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Since its
founding more than 80 years ago, the Disabled American Veterans
has been dedicated to a single purpose: building better lives
for America's disabled veterans and their families. Fidelity to
that mission has required DAV to respond creatively and flexibly
to changing and sometimes unpredictable problems faced by its
constituency. Whether disabled veterans have needed a voice on
Capitol Hill, a nationwide service program, a transportation
network or unique rehabilitation opportunities, DAV has focused
its attention and resources to meet those needs.
The current environment presents a unique set of challenges to
which DAV must respond. The explosion of the "information
superhighway" and developments in computer science will affect
virtually every area of DAV's operations, from claims advocacy
to fundraising. So too, the changing needs of an aging veteran
population require adaptation by both DAV and the federal
government, a government increasingly prone to cost-cutting and
led largely by persons with no military experience and little
passion for veterans' issues.
Recognizing that the 21st century would present both enormous
challenges and breathtaking opportunities to DAV, National
Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson in 1998 commissioned a team of select
DAV managers to begin work on a Strategic Plan to ensure the
continued viability and vitality of DAV well into the future.
Since then, input has been gathered from DAV leaders throughout
the entire organization. Their insights have been incorporated
into this Strategic Plan which, like DAV, is intended to be
flexible and responsive to the ever-changing needs of disabled
veterans and their families. This Strategic Plan is a blueprint
for DAV to remain the greatest veterans' service organization in
the world. America's disabled veterans deserve nothing less.
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