DAV Magazine — March/April 2017
Guiding principles for the greater good
From the NATIONAL CHAPLAIN
Religion, in spite of an individual’s personal views, can often create polarizing discussions. There are those who won’t discuss it, those who share their beliefs passionately and openly and those who feel religion has no place in their lives. And many people in this day and age have been hurt, confused or betrayed by religious experiences in the past and aren’t exactly sure where they stand on the subject.
Generally speaking, these same categories of people exist within organizations like DAV. While we all share a passion for helping disabled veterans, we each have a different level of involvement, experience and vigor which we use to interact with the organization and fellow members.
There are many well-meaning, intelligent leaders—within both the religious and veteran communities—who may unintentionally create barriers for others when they accept positions of authority by working to serve their own agendas rather than considering the greater good.
We have, much to the benefit of the organization, rules that guide us in our day-to-day actions within DAV. Religious sects also are generally bound to certain guidelines. I would ask that, apart from those hard-and-fast rules, you also examine the guiding principles of these groups to help direct your path as a leader and your role as a member.
Ask yourself this: What are your intentions? When we try, on our own, to accomplish our own agenda without consulting or adhering to the constitution and bylaws or our organization or tenets of faith, we are often met with frustration by those around us. Don’t let your leadership be a barrier to other members, but instead work together in support of DAV’s core principle: veterans helping veterans.
Within the DAV framework, members rule and leaders facilitate; there is plenty of freedom in conducting matters that benefit veterans, their families and survivors without having to “lord” it over them. It doesn’t matter what veterans service organization you join, there is no perfect entity. By putting the needs of our fellow veterans first and following the spirit and intent of our charity, we can use DAV as a vehicle to truly help keep the promises to our fellow veterans.
In His Service to You.
Religion, in spite of an individual’s personal views, can often create polarizing discussions. There are those who won’t discuss it, those who share their beliefs passionately and openly and those who feel religion has no place in their lives. And many people in this day and age have been hurt, confused or betrayed by religious experiences in the past and aren’t exactly sure where they stand on the subject.
Generally speaking, these same categories of people exist within organizations like DAV. While we all share a passion for helping disabled veterans, we each have a different level of involvement, experience and vigor which we use to interact with the organization and fellow members.
There are many well-meaning, intelligent leaders—within both the religious and veteran communities—who may unintentionally create barriers for others when they accept positions of authority by working to serve their own agendas rather than considering the greater good.
We have, much to the benefit of the organization, rules that guide us in our day-to-day actions within DAV. Religious sects also are generally bound to certain guidelines. I would ask that, apart from those hard-and-fast rules, you also examine the guiding principles of these groups to help direct your path as a leader and your role as a member.
Ask yourself this: What are your intentions? When we try, on our own, to accomplish our own agenda without consulting or adhering to the constitution and bylaws or our organization or tenets of faith, we are often met with frustration by those around us. Don’t let your leadership be a barrier to other members, but instead work together in support of DAV’s core principle: veterans helping veterans.
Within the DAV framework, members rule and leaders facilitate; there is plenty of freedom in conducting matters that benefit veterans, their families and survivors without having to “lord” it over them. It doesn’t matter what veterans service organization you join, there is no perfect entity. By putting the needs of our fellow veterans first and following the spirit and intent of our charity, we can use DAV as a vehicle to truly help keep the promises to our fellow veterans.
In His Service to You.
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