 93rd Ave.
Westminster 80021
303-463-8394
JUDGE ADVOCATE:
Wayne Thompson, #5061
5950 S. Gaylord Way
Littleton 80121
303-794-2894
SURGEON:
D. J. Alberts, #4051
53 Upland Rd.
Colo Spgs 80906
719-635-2373
CHIEF OF STAFF:
Charles Watkins, #3917
3113 Broadmoor Valley Rd. Unit B
Colo Spgs. 80906
719-576-0559
INSPECTOR:
Darrell Anderson, #2551
70 Dutch Valley Rd
Bennett 80102
303-644-5746
SERVICE OFFICER:
Terry Jacobson, #3471
155 Van Gordon, Rm 360
Lakewood 80228
303-914-5597
PAST DEPT. COMMANDER:
Donald Smith, #9669
3250 Shoup Rd.
Colorado Springs 80908
303-495-4042
DISTRICT 1 COMMANDER:
Joe Wedemann, #5061
1176 Boston St
Denver 80247
303-337-0083
DISTRICT 2 COMMANDER:
George Knox, #12063
1420 Walnut
Canon City 81212
719-269-9255
DISTRICT 3 COMMANDER:
Richard Larson, #2841
276 N 5th Ave.
Brighton 80601
303-659-1252
DISTRICT 4 COMMANDER:
Ken Davidson, #3961
39240 Rd RR
Otis 80743
970-246-3661
DISTRICT 5 COMMANDER:
Allen Nye, #101
P O Box 60295
Colo Spgs 80960
719-579-0171
DISTRICT 6 COMMANDER:
Ronald Kiniston, #2411
346 St Vrain Ave.
Las Animas 81054
719-456-1487
DISTRICT 7 COMMANDER:
Charles Cooper, #899
4321 S 114 Rd.
Alamosa 81101
719-587-3408
DISTRICT 8 COMMANDER:
Lawrence Walrath, #3820
9875 Puite Dr.
Salida 81201
719-539-4652
DISTRICT 9 COMMANDER:
F. R. “Bud” Nelson, #4265
345 Woodbury Dr.
Craig 81625
970-824-1793
DISTRICT 10 COMMANDER:
Ron Davies, #9644
6546 S Brentwood Way
Littleton 80123
303-933-0448
DISTRICT 11 COMMANDER:
Jim Stafford, #3981
2189 McKinley Dr.
Grand Junction 81503
970-243-3303
DISTRICT 12 COMMANDER:
Scott trudeau, #5181
P O Box 424
Dove Creek 81324
970-562-4627
DISTRICT 13 COMMANDER:
James Lafferty, #3411
Box 207
Wild Horse 80862
719-962-3389
2. COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION: The next Council of Administration meeting will be Sunday, July 27, 2008, at Longs Peak
VFW Post 2601, 206 S Main St., Longmont, Time: 8:00 A.M. SHARP. ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS OR THEIR PROPER REPRESENTATIVES
MUST BE PRESENT. Any and all District and Post Officers and members are invited to attend. Uniform of the day will be black and white.
All attending Officers must sign the roster with the Department Adjutant to record your presence at Council of Administration meeting.
3. PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY: All Department Officers are instructed to comply with Sec. 515, Paragraph (c) “Proof of Eligibility”.
Such proof must be on file at Department Headquarters prior to July 27, 2008. Failure to comply will disqualify Council Members from participation
in the Council of Administration and District Commanders for reimbursement of expenses.
4. 2008 SPRING SWEEPSTAKES: Prize winners of the Spring Sweepstakes are listed in the Colorado Veteran.
5. DIRECT DUES notices will be mailed to the membership. Membership Kits have been mailed to the Post Quartermasters.
Bring your questions to the Midsummer Conference July 27th in Longmont.
6. NATIONAL CONVENTION: The 109th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. will be held in
Orlando, FL August 16-21, 2008. Please contact Department Headquarters for information. 109th Anniversary Gala tickets are $50.00 each. Check or
money order should be sent with request for tickets.
7. NATIONAL CONVENTION REGISTRATION FEE: All Posts are reminded of the provision of the National By-Laws, which
requires at least one registration from each Post. The registration fee of $10.00 and a completed registration form must be sent to the Quartermaster General,
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., 406 West 34th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111, prior to August 10, 2008. If the Post has not sent in a
Post Election Report Form listing officers for 2008-2009, credentials will not be mailed to the Post Commander for the National Convention.
8. 2008-2009 POST OFFICERS: Posts that have not submitted Report of Election forms will do so immediately. The forms must
be submitted even though the current officers served for the 2007-2008 year. Posts that have not reported officers will not receive a 2009 membership kit
or be listed in the Department roster. Posts who have not properly reported elected officers by August 1, 2008, will be suspended for a period of
ninety (90) days by the Commander-in-Chief. This suspension will automatically terminate when a properly completed Report of Election of officers is received
at National Headquarters. At the end of ninety (90) days, the Commander-in-Chief may cancel the charter of any Post not properly submitting a list of officers
to National Headquarters. Please also send a copy of the Report of Election of officers to Department Headquarters.
9. QUARTERMASTER BONDS - AUDITS: It is the duty of Commander to see that the office of the Quartermaster is bonded
and that Trustees Reports of Audits are completed, signed by the Commander, Trustees, and Quartermaster and mailed to Department Headquarters no later
than 30 days following the close of each quarter. All Quartermaster bonds carried through Department expire August 31, 2008. The foregoing is a
requirement of the National By-Laws. Bond Applications will be mailed to the Post and District Quartermaster August 1, 2008.
10. DEPARTMENT COLOR GUARD: All requests for the State Color Guard Units or Ritual Teams will be directed by the
State Commander to Joe Wedemann and will be handled in order of priority established by the Commander and recommendations from the District being
considered. All requests will be submitted in writing to the State Commander, and it is requested that a copy be sent to Captain Joe Wedemann.
11. COMMUNITY SERVICE and OTHER REPORTS: Post Commanders are advised to send WHITE ORIGINAL report
form - Community Service, Youth Activity, Americanism, Loyalty Day, Hospital and others pertaining to the Department Program report -
DIRECTLY to Department Headquarters, 1400 Carr Street, Lakewood, CO, 80214. The Adjutant will duplicate same and send copies to the
various VFW State Chairmen. The reporting year commences May 1, 2008. Do not report programs completed prior to that date for the reporting year
2008-2009. Please make a copy of these forms for your Post files. Forms are available from Department Headquarters.
12. VFW CAPS, OFFICIAL: All personnel are advised that there is only one official cap of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, namely, a cap of the
overseas type, lettered with VFW initials, Post numerals, State, rank of office (when applicable), and bearing the Cross of Malta emblem. The color shall be
regulation Army Shade 51 or Suntan, tropical worsted. Organizational echelons will be designated by the appropriate color of the braid and lettering on the cap.
Caps will not be worn while eating or seated during meals. All other types of headgear, i.e., baseball types, western types, sporting
types, are not official headgear and will not be worn at meetings of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
13. 2007-2008 AWARDS: Posts or individuals who have not received the appropriate awards they earned from the Department of
Colorado in the 2007-2008 year, please notify Department, in writing, within Thirty (30) Days by applying for the appropriate awards.
14. MEMBERSHIP: The new membership year has started. Sign up a new and/or reinstated members and earn awards from
Department.
ATTESTED BY:
\s\ Richard Wellensiek
Richard Wellensiek
Department Adjutant
BY COMMAND OF:
\s\ Steven A. Rylant
Steven. A. Rylant
Department Commander
