Happy Veterans Day

The honor guard from the VVA chapter in Florida was outstanding, but when they brought the flags from each military service, they could not get the songs correct. Before I get started explaining what was going on. I have to thank all the South Carolina Chapters who participated in sending me your events which made our newsletter and website a success. For the second time we were voted the website of the year on a National level. We had 9 out of 10 Chapters with 14 delegates representing SC. There were 703 delegates attending this convention and with 90,000 members and 606 Chapters within the US and Puerto Ric. Region 3 had the most delegates with 156 Members. The next interesting item "Strategy for the Future of the Vietnam Veterans of America National Organization and VVA State Councils and Chapters" President Jack McManus placed another Power Point Presentation. While he was going over the Power Point presentation there was no handout for the membership to review. Jack McManus stated that this “Power Point presentation” would be ready the next day, it did not go over too well with the membership. See Below Power Point Presentation Interesting Read!  I could not be inserted into the newsletter because it would be too small to read.  Under “Resolutions Adopted by Committee” RC-XX. At the 2021 VVA National Convention the delegates rejected changing the name and membership requirements. It goes on saying “The Corporation is incorporated in the State of New York and must be dissolved in accordance with the laws of New York…. “As it gets down towards the end under “Proposed Position: Be is Resolved that the Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc., will be dissolved on or about February 29, 2029. The National Board of Directors will take the action necessat the ary to prepar a Plan of Dissolution and Distribution of Assets compliant with the laws of the State of New York and present that plan at the 2027 VVA National Convention for approval of the Delegates”. The main issue with this Proposed Resolution was the date of February 29, 2028. If you remember several convention ago this Date appeared and it was turned down by the Delegate. Well this went on for some time changing the date to 2033 but there are only 28 days in that year. Finally everyone agreed the it should be changed to “will be dissolved “AT A DATE TO BE DETERMINED”. This resolution was never passed!! One of the main concerns, this organization still has LIFE IN THIS ORGANIZATION”. 2023 Constitutional Amendments section all were passed except NR01, NR02, they were not present to the floor. In the resolutions section, there were some minor changes in the language, all were passed. 

As for the National Officers that were voted in: President – Jack McManus, Vice President -Tom Burke, Secretary- Bill Meeks, Treasure – Wayne Reyonlds. They were unopposed except for the Treasure; Linda Schwartz was voted out. Board of Directors, Board of Directors, At Large:  Dottie Barickman, Gumersindo Gomez, Charlie Hobbs, Ken Holybee, Dennis Howland, Richard Linbeck, Charles Montgomery, Dan Stenvold, Steve Williams, and Sandie Wilson.

Board of Directors, Regional: Region 3 Rossie Nance – NC unopposed