Vol.

17 Issue 3

FEBRU A RY 2 0 1 4 N E W S L E T T E R MARCH VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA CHAPTER 776 Next Meeting March 26, 2014 at the Bettendorf Public Library 7:00 P.M. - 1900 hours
N E V E R A G A I N W I L L O N E G E N E R AT I O N O F V E T E R A N S A B A N D O N A N O T H E R .

THE SPIRIT OF 776

Service Officers & Service Coordinators Clarke Barnes 309 944-3674 Ed Gaudet 563 343-9456 David Woods 563 326-8723 Ernest Ledjte 563 785-6182 Tom Lemon 563 359-3201 Chuck Morel 563 569-5512 Honor Guard Jett Bork 563 528-0636 John Lavelle 563 355-4213
President Greg Paulline ! ! Vice-President Lyle Peterson! Treasurer Harold Hansen ! Secretary John Lavelle! ! Web Master Roger Granbois!

Quad City XXIX St. Patricks Day Parade

Arlen Beck, Bob Konrardy, John Lavelle, and Bill Mathews all marched in this years parade.
Ofcers and Board of Directors 563 650-3055! ! Dir. David Woods ! ! 563 386-1286! ! Dir. Ed Gaudet ! ! 563 243-7714! ! Dir. Bill Matthews ! ! 563 355-4213! ! Dir. Harold Hansen! roger@granbois.net! Dir. Larry Witt ! ! 563 326-8723 563 349-9456 563 355-5618 563 391-7776 563 388-7179

Minutes of February Membership Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 1900 hours by President Paulline with a pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence observed for POW/MIA and those still serving in harms way for our nation. Officers present Vice-President Peterson, Treasurer Hansen, and Secretary Lavelle. Members went through an introduction period as is our practice and guests were introduced. The minutes were accepted as printed in the most recent newsletter, with the exception that Sherry Bishop is Sherry, and not Shirley. The current membership for the chapter is 182 members, 66 individual member, 91 life members, and 25 AVVA members. Harold Hansen shared the financial situation with the members. The members heard from Doug Papa Dee a member of VVA chapter 669. Eight years ago he began helping veterans obtain furniture. His main concern focused on the homeless. He has worked with Kathy Jordan to provide furniture and other household goods. He says every veteran deserves at least a TV and a coffee pot. He maintains a 5,000 foot warehouse and if you have furniture he will be glad to pick it up. It cost approximately $3,800 a month to maintain his program, much of which he himself provides. If you want to help you can contact him at (309) 269-7302. The chapter voted to give him $250 to help in his efforts to help veterans. The chapter discussed the passing of William Mr. Bill Pinault. Art Heyderman read an email he had recently received from Bill that clearly stated his feelings of being a Vietnam Veteran. Bill will be sorely missed by all of his brothers in the chapter. Jim Owens will hold a meeting of the Community Service Committee on Tuesday March 4th at the Brady Street IANG drill center at 7:00 p.m. Sherry Bishop attend the chapter dinner at Franks Pizza and is working hard in her rehabilitation for her shoulder surgery. It was also good to see Jett Bork at the chapter meeting. The recent Trivia Night was discussed and Dave Woods was commended for his efforts to make this a successful fund raiser. Bill Matthews contacted a member of the League of POW/MIA Families. Marla Brundies joined this committee to assist Bill. The VSO report this month related how a number of the C-130 aircraft used in Vietnam to spray AO were returned to CONUS and those who worked on these planes are eligible for AO benefits. Jason Kerr asked that the chapter assist a veteran in need to help pay for his internet usage as he needs it to obtain employment. The chapter president said that he would investigate this request and would respond to this need by providing $200 to assist him. Dave Woods told the group that Lavender Crest Wine will donate $2.00 for every bottle of their semi-sweet wine to Honor Flight of the Quad Cities. The chapter voted to replace the chapter coin using a chapter members firm and to add 300 coins to the current number of coins. The 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War committee will meet at the Bettendorf Library on March 11th at 6:30 p.m. The honor guard has been busy with funerals this quarter taking part in 42 funerals. They will take part in the St. Patricks Day parade on March 15th. Art Heyderman will again lead a group to the Iowa City VA Hospital and this trip will meet at the McDonalds next to the Machine Shed at 0700 and will leave at 0800. Martha Lavelle asked the chapter to assist with sending a care package to IANG troops who were deployed to Guantanamo Bay, the chapter voted to provide $100 for this project. The Iowa City clover sales will take place on April 26th, Greg Paulline has obtained 13,000 orange clovers to be used for this fundraiser that provided assistance to the VSO group that works at the Iowa City VA Hospital. There will be a health information post in Muscatine in April, contact Greg Paulline if you are able to assist with this Veterans Health Information project. John Lavelle shared a chapter challenge coin presentation story, J.J. Konstant, a Marine captain and a graduate of St. Ambrose University who served in Iraq and Afghanistan received the Fighting Bee award for his service and a number of members were able to attend the presentation and hear him share his experiences. Larry Witt continues to seek requests for the chapter scholarships. We are offering three five hundred dollar scholarships this year. The next chapter dinner gathering is set for Monday, April 28th at Hall of Fame Pizza & Wings. The meeting was adjourned. Minutes provided by John P. Lavelle, chapter secretary.

TICK -TOC the clock is running. The deadline for chapter scholarships is March 31. Contact Larry Witt to le for it. You can get the forms at the chapter web site. Do it now.

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