The Director is responsible for acquiring and compiling data from the membership of donations of cash, materials, and services (including use of personal car) which may be credited to Gold Star Wives as service to the members’ local communities.

The report compiled from reported community service provides Gold Star Wives the basis for the organization to maintain a tax-exempt status as a service organization.

Standard forms on which members’ donations are to be reported should be used in all areas. It is the responsibility of the Director to revise the form from time to time as may be required, with the approval of the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

A Community Service Report form should be received by each Gold Star Wives member. This is accomplished by having the form included in the December National Newsletter and on the GSW website. You should have an article for the newsletter and send it along with the form to the Newsletter Editor to be received by November 5th. Your article should include some of the following information:

1. Value for hours donated will be computed at current wage rate designated by the Volunteer Service Office of the Veterans Administration Hospital in the Director’s home area.
2. Mileage value will be the amount allowed by the Internal Revenue Service as used by the Volunteer Service Office of the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in the Director’s home area.
3. Only service and donations in civilian hospitals are to be included in the Community Service Report (contributions to military and veterans hospitals are in the VAVS Hospital Report).
4.  Schools, hospitals, nursing homes, orphanages, churches, parks, etc. are to be identified by name and location.

Community Service articles should be written for each quarterly National Newsletter.

The forms are than sent to Director of Community Service by GSW members. Be sure to have a date by which they be submitted. The Director will tally the members' reports for each region/chapter and send the totals to the presidents. The Director will then compile all the information into one report for the National Convention.

Information for your annual report is found in the Board of Directors Regulations/Guidelines. Refer to all the information on those pages.