Strategic Planning Committee

Guest Editorial
This unsolicited editorial refers to some of the recommendations by the AXPOW Strategic Planning Committee. They are listed in italics to make Dr. Gabriel’s references more clear.
By: Dr. Lloyd Gabriel, Commander
Tri-Cities WA Chapter
Senior Vice-Commander
Department of Washington

The Tri-Cities Chapter, Dept. of Washington, AX-POW has discussed and formally, by unanimous vote, wishes to convey its wishes to the National Executive Committee and to all chapters in the American EX-POW organization, and its views on the report of the Strategic Planning Committee. This statement refers to the points made by the Chair in summary of the Committee's recommendation.

1. Reduce the number of National Directors to eight beginning in 2005.
2. Eliminate the three National Junior Vice Commander positions and replace them with two National Senior Vice Commander positions, each responsible for one half of the country.
3. Reorganize Committees.
4. Change National Treasurer’s position to a volunteer position and add the position of bookkeeper to handle the organization’s financial affairs.]

Points 1 through 4 do not need to be changed. The change should come only when there are no representatives from any of the service areas of the present Directors, then changes can be made. The treasurer's position needs to always have accountability built in and does not need changing.

5. Include volunteer hours of persons doing volunteer work for the organization in financial reports.
There seems to be no rationale for point 5.

6.Change National Adjutant position to Executive Director and rewrite job description. Point 6. If an Executive Director's position is established, then that position must be filled by a military POW. Only someone who has experienced being a former prisoner of war. So when the organization is put into mothballs, a military EX-POW will be calling the shots. No Next Of Kin should fill this position.

If the Bulletin is to be the major communication instrument, then the format must be changed so that the voices of the membership can be heard. It does not fulfill that role today.

The composition of the Strategic Planning Committee does not represent a cross-section of the membership, nor does it have a fair representation of members from various regions of the country. Thus it lacks credibility in its recommendations. Recommendations made without gathering data from the membership lacks credibility. The lack of input from the membership invalidates the report.

This report seems to represent the agenda of a small group of people and does not take into account what most members seem to want. Why did it completely ignore the survey made by the Foundation Times? Until a survey is made and data collected from total membership in an unbiased manner, there is no need to be concerned with the report of the Strategic Planning Committee. It should be ignored by the membership.

From all evidence, there will never be great numbers of EX-POWs in the future due to the very nature of modern warfare. Therefore, there is no need for the organization continuing after all EX-POWs are gone. A time should be set, probably according to the numbers of EX-POWs living, and a final National Convention held. At that time the organization can be deactivated in a classy, dignified manner.

If EX-POWs and other veterans need help, there will always be the American Legion, the VFW, and the AMVETS. Their service officers have always helped when called upon.

Our legacy will live on by the collection of our stories, video tapes, and all data and materials that are sent to national libraries and archives, plus Andersonville. Bob Bieber and Roy Livingstone have been doing a fine job in this area of collecting bios and information that will be available for posterity. It will not be meaningful by having our children going around telling about their daddy's experiences. Only those who have lived the experience and recorded it can do a meaningful job.