Chapter 218 Activity Report - February 2012

[boardman]

SERVING VETERANS AND THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

HTTP://WWW.VVACHAPTER218.ORG

Veterans Memorial Building
VVA CHAPTER 218
112 W Cabrillo Blvd
SANTA BARBARA, CA. 93101

February 2012

Publisher/Editor: John Selfridge (johnselfridge218@hotmail.com)

The Santa Barbara Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America is a tax exempt, non-profit, community service organization. Our members are Vietnam era (you need not have served “in country”) Veterans and associates (individuals from all walks of life who may or may not have served in the military). Our Chapter is successful because of the efforts of Vietnam Veterans, Vietnam Era Veterans, and associates, all of whom are equally welcomed and prized.

The Chapter meets the second Tuesday of every month at the Veterans Memorial Building at 112 W. Cabrillo Boulevard at 6:00 P. M. The meetings usually last around an hour. A light snack offered between 6:00 and 6:15. Members sometimes go out for an informal dinner afterwards. (Individual checks)

Definition of a veteran: A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve, - is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life." (Author unknown)


Acronym: NAVY = Never Again Volunteer Yourself




UP COMING EVENTS

Test of the menu for Fiesta booth to be served before General Meeting on 2-14-12
Nomination of officers next month (must be in attendance to accept nomination) Election results and installation of board and officers at April meeting








FROM THE PRESIDENT



Hello 218!
Now is the time of the year where YOUR decisions will count the most selection time! I ask that every one of our Membership consider wisely how they feel about where 218 has gone for the last two years and exercise their right to send it in the direction that they want it to go. Most of the offices and the five Directorships will be opening up, and it is your job to wisely choose a group who can work together well. People who will keep the good of the Chapter ahead of all personal issues.
I particularly want to warn you that the job of Director of 218 is going to get a lot more serious this next term. Their jobs are going to expand so that they can ³Take the Pulse² of the Membership. The Board directs the course of 218. But YOUR INPUTS to the Board determine where it takes us all.
I want that access to be one that all of us can use.
I am pleased to report to you that the most outstanding thing that I have witness these last two years are the instances where Members stood up and took over jobs that they saw were needing to be done. All of us see problems, and I invite you all to feel empowered to help build solutions.
Ghandi himself exhorted people to ³Be the Change you want to See². Not bad advice.
We are faced with plenty of challenges. Members of the Veterans Coordinating Council still cling to their power base and refuse to share it with us ³New Guys². The Veterans Memorial Building is in financial jeopardy and the County may refuse to pay the Utilities. It could end up as a Homeless Warming Shelter in the near future. Our position there is unsure atthis writing, but we have attempted to keep a positive attitude at all times. Your Representative Gerry Roberson has been through some particularly onerous treatment at their hands on your behalf. He deserves our lasting thanks.
Many local Veterans do not have access to the VA, due to past problems that they have trouble dismissing. I wish to report, THE VA HAS CHANGED! If you need Medical, Psychological or other type of help, DON¹T BE BASHFUL, YOU EARNED THE RIGHT TO THIS CARE! It is the BEST Medical Establishment that I know of as of this date. They have really turned the VA around.
Over the years, VVA 218 has tended to be a closed group. We have expanded lately, and have established ties with our Brother Veterans the Korean War Vets, Afghan and Iraqi War Vets and the VFW Post. I invite us all, especially the Board, to consider holding a Membership in another Veterans Body in town, so that we can share better. So we can have a link between us. Talk about 99% versus 1%. Veterans are certainly less than one percent of the population, so we should not shun each other¹s company!
In closing, I challenge you to prepare for the March Elections by talking about where we should be going, and who we should trust to get us there. YOUR VOTE is the only thing that matters. Voting for the Directors and Officers for this year is the single most important thing that you can do. Use that vote wisely!

SGT Hap




FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT

If you didn't get a flash message for some reason, the first thing is that if you know 218 member Richard Rose (San Marcos graduate and Navy Seal Team 5 '67-'68 in country) he is in Harmony Hospice as I write this. There will be a card for him at the meeting on the 14th. Speaking of this month's meeting, there will be a discussion re: the Fiesta booth and a taste of the menu for the Fiesta booth. IF we have one. After 28 years of being a proud Charter member of 218 and 20 on the Board Of Directors I will be taking a "sabbatical" for awhile. Bear in mind that the Chapter will also need a Membership Director and Memorabilia person. I'll help whoever takes that/those on. Thanks for the memories and good luck and good wishes to all of you.

Dennis



News you can use….

The US Air Force Band of the Golden West performs a FREE concert at UCSB’s Lotte Lehmann Concert Hall at 7pm, Friday February 17th. Tickets are required and available online at
www.bandofthegoldenwest.af.mil . Click on “click here to get tickets” button on the home page, limit 6 per customer. Should be a great show.
Congrats to the six Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 and the 31st Seabee Readiness Group based at Port Hueneme that helped save a family of three involved in that disastrous wreck on the 101 just south of Buellton on January 12. The mother and two children were trapped in their car, which hung precariously from the side of a bridge. The Seabees off loaded a large forklift they were transporting, positioned it against the car and kept it from falling over 50 feet to the creek bed below. Hoo-rah to all!
And let’s not forget that it was an all-female Seabee team from Naval Base Ventura that recently built a new barracks in Afghanistan and did it in record time—no help from the men thank you very much. They are the first all-female construction team to take on a job from start to finish in the Seabees 70-year history! (There’s something about a woman in uniform holding a hammer in one hand and a Beretta M9 in the other that’s just got to be seen to be believed).

The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation hosts a FREE lecture by Daniel Ellsberg on Thursday, February 23 at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara. Ellsberg is perhaps best known as the guy who leaked the 7,000 pages of the infamous Pentagon Papers back in 1971. His trial, on 12 felony counts which could have put him away for 115 years, was dismissed in 1973 on grounds of governmental misconduct. He was the subject of a 2010 Oscar-nominated documentary, “The Most Dangerous Man in America”. His also wrote a book about his experience titled: “Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers”. His talk will be on “Nuclear Weapons and Humanity’s Future”. Check with the NAPF for the time and how to obtain seating: 965-3343.
March 31 marks the official California State “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day”. Plans are underway for a celebration barbeque and other events that day to be hosted at the Santa Barbara Veterans Memorial Building and presented by Chapter 218. It will be open to veterans of all eras as well as their families and friends. Plan to join us. More info coming soon.
The Guadalupe Chapter 371 AL Riders will hold their first BBQ on March 17 from noon to 3pm at the Guadalupe Post. It’ll be 8 bucks per person for trip-tip and a 50/50 drawing. So jump on your bike—or just take a ride in your car—and celebrate with the AL Riders of 371.
In the recently released tapes of the Kennedy White House years, one conversation has the president talking with a military and a political advisor, both just returned from a fact finding trip to Vietnam. At some point in the discussion, it becomes obvious that there are conflicting reports and points of view being given to Kennedy, who interrupts the two with the question: “You both went to the same country?” It’s expected that most historians will be listening with a great deal of intent to what Kennedy had to say about Vietnam during those taped sessions with staff and military personnel. (Hard to believe it’s been nearly 50 years since he was killed).

A recent report from the Defense Department says the rate of suicide throughout the U.S. military has stopped rising and in some categories has begun to fall—though it hit another record among active-duty soldiers—but sexual assault and post-traumatic stress problems are on the rise. The report said that in 2011 there were 315 suicides, down from 350 in 2010. The most troubling numbers involve violent sex crimes, which rose 64% from 2006 through 2011. Even worse, is that while there were 3,191 reported sexual assaults in the military in 2011, experts agree that the real number of assaults in probably closer to 19,000 because most attacks are not reported. (Source: LA Times) Meanwhile, keep an eye out for a documentary called “The Invisible War”. It takes a hard look at the epidemic of rape in the U.S. military—against both women and men. The film debuted at the recent Sundance Film Festival.

Congrats to VFW Post 1649 Santa Barbara for a successful first ever Chili Cook-Off on Sunday, Jan 29! Over 100 people attended and a good time was had by all.

The Veterans Affairs Hospital in Fresno has added live music in the lobby to help soothe the savage beast. Doctors have noted a marked improvement in many of their patients, especially those with PTSD or TBI (traumatic brain injury). Sometimes it’s a harp player, on other days it’s either a pianist or guitarist who entertains. One staff psychiatrist who treats both disorders says that by the time patients get to his office, they are calmer and less agitated and that gives him more time with the patient. Perhaps the VA in West L.A. could do the same.
The “Million Veteran Program”, sponsored by the VA Office of Research and Development is looking for veterans of all eras to participate in a research project on how genes affect the health and illnesses of those who have served in the armed forces. More than 25,000 vets have signed up so far. The VA wants a million participants within seven years. To learn more, call 1-866-441-6075 toll free. (Source: AARP Magazine)





FOR THE GOOD OF THE CHAPTER
Did you know? ...
One of the primary reasons we exist as a Vietnam Veterans' Organization, other than to socialize (which is good!), is to give back to our communities and our beloved Veterans! We have established and organized many venues/for accomplishing these noble services......some of these being:
1) The Vance Memorial Fund; it's committee provides aid to qualified Disabled American Veterans;
2) The Cambodian Red Fund; it's committee aides displaced/and/or disadvantaged Veterans;
3) and through The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara our Chapter 218 sponsors 2x College Scholarships, per year, in the amount of $500 each in Memoriam, dedicated names of which are our County Vietnam Veterans fallen brothers, listed on the Memorial Walk @ Elings Park....these are made available to local college students, applicants having to be a current Armed Forces Service Member. A Veteran or the children of a Vet.....this financial assistance provided will aid these students in achieving three goals to graduate college, and thus, themselves will in turn give back to/society, coming full circle. Our volunteers receive no remuneration for their efforts...Our rewards are internal!
These are some truly wonderful and beneficial projects we're involved with, it's a great cycle we're in; but, we need to step back once in a while and ponder new ways/ideas that we may instigate to better our programs and grow them to meet goals.
Consider our last year's main fund-raiser event, the Fiesta Booth, which didn't provide/much profit in our coffers for future charitable/distribution purposes. And , so.....it was proposed @ the last general meeting (1-10-12), that, Yes, our 2x each Scholarships, $500 values....that's a thousand bucks!! Due 5/1.
Fact: our VVA chapter 218 has currently 100 members!...So, if we All Donate. $10 each to our tax- deductible organization, and its checked off with Dennis's National Master roster list, then we will be able to pay our $1000 commitment in-full to the Scholarship Foundation in due time! Pretty simple, huh? ___ pretty awesome idea!
Here's my check to get things rolling...won't You sit down now and write your $10 check out to VVA Chapter 218, and mail to us at Veteran's Bldg. Attn: John Kerr/ scholarship committee; or hand to me @ next general meeting (2-14-12)....Dig deep folks now - the Community needs us Vets and our special ways of giving back!!
God Bless! And Thank You in advance for your generous Participation! Your Chapter 218
Attn: Vance Memorial Fund Committee Member’s
Mandatory meeting: Tues. 5:30pm, 2-14-12
Bring your local paper you read and like.
That's @ Vet's Memorial Bldg. Thanks, JK
Please think / bring any ideas for more Chapter fund-raisers!
Respectfully submitted, John Kerr - USA, 1st Cav, Airmobile
Chaplain’s Corner by Pattie Murdy

As we continue our look into this New Year of 2012, several members and friends have continued to make contributions to our Homeless Veterans Clothing Drive to Casa Esperanza.
Many thanks to those who have donated clothing and shoes during the month of January: our donors include, Cameron Bie-Remak, Melinda Bie, Peter Bie, Bobby Brennan, and Pattie Murdy.
These donations from Chapter 218 members and friends will continue to be an ongoing project in the coming months. I am aware of the upcoming Stand Down in Santa Maria and if you wish to make donations to them, please do so. There will be another Stand Down in Ventura later in the year and they are accepting donations as well. These Stand Down Projects assist homeless veterans living there and in surrounding areas.


EMAIL OPTION:
If ANY body knows wants this newsletter e-mailed to you please let me know at (johnselfridge218@hotmail.com)


Board Of Directors (Refreshed Every April)


Hap DeSimone, Pres. (SGTHAP218@yahoo.com)
(Army E-5 SGT Second Field Force, Long Binh, `69-`70)
Dennis Hartman, 1st Vice-President
(USAF E-5 Aircraft Crew Chief Bien Hoa, Da Nang `69 - `71)
Domingo Nuñez, 2nd Vice-President
(Army E-4 Reconnaissance Delta`69.)
Peter Bie, Recording Secretary
Army SP5 Correspondent II Field Force, June‘67-, June’68 Door Gunner 1st Air Cavalry Div., August ’68-February ‘69
Gerry Roberson/ Domingo Nunez, Treasurer
William Frieburg, Master at Arms
Board Members:
William Frieburg, Director
(Army E-4 Small Arms Repair Germany ’68 - ’70)
Don Matter, Director
John Selfridge, Director
USNR-R (E-3 v-3 division CVA-43)
Hazel Blankenship, Director
Charlie Franco, Director
(Army E-5 Combat Engineer Delta - My Tho`68 - `69)

California State Council Representative: Hap DeSimone
Alternate: Hazel Blankenship (CIA South East Asia)
Santa Barbara Veterans Coordinating Council Representative: Gerry Roberson
Alternate: Hazel Blankenship
Membership Chairman: Dennis Hartman (805-965-2162) or (805-477-0083)
Chaplain: Patricia Murdy (life member)
Veterans Affairs Coordinator: Joseph Narkevitz (Army E-5 3rd Field Hospital, Saigon ’68)
PTSD & Agent Orange Coordinator: Hap DeSimone (962-5765)
Memorabilia: Is available at chapter meetings and at chapter events
Melinda Bie Program Director

Vance Memorial Fund
The Chapter’s Vance Committee distributes funds ($41,134 thru 08/11) to qualified disabled American veterans. Committee is refreshed every April.

John Kerr (Chairman) (Cambodianred@gmail.com) Dan Oroz
Madeline Moreaux Gerry Roberson
Fred Golin Dennis Hartman
William Stewart Don Matter
John Selfridge Patricia Murdy


Thank you for serving our country.
John Selfridge