VVA Chapter 1069 Meeting Report for: Aug, 8-16-2017
[posted on: 8-21-2017]
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The monthly VVA chapter 1069 meeting was held in the big banquet room at Mikeska's BBQ (located on Hwy 59), in El Campo, Tx.
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VVA Chapter 1069 President, Leonard Sternadel, declared the meeting open at 1900 hours and the
following business was transacted.
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We had a great turnout at this month's meeting - 36 members and 13 guests - A BIG Thanks to all those who attended!
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The following Board members were present: Sternadel, Steelman, F. Kulcak, Mahlmann, Woods, Neumann and Supak.
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The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was recited and a prayer was said.
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It was announced that Chapter member Jim Kovar had suffered a heart attack but was recovering. Prayers out to Jim and his family.
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The meeting was then recessed for the meal and reconvened at 1945.
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Sternadel introduced Allen Jeffery and his family. Allen is the grandson of Chapter member
Calvin and Mary Mahlmann. Allen is a recipient of a $1,000.00 VVA Texas State Council (TSC) 2017 scholarship. The VVA TSC
oversees all the VVA Chapters in Texas. He read his paper titled,
"Why the U.S. did not win the Vietnam War".
It was a superb overview of the struggles the U.S. had to overcome and the issues of being involved in an unpopular "conflict".
Allen and his family are to be commended for the respect offered to the Vietnam Veterans and for a job WELL DONE. Thanks to
Allen for sharing his winning essay with us.
CLICK HERE to View or Print Allen's Essay
To those who are interested, there are fairly strict rules and guidelines to enter the annual VVA TSC scholarship program/contest.
Use the link below to read the VVA TSC 2017 scholarship application form and instruction guide. Again, congratulations to Allen
for a good job done!
VVA Chapter 1069 would also like to THANK the VVA Texas State Council (TSC) for sponsoring their annual scholarship program.
CLICK HERE to View the 2017 VVA TSC Sholarship Application
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The minutes of the last meeting were approved as presented.
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Dwight Winkler then gave his monthly benefits presentation with 4-pg handout.
This month's handout from Dwight included all the topics shown below. Use the link below to View or Print the handout.
Pages 1
(1) BENEFITS CONTACT INFORMATION
(2) JOKES
Page 2
(3) BABE RUTH, LOU GEHRIG and MOE BERG
(4) SENIOR TREK (TRAVEL, RECREATION, EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE)
(5) BRUTAL BATTLES OF VIETNAM
(6) PBS SERIES ON VIETNAM
(7) VA SECRETARY TO DECIDE ON NEW PRESUMPTIVE DISEASES
Page 3
(8) VA CLAIM FILING MADE EASY
CLICK HERE to View or Print the Aug 2017 Handout
CLICK HERE to visit Dwight's Veterans Benefits page on our website
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Chapter Vice President, Frank Kulcak, then reported on the VVA National Convention recently held in New Orleans.
Chapter member, Randy Ratcliff, also attended the Convention and also provided us with some pictures.
Photo below shows the huge convention hall that the Convention meeting was held in.
Frank stated it was a very
interesting & informative convention, while also including a huge mind boggling, meeting. He said a main item of interest at the convention
was the issue of two proposed amendment changes to the VVA organization, (1) to change the name of the organization and (2) to change the
membership criteria of the organization. After the dust settled, the issue was in Frank's words, "kinda tabled", and would be considered at
the next VVA National Convention that will be held in two years in Spokane, Washington.
However, after more discussions, it was also determined there was no reason that the two VVA committees/workgroups can't continue in
their current direction of planning two different transition paths for the VVA organization, and report their findings and
recommendations at the next VVA Convention.
An important event at the Convention was the election of officers for various positions. Randy provided the election results for us - see images below.
Above chart shows the election results for VVA National Officers.
Above chart shows the election results for VVA National Board of Directors - Regional.
Note that our VVA Chapter 1069 is in Region 7.
Above chart shows the election results for VVA National Board of Directors - At Large.
We also have downloaded the convention election results in PDF format. Use the link below to View or Print the 2017 election results.
CLICK HERE to View or Print the 2017 VVA Election Results
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Another important issue that was brought up at the National Convention, was the topic of the high suicide rate among veterans. They passed out
a handout that listed 10 Suicide Warning Signs that someone may be thinking about or planning to commit suicide - they are listed below:
- Always talking or thinking about death
- Clinical depression -- deep sadness, loss of interest, trouble sleeping and eating -- that gets worse
- Having a "death wish," tempting fate by taking risks that could lead to death, such as driving fast or running red lights
- Losing interest in things one used to care about
- Making comments about being hopeless, helpless, or worthless
- Putting affairs in order, tying up loose ends, changing a will
- Saying things like "it would be better if I wasn't here" or "I want out"
- Sudden, unexpected switch from being very sad to being very calm or appearing to be happy
- Talking about suicide or killing one's self
- Visiting or calling people to say goodbye
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Sternadel then announced that "Vietnam Veteran's Family Day" would be held on Saturday, November 11, Veteran's Day,
at Mike Ryan's Lake. Mark your calendars! Please try and attend - this will be a great opportunity for all of us (members, spouses & family members)
to get together and have some fun and eat some good food. Mike is a great supportor of our chapter, so we should all make an effort to attend. Click
on the link below to see some photos of last year's event - everyone had a great time! Maps showing how to get to Mike's Lake will be available at
the next chapter meeting. Again note that Mike encourages all you fishermen to bring your fishing gear - the lake is full of big bass.
CLICK HERE to see some photos of last year's event
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Sternadel announced the possibility of a newly purchased, Everyday Heroes van becoming available for making daily runs (or as needed)
for Veterans, to take them to/from the VA walk-in clinic, located in Richmond, TX. Leonard then asked the attending members (by show
of hands) if anyone would be interested in riding the van. There was no interest from the attending members. If you did not attend the
meeting, but would be interested in such a new van transit service, please contact Leonard. Leonard said there must be some interest
shown from our Wharton county veterans in this service, in order for it to be considered as a viable project.
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Sternadel then introduced long time friend of our chapter, Carol Wootton - see photo below.
Carol stopped by to let us know about Congressman Farenthold's Veterans Summit, being held in Victoria
on Thursday, the 31st of this month, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Leonard will be the Emcee for the event, and Dwight Winkler will be
giving a presentation titled "VA Claim Filing Made Easy".
Use the link below to view all the details about this upcoming event.
CLICK HERE for details regarding the Veterans Summit in Victoria,
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Sternadel then thanked all those who helped serve at the National Guard Family Day event, held at
Mike Ryan Lake last weekend.
Use the link below to see some photos taken at that event.
CLICK HERE for Photos Taken at the Event
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Leonard then mentioned that Texas VVA Chapter 1000, Killeen, Texas, will dedicate a new Vietnam War Memorial on August 28th.
See image below.
Use the link below to read the complete story of the planning and construction of the Vietnam War memorial in Kileen, by VVA
chapter 1000. An interesting read for sure!
Also, if any of our chapter members do attend this dedication, please take some pictures so that we can show them at our next chapter meeting!
CLICK HERE for the complete story online
CLICK HERE for the complete story in the Kileen online Newspaper
CLICK HERE to visit VVA Chapter 1000 Webpage
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Leonard then reminded everyone that PBS will begin an 18-hour, Vietnam War documentary, starting on September 17th.
"THE VIETNAM WAR" is a ten-part, 18-hour documentary film series directed by Ken Burns and
Lynn Novick. In an immersive narrative, Burns and Novick tell the epic story of the Vietnam War. Six years in the making,
the series brings the war and the chaotic epoch it encompassed viscerally to life.
Use the link below to visit the PBS homepage for this upcoming Vietnam War 10-part special, and watch the offical trailer video.
CLICK HERE to visit the PBS webpage
Use the link below to visit Ken Burns webpage regarding this upcoming 10-part special on the Vietnam War.
CLICK HERE to visit the Ken Burns webpage
Use the link below to see an extended promotional 2 minute video clip of The Vietnam War PBS special on youtube.
CLICK HERE to view the video on youtube
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Sternadel then concluded the meeting by informing the members that the local Veterans organization, Everyday Heroes, Inc.
will be sponsoring a BIG fundraising event in October, called The Heroes Banquet. See flyer image below.
Tables of 8 are available for $300.00 and $600.00. He said this event would again be considered at the next meeting for discussion.
CLICK HERE to View or Print the Flyer for distribution
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There being no further business, President Sternadel declared the meeting adjourned at 2045.
Much Thanks goes out to Chapter Secretary, John Steelman, for providing the meeting minutes, from which this report was created!
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