VISTEM stands for Veterans- Innovation in-Science-Technology-Engineering and Mathematics, a first time event set for September.
The next committee meeting will take place at 3 p.m. Friday, March 28, in the Santa Clara City Hall. Meetings until the event in September will take place the last Friday of every month.
The goal of the event is to be the Largest, Best Tech Event In The Southwest set for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20 and 21, 2025.
A spokesperson said: "We welcome anyone that would be interested in joining to make this happen. Remember.. If we don't do this first...someone else will and we need this here for kids of the future so they are not left behind."
"We have permission to use the Bataan Memorial Park along with the Veterans Memorial," she said. "We are looking for people with professional drone experience to help in the day with activities and in the night with the shows we will have. We're trying to get the band, Madison Rising. They are a band that would play the National Anthem differently. Check them out on YouTube. We need vendors for the morning, afternoon, evening and all day on the second day."
Other needs for the event include the potential for DJs for music, if they can't get this band. She said they would like to have makerspace for kids to learn how to make drones, and have the Veterans show them how to fly them the next day.
Their goal is to get containers which the veterans can set up as simulator rooms, with moving seats so the kids feel like they are the drone.
"This can be a dream come true to see the children have this opportunity and for the future of their families, she said. "My husband is a disabled veteran, and we've been the volunteers at the Memorial for over 20 years. The 'Walk For Heroes' took place at the Bataan Memorial Park for the first time last year. We were able to connect with a student veteran named Jake, and he helped us to make a plan. He will be looking for and working on grants and scholarships for veterans.
"In conclusion, we need lots of volunteers, people with drones so you can fly them with us, trainers for DRONE making, sponsorships and funding," she said.
"WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN IF WE WANT IT BAD ENOUGH," she ended emphatically.
For more information or to volunteer to help or provide sponsorship or funding, please contact one of the following.
Contact: Jake @
Contact: Denice Pratesi @ 575-537-3194, press 1 to talk .
Contact: Diana @ 575-538-5544,
