Social Club

Continued from Page 16 enabled me to assist veterans in my own way as well. The COVID pandemic affected many people which impacted me as well. My employment ended at Caesars which resulted into forming the Veteran Social Club.

VTAM: Okay, great. Much appreciated. So, the work you did with Caesars, they supported veterans’ type of services in general?

VSC: Yes, to include their “Salute” program which encompasses diversity, equity, and inclusion. When I came into that program, we had about 42 members. Over the course of time I was there, we were able to take it from the Las Vegas casinos only and expand it nationally. We had over 450 members.

VTAM: Wow. That’s amazing. Did the program eventually end at Caesars?

VSC: Yes. The program was rearranged and changed through 2020 with everything shutting down due to COVID. Then Caesars was purchased by another organization which halted funding. However, it is my understanding the Caesar salute program is back and growing.

VTAM: Are you involved with that program with Caesars anymore at all?

VSC: No, I am not.

VTAM: We appreciate your service, thank you! As mentioned, you eventually landed in Las Vegas. Is that where you are located now?

VSC: Correct. I am still in Las Vegas.

VTAM: Very good. Please tell us about the Veterans Organization that you founded in Las Vegas. VSC: I had missed that camaraderie with other veter-

Continued on Page 18 ans, having that program and relying on it and having the networking events and the social events as well as building something for veterans. I was like wow; this really sucks that we’re not doing anything and we don’t have that social aspect. I think that’s how everybody felt in 2020, and it just kind of burdened me. Once I fully stepped away from Caesars, I had the idea to create a social club that really encompassed everything because there are so many diverse aspects of veterans including race, age, gender, and religion. You have so many different people who like so many different things. With the veteran social club, it enables vets to have a group get together like a social cigar night, or a brewery tour, or anything that really brings veterans together. I started the Veterans Social Club on a casual basis in 2020. The events became more popular and increased in number of attendees. We’ve been doing an event on the second the Saturday of every month. Our membership is free. The only price for the social club is the price veterans have already paid, their two dog tags approve them for membership.

VTAM: Okay, that’s great. So, it sounds like you started it casually before it was an official group. Do I have that correct?

VSC: Yeah, it was casual in the beginning. Basically, getting some people together and getting friend groups together from all the different organizations. A couple of my Caesars friends, and a couple of my UNLV rebel veteran friends. (I went to UNLV, and they have a fantastic rebel veteran program.) After a few casual events I realized this is what this community needs.

VTAM: Excellent. When you said it became official in September 2022, was that like a nonprofit organization?

VSC: Yes, that was the official creation of the Veteran Social Club as a Corporation, followed by becoming a nonprofit which took a little bit more time, but that was the official start of the incorporated organization.

VTAM: So, do you accept donations?

VSC: We absolutely do. We look to not only accept donations, but what we try to do is we try to partner with a lot of businesses in the community. Every one of our events is held at a veteran owned business. We’re looking to continue with veteran owned businesses. Eventually we might have to spread the love and include veteran supportive business. But so far, we’ve had amazing success finding these veteran owned businesses, supporting them, and bringing the veterans together in those locations.

VTAM: Do you plan on doing any fundraising events to raise funds for the Veteran Social Club?

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