Keep the Guard Home Campaign
(click on pics for larger image)
Chapter 132 was invited to table at the Linn-Benton Community College “Democracy Days,” on 14-15 October 2008. We provided information on VFP, sold some peace t-shirts, gave out VFP buttons and bracelets and had a good time interacting with the students and faculty.
But the most productive time was spent:
-- Getting signatures on the “Keep the Oregon National Guard Home” campaign petitions. We filled about a dozen petition pages. For more info on the campaign and to participate see the Peace and Justice Works campaign website here. You can download the petition and start collecting signatures yourself.
-- Talking to many veterans about future Guard deployments, education and health care benefits, the new G.I. Bill, and just sharing “sea stories.” Many were very interested to learn about the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (http://www.oregon.gov/odva) and the county Veterans Services Officers (VSO) program. VSOs are full-time state employees whose sole mission is to help connect veterans with the benefits they have earned and to guide them toward resolution of other service-related problems. For more info, see the ODVA web site above, but here is the contact info for local VSOs:
Benton County: Don Johnson 541-758-1595 (Don’s office is at 301 SW 4th St , Corvallis , by the Safeway)
Linn County: Kim Grooms 541-967-3882
Lane County: Joseph Reily 541-682-4191
Oh by the way, we just received the draft recommendations from the Governor’s Task Force on Veterans Services and will post them here very soon.
And…you can subscribe to the “VETS NEWS,” a bimonthly publication of the Oregon Dept. of Vets Affairs by emailing that request with your name and address to: vetsnews@odva.state.or.us or by reading the current issue online using the link above.
Thanks to the VFP table volunteers: Jim Schmidt, Karen & Bob Winget, Bob Sonn, Bob Stebbins, Bart & Leah.
WEEKEND WORKSHOPS FOR VETERANS
Some Veterans served on the front lines and others provided support; none are exempt from the wounds of war. All are on a Journey to Wholeness. The struggles to become a good citizen, parent, family and community member affect all of us. Veterans are no exception. Yet, survivor's guilt, PTSD, suicide attempts, domestic violence and child abuse, drug and alcohol addiction, and efforts to access services and to re-establish relationships pose extraordinary challenges for Veterans.
Veterans: The cost is subsidized and there are scholarships.
Healing of Memories - Oct 24-26, 2008
Gain insight into and empathy for yourself and others; share stories and confront issues on your path to forgiveness and reconciliation. Father Michael Lapsley, South African resister and violence healer.War: Trauma or Transformation - December 12-14, 2008
Combat Veterans, address the effects of war on yourself, your relationships and your spirit. Tracey Allysson, Clinical Psychologist working with veteransCreating a Culture of Peace - March 5-8, 2009
Tap the power of active nonviolence and peacemaking for personal and social change. Thomas Brinson and Tim Pluta, Veterans and national CCP Facilitators
Click Here for more information
