Reflection, as they say, is good for the soul. While typically an individual pursuit, it’s not uncommon for organizations to re-think a strategy or two.

Such is the case with the Veterans Resource Center in Freeland. The VRC closed its community activity center last fall, when the cost of maintaining the facility became prohibitive. But the VRC has continued its quest to connect veterans with information, referral, advocacy and support services.

“Our business office is still operating,” said VRC president and cofounder Judith Gorman. “Email, phone call inquiries and requests for assistance have continued, despite the closing of the Community Activity Center.

“When we made the decision to close the community center, we knew at the time our focus would be working on collaborative relationships, so that’s what we’re doing,” she continued.

In the process, board members feel they have been able to identify how the VRC can be most effective.

“We’re beginning to see ourselves as a clearinghouse of sorts,” said board member John McFarland.

In a perfect world, groups like the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion and others would work together for the good of all veterans. The VRC hopes to facilitate that effort.

“There is no coordinated effort at all between all these veterans service agencies,” said McFarland. “But if we’re in communication with them and doing some program coordination, we’re going to be a lot more effective.”

The strategy is beginning to work. While the VRC has not been able to find suitable office space for a public drop-in location in Freeland, which is where they would like to be, board members have found an ally in  American Legion Post 141. Gorman said the Sons of the American Legion had already been supporting the VRC financially, and following the closing of the community activity center, Legion members were receptive to working with the VRC.

“It’s a first step in creating this network of service provision,” McFarland said.

“We’re excited about working more closely with the American Legion,” agreed Gorman. “They have a wonderful facility and a very supportive membership. With the support we’ve received from the Sons of the American Legion, it just sort of a natural growth process to work with them.”

Jim Knott, Adjutant for American Legion Post 141, said joining forces with the VRC is a good thing.

“I really think we can help each other,” he said. “With our resources combined, we’ll have a good thing going. We all want to reach out to veterans.”

The VRC veterans support group now meets each Tuesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. downstairs at the American Legion, which is located along Highway 525 in the Bayview area. The Legion has also offered to host the VRC’s second annual Veterans Stand Down, which will be held May 5. The first event drew more than 150 people. More than 60 veterans completed their enrollment with the Veterans Administration for services, the first step in receiving benefits.

Seeking support

While the VRC, a nonprofit organization, is still trying to build a steady revenue stream through monthly pledges, the group is beginning to see its efforts bear fruit. The board is close to naming a director and has chosen a volunteer coordinator, Charles Pellor, who will be holding the VRC’s first volunteer training in April.

“Without a building, we wanted to make that process a little more consistent, so we’re formalizing it a little bit more. We felt the need to structure the volunteer program a little more,” explained Gorman. “There are lots of different levels and ways to volunteer.”

One of the big needs right now, said Gorman, is for people to come forward to help spearhead the organization’s Memorial Day event.

“We might collaborate with the Legion, but our part of (the ceremony) would be different,” she said. “We’d like to have some kind of reading, something inspiring to the public.”

McFarland said they are still looking for board members as well.

“The qualification is passion,” he said. “You don’t have to be a veteran. But we are looking for people who are passionate about this particular vision.”

Bottom line

In the end, it’s all about veterans.

“We have a huge population of veterans on this island who have varying levels of need,” McFarland said. “Some have deep seated issues, others are in failing health due to age or to an incident that may have occurred when they were in the military, others just want companionship. That’s a worthwhile thing, to be able to offer veterans an opportunity to get together with a group of folks who are part of that fraternity.”

According to McFarland, the role he sees the VRC taking on now is the role he envisioned for the group as soon as he joined the board.

“This is about veterans, not about turf protection,” he said. “It’s up to us to define how we can more effectively create a network. We view this as a vital role – to be a linking pin on Whidbey Island.”

The Veterans Resource Center is a nonprofit organization supported by donations of time and funds.

For information about the VRC, its support groups and other programs, to inquire about volunteering or to get help finding your way through the maze of VA services, call the VRC at 331-8081.