Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 203 Mail Call PO Box 23405 Chattanooga, TN 37422 November/ December 2014 Next Meeting: Monday, November 17, 2014 Dinner at 6pm Meeting at 7pm American Legion All members please note: There “WILL NOT” be a business meeting in December. The Annual Christmas Dinner on Saturday, December 13th will serve as our December meeting. Please plan to attend this annual event. If you have never attended this event, please consider it. A good time with friends, family and fellowship are what you can expect. A reservation form can be found on page 7 of this issue of the “Mail Call”. If you will note, the cost of the dinner this year is considerably lower than previous years. This is the result of your chapter’s Board of Directors authorizing it at last month’s meeting. This decision was made due to the R&R Picnic being postponed until next Spring. This also means that the Chapter will be picking up the dinner’s cost difference and we are expecting all members to take advantage of this offer. Let’s make this years dinner the most attended one we’ve ever had!!! The following is reprinted from the va.gov we site: Post 95 We Can All Do Something to End Veteran Homelessness 3329 Ringgold Rd East Ridge, TN VA is committed to ending Veteran homelessness by the end of 2015. No one who has served our country should ever go without a safe, stable place to call home. The entire department has put its energy and resources into ending Veteran homelessness. VA's programs provide individualized, comprehensive care to Veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Inside this issue: Still, VA cannot do it alone. Organizations and individuals in communities across the country are integral to providing services to Veterans and spreading the word about the resources VA provides to end and prevent homelessness among Veterans. Officer Contacts 2 Upcoming Events 2 President’s Message 3 Explore va.gov/homeless to learn about VA's programs for Veterans and to find out what you, your neighbors, and your community can do to help Veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. Website Article 3 6 Know that one phone call can be the difference in the life of a Veteran who is homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. Make the Call to 877-4AID-VET (424-3838) to be connected 24/7 with VA's services to overcome or prevent homelessness for yourself or a Veteran you know. Membership Update 4 Website Article 5 6 Christmas Dinner Reservation Form 7 Menu for November: Tentatively: Stew, Pinto Beans, Corn Bread & Dessert Menu for December: VVA Chapter 203 Christmas Dinner Party @ Chattanooga Choo-Choo (See Reservation Form on Page #7 of this Issue) Chapter 203 Officers and Board of Directors 2014 - 2015 Officers: President - Charlie Hobbs 3619 John Sims Road Chattanooga, TN. 37412 423-495-0202 (H) 423-991-5858 (C) 423-495-1108 (F) nam67mp@aol.com Larry Anderson 706-676-3458 larryandsue67@optilink.us 1st VP - Rick Simpson 170 Creeks Jewell Drive Ringgold, GA. 30736 423-902-1359 (C) Larry Gregory 423-396-3191 (H) 423-667-2415 (C) tnabndad1@comcast.net 2nd VP - Larry Johnson 727 Godsey Lane Chattanooga, TN. 37415 423-875-3949 (H) 423-718-9056 (C) bro.usmc@yahoo.com Bob Holloway 423-802-8681 bobrob241@gmail.com Secretary - Danny Arnold 423-443-0305 danny_arnold1514@comcast.net President: Joyce Simpson Vice President: Charlene Holloway Secretary: Vacant Treasurer: Susan Price 423-629-7242 Appointed Positions in Chapter 203 VVA Membership Chair: Dan Taylor 423-9915628 Chaplain: Phil Minton Historian: Gerald Sniff 423-326-3177 Honor Guard Coordinator: Tom Sloan 423762-2522 Armory Sergeant: Wayne Walker Website: Sharon Hobbs 423-495-0202 Newsletter: David Carne 423-413-0012 or email: dcarne1191@comcast.net Page 2 Fred Huskey 423-899-2133 (H) 423-883-9297 (C) Ralph Price 423-580-9611 ralph_price1024@msn.com Treasurer – James Lowery 423-227-5336 rltaxman@comcast.net AVVA - Elected Officers: Social Events: AVVA Board of Directors: www.vva203.org UPCOMING EVENTS Nov 8, 2014 - 1:30 game time -21 gun salute at UTC Football game (21 gun salute) All veterans with military ID, get in free. Nov 9, 2014 - 11:00 AM service-Hat Ceremony at Fairview Baptist Church 108 Jenkins Rd - Rossville, GA. Call Rick Simpson for any other details (423-902-1359) Nov. 11, 2014 - 11:00 AM - Veterans Day service at Chattanooga National Cemetery (Posting colors, 21 gun salute, massing of colors, roses for Gold Star Mothers) Nov. 11, 2014 - 6:00 PM - Ridgedale Baptist Church 1831 Hickory Valley Road - Chattanooga, TN. Chapter 203 H/G will be posting colors. Chapter 203 Chaplin Phil Minton will be speaking Nov. 28 - Dec. 8, 2014 - Walmart Collection Hwy #153 (10AM-6PM) Dec. 13, 2014 - Chapter Christmas Dinner-Social Hour 6:00PM - Dinner 7:00PM - Chattanooga Choo Choo Mail Call President’s Message Chapter 203 continues to hold the second largest Chapter spot in the nation in membership. Dan Taylor, our Membership Chair, tells me we have 718 members and still growing. We had six new members to sign up at our last meeting in October. Way to go Chapter 203! the mail by now, I hope you are making plans to attend. The Chapter BOD voted to make it affordable for all who wish to attend and celebrate the holiday season with us. Hope to see you there. The date, time, and a reservation form are in this issue. This time of year is one of the busiest of all the year for chapter functions. Make sure you check the events calendar in this issue and plan to attend as many as possible, we need you. Finally, hope to see you at the meeting on November 17th. There will be no Chapter meeting in December, the Christmas Dinner will serve as the meeting. Don’t forget our Christmas Collection at the Walmart As promised, I said I would keep you updated on the store on Highway 153; we need your support to make it progress we are making on a permanent home for the a success. The dates and times are announced in Chapter. We have a Building Planning Committee in “upcoming events”. Just a few hours each day will make Christmas real in a lot of lives. Like the past sevplace and have toured the site on 23rd street. Patty Parks is the Chair of the committee and has laid out eral years, we will take names from the Salvation Army Angel Tree. our plan for moving forward. You should have gotten our Christmas invitation in Charlie The following article is reprinted from the vva.org website: Agent Orange/Dioxin Committee Report, September/October 2014 Major Headway In Kansas BY HERB WORTHINGTON, DIRECTOR The wind blew the dust from the streets, and Dorothy clicked the heels of her ruby slippers. The temperature rose to nearly a hundred degrees one day, and terrible thunderstorms covered the plains. This was the setting for the VVA Leadership & Education Conference in Wichita, Kansas. But this didn’t seem to bother anyone. Business was done and ideas passed around. It was a particularly busy conference for anyone involved with the Agent Orange/Dioxin Committee. First, we had a how-to session for putting on a town hall meeting. Almost every seat in the room was filled. The next day the Kansas State Council held a town hall meeting. Due to the high interest, we had to move the meeting to a larger room. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kans.) discussed his recently introduced Toxic Exposure Research and Military Family Support Act (S2738), which replaces the Blumenthal bill (S-1602). The main difference is that S-1602 provided compensation for veterans’ progeny, while S-2738 does not. S-2738 concentrates on the diagnosis and treatment of all veterans exposed to toxins and their progeny. That means the generations of our children plagued by so many health issues will finally get some answers. The Moran bill provides for testing and treatment of conditions linked to veterans’ toxic exposure. VVA President John Rowan spoke about the invisible wounds of war and how the symptoms may not manifest themselves for decades. He noted that children are the innocent victims of our military service. He explained that S-2738 calls for the establishment of an advisory board to oversee and assess the work of the VA Center for Research on the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions of the descendants of veterans exposed to toxins during their service in the armed forces. This committee will report directly to the VA Secretary. - Continued on Page 6 PO Box 23405 Page 3 Membership Update and Renewals **Membership Renewals** >>“IMPORTANT NOTICE”<< At this time Chapter 203 is offering a onetime incentive to our active & inactive members, a 3-year membership will cost only $30. (A three-year membership is normally $50). Of course, the one-year and life membership options are still available at the normal price. This incentive is only available through Chapter 203, so be sure to mail your renewal to: VVA Chapter 203, P.O. Box 23405, Chattanooga, TN 37422-3405. Memberships Due September Robert Dickerson Bill Prater Junior Richerdson October Steve Bettis Terry Dungan November Robert Blakeslee Danny Bucher Kelly Crownover Edward Krekeler Paul Patty Ronald Tatum Page 4 December Benjamin Conner Rick Cribbis Richard Ellis Roger Evans Freddy Few Gary Hannah Ronnie McConathy Tommy Million We want to thank you if you have already paid your dues. Please call me if you have made any change of “Address” or “Phone Number” in the past year. Please send your renewal payments to: VVA Chapter 203 P.O. Box 23405 Chattanooga, TN 37422-3405 This will be a GREAT help in tracking the renewals. Dan L. Taylor, Jr. (423) 991-5628 Membership Chair VVA Chapter 203 Update As of 10/26/14 Dan Taylor, Membership Chair Mail Call The following article is reprinted from the va.gov website: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 2, 2014 Department of Veterans Affairs Partners With Walgreens to Expand Real-Time Sharing of Medical Information of Vaccines Provided by Walgreens to Enrolled Veterans Pilot Immunization Program in Florida Expands Nationwide WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a first-of-its-kind partnership, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced that it will join forces with retailer Walgreens to provide greater access to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recommended vaccinations to Veterans across the country. This partnership grew out of a successful pilot program that began in Florida to provide flu vaccines to Veterans throughout the state. Based on those results, VA is expanding the pilot nationwide. Through its nearly 8,200 locations nationwide, Walgreens will offer flu and other recommended vaccinations to Veterans. Pharmacists can administer vaccinations to Veterans and will leverage eHealth Exchange, through its Walgreens Cloud Electronic Health Records platform, to securely share immunization records with VA to help ensure complete patient medical records. Vaccinations are available daily during all pharmacy hours with no appointment necessary and are subject to availability. “VA is proud to partner with Walgreens to provide needed vaccines to our nation’s Veterans,” said VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald. “This partnership is a great example of how government and the private sector can work together to effectively and efficiently provide Veterans the care and benefits that they've earned.” “Walgreens is committed to supporting our Veterans, and we are proud to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide convenient access to vaccines,” said Walgreens President and Chief Executive Officer Greg Wasson. “This is an excellent opportunity for our pharmacists to help VA educate Veterans about the importance of vaccinations, to improve immunization rates through greater access and to contribute to helping veterans get, stay and live well.” - Continued on Page 6 - Page 5 Mail Call - Continued from Page 5 “The VA-Walgreens partnership gives Veterans greater choice in time and location for getting their flu shots without having to complete any other VA forms,” said Interim Under Secretary for Health, Dr. Carolyn Clancy. “With this program, the Veteran patient’s record is integrated, and VA maintains a complete immunization record that allows us to more effectively provide patient-centered care.” Vaccines are subject to availability. Age, state and health related restrictions may apply. Many immunizations may be covered by commercial insurance plans, Medicare Part B or Medicare Part D. As part of this launch and under the agreement, VA funding can provide approximately 75,000 flu shots for enrolled veterans. Patients are encouraged to check with their health plan for specific coverage details. To find the nearest Walgreens, veterans can call 1-800-WALGREENS or visit www.walgreens.com. For more information about VA’s immunization program, visit http://www.ehealth.va.gov/Immunization.asp - Continued from Page 3 Vietnam veterans have long suspected that toxins (Agents Orange, Blue, Pink, White, Purple, and Green) have been killing us and are also harming our progeny. It has been our mission to prove this to the VA. Not only were we exposed in the jungles and rice paddies, but also on ships from the desalination plants on board. Our Navy slept, drank, washed, and bathed in this poison. Reports show that the concentration of toxins is intensified by the desalinization process. Little by little more ships are being added to the approved list for exposure to Agent Orange. The problem is that while the VA investigates, many of our brothers and sisters—and their children and grandchildren—are dying. It’s not just about us. Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan veterans and their families also are affected by toxins. Our troops’ exposure to oil fires, burn pits, and uranium-depleted ammunition is causing a tremendous backlash at the VA. Because they are not up on the technology, they have been refusing these veterans and their offspring. S-2738 is a bill that we should support. Thank your senators who have signed on to get this bill passed. Now we must get after all of the other senators and House members. The House needs a companion bill. Use your power of the vote. Use the power of being a veteran in this great country, and stand up for all of us and our families now. All Chapter Members Please Note: We will have more upcoming information on a “Faces of Agent Orange” Town Hall Meeting. Time, Date & Location: “To Be Determined” PO Box 23405 Page 6 Page 7 Mail Call Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 203 PO Box 23405 Chattanooga, TN 37422 We’re on the web! www.vva203.org “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another”
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