Starting a New Chapter
Friend,
Most chapters of The Veterans Club don’t begin with a plan. They begin with a couple people deciding to sit down and have a cup of coffee together.
I’ve seen it happen more than once. Someone reaches out, invites a friend, and the first meeting is nothing more than a conversation. The next week, a couple more show up. Names start to stick. Stories get shared. There’s a little more comfort in the room. Before long, you look around and realize something meaningful is starting to take shape—and nobody had to force it.
That’s the heart of this organization.
We talk about the mission—ending veteran and first responder suicide—and that matters. It’s serious, and it’s why we’re here. But what I’ve learned is that the solution doesn’t come from big programs or complicated structures. It comes from something much simpler: people showing up, week after week, building real friendships.
Most of the time, that just looks like a weekly coffee meeting. No pressure. No expectations. Just a place where you can sit down, talk straight, and be around people who understand where you’ve been.
If you’ve ever had the thought that your town could use something like that, I want you to take that seriously. In my experience, those thoughts don’t come out of nowhere. More often than not, it’s because you’re the one who’s supposed to start it.
And the truth is, it doesn’t take much to get going. You don’t need a big group or a polished plan. Most chapters start with two or three people who make the decision to show up consistently and welcome whoever else walks through the door. That consistency is what builds trust, and over time, that trust turns into something a lot stronger than just a meeting.
When the time is right, we can help you turn that gathering into an official chapter. We’ve put together guides and resources to make that part easier. But none of that replaces the first step, and it certainly doesn’t create the connection.
That part comes from you.
If you believe your community needs a place where veterans and first responders can gather, talk, and look out for one another, then you’re already closer than you think. Start small. Keep it simple. Let it grow the way it’s supposed to.
And when you’re ready, I’ll be here to help you build it into something lasting.
(208) 209-7170
info@theveteransclub.org
Ed Bejarana
Chapter Startup Resources
Keep it simple. Use what you need, when you need it.
Becoming an Official Chapter of The Veterans Club
Most chapters don’t start as “chapters.” They start with a couple of people, a cup of coffee, and a willingness to show up.
Over time, those small gatherings grow into something meaningful—and that’s when it makes sense to connect with the larger mission of The Veterans Club.
It’s as simple as three steps:
1. Start Meeting
Pick a place. Pick a time. Show up.
That’s it.
Whether it’s a weekly coffee, breakfast, or informal meetup, the goal is to bring veterans and first responders together and begin building real relationships.
2. Build a Team
As people begin to show up consistently, leaders will naturally emerge.
Identify a small core team—typically a facilitator, a support role (like a chaplain or connector), and someone who helps organize logistics.
You don’t need perfection. You just need people who care and are willing to take ownership.
3. Connect With The Veterans Club
Once your group is steady and leadership is forming, reach out.
We’ll walk alongside you—sharing our chapter guides, aligning leadership, and helping you become an official chapter under The Veterans Club umbrella, including structure, branding, and organizational protections like insurance.
Why Become an Official Chapter?
Because you don’t have to do this alone.
Official chapters gain support, shared resources, and a connection to a growing national movement focused on one mission:
Ending isolation for veterans and first responders—one relationship at a time.
Every chapter started is another community strengthened.