Vietnam Veterans of America,
Charles S. Kettles Chapter 310
Regular Membership Meeting Minutes
9 July 2026
Call to Order by President Allen Knecht at 1900
Pledge of Allegiance: Allen Knecht
Opening Prayer: Bob Bull
Moment of Silence for POW/MIA’s, their families and those who are serving in hazardous places around the world.
Roll call: A quorum was established. Welcome Home Everyone!
Introduction of New Members: None
Introduction of Guests: None
Motion by Budd Frye/Tim Clark to approve the minutes of our last membership mjeeting published on the VVA310.org website.
Officer Reports:
President’s Report: See report on VVA310.org/newsletter website in The 310 Dispatch. I’m starting to feel a bit more comfortable with this job. I’m trying to make it to breakfasts and to meet as many of you as I can. Thank you for your support.
Treasurer’s Report: Reports were emailed to the Board. Reports are also available to members via email upon request.
Non-restricted Fund Revenue:
a. $874 merchandise sales at Ann Arbor VA with $378 cost of goods sold for a 57% profit margin before a 20% fee of $172 to Ann Arbor VA plus $5 donation to merchandise
b. $800 donation to Pig Roast
Non-restricted Fund Expenses:
$118 for chapter picnic
Restricted Funds Revenue: none
Restricted Funds Expenses:
$2,158 for t-shirts and underwear for Ann Arbor VA patients
Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Fund Balance:
a. Jon Luker and I met with our chapter financial investment consultant who reported that our fund earned 12.12% for the past 12 months.
b. We have $50,000 cost basis investment on the books compared to a $70,254 market value. We transferred $20,000 to our investment account in July.
AVVA Report: Please see the AVVA report published on our websitehttps://www.vva310.org/newsletter. Kathy Driscoll said they have new 250th Birthday bracelets for the Fisher House fundraiser. AVVA is also working on getting donations to food banks.
Committee Reports:
Merchandise: Stan Harrison – Gross Revenue at the last sale was $874 – a good day! The next sale is tomorrow morning at 0800 – 1330 at Ann Arbor VA tomorrow. Next major sales event will be Vet Fest Aug 1st. Setup at 0830. The event runs from 1000 to 1400. We could use help at both activities. After that is the Pig Roast. There is an online signup sheet that Dave Draper circulated. If you can’t use it, contact Dave directly.
Washtenaw County Council of Veterans: Bob Bull - We expect to hear from someone in charge of the Trust Fund at our next meeting. If you know of any group that has a veteran population or contingent, that wants to join their voice with ours on Washtenaw County Veteran related issues or events, please ask them to contact me.
Michigan State Council: Jon Luker – In order to prevent the difficulties faced at the last three conventions, National is trying very hard to make it easy for chapter members to understand the issues that will be voted on at the 2027 convention. They want to make sure all questions are answered before delegates arrive at the convention. One step toward that goal is to use some of the time at the Leadership Conference for briefings on the various proposals for our future and to provide time for member questions and answers. Also, Michigan State Council is conducting a raffle. Tickets are $10.
Memorial Maintenance: Jon Luker – Irrigation is up and running. If you see any problems with it, please contact me right away. 734 260-2211. We will be planting additional shrubs and perennials on the berm so that it fills up faster, reducing the need for weeding sooner. Ypsilanti Township continues to cut the grass outside the main area. Please let us know if you see anything we need to touch up. There is water on the sidewalk that comes from one sprinkler head. It is not a leak. Please continue to keep your eye out for anything we can improve at the Memorial.
Website: We have had 529,614 hits since the website was updated.
Membership: Vance McCrumb - Official membership remains at 227 total, but we may pick up one more because a person at Brewed Awakenings asked for an application.
Newsletter: Vance McCrumb - I’m working on a new format for the Newsletter. It should be ready by the issue after next. I am not including the minutes in the newsletter since they are being published on the website. That gives us more room for articles of interest to our readers. If you have an article you would like to see in the Dispatch, please send it to me.
Health Care: Sandie Wilson – Congress is working on the “Take Care of American Veterans Act.” This bill is a mashup of 60 bills that have been lying around Congress in one form or another for years. Many address things we want, like for people who earned retirement pay and were damaged and therefore entitled to compensation to get both instead of having to choose between what they earned and what they deserve in compensation.
Stan Harrison noted that community care is still not connected to the VA well enough. He had much difficulty getting urgent care because the different computer systems still don’t talk to each other even after the “upgrade.” The moral of the story is that if you need urgent care, call your VA primary care team and let them direct you where to go.
Agent Orange: No report.
LTCCSKMC: We just bought more underwear. Our next donation will be to Ann Arbor Fisher House while their match fund offer is still valid.
New Business:
Motion by Bourne seconded by Driscoll to amend the bylaws per the attached proposal. Approved.
Motion by Kwiecinski seconded by Throneberry to create a committee of Kwiecinski, Bourne and Luker to recommend VVA 310 action in support of Cub Pack 78. Approved.
Good of the Order:
Perrault - Chief introduced our member, Retired Navy Captain Klintworth. Klintworthy explained that the Navy ROTC program sends its graduating class on a cruise at the end of the year. Since the graduating class was smaller than usual, they expanded the guest list to include me. We traveled to battlefields, ceneteries and museums in Normandy and Paris. The facilities were first rate but everywhere we went was commercialized to an overwhelming extent.
Kinzinger - I am losing my vision. Please don't be offended if I act like I don't recognize you. If that haplpens, it is because I can't see your facial features well enough, not because I don't remember you. Please be patient with me.
Bull - I have copiesof the 250th birthday closing prayer if yoou want one.
The "Take Care of American Veterans Act" is on the American Legion website so you can see for yourself what is included and what is not. One of the most controversial acrts in the package is the "Richard Star Act." Although it would provide benefits for some veterans in the future, it attempts to pay for those benefits by reducing the benefits paid to people who apply for tinnitus or sleep apnea benefit in the future. in the future.
Pistol grip thermoeters have come under fire laltely because they cause some veterans to fear getting shot. The VA is talking about giving patients a choice between the pistol grip or traditional thermometer.
Veterans are increasingly being scammed. It you are uncertain about something being offered to you, you might want to look at the list of scams found on "besafe.gov" before decidingf what to do.
At the last Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners meeting, there were a few requesrts for increased budgets. One of thjose reuest wouild allow the county to have a trained social worker answering 911 calls instead of first responders. If approved, your monthly phone tax would go from 43 cets a line to $3 per line. This will come up for a vote at the fall election. Please beware!
We talked in the past about the need to have a person with you when you had a procedure that requires mjild anesthesia and about how it is your primary care team's social worker who is responsible for arranging this for you. In a similar vein, if you arer getting a procedure that is sensitive in nature, such as a rectal eam, you are entitled to have a chaperone present to guard aganst claims of sexual abuse. The policy has recenrtly been expanded to permit you to request a chaperone anytime you think you need one, no matter what the procedure is.
Luker - 22aday will be placing crosses near the Memorial again. VVA 310 members and friends are invited to help put out crosses along with Ypsilanti Township employees. On September 12th, we will gather at the crosses at 1300 for a community gathering. The gathering will make many things possible. We all will get a chance to remember those we have lost to suicide. Those who need it will be able to get help to prevent suicide or to overcome the loss of someone who died that way. It is primarily a chance for us to act as a community to share food, share our stories and share our burdens and blessings. You only need to bring a lawn chair and whatever beverage you want to drink.
Breakfast on Friday will be at 0900 at The Bomber Restaurant, 306 E Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48198, (734) 482-0550.
Salute the Flag
Closing prayer
Adjourned 2004
11 June 2026
Call to Order by President Allen Knecht at 1902
Pledge of Allegiance: Allen Knecht
Opening Prayer: Bob Bull
Moment of Silence for POW/MIA’s, their families and those who are serving in hazardous places around the world.
Roll call: A quorum was established. Welcome Home Everyone!
Introduction of New Members: Keith Patell, USMC
Introduction of Guests: None
Motion by Dale Throneberry/Bob Kweicinskito Approve the minutes of our last membership meeting published on the VVA310.org website.
Officer Reports:
President’s Report: See report on VVA310.org/newsletter website in The 310 Dispatch.
Treasurer’s Report: Reports were emailed to the Board. Reports are also available to members via email upon request.
Non-restricted Fund Revenue:
a. $444 merchandise sales at Ann Arbor VA with $201 cost of goods sold for a 55% profit margin before a 20% fee of $89 to Ann Arbor VA plus $500 donation to merchandise
b. $488 general fund private donations
Non-restricted Fund Expenses:
a. $500 donation to Washtenaw Community College for Vet Fest to be held 1 Aug 2026
b. $139 for 35th Annual Memorial Day Observance programs
Restricted Funds Revenue:
$2,800 donations for Vietnam Veterans Memorial Maintenance Fund
Restricted Funds Expenses:
$364 expense for Vietnam Veterans Memorial Maintenance
AVVA Report: Please see the AVVA report published on our websitehttps://www.vva310.org/newsletter. Meni Draper gave a brief report on a funding raising effort with new bracelets to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States of America. All proceeds support Fisher House – Ann Arbor. AVVA is also working on getting donations to food banks.
Committee Reports:
Merchandise: Stan Harrison – Gross Revenue at the last sale was $444. The next sale is tomorrow morning at 0800 – 1330 at Ann Arbor VA tomorrow. Next major sales event will be Vet Fest Aug 1st. We could use help at both activities.
Washtenaw County Council of Veterans: The next meeting is next Monday. Pizza for dinner. We collected note cards from member units about topics they want to discuss. We plan to work closely with the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners.
Michigan State Council: Luker – In order to prevent the difficulties faced at the last three conventions, National is trying very hard to make it easy for chapter members to understand the issues that will be voted on at the 2027 convention. They want to make sure all questions are answered before delegates arrive at the convention. One step toward that goal is to use some of the time at the Leadership Conference for briefings on the various proposals for our future and to provide time for member questions and answers. Also, Michigan State Council is conducting a raffle. Tickets are $10.
Memorial Maintenance: Luker – Irrigation is up and running. If you see any problems with it, please contact me right away. 734 260-2211. We will be planting additional shrubs and perennials on the berm so that it fills up faster, reducing the need for weeding sooner. Our thanks to Brian Graef and KBK Landscaping for donation of many plants. We also want to thank Al Walk and his son, Patrick, for helping us solve several water problems and for taking care of the meter over winter.
Website: We have had 527,000 hits since the website was updated.
Membership: Official membership is at 228 total.
Newsletter: See newsletter on website.
Health Care: Wilson – Remember, Community Care authorizations are good for one year only. You must apply through your primary care physician to continue treatment beyond the year. The VA will not automatically renew and they will not pay your provider unless an active authorization is in place.
Research suggests that gastrointestinal cancers are more likely linked to militaryservice. However, they are not yet presumptive conditions, so veterans must still provide evidence of causation.
Agent Orange: There was a meeting at National Institutes of Health. Many women have ALS from service at Fort McClellan. Benefits will only be offered to folks who served there after 1979. Research suggests that Dwarfism can be caused by a male servicemember’s exposure to toxins. JP-4 is now known to cause respiratory illness and cancer.
LTCCSKMC: We just put in a new order for underwear for the VA, so it need not be on the VA’s needs list.
New Business:
Motion by Luker seconded by Bourne to make changes to the bylaws to be voted on in July.
Motion by Kwiecinski seconded by Throneberry to donate $1,000 annually to Cub Pack 78. Approved.
Good of the Order:
Harrison – We’ve had only 12 responses from people planning to attend our picnic on 20 June. Our food order will be based on the responses we receive in time. Make sure you get your name in soon.
Vet Fest flyers are available. If you want to go you must register online by 1 August. Everything is free including the raffle tickets you will receive.
Memorial Program. It was outstanding and made me proud.
Throneberry – There are flyers in the back for our annual Veteran’s Radio fundraiser. It will be a Freedom River again on 11 October. A Huey will be there to offer rides. It will be at Vet Fest also.
Bull -
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Moose Riders will be out on Saturday going by the Memorial (about 1600) for a poker run for Fisher House.
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I have the needs lists for the VA hospital.
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We are not doing a sock drive this year since we did so well last year.
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We had a Christmas party here on Christmas day last year. We’ll do it again this year from 10 to 2. Please come out and sit with these homeless veterans who show up.
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I have patches and stickers and things you can take.
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Remember, the person you just met might be somebody who is suffering now. Please take a moment to say “hi” and ask them how they are doing.
Breakfast on Friday will be at 0900 at Holiday’s Restaurant, 2080 W Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103, (734) 668-1292.
Salute the Flag
Closing prayer
Adjourned 2017
March and April's minutes are under construction.
12 February 2026
Call to Order by President Vance McCrumb at 1900
Pledge of Allegiance: Vance McCrumb
Opening Prayer: Bob Bull
Moment of Silence for POW/MIA’s, their families and those who are serving in hazardous places around the world.
Roll call: A quorum was established. Welcome Home Everyone!
Introduction of New Members: None
Introduction of Guests: Prospective Member Berry Muller served as a medical officer in the middle of the Mekong Delta in 1964&5. He also worked with a Vietnamese doctor helping indigenous people.
Motion by Budd Frye/Brian Bayha to Approve the January Minutes published on the VVA310.org website.
Adjourned to Nominations
President: Bob Kiewicinski declined
Vice President: Stan Harrison, accepted
Treasurer: Berry Bourne, accepted
Secretary: Jon Luker, accepted
Sergeant at Arms: Eric Downie, accepted
Two-year board members moving to 1-year positions are:
Marv Rivers, Dale Throneberry, Budd Frye
Two-year board nominees (Need at least three)
Absent: Bob Bull, Tim Driscoll
Accepting: Ed Scruggs
Declining:
State Council Delegates: (We are authorized up to 5) Driscoll, Wilson, Luker.
Metting Resumed
Officer Reports:
President’s Report: See report on VVA310.org/newsletter website in The 310 Dispatch in the Nov/Dec issue
Treasurer’s Report: Reports were emailed to the board. Reports are also available to members via email upon request.
Non-restricted Fund Revenue
a. $508 merchandise sales and $18 donations at Ann Arbor VA with $224 cost of goods sold for a 56% profit margin on merchandise sales before a $102 fee at 20% to Ann Arbor VA
b. Nothing else significant
Non-restricted Fund Expenses:
Nothing significant
Restricted Funds Revenue:
a. $400 donation to Ann Arbor VA Patients Restricted Fund
b. $100 donation to Vietnam Memorial Long-term Landscaping Plan Restricted Fund:
c. $100 donation to Vietnam Memorial Maintenance Fund
Restricted Funds Expenses:
a. $3,161 for three steak upgrade dinners for Ann Arbor VA patients
b. $370 cost for Vietnam Memorial maintenance
AVVA Report: Please see the AVVA report published on our website https://www.vva310.org/newsletter. Kathy Driscoll gave a brief report.
National Meetings Report: See website for full report. Topics included:
- Mission 75 Plan
- AVVA and VVA merger
- Mission POW-MIA
- Legacy Task Force
- Role of Council of State Council Presidents
- Whether there should be a Leadership Conference, and, if so, what do we use the time for
- Training new officers or
- Discussing the new long term strategic plan
- National Budget and officer raises.
- Presentation by Under Secretary of VHA, John Bartrum focusing on three of four levels of care:
- Not doing anything with 139 healthcare centers we already have.
- VHA level should state policy and get out of the way
- Replace all the bureaucracy between hospitals and VHA with a medical operations center – the G2 for VHA
- Reduce 18 VISN’s to 5 whose sole focus will be healthcare outcomes. They will report directly to the secretary
- Should we move the national office?
- Motion to make one last revenue share with chapters and state councils
Committee Reports:
Merchandise: Stan Harrison – We had $508 gross sales at the VA. The next sale is tomorrow from 0830 to 1300 on the third floor. Inventory will be done here on Sunday at 1300. All the pins have been counted. I have challenge coins here if you want to buy one. We have free $5 gift cards that are good at the Applebee’s on Carpenter and in Belleville. Please use only one at a time.
Washtenaw County Council of Veterans: Bob Bull – The next meeting is on Monday.
Michigan State Council: Sandie Wilson – The next meeting is here at 1000 on 14 March. It would be good if many members showed up.
Memorial Maintenance: Luker, show of hands for volunteers for next season – 3. We need more volunteers.
Website: We have had 512,311hits since the website was late rebuilt.
Membership: 227
Newsletter: We reduced the November/December issue to 10 pages. We did not include pictures of our KIA’s because there were so many. Check the patron page to see if you are up to date with your subscription. Expired subscriptions will be removed from the postage mailing list and added to the email list if we have an email address.
Health Care: Sandie Wilson
- The VA is converting to a new computer system and the new computer medical record.
- Dr. Lawrence, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, was in Ann Arbor to meet with some of us. The meeting was well attended by younger veterans and by people that live in the area. Several issues came up including:
- Lack of 988 information in the VA
- The VA no longer does PSA tests
- The rumor about 35,000 layoffs coming up – turns out to be false
There have been many cuts in the recent past, but the VA is now hiring nurses and other healthcare professionals.
LTCCSKMC: Wilson – It is unlikely you will see a counselor in person for PTS who knows what to do. I now have phone appointments. The VA is transferring patients from counselors to peer support specialists. The only staff psychologist is limited to five-minute appointments, which is just enough time to renew prescriptions. There are social workers, but they are not trained for military pts work, nor are they permitted to go beyond 13 weeks with the same patient. For now, your best bet for mental healthcare is whatever Medicare will pay for outside the VA.
Old Business: None
New Business: None
Good of the Order:
Sandie Wilson –
- I saw some of the proposed budget two days before the meeting. We have enough money to pay our bills for 16 months. The household goods and car donations were our primary funding source. Then the tax laws were changed to encourage people to take the standard deduction. Once people started doing that, our income dropped considerably. Since other nonprofits also suffered, the law was changed to allow individuals to deduct up to $1,000 of their cash donations, but donations of cars or household goods no longer count.
- The board did take $1,000,000 out of restricted funds to have something to give state councils and chapters.
- Rent in Silver Springs is over a half million dollars. There was discussion about moving national offices. The new president wanted a 30% increase for the top four national officers. It was presented with no opportunity for discussion, debate or amendment. The president withdrew that item from the budget before the board voted.
- I’ve been put on the committee of 5 AVVA members and 5 VVA members to study a merger of the two organizations and to come up with a new name.
- 9 years ago, law was passed that required the VA to research the effects on children of veterans who were exposed to toxins. A committee was formed to outline what the study should accomplish. Their report says that the VA needs to study the effects on children of veterans who have experienced toxic exposure. The VA has decided that it is not required to comply with the law. The VA says that the research is not economically feasible. VVA is now ready to push VA to obey the law and do the research.
McCrumb: Breakfast on Friday will be at 0900 at Sinbad's Coney Island Restaurant, 2563 Ellsworth Rd, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, (734) 528-5800.
Hall: We had the memorial service for my brother Eugene on 31 January. There was a great showing. The family was really impressed. 15 members of the Washtenaw County Honor Guard attended in uniform as well. Thank you all for showing up and supporting the family.
Closing prayer: Bob Bull
Salute the Flag
Adjourned 2012
Meeting to adjourn NLT 2030
8 January 2026
Call to Order by President Vance McCrumb at 1900
Pledge of Allegiance: Vance McCrumb
Opening Prayer: Bob Bull
Moment of Silence for POW/MIA’s, their families and those who are serving in hazardous places around the world.
Roll call: A quorum was established. Welcome Home Everyone!
Introduction of New Members: None
Introduction of Guests: None
Motion by Tim Driscoll/Budd Frye to Approve the December Minutes published on the VVA310.org website.
Officer Reports:
President’s Report: See report on VVA310.org/newsletter website in The 310 Dispatch in the Nov/Dec issue
Treasurer’s Report: Reports were emailed to the board. Reports are also available to members via email upon request.
Non-restricted Fund Revenue:
- $625 merchandise sales and $10 donation at Ann Arbor VA with $292 cost of goods sold for a 55% profit margin on merchandise sales before a $130 fee at 20% to Ann Arbor VA
- Three donations totaling $200 were received
Non-restricted Fund Expenses: Nothing significant
Restricted Funds Revenue:
- $5,980 Christmas Program Fund
- $1,000 donation to Vietnam Memorial Maintenance Fund
Restricted Funds Expenses:
- $4,371 for Ann Arbor VA patients for the Christmas Program
- Other
AVVA Report: Please see the AVVA report published on our website https://www.vva310.org/newsletter. Kathy Driscoll gave a brief report.
Committee Reports:
Merchandise: Stan Harrison – $625 merchandise sales at Ann Arbor VA in December. Next sales will be held at VA on 16 Jan beginning at 0800 to 1330. Physical inventory at VFW on 15 Feb 2026 beginning at 1300. I have Chapter Challenge Coins for sale with me here.
Washtenaw County Council of Veterans: Bob Bull - Saline American Legion Post will be closed the month of March for limited remodeling.
Michigan State Council: Sandie Wilson - Tom Burke, President VVA National,
attended the meeting. He stressed that VVA will not go away but he hopes to merge
with another organization
Memorial Maintenance: Vance McCrumb - Water has been turned off. VVA 310 will only mow the interior grass and Ypsilanti Township will move the other grass areas at the Memorial.
Website: We have had 507,400 hits since the website was late rebuilt.
Membership: 227
Newsletter: On website
Health Care: Sandie Wilson - Congress determines what services veterans receive and how to fund them. We need to educate and inform our elected representatives of our constituent views. Following extensive research, the CDC has declared a medical diagnostic code for Gulf War Illness. It is related to an escape of Sarin gas in Iraq from the chemical warfare storage facility and will affect the genes for 14 generations. University of Michigan and Wayne State University have developed filters to removed PFAS (fire suppression chemicals) from drinking water. This was funded by EPA research budget. Since then, EPA has been downsized and medical research budgets have been drastically cut. The “Ranch Hand” data and specimens are now in research facilities in California. University of Michigan researchers have identified 156 genes related to Alzheimer disease. Government direct funding is required to fund gene therapy and other modern research to find a cure or relief. Medicare does not fund care. VA health care has a hiring freeze of direct care providers. Ann Arbor VA has not filled psychologist position in mental health for years. I would suggest anyone on PTSD disability consider using individual Medicare for outside care.
LTCCSKMC: Berry Bourne - $4,473 was incurred for Embroidered wear and incidentals for Ann Arbor VA patients for Christmas Party on 16 Dec. In addition, The VA was reimbursed $4,034 for four steak dinners (July 4th, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas) upgrades during the year.
Old Business: None
New Business: Motion by Berry Bourne/Tim Driscoll to approve 2026-2027 proposed operating budget as presented. After discussion, motion was unanimously approved.
Good of the Order:
Roy Hall – Celebration of life for Neugene Hall, fellow VVA310 chapter member and
Roy Hall’s brother, will be held at the VFW Post 423 on 31 Jan 2026 beginning at
1200
Bob Bull – complimentary breakfast at Harvest Moon Café 13 Jan 2026 beginning
at 0830
Vance McCrumb: Breakfast tomorrow will be at 0900 at The Bomber Restaurant,
306 E Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48198, (734) 482-0550
Closing prayer: Bob Bull
Salute the Flag
Adjourned 1931
Meeting to adjourn NLT 2030