Oh, how the mighty have fallen. I hate it when an office leaves me no choice but to write a review…read morescolding the office. When Mona was the manager here she ran a very tight ship, well-organized, with absolute attention to detail, and always Veterans First, and Leave No Veteran Behind. Mona was all about Proverbs 3:27, "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act." Under Mona, this office was great at being prepared and at preparing others to be prepared. It was reliable. Morale seemed to me to be high here. Then Mona retired.
Under Zach, a temporary manager they had, this office did something Mona had never done, it took days off for everyone there to attend staff meetings. During their staff meetings there is no one there or answering the phone to help the Veterans.
I'm sad to report that beginning in March 2025, the office staff at the Reno VA Veterans Volunteer Transportation Network "VTN" has been steadily deteriorating, becoming increasingly less reliable. The office staff are paid VA employees. The drivers are volunteers. Now the office staff seems to be good intentioned BUT unorganized, low morale, stressed with short fuses.
The drop in service, professionalism, attention to detail by the office staff started out with what I schedule with the office staff and what the office staff confirms with me what I just scheduled with the office staff is not what happens the day of the rides. Which is very frustrating to me as the rider and the volunteer driver who is driving me to and from my VA appointments.
Now this office takes a day off for everyone to have an office party. During their office party there is no one there or answering the phone to help the Veterans. Disabled Veterans who need VTN are already juggling an incredibly complex array of planning and coping strategies just to survive and enjoy a little freedom the able-bodied take for granted. Like transportation.
All that has become more than a bit annoying as the drop in service, professionalism, attention to detail, reliability by this office staff continues to escalate.
No surprise why Veterans succumb to suicide at a rate more than twice that of non-Veterans and why Nevada Veterans have succumbed to suicide at a 74% higher rate than rest of nation.
Then another employee, a relatively young employee, I knew at the VA here but in another office, died. I can't help but wonder how much the huge staffing cuts and significant funding cuts by the current Administration are contributing to the massive drop in morale at this VA I see. That's why I rated it 3 stars instead of the 2 stars, needs improvement, I feel it has earned.
Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5:2-3
P.S. Don't message me because in spite of my several complaints to yelp, for years now I am unable to open up any messages in yelp to me :-(