Excecutive Director

Someone came to me this week and asked to put something in the newsletter asking for volunteers. They want vets in chairs to show folks around a museum. Well, it’s a nice thought for me and a challenge for you. No, not the physical challenge, the social one. We here at the chapter invite you to our games, dinners, meetings, etc (all with free food and a chance to meet vets in like circumstances!). You don’t come. When this nice respectable vet asks for docents for a museum… I’ll be interested to see if anyone volunteers. It’s just south of Ocala, so you can make an informed decision about traveling time and if you’re interested, call the chapter. I dare you!

And, on the same subject, I wonder why you don’t come. I see the men who volunteer here, sitting around a table, swapping stories and having a great time and it pains me to think that this enjoyable camaraderie isn’t being shared with more of our members.
Personally, I enjoy the stories. I’ve learned more about the issues confronting people in wheelchairs during lunch than I could have ever gotten from a magazine or a training manual. And, something else I’ve learned… it’s not told with a ‘pity poor me’ attitude, it’s more of a ‘funny story’ or ‘don’t let this happen to you like it did to me’ slant. They’re all trying to help make the journey easier for all people in chairs and you, the general membership, miss out on it by never coming down and meeting others in like straits.

Well, I’ve ranted long enough, the rest is up to you.

Have some really good news. We have been offered a stellar chance to raise funds. The local softball team has ‘charity nights’ where, during the game, they feature an organization that they feel is doing good work in the community. It’s an honor, but even more important, they donate a part of the gate to that organization. We’ve been invited to participate. Now, here’s where you come in. We get funds from those ticket sales. So, whether you are a baseball fan or not, whether you attend or not, I’m hoping that you’ll buy a ticket or tickets to the game because it will benefit our chapter and it MAY become an annual affair. Watch this space for future developments, the whole thing is in the planning stages, but you’ll learn more as I do.


Mary Ann Troiano

Click the below image to return