- 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.
- 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.
- The following Board members were present: Sternadel, Steelman, F. Kulcak, Neumann, Laitkep, Woods, and Supak.
- There were 39 members and 7 guests present! A very nice turnout - thanks to all those who attended.
- The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was recited and a prayer was said.
- Sternadel recognized Carol Wooton and JD Kennedy from Congressman Blake Farenthold's office. Farenthold is the US Congressman for District 27.
- The meeting was then recessed for the meal and reconvened at 1945.
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Sternadel asked Mr. Kennedy to present his program to the Chapter (see photo below). Mr. Kennedy spoke of the updated Veteran's Choice
program, and said that they are working on trying to get more doctors into the program. He reminded the group if they had any VA
related issues, to contact
Vanessa Hicks Callaway
at her Veterans office in Victoria. Vanessa also works for Congressman Farenthold. Kennedy then took questions about the VA and VA Benefits
issues, from the membership. The chapter would like to thank both Wooton and Kennedy for taking the time to visit with our membership - we
hope they can come again in the future.
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Chapter member, Randy Ratcliff, then gave a brief presentation of a personal Agent Orange story he experienced while a Marine in
Vietnam and continuing later in civilan life. His presentation also included the history and effects of Agent Orange as how it was
manufactured in the US and then how it was used in Vietnam. In short, Randy's lifelong friend, Charlie Saucedo, also a Marine, was
an Agent Orange handler/loader on a base in Vietnam (see photo below showing all the barrels of Agent Orange stored at the base
in Vietnam). A few years later back in the states, Charlie died of cancer due to his continuous Agent Orange exposure while in
Vietnam. Charlie died at the young age of 23.
Randy has been on a crusade ever since, trying to spread the word about Agent Orange - what it is and how it can affect those who
were exposed to in in Vietnam. Note that Randy gave the same presentation at the
Agent Orange Town Hall
that was held last month in Victoria. At that time, he setup an Agent Orange information table (see photo below) and was able to
answer any questions from veterans that were related to Agent Orange. So, if anyone in our membership has a question related to
the history of Agent Orange as it relates to Vietnam veterans, Randy is our in-house expert and the man to talk to!
- The minutes of the last meeting were approved as presented.
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Dwight Winkler gave his monthly benefits presentation (see photo below). Dwight also wanted to remind the
Chapter that chapter member, Michael Harbaugh, has been volunteering in the Wharton County's VSO office a
couple of days a week. The chapter wants to thank Mike for his volunteer work with veterans!
This month's handout from Dwight included the topics shown below. Use the link below to View or Print the handout.
Page-1
CLICK HERE to View or Print the Dwight's April 2017 Handout CLICK HERE to visit Dwight's Veterans Benefits page on our website
(1) CONTACT INFO
(2) PAYMENT OF BENEFITS
Page-2
(3) SENATORS INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO OVERHAUL APPEALS PROCESS
(4) FOUR NEW TESTS FOR ELEVATED PSA LEVELS
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Sternadel then informed everyone that unfortunately some of the literature and handouts from VVA National did not get delivered
in time for the Agent Orange Town Hall, that was held last month in Victoria. As a result, the handout material will be
distributed to our membership, and whatever is left over will be donated to the Wharton County VSO's office, and the VSO, Don Montoya,
can distribute the material to the Veterans that he sees. The photo below shows the two pieces of handout material that was available
at the meeting.
On the left is a nice Agent Orange education & information packet that is produced by the VVA. On the right is
something called a "Paper Safe" that is produced by the AVVA (Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America). It is a folder containing
information and forms that you fill out and keep in a safe place, preferably a safe-deposit box. It would then contain all pertinent
information about you and would assist your family at the time of your passing as they apply for survivor's benefits and burial
assistance. It would also help them to know and carry out your final wishes of personal requests. These will be available at the
next meeting - please try and attend so you can pick one up.
- Sternadel then gave a short report on the success of the Agent Orange Town Hall that was held last month in Victoria. Over 200 attended the event. 33 of our chapter members and spouses attendanded the event. He thanked everyone who attended and helped with the event. Sternadel especially recognized chapter member, David Haas, for his generous donation towards helping support the Agent Orange Town Hall event - THANK YOU DAVID! CLICK HERE to read the full report on Town Hall event
- Bob Supak then presented a slide show of pictures that were taken at the Agent Orange Town Hall event.
- Supak then commented that our Chapter's Bio & Photo Album/Booklet project had been submitted as an entry into 2016-2017 Operation ED-U-CATE project, of the Vietnam Veterans Assistance Foundation of Texas" (VVAFT) . This is a contest between Texas VVA Chapters, to achieve excellence in their overall general operation. Every year the VVAFT takes nominations from all Texas VVA Chapters for some particular Community OR Veteran related project that the chapter may be involved with. There are certain criteria that must be met and a 500 word essay with photos must accompany the entry. All entries are judged by the VVAFT Board of Directors. The Grant Awards are as follows: 1st place - $500, 2nd place - $300, 3rd place - $200, 4th place - $100.
- Sternadel then asked VP Kulcak to conduct the election of officers and directors. Ballots were distributed to all member present. VP Kulcak and Director Jimmy Neumann counted the votes. The only change was Calvin Mahlmann replaced Frank Laitkep as a director. The following members were elected: Sternadel - president, F. Kulcak - VP, Steelman - Sec/Tr, directors - Mahlmann, Neumann, Supak and Woods.
- Sternadel informed the Chapter that the 22 minute DVD video of the "Rose Ceremony" were still available for our membership. This is the memorial ceremony that many of you participated in when the Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall came to El Campo last year.
- Chapter member, Stephen Brady, then informed the Chapter that he had been selected to serve on the VVA National's "Panel-A" transition planning committee. He also stated that "Panel-A" has been renamed to "Working Group 1". This group's task is to formulate a strategic plan to transition at a later time to be determined by the group and communicated to the general membership for approval at a National Convention. In short, Working Group 1 will assume VVA is moving toward a "LAST MEMBER STANDING" organization and will review all aspects of VVA in order to plan for our eventual dissolution. These plans will be presented to the delegates at a future Convention for their consideration. Bob Seal, President of the Idaho State Council, was named Chair of Working Group 1. Secretary Bill Meeks and Treasurer Wayne Reynolds will serve as special advisors. In its January meeting the BOD unanimously approved the following individuals to serve as members of Working Group 1: Jake Barsottini, Ray Breault, Nici DeLeo, John Margowski, Sandy Miller, Jerry Morano, Stephen Brady, an Kerwin Stone. Rod Farley and Bill Norton were approved as alternate members.
- There being no further business, President Sternadel declared the meeting adjourned at 2045. Much thanks to our chapter Secretary, John Steelman for providing the basic minutes for this report.