Connecting With Your VCAT
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Dear Volunteers,
It seems every day there are new and changing resources available for Veterans and Guardsmen in our state. One of the ways we can continue to stay abreast of these changes is by participating in the information sharing sessions held by each of the 10 regional Veteran Community Action Teams (VCATs), and getting to know our community partners.
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Many of you have previously participated with the VCATs with varying levels of engagement. Like most things in life, you will get out of participating with your VCAT what you put into it. Here are some tips on how to become more engaged:
- Attend a meeting
- Start relationships with others working in the Veteran space in your region
- Share the Buddy-to-Buddy mission with those who are not yet familiar
- Let us know when and where you will be representing B2B, and we will ensure you have all the materials you might need
To get started, contact an MVAA Regional Coordinator. These folks can send you information about upcoming events and more. Summer is a great time to get out in the community to build the relationships you need to assist Veterans throughout the year.
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Region 1
Frank Lombard
906-365-0168
Region 2
Robert Bezanson
703-625-0978
Region 3
Steven Rollins
989-370-7197
Region 4
Brandy Walkington
616-514-9908
Region 5
Nicole Alexander
989-854-1160
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Region 6
Bruce Freimark
810-241-0994
Region 7
Adam Obanjoko
313-883-9377
Region 8
Michael Wilson
269-359-0838
Region 9
Josh Parish
906-430-1679
Region 10
Kate Logan
248-978-2513
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Respectfully,
The Buddy-to-Buddy Team
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We are thrilled to welcome these new Volunteers to our team this month!
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Michael Jemison
Army & Air Force Veteran, Sterling Heights
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Ted Kozlowski
Army Veteran, Redford
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Dave Misaros
Army Veteran, Saint Clair
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William Warner
Army Veteran, Monroe
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Month in Review | April 2018
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Number of service members and veterans assisted:
50
Concerns identified:
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Top interaction log submitters:
Steve Alguire - 22
Cliff Tholen - 7
Jon Luker - 6
Richie Roberts - 5
Number of drill/outreach events:
32
Most drill/outreach events attended and logged:
Bruce Binns - 8
Fred Turk - 2
Dick Overton - 2
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Thank you for taking the time to submit your logs and using the website to communicate with us. These submissions are key in helping us continue to serve Michigan’s veterans.
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This Month's Training Anniversary
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Kudos to volunteer
David Thomas
for celebrating six years as a volunteer this month! Thank you for your service, David.
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Kate Melcher
announced earlier this week
that she will be stepping down from the Program Manager role to focus on her own self-care and help with her aging parents. During her tenure here, Kate has made great contributions to the program, and we are grateful for her leadership. Kate’s last day at Buddy-to-Buddy will be Friday, June 1. Best wishes to you, Kate!
Read Kate's farewell message
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Adam Jando
will be assuming the PM duties in the interim as final staffing decisions are made. Do not hesitate to contact him at (734) 998-5826 at
ajando@med.umich.edu
with any questions you may have.
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Program Merchandise for Sale
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As the weather becomes warmer, don't forget that you can purchase a lightweight, performance material T-shirt to wear to drills and events! You can contact the merchandise vendor, Ivy Promotion, at 937-829-2287
or
Dave@IvyPromotions.com
to place your order for the lightweight T-shirt as well as other B2B merchandise. A percentage of sales goes directly to supporting B2B.
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Has it been a while since you went through our New Volunteer Training? Do you think you might benefit from going through training again? If so, contact us about attending an upcoming training. We've recently overhauled our training content and we think that any and all volunteers who are interested in brushing up their skills will benefit from going through the new and updated training.
Contact us to schedule a re-training...
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Need Any New Program Supplies? Let Us Know!
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If you are running low on program supplies, such as business cards, brochures, or other documents, please contact Jamie Majer at (734) 998-5825 or
jmajer@umich.edu
and the supplies will be ordered and sent to you as soon as possible.
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Interested in Representing Buddy-to-Buddy at an Event?
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Would you like to represent Buddy-to-Buddy at a veteran-focused event in your community? Do you know of an event that you think someone from Buddy-to-Buddy should attend? If so, contact Adam Jando at
ajando@med.umich.edu
or (734) 998-5826.
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Ron Springer was recently featured on the front cover of the Lansing State Journal. The photo was taken at the 15th Annual Capital Area Stand Down for Homeless Veterans, for which Ron was representing B2B and assisting veterans at.
(Photo by MATTHEW DAE SMITH/LANSING STATE JOURNAL)
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Volunteer Richie Roberts with Kimberly Suchek, author of the "Operation Military Resources" guide, at the Washtenaw County Veterans Resource Fair
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Volunteers Ron Springer and Ron Richards at a veterans resource fair in Jackson
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Program Social Worker Adam Jando at the "Our Community Salutes" event at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial
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M-SPAN and Buddy-to-Buddy's Kate Melcher, Michelle Kees, and Jane Spinner with leaders from ITC Michigan, which, along with its employees, recently donated over $4,000 to support B2B
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B2B volunteer David Hagen (pictured at right, center) and Kate Melcher joined other Michigan veterans, including Medal of Honor Recipient James McCloughan, for a special session in the Michigan Senate last week
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Adam Jando, Richie Roberts, and Jamie Majer at the 9th Annual Michigan Defense Exposition (MDEX) at Macomb Community College
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Buddy-to-Buddy is part of Military Support Programs and Networks (M-SPAN), a portfolio of military mental health programs within the University of Michigan Depression Center.
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Buddy-to-Buddy Volunteer Veteran Program
2025 Traverwood Dr., Suite C | Ann Arbor | MI | 48105
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