By Vanessa Garcia
Opinion Editor
The Veterans of Amarillo College student club began six years ago with many members, but by spring 2013, its membership had begun to wane.
At AC, 300 to 400 veterans and their dependents attend classes, but they are not part of the club. There currently are no members in the club, a dilemma that could cause it to cease to exist.
Kelly Murphy, a Veterans Affairs and graduation specialist, is the VAC club sponsor. She and Joe Gandy, an instructor on the East Campus, started the club, but Gandy no longer is a sponsor.
The VAC has fundraisers, a scholarship and special events for members. Some fundraisers go toward the Joe Gandy Book Scholarship, which gives an AC student $250 toward textbooks. Another fundraiser goes to an AC student with financial need.
Club members also can participate in off-campus events.
“We try to do community things,” Murphy said. “We participate in the Veteran’s Day Parade.”
Other events have included a welcome home event for veterans. Members also participate in a Veterans’ Day lunch-in.
“We try to stay pretty close in the veteran community,” Murphy said.
Though club activities center on veterans, students do not have to be a veteran to become a member.
“We are open to people coming and participating,” Murphy said. “We have to do something if we are going to have this club. There are no fees. It’s just ‘come.’”
There are no set president, vice president, treasurer or historian, but just club members. Students can be a part of the VAC committee.
“We need a whole new committee,” Murphy said. “A whole new board. You just have to be interested.”
Murphy said students should watch for an email soon about the VAC.
“They can be watching for a big meeting in the future,” she said.
Murphy said although anyone can join, only veterans in the club are voting members. Students need only to complete a membership form located in Murphy’s office in 175 Student Service Center.
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