VETERANS VILLAGE OF MINNESOTA
WE NEED YOUR HELP :
SAUK CENTRE, A NATIONAL PROJECT: THE VISION
SAUK CENTRE
VeteransVillage
Minnesota  


The campus consists of 25 buildings on 77.5 acres
of land with many trees and access to beautiful Sauk
Lake.  
The campus can accommodate in excess of 200
people, housed in nine dormitories, many of which
resemble "Georgia Mansions".  

All are in good repair with new roofs, identical boilers
with a 30-year useful life still remaining.  Other than
the nine housing facilities, the campus has an on-site
hospital, chapel, administration building, equestrian
riding stable, wood working/cabinet shop,
state-of-the-art food service building, complete with
12 classrooms, an auditorium and a gymnasium.

All original architectural blue prints, complete with
mechanical and electrical diagrams, have been
preserved as well as complete set of plans and
blueprints for all sewer, water, electrical and
infrastructure throughout the campus.  Municipal
sewer, water and electricity serve the entire campus.  
Centerpoint energy provides natural gas and the
entire campus is connected to "Connect Minnesota"
high speed internet service.  

The campus is tranquil and spacious, a perfect
healing retreat.  There are ball fields for all sports and
an adjacent nature trail.  There is ample room on-site
to accommodate family and friend lodging and/or RV
camping.  The equestrian riding stable has 11
stations and a heated tack room.

The campus lies adjacent to public nine-hole golf
course which is available for private bookings for
large groups.  Big Sauk Lake is 12 miles long with
approximately 2,200 acres in size and is connected
to the campus through two privately owned lots.  
These lots would provide a beach access for
swimming and dock access for pontoons, fishing
boats etc.  

The adjacent nature trail, located on the east side of
the property provides access to a 15 acres wildlife
sanctuary, owned by the City of Sauk Centre.
The St. Michael Hospital is located just 1/2 mile west
of the campus, St. Cloud VA hospital is just 40 miles
away and the VA Hospital in Minneapolis is 110
miles.  It is one of only four VA hospitals in the nation
that treats traumatic brain injury.   

We also have a paved airport just south of the city
and two other regional airport located 20 miles west
in Alexandria, and 40 miles east is the airport at St.
Cloud which accommodates small to medium size jet
traffic.
We also have Alexandria Technical College just 20
miles, highly regarded as one of the best in the
nation and competes in the world robotic engineering
symposiums.

Alice Karakas




"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful
committed citizens can change the world.  
Indeed its the only thing that ever has."   

Margaret Mead   
Please scroll down
to read about the
National VeteransVillage
<<<Click on the links

VeteransVillage Of Minnesota

Operational Structure

The concept will evolve around Veterans helping Veterans.  Although
the  facility will be staffed by highly trained professionals, a positive
peer culture (PPC) form of therapy will be employed.  Each cottage will
have a director (Veterans receive preference) that is responsible for
program implementation.

Each cottage will have approximately 20 residents.  Each resident will
have a sponsor "buddy."  The two buddies are primarily responsible for
each other's well-being ascertaining that each are progressing toward
wellness and are keeping engaged in all aspects of training and
healing.  As a new resident enters the cottage, a seasoned "buddy" is
assigned as a primary care giver.  Daily routine will evolve around
spiritual needs, family counseling, work, group therapy, private
counseling, recreation, physical fitness, wellness training, school and
drug/alcohol counseling.  Each cottage shall be responsible for exterior
building and grounds maintenance and each shall be responsible for
one plot of organic grown vegetables, which will provide food
throughout the year for the facility.  Excess produce will be sold at the
on-site store or to other outside vendors.  It is anticipated that stays will
vary from two (2) to nine (9) months.

In additional to trained staff, Veterans' Village will have a core of
community and veteran volunteers.  Ancillary services will be provided
by the Veterans Administration Hospital in St. Cloud.  Internship
opportunities will be provided through the Behavioral Psychology
Department at St. Cloud State University.

Families will have option of staying off campus or at the on campus Bed
and Breakfast for a nominal rate.  Also, on-site camping, trailers and
motorized RV's shall be allowed to dry camp on site.

The primary focus will be on reintegration to family and society in
general, family counseling, job training, as well as a retreat for rest and
relaxation.  Each Veteran will be evaluated by social workers and
trained staff to determine whether the program will benefit the Veteran
on an individual basis.  The Village will provide services for both men
and women who will be housed in separate cottages.  Because of the
unique circumstances of each conflict the Veteran has been involved in,
Veterans will be assigned to a cottage depending on which war/conflict
he or she was engaged in, thereby strengthening and focusing support
services for the individual Veteran.

Vocational and job training will be in the areas of Postal work, shipping
and receiving, restaurant management, short order cooking,
manufacturing, retail management, farming practice, wood working,
horticulture and printing.  Expanded training in other areas will be
available at nearby community colleges as well as expanded training on
the Veterans' Village campus as time goes by.

It will be the responsibility of the Social Worker and the cottage director
to determine when the Veteran is capable of independent living or
return to family life.  However, the program is voluntary and no person
shall be required to stay any longer than he or she wishes.
Alice Karakas on the left
& Nadia  McCaffrey at
SAUK CENTRE