BY JUSTIN LATINI

As we prepare for Veterans Day and the upcoming holidays, many chapters are planning on holding traditional events in their communities. I have encouraged chapters to pair these celebrations with efforts to re-engage with community groups and other veterans organizations so that we can take part in ceremonies honoring all who have served.

Many VVA chapters, and certainly many in Region 1, are still concerned about how the organization will proceed following the 2025 VVA Convention in New Orleans. I have assured Region 1 chapters that, if they so choose, they can remain last-man-standing organizations, as can their state councils. Any decision at the national level will not change their status.

This means that the chapters will need to decide on what their future holds for them when a path forward is approved by the Board of Directors, the Conference of State Council Presidents, and the general membership through their delegates at the 2027 National Convention.

Progress is being made in determining this path forward at the national level. Our October National Board of Directors meeting set an agenda as to what the organization will become and when any changes to VVA would take place.

A plan will be presented as soon as we come together and formally and fully agree on the way forward. I will make sure that Region 1 members are kept up to date on all decisions.

We must look to the future and remain committed to keeping our legacy alive.

BY TED WILKINSON

The National Board of Directors meetings were held from October 22-25, and they looked very different than before. This was our first Board meeting with our new president, along with a new vice president, a new treasurer, and six new Board members.

Despite the turnover, everybody was up to the task at hand, and everything went quite well. President Tom Burke performed like the old pro that he is.

The National BOD will next meet at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Arlington, Virginia, from January 29-31 next year.

Here’s a list of the Region 2 state council Presidents and their contact information:

Delaware: Paul Davis, 302-697-8384, pauldavis5233@comcast.net, www.delawarevva.org
New Jersey: Phillip Pesano, 848-480-3689, pesano@comcast.net, www.njscvva.org
New York: Ned Foote, 518-388-8147, nedvva@outlook.com, www.nyvietnamvets.org
Pennsylvania: Larry Googins, 724-513-5100, ljgoogins.pasc@comcast.net, www.vva-pa.org

Feel free to contact me at 585-322-6722 or yankeeted@aol.com.

BY MARC GOODELL

I was hoping to start out this report with an account of my trip to San Juan to meet with The Puerto Rico State Council and the director of the VA Medical Center there, but the Government shutdown put a stop to that. Marc McCabe and I had made arrangements to spend a few days with the hospital administration and the VSO officers in San Juan and around the Island, but we’ve had to postpone that trip till the Government opens back up.

The Executive Board of Directors Meeting in DC last week set the stage for the next two years with this administration, the future plans for VVA as a National organization, and the preservation of the Chapters. The outcome of New Orleans left no doubt in anyone’s mind that we are not ready to go away, but unfortunately it also made clear the distance between the local levels and National. I believe there was a basic misunderstanding about the intent of “The VVA Legacy Society.” To paraphrase President Burke from his article last month, this is on National for poor communications as the Plan was assembled.

The Legacy Committee will now host a broader audience during the deliberations that will be filtered down to the State Councils and Chapters for their comments and suggestions. We still need to figure out how we keep this freight train of a Veterans Service Organization running beyond our lives and still stay true to our motto of never abandoning another generation of Veterans.

I plan on visiting the Georgia State Council meeting in January, with thanks to Bill Martin for his help. I spoke with Wayne Reynolds and Chuck Odom about attending meetings in Alabama and Mississippi; I know Huntsville would like to meet me and I have an attachment with Enterprise as I was stationed at Ft. Rucker. I know we’ve only got three Chapters in Mississippi but that doesn’t make them any less important to me. Then there’s my own state of Florida and Puerto Rico where I already have plans. Most of these meetings will probably happen after the first of the year.

As this is the year end issue I wish to extend my sincere wishes for peace, prosperity and health to all my brothers and sisters, and a heartfelt thought for Veterans Day: Welcome Home.

BY GARY ESTERMEYER

I went to my first National Board of Directors meeting as Region 5 director during the third week of October. All day that Wednesday I attended the 2025 BOD orientation, which included information on governing documents, government affairs, communications, membership, veterans benefits, fundraising, admin, and HR.

On Thursday evening, I chaired my first Veterans Benefits Committee meeting and I am proud to say I kept it to a brisk two hours. On Friday, I attended the morning BOD meeting and heard from the officers and committee chairs. I then chaired my second VB Committee meeting, followed by sitting in at the Constitution Committee meeting.

Among the many important issues tackled by the BOD during the meetings, one critical vote approved the need for a National Leadership Conference in 2026, primarily to address the future of VVA with the involvement of the general membership.

I met with the Region 5 state council presidents for lunch, which was productive and enjoyable. Present were Mike Dolan (Indiana), Fred Barks (Illinois), Gene Wilt (1st Vice President, Ohio) and John Riling (Michigan).

We discussed meeting schedules, and I committed to visit each state as often as I could. I visited Mike Dolan in August and attended the Kokomo Veterans Reunion in September. October found me at the Buckeye State executive and general membership meetings in Grove City and Columbus.

In November, I plan to attend the Illinois SC meeting in Peru, and an Indiana SC meeting and Survivors & Spouses benefit seminar at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis. On December 6, I’ll be at the Michigan State Council Christmas luncheon and meeting, followed by Chapter 154’s Operation Christmas Dinner Dance. The 13th of December should find me back in Ohio for their SC and general membership meetings.

I’ve become a moving target and I’m loving it. VVA has always been my passion, and meeting members throughout the region and sharing our views about issues important to us will only increase my drive to serve our brother and sister veterans.

I wish you and your families the happiest of holidays. Peace.

BY JOHN MARGOWSKI

In October, I was honored to attend the Board of Directors meeting in Arlington in my role as Region 6 Director. The Board members and state council presidents came in early on Tuesday in preparation for VVA Orientation, which is where I met the new Board members who were elected at the National Convention in August.

On Wednesday, we received training on the Board’s compliance with VVA’s Governing Documents and Basic Parliamentarian Procedures for Board meetings. We also went through orientation for Directors of Not-for-Profit Corporations and reviewed VVA documents and forms. We are more ready than ever to ensure you are served by your leaders in VVA.

When I attended the Conference of State Council Presidents meeting, it was apparent that most state presidents were concerned about what the future held for their chapters. The presidents gave a summary of activities in their states, and everyone received a detailed document outlining the three actions available for chapters when planning for their futures.

When the Board of Directors meeting began on Friday, President Tom Burke asked for everyone to join in mapping out VVA’s future planning in the upcoming months. It is critical that we all express our opinions and have our voices heard, and I will ensure that is true for Region 6. At the conclusion of the meetings, the Board decided that a Leadership Conference should be held next year to allow members to provide input in person, which is an admirable goal.

BY CHUCK RENEVIER

Region 8 continues to be extremely active, providing services and support to our veteran communities. Every state council and their chapters will be taking part in Veterans Day celebrations, and many chapters will be participating in the Wreaths Across America project.

Washington held its VSO Training program on October 25, and their Hero Cafe Veteran Breakfast was attended by 100 veterans. The state council meeting took place on October 11. I was represented at the meeting by my Alternate Region Director, Francisco Ivarra.

The Seattle Seahawks, in conjunction with their 50th anniversary in the NFL, reached out to the Washington SC as they intended to send a veteran from all services to be honored at a home game on Nov 9. These members were saluted on the field and were guests of honor in sky boxes during the game. This recognition also marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

I attended the Oregon State council meeting October 17-18 in Lebanon, Oregon. They made a motion asking that VVA National help sponsor an effort to establish a National Vietnam War Museum.

I was unable to attend the Idaho State Council meeting, as it was held during Oregon’s SC meeting, but I intend to go to their next meeting. I will also be attending the Alaska State council meeting in Anchorage on November 17-18.

Finally, Montana will be holding its SC meeting November 1. Montana had three chapters celebrate their anniversaries during the past few months: Chapter 234 (41 years), Chapter 788 (27 years), and Chapter 2087 (12 years).

As I meet with the state councils and chapters, I want to stress that we all need to work together to come up with a plan for VVA’s future. All of our voices need to be heard, and I will do my part by listening and conveying your concerns and suggestions. I’m here for you. Thank you.

BY DICK SOUTHERN

The chapters and state councils in Region 9 have been working hard. I hear of chapters holding fundraisers, ceremonies, lunches, dinners, sponsoring visits by replicas of The Wall, and attending meetings. The list of activities goes on and on.

Fundraising efforts have been successful and continue to be planned and executed every month. There is excitement in Region 9 about increasing membership.

I will continue to advocate for Region 9 veterans and their families as I attend state council and chapter meetings throughout the region, as well as when I participate in National Board of Directors meetings and other National events. One of my goals for 2026 is for each state council to increase the number of its members and chapters in their state. This can be accomplished by actively recruiting new members.

With a membership of 11,000-plus members in seven states, Guam, and the Philippines, it is challenging for me to stay in touch with all the members, chapters, and state councils. But I make every effort to do so.

I pray that you all stay safe, stay well, and check on your buddies. Enjoy a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year. In the meantime, I am available by e-mail. Contact me at dick.southern@gmail.com with questions or concerns.

AT-LARGE

BY STEVE WILLIAMS

Hello once again, brothers and sisters. We have an important mission in front of us that will require an understanding of legal issues and a strong sense of what we want from our legacy. While it may be hard to face, we must acknowledge that VVA will have to evolve and change as we get older. We must also acknowledge the planning and intention that is required in letting our great organization’s legacy shine in its best way.

Talking with many of my peers, several interesting ideas have been discussed. One idea is to have triggers in place to signal when particular events occur. For example, if membership were to drop below 60,000, perhaps this would trigger a transformation or transition into a different type of organization. Another example would be if our financial status hits a certain level, then another type of organizational transition would take place. Most of us do not want Vietnam Veterans of America to end, but we need to plan for a VVA without us and we must do this together in unity if we want the end to be honorable.

Please have your chapter officers contact their state councils, region directors, and members of the National Board of Directors with their ideas about planning VVA’s future. We are here for you, and we need your support.

May God bless you, VVA’s elected officials, and the national staff, and, most importantly, the United States of America.

AT-LARGE

BY CHARLES STAPLETON

Greetings to all and Welcome Home.

I hope all is well with you since coming home from the National Convention. Congratulations to the returning and newly elected Board members and officers. I am honored and humbled to have been elected as an At-Large Director.

The Convention was well attended, with more than 700 delegates. Their message was loud and clear: Vietnam Veterans of America is not done yet. Yes, we do have to decide the future of our organization. And yes, the next two years will be a busy time. As I have stated before, the group of veterans who started VVA had no idea the impact we would have, and still have, on many levels.

As your At-Large Director, I will do everything in my power to convey what the membership wants while working with the Board on our future. I, of course, would love to speak to each of you personally, but it may be more efficient in many instances to convey your thoughts, concerns, and ideas to your state council presidents.

I hope to hear from all states in the very near future.

AT-LARGE

BY FREDERICK GASIOR

The October Board meeting marked my first time in official attendance as an At-Large Director at a Board of Directors meeting. I wish to thank all the delegates who supported me with their votes at the Convention in New Orleans in August, and I hope to earn the confidence of those who did not.

I am committed to representing your interests and addressing your concerns during Board meetings. The highest authority in VVA is its membership, as evidenced by the National Conventions held every other year. In New Orleans, it was clear that the membership demonstrated a strong desire for VVA National not to dissolve or transition to another organization, and that we should continue our activities for many years to come.

Our October Board meeting provided valuable insights. I would like to congratulate the VVA National staff, presenters, and President Tom Burke for their outstanding work.

I look forward to engaging in productive discussions focused on collaboration as we plan for VVA’s future.

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