THE SPIRIT OF ‘776

F E B RUA RY 2 0 1 1 N E W S L E T T E R
VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA CHAPTER 776
“ I N S E RV I C E T O A M E R I C A . ”

Service Officers THIS WAS OUR HONOR FLIGHT

Clarke Barnes
309 944-3674
Ed Gaudet
563 343-9456
David Woods
563 391-3702

Service Coordinators
R.Ernest Ledjte
563 785-6182
Tom Lemons
563 359-3201
Honor Guard
Jett Bork
563 528-0636

The Next Chapter Meeting will be held at the

Bettendorf Public Library at 7:00 P.M. on
February 23. 2011.
Officers and Board of Directors
President Greg Paulline 650-3055 Dir. Mike DeGeeter 391-8427
Vice-President Marlene Marolf 391-9621 Dir. Ed Gaudet 659-5421
Treasurer Harold Hansen 391-7776 Dir. Ed Gilmore 792-2415
Secretary John Lavelle 355-4213 Dir. Art Heyderman 359-4186
Web Master Roger Granbois 650-4958 Dir. Larry Witt 388-7179
 Minutes of Membership Meeting January 2011
President Greg Paulline called the meeting to order at 1900 hours. A pledge of allegiance and a moment
of silence for all POW/MIA and all those still serving out country in uniform were observed by the
membership. A short introduction of all members followed. The secretary’s report was accepted as
published in the newsletter. Larry Witt, membership chair informed the group that we have reached an
all time high with 155 members. Welcome to Bobby Baker of Davenport and Gary Jansen of Bettendorf
who joined the chapter during the January meeting. We have 72 Life members, 65 Individual members,
for a total of 137 VVA members and 18 AVVA members for a grand total of 155. We grow as a chapter
because we do things for veterans. Treasurer Harold Hansen gave an accounting of our financial status.
Greg Paulline spoke to the members to inform them on the chapter members who are distress, Lyle
Peterson is still at home and cards and phone calls are appreciated, Ed Gilmore was in attendance as
well as Tony LaMantia which was occasion for applause by the members. Keep getting stronger guys.
Jett Bork and John Lavelle spoke about the honor guard and its most recent activities at funerals and
also praised Ernest Ledjte for making a couple of funerals on a broken foot in freezing cold weather.
David Woods, Ed Gaudet, and Ernest Ledjte informed members about the VSO concerns. Ernest will
travel to meet with the Deputy Warden at Oakdale and help arrange medical evaluations for the inmates
there. Ed Gaudet asked for $1,000 to assist the state office for the VVA State Council in Des Moines so
that they might meet some of their financial obligations. Ed also asked for $100 to be distributed by the
Bettendorf VA clinic as $10 gift cards for veterans in need who would be visiting the clinic. Both of those
requests were voted on by the membership and approved. Greg Paulline mailed the last of the DVDs
and music CDs to the troops in Afghanistan, a total of 20 boxes. Cost of the mailing was $103 and it was
voted on that Greg be paid for this service. Ed Gaudet told the members about the holiday baskets that
the chapter delivered to needy veterans and the families of deployed National Guard troops who also are
in need. The chapter received a number of thank you cards from those who received those baskets. Art
Heyderman told the membership about the most recent visit to the Iowa City VA Hospital and also said
that he will be serving as the volunteer liaison. He asked for a volunteer from the group to assist in that
assignment. Greg Paulline asked how the members felt the Christmas party went and we will discuss the
future of this event as time allows. Jason Kerr announced that the February Stand down was canceled
and that no funds were used or spent on this event. The membership voted to offer two $500
scholarships again this year. Contact Larry Witt concerning the scholarships. Information about the
scholarships needs to be in the hands of local high school guidance counselors and college and trade
school financial assistants. Arlen Beck from the Marine Corps League was asked if they could donate
100 blankets to help a Marine in Afghanistan who wants to assist the locals who sleep on dirt floors
during the cold winters. The chapter voted not to fund this project, but Greg Paulline will accept any
blankets that members wish to donate for this Marine and his effort to help to the local civilian
population in his AO. At 6:30 on March 26 at the COL we will host a 50/50 raffle and present the colors
for Don Valley’s Oldies Dance. The Veterans Health Initiative will be presented at the Red Cross Health
Fair on March 5th, we will pay $25 for a table at this event. Next Honor Flight is April 26th or 27th.
There are still 245 veterans on the list. Davenport will be building a Veterans Park on the river front
west of the railroad bridge. The chapter has had a number of members in attendance at the Davenport
City Council meetings making inquiries as to how and when local veterans will be honored with a park.
The financial committee will hold a meeting and finalize the description of their duties and present that
to the board of directors and then to the membership as a whole. It is felt that some of the discussions
and voting that occurs during a membership meeting could be dealt with more effectively through the
workings of a financial committee. The meeting adjourned, John P. Lavelle, chapter secretary.
 Hello, my name is Mike Berry,
\aka "Docker." lama Viet Nam Operation
Era vet on a mission and I need
\your help. Haircut
"Fundraiser
The Mission: to collect $10,000 dollars for "English River Outfitters" and 10,000 inches of
I hair for "Lock of Love", two great causes: I am cutting my hair for Charity and would like
you to join me in my cause. Please help by making a cash donation, a hair donation or
both. If you would like to join me on stage as a hair donor on the 26th of March, please
I call Chuck at 563-357- 4923 or me at 319-631-1013.

1st ....English River Outfitters Resort... is

"Designed by Veterans for Veterans" their main priority
is to help Disabled Veteran's through a positive outdoor experi-
ence through fishing, hunting, hiking or a campfire. They provide
a safe outdoor experience with other veterans to help promote
healing and closure all at no cost to our veterans. You can visit
their website at www.englishriveroutfitters.ore

2nd...Locks Of Love.... Locks of Love is a public non-profit

organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged
children, Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost
their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which
has no known cause or cure. You can visit their website at
www. locksoflove. org

Time Line of Events:

Donations may be made
•ALL Donations can be made from January through 26 March 2011
at:

• What; Official Haircutting at 5:00 pm, Saturday, 26 March, 2011 1. Shuey's Restaurant & Lounge; 1158
Club Rd. SW, Shueyville,Iowa
• Time: 2pm till closing 2. any participating hair Salon
3. can be mailed to:
• Place: Shuey's. 1158 Club Rd. SW, Shueyville, Iowa 52404
English River Outfitters
• Raffles, 50/50, Live Music, Haircutting, Live and Silent Auctions "Operation Haircut"
210 W. llth St.
Tipton, Iowa 52772
Hoir Donor's on the 26th of March 2011
Your donations are tax deductible
1. Mike Berry Make check or money order out to:
2. Teresa Blanchard English River Outfitters
3. Ed Zemon "Operation Haircut"
4. Steve Black
5. Lvndsev Lue For more information call
Docker at319-631-]0]3 Chuck at 563-357-4923