IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Release	August 29, 2011	No. 11-28 Contact: Mokie Porter 301-585-4000, Ext. 146
VVA Board of Directors Approves VetProWeb for VVA's Service Officer Program
(Washington, D.C.)—"Vietnam Veterans of America has chosen VetProWeb, a case-management program from Panoramic Software, to be the common application for VVA-accredited service officers, operating under VVA State Councils and Chapters, to help veterans secure the benefits and compensation earned by their service to our country," said John Rowan, VVA National President. "VVA is proud to be the first national Veterans Service Organization to use VetProWeb, which will be a 'game-changer' for our Veterans Benefits Program." Jim Vale, Director of VVA's Veterans Benefits Program, noted, "We have a network of over 700 accredited service officers. VetProWeb will enable us to track our veterans' claims on a national scale, and it will meet our long-time need for a secure, web-based database that can be accessed by service officers from any location. In order to break the one-million claims backlog, the VA must allow veteran service organizations to submit veterans' claims electronically. As the VA moves forward with modernizing its claims process, VetProWeb will enable these claims to be submitted electronically to each of the VA's 57 regional offices." VetProWeb handles case management, claim development, forms completion, statistical reporting, and document storage. Currently used in more than 50 counties in California, it has been designated the statewide veteran database for County Veteran Service Officers by the California Department of Veterans Affairs. VetProWeb has been used by the VVA California State Council at the Long Beach offices. Said Dick Southern, VVA Region 9 Director and Chief Service Officer for the VVA California State Council, "We have three VA regional offices to which we submit claims. VetProWeb provides the flexibility, capability, and unmatched technical support needed by our service officers to help veterans all over California." Art von Waldburg, founder and CEO of Panoramic Software and creator of VetProWeb, travelled to Reno earlier this month for VVA's 15th Biennial Convention, to give VVA service officers a first look at the application, which will assist VVA in determining the demographics of those veterans who are seeking help, as well as the most effective processes for gaining earned benefits. Said von Waldburg, "We are honored to have been selected by VVA, and we look forward to a close working relationship between VVA and the VA to streamline the claims process. "Panoramic Software is committed to keeping VetProWeb on the cutting edge of technology. We are focused on providing the most complete claims-development functionality in the most secure environment possible, with close to perfect availability from any web-accessible location and device."
Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) is the nation's only congressionally chartered veterans service organization dedicated to the needs of Vietnam-era veterans and their families.  VVA's founding principle is “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.”

(Washington, D.C.)--John Rowan was reelected August 20 to a fourth term as National President of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) at the organization's 15th National Convention in Reno, Nevada. Rowan, who was elected to VVA's highest office in 2005, has served as the chairman of VVA's Conference of State Council Presidents, for three terms on the organization's Board of Directors, and as president of VVA's New York State Council. He served as a linguist in the U.S. Air Force's 6990 Security Squadron in Vietnam and at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, providing the Strategic Air Command with intelligence on North Vietnam's SAM sites to protect their bombing missions.

Rowan was a founding member and the first president of VVA Chapter 32 in Queens, New York. He retired from city service as an investigator with the City of New York's Comptroller's Office. He lives in Middle Village, New York, with his wife, Mariann.
Fred Elliott of Rochester, New York, was elected to serve as Vice President; Bill Meeks, Jr., of The Woodlands, Texas, was elected as Secretary; and Wayne Reynolds of Athens, Alabama, was elected as VVA's Treasurer. In addition, 19 National Board of Directors were elected: Ten At-Large and nine Regional. The At-Large directors are Marsha L. Four (PA); Dan Stenvold (ND); Jerry Yamamoto (CA); Felix Peterson (OK); Pat Bessigano (IN); Richard C. DeLong (LA); Pastor Toro, Jr. (NY); Ken Holybee (CA); Joe Jennings (OH); and Jacqueline Rector (KY).

The nine Regional directors elected to serve a 2011-2013 term are: Region 1, John Miner (VT); Region 2, Herb Worthington (NJ); Region 3, Sara McVicker (MD); Region 4, Bob Barry (GA); Region 5, Sandie Wilson (MI); Region 6, John Margowski (WI); Region 7, Allen J. Manuel (LA); Region 8, Tom Owen (OR); and Region 9, Dick Southern (CA).

(Washington, D.C.)—Fred Elliott of Rochester, New York, was elected August 20 to serve as National Vice President of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) at the organization's 15th National Convention in Reno, Nevada. Most recently, Elliott completed his fourth term as Region 2 Director to the VVA National Board of Directors. His past VVA National Board service includes two terms as Director At-Large; he has chaired the Strategic Planning Committee, the Convention Resolutions Committee, the Convention Rules Committee, and the Budget Oversight Subcommittee. Elliott has also served on numerous national committees, including as Vice Chair of the national VVA Finance Committee.

In New York State, Elliott has served as Rochester VVA Chapter 20 President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Director. Additionally, he has served on the Board of Directors of the Rochester Veterans Outreach Center, and as chair of the Rochester Veterans Emergency Relief Fund. Currently, he sits on the Board of the Greater Rochester Vietnam Veterans Memorial; on Congressman Chris Lee's Veterans Advisory Group; and on the Monroe County Executive's Veterans Advisory Committee.

Elliott served in Vietnam from January to December 1967 with the Army's 9th Infantry Division and 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. In 1983, he joined VVA, becoming a Life Member in 1987; he has been a delegate to 12 VVA national conventions.

John Rowan of Middle Village, New York, was reelected to his fourth consecutive term as National President; Bill Meeks, Jr., of The Woodlands, Texas, was elected as National Secretary; and Wayne Reynolds of Athens, Alabama, was elected as National Treasurer. In addition, 19 National Board of Directors were elected: Ten At-Large and nine Regional. The At-Large directors are Marsha L. Four (PA); Dan Stenvold (ND); Jerry Yamamoto (CA); Felix Peterson (OK); Pat Bessigano (IN); Richard C. DeLong (LA); Pastor Toro, Jr. (NY); Ken Holybee (CA); Joe Jennings (OH); and Jacqueline Rector (KY).
The nine Regional directors elected to serve a 2011-2013 term are: Region 1, John Miner (VT); Region 2, Herb Worthington (NJ); Region 3, Sara McVicker (MD); Region 4, Bob Barry (GA); Region 5, Sandie Wilson (MI); Region 6, John Margowski (WI); Region 7, Allen J. Manuel (LA); Region 8, Tom Owen (OR); and Region 9, Dick Southern (CA).

(Washington, D.C.)—Dr. Wayne Reynolds of Athens, Alabama, was elected August 20 to serve as National Treasurer of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) at the organization's 15th National Convention in Reno, Nevada. Reynolds, who served as national treasurer from 2001-2003, is currently serving his 13th year as President of the Vietnam Veterans of America Alabama State Council. His past VVA national service includes four years on the board of VVA's affiliated 501-C3 charity, the Vietnam Veterans Assistance Fund; four years as secretary of VVA's Conference of State Council Presidents; and three years as past president of VVA Chapter 511, Athens, Alabama. Reynolds has also served on the following VVA national committees: Finance; Veterans Healthcare; PTSD and Substance Abuse; Constitution; Employment, Training, & Business Opportunity; and Veterans Affairs.

Reynolds, a disabled veteran, served in Vietnam from 1968-69 with the 95th Evacuation and 22nd Surgical Hospitals. He retired after 12 years as Public School Superintendent and holds a Doctor of Education degree from Auburn University and a Master's Degree in Finance. Reynolds has been a registered nurse since 2003 and, since 1996, has been the owner and CEO of his own business. He has been married to Carol for 41 years and is the father of two and the grandfather of two. His son, Wesley, is currently serving in the Air Force.
John Rowan of Middle Village, New York, was re-elected to his fourth consecutive term as National President; Fred Elliott of Rochester, New York, was elected to serve as Vice President; and Bill Meeks, Jr., of The Woodlands, Texas, was elected as Secretary. In addition, 19 National Board of Directors were elected: Ten At-Large and nine Regional. The At-Large directors are Marsha L. Four (PA); Dan Stenvold (ND); Jerry Yamamoto (CA); Felix Peterson (OK); Pat Bessigano (IN); Richard C. DeLong (LA); Pastor Toro, Jr. (NY); Ken Holybee (CA); Joe Jennings (OH); and Jacqueline Rector (KY).

The nine Regional directors elected to serve a 2011-2013 term are: Region 1, John Miner (VT); Region 2, Herb Worthington (NJ); Region 3, Sara McVicker (MD); Region 4, Bob Barry (GA); Region 5, Sandie Wilson (MI); Region 6, John Margowski (WI); Region 7, Allen J. Manuel (LA); Region 8, Tom Owen (OR); and Region 9, Dick Southern (CA).