- The meeting was held at Mikeska’s BBQ, Located on Hwy 59, in El Campo, TX.
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Photo below - President Leonard Sternadel declared the meeting open at 1900 hours and the following business was
transacted.
- The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was recited and a prayer was said.
- The meeting was then recessed for the meal and reconvened at 1945.
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Dwight Winkler (photo below), our chapter's VSO, gave his monthly Veteran's Benefits presentation. He also provided a
handout covering some of the benefits (topics listed below) available to veterans.
Above photo shows Dwight helping a chapter member with some VA issue. Dwight does come early to "setup shop", so if you need help with some VA issue, please come early and see Dwight. Chances are very good that he will be able to help you. Also be sure to give him a big thank-you as all his VSO services come from the kindness of his heart. Benefits Handout Topics: (1) VA Definition of Veteran
(2) Tax Services for Veterans
(3) Beware of IRS Impersonators
(4) Reforming The Veteran's Appeals Process
CLICK HERE to View or Print Dwight's February 2016 Handout -
Photo below - Sternadel introduced and welcomed Carol Wootton from Congressman Blake Farenthold's office. He explained
that she was a field representative that mingled with the Congressman's constituents to help address problems that
might need attention. This includes any/all Veterans that may be having Benefits type problems or issues with the VA.
Blake Farenthold is the U.S. Congressman for the 27th district in Texas. The map below shows the area that includes
the 27th district.
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Photos below - Carol then introduced special guest, Vanessa Hicks Callaway, also from Blake Farenthold's office. She
is an Army retiree with 26 years of military service, and is Farenthold's newly hired "Case Worker". Vanessa has
earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Sam Houston State University and has her Master's degree in
Human Resources Administration from Central Michigan University.
Vanessa will be working out of Farenthold's "Victoria" office. One of her primary functions will be to help Veterans in
all the surrounding counties with any issues or problems they may be having with their VA Benefits.
- The treasurer's report was given by John Steelman.
- The minutes of the last meeting were approved as presented.
- The following additional topics were included in the meeting agenda and were covered in the meeting:
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Sternadel then talked a bit about another Vietnam Traveling Wall, "THE WALL THAT HEALS", that is coming to three
Texas towns this year. Note that this Wall is NOT the same Vietnam traveling wall that came to El Campo last year!
This Wall is sponsored by the VVMF, which is the "Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund" organization located in Washington
DC. The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Fund, Inc. is the 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization authorized by Congress in 1980
to fund and build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Incorporated on April 27, 1979 by a group of
veterans led by Jan C. Scruggs, who was wounded and decorated for service in Vietnam, the organization sought a
tangible symbol of recognition from the American people for those who served in the war.
During this year's Nationwide tour, they will be visiting 3 towns in TEXAS!
(1) Gonzales, TX, 3/23/16 - 3/26/16
(2) El Paso, TX, (Ft. Bliss National Cemetery Support Committee) 4/14/16 - 4/17/16
(3) Austin, TX, (Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library) 4/22/16 - 4/28/16 For more information about the VVMF organization itself, including info on "The Wall That Heals", the full 2016 tour schedule and lots of pictures, see the links below. If you have friends or relatives living in these areas (in or out of Texas), you may want to let them know of the tour schedule, so that they may have a chance to visit a replica of The Vietnam Memorial Wall. CLICK HERE to visit the VVMF Website CLICK HERE to read about THE WALL THAT HEALS CLICK HERE to see THE WALL THAT HEALS 2016 tour schedule -
Sternadel then talked a bit about an interesting article related to the reported "22" Veterans who commit suicide daily.
The article was written by a "Wes O'Connell" regarding Veteran suicides. The article dispels two major myths regarding
the number "22" and the type of Veterans who are committing suicide. They are briefly listed below.
- The number 22 is actually too small a number and does not reflect the actual number of Veterans that commit suicide daily. The current number 22 is derived from data from only only 21 U.S. States, with California and Texas NOT being included in the total suicides per day, but those two States having the highest population of Veterans.
- The majority of Veterans that are committing suicide are in fact NOT Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans, but instead are Vietnam Era Veterans.
- Sternadel then talked a bit about a recent Notice (January, 15, 2016) sent out by the VVA National Board of Directors, regarding several new Motion updates presented at their BOD meeting. The VVA National BOD Notice was forwarded to our chapter by Stephen Brady, chapter member and TSC Secretary, and originated from Bill Meeks, VVA National Secretary. The NOTICE reads as follows: To All VVA Membership: There were three (3) motions approved by the VVA National Board of Directors at the 2016 January BOD meeting that will direct impact on our membership and the VVA staff. One motion came from the VVA Public Affairs Committee and the other two motions came from the VVA Membership Affairs Committee. Please consider this update as a NOTICE and freely distribute as necessary. Motion 7: (From the VVA Public Affairs Committee:) To remove and refrain the use of the terminology "Vietnam ERA" Veteran. To remove from organization publications, etc. Suggested to begin using terms such as "Vietnam Veteran" or "Vietnam Generation". Motion 13: (From the VVA Membership Affairs Committee:) To amend the Life Membership dues structure by deleting the age bracket requirements and to set the Life Membership dues at $100 effective January 1, 2016. Motion 14: (From the VVA Membership Affairs Committee:) To approve the 2nd Consent Calendar: Motion to approve the revised VVA Election Report form (Jan 2016) as presented by the Membership Affairs Committee. Sternadel and other chapter members had questions regarding Motions 7 and 14. TSC Secretary, Stephen Brady promised to try and get some answers from the VVA National BOD members and present them at the next chapter meeting.
- The next VVA TSC (Texas State Council) conference will be held in Victoria, April 15-16. The TSC meeting itself will be held on Saturday, April 16th, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. NOTE that this is the TSC's special "Biennial Meeting," which means the meeting will include the election process of new TSC officers, as specified per Article XV of the Texas State Council By-Laws, and which was recently amended on October 17, 2015, in a VVA National BOD meeting. Chapter member and TSC Secretary, Stephen Brady, has also provided (via email) our chapter with some additional information regarding the specific content of Article XV (Rules pertaining to the election of TSC Officers, including information about chapter delegates that may attend the TSC meeting). It has also been posted (as a PDF document) on our chapter website, available for all our chapter members to read. Use the link below to view or print the document. CLICK HERE to View or Print the Article XV document Also note that the local Veterans organization, "Everyday Heroes", will be providing a 15 passenger van to carry any interested chapter members to the Saturday TSC meeting in Victoria. Total trip time for the 1-day excursion would be from 7:00 AM to approximately 6:00 PM. There will be no charge for the trip. Lunch would be at your own expense. For those of you who have not yet attended one of the VVA TSC meetings (there are two TSC meetings a year), this is a great opportunity to do so. More details regarding the TSC meeting will be presented at our next chapter meeting, Wednesday, March 9, 2016. If you're interested in attending the TSC meeting and want more information, please contact chapter president, Leonard Sternadel.
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Sternadel then announced that a local Veterans supporter, Mike Ryan, had purchased a special gift for all VVA chapter
1069 members. He then handed out the envelopes containing the special gift to all those members in attendance. The
gift is a beautiful Vietnam 50th Anniversary Memorial Minted Coin. A big thank-you goes out to Mike Ryan for supporting
all Veterans and for supporting VVA Chapter 1069.
The above photo shows the nice card that came with each gift.
The above photo shows the packaging the coin came in. Some things to note about the coin...
* Looks like the coins were purchased from a nifty online company called: Northwest Territorial Mint.
* The coin is 1 3/4" (44mm) round, heavy bronze antique in style.
* The particular coin that we received can be found at the link below. CLICK HERE to view the coin online
The above photo shows the face of the coin - a really nice image. Just a thought, but this coin might be a neat item to attach and hang
(needs to hang, so both sides could be viewed) from our chapter vests (instead of putting it away in a drawer).
The problem is figuring out some sort of 'hanger' for the coin. The website does sell a 44mm protective plastic
capsule accessory for storing the coin (75 cents), which might somehow be used as a vest hanger for the coin.
And I'm sure a jeweler could make a special ring hanger for the coin - we'll have to investigate.
The above photo shows the backside of the coin. Do be aware that on the backside of the coin is a substantial
blank/emtpy area (as you can see) that is intended for some sort of personal engraving, if so desired. Maybe your
name, date of Vietnam or military service, etc. a photo would be neat if some way could be figured out to put one
there (note that they do make photo coins too).
If you know Mike Ryan and happen to run into him somewhere in the El Campo area, be sure and thank him for the gift
and for supporting our chapter. In all, a darn nice gift! THANKS MIKE!
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE REMAINING COINS WILL BE HANDED OUT AT THE NEXT MARCH CHAPTER MEETING
(March 9th) TO THOSE ATTENDING THE MEETING, SO PLEASE TRY AND ATTEND SO YOU MAY RECIEVE YOUR GIFT. FOLLOWING
THAT MEETING, THE REMAINING COINS WILL BE MAILED OUT TO THE MEMBERS.
For those interested in seeing what other interesting coins are available on their website, see the links below...
Vietnam 50th Anniversary Commemorative Partner - Vietnam Veteran Engravable
Northwest Territorial Mint online store
Links below: Shows All Vietnam War related coins (and medals) - THESE ARE SOME VERY INTERESTING COINS!! both links are worth a look.
All Vietnam War related coins
More - All Vietnam War related coins
- There being no further business, President Sternadel declared the meeting adjourned at 2045.
- And finally, a BIG THANK-YOU to Dana Sternadel for bringing 3 (YES, I SAID THREE!) home-baked cakes to the meeting. The special occasion being the upcoming "Valentines Day". The cakes included Chocolate, Strawberry and a Red Velvet. And of course, they were wonderful. Thank-You Dana!
Shown Below - Contact information for Blake Farenthold's Office in Victoria. Vanessa will now be another additional person that may be of help to all local county Veterans that my be having problems with their VA benefits.
5606 North Navarro StreetSuite 203
Victoria, Texas 77904
(361) 894-6446
CLICK HERE to visit Blake Farenthold's Website CLICK HERE to see all the Veterans Services provided by Blake Farenthold's Office Please remember that your local Veterans Service Officer (VSO) should be your first contact person to help with any VA Benefits issues that you may have. Contact information for the Wharton County VSO may be found at the link below. CLICK HERE for the Wharton County VSO contact information