| The
following
communiqué
is
to
clear
up
recent
changes
involving
the
Cold
War
Veterans
Association.
As
a
state-incorporated
(nonprofit)
entity
operating
under
§501(c)(19)
of
the
Internal
Revenue
Code,
the
Cold
War
Veterans
Association
has
legally-imposed
limitations
which
constrain
its
operations.
When
the
CWVA
Board
of
Directors
is
made
aware
of
individuals
undertaking
activities
that
contravene
those
limitations,
the
CWVA
Board
of
Directors
has
a
fiduciary
obligation
to
intervene
and
end
those
unauthorized
activities.
Rather
than
permit
legally
impermissible
activities,
the
CWVA
Board
has
taken
the
requisite
action
to
ensure
that
the
principles
of
uberrimae
fidei
are
upheld.
While
we
cannot
go
into
detail
about
any
specific
decisions,
suffice
it
to
say
that
the
following
have
also
factored
into
recent
changes.
Let’s
begin
with
the
following
legislative
agenda
items
that
did
not
receive
the
level
of
attention
they
deserved:
Arguably
the
number
one
priority
for
Cold
War
Veterans
is
access
to
the
V.A.
health
care
system.
As
it
stands
now,
millions
are
categorized
as
Priority
Group
8
veterans
and
denied
the
opportunity
to
enroll
in
the
V.A.
system.
A
House
Veterans
Advisory
Committee
upon
which
the
CWVA
Chairman
has
served
saw
this
as
a
high
priority
action
item.
While
we
had
the
support
of
the
majority
of
Congress
to
ensure
full
V.A.
access
for
Cold
War
Veterans,
it
was
frustrating
to
have
members
of
Congress
communicate
to
us
that
their
support
for
our
cause
was
not
backed
up
by
our
reciprocal
support.
Another
important
matter
affecting
Cold
War
Veterans
is
the
so-called
"concurrent
receipt"
penalty
imposed
on
military
retirees.
Once
again,
while
we
had
the
support
of
the
majority
of
Congress
to
eliminate
this
penalty,
it
was
frustrating
to
have
members
of
Congress
communicate
to
us
that
their
support
for
our
cause
was
not
backed
up
by
our
reciprocal
support.
Perhaps
the
greatest
obstacle
the
CWVA
faces
is
inadequate
revenue
to
support
our
mission.
The
principle
cause
of
this
financial
shortfall
is
an
archaic
anomaly
in
the
tax
code.
To
remedy
this
situation,
the
CWVA
needs
to
secure
a
repeal
or
official
reinterpretation
of
the
limitation
of
I.R.C.
§
170(c)(3)
that
precludes
tax
deductibility
of
donations
to
the
Cold
War
Veterans
Association
on
the
grounds
that
we
are
not
a
"war"
veterans
organization.[*]
While
we
have
the
support
of
many
members
of
Congress
and
numerous
other
VSOs
on
this
matter,
it
is
calamitous
not
to
have
this
acted
upon
by
CWVA
personnel
charged
with
this
responsibility.
[*NOTE:
The
CWVA
is
a
tax-exempt
501(c)(19)
Veterans
Service
Organization
but
dues
are
not
deductible;
with
membership
support
we
can
change
this!]
Besides
not
properly
addressing
national
legislative
action
items,
personnel
charged
with
monitoring
and
developing
state
legislative
initiatives
did
not
deliver.
In
particular,
we
did
not
achieve
what
the
Board
considers
a
satisfactory
level
of
participation
in
recognition
of
May
1st
as
Cold
War
Victory
Day.
Membership
services
are
another
area
in
need
of
an
immediate
performance
turnaround.
Personnel
charged
with
communicating
formally
with
the
CWVA
membership
(e.g.,
via
electronic
newsletter)
did
not
achieve
acceptable
results.
Also,
membership
recruitment
and
retention
did
not
measure
up
to
an
adequate
and
sustainable
level
—
this
must
change.
In
summary,
the
CWVA
is
at
a
crossroads.
To
achieve
long-term
success
it
will
be
necessary
for
a
greater
commitment
from
all
concerned
parties.
Because
of
your
commitment
of
patriotic
service,
we
know
and
trust
that
we
can
count
on
you
to
help
lead
us
into
a
brighter
tomorrow.
If
you
are
prepared
to
once
again
answer
the
call
to
duty,
please
drop
us
a
line
at
volunteer@coldwarveterans.com
We
look
forward
to
hearing
from
you!
Sincerely,
The
CWVA
Board
of
Directors |
