Northern Shenandoah Valley (nsv)
Community Veterans Engagement Forum (CVEB)
Shenandoah University Brandt Student Center
1460 University Drive Room 118
Winchester VA 22601
February 15, 2018, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Agenda
Mr. Sims gave a 15 minute presentation on Boulder Crest Retreat in Bluemont, VA. 37 acre retreat with four cabins and a lodge with activities. A combat veteran can reserve a cabin online for 2 to 7 nights for free for themselves and family/friends. Enjoy numerous activities on the retreat.
In addition, Boulder Crest offers a Post Traumatic Growth program called Warrior PATTH. Healing Heroes one family at a time. Define Hero in this case – ordinary person experienced extraordinary circumstances. The program for six combat veterans at a time for 18 months is to heal mind, body and spirit. There is one program a month started with six combat veterans and five staff guides. Boulder Crest never say no to a veteran or 1st responder, however, may say not right now.
A key focus is the connection to other people that’s why six go through the program at once. Boulder Crest staff trains veterans to repurpose skills. They work with transmedial meditation. Boulder Crest is looking at exploring and expanding a program of Family PATTH. 6 – 17 kids age with their own program.
Boulder Crest has several volunteer opportunities along with a few staff openings. If interested go to the website www.bouldercrestretreat.org and sign up.
Boulder Crest gets no government money. The entire retreat and program has been from donations. The believe one must serve yourself first.
MOTION: Reading of the 18 January 2018 Meeting Minutes be dispensed as they have been subsumed into the current agenda/minutes.
- Vote for acceptance of ByLaws
- Vote was held off as there was more discussion of adjustments and changes. Ashley Moslak asked the question if the board wanted a Charter and By Laws or one document of bylaws. Simone Hawthorne made a motion for one document. MOTION: 12 in attendance voted for one document where charter and bylaws shall be combined.
MOTION: Shall the bylaws state a coverage area? Vote that the nsvCVEB will help any veteran and connect them with local groups to their locations. All in favor to not limit help.
- Connect chairs of all CVEBs. Use the 4 state CVEB website to connect all chairs and officers for communication and sharing. 22 counties covered in 4 state regionally with quarterly meetings. Use social media to share events.
- Veterans Forum
- May 14 at Shenandoah University
- Time?
- Keynote speakers
- Veterans feedback
- Breakout sessions/workshops
- Meet & Greet before Public Forum to get an idea of what veterans want to know and need. Body Renew has offered space to hold the meet & greet of veterans. Looking at Saturday, April 21st as first option. Was suggested to send survey to drill veterans.
- Survey to be developed at next officers meeting. Officers meeting is March 1st so survey should be out by March 8 or 9.
- Survey to VA hospital and Stephens City CBOC. Continum of Care. Corrections facility, probations offices.
- Catch these three areas in sessions. Vets in Distress (monetary side), Vets in Vietnam that never connected with VA basic benefits, and the Vet with no job – employment to hire vets
- Maybe a claims clinic and walk away with an appointment after the session.
- Résumé and interview tips, Transferring from military work life to civilian. There are local community workshops that will help with this now.
- Establish a platform for organizations to participate at Public Forum
- Business Cards
- Did you know flyer for Public Forum
- Set next meeting: Date and Location
- March 15 1030 – 1230 at Shenandoah University Student Center Room 118
- American Red Cross Chapter celebration of heroes deadline Feb 28th for information go to http://www.redcross.org/news/event/Shenandoah-Celebration-of-Heroes-Breakfast
- Coupons available for the Sherando High School American Red Cross group. Sherando gets 10% of sales with Buffalo Wild Wings on
- Marine Corp League – July 14th – Governors attendance requested to honor Lloyd Williams of Clarke County
- Loudoun County Vet Center is located at 751 Miller Drive. Call Martinsburg Vet Center for referral.
- Open Discussion
- Thank you for coming