When Communications Fails, Opportunities Are Lost

A great deal of my time, these days, revolves around two worthy environments... Veterans Affairs and Team RWB. In early August, 2015, I experienced four days that should have, and could have brought these two groups together. Unfortunately it was an opportunity lost. And, unfortunately... there was a great deal of communication failure on both sides.

I was already a member of Team RWB... an organization dedicated to "enriching the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity", when I discovered The Veterans Golden Age Games.... which "brings Veterans 55 years of age and older, together in friendly competition", annually, at a different city in America. This Edition, the 29th, was held in Omaha, NE., entitled Patriots on the Plains. The games includes events in Track and field, Cycling, Horseshoes, Table Tennis, Pool, Swimming, Air Rifle, Racquetball, Dominoes, Badminton, Bowling, 3 on 3 basketball, Golf, Checkers and yes.... Geocaching. I often try to imagine Team RWB including all the events among mostly running opportunities.

A quick glance at the missions of each reveals how well suited they are for each other. Yet... of 900+ participating Veterans, from 46 states and 2 territories, there was ONE Team RWB member.... me, and one other person I found who had even heard of Team RWB. Now don't get me wrong. I don't write this as a criticism, but as an opportunity, for both Team RWB and the Department of Veterans Affairs, who, for their part was very lacking in communications that would grow the event by leaps and bounds.

I visit my local Veterans Affairs Campus on a regular basis, to keep up with my health needs. And, as it happens, we have a great Golf Course on the VA Campus. Yet, I only became aware of the opportunity because I stumbled upon the Golden Age Games one day, while browsing the Internet. Nowhere throughout my local clinic, at American Lake, in Washington state, was the event announced or advertised. Not even a notice on the facilities Gymnasium bulletin board, which I also frequented weekly. It was a well kept secret. I later learned that the American Lake VA clinic sent a team consisting of a Recreational Therapist and three Veterans enrolled in competition events. I met them during the opening ceremony. Of less importance, I also learned that the VA would have funded my participation, including transportation and hotel costs. That tidbit of information could be very important to some Veterans wanting to participate.

To be fair, this lack of communications by the VA was not a National problem. There were VA Clinics around the country that sent teams of 20, 30 and even 40 Veterans, along with coaches. Many wearing custom uniform shirts representing their City/State. It was impressive and encouraging.

However, in between my events, I visited with many Veterans and Recreational Therapists from VA Clinics around the country. None.... let me repeat that... NONE had ever heard of Team RWB. How could that be, I wondered? Team RWB has a great organizational chart, which include both Community Outreach Directors and Veterans Outreach Directors in every Chapter, which encompasses more than 120 communities across the globe and more than 82,000 members. How is it possible that Team RWB and Veterans Affairs are travelling the same road and missing one another.

Further evidence of this is revealed in the makeup of Team RWB Chapters. I regularly participate in activities with two area Chapters of Team RWB.... Joint Base Lewis McChord and Seattle. Both are constantly growing and both are very active, with great leadership dedicated to the mission. During my travels, I make it a point to visit Team RWB Chapters around the country. I have been exposed to Chapters in Phoenix, AZ, Omaha, NE, Washington DC, and Fredericksburg city, MCB Quantico, Stafford, King George and Spotsylvania counties of Virginia. All are super active and all have very dedicated leadership, impressive in their singular mission goals and successes. All have many Veterans and non-Veterans among their ranks. Many also have active duty military among their membership. Team RWB is, in my estimation, the best thing to ever come along and unite America's military and non-military communities.

On the downside, everyone of these Chapters also shares another trait. All have very few.... if any, active members over the age of 55. And this fact speaks to my challenge to both Veterans Affairs and Team RWB. Close the gap. Make a better effort to be inclusive. There are many of us older Veterans out there who can both benefit  from and contribute to the success of both Team RWB and the Veterans Golden Age Games, if only both organizations will reach out to one another. Considering that every VA Clinic has a Recreational Therapist, and every Team RWB Chapter has a Veterans Outreach Officer, this shouldn't be a hard task. Personally, I would challenge Team RWB to make it happen, because I have more faith and confidence in their leadership than I do in the VA. And there is clearly more consistency throughout Team RWB mission from Chapter to Chapter. And finally, because there is clearly a more dedicated and able leadership within Team RWB, free from political minutiae. So, I would ask that each Chapter Captain review your membership. How many "senior" veterans are in your ranks? How can you increase that number?

Here's to a bigger, better Veterans Golden Age Games in Detroit, MI, in 2016.  I will be there sporting the Team RWB Eagle. How many other Eagles will join me from your Chapter?

Visit this website to see your older Veterans in Action.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/veteransaffairs/sets/72157656988651622/page1