Gentlemen, my name is Kris Braddock. I'm a leadership fellow with the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) and I spoke at a council meeting a few months ago. I'm sorry I haven't been able to attend further meetings but I started classes at UNF and I don't have time to get to the meetings. However, I wanted to give everyone some updates on moves the IAVA are making today. If you wouldn't mind could you pass this on to all the council members since I don't have a good email distro list.

First, the IAVA has around 250,000 members but we weren't doing anything locally. It WAS a national organization with no local influence. That is changing as of today. All 250,000 members received emails this week asking them to volunteer to be local squad leaders. We expect a small percentage will accept which is what we're aiming for. Our goal is to have people who are bought into the idea of leading other veterans. Those people who are accepted as squad leaders will then be given the task of filling their squad with people. The IAVA will help each squad leader by finding members in their community who want to participate. There will be several types of squads detailed below:

SERVICE: Service Squads focus on volunteerism and community service. Squads may hold fundraisers, participate in relief work, assist wounded warriors or the elderly, or other service related functions.

SUCCESS: Success Squads focus on supporting their members in the areas of academic and professional success. Squads may focus on professional networking, student veterans, etc.

SOCIAL: Social Squads focus on community building and social functions. Squads may hold regular happy hours or BBQ's, host book clubs, play groups, or other outings.

SPORT: Sport Squads focus on any aspect of athletics, group or personal fitness. Squads may focus on running, biking, weight lifting, hiking, etc.

OTHER: Feel free to add any other category of squad you'd like to form.

There could be many squads in a single region which is what we're aiming for. Once these squads are manned with about 10 people new squads would form. Once there are several squads in an area a regional leader will be identified.

I won't go into much more detail but the squads will be responsible for planning and doing activities. We will train the leaders to follow the Saddleback mega church approach and create so many activities that people won't have a choice but to get involved.

The IAVA will be involved locally in St. Johns County. My last check of IAVA members in St. Johns County was about 150 personnel. Also, once I have a squad leader in the area who is able to make the monthly meetings I'll have him/her attend as often as possible.

Kris Braddock