The Official Voice of Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. ®
An organization chartered by the U.S. Congress
January/February 2006
AVVA REPORTFor The Common Good
BY MARY MILLER, AVVA NATIONAL PRESIDENT
As we start this new year, many different activities are underway. The Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America will be holding its Biennial Meeting in Tucson in July, along with VVA’s National Leadership Conference. National elections will be held during this meeting. VVA President John Rowan has accepted our invitation to be the keynote speaker at the AVVA luncheon.Our National Project Friendship is the United Spinal Association, which helps spinal cord injuries and children with spinal bifida. The local project for Tucson will be TIHAN, the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network.
Project Friendship is a tool that each state, whether incorporated or not, may use for a common goal. Texas has used AMIGO for many years doing Project Friendship. Pennsylvania’s Project Friendship has many programs they support every year. New York is doing a Project Friendship for Women Veterans in Batavia VAMC. Florida is starting a program called School Supply Program. No matter what the name, the work AVVA members do with these projects is an achievement for the common good.
Nancy Switzer took part in a panel with Rep. Lane Evans (D-Ill.) in December that focused on families’ experiences with living with veterans suffering from PTSD and the need for families to receive counseling. (See “Government Relations.").
Our Chapel of Four Chaplains ceremonies will be held in Cape May, N.J., on September 10. We also have our scholarships and awards available. Please, if you know someone who goes above and beyond for their community and veterans, let us know.
Together always.
2006 Fellowship Awards
BY KATHY ANDRASIt is again time to consider nominations for the Fellowship Award to be presented at the AVVA Convention in Tucson. Past recipients were recognized for their work for veterans and their country. We in AVVA want the Fellowship Award to remain a prestigious honor. The honorees who have received the Fellowship Award in the last four years are:
Marge and Loren Herrick
John Kahler and Lynda Greene
Nancy and Charlie Montgomery
Kate Pantorello
Nancy Roznowski
Joyce Koprowski
VVA Florida State Council
AVVA Florida AssociationThe requirements for nominations are:
1. Applicant must be a current member in good standing of AVVA with no pending disciplinary actions.2. Applications must be postmarked no later than May 12.
3. Include a report, no less than one page but no more than two pages, describing the individual’s attributes and accomplishments.
4. Include documents or articles to reinforce the submission.
5. The Awards Committee is responsible for the selection. The award will be presented during the Tucson AVVA Convention. All submissions will remain the sole property of the Awards Committee until the AVVA Convention is closed, at which time they will be stored at the national office in Silver Spring.
6. Submissions should be sent to: Judy Bolio, Awards Committee Chair, 26-16th Avenue, Silvis, Il 61282-1809.
Please take the time to acknowledge someone who goes a step beyond for their fellow veterans, families, and country.
Election Report
BY KATHY ANDRASBy now everyone should have received their elections packets. If you have not, please contact me, and one will be mailed to you. Elections for National and Regional Directors will be held during the VVA Leadership Conference in Tucson, July 11-16.
It is the duty of the State Representative or State President to communicate with all Chapter representatives about the candidates who will be running for Regional Director in their areas as well as the declared candidates for AVVA National Officers.
To all candidates: The deadline for form 012 is June 11. A letter of intent should be submitted at this time. Submit your letter of intent as early as possible so that the State representatives will have time to review the information with their membership. There are no provisions in AVVA’s Policy & Procedures for any unannounced candidates to run off the floor for any elected office at any level.
Delegates: Your deadline for form 021 is June 11. You will receive a verification letter from the Election Committee once your membership has been verified. There will be no delegate registration at the National AVVA Convention by the Election Committee.
If your AVVA Chapter is having an election for Chapter representative it must be held between January and April. Within 45 days of the election, you must notify the State representative or State President with the name of the person who has been elected as your Chapter representative.
This will be a very busy and active year for AVVA. Remember the deadline for the Candidate and Delegate forms is June 11. There will be no exceptions to this rule. Mark your calendars for the Convention in Tucson. Your participation in our organization is essential.
Better Chance Scholarship
BY JUDY VARGOIn 1998, AVVA established the Better Chance Scholarship Fund as a way to improve the lives of veterans and their families through education. The program targets students who want to go to college but cannot afford the escalating costs. Typically, one $1,000 and two $500 scholarships are awarded.
A candidate must be an AVVA or VVA member; the spouse, child, or grandchild of a KIA or MIA Vietnam veteran. Interested? Visit the AVVA website, www.avva.org for details.
AVVA PA Friendship
BY LINDA HABERKORNAVVA and VVA members in Pennsylvania in 2005 participated in our third annual Project Friendship. Last year the project benefited the women veterans at the Mary E. Walker House. The Mary E. Walker House is a 30-bed transitional residence for homeless women veterans. It is located at the Coatesville VA Medical Center. AVVA and VVA members collected more than $1,500 worth of items on the center’s wish list. The items were delivered in December.
Our first State Project Friendship benefited homeless veterans at the Philadelphia Multi Service & Education Center. We collected underwear, hats, gloves, and toiletries. In 2004 the project benefited the Yellow Ribbon Girls from Beaver, Pa., who send boxes to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan every month.
AVVA CHAPEL OF FOUR CHAPLAINS CEREMONY
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
2006 NOMINATION PROCESSThe ninth annual Chapel of Four Chaplains ceremony sponsored by Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America (AVVA) will be held on Sunday, September 10, 2006, at 1:00 p.m., in the base chapel of the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May, N.J.
The Legion of Honor, the Humanitarian Award, and the Bronze Medallion of the Chapel of Four Chaplains are bestowed in a public ceremony and recognized with honors relevant to their significance. Members of AVVA and VVA may be nominated by the three levels of either organization. Nonmembers may be nominated by the three levels of both organizations as well.
Chapter representatives, state representatives, or members of the AVVA National Board of Directors may nominate two worthy individuals for induction from AVVA. VVA chapter or state council presidents or members of the VVA National Board of Directors may nominate two worthy individual members for induction. Anyone who is a previous recipient of this award may also nominate a prospective recipient.
NOMINATING REQUIREMENTS
In no more than two paragraphs describe the nominee’s selfless service. The nomination may include, but is not limited to, service to the community, places of worship, and civil, fraternal, or veterans organizations. This certificate is not awarded for simply serving as an officer in AVVA or VVA. In all cases, the selfless service must go above and beyond that which is required by the nominee’s professional or organizational position. The Chapel Awards Committee approves all nominations. Please be as specific as possible, and include the nominee’s full name, chapter affiliation (if applicable), address, and telephone number.
NOMINATIONS FOR THE HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Only the National President, a member of the National Board of Directors, or a state representative of Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America; or, only the National President, a member of the National Board of Directors, or a State Council President of Vietnam Veterans of America may nominate a worthy individual.
NOMINATING REQUIREMENTS
In no more than four paragraphs, describe the nominee’s selfless, sacrificial service. In all cases, the service must go far above and beyond that which is normally required in the course of human experience. Supplementary documentation (news articles, letters of endorsement, etc.) is required for all nominations. All nominations must be approved by the Chapel Awards Committee, which subjects all nominations to a rigorous review process. Please be as specific as possible and include the nominee’s full name, chapter affiliation (if applicable), address, and telephone number. The National Presidents of AVVA and VVA shall be advised of the names and credentials of those nominated for this recognition.
NOMINATIONS FOR THE BRONZE MEDALLION
Only AVVA and VVA National Presidents and members of the AVVA and VVA National Boards of Directors may nominate individuals for the Bronze Medallion.
In no more than one page, describe the nominee’s contributions to world peace, the well-being of mankind, or to interfaith and interethnic tolerance. In all cases, the efforts cited must go greatly above and beyond what is normally required in the course of human experience to alter the human experience in a positive way. Supplementary documentation (news articles, letters of endorsement, etc.) and substantiation of other awards received is required for all nominations. Support for the submission must be compelling and stress the nominee’s worthiness for this honor. All nominations must be approved by the Chapel Awards Committee, which subjects all nominations to a rigorous selection procedure and limits the award of the Bronze Medallion to one member of any organization per year.
Please be as specific as possible, and include the nominee’s full name, chapter affiliation (if applicable), address, and telephone number. The National Presidents of AVVA and VVA shall be advised of the names and credentials of those nominated for this recognition.
SUBMISSION OF NOMINATIONS
E-mail submissions are preferred. If a nominator does not have access to e-mail, submissions via letter or fax are acceptable. Deadlines are firm. Nominations received after the dates shown below will not be considered.
All nominations should be sent to:AVVA Chapel of Four Chaplains Awards Program
8605 Cameron Street, Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910E-mail submissions should be sent to mmiller@avva.org
Anyone who feels compelled to withdraw a nomination must do so by June 17. Nomination withdrawals must be submitted in writing to the address above; no phone calls or e-mails will be accepted. the Chapel Awards Committee will be the final authority concerning all awards. All nominations must be received by June 17.
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