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OFFE Unveils Cable Network Concept for Disabled Veterans By Staff Writer: Rick Townsend
December 17, 2006
Operation Firing For Effect (OFFE) is a grassroots veterans service organization focused on new and innovative ways to assist our disabled veterans.
Vietnam combat disabled veteran [Name Omitted] is Public Relations Director for OFFE. [Name Omitted] is also a long time veteran’s advocate with more than 20 years of experience helping his fellow veterans.
Vietnam combat disabled veteran Gene Simes is OFFE National Chairman, and President of Veterans For Veteran Connection, Inc., a registered non-profit 501-3C organization devoted to uniting this country’s former military personnel in issues of importance to them.
Simes and [Name Omitted] teamed up about a year ago and since then have introduced a number of well thought out concepts designed with our veterans in mind. From acquiring surplus FEMA mobile homes for homeless veterans, to a ambitious proposal to produce a free concert in Washington, DC in June of 2007, these two warriors have been ‘Firing For Effect’ with new ideas that have now caught the attention of our nation’s former military personnel and their families. Their latest contribution is yet another very solid concept with great potential.
In 1987, Mr. [Name Omitted] had the opportunity to work on several veteran related projects with former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich (R/GA). One such idea involved the development of a cable network (VetNet) to assist disabled and handicapped veterans directly in the privacy of their own homes.
[Name Omitted] told the FBN that Gingrich was very interested in the idea at the time, and forwarded his concept paper to several contacts in DC for consideration, including the Department of Veterans Affairs and Washington Policy Group.
Gingrich moved to DC and [Name Omitted] moved to Ohio and the project was never followed through.
[Name Omitted]’s VetNet idea for disabled veterans as remained dormant for over 15 years without any activity. When [Name Omitted] told Simes about the concept, Mr. Simes urged [Name Omitted] to reintroduce the idea. “This is a fabulous idea,” Simes told the FBN. “There is absolutely no logical reason to prevent the development of VetNet. It was a good idea 15 years ago and it is still a good idea today,” Simes added.
Here are just a few of the programming ideas Simes and [Name Omitted] are suggesting for VetNet: :
[Name Omitted] explained his VetNet concept; “We want to create the first free cable network devoted primarily to disabled, handicap, and elderly veterans. VetNet has the potential to not only provide a valuable service for our disabled veterans, but would also be of great value to ALL disabled Americans. We believe that a network like this could reduce healthcare cost in many cases by providing essential healthcare tips, physical therapy, nutritional data, and emergency information directly in the homes of our disabled,” [Name Omitted] said. “This public access channel won’t be for everyone, and individual households will have to make the decision to include it in their cable programming package,” [Name Omitted] added.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) has had a multi-media department for many years. A great deal of usable programming for such a channel already exists. VetNet would represent the ultimate in ‘Veterans’ Out-Reach’ efforts.
In this day and age of continued budget cuts and service reductions within the VA, and no new services taking the place of the services the government is taking away from our former military personnel, VetNet seems like a no brainier. One might think if we can produce network programming for golf, home shopping, food, cartoons, animals, and music, a channel for our shut-in disabled veterans is well within the realm of reality.
“If enough people get behind this concept, we can get the issue addressed by Presidential candidates during the next two years leading up to the 2008 national elections,” Simes said. “Its about time we publicly asked our politicians where they stand on the future veterans affairs.
For more information on Operation Firing For Effect, visit; WWW.OFFE2008.ORG
The FBN would like to hear from you concerning this concept. Send your comments to Rick Townsend firebaseadrian@tc3net.com
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