Alert: VA is not doing their own outreach!

Alert Alert Alert

by Denise Nichols

VA is not doing their own outreach!  Veterans having to get the word out to the veterans, veteran representatives, congressional, senatorial, state veteran affairs!  We need all media in Georgia and surrounding states notified!  We need the word to get out because otherwise this Gulf War Veteran Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans thinks there is no problem when no one shows up on their meetings!
Please one and all help us take this one on!  Get the word out to the widest possible extent!  We need Veterans at the Atlanta meeting February 18-19.  We need staff of their elected delegation to attend and we need State Veterans Affairs and state legislators to also know.

This needs to be distributed widely

Gulf War Veterans Need to know big meetings coming outside of DC

VA Gulf War illness Research Advisory Committee will meet in DALLAS  Feb 23-24
then June 29-30 Boston and Nov2-3 in DC

Meetings
2009 meetings of the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses are currently planned for the following dates and locations:

• February 23-24, 2009 Dallas, TX
• June 29-30, 2009 Boston, MA
• November 2-3, 2009 Washington, D.C.  
   

Additional information will be posted here as the meeting dates approach.

The most recent Committee meeting was held November 17, 2008, in Washington, D.C.  Click here for the meeting agenda. 

Committee meetings are open to the public and include time reserved for public comments.  A sign-up sheet for five-minute comments will be available at the meeting.  Members of the public who speak are invited to submit a 1-2 page summary of their comments at the time of the meeting for inclusion in the official meeting record.  Individuals do not need to preregister to attend or speak at the meeting.  However, when meetings are held at VA headquarters or facilities, all attendees will be required to check in and show valid ID at the security desk.

The Committee welcomes suggestions and information from veterans, physicians, scientists, and members of the general public regarding its mission.

VA Gulf War Veterans Advisory Committee  http://www1. va.gov/gulfwarad visorycommittee/ will meet February 18-19  in Decatur Georgia
and then  March 18-19 in Waco Tx and April in DC April 7 – 9, 2009 – Washington, DC (venue TBD)

• Laura O’Shea, Designated Federal Officer, Laura.O’shea@ va.gov 
• Lelia Jackson, Alternate Designated Federal Officer, Lelia.jackson@ va.gov

WE need every gulf war veteran and their families notified of these meetings!
There is need for Public Comment from them!
They need to write a  summary include

1. Name
2. Former Rank
3. Unit
4. Location in Theater
5. When and what symptoms occurred
6. When and What happened when they went to VA for help
7. How was their VA Claims handled
8. Where did they turn next to get help
9. What their health is right now and problems that the spouse and family have had.
10. And suggestions for CHANGES

This is your chance gulf war veterans!  We have had only at most half a dozen vets show up in DC, Baltimore, Seattle….. So if you have problems now is the TIME to come forward!
Have your input!  Family members too!

There is time for you to be heard ie :Public Comment and also a  panel is formed of veterans that are in that local VA system. 

Please Distribute this as much as humanly possible with posting on Websites, getting info to radio stations for PSA’s, TV station, Newspapers, Churches, post on grocery store bulletin boards, to all veterans organizations post at posts and in all newsletters to veterans.  Email others to get them to spread the word to individuals they know by email or in their communities.

More  Specific information on place and time schedules… go to www.va.gov and go to search on Advisory committees.