Jerry Sims Award - Pete Belaire

Pete has been, and continues to be, a mainstay of Chapter 310.

He was President of the Chapter in 2006-2008.  Under his leadership the Chapter was selected as the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter of the Year for the second time.  This Chapter is the only Chapter to be named Chapter of the Year twice.  At the same time the Chapter's newsletter The 310 Dispatch was named Newsletter of the Year.  Both awards speak to his leadership qualities.

Following his two terms as President Pete served as the   Chapter Secretary.  Again he showed his leadership abilities.

Pete volunteers on a regular basis at the VA Hospital and participates in the Chapter activities there.

He served as the co-chair of the Memorial Grounds Keeping committee planning and coordinating the upkeep on our memorial.

In 2010 Pete took it upon himself to research each of the names on our Memorial.  After thousands of hours Pete has compiled biographical information about each of the men, including pictures, and put them on the Chapter's website for all to see.

Pete is a humanitarian.  Whenever a veteran is in need Pete is one of the first to step forward to help.  One veteran wounded in the Iraq war needed assistance.  Pete drove to Washington, D.C. to visit him and find out his needs.  When he returned he forged a coalition of people to raise money for the veterans needs and to assist him in returning to his home.  This is only one of the examples of his compassion for his fellow veterans.

Pete can be found in nearly all of the Chapter’s activities.  Parades, fairs, visiting patients at the VA, talking to students in the area schools and volunteering for activities within the Chapter are all things that Pete gets involved in.

Respectfully submitted - Ken Rogge April 16, 2011

Member of the Year Award - Paulo-Juaez Pereira

• Paulo-Juaez Pereira has been a Chapter member several years. Paulo is a upbeat, passionate, energized, intelligent, dedicated, and concerned.

As our Webmaster, Paulo was the driving force behind our efforts to build a brand-new vva310.org.  He took the lead in the contract negotiations and interviewed all the website developers selected to quote our site's upgrade. During this process, Paulo was feeding back information to the membership at our Membership meetings.  This process also allowed our membership to input suggestions to the look, feel and function of our site.

It was critical that the vendors understood what our objectives were and our desire to feature the Washtenaw County Vietnam Veterans Memorial while honoring those from Washtenaw County who made the Supreme Sacrifice.

Paulo conducted all the website training, holding classes in his home and at Concordia University.  This was critical, as many of our members now have the ability to make changes, add pages and make entries on our blog as well as make changes on our Events Calendar feature.

Paulo is a most warm and compassionate person, with a sincere heart of gold in helping our Chapter members to understand and use our vva310.org Website.

With his coaching and guidance, we now have a WiFi interface at our meeting location (VFW Post 423). This will allow further website training as well as Internet access for our members.

Respectfully submitted  - Bob Kwiecinski  April 16, 2011

Friend of the Year - Kathy Driscoll

Kathy has been involved with VVA since she and her husband Tim moved to Michigan from New Jersey. Tim searched out VVA 310 and we gained 2 wonderful people to our group about

3 ½ years ago. They both jumped in with both feet.

Kathy works full time, is mother to three and a grandmother. But she still finds time to get involved with the Chapter. She has marched and carried the Chapter banner in many parades, attended many fundraisers such as the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival, and supported Chapter events, such as the Pig Roast. She and Tim are Stars at our annual “50’s Sock Hop” party when Kathy comes dressed in her poodle skirt, bobbie socks and saddle oxfords. They show us how to have a good time! Kathy is intelligent, dependable and always has a contagious laugh.

Kathy also attended our Gold Star Luncheon at Weber’s when we host a luncheon for a few Gold Star Mothers from the Vietnam War.

Kathy provides the set up for our POW/MIA table each year at this evening’s dinner, which helps everyone remember those often forgotten. Kathy was a key worker when the Friends sewed many neck coolers to send to the troops. She joined the Friends at several Saturday Sewing Bees. She bought the fabric and cut the strips for the neck cooler, then brought her sewing machine and sewing basket to help sew together the neck coolers to put in our care packages for the troops.

Kathy was an exceptional “First Lady” when husband Tim served two years as VVA 310 president. She was his right-hand by helping with agendas, minutes and meetings and the many other things you get involved in when you are wife of VVA President. These are things that nobody else realizes you do but are so critical to the success of the Chapter.

One of Kathy’s more impressive achievements is her current involvement with AVVA, Associate Vietnam Veterans of America. She has committed herself to the success of 310 AVVA. She attends State level meetings and recently ran for AVVA State Secretary. Her loss in that race is our gain since she will still be able to share the leadership of the local AVVA Chapter. Kathy does this while still supporting Friends and the Chapter. Kathy most always brings desserts to our meetings, maybe a couple of homemade pies. She could be counted on to share in leading the Friends meetings and reporting out at the VVA meeting.

Kathy’s most recent major effort was an Agent Orange Forum held last weekend at Concordia College. This was the first of its kind in Ann Arbor and a huge success. She helped fly in several speakers at that Forum who spoke of the effects of Agent Orange and the recourse available to those who served in Vietnam and were exposed to this defoliant. Thanks to Kathy for her tireless concern for vets and their families.

Friends of VVA 310 are proud of Kathy’s leadership and her connection to our Chapter and the Friends. Thank you, Kathy, for your friendship and dedication to all veterans. And, congratulations on being named “Friend of the Year!”

Respectfully submitted - Friends of VVA Chapter 310 April 16, 2011.

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MORE! MORE! MORE! ---> CLICK  HERE TO VIEW other images from our Recoginition Dinner; then, select the slideshow option.