As mentioned in the last Oversea’r, it was easy and cost less than $180/year.  No professionals were hired to create and manage the website.  It is a volunteer effort by VFW Post 1647 Chaplain and Webmaster Mark Persons, a 74-year-old who was a U.S. Army sergeant in Vietnam.  He has no web writing training, just an interest in doing a volunteer job at his post.  You can do this for your post too.  Mark gives how-to instructions at: https://www.brainerdvfw.org/web-writing.html

As you know, websites are “information resources” where post members, and the world, can be informed on what is happening in the organization.  That especially applies to young vets.  They look online to see if you are “one of them” and will likely turn away if the perception is old people at a drinking man’s club. 

Recent statistics show smartphones and tablets are well over 50% of the audience for websites.  Mobile friendly is the name of the game nowadays.  Sites need to look good on all devices.  The Brainerd VFW made that conversion a few years ago and hasn’t looked back. 

National VFW has the Website Solution Program to help local posts get started with their own website.  Signing onto the program is just a start.  The basic structure needs to be customized to the post it belongs to.  In addition, the site needs to be updated frequently by a post member so dated information is removed and new upcoming events are shown.    

Think of a post website as inexpensive advertising.  An outdated site is bad advertising.  Don’t let that happen at your post!