Vietnam Reflections
 
 
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The Point July 2009
-The Point-
Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.
Chapter 172
17 N. Liberty Street
Phone 1-777-7001 Cumberland, Maryland 21502-2316 FAX 1-301-777-7041
1-800-482-VETS Email vva172@atlanticbbn.net
The First Chapter in the State of Maryland – The Gold Standard
July 2009
Meyersdale House Update
The last work party went to the house on Saturday the 20th. The house is cleaned out and ready for sale. Long and Foster are handling the sale and the agent is Debbie Grim. The house is going on sale for 159,900.00. I’ll let you know more when it happens.
Believe It, Or Don’t
So last week I am at the Cumberland clinic. And while I’m waiting one of the employees comes out and asks if I would like her to change the channel. It was at that time on HGTV, some woman was showing us how to make an “Altoids” can look like an antique. What the hell do I want an antique “Áltoids” can for? I mean some of you may carry your doobies in it but I’m not that way. But I digress, so this nice lady turns the weather channel on. She then tells me that they are no longer allowed to put the news channel because somebody had complained. So I ask her how many people had complained and she said she did not know. So I told her that I would like to register a complaint that I want the news channel on, not FOX.
And There’s More
Whatever I was at the clinic for that day they decided that I needed an x-ray. Well guess what? What? They no longer do X-rays locally you must now drive to Martinsburg
So, How’d It Go?
June 19th was the third Friday of the month and the first of the members only Friday’s. The third Friday of each month has been set aside for members only, and it was a success, about 50 members showed up some faces we have not seen for some time. But all in all it was a good time with no complaints. The next members only Friday will be July 17; the following night is the monthly social open to members and guests. I would also like to take this time to remind you that this policy change came from the membership and not from the Board of Directors.
Great lines from a Parris Island DI
“Private, I can’t make you do anything; but I can make you wish you did.”
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INDUCTION NOTIFICATION
Dear Honorable Joe Lee McDaniels
Congratulations! I am pleased to inform you that you have been chosen for induction into the United States Martial Artist Association Hall of Fame.
Now how about that one of our members has done something right way to go Joe.
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FYI
Dear Congressman Bartlett.
In the fall of 2008 myself and two friends came to your office in Cumberland and submitted a petition with several hundred names on it asking you to support the bill “The Agent Orange Act of 2008.” We never received a reply from you. Anyway the bill died when congress 110th session ended in 2008.
At this time there is a similar bill that needs sponsors the “Agent Orange Act of 2009’ HR2254.
Our question to you at this time is; are you going to sponsor HR2254? And will you sponsor it now?
Thank You
Carl Garlitz
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Some Light Summer Reading
A while back I was having a late night conversation with one of the members who was still bitching about the election and the way the voting was conducted/ He raised the point, which initially sounded valid that since we have so many members in so many far flung places we should have proxy or absentee voting. His reasoning was that every member would then have a say in how the Chapter is run. He also stated that the Chapter could afford the mailing of ballots and return postage.
My answer to him was before you bother to do the math read the Constitution of the Vietnam Veterans of America. The Constitution is very specific about the conduct of chapter elections and it expressly forbids write in or proxy voting. You must be in attendance to vote on any issue. It is also clear on when and where the elections will be held.
So his suggestion was that we should change the Constitution. Once again I told him that we (Chapter 172) cannot change, amend or ignore the constitution. That can only be done at the National Convention which takes place every two years. Changing the Constitution is very difficult if not close to impossible and would require a groundswell of support from most of the Chapters in VVA.
My suggestion to him and every other member is get out your copy and start reading and learn how the VVA operates not only at the Chapter level but the National level also, and maybe then some of the bitching can be put to bed.
A Sense of Entitlement
Editorial Opinion
A few weeks ago there was a discussion among some members as to whether VVA 172 is a social organization or not. Let me answer that question for you. We are not a social organization and we are not a social club. The Vietnam Veterans of America Inc. Chapter 172 is a veteran’s service organization. Yes we do have social events but that’s not our primary function. We have worked hard for veterans’ rights and issues and for the improvement or the veterans’ condition. Not just Vietnam Veterans but for all veterans.
I realize as I have said before that we all can’t be involved in the day to day functions of 172. That having been said I would be remiss not to acknowledge the work being done by the elected officers and a handful of members, you have chosen well.
So, you are probably saying to yourself ‘where is he going with this?’ well here it is. The social events are the most stress producing work that we as officers have to handle. This is stress for no reason at all this is just bitching. While I was talking to the member who brought this discussion up he told me “hey I would just not listen to them.” But, as I told him you are not an officer and you don’t have to listen, we do. So now let’s get the 800 pound gorilla out where we all can see it. The main problem continues to revolve around guests. How many guests who brings them etc., and lets face it some of the guests are not all that appreciative of what we have and what we provide. I am not saying all guest, but some and what they don’t realize everything we do is done on a budget that we try to live by.
Somebody tell me what the answer is!
Steve Parsons
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