At a meeting in September, 2005, a founding group agreed to form the Collegiate Veterans Association. This Founding Committee included Dan Rosenthal dgr0498@fsu.edu and drosenthal@iraqwarveterans.org , Eric Lundblom, EricLundblom@hotmail.com , Kristy N. Scarpa Noel21@excite.com , Charles Figley cfigley@fsu.edu (faculty advisor)

A. Aim (initial draft): The Collegiate Veterans Association (CVA) is a group of college-based military veterans and supporters dedicated to supporting military veterans and their families.

++++++++++++++NON-Partisan, NON-political++++++++++++++++++++

B. The initial goals of the CVA which are now under consideration by the membership are to

1. Develop a single handbook comprised of all forms, documents, lists of organizations and contact information useful for veterans (including disabled veterans) and their families recently released from the military and those new to the college in which they are enrolled.

2. Generally promote communication and interaction among veterans in order to promote veterans helping veterans.

3 Sponsor mixers to promote the above and social events that include family, loved ones, and supporters of veterans.

4. Educate the college community about the special experiences, circumstances, strengths, and needs of the military veteran and their families. Among other ways are the following activities:

   a. An orientation to staff, faculty, and administrators about the above (especially prior to national Veterans Day,     November 11).

   b. Create and display various exhibits at college student functions to explain the above.

   c. Speakers Bureau composed of veterans willing to speak to classes and at other college events.

   d. Special services for the disabled veterans.

5. Promote political actions and connections with the IWVO, VVA, VFW, AmVets, American Legion, etc.

6. Various veterans outreach activities to provide direct services to veterans families,

7. including those deployed and the families who await their return.

8. Facilitate establishing mental and medical health services for hard-to-reach combat veterans and their families.

9. Sponsor veteran student sports teams.

10. Support group for loved ones in the military and veterans.

11. Facilitate the sending of care packages for deployed military troopers.

Initial Plans for establishing a National Association