Project Update April - 2012
This will very likely be my last write up for the Waverly Area Veterans Post monthly news letter. I have served as the Chairman of the WAVP Board of Directors for the past three plus years and it is time for a leadership change. At the March WAVP Board of Directors meeting, Darrell Blasberg was elected to serve as the new Chairman of your board.
I want each of you to understand I remain fully committed to this project and will continue to work hard to help us successfully complete this new facility. I have thoroughly enjoyed working on this project, working with the WAVP Board of Directors, and meeting lots of new people who have been supportive of this project. It is simply time for a change – for me and for the project.
I will continue to serve on the WAVP Board of Directors. The majority of my efforts will now be focused on using the new laptop PC we will be purchasing to set up the software for the fully automated WAVP accounting system – "Quickbooks". This is the finance system we will be using when the new WAVP becomes operational. I will also be converting our fund raising administrative process from Excel to a fully automated fund raising software system called "Donor Perfect". By fully automating and integrating these two financial software systems, the amount of time spent on these processes and the quality of our work will be greatly enhanced.
In closing, I would like to "Thank" everyone who has helped and supported me as the Chairman of the WAVP. There have been many great things we have done to date and though we still have a way to go, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. There are too many folks to mention by name, and I do not want to miss anyone, so I will be fairly general in my comments. First, "Thank You" to each of the past and present WAVP board members for your work and your support. Second, "Thank You" to the WAVP Advisors, Committee Chairs and Committee members. Without your presence and your strong business skills, we would not be where we are to date. Third, "Thank You" to all of my friends, old and new (you know who you are), who have supported this project in various ways. Fourth, "Thank You" to each of you who have supported this project financially. Your pledges and gifts will make this project a reality. Finally, "Thank You", Yvonne! You have been my "rock" and my "foundation". You picked me up when I would get discouraged and you were always there to listen when I had to "vent". Your support for me has been unreal and your presence always appreciated. "Thank You, Vonner!"
Over and Out!
Respectfully,
Jim Beam
Chairman, Waverly Area Veteran Post
Project Update March - 2012
We continue to work hard on the fund raising effort. At the current time, we are close to $940,000 in funds raised for the project. Approximately 315 donors have stepped forward with their pledge/gift.
KEY Question: What is your interest in the Waverly Area Veterans Post Project?
What the Waverly Area Veterans Post needs now is your commitment to this project, and the $2.5 million goal, in the form of a 3-year pledge. Many prospective donors have stated "they will give when construction starts". But we cannot begin until we raise our dollar goal. The architect will not begin, the bankers will not lend, and we are missing out on certain grants because we do not have everyone’s pledge. We DO NOT need you to send your gift at this time. The Waverly Area Veterans Post will put full faith and trust in your pledge. I encourage you to direct any questions, suggestions, and concerns you have about the project to me or any other member of the Waverly Area Veterans Post board of directors. You may also submit your input via the www.waverlyvets.us website using the "CONTACT US" link. It is very simple to do.
I hope you all had an opportunity to see the WAVP story in the February 23, 2012, edition of the Waverly Newspaper "Progress Edition". I thought it was done very, very well and our "Thanks" goes out to the Waverly Newspaper and the entire staff. I also want to say "Thank You" to all four of our Veteran service organizations for their input to this article. I want to especially "Thank" Marvin Behrens and Mary Steinbach for their hard work to make this article possible. Not many folks step forward and ask how they can help the WAVP project to succeed – these two individuals have done that and I sincerely "Thank You" both.
Our February 11, 2012, WAVP breakfast went very well. The food was excellent, everyone who helped did a great job, and it is always great to see folks you don’t get to see very often. A big "Thank You" to all who joined us that Saturday morning and a huge "Thank You" to everyone who worked the breakfast.
The March WAVP breakfast will be held Saturday, March 10, 2012, at the VFW. Remember, we are now using the downstairs area for the breakfast so use the lower level, North door to enter. Serving hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Have a great month of March and get ready, Spring is on the way!
Respectfully,
Jim Beam
Chairman, Waverly Area Veteran Post
Project Update February - 2012
We continue to work hard on the fund raising effort. At the current time, we are right at $925,000 in funds raised for the project. Approximately 310 donors have stepped forward with their pledge/gift. Things generally slow down a bit over the Holidays so I am optimistic activity will pick up again in both our Fund Raising efforts and the actual gifts received.
KEY POINT: What the Waverly Area Veterans Post needs now is your commitment to this project in the form of a 3-year pledge. Many prospective donors have stated "they will give when construction starts". But we cannot begin until we raise our dollar goal. The architect will not begin, the bankers will not lend, and we are missing out on certain grants because we do not have everyone’s pledge. We DO NOT need you to send your gift at this time. The Waverly Area Veterans Post will put full faith and trust in your pledge. We want you to also understand if this project should be scaled back, you will not be held to your commitment under those new conditions/terms. By making your pledge to support this project, we can reach our goal and begin construction in 2012. I encourage you to direct any questions, suggestions, and concerns you have about the project to me or any other member of the Waverly Area Veterans Post board of directors. You may also submit your input via the www.waverlyvets.us website using the "CONTACT US" link. It is very simple to do.
I want to extend to each of you a sincere apology for the fact we had to cancel the January 14, 2012, Waverly Area Veteran Post breakfast. Just prior to the actual date, we realized we had scheduled our event at the same time the Boy Scouts of America had scheduled their breakfast. We just did not feel it was appropriate to detract from their breakfast by holding ours at the same time. Unfortunately, we had publicly announced our breakfast but had no timely means to communicate the actual cancellation. I hope you can understand this situation and why we made the decision we made. That said, I hope you will plan to attend the next Waverly Area Veterans Post breakfast. It will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2012, at the VFW. Watch for the time to be announced later.
An FYI – each of the four Veteran Posts and the Waverly Area Veterans Post are planning to participate in the annual Waverly Newspaper’s "Progress Edition" to be published February 23, 2012. We are honored we were asked by the newspaper to participate and are looking forward to sharing our progress to date and the direction we are planning for the Waverly Area Veterans Post project.
Respectfully,
Jim Beam
Chairman, Waverly Area Veteran Post
Project Update January - 2012
Greetings to Everyone! I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and have a great start to the New Year. I think you will agree 2012 should be an exciting and interesting year when you look at everything taking place in Waverly, the state of Iowa, the United States, and the entire world. I think we will have to buckle up and hang on!
We continue to work hard on the fund raising effort. At the current time, we stand at just under $900,000 in funds raised for the project. Approximately 300 donors have stepped forward with their pledge/gift. I cannot overemphasize how critically important it is we raise the dollars to build this new facility before we actually begin construction. We have separated the project into two phases as follows: (Phase 1) – the actual building construction at $2,500,000 and (Phase 2) – the parking lot, site preparation, landscaping, lighting, etc. at $1,000,000. The Waverly Area Veterans Post board of directors firmly believes when we raise the $2,500,000 amount and begin the actual construction, we will be able to generate Phase 2 funds very easily.
KEY POINT: What the Waverly Area Veterans Post needs now is your commitment to this project in the form of a 3-year pledge. Many prospective donors have stated "they will give when construction starts". But we cannot begin until we raise our dollar goal. The architect will not begin, the bankers will not lend, and we are missing out on certain grants because we do not have everyone’s pledge. We DO NOT need you to send your gift at this time. The Waverly Area Veterans Post will put full faith and trust in your pledge. We want you to also understand if this project should be scaled back, you will not be held to your commitment under those new conditions/terms. By making your pledge to support this project, we can reach our goal and begin construction in 2012. I encourage you to direct any questions, suggestions, and concerns you have about the project to me or any other member of the Waverly Area Veterans Post board of directors. You may also submit your input via the www.waverlyvets.us website using the "CONTACT US" link. It is very simple to do.
Please mark your calendar and plan to attend the next Waverly Area Veterans Post breakfast. It will be held on January 14, 2012, at the VFW. Note also, this is a Saturday morning breakfast not the usual Sunday event.
Take Care and Happy New Year!
Respectfully,
Jim Beam
Chairman, Waverly Area Veteran Post