Dawson County's Chapter 970 of the Vietnam Veterans of America President Wayne Watkins was elected as President of the Georgia State Council of Vietnam Veterans of America during the council's June 21 meeting in Macon.
"It's a real honor and a tremendous amount of responsibility," said the surprised Watkins, who formerly served in the same position from 1998 to 2000.
As state chapter president, Watkins will oversee the operations of 12 Georgia Vietnam Veterans of America chapters, consisting of over 700 members.
Watkins duties will also include travel to Washington D.C., where he will participate in the National Board of Directors Conference with fellow state Vietnam Veterans of America Council presidents from around the nation.
Watkins said his goals for the next two years are to increase state chapter funding and to bring a Veteran's Services office to the north Georgia area.
"The Etowah Lodge has volunteered to serve as a Veteran's Services office. I think that once we show the state that we won't require funds to lease a space for the office, we stand a good chance of reopening it," said Watkins, who has served as president of Dawson County's Chapter 970 for the past two years and was recently reelected this past April to serve as the chapter's president for another two years.
Watkins will now step down as Chapter 970 President, turning over leadership of the group to Chapter 970 Vice President T.G. "Gunny" Moore, who will serve as president until the chapter holds a special election, July 14.
Watkins said he expects Chapter 970 member John Bryant to take over Moore's previous role as the chapter's Vice President.
Watkins considers himself a proud Dawson County resident and said his new position will not take him from his commitment and dedication to his home since 2004 and his veteran brothers that live there.
"I won't be going anywhere," he said.
E-mail Adam C. Stapleton at adam@dawsonnews.com.