Kieve-Wavus News Spring 2013 - Camp Kieve

of numerous publications aimed atassisting providers in adapting theirpractices to better serve homelesspatients with issues including: diabetescare, women’s health, and the uniqueneeds of Vietnam Veterans’ end oflife care. In 2010, she received theBoston Business Journal’s Championsin Health Care Award for her workon improving the lives of homelesspatients living with chronic illnesses.She currently works in an outpatientclinic serving Veterans of the ArmedServices. There she brings to her worka perspective that blends both Easternand Western traditions of care. Whennot working, Sharon enjoys bakingbread, photography and spendingtime in the gracious company ofanimals. In 2011, after viewing a PBSspecial outlining Kieve-Wavus’ work tosupport returning veterans and theirfamilies, Sharon joined our effortsas a volunteer. Here, she steps awayfrom her work as a nurse and findsa myriad of ways to incorporate herinterests with her desire to supportthe men and women who have servedin the Armed Forces.Kirk R. Grant, LCSWKirk served nine years in the US Armyas a Communications Paratrooperwith 1 st Special Forces Group (A) from1996 – 2005 and endured multipledeployments during his last five yearsof service. After leaving the Armyin 2005 he attended the University ofMaine (Orono) where he earned hisBSW and MSW. He started workingat the Portland Vet Center in 2010 asa readjustment counselor for combatveterans and their families. Kirklearned about Veterans Camp throughour collaboration with Portland’s VetCenter and began volunteering at ourprogram soon after, in the fall of 2010.Kirk lives in the Portland area, is a teaconnoisseur, and is actively involvedwith several programs supportingVeteran’s readjustment throughoutMaine and New England.Steve “Scrape” Spooner:Steve is a Maine native and was draftedin December, 1967. An Infantryman,he served for 30 months in combatwith the 173 rd Airborne Brigade(Separate) in Viet Nam. Steve returnedto Maine and struggled with his lifefor more than a decade following histour of duty. He made sweeping lifechangesin 1984, and in 1987 he wentto work at the Androscoggin PaperMill in Jay, Maine where, “I stayed andrebuilt my life,” until his retirementthis year. Four years ago he joined theCombat Vets Motorcycle Associationwhich led him to the Lewiston VetsCenter. Because of the Vet Center, Stevesays, “I have learned that there is noforgetting who I was, nor what hadhappened to us all during that timewe spent in combat.” His experiencein Vietnam, combined with nearly 42years of dealing with the aftermathof war, gives Steve a unique and deepunderstanding of the difficult hurdlesreturning veterans have during theirreintegration to civilian life. Stevewas a guest at our very first VietnamVeterans Camp and is the organizerand driving force behind the Burgers,Bikes, and Rods fundraising rideeach year. Of his time as a volunteer,Steve says, “After attending the first everCamp for Viet Nam Veterans I had such apositive experience it became very clearthat I wanted to do anything I could tohelp these newest warriors with theirtransition back home to their families, andthe community.”Our volunteers are wonderful andgiving of themselves in every way. Weare forever grateful for their time andtireless efforts given to the VeteransCamp programs. Keep an eye out formore volunteer profiles in upcomingnewsletters.CommunityClimb NightThe second Friday of each month localcommunity members are invited to the climbin Buck. While Leadership School Educatorsbelay, neighbors chat and both children andadults climb, setting and reaching new heightsas old and new friends watch and cheer. ChaseGregory hanging out on the wall.Scan this to go to our Veterans CampHomepage23