Rose Buds

Massachusetts Chapter of TAVA

Massachusetts Chapter to Hold Meetings at Worcester VA Clinic

     On June 11, 2007, an important step will be taken in Massachusetts.  The first monthly meeting of the Massachusetts Chapter of the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) will take place. The meeting itself is a huge step, the location is another. The meetings will be held at the Worcester VA Outpatient Clinic on Lincoln Street.

 The Massachusetts Chapter of the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) will meet the 2^nd Monday of every Month from 12:30 -1:30 pm at the Worcester VA Outpatient Clinic, located at 605 Lincoln Street. For further information visit the Worcester VA Outpatient Clinic Website: http://www.visn1.med.va.gov/boston/bwropc_wor.asp 

Michael West has been working behind the scenes for almost a year working out all details in regards to having the Massachusetts Chapter meetings at the VA Clinic.  “It's been a long process, but the rewards of having a Transgender Veterans meeting right at the VA Clinic makes all the work well worth it,” said Michael West.

Michael West, himself a veteran and a female to male transsexual is the state director for the Massachusetts Chapter of the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA). “It might seem like we have come out of nowhere to some folks. The Massachusetts Chapter has actually been very active and visible since September of 2006,” says Michael West. 

The Massachusetts Chapter had booths at Worcester Pride 2006 and The Transcending Boundaries & Northeast Regional PFLAG conference in October of 2006. “Being at the Transcending Boundaries conference we made some great friends and connections with the PFLAG’ers. We had the pleasure of having our booth right next to PFLAG at the Transgendered Conference, First Event this past January, “ said Michael West. 

If a veteran is interested in attending the meetings at the Worcester VA Clinic they will need to follow a process. “Due to the fact that the meetings are being held on VA property, we need to follow their procedures and policies. All veterans, including retired veterans that do not use the VA clinic for services, will need to complete the VA form 10-10EZ and bring in their DD214s with them. This does not obligate them in any way to receive services through the VA or even to be on a mailing list,” says Michael West.  

For copies of the VA form 10-10EZ contact Michael West, visit your local VA Outpatient Clinic or the form can be downloaded directly from the Department of Veterans Affairs website: https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/ 

All non-veterans, including other members of the GLB community, family members, spouses, partners, friends, medical providers and allies are encouraged and welcomed to attend meetings. Please contact Michael West ahead of time for additional details and information required by non-veterans.

To Join The Massachusetts Chapter of TAVA, visit: http://www.tavausa.org/Chapters/MassChapter.html

Founded in 2003, the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA)
is a 501(c)(3) organization that acts proactively with other
concerned GLBT organizations to ensure that transsexual and
transgender veterans will receive appropriate care for medical
conditions in accordance with the Veterans Health Administration
Customer Service Standards promise to "treat you with courtesy and
dignity … as the first class citizen that you are.” Further, TAVA
will help in educating the VA and the US military on issues regarding
a fair and equal treatment of transgender and transsexual
individuals.

Original content ©2007 by TCNE, Inc.

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