Jim Monroe AVHOFS President Class of 2014

Can you believe it?  2022 is now past us.  We have endured yet another year of COVID and all the complications that it entailed.  Hopefully we can now all look forward to an exciting new year filled with challenges, opportunities and much pleasure.  That is my hope.

I would like to call your attention to the Annual Business Meeting.

While Covid is still far from over, I suggest it is time to get together face-to-face once again and refresh ourselves on the activities of our Society.  In a serious effort to do exactly that, we are planning an in-person AVHOFS Annual Business Meeting supplemented with a live ZOOM feed to those who cannot attend in person.  Specifics of the meeting are as follows:

• Meeting Date:  Wednesday, January 11, 2023
• Meeting Location:  Phoenix 32nd St. VA Clinic - 400 N. 32nd St., Phoenix, 85008
• Set-Up: 0800 to 0900
• Social Hour:  0900 to 1000 with Continental Breakfast
• Clinic Tours:  0900 to 1000
• Meeting Call to Order:  1000
• Meeting Program:  1000 to 1200
• Clinic Tours:  1200 – 1230

The agenda for the meeting will be distributed over the next few days.  Certain items being addressed are:

• Treasurers Report:  Jerry Wojtas
• Election of Officers and Directors (following final call for nominations and subsequent close of nominations) Christine Mahon & Jim Monroe
• Current Nominations:
• President:  Pat Little-Upah
• Vice President:  Karen Craig
• Secretary:  Christine Mahon
• Director:  Denny Bash
• Director:  Nancy Fassbender
• Director:  Adam Garrard
• Remaining Officers and Directors:
• Treasurer:  Jerry Wojtas
• Director:  Karen Craig (pending election as VP)
• Director:  Pete Kloeber
• Report and Presentation on Veterans Treatment Court:  Judge Don Watts
• Report on Maternity Outreach for Military Families (MOMF):  Joan Sisco
• Report on Veterans Home Outreach Program:  Christeen Verchot
• Report on VA Medical Center Recognition Program:  Karen Craig
• Report on 2023 Patriotic Awards Luncheon:  Pat Little-Upah and Karen Craig
• Announcement of 2023 Copper Sword and Copper Eagle (2) award recipients:  Pat Little-Upah
• Report on 2023 VHP Scholarship and Veteran Scholarship activities:  Christine Mahon
• Installation of 2023-2024 Officers and Directors:  Jim Monroe
• New Business
• Good of the Order
• Meeting Adjourned

As indicated, we plan to open a ZOOM connection to this meeting.  Those joining by ZOOM should be able to see the meeting in progress and all presenters while hearing the proceeds.  Unfortunately, they will not have direct two-way communication capabilities and only able to communicate using ZOOM chat.  You will have a much-enhanced experience by attending in person, and I encourage you to do so.

You are invited to connect to the planned ZOOM broadcast using the following logging details:

Topic: Annual AVHOF Society Business Meeting (Jan. 11th, 2023)
Time: Jan 11, 2023 10:00 AM Arizona

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84363997420?pwd=bDJDVWhXTUl1OHBmVkJtaDM4bUdEdz09

Meeting ID: 843 6399 7420
Passcode: 346338
One tap mobile
+13462487799,,84363997420#,,,,*346338# US (Houston)
+16694449171,,84363997420#,,,,*346338# US

Dial by your location
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 669 444 9171 US
        +1 719 359 4580 US
        +1 720 707 2699 US (Denver)
        +1 253 205 0468 US
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
        +1 305 224 1968 US
        +1 309 205 3325 US
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 360 209 5623 US
        +1 386 347 5053 US
        +1 507 473 4847 US
        +1 564 217 2000 US
        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
        +1 646 931 3860 US
        +1 689 278 1000 US
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 843 6399 7420
Passcode: 346338
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kc7ciRvgeS

With a Continental Breakfast (Coffee, Juice, Pastries, Fruit - etc.) being provided, it is important for us to know how many are attending.  Therefore, I ask that each respond to a RSVP by emailing your plans to attend to Christine Mahon retcol27@cox.net.  So, mark your calendars for 1/11/23 and email Christeen right away. 

One last point, the new 32nd St. VA Clinic is a fabulous facility.  If you have not yet seen it, you will find the opportunity to tour it very worth your time.  You don’t want to miss this opportunity.

Please feel free to contact me directly for questions or concerns.
Jim Monroe
408-363-0044
monroe.avhofs@gmail.com

Jerry Wojtas AVHOFS Treasurer Class of 2011

As we begin a new year, we also begin the second half of our fiscal year.  As we review where your Society is financially, I can assure you that your president and Society board have acted responsibly, and the Society continues to prosper.

Our Century Club operates separately and is simply based on the generosity of our members.  The Christmas season must have had a positive effect on many of you because we suddenly had a good number of you come through with Century Club donations that put us ahead of our goal.  To date you have supported this program whole-heartedly.  Thank you all for your wonderful support.

A new crew of deserving members will be new officers and members of the board beginning in January.  We have 6 board members who serve two-year terms.  We replace 3 of those 6 every year so that not all six are new at the same time.  Because most of our meetings are held via zoom, it matters not if you live 200 miles away.  If you have an interest in serving in some capacity, make your interest known to one or more of the current officers or board members.

Two meetings that are important to attend in person are our annual January meeting when new officers and board members are elected, and the annual Patriotic Awards Luncheon, usually held in April.  It is at this luncheon when awards are given to those individuals and companies who support our military.  Additionally, scholarships are awarded to deserving high school students and also veterans pursuing higher education. 

Having been in the treasurer’s position for 8 years, I can tell you that each group of officers and board directors continues to raise the bar as they strive to make each new year of the Society better than the previous.

And here is the COMPLETE mailing address that should be used whenever you mail anything to our Society.  Here it is.

ARIZONA VETERANS HALL OF FAME SOCIETY
4980 S. ALMA SCHOOL ROAD
STE. A2-619
CHANDLER, AZ 85248-5545

CENTURY CLUB DONATIONS (FY Goal is $10,000. Total to date is $5,201)

BLACK- up to $100  GREEN - $101-$199   BLUE - $200-$299   RED - $300 and above GOLD - $400 and above

Listed below are those who have contributed so far in 2021.

Come and join in the fun at the Veterans Home on Sunday, January 22nd, 2023, 2-4pm when The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society Veteran Home Outreach Committee will be sponsoring a Space Force Presentation by the dynamic Southwest Space Force Recruiter.  The afternoon will be complete with the showing/retiring of the colors by a local Scout Troop, handing out of Space Force memorabilia, and a great question and answer period following the Space Force Presentation.

Light refreshments such as cake, coffee, tea, and punch will be available. Due to Covid restrictions, this will be held outdoors, and masks will be required except for eating.

Since this event is being sponsored by the AVHOFS, it would be great to have Society members  present to support our Veterans residing in the Home.

Anyone interested in attending, please contact: 
Christeen Verchot- class of 2021
C-(315) 272-9221      
Email: Cverchot@veteransfirstltd.org

Karen Craig AVHOFS Director Class of 2020

Pat Little-Upah AVHOFS Vice President Class of 2014

The Patriotic Awards Committee, under the direction of Karen Craig and Pat Little-Upah, are hard at work putting together another amazing event you will not want to miss.  Recipients of the 2023 AVHOF and UAV Copper Awards, as well as our 2023 Scholarship recipients, will be recognized at the 16th Annual Patriotic Awards Luncheon.

Please ‘SAVE THE DATE’ for the PAL:
Friday April 28, 2023

Save-the-Date postcards will go out in mid-January and the PAL Registration Form, Flyer, and EventBrite Registration Website will be available on the AVHOF website and Facebook page later this month.  This is a time that we can all get together once again and enjoy good food and good company.  Most importantly, it is a time to celebrate those individuals, companies, and organizations who have given so much to support our military and veteran community.  The Society also recognizes and supports the future of this country by providing scholarships for Veterans and Veteran Heritage Project students.

Below you will find this year’s AVHOFS Veteran Scholarship Flyer – please distribute this flyer to Arizona Veterans who are pursuing higher education and share it with other Veterans groups who can help us get the word out.  More information and the application can be found on our website. The deadline to apply is February 28, 2023. 

Additionally, we’ve expanded the sponsorship opportunities for the PAL this year by adding a $250 sponsorship level to encourage more donations from individuals and small businesses who might not be able to afford the larger levels.  Please share the 2023 PAL Sponsorship flyer  which can be found on the ‘Donate’ page of our website. If you have any questions regarding sponsorship, please contact Gordon James at gjames@gcjpr.com

If you are interested in volunteering your time to help the PAL Planning Committee, please contact Pat Little-Upah at 480-226-4454, or Karen Craig at 480-213-5769.  Together, let’s all make this the most memorable Patriotic Awards Luncheon ever held! 

COPPER SWORD AND COPPER EAGLE AWARDEES

For the past 15 years The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society has been proud to sponsor the annual Patriotic Awards Luncheon.  This event honors those non-veteran companies/organizations and businesses who have gone above and beyond to support our veteran community.

Once again, we had outstanding nominations making the selection task a difficult one.  All were deserving and should feel honored to have been nominated even if they were not selected.  

The Copper Sword award honors a non-veteran whose personal actions contributed significantly to the benefit and well-being of our military, our veterans, their families and their survivors, our communities, and our neighbors.  I am proud to announce that the awardee for the 2023 Copper Sword Award goes to Lee Huff.  Lee has worked for our Veterans through his positions as Director of Veterans Services for both Congressman Matt Salmon and Congressman Andy Biggs.  In addition, Lee is a member of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary Club and the Sons of the American Legion.  He has served on numerous projects benefiting Veterans over the years.  In addition, he has personally reached out and assisted Veterans contemplating taking their life.  

The Copper Eagle Award honors private institutions or organizations which warrant recognition for services rendered to the Arizona Veterans community.  I am proud to announce that the awardee for the 2023 Copper Eagle Award for an organization goes to The Arizona Coalition for Military Families (ACMF) started in 2009.  The ACMF developed a model that focused on creating a seamless network of vetted service organizations and a convenient means to access them through the Be Connected Program.  This program has had over 80,000 encounters since its inception.  The ACMF has provided training to Veteran Courts, first responders and the Faith community.   

This year and going forward a second Copper Eagle will be given to a business that has gone above and beyond to assist Veterans.   The 2023 Copper Eagle for Business goes to Mike Nye’s Instrument Repair Shop.   Although a small business, Mike and his shop have donated numerous instruments to programs for Veterans.  His shop is a collection point for used Instruments which he often repairs and then donates to the Instruments4Success program to give to Veterans.  In addition, he works closely with several school districts, giving consultation services and helping students.  He gifts horns to low-income families and donates monetarily to veteran and non-veteran causes.  

Please save the date Friday, April 28, 2023, to thank and honor these awardees at our 16th  Annual Patriotic Awards Luncheon at the Doubletree in Scottsdale. 

Request you let us know as soon as you know of an inductee’s passing. If available, we would like to know the inductee’s name, date of passing, funeral, and memorial service details, and a copy of the obituary. Send notices to Jim Monroe at j.c.monroe@cox.net.

Known members that passed in 2022.