PROGRAMS REPORTING

REPORT YOUR PROGRAMS
To Report Your Programs You might want to bookmark this URL for an easy return.

LOGIN AND DOCUMENT YOUR POST’S SERVICE TO VETERANS AND THIS NATION’S CITIZENS No special software required. When you submit the data it will be saved for your future reference and instantly will be transmitted and available for your department and national leadership to access. (ALL MEMBERS MAY ACCESS THE SYSTEM)

Tip: You obviously have a computer because you have accessed the AMVETS Web Site and are reading this page. Want to provide a service to veterans, become more involved with your post and do it from the comfort of your home? Volunteer to enter your post’s program data!      
Reporting your post and department program data satisfies three critical needs of the organization and provides your post and department with an archived program data base.

• It captures the program priorities of AMVETS and identifies areas that need strengthened within specific programs.
• It provides essential and cumulative data for the National Commander and all AMVETS leadership.The data may be incorporated into media briefs and Congressional testimony, thus enabling the organization to factually document the positive impact of AMVETS.
• It fulfills an IRS accountability requirement as a tax-exempt organization. 

For our membership, using computers, the online reporting capability is a major step forward and is a huge timesaver. Data does not have to be passed from one paper trail to the next within your post or department. You, your post and your department leadership are able to also view the data anytime they wish and even edit if necessary. At the end of each six-month reporting period, the National Programs Department “rolls up” a national report and resets the reporting period date for the next six-month period. However, the data from the previous period will be retained and can be recalled at any time by entering the previous reporting period ending date in the “analyze reports” screen. A great tool to compare progress and also be able to track the individuals associated with making those reports. The system provides a digital trail, for everyone to see, identifying who entered the data.

Reports, including graphics like those displayed here will also be a available for each respective level of our organization. Moving the data into an Excel spread sheet is also an option enabling further utilization of the data such as adding columns to identify the chair persons of specific programs. Sharing information is critical to the continued success and expansion of AMVETS.

Sample of graphic reports available from the Online Programs Reporting System. (If you enter the data, you can produce these types of reports for your post, department and national districts.)

The graph below shows a total value of $10,080,818 of Programs reported by all posts for the period, 1 January through 14 June 2007. It displays the totals by national districts and shows that National District IV accounted for (71.94%) of the total amount reported. The reports may be created daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, etc., and the data may also be saved into excel sheets for further manipulation.

The graph below shows a total value of $49,277 of Programs reported by MA Post 32 for the period, 1 January through 14 June 2007. It displays the totals by program category and shows that Military Funeral Honor Guards accounted for (15.44%) of the total amount reported.

 












The Chart on top is an  excel  creation  showing the  number  of volunteers  
and  hours from 1 Jan –14  June 2007, by  national districts.

Program Category

• You have a choice of (20) specific program areas to report on by clicking on the drop down box.
• An entry in the comment field is not required for any ofthese; simply enter the number of volunteers and the total number of hours for those volunteers.
• However, you are encouraged to use the comment field when reporting on a Program area that may include multiple/different sub programs. Example: Americanism - the Post members and/or honor guard may have marched in a Memorial Day parade. In the comment field you simply enter three words (Memorial Day parade); four members may have visited several schools to promote and implement the Americanism Poster & Essay contest. In the comment field you simply enter (Poster/Essay Contest (4) schools)
• If you select Blood Drive or Clothing & Food Drive, these are specific and a comment is really not necessary or helpful.
• If you are reporting on your various Fund Raising projects you should briefly make an entry in the comment field (Fish Fry, Raised $500 Net)
• The “other” choice is to accommodate programs specific and unique to your post. However, before the program will submit your report for “other” categories you must enter a brief description of that program in the comment field.

Activity Cost

• If the post spent money, purchased supplies, food or awards, etc., in conducting the Program those expenses are entered in this field. (DO NOT ENTER THE TOTAL OF YOUR VOLUNTEER HOUR VALUE AND MILES VALUE.) They are counted only once and the program will calculate them, as they should be.

Cash Donations

• As an example, your post may be reporting on a Special Olympics program and in addition to providing manpower the post makes a $500 donation. That amount gets reported here. Any community project that your post provides “financial” assistance for would be reported here.

Non-Traditional Program Reporting

The last four choices in the drop down box are for non-traditional Program reporting and they are associated with the other four National Departments. These choices also “require” a comment to briefly define the activity before the information can be submitted.

• Communications/Public Relations Officer Activity: As an example - Your Post PRO could report a special effort he/she has made on a particular program.
• Legislative Activity: As an example - Your Post could report time spent by members directly involved with state legislative work on behalf of veterans and/or work in support of specific veteran legislative issues on Capitol Hill.
• Membership Activity: As an example - Your 1st Vice Commander for Membership could report a specific membership drive. (Booth at County Fair, gave out 200 membership applications.)
• Veteran Service/Claims Activity: As an example - Your Post Service Officer could report any specific facility and/or contacts made for referrals. Veterans transported to VA Medical Centers.

Program Category Definitions

These are not all inclusive, they are offered only as examples.

Old Gloryous Celebration - Special This Period Only

• Please enter, in the "Comment Field," the name of the Mall where your Post volunteered and any special assistance provided.

AADAA

• AADAA - AMVETS Against Drugs and Alcohol Abuse, administering the AADAA Poster & Essay Contest and/or supporting a local community group working with a "recovery" program.

Americanism

• Americanism - Poster & Essay Contest, Parades, Public Ceremonies, etc.

Blood Drives

• Blood Drives - Sponsoring/hosting a community blood drive on behalf of the American Red Cross or providing members to donate for other community sponsored drives. PLEASE NOTE: According to AABB, as blood is freely donated by volunteers, there is no monetary value that may be reported. Patients that receive blood do not pay for the actual blood itself, rather the services applied to processing blood products (i.e. infectious testing, typing, etc.) Please report the "pints" donated in the "comment field." No cash/donation entries. Thank you.

Care Bear

• Care Bears - Raising money and purchasing Teddy Bears to donate to police agencies for distribution to children in emergency situations.

Clothing & Food

• Clothing & Food Drives - Pretty straight forward, conducting your own or providing manpower to assist other organizations.

Fund Raising

• Fund Raising - DO NOT REPORT DONATIONS YOU GIVE TO OTHERS HERE. (Donations given to your Post by other groups/individuals could be reported here. The amount would not go in the Donation Column, you would put the amount received and from who, in the Comment Field.) This category should be used to report what fund raising projects you are doing. How your post raises money to be used for your various veteran and community projects. Anything from Bingo to Steak Frys, etc. In the comment field enter both the name of your fund raiser and the amount you raise. Other columns reflect the volunteers, fund raising costs, etc. DONATIONS YOUR POST MAKES TO OTHER GROUPS may be reported on the specific category line, e.g., Special Olympics, Homeless Veterans OR if it is a Donation to an organization not associated with a specific reporting category, then use the "Other" (Community Service) Category. Identify the cause/organization in the (comment field) and put the $$ amount in the Donation column on that line.

Homeless Veterans

• Homeless Veterans - Conducting or supporting Stand Downs, counseling, donations to agencies working on behalf of Homeless Veterans, participating in a community Continuum of Care.

Mil Funeral Honor Guard

• Military Funeral Honors - For Posts with volunteers and/or formal Honor Guards that participate in conducting MFH for our veterans at any cemetery.

Organ & Bone Marrow Donors

• Organ & Bone Marrow Donor Program - Cooperating with local community groups or doing stand-alone educational programs using our literature. Soliciting members to serve as Bone Marrow Donors.

POW/MIA

• Prisoner Of War/Missing In Action - Provide support to families, conduct POW/MIA ceremonies at community military and veterans gatherings.

ROTC

• Reserve Officer Training Corp - Donating, presenting the AMVETS ROTC awards and/or conducting JROTC drill competitions.

Safe Driver

• Safe Driver - Conducting a safe driver rodeo for high school students involving both education and competition.

Scouting

• Scouting - Chartering Boy Scout and/or Girl Scout units, serving as merit badge counselors, facilitating the presentation of AMVETS Eagle Scout Certificates.

Sick & Hospitalized Veterans

• Sick or Hospitalized Veterans - Visiting/Helping home bound vets and/or Hospitalized Vets. Not to be confused with VAVS hours that should only be reported through the VA Medical Centers. (We do not want to double count the hours.) VAVS stands for "Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service." VAVS only represents service at VA Medical Centers. With the exception of a few State Veteran Hospitals that have a formalized agreement with a VAMC, all other State Vet Hospitals and any and all other "hospital" Volunteer service hours and donations should be reported here. If you are a Rep or Dep, you know the drill. If you are not a "regular" VAVS volunteer, your hours provided for special occassions, could be reported by your Rep or the VAMC Chief as "occassional" hours, however, you need to ask if that is being done. If not, these hours should also be reported here and identify in the comment field, what VAMC you assisted.

Special Olympics

• Special Olympics - Serving as volunteer trainers, judges and support staff for local competitions. Providing financial assistance.

Support for National Guard Troops

• Since signing a Memorandum of Understanding in late March 2005, AMVETS specific support for the Guard has really expanded. For the purpose of this special focus, we have determined the need to track this data separate from all other military support. If the support relates directly to a Family Assistance Center, please note this in the comment field.

Support Our Troops (Not Guard Specific)

• Support Our Troops - Conducting deployment farewells and returning celebrations, providing assistance to families by helping with children, doing repairs, etc. Providing financial assistance for phone cards, voices from home, and time/money directly to base family support units. Mailing care packages. (National Guard Specific Support should NOT be reported on this line. It has its own category.)

Vet History Project (Lib of Cong)

• Veterans History Project - Facilitating the gathering of Veterans stories in an organized manner and within the parameters established by the Library of Congress.

White Clover

• White Clover - There are variations on this program, but the classic is the sale of the AMVETS White Clovers for the specific purpose of raising funds to assist our hospitalized veterans.

* Other (Com. Ser. - Be specific)

• Other (Community Service - Be specific)- This category should only be used if one of the other (18) specific categories do not match the program you are conducting. In the comment field, briefly include: "what" community service, for "who" or "what" agency?

* AMVETS Riders

• Community Programs specific to our AMVETS Riders. You must enter a brief comment explaining the nature of the community service.

* Ohio "only" Career Centers

• For Posts in the Department of Ohio, only! For reporting donations made to the Department of Ohio Career Center.

* Dept/Nat Use Only - Serv Fdns'

PROGRAMS REPORTINGS POWERPOINT

REPORT YOUR PROGRAMS

Please Note:
Submitting paper reports has not been eliminated for those that do not have access to a computer. Continue sending your reports regularly to your department headquarters. Or better yet, visit your local library and enter the data online.

Departments are responsible to enter the data online for posts providing paper reports. This department action is required a minimum of two times each year. For the reporting periods ending June and December.

Posts from unorganized departments, without access to a computer, may send their paper reports directly to the National Programs Department.

Special Note for Department Officers:
If you have not logged onto the “Online Programs” system in order to track what your Posts are doing in the Programs area, ….please do so today and give us a call so we can set your user privilege at the department level. You can view the entire department online and determine exactly what posts have or have not reported.

How does your department compare with other departments in terms of the number of posts reporting?

• Americanism
• AMVETS Against Drug and   Alcohol Abuse (AADAA)
• AMVETS White Clover
• Armed Services Blood
   Program (ASBP)
• Boy Scouts of America
• Ceremonial Rifles
• Citizens Flag Alliance
• Freedoms Foundation Youth
  Leadership Conference
• Military Funeral Honors (AP3)
• Make a Difference
• National Coalition for
  Homeless Veterans (NCHV)
• National Guard -
  Memorandum of Understanding
• ROTC
• Scholarships
• Special Olympics
• Task Force DVD
• Veterans Affairs Voluntary   Services (VAVS)
• Veterans History Project

Some of the other Programs Supported by posts at the local level:
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• American Red Cross
• Bone Marrow Foundation
• Girl Scouts USA
• Habitat for Humanity
• National Center for missing   & exploited childern
• National Transplant Society

Be A Quality Post

ON-TIME REVALIDATION
Revalidation completed by July 15

MEMBERSHIP
Renewed at or greater membership strength than the previous year.

PROGRAMS REPORTING
Reported programs for the preceding June and December

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS
Provided community service in a number specific areas.