january/february 2007

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Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America
Updates

BY MARY MILLER, PRESIDENT

AVVA’s elections will be held beginning in January and running through June for State Representatives and State Presidents. Candidates should have received information from Kathy Andras, Election Chair, in the mail. The details also were published in an article in The Veteran. Affiliated Chapter Representatives elections should be held in April.

We will have our Leadership Conference in Springfield, Illinois, in July while VVA has its National Convention. The Board is working on the details.

A newsletter called Updates was sent out via e-mail and then put up on our website. It contains articles from each Region. If you want to write about something you are doing in your affiliated chapter or state, get in touch with Elaine Simmons at esimmons@avva.org

States and Regions across the nation have been busy with many projects. Pennsylvania AVVA presented three quilts to Sheila and Henry Snyder, who have taken over Jennie Le Fevre’s Agent Orange Quilt of Tears. To find out more about the quilt, go to www.agentorangequiltoftears.com Missouri and Kansas combined to do a joint seminar about Coping Skills and PTSD. Florida AVVA is gathering items to be distributed to active-duty military personnel. Ohio is working on papers to become incorporated. Galveston County Chapter 685 sent more than one hundred cards to Walter Reed for Christmas and worked with the Brook Medical Center. VVA Chapter 47 in Riverside, California, along with its AVVA members, sent cards to Walter Reed and toys to Brook Medical Center. I am proud of all the work every AVVA member does for veterans, those currently serving in the military, and their families. As always, VVA and AVVA together.

I know many members participated at VA hospitals, Vet Centers, Walter Reed, and other facilities during the holiday season, but please keep in mind that January and February are times for visits and giving as well. If you have time, try to make a visit to your closest facility, or send a card.

I would like to thank my officers and Board of Directors for all the support they gave me while I was recuperating from my recent surgery. Thanks to everyone for all the get-well cards and flowers.