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Dear Volunteers, Since you are so central to the success of this program, we always want to hear your suggestions about how we can better support you in your role as a Volunteer Veteran. For this reason, we are starting to call each of you to get your feedback on how we are doing. Some of you have already taken part in these survey calls with members of our staff, and we appreciate the helpful insights we've received so far. If you haven't already, expect to hear from one of us about this in the coming months.
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We also look forward to coming together in person to get your thoughts at the optional feedback session prior to our annual Volunteer Recognition Event on April 29 in Lansing. We sent out a Save-the-Date email for that event last week, and you will be receiving an invitation with more details within the next few weeks. This event is always one of the highlights of the year, and we hope that most of you can be with us. Make sure to mark your calendars!
Stephanie Zarb
Program Manager
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Volunteer Veteran of the Month
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Anna Skowronski was our Volunteer of the Month for January! She trained into the program in 2013, and since then has always been a positive and dedicated volunteer. Anna is assigned to the CO B 1-125 IN unit at the Saginaw armory. She has routinely attended drill there and has also been very committed to keeping herself up-to-date on resources and services for service members and veterans. She is a regular on our weekly volunteer support calls to keep current and connected.
Read more about Anna...
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Crystal Kinsman served five years in the Navy. She works as a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist for the State of Michigan and is pursuing an MBA degree. She lives in Roseville.
Robert Calhoun served five years in the Navy. He worked as a high-end auto salesman for over 20 years and is now retired. He lives in Grosse Pointe Woods.
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The top log submissions in January:
Joe McClellan - 32
Steve Alguire - 18
John Snyder - 9
Mo De La O - 8
Jon Luker - 8
Harry McCown - 8
Ron Springer - 8
Most events attended and logged in January:
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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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Training Anniversaries This Month
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The following volunteers are celebrating their training anniversaries with the program this month:
Five Years
Mike Thorne
Four Years
Cliff Tholen
Three Years
Jerry Otten
Valeria Shipp
Two Years
Scott Hamel
Lee Heronema
David MacIntosh
One Year
Angel Ayala
Adam Dunn
Adam Obanjoko
Thank you for your years of service!
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Save the Date for the Annual Volunteer Recognition Event on April 29
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Join us for the annual Volunteer Recognition Event on Saturday, April 29 in Lansing! The event will be from 6–8 pm at the University Club on the Michigan State University campus and the optional feedback session prior to the event will be from 4–5:30 pm at the same location.
For more information, click here to view the Save-the-Date email. We will send a formal invitation and request for your RSVP within the next few weeks.
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We are excited to have been selected as one of six beneficiaries of the Big House 5K: Trail to the Victors, presented by Toyota. This race will take place on Sunday, April 9, 2017 on the UM Academic and Athletics campuses. Buddy-to-Buddy will receive a portion of the proceeds from each registration!
If you are interested in running or walking in this 5K, visit www.mgoblue.com/bighouse5k for more information or to register.
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If you would like to help us promote our participation in this event, you can download a picture to post on social media here. Or, if you would like to distribute flyers in your local community for it, contact Outreach Coordinator Valeria Shipp and she will send some to you to share.
If you would like to represent Buddy-to-Buddy by volunteering at the event, email Valeria at [email protected] or call her at (734) 998-5827.
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Program Merchandise for Sale
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Men's and women's hoodies, vests, and long sleeve shirts are for sale, along with other program merchandise. If you're interested in looking these items over, visit Ivy Promotion’s website...
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Volunteer Richie Roberts, Program Psychologist Dr. Beau Nelson, Program Manager Stephanie Zarb, and Communications Specialist Alyssa Wealty with the hosts of the MI Healthy Mind t.v. program at a recent episode featuring the program
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Volunteer Crystal Kinsman at a Yellow Ribbon Event in Lansing
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Stephanie Zarb visiting with a veteran at a Region 10 VCAT meeting
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Volunteer Mark Reynolds with Cheryl Ross of TTI, Inc. (a Support Services for Veteran Families program grantee) at an event in Southfield
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Where Will We Be This Month?
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Click here to view a calendar of events that either our Outreach Coordinator, Valeria Shipp, or various Volunteer Veterans will be attending on behalf of Buddy-to-Buddy. This calendar gets updated on a regular basis and we encourage you to refer to it frequently.
If there are any events throughout the state that you think might be good for Buddy-to-Buddy to have a table at, please contact Valeria Shipp at [email protected] or (734) 249-0380.
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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
1-888-822-8339 | [email protected] | www.buddytobuddy.org
2025 Traverwood Dr., Suite C | Ann Arbor | MI | 48105
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