 Hi, I'm Leslie McVane. Welcome to another CTN member highlight. Today, my guest is Dr. Cliff Trott, team leader at the Portland Vet Center. Hi, Cliff. Hi, how are you today, Leslie? Fine. How are you? I'm doing very, very well. And thank you for having me here today. Yeah. Well, we're going to talk about an event coming up next Wednesday, May 22nd at One Long Fellow Square. Before we do that, could you give us a brief little description of what the Portland Vet Center is and what you do there? Sure. So the Portland Vet Center, we're located on Stevens Avenue, 475 Stevens Avenue specifically, between the Deering High School and Westbrook College, Old Westbrook College, UNE. And we provide services to combat veterans and their families, also veterans who are survivors of military sexual trauma and family members who are grieving the loss of a military family member who has died on active duty. So specifically, the majority of the population that comes into the Portland Vet Center are combat veterans. And we provide readjustment counseling services. And most of the staff right now are veterans ourselves. So we provide that sort of extra knowledge and support that can be had through having been through those experiences ourselves. Which is so special because most of us wouldn't understand what goes with being a vet and having served in situations that none of us could even imagine. So in line with that, there's an event coming up next Wednesday, the 22nd of May, One Long Fellow Square, 628, I believe, at night. And they're going to be showing the film Welcome to Lee, Maine, which is about a small community in Maine. They've lost some people in the war areas, as well as welcoming home vets. And it's a really important film, and I understand why you've chosen it. But one of the most important things that evening, I think, will be a panel discussion. I just want to talk a little bit about that. Right. Well, before we get into the panel discussion, I want to remind that it starts at 5.30, and we are going to have some food there. Which is nice. So this might be a nice opportunity for community members to come in and get to know some of the folks in the community. They're working with veterans, as well as veterans themselves. This is a free event. And we're hoping that it'll be a time for the community and the veteran community to really start a nice dialogue. So you asked about the panel discussion that's going to be present. We're going to have veterans from all war areas. So this will be veterans from World War II, Korea, all the way to the current war areas. And specifically, veterans and the service providers, as well. So we'll have some clinicians providing discussion and their insights into working with veterans, also. And we're hoping that this discussion will spark the audience. So they can start to understand what are some of the struggles that the community goes through, as well as for the veteran and the veteran family members. Because we will have family members on the panel, as well. And the people's stories are what really makes a difference, I think, in people connecting to the issues that are being dealt with. The personal stories. Most definitely. I had the opportunity yesterday, as a matter of fact, to give a class up in Togus. And because I'm a psychologist, but I'm also an army psychologist. So I was able to talk about my own personal experiences of being in Iraq and Afghanistan and how that has shaped and molded me as a psychologist and as a person, as well. Well, because you, while serving, had to hear people's stories. Right. You weren't just living your own story. You were helping other people live their stories. That's right. And so that must have really hit home for you in a very special way. It becomes a very intimate process and one in which you're engaged with the people in which you're helping. Because you're in the same situation. So you become bonded in a very unique way. And there are people in the community who would love to help veterans coming home. And I suppose this would give them an opportunity after hearing stories, talking with the panel about what is happening at the Vet Center to maybe volunteer in some way. Yes, most definitely. We do have volunteer positions at the Vet Center. We have many events that go on in and around the Vet Center community. And we can always use support, whether it's busy hands and some of the events, like the event at One Long Fellow Square, some financial contribution is helpful as well. Just in many ways. If people want to find out more about this, is there a webpage they could go to? You can call up the Portland Vet Center, which is 207-780-3584. And one of our staff will be more than happy to answer any questions. Well, I think it's going to be a great event. And thank you for offering to be part of it and to help share your own story that special evening. Thank you, Les. And thank you for being here. Thanks for the opportunity.