VT Memorial Project

VA Tech Memorial Project

Revised Recommendation of VA Tech Memorial Committee

1. Initiation of project in support of the VA Tech Rescue Squad

A. Raise funds for the purchase of Advanced Life Support Ambulance, AEV Traumahawk, Chevrolet 4500 Chassis, 164” module conversion, 2WD, On-Spot Chains, Auto dump, Stryker MX Pro Cot, VA OEMS Reg. Paint spec

AEV Traumahawk Ambulance – GM4500 Type III $149,359.00

Equipment $ 21,698.00

TOTAL $171,057.00

B. Other donations of items requested as desired by clubs and members

C. Service project to benefit squad on campus during Conference 2008

2. Registration of GFWC Virginia as participants in the “VT – Engage” service initiative

In remembrance of the victims of the April 16, 2007 tragedy on the campus of VA Tech and in keeping with the university motto Ut Prosim, “That I May Serve”, participants are encouraged to pledge at least 10 hours of service to the project of their choice with completion by April 2008. Individuals, clubs, districts, states may go to http://www.engage.vt.edu/ to record their service hour pledge. When returning to the site later to record your service and are asked if “individual” or “group”, select “group” and enter “GFWC” as the name of the group. In this way, all hours pledged and reported by Federation persons or groups can be tracked through the VT – Engage database. Even people who have already registered will be included by listing “GFWC” as the group affiliation when returning to the site to record completion of the service pledge.

3. Advocacy for appropriate legislation designed to help prevent situations and events such as those which occurred at VA Tech

Since such legislation has yet to be written, the committee recommends that GFWC VA monitor the legislative process in the Virginia General Assembly through the GFWC VA Legislation/Public Policy Committee. It is also suggested that this committee, with the assistance of Katie Kikta of GFWC, monitor applicable federal legislation. Such legislation would perhaps include mental health initiatives as well as concerns involving privacy issues and release of individual mental health information as well as gun sale requirements as would relate to victims of mental illness.

Attorney General Michael Mukasey announced a stepped up reporting to a federal database used to screen backgrounds of potential gun-buyers. The number of people barred from buying guns because of mental health problems has more than doubled since the VA Tech shootings. He stated that instant background checks are essential to keeping guns out of the wrong hands while still protecting the privacy of citizens.

As reported in an AP article, people are included in the federal database which is maintained by the FBI only after courts or other lawful authorities have found them to have mental health problems according to Justice Dept. officials. Private mental health records, including diagnosis documents from hospitals or insurance companies, are not accessed or submitted to the database.

Currently, 28 states submit names to the mental health database, and the federal government cannot force the other 22 to follow suit.