I mail 6-7 times per year because you never know when someone is actually ready to sell.

Can anyone help with how to actually connect with a VA?

This is what I have come up with for myself.I am going to specialize in FSBO properties, buy and hold/flip investors, facebook ads, and FB group posts for buyer leadsI created a pretty lengthy "how to sell your home" guide for FSBO properties, I plan to stay in front of other agents by actually knocking on doors, and delivering the guide to them in person, and then using that to set up a follow up appointment when I can deliver a free CMA. 

But, in researching this a bit, with the intention of wholesaling properties to build some cash, I find that there's a lot of debate over whether you can actually wholesale pre-foreclosures once the NOD has been issued, or the NOS.

Make your case, if she actually take you, and hope for the best.

I'm actually looking to meet some wholesalers and others sometime soon to discuss possibilities

I've been listening to podcasts and reading the blogs and forums but I know it's nothing like when you actually do a deal.

I got there early so that I didn't miss out on anything and actually made it there early enough to help the other volunteers set up a table with name tags and itineraries.

Since she is the owner, she is actually leasing it to you. 

We have the local stores actually doing our shopping for us, discounting the items and then making arrangements with our maintenance team to come and pick up the material.