Finding the balance

I attended a conference presented by the Lebanon VA but located in Lititz. It was open to veterans in the community; however, none were there. It was hopeful to hear the experiences staff have going above and beyond in the areas of outreach and care. I am also aware of the constraints that exist for veterans i.e. transportation, time of day, etc. But, most likely the majority of people made aware of the event were professionals. I was happy to hear of the improvements that have been implemented to reach local veterans such as community programs offering evening hours and trips to interesting locations. Unfortunately the less than positive attitude some veterans in the community have due to their experiences with the VA System leave them angry and aggressive rather than assertive. There has to be a better way to strike a balance to ensure that the people being served are represented in addition to professionals. These events are often where changes start.