I BEGAN THIS JOURNEY WITH SOUTHWEST VETERANS BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER, WHEN MY CHURCH (OCEANHILLS COVENANT SANTA BARBARA CA.) HAD THERE ANNUAL MEN'S GOLF RETREAT IN MAY OF 2009, WHERE THE 40 AND OLDER VERSE THE 40 AND UNDER TAKE A WEEKEND TO COMPETE IN FOUR ROUNDS OF GOLF AS WELL DICUSS THERE WALK WITH GOD, IT IS A GREAT TIME FOR SOME MALE BOUNDING. AT THIS YEAR'S RETREAT I WAS REUNINTED WITH A FRIEND KURK AUTIO WHO I HAD NOT SEEN IN A WHILE, I HAD RELATED TO KURK MY PRESENT EMPLOYMENT SITUATION, HOW I WAS JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF DAILY LIFE, DAY IN DAY OUT, WHAT WAS I DOING FOR MANKIND ESPECIALLY VETERANS, AS WE CONTINUED TO TALK MORE KURK EDUCATED ME ON SERVICE DIASABLED VETERAN BUSINESS. THE FOLLWING WEEK KURK HAD MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ME TO MEET WITH ALBERT RENTERIA (CHEIF WARRANT OFFICER USMC RETIRED.) SO AS ALBERT EXPLAINED HOW S.V.B.R.C OPERATES IT BECAME MORE AND MORE EVIDENT THIS WAS SOMETHING I COULD PUT MY HANDS AROUND, IT MADE SENSE, HERE WAS AN OPPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO MAKE A DIFFERANCE IN HELPING OTHER DISABLED VETERANS AS WELL AS MYSELF TO FORM A NETWORK AND LINK THE TOOLS NECCESSARY TO PREVENT FUTURE HOMELESSNESS AND ALLOWING THE COMMUNITY TO BE OF SERVICE. SO I TELL THIS STORY ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE WITH KURK AND THE GOLF RETREAT BECAUSE HAD I NOT PARTICIPATED I WOULD HAVE NOT KNOWN WHAT WAS AVAIABLE TO ME AND YOU, AND FOR THAT I AM TRUELY RESPONSIBLE, SO AGAIN AS VETERANS WE NEED TO STEP UP AND MAKE A DIFFERANCE, SO GO TO..WHERECOMMUNITIESSERVEVETERANS.ORG AND SEE WHERE YOU CAN MAKE A CHANGE.....MAY GOD ALWAYS CARRY YOU IN THE PALM OF HAND....
PETTY OFFICER OLIVAS U.S.NAVY