By Emilie Parten, The Reporter on the Rove
The monthly VVA meeting for April was charged with high emotions and hopes for the future of Chapter 1009 as the leadership changed hands in the VVA’s yearly election. President Dale Williams opted not to run for another term and was exceptionally pleased with the nomination for his successor, James Green, who was voted into Presidency without contention.
As this was his final meeting as president, Dale Williams allotted some time for comments in which he stated, “As a group, we have done some great things for the community. We have given money to fire departments, seven this last year and five the year before. We have put together and had a fence put up for the House of Refuge two years ago because theirs was falling down right on the playground and it just seemed like the best thing to do to keep the kids from getting hurt. As a group, we do wonderful things. Everybody helps! And I just cannot say thank you enough to you because you have made these last four years pretty simple for me.”
John Robinson was awarded the Veteran of the Year Award for his dedication to the VVA and his constant service to his country and community. Robinson is an active member of the Retreat Volunteer Fire Department and City Council on top of working with the Red Cross. He has been serving his community and country since before he entered adulthood, aiding at accident scenes and seeing things no teenager should ever have to see, using those experiences to become a driving force in bettering the community. He is the Secretary Treasurer for the VVA and was reelected to that position at this meeting.
The election resulted in Oaths of Office being administered to James Green, the new president of Chapter 1009, John Knotts, the New Vice President and John Robinson, the reelected Secretary Treasurer. The new presidents first act was to thank his predecessor, Dale Williams, for all his hard work and dedication to the VVA.
Raffle items were selected for the raffle being drawn at the Kerens Cotton Festival. The prizes selected were a $1000 gift card to HEB, a .357 Henry Rifle, and a 12-gauge shotgun. The VVA will have booth 38A at Derrick Days for raffle ticket sales.
