October - December 2018 Western New York Chapter 77 Tonawanda, New York Mail Call: NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT By Mike Walker Summer is behind us, the leaves are changing the daylight getting shorter, and we did have a good summer. Canal Fest was ok, we had better ones but this one was ok. Talking with other venders all sales where down. Even with rain the car show had 226 cars, and we made out fairly well. I want to thank all who turned out and helped at both Canal Fest and the car show. We put up another wall at our memorial. Brick sales for this new wall have been brisk and spaces for bricks are left. We are not going to erect another wall so if you haven t put an order in for one and want one you better get the order in. Come to the chapter and we will help you place the order. Received a check for $250.00 from the Pin Ups for a Cause and the Piston Broke Car Club at our car show on September 2nd. At the chapter would like to put together an election committee to run the next chapter election. The committee would have 3 to 5 members and would run the election. At the leadership conference I was told to get as many members to the next national conference as we can send. As of right now we have 13 delegate spaces. The reason for this is a vote is going to be taken as what happens to VVA in the future. As it stands we are a Last Man Standing organization and have two committees, one looking at when we close the other at what we do. I know the group looking at what we do has come up with a few ideas. The conference is going to be held in Spokane, Washington. The crew at Opening day at Canal Fest 2018 My all have a great holiday season this year.
VVA CHAPTER 77 LEADERSHIP (Terms of office are from April 2018 to April 2020) OFFICERS President Mike Walker 693-4479 1st Vice President Ed Bodine 693-4479 2nd Vice President Tom Konopka 693-4479 Secretary Ron Sado 693-4479 Treasurer Service Officer Dee Garcia NYS Council DIRECTORS Dan Brady 693-4479 Peter Divergillo 693-4479 John Heffernan 693-4479 Lee Chase 693-4479 Tom Thompson 693-4479 Dennis Jorden 693-4479 Dale Zdrojewski 693-4479 Bill Paton 693-4479 Joe Pasek 693-4479 Tim Huges 693-4479 SPECIAL DUTIES NY State VVA Ed Bodine Bill Paton Council Delegates Paul Pietrowski (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 Lee Chase 693-4479 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 Tom Konopka 693-4479 Tom Konopka 693-4479 Ed Bodine 693-4479
HOW TO SIMULATE BEING A SAILOR Buy a steel dumpster, paint it gray inside and out, and live in it for six months. Repaint your entire house every month. Run all the pipes and wires in your house exposed on the walls. Renovate your bathroom. Build a wall across the middle of the bathtub and move the shower head to chest level. When you take showers make sure you turn off the water while you soap down. Once a month take all major appliances apart and then reassemble them. Raise the thresholds and lower the headers of your front and back doors so that you either trip or bang your head every time you pass through them. FROM THE WWII MAGAZINE ON PATTON This is a letter to the Seventh Army, written in Sicily, June 1943. In landing operations, retreat is impossible: to surrender is an ignoble as it is foolish. Above all else remember that we as attackers have the initiative, we know exactly what we are going to do, while the enemy is ignorant of our intentions and can only parry our blows. We must retain this tremendous advantage by always attacking rapidly, ruthlessly, viciously, and without rest. CONTACTS FOR VETS E-Benefits Portal Site https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefitsportal/ebenefits.portal Enrollment/Eligibility http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility Health Resource Center 1-877-222-8387 (VETS) OEF / OIF http://www.oefoif.va.gov Women Veterans http://www.va.gov/womenvet Benefits Line 1-855-829-6636 Dental Care http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/ resources/publications/ib10-442_ dental_benefits_for_veterans_2_14.pdf Copays http://www1.va.gov/cbo/brochures.asp Health Resource Center 1-877-222-8387 Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) Prosthetics http://www.prosthetics.va.gov My HealtheVet http://www.myhealth.va.gov Homeless Veterans Hotline 1-877-424-3838 In memory of our good friend Ron Sdao
CALENDAR OF EVENTS OCTOBER 18 BOD 6PM, MEMBERSHIP 7PM PIZZA AFTER THE NOVEMBER 6 ELECTION DAY 10 FLAG RETIREMENT CEREMONY AT THE HELICOPTER MONUMENT 9AM 11 VETERANS DAY CHAPTER 77 SERVICE AT THE HELICOPTER MONUMENT 3PM 12 TONAWANDA UNITED VETS COUNCIL SERVICE ON THE RENISANCE BRIDGE IN TONAWANDA 11AM COFFEE AND DONUTS AT THE CHAPTER 15 BOD 6PM MEMBERSHIP 7PM PIZZA AFTER THE DECEMBER 13 CHAPTER CHRISTMAS PARTY AT SIKORA POST PAYNE AVE NORTH TONAWANDA 6PM COCKTAILS 7PM FAMILY STYLE DINNER $15.00 PER PERSON 20 BOD 6PM MEMBERSHIP 7PM PIZZA AFTER THE JANUARY 17 BOD 6PM MEMBERSHIP 7PM PIZZA AFTER THE 24 PETER TYCZ SPAGHETTI DINNER 4-7PM AT THE SENIOR CENTER ON MAIN ST. TONAWANDA NEWSLETTER BOOSTER FORM Fill out and submit with a check for $12 payable to the chapter. Name: Branch: Unit: Year:
KIA Road March, set up to collect canned goods from the marchers at Chestnut Ridge Park. We were able to collect over 3500 lbs. of canned goods and unloaded it all on Sunday morning. Awards for our car show on September 2nd We had 226 cars despite the rain. Classics and Military vehicles. Hopefully next year we will get a dry day, 2 years in a row we had rain. Thanks to all of our members who volunteered to work these events. Dennis, Bob and Smobie manning the front gate at the car show.
Vietnam Veterans of America WNY Chapter 77 47 Main St. Tonawanda, NY 14150 Return Service Requested Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit #2 Tonawanda, NY 14150 APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP Please send this application, with your 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.)