Spotlight on Carl Cooper

DAV Driver, Canandaigua VA Medical Center Carl Cooper has been driving for the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Transportation Program at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center for a little over a year. In that short amount of time, Carl has become a valued member of the volunteer team. Nick Conrad, DAV Hospital Service Coordinator said, “Carl Cooper is a very reliable, dependable driver. He is so liked by veterans that many times veterans will request to have him as a driver. He averages at least 100 hours per month. He’s there for routine driving and has NEVER refused a request when I’m in a pinch. He’s respectful and understands the meaning of customer service even at the most trying times. I have a very dedicated group of drivers at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center and am very fortunate to have Carl among them.” In the fall, a family contacted the Volunteer Office to extend their appreciation for Carl going ‘above and beyond’ the call of duty. Carl took the time to walk a patient to his door. The patient had trouble with his key and wasn’t able to get into his home. Carl stayed with the veteran, contacted his family, and waited until they arrived. If Carl had just dropped the patient off, his family indicated he (the patient) would have become confused when he wasn’t able to get into his home and may have wandered off. The family could not have been more appreciative of Carl’s assistance.   Veteran Service Organizations We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of our veteran service organizations for their continued support. We would also like to extend a special thank you to ALL of our volunteers – too numerous to mention by name. With all of your help and contributions, you help us make a difference in the lives of our nation’s veterans. Thank you!    40 & 8    82nd Airborne    ALLVETS    American Association of Retired    People (AARP)    American Ex-Prisoners of War    American Gold Star Mothers    American Legion    American Legion Auxiliary    American Red Cross    American War Dads    AMVETS    AMVETS Auxiliary    Benevolent and Protective Order    of Elks    Blue Star Mothers of America    Boy Scouts of America    BVL Fund    Canandaigua Veterans Club    Catholic War Veterans    Combat Infantrymen’s    Association    Daughters of the American    Colonists    Daughters of the   American Revolution    Disabled American Veterans    (DAV)    DAV Auxiliary    Federation of Women’s Clubs    Girl Scouts of America    Help Hospitalized Veterans    Hospice    Hospitalized Veterans    Writing Project    Italian American    War Veterans    Italian American War    Veterans Auxiliary    Jewish War Veterans    Jewish War Veterans Auxiliary    Korean War Veterans    Knights of Columbus    Knights of Columbus Auxiliary    Korean War Veterans    Loyal Order of the Moose      Marine Corps League    Marine Corps League Auxiliary    Masons – Grand Lodge of NY    Military Officers of    America Association    Military Order of the Cootie    Military Order of the Cootie    Auxiliary    Military Order of the Purple Heart    Naples Activity Center    National Jewish Welfare Board    Women’s Organization    National Order of Trench Rats    NARF    NCO Association    Order of the Eastern Star    Paralyzed Veterans of America    Pathways    Polish Legion of American    Veterans    Polish Legion of American    Veterans Auxiliary    PVA    Retired Senior Volunteer Program    (RSVP)    Rolling Thunder, Inc.    Salvation Army    Sampson WWII Navy Veterans    Saratoga Honor Guard    Schuyler County Senior Citizens    Sons of the American Legion    Supreme Coutiette Club    Tri-County Council Vietnam Era    Veterans    United Auto Workers    United Voluntary Services    Verizon Telephone Pioneers of    America    Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)    VFW Auxiliary    Vietnam Veterans of America    Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle    Club    WAVES National    Women’s Army Corp Reasons for Driving - By Carl Cooper, Volunteer I started driving for the DAV at the end of January 2006. I am a military veteran who served in the Army Military Police for 20 years and six months. When I retired from the Army, I was fortunate to be hired by the Ontario County Sheriff’s Department as a Corrections Officer, where I worked for 20 years, prior to my retirement on December 3, 2005.   After 40 years of law enforcement, I felt it was time for a change. I have always had a soldier’s attitude, even in my civilian life, feeling the need to serve. Knowing that our government is always trying to cut expenses when it concerns our vets, I feel that in my own way I can contribute to them by helping get them to their medical appointments.

Spring 2007 Voluntary News Director's Message | Spotlight VSO Albany | Bath | Canandaigua | Syracuse | Western New York Voluntary Staff

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