Menu
Log in
Forgot password
Log in
Forgot password

ILLINOIS LEARNERS

Thursday, April 02, 2009 09:35 | Albert Renteria (Administrator)

Founder Albert Renteria.JPGI am at Midway Airport in Chicago and headed back home to Fallbrook California, only to head out the next day to Fort Bragg NC. However, I remain honored and humble to serve our Veterans and find new ways to empower our communities to join the effort.

I logged in a few miles driving from Crystal Lake to Cissna Park Illinois and everywhere in between.

We have three new learners and our first Illinois Learner is from Crystal Lake. A Mario Margo.JPGMarine that continues to serve and on recruiting duty. Not an easy tour, or at least it wasn't during my tour on recruiting duty from 1977 - 1980 in Chicago. However, it was the best tour where I learned so much about our communities and the difficulty for a mother to see her child serve our country.

Our mothers need to know that we love and care for her child and we won't let her children not be attended to post service. I extend my deepest appreciation and gratitude to Mom for her own sacrifice of her children that have defended the freedoms of many.

Joe.JPGChicago happens to be my hometown and naturally, I reached out to my brother, a Vietnam Era Marine and the one I credit for influencing my way of thinking. Like many, he works so I had to track him down at his work site in Hillisde, but he lives in Cissna Park. This is our very first "back of the car" signing of Articles. He had little time, but we managed to secure the signing of his Articles of Agreement and one of his witnesses was a Navy Veteran.

The first Learner I was suppose to visit on Sunday the 29th of March, had to attendSilverio.JPG an out of town event. We didn't get to meet until the 31st. When I went to boot camp and in the chow line, this Marine was on the serving side and the last time I seen him. It is amazing how we were able to reconnect and this time, I am on the serving side. These our are first three Learners for Illinois and our starting point. If you are from Illinois, join me to invite and encourage others to register with our online connection www.WhereCommunitiesServeVeterans.org.

Thank you all for taking the time to read my blog. During April I will visit Fort Bragg North Carolina, Milton Florida and Burlington Vermont. God Bless all, Albert R. Renteria, CWO-4 USMC Retired, Founder and CEO

Comments

  • Thursday, April 02, 2009 13:00 | Eleanor Tobias
    I never cease to be in awe of the enthusiasm, dedication, even personal sacrifice that Al demonstrates everywhere he goes. He is truly an inspiration to all. It must have been extremely gratifying for him to sign three Learners in Illinois, one being his own brother.

    You definitely inspire the rest of us working with you, Al and know that we will all do our best to follow your example to make SWVBRC the best it can be. Blessings to you always. Fran
    Link  •  Reply
    • Friday, April 03, 2009 03:14 | Chris Thayer
      Hello Fran, I hope you know YOU inspire all of us and we appreciate all that you are doing in the new Vancouver, Washington SWVBRC center. Thank you for being part of the change that is making a big difference to our veterans and our communities who now have a way to serve our wonderful veterans. God Bless, Chris
      Link  •  Reply
    • Friday, April 03, 2009 14:13 | Albert Renteria (Administrator)
      Fran,

      I echo Chris' comments. You are generous with your kind words and thank you so much for taking the lead to establish our SWVBRC at Vancouver WA. We will Refuse to Fail! Al
      Link  •  Reply
  • Friday, April 03, 2009 03:09 | Chris Thayer
    Congratulations Al and welcome Illinois Learners. Where do you get all your energy Al as you race across the country reaching veterans and their families and communities.

    I appreciate hearing you share who influenced your life and your way of thinking since you serve and inspire all of us.
    Thank you for acknowledging and thanking your Mother and ALL Mothers for their contributions and sacrifices for sharing their sons and daughters in the military who defend our country and our freedoms.

    Welcome again Mario, Joseph and Silverio to the Southwest Veterans’ Business Resource Center family. Thank you for your service and your love of this great country and for inspiring all of us by being the amazing people you are. God Bless. Chris (Christine)
    Link  •  Reply
    • Friday, April 03, 2009 14:14 | Albert Renteria (Administrator)
      Chris,

      Your inspirational words are gratifying! Thank you for all that you do! Al
      Link  •  Reply
  • Monday, January 18, 2010 08:08 | Sigrid Gilbert
    Al,
    I was looking at the listing of learners, and feeling remiss in not sending out a word of
    congratulations to each one in having connected with SWVBRC, thanking them for their service,
    and wishing them well and success in this program, but I haven't found a way to do so until
    after their first blog entry. I believe it would be of the greatest value for those who signed the
    articles, but didn't take it to the next step, to revisit the articles on the first anniversary of their
    signing and try to write that first blog, I have read several by superb writers and think that I
    might be intimidated to even attempt something after reading them. Those who do write,
    whether bare bones and simply, or like a college professor, give me the gift of insights into my
    life, as if their primary gift of service to our nation isn't enough, and I admire every one of them
    for making their way to this point whether easily, or with great difficulty and sacrifice. When
    I think I can offer something of value, I'll respond with my support, or appreciation of the
    importance of each individual veteran. Al, I pray that in 2010 your efforts will be met with the
    continued growth and success of all those who discover SWVBRC.
    Link  •  Reply
    • Wednesday, March 17, 2010 17:35 | Albert Renteria (Administrator)
      Sigrid,

      You are an amazing American! Your time is in demand, I know that first hand. The time you do volunteer to share your thought is truly appreciated. All good things are due in good time and results will be achieved.

      You have known me for some time now and patience is a virtue. We need you and others in so many ways. We served and returned home and if all we learn is the reality of life, we appreciate that we defended a nation to prosper by one's choice.
      Link  •  Reply

DOD Welcome home-small.jpg A welcoming home for our Troops.

Welcoming home our men and women doesn't end after the crowd disperses, it MUST continue on for the life of the Veteran! They've served us, now we will serve them with programs that work so they reintegrate into society.

We are a national public benefit nonprofit organization that educates American Communities about best practices to serve Veterans.  We honor their service by empowering Veterans to apply their training and skills to successfully transition to productive careers and enterprises.

We provide free vocational training 24/7 to all of our members through our website, in addition to local events.  We believe the tenet that American Communities are the ultimate beneficiaries when Veterans claim their benefits and invest in productive endeavors.

The SWVBRC enlists the support of members of local Communities like you to increase Veteran awareness of the value of obtaining a VA card and receiving earned benefits.

Sponsorships, donations, volunteers and support from communities like yours enable us to reach out to Veterans and empower them to transition back into successful, productive enterprises that ultimately benefit all Americans and support future generations.

The Internal Revenue Service has determined that Southwest Veterans' Business Resource Center, Inc. is an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. A donation to SWVBRC, Inc. is deductible to the extent permitted under law.

© 2008 - 2022 Southwest Veterans' Business Resource Center, Inc.

 Privacy Policy

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work is posted under fair use without profit or payment as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and/or research.

Contact Us
Designed by The ARRC® & Powered by Wild Apricot.

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software