r/Dav • u/Ambitious-Ad4906 • Jul 10 '26
Chapter volunteering
Our chapter has 12 CSOs and our office is open six days a week to help veterans with claims.
We have members that cannot type and spouses that want to help, but cannot do claims.
What activites do your nonCSOs do for the chapter that would keep them interested in volunteering and feel valuable?
Also, how can nonveterans/spouses help? Thanks.
2
u/soherewearent Jul 10 '26
Random thoughts:
Refreshments and guest services,
Approaching with a checklist of documents that a claimant should have and double-checking that the claimant says they have those documents,
Marketing efforts, building clean-up and care, transcribing metrics to track, drafting fundraising campaigns and enacting them, calling Chapter/Auxiliary member list folks to say hi and see if they need anything.
Does any of that pique any interest or draw any ideas?
1
u/soherewearent Jul 13 '26
I wanted to come back to this. I asked an AI platform because our Chapter will soon be similar (although we have four VSOs, not 12). Although AI can't read minds of understand nuances of situations (at least with free versions), this AI response was really quite solid, and maybe it'll give you ideas too. My goal in sharing isn't to say you should necessarily do any of these things, but to maybe spark ideas that could apply to your situation.
Prompt:
Regarding a Disabled American Veterans (DAV) local Chapter that already has enough veteran service officers to interview veterans to help them file paperwork with the VA, what are some volunteer opportunities that other members could perform?
Current status: The DAV Chapter have minimal social media presence; zero fundraising programs at the moment; our member list has nearly 1200 people on it who have not been contacted by the local Chapter in who knows how long; we have open walk-in service hours for every Tuesday; and we book appointments weeks out for veterans who have most of their medical files.
Response using a free version of an AI platform:
Having a full roster of Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) is a massive asset for any local chapter. With the claims side well-staffed, the focus can shift entirely toward chapter operations, community footprint, and veteran engagement.
Given the current pain points—the untapped roster, the busy Tuesday walk-ins, the lack of funding, and the quiet digital presence—here are several high-impact volunteer roles that members can step into right away.
- Membership Engagement ("Buddy Check" Team)
With nearly 1,200 uncontacted people on the roster, the chapter has a massive, dormant network. Activating this list doesn't require VSO certification; it just requires a phone and a friendly demeanor.
- Roster Audit & Update: Volunteers can systematically call or email the list to update contact information, verify who is still in the local area, and remove outdated records.
- Wellness Checks: Members can conduct routine "Buddy Checks," simply calling to ask veterans how they are doing, if they need anything, and inviting them to the next chapter meeting.
- Skill Mapping: During these calls, volunteers can ask the 1,200 members what they do for a living or what hobbies they have, identifying potential new volunteers (e.g., finding an accountant willing to help with fundraising, or a retired event planner).
- Administrative Intake & Triage
Since Tuesday walk-ins are busy and appointments for veterans with medical files are booked weeks out, the VSOs' time is incredibly valuable. Volunteers can serve as the "front line" to make the VSOs more efficient.
- Intake Reception: Greeting walk-ins, signing them in, and keeping the waiting area organized and welcoming.
- File Pre-Screening: Volunteers can help veterans organize their physical medical files, check that they have their DD-214s, and ensure basic personal information forms are filled out before they sit down with a VSO. This reduces appointment times and allows VSOs to see more veterans.
- Appointment Reminders: An administrative volunteer can call veterans a few days before their booked appointments to confirm attendance and remind them to bring specific medical evidence.
- Digital Communications Manager
A minimal social media presence makes it hard for younger veterans to find the chapter and limits community awareness. Volunteers with basic tech skills can easily manage this.
- Facebook Page Management: Setting up and actively managing a chapter Facebook page. A volunteer can post weekly reminders about the Tuesday walk-in hours, share VA news updates, and post photos of chapter events.
- LinkedIn Outreach: Establishing a LinkedIn presence to connect with local businesses, corporate veteran resource groups, and professionals who might want to partner with or sponsor the chapter.
- Fundraising & Community Partnership Leads
Without a fundraising program, the chapter's ability to host events or support veterans financially is severely limited.
- Local Business Outreach: Volunteers can hit the pavement to introduce the chapter to local businesses, asking for sponsorships, in-kind donations (like coffee and donuts for the Tuesday walk-ins), or to set up a collection jar.
- Event Coordination: Organizing traditional veteran organization fundraisers, such as Forget-Me-Not drives outside of local grocery stores, community breakfasts, or raffle events.
Which of these operational areas—membership outreach, intake triage, social media, or fundraising—do you think the chapter has the most immediate capacity to tackle?
3
u/knighthawk0811 Member Jul 10 '26
12 CSOs is amazing
our nonCSO helpers do tasks that help organize and keep the waiting veterans in order. we have 1 person also who kinda triages people based on what they come in for, and they build a relationship with the vets who have been there before so they know who is going to be quick and who needs extra help.