July-September 2016 Western New York Chapter 77 Tonawanda, New York Mail Call: Notes From the President By Mike Walker Memorial Weekend was as usual a busy time. On Sunday a lot of us attended the mass the member Paul Rudnicki has for the only JAG officer killed in Vietnam. Then off to Tonawanda for the service on the bridge between Tonawanda and North Tonawanda. Monday we had our service at our Memorial in downtown Buffalo. I was glad we had a great turnout and the weather was good. On flag day the color guard did a flag raising and gun at Fletcher Elementary School. Looks like summer is here. Time to get out and Brick already at the chapter enjoy the weather and the many things to do in our area. The chapter does have a both at Cannel Fest and we will need help there. The fund raising for the memorial with the helicopter is going good. We still need more. So if you haven t buy a brick. Dennis Smilinich accepting a check from Bill Miles, Joanne Merzwa and Dennis Stange. They represent the Rotary Club of the Tonawanda s, which after 99 years of service to the community are closing down due to lack of members. The check was for $7500.00, we will recognize this donation with a bench, flag pole and brick in their honor. Thank you for your generous donation to our monument project.
VVA CHAPTER 77 LEADERSHIP (Terms of office are from April 2016 to April 2018) OFFICERS President Mike Walker 693-4479 1st Vice President Ed Bodine 693-4479 2nd Vice President Tom Konopka 693-4479 Secretary Bill St. Jean 693-4479 Ron Sado (Hon.) Treasurer Service Officer Dee Garcia NYS Council Pres. AVVA Linda Sopic 683-0051 DIRECTORS Ken Berger (Hon.) 693.4479 Peter Divergillo 693.4479 John Heffernan 693.4479 Eric Reimer 693.4479 Tom Thompson 693.4479 Jim Burns 693.4479 Guy Godios 693.4479 Tim Hughes 693.4479 Joe Pasek 693.4479 SPECIAL DUTIES NY State VVA Paul Pietrowski Mike Walker Council Delegates Ed Bodine (Alternate) Tom Konopka (Alternate) Newsletter Editor Mike Walker STANDING COMMITTEES Agent Orange / Veterans Affairs Color Guard Community Affairs Constitution Committee Scholarship Employment Training & Business Training Golf Tournament Government Affairs Web Master Membership Museum Curator POW/MIA Affairs PTSD Public Affairs Nominating Committee Veterans Benefits VA Hospital Reps. Joe Pasek 693-4479 Larry Covert 823-9118 John Heffernan 693-4479 Tom Konopka 694-0857 Al Schreier 694-3441 Al Brusetti 693-4479 Pat Welch Mike Walker 693-4479 Mike Walker 693-4479 Patrick Welch 693-4479 Larry Covert 693-4479 Tom Konopka 693-4479 Tom Konopka 693-4479 Ed Bodine 693-4479
CALENDAR OF EVENTS JULY 4TH: 2PM OLD MAN RIVER HOT DOG EATING CONTEST SEE FLYER IN THIS NEWSLETTER. JULY 17TH -24TH: CANAL FEST 17TH SUNDAY 11AM TO 10PM 18TH MONDAY 3PM TO 10PM 19TH TUESDAY PARADE NIGHT 6PM NO TENT 20TH WEDS. 3PM TO 10PM 21ST THURSDAY 3PM TO 10PM 22ND FRIDAY 3PM TO 10PM 23RD SATURDAY CRAFT SHOW 11AM TO 10PM 24TH SUNDAY CRAFT SHOW 11AM TO 5PM NO CHAPTER MEETING IN JULY AUGUST NO CHAPTER MEETING IN AUGUST BOD MEETING ONLY 5PM SEPTEMBER 4TH: SUNDAY CAR SHOW 9AM TO 4PM NIAWANDA PARK TONAWANDA 7TH WEDS. TONAWANDA CITY OFFICALS PICNIC 12 NOON TO 10PM ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS EVENT WILL GO TO OUR HELICOPTER FUND. HELP NEEDED FOR CHECKING PEOPLE IN AT THE GATE AND SELLING 50/50 TICKETS. FIREMANS PARK ON TWO MILE CREEK RD AND NIAGARA ST. TONAWANDA. 9TH -11TH FIELD OF HONOR GRATWICK PARK, NORTH TONAWANDA. 3000 FLAGS WILL BE SOLD AND PUT UP FOR THE WEEKEND. VVA 77 WILL HOST VETERANS ON SATURDAY THE 10TH. FLAGS ARE $25.00 IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HONOR SOMEONE. SEE PAUL FOR DETAILS.
HELICOPTER DONATION HOT DOG EATING CONTEST We will need help for about 4 hrs. all proceeds go to our helicopter fund. We will have a table selling bricks and flags. Start time 2pm, $20.00 entry fee, gas grill to the winner, all the dogs you can eat in 2 minutes. Tom Konopka accepting a check from Melissa Effinger for $1162.00 from a fund raiser she did for our helicopter monument. She walked in to our office one day and asked if she could hold a basket raffle fund raiser with proceeds going to our monument. Great job Melissa, thank you from the membership of VVA Chapter 77. RESEARCH Joe Pasek Researchers in the Affective Science Lab at the University at Buffalo are recruiting participants for the Veterans Wellbeing Study. To be eligible, you must be a Vietnam War veteran and 65 years or older. Participants come to our lab located on UB North Campus (Department of Psychology, Park Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260) for a one-hour session that includes interviews and questionnaires and a short computer task (compensation = $20). If you have physical disability that interferes with your mobility or access, we will see you at your residence or at a nearby veterans institutions when applicable. If you are interested or have questions, please contact our lab at: veteranswellbeingstudy@gmail. com or.
Memorial Day Parade in North Tonawanda Memorial Day Service at the waterfront Flag day at Fletcher Elementary School NEWSLETTER BOOSTER FORM The following need to renew your booster: JOHN BAKOWSKI, LANCE BECKER, CARL MALCZEWSKI, ROGER MAZIKOWSKI, MIKE PANZICA, JOHN PENBERTHY, JOHN SMITH, NEWSLETTER BOOSTER FORM Fill out and submit with a check for $12 payable to the chapter. Name: Branch: Unit: Year:
MEMBERSHIP Our membership as of May 2016 is 652 members. We have 519 life members and 133 yearly members. Remember you can get a life membership for $100.00, no age limit, please consider this offer when your dues are up. WELCOME HOME to new members: HENRY GRUDZIEN BURT HARDLEBEN PAUL HEIMERL JAMES JANUSZAK THOMAS MURRY JOSEPH NAGRO JAMES PERKINS DAVID PICCIONE GEORGE WASENKO JR. Ed Bodine, Bob Sargis, Paul Pietrowski, Mike Walker and bugler Bill Miles attended a flag day ceremony at Fletcher School. TAPS The following members have answered final roll call: Robert Barker Joseph Czenszak Joseph Wanemaker May they REST IN PEACE. Mike Walker handing out flags to the kids. Great job by the kids and staff of Fletcher School. 3rd, 4th and 5th graders participated in the ceremony.
Veterans Wellbeing Study Are You a Vietnam Veteran? You may be Eligible for a Study on Wellbeing You must be a Vietnam Theater Veteran & 65 years or older Compensation available: $20 You can choose a place of study: Come to our lab at UB North Campus [Department of Psychology, Park Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260] OR We will meet you at your residence or at a veteran institution near your home (only for physically disabled veterans and/or if a veteran facility is available nearby) The study would involve about 1 hour of completing questionnaires, a brief interview, and a short computer task. For participation or for more information Call: Email us: (preferred)
Vietnam Veterans of America WNY Chapter 77 47 Main St. Tonawanda, NY 14150 Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit #2 Tonawanda, NY 14150 APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP Please send this application, with you dues payment and a copy of your DD-214 to: VVA Chapter 77, 47 Main St., Tonawanda, NY 14150 Name Male Female Date of Birth Address e-mail address City State Zip Telephone number Sponsor (optional) Membership Type: Individual 1 year $20 Individual Member 3 years $50 Life Member: $100 Eligibility: Membership is open to U.S. armed forces veterans who served on active duty (for other than training purposes) in the Republic of Vietnam between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975, or in any duty location between August 5, 1964 and May 7, 1975. You must submit a copy of your DD-214 with this membership application. Signature: Date: I am a spouse, family member or friend of a Vietnam veteran and would like membership information about the Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America. I would like information on membership for permanently hospitalized Vietnam veterans. I would like information on membership for incarcerated Vietnam veterans. I want to help Vietnam veterans and their families. Please accept my tax-deductible donation: $10 $20 $50 Other: $ (VVA is a non-profit, veteran s service organization. Programs and services are funded by member dues and public donations.)