| If you’re asking about membership, about chapters, about departments, I foresee opportunities
for major growth in California and the western states. California, a sentinel state, always out front,
envisions active leadership in organizing the thirteen states west of the continental divide. These environs
have provided in the past little or no representation in contributing to the governance of the National KWVA.
This can be resolved by actively engaging in state and regional membership recruitments; of both the war and
service veterans; formation of state chapters and departments, and the selection and active promotion of
candidates for National offices. This western states region has an estimated 800,000 resident Korean War
veterans with California having a resident population of 430,800, according to the 2000 VA Census. California
leads the Nation in resident Korean War veterans. The resident DMZ Service veteran demographics are not known
at this time. One of the constants of life we all have to face is the relentless passage of time. Most of the
Korean War Veterans are in their 70’s. If the organization is to survive, and grow, the Service Veterans will
have to make a major contribution.
Frankly put, they are the future. The KWVA Department of California envisions the use of the internet and
telecommunications as an effective means of overcoming the expanse within California and among the western
region states, to promote more efficient recruitment programs, form new chapters and state departments and most
importantly, help other departments with the design and construction of their websites and links to each other.
In particular, we plan to push for a National-supported dedicated web server to provide all Departments with
bandwidth and software for a Department website. We will do our part in offering help, perhaps a template
website for them to start, and whatever bylaw and procedural changes would be required with which the Board of
Directors can debate, guide and decide.
Mike Glazzy, Commander
Department of California
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