VVA Chapter 1069 Meeting Report for: Feb 2-8-2023
[posted on: 2-11-2023]
The meeting was held in the banquet room at Mikeska’s BBQ, (located on Hwy 59) El Campo, TX.
The chapter would like to thank Mikeska family for advertising our chapter meeting on their
electronic color sign. See photo below.
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The picture below shows chapter President, Joe McCreary, opening the meeting at 6:00 pm.
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The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was recited and the membership was led in prayer by chapter member, Wayne Woods.
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All members with birthdays in February (including yours truly) were recognized and everyone sung Happy Birthday.
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Joe then temporarily adjourned the meeting for lunch from Mikeska's next door.
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Joe then reopened the meeting at 7:00 pm - The following business was conducted...
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The picture below shows Jessica Collard, the Veterans Service Officer for Wharton County.
She gave a presentation on a new VA Life Insurance program called VA Life.
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VALife is a new VA program that provides guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance coverage with no health questions
or exams and is available to all service-connected Veterans age 80 and under at all disability rating
levels (0 to 100 percent). If you are age 80 or under, there is no deadline or time limit to apply for VALife.
You may use the link below to view or print the VALife handout pamphlets that she brought to the meeting.
It provides all the details of the new program.
Click Here to View or Print the VALife Panphlet
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Above photo shows Jessica's new assistant and welcomed guest, Alex Petersen. He's originally from Texas but
he's moved around a lot given his military lifestyle. He was in the Navy and was a Culinary Specialist.
Outside of that, he worked in security for over 6 years. He has just moved to the area and was starting his
disability claim adventure when he came across Jessica's VSO office in Wharton and was interested in helping
Jessica out as well. Welcome back to Texas Alex and thank you for your service!
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As above photo shows, We had pretty good attendance at this meeting with 35+ members & spouses attending.
The chapter officers want to thank all those that attended - They are hopeful that our meeting attendance will pick up
in 2023 now that Covid seems to be settling down. It has been a pretty rough past 2 years for all of us.
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Joe then mentioned that the upcoming VVA TSC (Texas State Council) meeting will be held in April in
Texarkana, Texas. If anyone wants to attend the meeting and be a delegate representing our chapter,
please contact our Secretary/Treasurer, John Steelman. The chapter will pick up the tab for room,
travel & meals.
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Bob Supak, chairman of the 2023 Election Nominations Committee then gave a progress report. The 3-man
committee was assigned and formed at the previous January chapter meeting. The other two members are
chapter members, Billy Orsak and Ronnie Miller.
The purpose of the Nomination Committee is to solicite candidates and nominations for chapter officer positions,
President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer, along with Board of Directors positions (our chapter has
4 total BOD members). The committee must then submit the slate of candidates at our March 8th chapter meeting.
And again, our chapter election will be held at our April 12th monthly chapter meeting.
Bob mentioned that the committee has been meeting regularly weekly (via virtual online zoom meetings) since January
and are actively meeting with and talking to possible candidates. If anyone would like to volunteer for any officer
position, please contact one of the committee members.
Bob said that the Committee has already sent email to all our members who have email, and has also mailed out
letters to all members who do not have email, alerting the entire membership of the upcoming election and
asking if anyone would like to serve as a Chapter Officer or BOD Officer, for years 2023-2025. Bob said it is
the responsibility of the committee to ensure that EVERY chapter member is aware of the upcoming election and
its progress, including all important dates, the election candidates, the election date, and the election outcome.
If you would like to ‘throw your hat into the ring”, please contact any of the Nomination Committee members or
contact any of the current chapter Officers or BOD members.
Our current chapter Officers are:
- President: Joe McCreary
- Vice-President: Larry Monroe
- Secretary/Treasurer: John Steelman
Our current BOD (Board of Directors) are:
- Richard Woods
- Prudencio Arriaga
- Augie Limas
- Louise Milder
The election nominations committee has also posted a 2023 election awareness & information webpage for our
chapter's membership to keep track of the committee's progress. The webpage also contains information about officer
duties that was taken from our own chapter's By-Laws, and information taken from the VVA National's website. The
webpage also contains contact information for the 3 members of the Election Nominations Committee.
Use the link below to visit our chapter's 2023 Election Information webpage.
Click Here to Visit our 2023 Election Information webpage
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Joe then presented the latest information regarding the upcoming
National Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Day Celebration
being held on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Columbus, Texas, and hosted by the Columbus VVA Chapter 1127.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT IS INTENDED ONLY FOR MEMBERS & SPOUSES OF THE FOLLOWING FIVE TEXAS VVA
CHAPTERS (VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA is a National Vietnam Veterans Organization)...
- Chapter 1127, Columbus
- Chapter 870, Schulenburg
- Chapter 898, Victoria
- Chapter 0854, Hallettsville
- Chapter 1069, El Campo
Below is the actual invitation information that we recieved from the Columbus
VVA chapter 1127. They are hosting the event this year.
Event: National Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Day Celebration
Wednesday, March 29, 2023, Columbus, Texas
To: VVA members of chapters 870 Schulenburg, 1069 El Campo, 0898 Victoria, 0854 Hallettsville,
and 1127 Columbus are invited to the March 29, 2023 VVA Gathering in Columbus.
Event Hosted by: Columbus VVA chapter 1127.
Day and time: Wednesday, March 29, 2023 from 2PM – 5PM, open paid bar with soft drinks and beer provided by Columbus KOC.
Where: Columbus Hall (previously Columbus KOC Hall) located on north side of I-10 just east of Glidden exit.
Meal: BBQ brisket, potato salad, pinto beans, salad, dessert, and tea & water. (Same caterer as last year)
Cost per individual: Note: There is no cost for the meal for Chapter 1069 members & spouses! The chapter
1069 officers wanted to show their appreciation to the chapter membership and they hope that everyone in the chapter will attend the event.
All chapter 1069 members will soon be notified by phone to make reservations to attend the event. You may also contact John Steelman to make
reservations - his contact information shown below. Note that the Columbus chapter needs a head count for the caterer by March 1!
John Steelman, VVA Chapter 1069 Secretary/Treasurer:
Phone: (979) 332-0071
Email: jsteelman5509@yahoo.com
Spouses: Veterans’ spouses, AVVA members & VSOs of chapters are invited.
Guest speaker: Ms. Elaine Thomas, author of Veterans’ Voices and contributor to the Fayette County Record
newspaper, as well as an experienced speaker.
Other details: Find-a-Buddy bulletin board and a raffle with prizes will be available. Slideshow with
photos provided by each chapter will be projected during the event. Note that Bob Supak has already submitted
25 photos with captions, for chapter 1069. Use the link below to preview the photos that will be
showing at the event.
Click Here to view or print the slide photos
Use the link below to read the report about last year's event that was held in Ammansville, Texas. That event was the
1st gathering of all 5 Texas VVA chapters to celebrate March 29, and was hosted by the Schulenburg VVA chapter 870.
Click Here to read the Ammannsville 2022 report
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The photos below show more detail on the new Deceased Members Memorial plaque that now hangs on the
wall of Mikeska's banquet room, where our chapter holds monthly meetings.
Much thanks goes out to our Chapter's Secretary/Treasurer, John Steelman, for taking on this
project and having the plaque made by a local business in El Campo.
And a big thanks goes out to chapter member, Dave Wagner, for building the very nice oak and
glass enclosed display case, with lock.
As you can see in the close up photo below, our chapter has lost 17 members since the chapter was
formed in 2012. May they rest in peace.
You may use the link below to visit our chapter's online Memoriam webpage to read more
about our chapter members who have passed away, including their obituaries along with
various photos.
Click Here to View our Memoriam webpage
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There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 pm.
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Our next meeting is scheduled for March 8, 2023. Please try and attend as the election nominations committee
will be announcing the candidates for chapter officers and the Board of Directors, for the 2023 election.
And the election itself will take place at the following April 12 meeting.
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