Alleghany County Sheriff's Office and Regional Jail

4 days ago

Soon many of you may be receiving correspondence in the mail from the Virginia Sheriff's Institute / Virginia Sheriff's Association. I am pasting the information we received regarding the letter and also the link is pasted below if you are interested and if you are not then you can simply throw the letter away. We currently have several local citizens that participate and we thank them for their support.

Thank you for your support of the Virginia Sheriffs' Institute (VSI) - your membership is key to our success. This month, on your behalf, we will launch our annual prospective member mail campaign to citizens in your locality, asking them to become VSI Associate or Business members. Virginia sheriffs and deputies repeatedly support this program to promote access to public safety information and to generate valuable resources for use in all our programs. We appreciate your participation in this community effort.

In mid-August, a membership acceptance letter signed by each participating sheriff will be mailed to localities across the Commonwealth, asking citizens to join for $25 for individuals and $40 for businesses. A postage-paid return envelope will be included for the citizens to submit their checks to VSI, or they can conveniently donate online at our secure website. Upon receipt of the contribution, VSI will mail citizens a thank-you letter for joining, 2 bumper stickers/decals, and a subscription to our quarterly newsletter, which has generated much revenue and garnered numerous positive comments from the membership. Your office will not be directly responsible for any details associated with this program. Any questions or requests you receive can be directed to me at any time. However, there are some ways you can assist:

1. You may receive a few phone calls or walk-in inquiries after the mailing reaches your locality. Please make sure your staff is aware of this and have them review the VSI Fact Sheet to assist them with handling questions or complaints. Please circulate this document and advise your staff to inform citizens:

The mailing is legitimate and personally endorsed by you
The Virginia Sheriffs' Institute never solicits by telephone
Online donations can securely be made HERE
The VSI's 990 IRS tax returns and audit reports are available on our website (HERE)
Joining VSI is completely voluntary for citizens and businesses
Associate and business membership supports VSI with:

Technical services and training conferences for sheriffs, deputies, and staff
Line-of-duty death benefit to sheriffs and deputies
Crime prevention and awareness programs
Public service and safety programs
Educating you on laws to secure our mission and keep families safe
Essential scholarships for Virginia students
2. Some citizens may come to your office in person to join VSI. These individuals may send their tax-deductible check to the Virginia Sheriffs' Institute's office, or they can contribute online on the VSI website for easy and secure online donations.

3. Occasionally, citizens may call you with complaints or may be upset about the cost of membership. In these cases, offer them a complimentary one-year membership. By doing so, you can transform a potentially unpleasant situation into a positive one - and hopefully, they will realize what a great benefit it is to be a member of VSI.

4. Below is a partial list of programs approved by the VSI Board of Directors for fiscal year 2026-2027:

Support for families of sheriffs and deputies killed in the line of duty in an effort to relieve personal and community distress relating to such incidents
The annual spring and fall conference for sheriffs and deputies
A scholarship program for Virginia citizens majoring in criminal justice at Virginia colleges and universities (66 scholarships were awarded in 2026)
Sponsorships to the Concerns of Police Survivors, VA Coalition for the Prevention of Elder Abuse conference, Virginia Victim Assistance Network, VA State Police Assn Emergency Relief Fund
Lawful employment classes
Legal consultations with the sheriff’s office
Virginia Law Enforcement Memorial Fund to provide funds to memorialize Virginia law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty
VSI Executive Management Training Conference for sheriffs
Sheriff and Deputy certification program in partnership with VCU
Weekly Virginia Sheriffs' Dispatch email
5. The Virginia Sheriffs' Institute has received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service indicating that associate and business memberships are tax-deductible. A copy of this document can be sent to you or a citizen upon request or found on the VSI website (HERE).

6. VSI has met all twenty standards of charity accountability of the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The BBB Wise Giving Alliance Standards for Charity Accountability were developed to assist donors in making sound giving decisions and to foster public confidence in charitable organizations. The standards seek to encourage fair and honest solicitation practices, to promote ethical conduct by charitable organizations, and to advance support of philanthropy. Click HERE to review the VSI's report.

We have prepared a sample press release to help develop positive media coverage for you, VSI, and our upcoming membership drive. Click HERE for the sample press release in .docx form. Publicity efforts such as this are an opportunity to gain widespread support for VSI and to promote good public relations for you, personally, in your locality.

Thank you very much for your support, as this program would not be possible without your participation. Please call me at (804) 225-7152 if you have any questions.

Thanks again.

Sincerely,
John W. Jones
Executive Director
Virginia Sheriffs' Institute

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