Traveling

PHILMONT SCOUT RANCH - If you haven't ever been there, you should be developing the connections that will allow you to visit and enjoy the Philmont Scout Ranch, near Cimarron, New Mexico, at the east base of the Rocky Mountains.  The scenery is absolutely gorgeous and the camp staff maintains everything so well and so clean that it is certainly like a luxury vacation, while incidently attending Scouting Leadership Courses.  Judy and I only returned from Philmont on Sunday evening.  I am currently planning to depart for East Lansing, Michigan (Michigan State University), for the Boy Scout's National Order of the Arrow Conference starting on Saturday, July 28th, and lasting until Saturday, August 4th.

 

JULY 1st – NOVEMBER 15th DUE DATE FOR E-POSTCARDS, FINANCIAL REPORTS AND OFFICER UPDATES -  An IRC Form 990 is the IRS income tax form for nonprofits.  Proof of E-postcards and other 990 forms filed, Financial Reports and Officer Updates must be received at AVA HQ no later than November 15, 2012.  After November 15th  these reports are past due and a Club will be assessed a $10.00 late fee.

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY -  Leaving at 3:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 26th, for East Lansing, Michigan, and the BSA National Order of the Arrow Conference at Michigan State University.  Over 4000 attendees are expected to attend a full week of classes, competitions, exhibits, demonstrations, and carnivals celebrating Boy Scouting and its national honors arm, the Order of the Arrow.

     I'll be back to the Great South Central Region on Tuesday, August 7th.  Keep up the AVA Spirit for me!


Ken
Ken Miles
AVA SC Region Director
918-745-0212

Did You Know Its Summer?

BE COURTEOUS RECEIVERS OF GIFTS -  Does your Club provide receipts for tax-deductible donations?  A Regional Director asked this question during a recent NEC, "the last word on deductable donations I recall is that one must receive a receipt from the gifted organization in order to deduct the donation – even a cancelled check doesn’t qualify. If this is true, it’s 'Let the giver beware' is it not?  Tell me who actually gives receipts for tax-deductible donations?"

I'M OUT AGAIN -  Your RD (me) will again be out of service, this time (from Saturday, July 14th) until August 8th, as I will be at Philmont Scout Ranch, NM, for a week and then at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, for the NOAC (National [Boy Scouts] Order of the Arrow Conference).  At the first location I will be receiving training while at the second, I will be on the training staff.

TAW DEADLINE - The deadline for the Oct./Nov. issue of The American Wan-derer is August 25th. All articles, including Tails on the Trails, and photographs should be submitted directly to Laurel Parrott, Editor taw@bhi.com or mail to 3526 Humboldt Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55412. Be sure to include "TAW" in the subject line if emailing.

STARTING POINT 2013 PRE-ORDER DEADLINE EXTEN-DED TO AUGUST 1  -  Orders for the Starting Point 2013 cannot be accepted after August 1, 2012. Pre-Order form on the AVA Website under the Publica-tions-Forms link, at AVA Club Forms.

In Volkssporting,

Ken
Ken Miles
AVA SC Region Director
918-745-0212

JULY!!!!!!!!!!

SERVED IN THE MILITARY? THIS MIGHT INCREASE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS. Provided by Saint Leo University

DD FORM 214 -- SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT

Please share this with anyone who's had active duty service between January 1957 to December 31, 2001 and planning for retirement. In a nutshell it boils down to this:

You qualify for a higher social security payment because of your Military service for active duty any time from 1957 through 2001 (the program was done away with 1 January 2002). Up to $1200 per year of earnings credit credited at time of application - which can make a substantial difference in social security monthly payments upon your retirement. You must bring your DD 214 to the Social Security Office and you must ask for this benefit to receive it!

Soc Sec website: http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/military.htm

            This is something to put in your files for when you apply for Social Security down the road.  It is NOT just for retirees, BUT anyone who has served on active duty between January 1957 to December 31, 2001.

REMEMBER, this benefit is not automatic, you must ask for it! We've all been on active duty between 1957 and 2001 or know someone who has.

Passing on good information for all you military folks when you apply for social security. I know this may be too early for some of you to think about Social Ssecurity but, keep living and you will get there...

Alison J. Brown/Financial Coordinator

Saint Leo University/Langley Center

alison.brown@saintleo.edu

REMINDER TO CLUBS - MAIL YOUR $50 ANNUAL DUES TO  THE AVA -  Regular Member Clubs pay annual dues to the AVA on or before July 1 of each year. A Club that has not paid its annual dues by September 1 will be assessed a late fee. A Club that has not paid its annual dues plus the late fee by October 1 will be considered “not in good standing."

TAW DEADLINE -   The  deadline  for  the  October/November  issue  of  The

American Wanderer is August 25th. All articles, including Tails on the Trails and photographs should be submitted directly to Laurel Parrott, Editor taw@bhi.com or mailed to: 3526 Humboldt Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55412.  Be sure to include "TAW" in the subject line if emailing.

JULY 1st TO NOVEMBER 15th IS THE DUE DATE FOR E-POSTCARDS, OTHER 990s, CLUB FINANCIAL REPORTS AND OFFICER UPDATES  -  A 990 is the IRS income tax form for nonprofits. Proof of filing of E-postcards and other 990 forms, together with Club Financial Reports and Officer Updates must be received at the AVA  Headquarters no later than November 15, 2012.  After November 15th these reports become past due and a Club will be assessed a $10 late fee.

In Volkssporting,

Ken
Ken Miles
AVA SC Region Director
918-745-0212

Adieu Mon Ami!

AVA OFFICER RESIGNATION - Last Thursday, July 21st, AVA President Heinz Johnson sent the following message to members of AVA NEC VII:

It is with deep regret that I announce the resignation of Marvin Stokes as the Vice President of the American Volkssport Association and Chair of the 18^th AVA Biennial Convention. His resignation was effective at Midnight (2400) on 20 June 2012.

Marvin has been diagnosed with a serious health condition: MCI or Mild Cognitive Impairment. His doctors strongly recommended that he get away from those activities that may cause stressful situations which could accelerate the disease.  .  .  .

     Marvin Stokes has been a dedicated and steadfast volunteer with the AVA and a strong and loyal friend. His presence at AVA activities will be sorely missed!

In Volkssporting,

Ken
Ken Miles
AVA SC Region Director
918-745-0212

Flag Day!

AVA NEC AGENDA ITEMS - The next AVA NEC Meeting is on July 6th and 7th, 2012, at the Airport Fairfield Inn, Orlando, FL.  Your Club Officers have been provided copies of each of the Agenda Items to be considered by the AVA Officers and Directors during that Meeting.  Some proposals that warrant your consideration are:

1) Raising Club dues  from $50 to $100 annually.

2) Raising individual AVA Associate Membership dues from $25 to $30 and families from $30 to $40 per year.

3) Establishing a national task force to lead AVA in the fight against obesity.

 

 

4) The Centurion Club; a program to recognize people who do at least 100 AVA Events in a year.

     What do YOU think about these?  They and other motions will be on the floor, one to get the Starting Point ready as an electronic application that you will be able to download into your iPad, Nook, Kindle, etc for a fee.  Please ask your Club Officers to share information about the NEC Agenda Items that they have been provided and please provide information concerning your opinions, recommendations, etc. to me at AVA.SCRD@hotmail.com or by telephoning me at 918-745-0212 or mailing me at 3613 East 55th Street, Tulsa, OK 74135.


AVA NO LONGER HOSTING CLUB WEBSITES? - Without notice to the Clubs concerned OR the AVA Headquarters, the contractor updating the AVA Website terminated a number of Club Websites hosted by the AVA.  The "excuse" appears to be that the respective website servers are not compatible with the updated programing being installed.  Nevertheless, it is clear that the AVA Headquarters and IT Committee should have been consulted first by this gentleman prior to taking that action. Please advise me if you have any problems as a result of this.







FLAG DAY - Some of you know the significance of Flag Day to me.  Anyone who isn't aware of that should know that on each June 14 during my youth it was Flag Day, to the exclusion of all other events, that got observed and celebrated in my family.  HAPPY FLAG DAY!

Ken
Ken Miles

AVA SC Region Director

918-745-0212

 

A Summertime Celebration in Kansas

CENTRAL KANSAS MULTI-EVENT WEEKEND - The Sunflower Sod Stompers of Topeka, Kansas, are offering 13 events from June 15th through June 17th!  Starting with a memorial walk in Salina, KS (Event 1), on Friday evening (start between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.), the Club will progress on Saturday morning to Lindsborg, KS (Little Sweden, USA), to celebrate in conjunction with the Swedish Midsummer Celebration with a walk (Event 2) and 3 swims (Events 3, 4, & 5).  Late that afternoon (beginning at 4:15 p.m.), the activities continue to McPherson, KS, for another walk (Event 6).  Even later on Saturday (starting at 8:00 p.m.), in Newton, KS, the Club will sponsor a "Get Together" with food and refreshments, and 3 more swims (Events 7, 8, & 9) will follow that (starting at 9:00 p.m.).  Sunday, June 17th, starts at 7:30 a.m. in Newton with a final walk (Event 10), followed by 3 more swims (Events 11, 12, & 13).  COUNT 'EM!  And there are some YREs available in close proximity, if 13 Events in 2 days aren't sufficient to satisfy your volkssporting appetite. 

     HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!



2013 YREs ELECTRONIC SANCTIONING WINDOW OPENED ON JUNE 1 -  All Year Round and Seasonal Events for 2013 must be submitted for sanctioning between June 1st and August 31st.  All such events should list at minimum a starting point location and beginning and ending dates. The use of "To Be Determined" (TBD) should only be a last resort, as it causes problems for travelers who are unable to plan for the events. 

     Congratulations Dogwood Trailblazers, whose 2013 YRE ESRs have already been submitted and approved!

Ken
Ken Miles

AVA SC Region Director

918-745-0212

And Memorial Day Has Gone

THE MASTERS DEGREE - Wow!  It has been nearly two weeks since Boonville, Arrow Rock, Rocheport, and Warm Springs Ranch, but with scenery and social activities like that, the weekend will be hard to forget!  Again, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the officers and other members of the Dogwood Trailblazers, the Pace Setters Volkssport Club, the Clay-Platte Trackers, the St. Louis-Stuttgart Volksmarch Club, the Illinois Trekkers, and the World Wide Walkers for a fabulous multi-event weekend!  And another kudo to Deb and Missy!

     As a number of you know, my wife, Judy, and I were immediately off to New York City on Memorial Day to be with our only son, Justin, as he received his Masters Degree (an MPA).  We spent a week and far too much money with him, but it appears to have been worth it.  Occasions like that are very special and this was no exception!  Judy and I only arrived back in South Central Region on Monday, June 4th, and in Tulsa on Wednesday, June 6th.  Consequently, I haven't been boring you with regular blurbs on this blogspot.

     But here come some more  .  .  .  .

CONVENTION ROOM BLOCK RESERVATIONS ARE NOW OPEN -  Hotel room reservations for the 2013 Biennial Convention can now be made by calling 1.800.380.6751. A reservation form is located on the left side of the AVA Homepage. If you call, be sure to request the AVA convention room block.

The negotiated rate of $99 applies only to the Convention dates, Monday, April 29th thru Friday, May 3, 2013. The overall dates including the pre and post events are April 27th thru May 5th.

Hotel information: Orlando Airport Marriott, 7499 Augusta National Drive, Orlando, Florida 32822-5015.

LOUISIANA CAPITAL WALK -  The location of the Louisiana State Capital Walk in Baton Rouge has been temporarily changed to New Orleans, Louisiana, effective immediately. This change was necessitated by the inactivation of the volkssport club in Baton Rouge. The Capital City event is now being hosted by the Crescent City Volkssport Club, AVA-473.

The AVA Special Program, Walking the United States: FIFTY-ONE CAPITALS ROGRAM, on the LA line, now can be stamped with the YR076 IVV Certification Stamp. The official event designation is New Orleans – State Capital/French Quarter Walk. Event details are listed in the Starting Point 2012 (page 259) or on the AVA Website. 

For history buffs: New Orleans served as the capital of Louisiana from 1812 – 1849 except for a brief period from 1830 - 1831.

Ken
Ken Miles

AVA SC Region Director

918-745-0212