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AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY VA&R NOVEMBER 2007 “WITH A FULL COURT PRESS OUR VETERANS Get ready to play the best game of your life this year. Be ready for the game tip off when the whistle blows. Remember this program has a lot of floor to cover but no one is expected to be everywhere at once. Choose your area and play it well. Be alert at all times for game play changes. Every year there are new plays or changes in some of the standard ones. Don’t be left holding the ball with no one to pass it to. This year the National Chairman, Rita Navarete has the following as VA&R goals for this year. 1. Volunteer Services
Medical Centers & Outpatient Facilities: ALA Volunteers fill a vital role at VA facilities across the country. With our guaranteed aid they can concentrate on the delivery of core services. Through aggressive promotion and recruitment we can exceed the number of volunteers and volunteer hours from the 2006 level. Increase the number of regularly scheduled volunteers by 5% of last year’s VAVS system. Field & Home Service: Field Service volunteers provide service to veterans outside a VAMC. Home Service volunteers do projects and work for active duty military/Veterans and/or their families from the home. Secure a true record of service given by volunteers through comprehensive reporting of hours for those participating. 2. Collaborative Program Efforts
Creative Arts Festival: This year’s Festival will be held on October 22-28, 2007 in St Louis, MO. Encourage VAVS Representatives to take a lead in getting volunteers to volunteer for events in their respective centers. Awards will be presented to the top 3 departments with the highest per capita contributions. Donations must be received by Department Headquarters between September 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008. Promote annual competition through News Releases. Homeless Veterans: Work collaboratively with the VA Homeless Veterans Program to disseminate information related to Project CHALENG, The American Legion and National Coalition of Homeless Veterans to encourage active participation in homeless veteran issues. VA Homeless Veterans Program Office – Peter Dougherty Director, call 202-273-5774 or go to: www.va.gov/homelss CHALENG information go to: www.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=17 for Stand Down information go to: www.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=6 Fisher House: Provide volunteer resources and increase annual monetary donation, as reported by Fisher House by 10%. For more information go to www.fisherhouse.org Veterans History Project: Encourage unit VA&R committees to involve their local libraries in our efforts. Brainstorm ways that stories of veteran service can be added to the archives including an “Interview 10 Female Veterans” campaign for presentation at our National Convention and at the 2008 Women Veterans Summit. Work with the Public Relations Program and highlight Female veteran service. 3. Support American Legion Programs & VA&R Legislative Efforts A System Worth Saving: Initiated by The American Legion through resolution 206, A Task Force visits VA Medical Center facilities; Vet Centers and other VA managed facilities recording first-hand observations and responses to pre-determined evaluation criteria. This information adds support to The American Legion position for mandatory funding for the System. Heroes to Hometowns: This program is now headquartered at local VA Medical Center facilities. It matches severely injured members of the military with individuals in their community that can provide the injured soldier and his/her family with a support network to assist with their everyday needs. For more information call 703-908-6250 or go to www.legion.org?content=heroes2hometown 4. National Recognition Programs
National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans: In February – Pay tribute and express appreciation to the more than 98,000 hospitalized veterans cared for everyday in VA Medical Centers, outpatient clinics, domiciliary, and nursing home facilities; increase community awareness of the role of the VA Medical center; and encourage citizens to visit hospitalized veterans and to become involved as volunteers. Check with your medical center for details. National Volunteer Month: In April – Recognize and celebrate the important work that Volunteers do every day on behalf of our veterans. Promote Proclamations for National Volunteer Week; participate in local events at VA Medical Centers. Presidential Memorial Certificates are still available. Go to: www.cem.vaa.gov/cem/pmc.asp or call The 22nd Annual Golden Age Games for older veterans, including those with a wide range of abilities and disabilities will be held on August 20-25, 2008 in Indianapolis, IN. The 22nd Annual Winter Sports Clinic for veterans with a wide range of disabilities will be held on March 29 to April 5, 2008 in Snowmass, CO. The 22nd Annual Wheelchair Games for military service veterans who use wheelchairs for sports competition due to spinal cord injuries, amputations or certain neurological problems will be held July 25-29, 2008 in Omaha, NE. Maybe you know a veteran interested in some of the above games or could get someone interested. You might even be available or able to attend one of them. Check into the possibilities. As you can see from all the above, our ball court is completely covered with many, many worthwhile pays. Choose your spot and PLAY BALL! HEADS UP TEAM - A GAME PLAY CHANGE IS COMING UP, EASTER IS EARLY THIS YEAR THEREFORE THE DEADLINE FOR THE UNIT EASTER GIFTS SURVEY WILL BE EARLIER THAN USUAL. YOUR UNIT SURVEY SHEETS WILL BE DUE TO THIS CHAIRMAN BY FEBRUARY 29, 2008! The survey sheets will be in the DECEMBER PACKET. Please help us to get your checks back to your treasurer early enough that you can get your gifts delivered to the veterans by Easter. Thanks in advance for your help to accomplish this.
THE DEPARTMENT AWARDS THIS YEAR ARE AS FOLLOWS;
aid to women Veterans be it in Field Service, Hospital Service or Home Service PERSONAL AWARDS THIS YEAR;
It will be the District Chairman’s responsibility to send to this Chairman the winning Unit Report entry from her District for each of the two Department Plaque Awards post marked by May 12, 2008! You will also need to have Your District Report to me post marked by May 12, 2008 to qualify for the two District Personal Awards. NATIONAL VA&R AWARDS
Award Criteria: unit program must meet all required elements as stated in this Plan of Work including demonstrated efforts in VAVS recruitment – meeting 5% goal, participation in the Veterans History project and in initiatives assisting Homeless veterans; development and/or augmentation of opportunities for Junior volunteers; adoption of the Field/Home Service Orientation program and volunteer recognition initiatives. Follow instructions as stated on the universal Award form and submit to the National Chairman, Rita Navarrete, 328 Greenwich Rd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105 by June 1, 2008.
A citation plaque will be presented to the department chairman in each division that reports the Most Outstanding Overall VA&R program as per the goals stated in the Plan of Work.
A citation plaque will be presented to a Home Service volunteer serving the greatest number of hours from April 1, 2007 – March 31, 2008 in each division for Junior or Senior members. Units should send their nominees to this department VA&R Chairman postmarked by May 5, 2008. Follow instructions on the appropriate National Award Cover Sheet and submit the hours of any nominee. The department chairman will then send the ONE top hour volunteer Junior and Senior volunteer to the National Division Chairman.
The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival will recognize departments who contribute at the Bronze, Silver and Gold level. This recognition will be made at the 2008 Festival. Make your unit contribution to Department Headquarters early so our staff has sufficient time to forward all donations to National before the June 30, 2008 deadline.
A citation plaque will be presented to a unit chairman in each National Division reporting the Most Outstanding Overall VA&R program as per the goals stated by National. This entry must be typewritten in narrative form not to exceed 1,000 words. Do not include pictures, clippings, scrapbooks, folders, etc. unit entries must be submitted to this VA&R department chairman postmarked by May 5, 2008. Department chairman will submit ONE winning entry to National Division Chairman. Follow instructions on the appropriate National Award Cover Sheet and submit with your entry.
The Department VA&R Chairman or ALA Department Director of Hospital Volunteers will make nominations to National. A department nomination must be prepared in a narrative format not to exceed 500 words and may include up to two letters of recommendation. Specifically this nominee must serve in an established VA assignment and be defined as a regularly scheduled volunteer. In addition, we are looking for an individual who is actively involved working with veterans in any one of the following areas:
Letters of recommendation and preliminary nominations will be due to this Department VA&R Chairman by May 1, 2008. The National winner will receive $500 and be profiled in National News magazine. In addition, the ALA will forward her name as our candidate for the VAVS National Advisory Committee Volunteer of the Year.
A citation Plaque will be presented to the department in each National Division with the largest increase of regularly scheduled volunteers and regularly scheduled volunteer hours at a VA Medical Center from April 1, 2007 – March 31, 2008. The award winner will be determined by the National VAVS Representative through verification of department hours and number of volunteers as recorded by VAVS.
the annual National VAVS Spring Meeting. Eligibility and application information can be found at: http://www.va.gov/visn18/VAVS/Parke-scholarship.htm Please go over very carefully all the requirements for the National Awards. Follow all instructions and observe all deadline dates. The required National Award Cover Sheets are included in this packet. Please read them carefully and send the appropriate form with your entry. All entries for department awards and National awards requiring department elimination are to be sent to: Ann Shaw Department VA&R Chairman, RR3 Box 5, Sullivan, IL 62751-9278.
DO YOU KNOW THE TEN FOOT RULE? Step 1: You belong to the largest patriotic organization in the world. Now you know the 10-foot rule – leave Footprints and show the veterans of America that we care. Each year you are urged to contribute to the SIX POINT PROGRAM. This program provides many necessities, treats and gifts of love for our hospitalized, homebound and ill veterans. An explanation of this vital program follows. OUR SIX POINT PROGRAM
A snip sheet is included for your Six Point Program donation and four other VA&R programs contributions your unit may wish to contribute to. PLEASE REMEMBER ALL DONATIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS EARMARKED FOR THE APPROPRIATE FACILITY AND ACTIVITY OR PROGRAM FOR YOUR UNIT TO RECEIVE PROPER CREDIT. DO THIS EARLY TO ALLOW ENOUGH TIME FOR ROUTING OF YOUR DONATIONS.
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