News from the Chair of the Executive Committee!
Read the comments from Hugo Lentze at the end of this newsletter!
Mark your calendars:
DVVC Fall 2021 Quarterly Meeting
Watch for an announcement for the Fall meeting, slated for Friday, October 15 via Zoom, when we will present an update on Complementary and Alternative Medical Programs for Veterans.
Also, our Fall meetings always include ELECTIONS! We are seeking interest now for three positions: Vice-Chair and two Member-At-Large positions. Nancy Isserman, current Vice-Chair, and Norm Glover, a Member-At-Large, are seeking reelection; one Member-At-Large position is vacant. If you would like to run for any of these positions, please send a short biography and a statement about why you want to run to dvvcinfo@gmail.com.
DVVC Summer Quarterly Panel of Experts Speak Frankly
Thanks to all who attended the Quarterly Meeting in July! We hope you found “A Frank Discussion with our County Directors of Veteran Affairs” to be informative and helpful. Panel members representing counties in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as state-level staff, covered a variety of issues of interest. If you missed it, see the video link on our website.
The following information was captured primarily from the active chat dialog box.
Dennis Miller, Montgomery County Director of Veterans Affairs, listed the following priority issues for his office: Unstable Housing, Advanced Age in Crisis, Mentally Ill/PTSD, Risk of Suicide, Incarcerated. He noted that risk of suicide is lower on the list because there are others, including VA Medical Center staff, who are better suited for immediate response.
Miller says Veterans may hesitate to file a claim for service-connected disability for three reasons. First, when they are struggling, usually for years and usually in every aspect of their life, it is hard to admit weakness. Second, Veterans are trained to wait, and may feel others are in more of a need. And third, the process is complicated and easy to get wrong. Miller strongly recommends getting a Veteran Service Officer (VSO) to help.
“The same way you pick a tattoo artist or a doctor for elective surgery, you need to trust them, and you need to get in touch with them,” Miller said, “And they need to be a person who ‘ethically maximizes your claim including secondaries.’”
He said the Montgomery County Veterans Affairs office is “100% Veteran-Operated.”
“Our intake specialist and shuttle van drivers are vested. I am lucky enough to have three VSOs that are ‘ninjas’ and take a personal interested in their claim,” he said.
Fern Billet, Congressional Liaison and Community Relations specialist at Crescenz VA Medical Center, noted in the chat that VA is available to all eligible Veterans, but she recommended that Veterans never file a claim without the assistance of an experienced VSO. Veterans never have to pay to file a claim for benefits, Billet noted. “If someone says they will take a percentage, do not use that person,” she said. “Use only an accredited service officer to file your claim.”
Dan Fraley, Buck County Director of Veterans Affairs, spoke about the issue of homelessness among Veterans, and said his office often serves as “quarterback” connecting Veterans to services they need that may be provided by private organizations or nonprofits in the region.
A DVVC member organization representative noted in the chat that the Federal definition of “Veteran” that determines eligibility for VA benefits can be limiting, based on active service for other than training. Many DVVC Veteran-serving organizations, however, use a broader definition of “anyone who served” and extend their services so all Veterans in the community – regardless of length or type of service – can find support.
DVVC looks forward to including similar VSO panels as part of bi-annual program planning.
[Editor’s note: following this meeting, I received a call from Bill Orr, DVVC representative for the Fighting Back Veterans program, who assisted Navy Veteran Mike Myers with housing, as featured in last month’s newsletter. Bill noted that nearly all the topics covered in this panel discussion were services they’d received working with VSO Luke Fry in the Chester County Office of Veterans Affairs. A week later, Bill called again with the good news that – with Luke’s help – Mike’s military discharge has been upgraded, making him eligible for many VA benefits. Thanks, Luke!]
DVVC Seeking a Digital Communication Intern
To help maintain and improve the new website (dvvc.org), as well as the newsletter and our social media outlets, DVVC is seeking a Digital Communication Intern. The position is open to students and mid-career jobseekers, especially Veterans. This is a term position, designed to be three to six months long, but with extensions possible. DVVC is hoping to on-board the intern in September. DVVC Member Organization representatives are asked to spread the word!
This is an excellent opportunity for an individual who is between jobs, or currently under-employed, to gain additional experience and keep skills fresh, especially in the critical area of social media. The intern will also have great opportunities for networking within the regional Veteran community. Estimated time commitment: 2 to 5 hours per week. Unpaid.
Please share with anyone who may be interested. Send resume and cover letter to mo_gillen@yahoo.com; include general availability or preferred work schedule.
NEWS FROM OUR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS
Eternal Soldier Hosting Homer Workshop
DVVC member organization Eternal Soldier will present a virtual workshop on Homer’s Odyssey, the adventure-filled story of the hero Odysseus’ return from war.
DVVC member organization Eternal Soldier will present a virtual workshop on Homer’s Odyssey, the adventure-filled story of the hero Odysseus’ return from war.
The ancient Greek poet Homer portrays the glorious achievements as well as the challenges faced by returning warriors and the civilians who wait for them at home.
Led by Dr. Sheila Murnaghan, Professor of Greek at the University of Pennsylvania, the workshop meets for ten weekly sessions on Tuesday evenings beginning September 14. The program is free to Veterans.
Veterans will read from the acclaimed translation by Penn MacArthur genius recipient, Emily Wilson PhD.
Veterans interested in representations of warriors in history and literature can send an e-mail to info@eternalsoldier.org. Please spread the word.
Eternal Soldier is seeking assistance in designing other programs for Veterans. Two half-day “design workshops” will explore Veteran interests and preferences in archaeology, art, history, and literature. These workshops are professionally facilitated, and participating Veterans will be compensated for their time. Workshops are Saturday, September 18, and Saturday October 2, from 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., at Penn Museum, 3460 South Street, Philadelphia. Interested? Fill out the Design Workshop Interest form here.
Ready for Back-to-School? Operation Homefront is Ready to Help!
Operation Homefront is holding a Back-to-School Brigade event on Friday, August 13th, at the VFW Post in Cookstown (22 Wrightstown-Cookstown Rd., Cookstown, NJ 08511).
Military families who may be interested in attending to receive a backpack stuffed with school supplies can register at https://my.operationhomefront.org. Eligibility requirements: Post 9/11 wounded, ill, or injured service member of any rank, both currently serving and those no longer serving in the military; or all ranks, Active Duty, Guard and Reserves, any duty status; or transitioning service members within 12 months of their discharge/retirement date.
Operation Homefront also has several Dollar Tree locations still available for interested individuals or organizations to pick up brand-new school supplies to distribute to military families. Contact Ashley Griffiths at ashley.griffiths@operationhomefront.org or 267-721-3385 for more information.
Back-to-School Supply Giveaway Coming Up!
Norristown Vet Center and Operation Homefront are partnering to offer FREE School Supplies to Military and Veteran Families. Event is Friday, August 20, from 1 to 3 p.m., at Elmwood Park (Bocce Court) in Norristown.
Please share with the Military and Veteran families you serve. Contact Chanel Santiago at the Vet Center for details, 215-823-5245.
Retreat for Women Veterans
Cranaleith Spiritual Center will present “Song of the Caged Bird” on Saturday, August 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This retreat is free and open to all women Veterans. Transportation assistance is available.
Sign up here.
Philadelphia Area Great Careers Group Continues to Support Veterans
Career education and networking events – from Interviewing and Job Search Tips to using LinkedIn and Clubhouse to maximize success – are available from Philadelphia Area Great Careers Group. Any meeting with a $5 fee is free for unemployed Veterans by arranging with Lynne in advance that you want to attend – director@greatcareersphl.org. See the list, and registration links, at https://greatcareersphl.org/events.
AUSA Golf Outing Planned
AUSA Penn & Franklin Scramble, one of the largest and most enjoyable fundraisers of the chapter, will be held on August 19th, 2021, at Ron Jaworski’s Downingtown Country Club.
See the website for registration & information.
Our Community Salutes Recognized Nationally
The Board for the Council of College and Military Educator selected Our Community Salutes as the 2021 CCME Community Partnership Award.
This award is presented to organizations that have established unique relationships, programs, and services that positively impact the personal and professional development of our Service members, Veterans, and their families. Recipients will have demonstrated how they have contributed to the academic and career growth of our Service members, Veterans, and their families through a project or partnership that promotes transition readiness and employment.
Congratulations to founder Dr. Ken Hartman and team!
New Leader Takes on Veterans Upward Bound Program at Penn
The University of Pennsylvania recently welcomed Arthur Lee Jenkins as Director of Veterans Upward Bound.
Jenkins is a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, serving as Deputy Commander of the Innovation and Army Applications Group, U.S. Army Reserve Innovation Command. He previously commanded the largest Wounded Warrior company in the Department of Defense and served as Clinical Adjudicator for the National Capital Region Physical Evaluation Board.
Jenkins is a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, serving as Deputy Commander of the Innovation and Army Applications Group, U.S. Army Reserve Innovation Command. He previously commanded the largest Wounded Warrior company in the Department of Defense and served as Clinical Adjudicator for the National Capital Region Physical Evaluation Board.
The TRIO Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) program hosted by the University of Pennsylvania is a FREE, college preparatory program for eligible Veterans federally funded with a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Services include academic assessment, advising, and counseling; non-credited academic classes and tutoring; college access; and educational support services.
The program is intended to encourage, empower, and acclimatize college-bound Veterans for the rigors of post-secondary education and training. The primary goal is to fully prepare them to enter the college of their choice, be successful in college, and to graduate from college.
Jenkins says he looks forward to networking with everyone who has a passion for helping Veterans achieve their dreams!
UPDATE FROM NEW JERSEY
NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to Participate in Stand Down
NJDMAVA will have a VSO present to help and assist any Veteran at the Atlantic City Regional Stand Down on September 8 at the All Wars Memorial (Soldiers Home), 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1510 Adriatic Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ.
NJDMAVA VSOs will also be present at outreach events on the boardwalk in Ocean City-Seaside Heights and Point Pleasant now thru Labor Day. See the event list here.
VA UPDATE
VA Urging Upgrade from Advanced to Premium My HealtheVet Account
My HealtheVet, VA’s online patient portal, gives Veterans access to their VA health information so they can understand and manage their VA care.
On September 1, 2021, My HealtheVet Advanced accounts will be discontinued. Advanced accounts will revert to Basic accounts, without access to pharmacy features, including the ability to request and track your VA prescription refills.
Veterans are encouraged to upgrade now to Premium accounts. With a free My HealtheVet Premium account, Veterans can:
- Request VA prescription refills, track medications, and access prescription history.
- View, download and print VA health information, reports and images.
- Send online secure messages to their VA care team to ask them non-urgent health questions; ask to renew medications; and send updates on their conditions.
- View, schedule, reschedule and cancel VA appointments.
Veterans can upgrade for free in person, online, or via video appointment; find out more here.
AND IN OTHER NEWS…
Coast Guard Cutter To Be Commissioned in Philadelphia in October
On October 15th, the new Coast Guard Fast Response Cutter (FRC) USCGC EMLEN TUNNEL will be commissioned in Philadelphia. Named for World War II hero and NFL football star Emlen Tunnell, the cutter will be stationed in Bahrain.
Before he became the first Black player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Tunnell served in the Coast Guard during and after World War II, where he is credited with saving the lives of two shipmates in separate incidents. His storied NFL career started with the New York Giants in 1948 and ended with the Green Bay Packers in 1961.
Stay tuned for information on the event. More information about the ship is available here.
This newsletter serves DVVC member organizations by providing information to share with Veterans. Member organizations can also use our LinkedIn group, https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12177627/ and Facebook page, www.facebook.com/dvvcorg, to get the word out! Let us know how we can help!
Do you have news to share or upcoming events? Send an email to the editor, Mo Gillen, at mo_gillen@yahoo.com by the 25th of the month. Send DVVC questions to dvvcinfo@gmail.com
News from the Executive Committee August 2021
Wow! Hats off to the entire DVVC community for all the hard work this year.
We continue to improve the connections so vital to our mission: to unite military and veterans service organizations and advocates who share common goals, to build programmatic capacity and increase services to clients under the umbrella of regional collaboration.
Throughout the pandemic, we have been able to connect, collaborate, and communicate, making use of technology in a big way. Huge thanks to my support team at the Travis Manion Foundation for all the assistance with Zoom meetings and webinars, including making recordings so member organization representatives can access and share the great information.
I am particularly proud of the content presented at our two most recent events – a town hall discussion focused on meeting the needs of LGBTQ Veterans who are too often marginalized and underserved, and the Summer Quarterly Meeting featuring the panel of representatives from state and county offices of Veterans Affairs.
During each of these events, we were able to not only hear from knowledgeable advocates, but also present and get answers to some important questions. As noted in this newsletter, the “chat” box for the recent meeting was particularly active and engaging – exactly as we’d hoped.
We had a similar panel meeting some years ago featuring some County Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) and were very impressed with information shared with DVVC member organizations. The Executive Committee and Programming Committee look forward to including this type of meeting on a regular, perhaps biannual, basis. Huge thanks for the hard work of these state and county agents working on behalf of our Veterans, and for their continued collaboration.
The equation for this year seems to be “Content + Technology = Successful Collaboration!”
We are committed to maintaining the high value of our meeting content and look forward to expanding our use of technology to share that content as we return to some in-person events.
The Executive Committee is putting a great deal of thought into how – and how often – we should get together in person over the next year. We know the value of that environment for connecting, collaborating, communicating; we want you to meet each other in person, exchange business cards and contact information, and hear each other’s stories one-to-one.
But we also understand that, beyond following guidance, there are precautions to take, especially for those who serve medically compromised clients or have concerns for themselves or their families. We always want to ensure that as many representatives as want to can attend our meetings, and we may opt for a virtual meeting periodically just for that reason.
Stay tuned for the information about our Fall Quarterly Meeting, which will be virtual, and for a possible in-person social event we’d love to host soon.
And if I have not said it enough, or loudly enough:
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!!
Hugo
Director of Strategic Partnerships, Travis Manion Foundation
hugolentze@travismanion.org; 313-826-6039