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Okay folks, it’s time to access your cell phone calendar, day planner, iPad or even a paper calendar with a hole at the top to hang it on the wall! A very special veteran event that could open doors and opportunities is coming soon and worthy of notation, so please save the date! Read on to find out exactly what you’ll be invited to . . .

What: The Dare County Veterans Advisory Council strives to reach all the veterans it can, primarily to help them by advising or recommending referral sources that can address or hopefully remedy needs a veteran might have. The seven council members are each dedicated to positivity in the lives of our veterans and their families and everyone is invited to attend meetings throughout the year. Important things to keep in mind about the council itself?

When: Meetings are monthly; every fourth Thursday at 3 p.m. (November meetings are always held one week earlier due to Thanksgiving and there is no meeting in December); the meetings begin promptly at 3 p.m. and typically last until 4:30 p.m.

Where: Dare County Administrative Building (Dare County Justice Center complex) Room 168, 954 Marshall C. Collins Drive in Manteo. If you attend, please register at the front reception counter.

The council welcomes public members and attendees to introduce themselves and address the council with questions, comments or offer feedback in the interest of improving even further the council’s veteran outreach and interactions.

In January at the council meeting, Marcus Cutrell – NC Works  marcus.cutrell@nccommerce.com – attended, thanking council members who had assisted or attended the last job fair that was held at the American Legion Post 26 in Kill Devil Hills and to also advise the council that he wanted to broaden the opportunity for more veterans, their family members and business owners as well to attend future gatherings. The job fair goal is to provide interaction opportunities between potential veteran employees and employers who seek to hire veterans. Marcus, who is based in the Elizabeth City office, and our local Dare County N.C. Works Career Center rep, Kenneth “Kenny” Kee, attend council meetings whenever possible. Both are always interested in helping veterans and family members realize that NC Works cares about veterans and whose mission is to help connect veterans to jobs they might otherwise not know are available.

That being said – and after a brief exchange of ideas with several council members – it was decided that a plan would be supported and enacted to assist Marcus in providing an outstanding, convenient chance for job prospects on both sides of the spectrum.

Hence, while the event is in the initial stages at this time . . . drumroll please . . . it is slated for Thursday, April 30 from 2–7 p.m. at the Dare County Community Center, 950 Marshall C. Collins Drive in Manteo.

Those involved in actively planning this Veterans Resource and Job Fair are focused on veteran and veteran family member employment; however, they will make every effort to create a fun environment where veterans will have a number of very helpful resources available in the same venue. It’s going to be a great day for veterans and it will provide exposure, information, interaction and beneficial collaboration.

You, as a veteran, are a dream employee for many workplace environments . . . please don’t miss this event! As the time draws nigh, more details will be announced through Gig Line and many other media sources. Tell your friends, tell your military brothers and sisters, tell their family members – help spread the word! This event will be one you won’t want to miss and it could open doors for future income.

Until next time, thank you veterans for all you have done for all of us and for this beautiful U.S.A. we call home! Thank you for defending it; for your sacrifices through the years and for being the brave, strong and respected men and women we love. Be happy, be safe and be proud. If you have a question or comment, please contact me at cell 252-202-2058 or email me giglineheroes@aol.com. Stay tuned.

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