2nd. Vice-Presidents Message - Continued

As you can see in the new website listing of Officers and Directors, the election in May resulted in some changes.  We believe the current line up will keep the chapter moving forward and  will continue helping veterans get the benefits and care they deserve. As you can see we also have openings on our committees and would certainly welcome any who would commit to help us with fresh ideas in those slots.

At our June meeting, we had Dr. Eugene Tinelli from Behavioral Care at our VAMC as our featured speaker.  Doc Tinelli provided us with a 30 minute discussion on PTSD and answered several questions.  He provided us a multiple page handout entitled "transitioning from the war zone: Information for veterans and those who care" I heard it said that if we had had such a publication to refer to when we got back it would have helped many of us.  This document was originally published by a Dr. James Munroe of the Boston VAMC.  We plan on having another speaker at our upcoming July meeting on Thursday the 16^th.  Check the Website w/o 7/13 for further information.

  On Friday and Saturday June 12 &13^th Chapter 103 collaborated with the Syracuse VA in a veterans outreach program at the Wingate Hotel at the old Griffiss Air Force Base.  The objective being to provide an opportunity

for all veterans in the Rome and outlying areas who have never registered with the VA to learn if they were eligible for care.  There were counselors present from the VA as well as the Oneida and Madison County Veteran Service Agencies to assist the vets in filling out the needed paperwork. They were provided an interview with a service rep from the Syracuse VAMC who keyed in their information into the VA system.  Each vet brought his DD 214 with him as advance newspaper and radio announcements had emphasized.  The result was 26 vets who never knew they were eligible for benefits were brought into the system and 17 of them were Vietnam Vets. I represented the Chapter and passed out copies of the latest information and findings on Agent Orange from VVA National's publication and other handouts that reference info pertinent to "Nam" Vets. Along with member

ship materials (see photo). These guys had little or no idea of their entitlements, one never got his medals either, one of Vietnam guys had chronic emphysema, no job, and recently lost his home in a fire.  The Rome Marine Corp League and their motorcycle club was the lead organization in this. I met 3 great Marines and was happy to have participated and believe we all did a good thing for vets.

Pete Bronstad and Gordy Lane's justice program to help vets who have become entangled with the law is ready for launch--there will be a press conference in the next few weeks.  Along the same line both Pete and Gordy presented an executive summary of the program to numerous officers and delegates at the NYS Council of Vietnam Veterans meeting in Owego the weekend of June 19-20th.  It was very