Are there 10 ACTIVE MVPA members in your area? The following are some guidelines to assist you in starting an MVPA affiliated group. These are only suggestions, each group may use their own methods, MVPA Headquarters is here to help, please, let us know what we can do.
Set a time and place for your first meeting well in advance. Plan for any refreshments, door prizes or split-the-pot drawings.
Make up a flyer with the above information and one or two contact persons with phone numbers.
Send flyers to the people in your area from the list provided by MVPA, HQ. You can mail 8½" x 11" pages without envelopes, just fold, tape, address and adhere postage. Keep your receipts for reimbursement once dues are collected from fellow members.
Put up posters with your meeting time, place, contact information, in surplus stores, restoration shops, gun shops, body shops, etc. Contact MVPA-HQ for 8"x11" color posters.
At the first meeting, have a list of the officers you feel are needed and what the duties of each will be. You may wish to run an election at the first meeting, or set a special meeting for electing officers. The following officers are a guideline, you may chose the officers your feel will best fit your new club's needs:
- President: Calls the meeting to order and runs the agenda.
- Vice-President: Takes the place of the president in case of any absences and heads all committees.
- Secretary: Takes the minutes of each meeting and reports them to the members, the newsletter editor and the president. You may wish to appoint someone in this position for your first meeting so you have a record of the minutes.
- Treasurer: Establish a bank account with at least one other officer, collect dues, and pay any expenses for the club. Applies for 501(c)10 status with your state.
- Newsletter Editor: The MVPA requires affiliate groups to publish a newsletter at least quarterly, four times during the year. If you would like sample issues for examples, please, contact MVPA, HQ.
- Activities Officer: Coordinates parade participation, trail rides, group events.
- Sergeant at arms: Keeps order at meetings. Guarantees business can be handled in a reasonably short period of time.
Establish the amount of dues each member should pay annually and make up membership applications so a membership roster can be compiled, for the affiliate's use as well as MVPA, HQ.
You may wish to appoint a committee to establish bylaws for your group. You can use National's bylaws as a guideline or contact other MVPA Affiliates and request copies of theirs to use as guides.
Once your group is established and officers elected, fill out the MVPA Affiliate application and return it to MVPA, HQ. It is a requirement that all of your officers and Newsletter Editor be active members of the MVPA. Some groups pay for their officers' dues, others do not. This would be something your group would need to vote on.
Once your application is received the MVPA President will give tentative approval and your group's information will be listed in the Supply Line. The application will be voted on at the next Board of Directors' meeting and your affiliation will be complete. At that time you will receive your MVPA Affiliate Group Certificate.
MVPA Affiliate Benefits
Financial Benefits:
- Group Event Insurance coverage for U.S. affiliates.
- Host an MVPA convention and increase your treasury by a few thousand dollars.
- Free ad space in Supply Line's "Affiliate Commissary". Sell your novelty items (T-shirts, lapel pins, magnets, etc.) to the entire membership of the MVPA!
- 10% Supply Room discount on orders over $50.
- A $5.00 rebate for each new MVPA member recruited by your group.
- Receive a 40% Discount on Supply Line Display Ads.
Promotional Assistance:
- Promotional Video, featuring R. Lee Ermey, is offered for promoting the HMV hobby and the MVPA at your meetings and events.
- Meeting Notification and Group listing in each Supply Line and on the MVPA's web site, by state, for convenient location by new and existing members.
- You can request a list of MVPA members in your area, by area code, state, or zip code, for recruiting members and event promotion.
- MVPA brochures, sample publications and business cards are available for use at events and meetings to let potential members know you are part of a well-respected National organization.
- Host a convention - get local attention and increase your group's membership.
- Complimentary Convention Swap Table to promote your group and sell novelty items.
MVPA Recognition and Affiliate Contributions:
- Attend the "Affiliate Representative" meeting at each convention. This gives your group an opportunity to help set the future direction of the MVPA.
- Your military vehicle events can be listed in the "Upcoming Events" section of Supply Line.
- Recognition is given to Affiliate Groups, and your individual members, when they recruit new members to the MVPA.
- The "Star Program" in Supply Line recognizes your group's support of the MVPA by the number of your members who are also members of National.
- Affiliate group Newsletters are distributed to the MVPA Board of Directors.
- Editors are eligible for the "Newsletter of the Year" award and recognition at the annual convention banquet.
MVPA requirements of the Affiliate Groups
- Affiliate Group Officers and Newsletter Editor are required to be active MVPA members.
- A newsletter must be published quarterly and sent to MVPA Headquarters.
- Complete an annual update form and return it to MVPA-HQ.
Contact Kay or Tracey @ MVPA-HQ for details at (800) 365-5798 or hq@mvpa.org