Next Meeting March 25, 2015 at the Bettendorf Public Library!

7:00 P.M. - 1900 hours N E V E R A G A I N W I L L O N E G E N E R A T I O N O F V E T E R A N S A B A N D O N A N O T H E R .

Vol. 18 Issue 3

Officers and Board of Directors!President Greg Paulline! ! 563 650-3055! ! Dir. David Woods! ! 563 326-8723!Vice-President Lyle Peterson! 563 386-1286! ! Dir. Ed Gaudet! ! 563 349-9456!Treasurer Harold Hansen ! 563 505-9674! ! Dir. Bill Matthews! ! 563 355-5618!Secretary John Lavelle! ! 563 355-4213! ! Dir. Steve Satre! ! 563 289-1776!Web Master Roger Granbois! roger@granbois.net! Dir. Larry Witt! ! 563 388-7179

Veteran Service Officers

& Service

Coordinators !Clarke Barnes 309 944-3674

Ed Gaudet 563 343-9456 David Woods 563 326-8723 Ernest Ledjte 563 785-6182 Tom Lemon

563 359-3201 !Honor Guard

Jett Bork 563 528-0636 John Lavelle 563 355-4213

THE SPIRIT OF 776 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5 N E W S L E T T E R

V I E T N A M V E T E R A N S O F A M E R I C A C H A P T E R 7 7 6

Iowas First Agent Orange Town Hall Meeting is a Major Success!

On March 7th VVA Chapter 776 held the first Agent Orange Town Hall Meeting in Iowa at St. Ambrose University. Our key note speaker Maynard Kaderlik from the Minnesota State Council kept everyones attention and clearly informed the audience of the dangers and the medical implications related to our exposure to this toxic substance. Those who attended were able to hear from others who have had health issues caused by this exposure and more importantly how this exposure has had health issues developed in their children and grandchildren. Thanks to local media we had an outstanding attendance and a great discussion were held to enlighten everyone on some of these health issues. The concept of these meetings is to raise awareness of the possibility that Agent Orange is not only a health issue for Vietnam Veterans, but also for our families. The goal is to get the government to begin serious studies and to aid our children and grandchildren if this is in fact the case. We want more research into it now.

mailto:roger@granbois.netmailto:roger@granbois.net

Minutes of February Membership Meeting!!The meeting was called to order by President Paulline at 1900 hours. Officers present, Vice-president Lyle Peterson, Secretary, John Lavelle, Treasurer Harold Hansen. The members recited the pledge of allegiance and observed a moment of silence for POW/MIA and also for those still serving in harms way. A sheet was passed for members to sign and each member stated their attendance. The minutes from the January meeting were accepted as posted in the newsletter. Larry Witt informed the group that our current membership is now at 196. Harold Hansen informed the chapter on our current financial solvency. The members heard from a representative from Sams Club on the benefits of their Veterans Membership, at cost of $45 per year with a $15 gift card upon registration. We will again hear from the Sams Club representative at the March meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. for anyone interested in becoming a Sams Club member. We discussed members in distress and were informed of the pending heart surgery for Arthur Heyderman Honor guard took part in a number of funerals during the month of January and will march in the St. Patricks Day Parade along with Chapter 299 on Saturday March 14th. Ed Gaudet spoke again on the motion to have delegates for the VVA National Convention in Springfield, Illinois to be granted $1,000 dollars to defray costs for attending. This motion was tabled at the last meeting to allow for more research on the costs incurred for this event. The motion passed. Lyle Peterson spoke of the 50th Anniversary committee meeting and the plans for the ARVN Luncheon to be held at Post 26 on April 18th. Ed Hildebrand spoke of the progress of the 50th Anniversary parade. Greg Paulline informed the members of the Agent Orange Town Hall meeting and the progress towards organizing and planning this event, he further encouraged members to attend. A discussion of moving chapter meetings to Post 26 was postponed because of the snow fall and its effect upon the turnout at the meeting. Ed Hildebrand discussed the next Iowa City VA Hospital visit. Ed Gaudet asked it we were interested in a possible bowling tournament at Miller Time Bowling. The Marine Corps League is having a trivia night at Post 26 on April 11th and a discussion was held on when we as a chapter might host another Trivia Night, it was decided that with spring weather coming perhaps we would wait until the fall. Martha Lavelle is in the process of asking members if they would wish to run for an office in the chapter at our April election meeting. Meeting was adjourned. Minutes submitted by John P. Lavelle, chapter secretary.

Its that time of year again!!! Time for our VVA Chapter 776 to begin receiving scholarship applications. This year, again, we have three scholarships to award and possibly four if an Iraq or Afghanistan vet applies. The Scholarship program is the thing that has been enacted that I am most proud of and to see the applications roll in last year was awesome. So if you have a family member whole planning on furthering his/her education this fall, suggest that they take advantage of our scholarships. How do they apply? Go to the web site VVA776.org and pull down the membership tab and go to scholarships. There is an application and all the instructions. The deadline is March 31st.

Vietnam War 50th Anniversary April 18th 2015

American Legion Post 26 Luncheon with local ARVN troops

from the Quad Cities !

Contact Lyle Peterson to learn more.

ELECTIONS FOR OFFICERS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND NATIONAL DELEGATES WILL BE HELD IN APRIL. AN ELECTION COMMITTEE WILL BE FORMED AT THE

FEBRUARY MEETING. THE CHAIRPERSON FOR THIS COMMITTEE WILL NOT BE A CANDIDATE FOR ANY ELECTED OFFICE AND MUST BE A MEMBER IN GOOD

STANDING. ANYONE WISHING TO HOLD AN OFFICE SHOULD HAVE THEIR DD - 214.

http://VVA776.orghttp://VVA776.org

2667 5th St. Rock island, IL

Leisure Time Billiards & Sports Bar

845 Avenue of the Cities!East Moline , IL !

!Full Kitchen!!

2 Sports Bars!!8 Dart Boards & 13 pool Tables

M a g g i e G a u d e t p re s e n t e d a Certificate of Appreciation to Hall of Fame Pizza and Wings in DeWitt, Iowa for their continued sponsorship of our chapter newsletter. At the January meeting the chapter voted to present these certificates to businesses that have been supportive of our efforts in the community and along with Maggie a number of our members delivered these to our newsletter sponsors.

Ed Gilmore 1950 - 2015 We have lost yet another of our members. Ed was a founding member of the chapter and an active and supportive member. He was a truly gentle man who had a quick and easy smile. Rest in Peace Brother. You will be remembered and missed by all.