NAC Meeting in Albuquerque

BY KENNETH ROSE

On May 3-6 LaVonia Cogdell from VVA’s National Office, our certifying official, and I attended the National Advisory Committee Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This year marked the seventieth anniversary of volunteer service at VA Medical Centers.

In May 1946 the Director of the VA, Gen. Omar Bradley, established the VAVS Advisory Committee. The NAC is the oldest federal advisory committee; the VA now has twenty-five other advisory committees that coordinate and promote volunteer activities. The committee makes recommendations to the Under Secretary for Health for the improvement of voluntary services to patients.

NAC membership is open to national organizations that provide volunteers or donations to VA facilities. VVA has been a member since January 1995. Judith McCombs has served on the committee for many years and has provided a valuable service to both VVA and the NAC.

Every VAMC has a VAVS Committee, but VVA is currently on only about a third of the committees. It is crucial that VVA participate on VAVS committees at as many VA facilities as possible to maintain our NAC membership.

VVA sits on the executive committee of the NAC, which meets once a year at the VA Central Office. The NAC meets once a year at different locations. At the NAC, there are workshops, training sessions, and status reports, along with opportunities to meet with VA and voluntary chiefs from around the country to discuss best practices and problems. Attendance is mandatory by either a National Representative or Deputy Representative to remain active. We hope to get VVA more involved in the NAC meetings. You will be hearing more about future locations of NAC conferences so that you can take advantage of the volunteer training and health fairs.

Voluntary service at VA Medical Centers is an important role for VVA. The patients are our brothers and sisters and deserve the care and attention we can provide. Our volunteers act as eyes and ears within the VA. By sitting on local committees, we have access to the Medical Center directors and staff if there are problems.

I challenge chapters, state councils, and at-large members to increase their volunteer service at VA hospitals and events. Playing games or doing other activities with patients will make you feel good, and the patients really appreciate it. To volunteer, just call the voluntary service office at your local VAMC.

Those who don’t have the time to visit VA hospitals can help in other ways. Contact your local VAVS office and get a needs list; each hospital has one. Gather items for holidays or special events and make your donation on behalf of VVA.

AVVA members have contributed greatly to VVA’s numbers at the VA. We need to see more veterans coming to the VA to volunteer. The patients need our help.