CHAPTER 500 APRIL 2004 ELECTIONS

Date:  April 20, 2004        Time:  7PM

     Elections for officers and board members of Chapter 500 will take place at the above date and time.  Nominations were called for in February and resulted in the following:
     President:  Gregory C. McNeill
     Vice-President:  Stan Bollinger
     Secretary:  Robert Jordan
     Treasurer:  Dennis "Doc" Kauffman
Board Members:  (3 to be elected)
     George Bouchard
     Gerard Fields
     Dino Gomez
     Bill Wagner
Also to be elected:
A Nominating Committee Chair
A California State Council Representative
An AVVA Representative
Two Representatives for the State Convention
     There can also be nominations for these offices from the floor at the Election Meeting.

     There are new rules decided upon at the VVA National Convention.  Chapters no longer have to have everyone of the Standing Committees specified by National in the past.  Chapters can choose which committees they will be active in.  The new President of the Chapter appoints committee chairs.  However, the Chapter will have to decide on the committees.  Following is a list of committees and their purpose.  Keep these in mind for the meeting.
1.  Membership Affairs - shall receive and approve applications from individuals and others wishing to become members of the Corporation, and shall be alert to build the membership of the corporation by pointing out the advantages and services available to members.  The Membership Affairs Committee shall also establish procedures by which an individual member's status as a veteran may be authenticated.  Such procedures shall be in accordance  with guidelines established by the Corporation.
2.  Public Affairs Committee - shall act as a liaison between the various committees of the Chapter and the news media, and it shall publicize in the community the purposes, goals, role, activities, and projects of the Corporation, its State Council and the Chapter.
3.  Government Affairs Committee - shall seek, through a program of education, to improve the social, economic, and educational well-being and physical welfare of the Vietnam-era veterans and other persons through the legislative process at the local, state, and federal level.  The committee shall monitor legislative activities and represent the opinion of the membership at public hearings and with public officials.
4.  Veterans Affairs Committee - shall present programs related to a variety of subjects and special interests.  The Committee should coordinate its activities closely with the President, other Officers and committee chairpersons.
5.  Employment, Training and Business Opportunities Committee - shall develop programs of the awareness on the part of the economic and employment sector of the needs of veterans in employment and business, and shall seek to improve the economic well being of veterans through such programs.
6.  Minority Affairs Committee - shall identify and develop programs of awareness of, and programs of interest to, minority veterans of the Vietnam Veterans of America, and shall seek to expand the membership of minorities in the Vietnam Veterans of America.  The Committee shall coordinate its activities closely with the President, other Officers, and committee chairpersons.
7.  Constitution Committee - shall serve to advise the Board of Directors as to matters of interpretation of the provisions of this Constitution , in accordance with guidelines and determinations of the Corporation.
 

     "THE MOVING WALL"

East Lawn Memorial Park is please to announce that they will be hosting the "Moving Wall". 
WHEN:  The Wall will be on display 24 hrs. from 8:30AM April 1 through 4PM April 7.
WHERE:  East Lawn Memorial Park at 43rd & Folsom
     The following ceremonies will take place:
APRIL 1 - Opening Ceremony at 4PM, Stan Atkinson will be the Master of Ceremonies, Remarks by State Senator Alan Nakanishi and Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo.
APRIL 4 - A "Reading of the Names" of all California Veterans lost in the Vietnam War will begin with an Opening Ceremony at 7AM and continue until complete. VVA500 Color Guard will post the colors at this time.
APRIL 4 - A "Reading" Ceremony will take place at 4PM.  Brig. Gen. Ezell Ware, Jr. will be the keynote speaker and  Diana Titus will be singing.
APRIL 7 - Closing Ceremony - will take place at 3:30PM.  Rev. Bill McDonald will conduct the ceremony.
The above is only a listing of the highlights of the ceremonies.  Many others will be participating including ROTC units and Veteran Organizations.  See the front page on how you can participate!

COMMITTEES, CONTINUED....
8.  Veterans Benefits Committee - shall provide oversight, as directed by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, for the Corporation's Veterans Benefits Program and shall recommend to the Board, policies to govern that program.
9.  Finance Committee - shall provide oversight of the financial activities of the Corporation, the State Council, or Chapter, and shall recommend policies on financial matters, to include, but not limited to assisting and consulting with the Treasurer on all financial planning, budgeting, reporting and other related matters.
10.  Women Veterans Committee - shall identify issues and needs relevant to women veterans, develop strategies to address and resolve them, and serve as a resource or liaison to and between all other communities.  The Women Veterans Committee will maintain communication, advocacy, and outreach on behalf of women veterans at all levels of the organization.
11.  The POW/MIA Committee - shall act as liaison with the State Council and Chapter POW/MIA Committees.  The Committee shall also promote awareness of the plight of American POW/MIA/s in Southeast Asia and other areas of the world regardless of the conflict that initiated their disappearance.
     Our own Chapter Committees are:
1.  Helping Hands Committee - shall determine veterans and their families in need and present solutions to the Board for determination of how best to assist the veterans and their families.
2.  Veterans Services Committee - shall be knowledgeable in the area of government services available to veterans and shall assist veterans in obtaining those benefits.
3.  Scholarship Committee - shall determine the criteria for receiving Chapter 500 scholarships, review the scholarship entries, and choose the recipients of the scholarship awards.
4.  Community Service Committee - while this was a National Committee, Chapter 500 had this committee last year because of the work we do in our community.
     Members please review these committees and let the Chapter know what activities you think are important.

     FEATURED PROFILE OF THE MONTH

BILL MORROW
CALIFORNIA STATE SENATOR
CHAIR, SENATE VETERANS COMMITTEE

     In the upcoming months, we will be reviewing all of the members of the Senate and Assembly Veterans Committees.  We will be closely watching the activities of these committees in regard to Veteran issues.

Born and raised in Southern California, Bill Morrow was elected the Student Body President of his class at Mt. San Antonio College.  He graduated from UCLA with honors, and received his Juris Doctorate from the Pepperdine School of Law.  After earning his degree, the Senator was recruited by the United States Marine Corps.  For eight years he served with distinction as a commissioned officer and military judge.  As the Chief Trial Counsel and prosecutor at Camp Pendleton, he focused on crime, waste and corruption in the military.  Captain Morrow left active duty with the USMC in 1987 and entered the private sector as a small business attorney.
     Senator Morrow lives in the City of Oceanside with his wife, the former Barbara Wheeler, and his seven-year-old son Will.  The Senator is an enthusiastic outdoorsman with a deep love of nature.
     Beyond his legislative duties, Senator Morrow works hard to improve our communities through local organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs, Chambers of Commerce, Kiwanis Clubs, YMCA, Laura's House, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).  He has been privileged to be the keynote speaker on four occasions at the Veterans' Loyalty Day Celebration in San Clemente.
     One of California's most energetic senators, California State Senator Bill Morrow represents the 38th Senate District, which includes a portion of South Orange County and much of North San Diego County.
     The Senator's efforts in the California Legislature blend strong fiscal conservatism, commitment to family values, respect for justice, support for business and working people, toughness against criminals, and compassion for senior citizens, children, and the needy.
     Senator Morrow was first elected to the Assembly in 1992, was re-elected in 1994 and 1996 by overwhelming majorities.  He was elected to the State Senate in 1998.  After serving his first term in the Assembly, he was named "Legislator of the Year" by the Orange County League of Cities.  He has been named "Legislator of the Year by several other groups and has been Chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, Vice-Chair of the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.  He most recently has been appointed Chair of the Senate Committee on Veteran's Affairs.

           REMEMBER!...VETERANS VOTE!

AFTER ACTION REPORT

     The Chapter's regular Board Meeting was held on March 2nd.
     President McNeill, Treasurer Kauffman, members Floyd Volker, Jim Armstrong and E.D. Mary Lou McNeill attended the monthly VAC meeting.  There was some disappointment here, as the Bolanos Brothers (the only four brothers to serve in Vietnam at the same time) were to appear, however their scheduler wrote down the wrong date.  The Brothers apologized for the error.
     Several Chapter members marched in the St. Patrick's Day Parade held in Old Town Sacramento.  We were also honored to have Brig. Gen. Cervantes march with us.  It was learned that one of our members David Dutton served with Gen. Cervantes' brother who was killed in the battle of Khe Sanh.
     Sometime in February the Chapter was notified that the "Moving Wall" was coming to East Lawn Memorial Park in April.  Your E.D. contacted East Lawn to see how Chapter 500 could assist them and since then has been attending those meetings and helping with programming and gathering docents and readers for the event.  In turn, several other Veteran Organizations are helping her fill in where needed.  In next month's newsletter, we'll have a complete report on the event and all of those that helped.
     Work has started on the upcoming "Reading of the Names", May 30, sponsored by Chapter 500, as well as the Chapter's involvement in the Memorial Day Parade, May 31st.  The theme this year is "Some Sacrificed....Some Sacrificed Their All".  Good news about the Parade, is this year we will be working with the Jazz Festival Committee that puts on a Memorial Day Salute to Veterans held at the Convention Center each year just before the parade.  We should be able to help each other gain public support to attend both functions by working together.  The theme of their event is "Memorial Day Salute to WWII Veterans".  If you are an organization reading this newsletter and want to march in the Parade, you can download an application on the website, www.norcaltrav.vac.htm. Just follow the instructions and mail it in.
     Of course the normal calls continue to come in from Veterans who need assistance with individual issues and information.  For update on the VV Memorial see Page 3.

LET THE TROOPS KNOW YOU CARE!!

     The forces in Iraq are not getting as much attention from home as they were in the beginning.  Here are the names and addresses of three that you can adopt.  These individuals will share with their unit.  The guys and gals don't ask for much but really do appreciate getting things from home.
Maj. Matt Foster         Maj. Rob Hunt       Lt. Col. Carl Unholz
CJTF-7 C3 FMD         CJTF-7 C3 IMD    CJTF-7  C3 IMD
Unit 91400                   Unit 91400              Unit 91400
APO AE 09342           APO AE 09342      APO AE 09342
   What do they need?  Food, (including junk), toiletries, office supplies (paper clips, sticky pads, staples) entertainment, etc.  Let's let them know we have not forgotten them!  If you know of troops serving overseas, we can add them to the list.

THE VVA500 CHAPTER CALENDAR
►►GET ONE FOR YOURSELF◄◄

Help VVA500 raise funds for scholarships and other important Chapter activities.  You can purchase this 8 1/2 x 11inch laminated wall calendar for $5.00.  If you are coming to a meeting, order ahead and it will be ready for you.  Orders by mail, send check or money order for $5. plus 50 cents for postage and mail to address.  The calendar contains all important holiday dates, military birthdays and important VVA event dates, and chapter information.

AMERICAS HUEY - THE 091

     Remember last month, several of us tried to pay tribute and see the 091 out at McClellan and Mather, but due to problems in Texas, the 091 couldn't make it to Sacramento.  Well, Jim Barger from the Vietnam Veterans Helicopter Pilots Association reports:
     "I am back from Washington, DC, where the 091, Americas Huey, has been successfully been donated to the Smithsonian Museum of American History for a 30 year display called "The Price of Freedom".  It was a great event and I was happy to be on the 091 Committee."
     From VVA500:  "Well done pilots and 091"!  The 091 was shot down three times in Vietnam and restored.  It was also used in the making of a film that toured the country visiting Vietnam Memorials.
 

CHAPTER EVENTS
ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE - 2004

VVA Chapter 500 members marching in the parade were:
 David Dutton, Gerard Fields, Dino Gomez, Mark Hite, Gregory McNeill, Monty Montoya, Jerry Quint, Bill Wagner, and marching with 500  was Brig. Gen. Robert Cervantes.

BLAST FROM THE PAST - VVA500 March 1991
The Chapter thanked Stan Atkinson for being the speaker at the March 1991 meeting.  This poem by John McCrae 1872-1918 was included:  IN FLANDERS FIELDS
In Flanders field the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead.  Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

      We are going to continue or series on Disaster Preparedness next month.  We wanted to get this information to you sent by Stan Atkinson, thanks Stan.
     "I recommend to you...'Fog of War'.  It won this year's Oscar for Best Documentary and appropriately.  I went with reservations, thinking it might be some leftwing diatribe in the tradition of Michael Moore.  But 'tis not.  Errol Moore, the filmmaker, lets McNamara tell the story via his own monolog.  He is his controlling, un-apologetic self and at 85, still brilliant and blessed with incredible memory.  His recounting of the danger of the Cuban Missile Crisis raises the hair on your back especially if you were around then.  He claims that JFK would have never let 'Nam grow to what it turned out to be and admits they knew nothing about their enemy.  He gets emotional a coupla' times especially when recounting the cost of his Pentagon years on his family.  I never liked him.  He drove my friend MG Ed Lansdale into retirement and out of the job as the Pentagon's first Special Ops Chief.  McNamara mouthed the 'hearts and minds' line but never really believed it nor would give it a chance as Lansdale had argued for.
     One leaves the theatre with a sense of (surprise!!), futility.  McNamara muses how mankind is always compelled to violence as a solution and insists he did what he could to prevent it.  It's a fascinating piece,  history brought back in a vivid style by one who was at the middle of it.  And at least I understood a little better but don't necessarily forgive. 
              Continued top of next page.....

     "Fog of War" Review continued.....For an angry vet it will not be easy to watch and maybe one shouldn't.  It won't make you feel better.  I was withdrawn about it too.  But then after the 1st 15 minutes when I realized it was not going to be slanted by a producer I was able to step back as it were with my mind and watch it purely for it's historical value.  Hell, after all we're all old enough now to be 'history.  We should know what people are saying about it and us!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS - UPCOMING EVENTS
May 22 - Bill McDonald Hosts "A Salute to Veterans" a Poetry Reading by Veterans, showings and music by Veteran Artists, and more to come, watch for this in the May newsletter, 2PM.
May 27 - Tentative Date for the Veterans Memorial Plaza at Mather - Call:  916-638-8720
May 30 - Chapter 500 hosts the 5th Annual "Reading of the Names".  Ceremony at Noon.
May 31st - Jazz Festival's "Memorial Day Salute to WWII Veterans" - Convention Center 10AM
May 31st - VAC hosts the Memorial Day Parade.  Ceremony at 11:30AM, Parade at Noon.

DIRECTIONS to the Roseville Veterans Memorial Hall.  From I-80.  Take the Douglas West exit.  Go to the third light which is Folsom Rd.  Turn right, go to the second stop sign, which is Sutter, turn left, follow the curve, you will see a sign on the right that says "Royer Park", turn left there.  You will immediately see the hall to the right and the parking lot.  That's it.  In the hall, from the main door, follow the VVA sign to the meeting room. When you leave, the street is one way, so you will go the the right.  You will then come up to Douglas Blvd., left will go back to the freeway and whichever direction you need to go from there.