|
Sunday, February 18, 2006
2/18 Went to the Sterling Men’s Group at which I won’t be able to get more involved with at this moment due to my commitment to what we are doing. I had made myself clear that I will not make a commitment to something that will detract from what I am committed to. I am still seeking to get them behind what it is we are doing and waiting to here from Justin as to if he will get involved in our pilot program.
Monday, February 19, 2006
2/19 Talked to Patrick who is the Congressional liaison for the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) and asked for his groups endorsement, said he would look at the plan then let me know.
Tuesday, February 20, 2006
2/20 Went to Congressmen Israel’s office and talked for some time with his District Director, she gave me a lot of support and advice on how to make our cause work better. She told me to get our plan to all of the congressmen and senators with a cover letter so they all know what is happening and will know who we are as they get your letters. She also is net working us with other organizations doing similar things, will be at our first meeting for the pilot program and is hooking us up with a Doctor working on a similar program so that we may work together. She also introduced me to the head of Veteran Affairs for NY(Tom) and we set a meeting for tomorrow with him. She also introduced me to Doreen of Jacobs light foundation to see about getting us some media coverage. Congressmen Israel came in for a few minutes and agreed with what she had done, he asked me where I live and I told him Flanders, he said that he was my Congressmen, I said you are my Congressmen if you do the right thing.
Wednesday, February 21, 2006
2/21 I went and met with Tom Ronayne who is head of the Veterans Admin for Suffolk County who is very support of what we are doing and he is getting me the list of legislators who could fund us to do some of our projects. He has also invited me to a meeting of the leaders of all the Veteran groups on Long Island tomorrow night.
Thursday, February 22, 2006
2/22 Went to the meeting at Tom’s office and didn’t even get to finish talking before I was asked to stop because I offended several of the heads of various veteran groups because I made several inflammatory remarks. They demanded to know who I was to tell them they had to go for counseling especially since I had never fought over seas and there is still a stigma attached to getting help as well as not being able to get certain jobs. After they were done voicing their opinion I asked them to tell me another way to remove the stigma since making it mandatory didn’t work for them, no one said a word. When I left the meeting I talked to one of the men I had gotten the angriest to explain my intensions, he listened but, I would get no support from any of them.
Isn’t that the way it goes, the ones you want to help the most are usually the most resistant; I know I had touched upon a sore spot and have to be more sensitive to who I am talking to; a learning curve.
Friday, February 23, 2006
2/23 Max Cleland’s assistant Mike called me to let me know that their name can’t be on our plan due to the laws but, they should be with me in July when I get to Georgia, he couldn’t commit to it till he checked with Max. Mike and I talked for a while, I told him how I had gotten in touch with Jim McDermott for the Informal Hearing by going to a Bed &Breakfast in Vermont. Mike told me that normally they would have blown off Jim’s request to be at the Hearing except for the fact they hadn’t heard from Jims office for 2 years so they figured if he believed in it that much they should take a look. There are no accidents.
Saturday, February 24 2006
2/24 Got an email to do an video interview on a web page, so now I am looking for a video camera. |
