VVA Chapter 1069 Meeting Report for: Jan, 1-11-2017
[posted on: 1-17-2017]
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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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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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The following Board members were present: Sternadel, Steelman, F. Kulcak, Woods, and Supak.
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John and Brenda Steelman presented a brief overview of their trip to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
located in Angel Fire, New Mexico, and the Permian Basin Vietnam Veterans Memorial, located in Midland, Texas.
They also provided information about the "Snipper" Chris Kyle Memorial, located in Odessa, Texas. It was an interesting
presentation and did generate some discussion from others at the meeting who had visited the same Vietnam Memorials.
Thanks to Bob Supak for showing the vacation pictures on our chapter's projector, while John and Brenda gave their overview.
Also, if anyone else in the chapter has visited other (or the same) Vietnam War Memorial sites while on your vacations,
and would also like to do a similar "Show & Tell" at one of our chapter meetings, please contact Bob Supak. He will be
glad to take the photos and work up a slide set so that you too can tell our membership about the trip and the Monuments
you visited. The ultimate Show & Tell will be when someone in our chapter takes that vacation trip back to Vietnam.
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The minutes of the last meeting were approved as presented.
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Our Veterans Service Officer, Dwight Winkler, gave his monthly presentation
(see photo below). He first thanked all chapter members who helped with the recent Christmas party activities.
He also stated he had sent a letter to VVA National President, John Rowan, regarding his thoughts about the
future of the overall VVA Organizational Transition and the possibility of changing its membership criteria.
He also urged the chapter membership to do the same. Note that email information is provided later in this report
so that you may also email the VVA National officers.
In his presentation and meeting handout, Dwight included updated contact information for all those needing help with benefit
questions. Also included was information regarding the following items, prostate cancer, high blood pressure studies, a
new telephone number to reach the VA, cemetery burial plans, outpatient medication, a new call center, insurance policies,
no call list, free tax services, tax information you will need for filing or just having the information on hand, and a
website regarding your choice of electrical provider. Use the link below to View or Print the entire January 2017 handout.
CLICK HERE to View or Print the Jan 2017 Handout
CLICK HERE to visit Dwight's Veterans Benefits page
And as our Secretary, John Steelman, would like to remind everyone, Dwight is quick to thank those who go out of their way
to serve our chapter. However, stop and think about the enormous time Dwight puts in to provide us with all the important
information that he does. We are very fortunate to have him as a member and VSO of our chapter. Be sure to give him thanks
the next time you see him, or
CLICK HERE to Send Dwight a Thank-You email
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As a side-note for all of you new members, please note the picture hanging behind Dwight in the above photo.
CLICK HERE
to read the interesting report on our website regarding the origin of that picture and why it is hanging in Mikeska's banquet room.
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Sternadel then covered the following topics:
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Sternadel then announced that the Agent Orange Town Hall Meeting will be held in Victoria on
Saturday, March, 18, 2017 - Please mark your calendars - this will be a BIG event for our chapter. Volunteers will be needed
to help with setting up our chapter's welcome area and to help pass out information to those attending. There are several
other VVA Chapters involved with this event and VVA National will be sending down a group of individuals that will provide
the main presentation on Agent Orange exposure as it applies to Vietnam Veterans. There will also be representatives attending
that will give a presentation on Hepititus-C. Sternadel also stated that the local Veteran's organization, "Everyday Heroes",
may be providing a bus for travel to and from Victoria for chapter members who would like to volunteer to help. More information
will be forthcoming at the February chapter meeting.
The event will be held at the Victoria College Technology Center Complex.
This is a new state
of the art facility that is tailored to meetings that need a large room with large projector screens. You can see what the
facility looks like by clicking on the link below. It will take you to a report on our website (with photos) of Blake Farenthold's
Veterans Summit that was held in July of 2016.
CLICK HERE to see the report
Or, CLICK HERE to visit the Technology Center Complex website
To learn more about Agent Orange...
CLICK HERE to visit Agent Orange outreach page on VVA National's website
CLICK HERE to visit the Agent Orange Blogsite
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He then thanked the Mikeska's for providing the Chapter with the Veteran's Day meal. And by the way, if you run into either Gerry or
Nick Mikeska, be sure to thank them for being great supportors of our chapter.
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He then also thanked Mike Ryan and his family for hosting the Vietnam Veteran's Day Celebration at
FB Helen for all chapter members and family on November 12th. Everyone who attended had a great time. The catered meal was
outstanding, AND, there were quite a few fish caught in Mike's lake. And, if you live in the El Campo area and happen to run into
Mike Ryan, be sure to thank him for hosting the event - Mike is great friend and supportor of our chapter. Click on the link below
to read the report and see the photos that were taken at the event.
CLICK HERE to see the Photos of Vietnam Veteran's Family Day
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Again, the 2016 Chapter Christmas party was a great success with a record-breaking 100 members & spouses attending the party.
Leonard wanted to thank all those that attended! Use the link below to read the report and see some photos that were taken at the
party. And again, if you run into Gerry or Nick Mikeska, be sure to thank them for the great job
they did with the food and catering of the event.
CLICK HERE to see the Photos of the Christmas Party
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Leonard then thanked all those who participated in the Wreaths Across America program this year.
Although this may be a small gesture of respect for those Veterans who have passed, we realize that you have given up time
during your Christmas holidays to visit the various cemeteries and lay the wreaths. For more information regarding the Wreaths
Across America program, you may use the link below to visit their website.
CLICK HERE to visit Wreaths Across America
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Election of officers is upon us. A nominating committee will need to be elected at the next chapter meeting.
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Again this year, the VVA Texas State Council (TSC) is offering a Scholarship for Veterans of the Vietnam War, their children,
step-children, grandchildren, current spouses and widows who have not remarried, who reside in the State of Texas and attend
a fully accredited Texas College or University, enrolled in 12 credit hours or more or will be graduating seniors in high school.
Judging will take place at the April 2017 TSC meeting. NOTICE! The deadline for entry is March 1, 2017.
Use the link below to VIEW or PRINT the scholarship application form. Note that the application form also includes detailed information
(rules & guidelines) about the program, detailed instructions and contact information.
CLICK HERE to VIEW or PRINT the 2017 TSC Scholarship Application
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Leonard then mentioned that the future of the VVA may be decided on this year and that all chapter members should consider the possible
outcome, and should let your voice be heard. More information will be provided in the future at our chapter meetings and we will be
sending reminders to our membership via email.
CLICK HERE to send email to VVA National President, John Rowan (jrowan@vva.org)
CLICK HERE to send email to VVA National Vice-President, Marsha Four (mfour@vva.org)
CLICK HERE to send email to VVA National Treasurer, Dr. Wayne Reynolds (wreynolds@vva.org)
CLICK HERE to send email to VVA National Secretary, Bill Meeks (bmeeks@vva.org)
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Leonard also mentioned the recent chapter loss of both John Bubela and James Kulcak, and how appreciative their families were to have
some military/Vietnam rememberance of their loved ones, provided by our chapter in the form of a Member Bio & Photo Booklet.
Fortunately, both John & James did have Bob Supak create their Bio & Photo Booklets back in 2015. Note that the chapter
did provide both families with copies of their Booklets for distribution to family members. Leonard suggested that chapter members
take advantage of our chapter's Member Bio & Photo Booklet project. Use the link below for an overview of the project, and for
viewing and printing instructions on how to particpate in the project, along with the Bio information entry form. Fill out the Bio
form and bring all to the next chapter meeting, or
email the information to Bob Supak
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Click here to learn about the Bio & Photo Album/Booklet Project
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Leonard then mentioned that a local Vietnam veteran's house just recently burned down a few weeks ago. The family lost everything.
Many volunteers have stepped to assist them. More information will be provided at the next meeting.
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In closing, the chapter would like to thank Dana Sternadel for volunteering her time and effort for providing our chapter with a
top-notch well-stocked PX store at EVERY meeting (see photo below).
We realize that it takes a lot of time to maintain and order all the Vietnam Veteran related items that she has available for us
to purchase. Note that she also maintains and stocks all the various sized chapter vests (and patches) that are available to our
membership. We also want to thank Carolyn Milder for helping Dana run the PX and sell 50/50 tickets at the January meeting.
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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 contents of this report.
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