Weekly Report 🎖
Georgia joins Coalition | NFSGVWC | TBI Advocacy
Greetings Coalition,
Here is your weekly report. The Constitution and Bylaws are nearly ready for public review. Veterans have VSO’s and VSO’s will soon have Commanders Coalition. Commanders Coalition is becoming a national roundtable for VSO’s to share news/events and best practices.
Please welcome Southwest Georgia Veteran and Family Alliance to Commanders Coalition.
Aaron Dasilva is a retired U.S. Army Aviator and Blackhawk crew chief with 10 years of distinguished service as a Non-Commissioned Officer. A combat veteran, he deployed with the 82nd Airborne Division and the 29th Combat Aviation Brigade to Iraq and Syria. Domestically, he served in high-risk missions across the Pacific Northwest, including wildfire suppression and high-altitude search and rescue operations. He also flew critical medevac missions during Hurricanes Michael and Dorian. Since retiring in 2021, Aaron has continued to serve his community as a dedicated realtor with First & Main Real Estate Group, helping clients across Southwest Georgia and Florida’s Panhandle. Aaron is a dedicated ambassador with the Veteran's mental health and family wellness organization, Mission 22. As an ambassador, Aaron works to spread awareness of the struggles veteran's face with mental health and self-harm while building community through participation in regional events and seeking out those servicemen and women who desire and often need a place of belonging as they heal. He resides in Brinson, Georgia, on family land that has been in his lineage for over 200 years. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Aaron brings a strong work ethic, deep local roots, and a passion for service to everything he does.
Southwest Georgia Coalition
swgavfa@commanderscoalition.org
As a reminder, The next quarterly AFA Bud West Chapter meeting is fast approaching; it'll be held Wednesday, July 30, 2025 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at the Golden Corral on N. Monroe Street. Several items are on the agenda - including the unveiling of the new POW/MIA Memorial at the Tallahassee National Cemetery - which is now scheduled for Thursday, Sept 18, 2025 at 9 AM (the same week as National POW/MIA Week).
NFSG Veterans Wellness Coalition
New coasters under development
Greetings, team
Yesterday featured several Veterans volunteering, even though their
court-ordered community service requirements have already been completed!
In all, our walk-in Legal Clinic worked with 13 Veterans and family members,
plus 7 Vets by phone, at American Legion Post 13, Lk Ella (Thursday). Our
volunteer team totaled 18, including 6 attorneys. Khalid, Kathy &
Margaret volunteered with Susie for the admin support today, front desk and
computer records table). We answered various legal questions (housing,
civil, criminal, Driver's licenses, Veteran benefits,etc.), and made
referrals to specialists in supportive law firms around town and around the
state. Kudos this week to Khalid Shafi, David Gerourd, Gregory Howard,
Dexter White and Emily Hamilton, for the food distribution Wednesday
including to Vet Village, Kenwood, Grace Mission, etc.
Leon County Veterans Treatment Court this past Monday advanced
several Veterans who are on track to successfully graduate next month
(Monday August 18 3pm in the Leon Courthouse). For the next court date,
Monday August 4, please come observe, you may decide to become a volunteer
Veteran Mentor for one or more of the Vets in the program. .
Plans progress in organizing for a Poker Run here to benefit the
Tallahassee Civic Chorale, who are sharing the proceeds with TVLC. Save the
date: Saturday, October 18. Let us know if you can join in, helping us host
the several stops for the Riders that day! Thank you, American Legion Post
13!
And speaking of fund-raising, SPECIAL NEWS FOR ALL THE MONTH OF JULY: It's TVLC's turn for donations! Round up your receipt or donate a specific
amount: Please support TVLC and do some grocery shopping at the Community Co-op off Apalachee Parkway and Magnolia Dr.
The Community Co <https://g.co/kgs/MCSmPiJ> -op, formerly known as "New
Leaf" has a "round up your receipt" program.
When the customer checks out at the register, please let the cashier know
you would like to make a donation, and round up your purchase or even donate
a specific amount.
The "rounded up amount" is given to the Nonprofit they have vetted and
selected for the entire month. They will post our information in their
displays around the store, and at each checkout counter.
This will help TVLC continue to help with driver's license reinstatements
and gas money for the weekly food distribution. The Veterans pick up the
food in Quincy and deliver to Vet Village, Homefront, and other Hud Vash
low-income locations where Veterans live!
Thank you,
Dan Hendrickson,
Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative
Our next meeting is September 15th, at the Elks Lodge on Magnolia. Gen Snodgrass will be speaking on the collapse of Iran's Axis of Resistance and the future of peace in the Middle East. He'll review world events, trump's policies, and how internal pressures are forcing changes to how Iran proceeds going forward.
Happy hour 5-6
Dinner 6-6:45
Speaker 6:45-8
All are welcome.
https://my.cheddarup.com/c/tallahassee-moaa-dinner-maj-gen-michael-snodgrass
TBI Advocacy Update
I hope this finds you doing well.
I wanted to share this recent article with you. Missouri really came through big time last week. This is very promising.
We need HBOT available for all veterans, in all states. It is one of the functional therapies I am focusing on.
We can do this!
Blessings!
