A publication of Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. ®
An organization chartered by the U.S. Congress
August 2000/September 2000
Veterans Against Drugs Task Force
Vermont Fast Lane
By Herb Worthington, Chair
What do you do the last weekend in July in the beautiful mountains of Bennington, Vermont? If you’re with VVA Chapter 601, you go to work at the local K-Mart’s Kids Race Against Drugs.
The event, headed by Region 1 director and Vermont State Council President John Miner, went off without a hitch. Although there was a lot of work, Chapter 601 rose to the occasion. Chapter members even brought a food concession truck and made some money in addition to the donation they will receive after Veterans Against Drugs National gets a check from K-Mart.
"It’s a win-win situation for Chapter 601, K-Mart, the community, and the kids," said Miner.
The battery-operated cars are driven through an obstacle course (with adult safety drivers). Those with the fastest times will go against other qualifiers--some 650 nationwide--to compete for a $10,000 college scholarship.
Next came the Leadership Conference in Buffalo. So far the reviews have been great. Thanks to Western New York Chapter 77. We were treated royally.
The Veterans Against Drugs seminar was well attended by members from throughout the country who wanted to know about the program and how to bring it to their areas. Medal of Honor recipient and middle school teacher Gary Beikirch discussed the program and described tragedies that have occurred to some of his students who have abused drugs.
This is our future, these are our youth. We have to get the word out, and we must be positive role models who can help the kids have the courage not to do drugs.
I want to welcome John Miner and Chapter 601 in Vermont and Mike Brady and Chapter 11 of Long Island, New York, into the VAD family. Smithtown has been doing a super job helping kids stay off drugs, and we were thrilled that they asked to join the program.
For additional information on the VAD program and how to get started in your area, call Herb Worthington at ?908-486-2087 or 908-553-0133.
E-mail us at TheVeteran@vva.org