Should there be a Vets Town Hall in your hometown?

What is a Vets Town Hall?

Vets Town Halls are nonpolitical community gatherings where veterans are invited to speak, for up to ten minutes each, about what led them to serve, their experiences during military service, and how it’s affected them. Family Vets Town Halls are a variation where family members of veterans are invited to speak.

All community members – veterans and non-veterans alike – are encouraged to attend and listen, with the goal of increasing understanding and building connections between veterans and civilians.

Why host a Vets Town Hall?

Humans are resilient when part of a community, and fragile when they are not. Isolation and loneliness are on the rise, and Vets Town Halls are a chance to do something about it:

• Veterans have an opportunity to speak directly to, and be heard by, their community.
• Non-veterans gain understanding of military service and returning home.
• Attendees hear perspectives that may surprise them and broaden their understanding of the world.
• Neighbors come together in a nonpolitical gathering.
• Local organizers receive extensive support from the nonprofit, and the event format is simple and low-cost to run.

Local partners can be individuals or organizations, veterans or non-veterans.

What does the local organizer do?

A local organizer can spearhead an event independently or work with a coalition of other local organizations and community members. (VTH may be able to help connect you with partners.) Responsibilities include:

• Venue coordination: Book and coordinate with a suitable venue. Arrange for refreshments (optional but encouraged).
• Local outreach: Get the word out to the community at large and to veterans specifically.
• Logistics: Print event materials from templates provided by VTH. Handle event set-up, logistics, and breakdown. Return any VTH sign-ups and donations to the nonprofit.
• Emcee the event or partner with a local veteran who can introduce the event and handle transitions between speakers. We also ask that the emcee reach out to their network before the event to help bring in speakers and attendees.

Support from Vets Town Hall

You’re not in it alone. Kristen and Vets Town Hall:

• Are available to consult on each event
• Provide best practices and planning resources
• Supply templates and event materials, including posters
• Create and manage the registration page on vtvetstownhall.org
• Coordinate with local organizers regarding attendance and registrations
• Include fall Vermont events in a coordinated statewide publicity effort:
  • Announcements to the Vermont Vets Town Halls email list
  • Event listings on vetstownhall.org and vtvetstownhall.org
  • Social media outreach
  • Statewide press release and media coordination

Curious? Please reach out.

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