Q&A
Discussion on challenges faced by VSOs due to aging membership
0:36:25
·
81 sec
Commissioner James Hendon and Council Member Robert Holden engage in a discussion about the challenges faced by Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs), particularly focusing on the issue of aging membership and the lack of younger veterans joining these organizations.
- Hendon identifies the root cause as insufficient younger veterans joining VSOs, resulting in an aging membership
- He mentions efforts to connect with transitioning service members, including receiving DD 214 separation paperwork and TAP data
- Holden acknowledges the issue but emphasizes the need to address both long-term membership challenges and immediate concerns like building violations
- The discussion highlights the demographic shift in the veteran population, with Vietnam-era veterans now averaging 78 years old and fewer younger veterans joining VSOs
James Hendon
0:36:25
A couple of things to say to that.
Robert Holden
0:36:26
It's not dangerous.
0:36:27
Like, as long as it's not you know, like the building's not gonna collapse, we would if it's a minor or something that's not structural, that we would give them extra time to cure.
James Hendon
0:36:36
What's tough about this so, mister chairman, in in my opinion, the root cause, and this is just by observation, is we don't have enough younger veterans joining these VSOs.
0:36:46
And so you have a situation where you have a VSO that is aging out and there's so many second and third order things going on there.
0:36:51
So for us, we're so focused on what can we do to make this connection between the transitioning service members of whom we now get those DD 214s when they're cut.
0:36:59
So now we receive the separation paperwork when it's cut.
0:37:02
As of September, I'm gonna mention that one of the hearings, we now get the TAP data.
0:37:06
So when someone says, I'm leaving the Air Force and I'm coming to New York in June of 2025, we know who they are.
0:37:12
So for us, it's how do we communicate with them, bring them into the fold so that can become the next generation of folks.
0:37:17
I feel like that's the root issue that we're dealing with.
0:37:20
And then speaking to this Yeah.
Robert Holden
0:37:21
But that that's a that's we can do 2 things.
0:37:23
You know, it's not like we one or the other.
0:37:25
It's like we wanna give the VSOs extra time to fix building problems and not pay fines, that's what this bill is.
James Hendon
0:37:34
I for it I think the other side of it is that the these cure periods don't exist for nonprofits at this time.
0:37:41
So it's one of those Well,
Robert Holden
0:37:42
that's what this bill no.
0:37:43
That changes.
0:37:44
This bill changes that.
