VVA Chapter 1069 Meeting Report for: Oct 10-11-2023
[posted on: 10-22-2023]

The meeting was held at the usual location, in the banquet room at Mikeska’s BBQ, (located on Hwy 59) El Campo, TX. The chapter officers and membership appreciate Mikeska's support for our VVA chapter! Thank you.

• Photo below shows both Chapter President, Richard Woods (Left), and Chapter Vice-President, Prudencio Arriaga (Right), opening the meeting at 6:00pm. Prudencio led the membership in the Pledge of Allegience, and Richard led the membership with an opening prayer.
  
• There were about 30 members, spouses and guests that attended this meeting. Much thanks to all those that attended!
• All those who were having birthdays in October were recognized. Everyone then sang Happy Birthday to them.
• The meeting was then temporarily adjourned to allow our membership and attending guests to go next door to get an evening dinner from Mikeska's BBQ restaurant.
• The meeting was reopened at 7:00 pm - The following business shown below was conducted.
• Richard then asked our Wharton County Service Officer representative, Alex Peterson, to give a presentation to the attending members - see photo below.
  
  Alex talked about the PACT Act as it relates to hypertension claims to VA and the benefits ratings that a Veteran may recieve for the various blood pressure levels of hypertension. For the PACT Act when applying for hypertension claim at the current time, you need to provide at least 3 readings that show any of the hypertension readings information and associated ratings, shown below...
  NOTE: When taking a person's blood pressure, The Top Number (Systolic Pressure) – The first, or upper, number measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats.
  NOTE: When taking a person's blood pressure, The Bottom Number (Diastolic Pressure) – The second, or lower, number measures the pressure in your arteries between beats.
  • 10% VA disability rating for hypertension: If your diastolic pressure is 100 to 109, or your systolic pressure is 160 to 199.
  • 20% VA disability rating for hypertension: If your diastolic pressure is 110 to 119, or your systolic pressure is 200 or higher.
  • 40% VA disability rating for hypertension: If your diastolic pressure is 120 to 129.
  • 60% VA disability rating for hypertension: If your diastolic pressure measures 130 or higher.
  Please contact Jessica Collard, our Wharton County Veterans Service Officer, for any questions you may have regarding this type of VA claim. Her contact information is shown further below.
  The chapter officers and membership do appreciate Alex attending our meetings and presenting any new VA benefits information to us and also her helping our membership with any questions they may have concerning their VA benefits.
  Use the link below to visit Jessica Collard's (Wharton County VSO) webpage that is posted on our chapter's website. The page includes her Wharton office hours and other informaton about the services she provides for all Wharton County Veterans.
  Jessica Collard
  Wharton County Veterans Service Officer (VSO)
  1017 North Alabama Road
  Wharton TX, 77488
  Phone: (979) 532-1311
  Fax: (979) 531-0758
  Click Here to View Jessica's webpage

• Richard then invited chapter member, Billy Orsak, up to the podium to give a planning committee progress report regarding the upcoming April 3, 2024, Vietnam War Veteran Day event. See photo below.
  *** NOTICE - THIS EVENT WILL NOT BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ***
  
  Note that before the chapter meeting started, Billy had just lead a 1-hour discussion with planning committee for the upcoming April 3-2024 Vietnam War Veterans Day event. See photo below. Our chapter, VVA chapter 1069, is hosting the event for 5 local area VVA chapters.
  
• Below is the list of items that Billy presented in his progress report and is the same list of items that the planning committee discussed in their planning meeting...
  Planning Committee Discussion Items:
  • Taiton Hall - Bob, Carolyn, and Louis have a signed contract that guarantees the date. Bob has printed up handout reports and will also present a slide show showing the proposed table arrangements. Update! The Taiton Hall contracts have been turned over to our chapter officers and the committee has accepted the hall arrangement reports turned in by Bob, Carolyn & Louis.
  • Hall Decorations - Any new information on decorations/costs?
  • Missing Man Table Ceremony - Billy has gotten information about the items we have used in the past and who has them. Update! The committee had decided to include a Missing Man Table creremony as the main program for the event. If you're not sure what that is, just Google "Missing Man Table". We also have contacted the person who has all the items required for a 4-man Missing Man Table ceremony.
    What is a Missing Man Table ceremony?
    "The Missing Man Table, sometimes referred to as the "Fallen Comrade Table," is meant to remind viewers of those fallen, missing, or imprisoned U.S. Military Service Members. Each item on the Missing Man Table represents the emotions and feelings reserved for those who did not come home."
  • Raffle – At last month’s meeting a decision was made to not do a raffle prior to the event to raise funds. We have $X to spend on prizes. Discuss what type of items, how many and who will purchase these gifts for the raffle at the event. Update! The committee has also decided to NOT hold a silent auction. There will however be a bucket raffle consisting mainly of donated items from businesses and individuals, including those items donated from our own chapter membership. Please contact any of our chapter officers if you would like to donate some item.
  • Event Staffing – Any update from Mrs. Boone or Brenda Steelman about getting volunteers from the civic clubs to work the event?
  • Meal Choices – The date (April 3-2024) has been scheduled with Mikeska’s. Will need to have final headcount and meal choice to them by March 25th. Update! The main meal course chosen by the planning committee is CHICKEN FRIED STEAK.
  • Program Speaker – Discuss option of not having a speaker and making the Missing Man Table presentation the focal point of the program. Update! We will NOT have a speaker at the event, but instead will include a complete " Missing Man Table" ceremony as the main program for the event.
  • Personal Photo Slide Show Presentation – Bob has contacted the other 4 chapters for pictures they may want to include. Dead line for submission is Jan 15, 2024. Bob will also remind our chapter members as well at this meeting for those who want to participate, to get their pictures to Bob. Update! 3 more chapter 1069 members have submitted their Vietnam photos for the slide show. However, we have not gotten any responses from the other chapters for adding any new photos for their members. We will keep sending out reminder emails to the Victoria, Hallettsville, Schulenburg and Columbus VVA chapters.
  Action Items
  Item - Assigned To - Due Date - Status
  • Contact Mikeska’s about meal choices and inform group. Billy Orsak 9/1/23 - Complete
  • Gather input for the raffle and notify group. Billy Orsak/Clint Dillion 9/1/23 - Complete
  • Update Expense/Income Sheet. Billy Orsak 9/13/23 - In progress
  • Get contract for Hall. Carolyn/Louis Milder - 10/31/23 - Complete
  • Create sample program for handout. Billy Orsak 01/2024 - In progress
  • Create slide show of pictures for event. Bob Supak 01/15/24 - In progress (ongoing until January 15, 2024)
• Billy then gave a 2nd presentation (see picture below), a sort of show & tell about a very special quilt that has already been donated for the 3-2024 event raffle!
  
  
  See the pictures below showing the beautiful Vietnam War themed blanket held up by Billy and Carolyn Milder.
  
  The quilt was donated by chapter member, John Collins.
  
  The blanket was hand made by a local El Campo resident, who wanted our chapter to use the blanket as we wish for the event.
  
  The planning committee will now decide how to use the blanket at the event, raffle, auction, free tickets given out at the door, etc.?
• There being no further business, Richard then adjourned the meeting at 8:00 pm.
• Thanks to everyone for attending our October chapter meeting. See everyone at the November 8th meeting.

.