Thanks for participating in the DVVC Winter 2021 Quarterly Meeting!
Lots of great strategic insights! The Executive Committee is studying the suggestions and will create a document to be shared soon with the full membership.
Thanks to all who participated in the kick-off exercise to assist with our metadata and search engine optimization for the new website.
Words that came to mind most often to describe DVVC were:
- VETERANS
- COMMUNITY
- COLLABORATIVE
- SUPPORT
- NETWORKING
- Followed closely by:
- RESOURCES
- CONNECTION
- INFORMATION
- SERVICES
We’ll be highlighting DVVC’s value using these words as we create our new site; stay tuned!
Crescenz VA Medical Center Continues to Vaccinate Veterans Against COVID-19
As of this writing, Crescenz VA Medical Center is vaccinating Veterans 75+ and those 65+ who are elevated risk due to existing health conditions as set by CDC guidelines. Veterans who are already enrolled in VA health care can call 215-823-4014 to schedule a vaccine appointment.
Veterans younger than 75 years of age who are at elevated risk can be referred by their clinical care team based on national criteria. If a Veteran feels that he or she is in this category they should please reach out to their clinic team for guidance on scheduling. All vaccines are given by appointment only, no walk-ins.
While You Wait for the COVID-19 Vaccine – Six Things You Can Do Now – from VA.gov
Upcoming VA Virtual Events
SBA Veteran Small Business Resource Brief – Friday, February 5, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
This brief goes over the different resources and resource partners the SBA provides for active duty, reservists, and all era veterans and the family members.
Did you know? Veterans own approximately 2.4 million small businesses, or 9 percent of all small firms in the U.S. In addition, some 200,000 veteran owned firms are owned by service-connected disabled veterans. Veteran entrepreneurs play an incredibly important role in the U.S. economy, and therefore special programs have been created to assist veteran owned and service-disabled veteran owned small businesses start and grow.
Virtual Group: Coping in 2021 & Beyond – Wednesday beginning February 10, 3 – 4:30 p.m.
A 12-week course using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, presented by The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors, El Paso. Registration required; see the website here.
See the entire list of upcoming events at https://www.va.gov/outreach-and-events/events/
NEWS FROM OUR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS
YourNexStage & University of Alabama Researching Women Veterans
DVVC member organization YourNexStage focuses on the experience of women service members as they transition into the civilian world as military veterans. They have partnered with the University of Alabama to learn more through a survey open to all women veterans. This 20-30-minute survey asks about time in the armed forces, needs, experiences, and preferences relating to transition back to civilian life. Answers are anonymous and will not be tied back to individuals; only summary level data will be reported. Share this link with the women veterans you serve and encourage them to participate: https://bit.ly/38y975y
Cohen Clinic Printable Resource Guide Available
The DVVC website lists more than 100 member organizations serving veterans in our region – check it out at dvvc.weebly.com – go to the Members tab and follow the links to each organization’s web site.
If you need a document to reference all the great Veteran resources in our area, consider the version created by the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at the University of Pennsylvania – find it here. Many of our DVVC member organizations are listed!
Upcoming Penn Medicine Veterans of Care / Penn Platoon Distinguished Lecture
Better Together: Exploring the Role of the Human-Animal Bond in Enhancing PTSD Treatments for Veterans – Thursday, February 11, 4:30 -5:30 p.m.
An engaging program, plus camaraderie and networking with colleagues. Speakers include:
• Bess J. Pierce, DVM, DABVP, DACVIM, DACVSMR, Associate Dean for Student Affairs & Admissions, and Professor of Veterinary Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine, and Adjunct Associate Professor, Canine Performance Sciences & Rehabilitation, Penn Vet School of Veterinary Medicine, Penn Vet Working Dog Center; and
• Leah Blain, PhD, Clinic Director & Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at The University of Pennsylvania
Mark your calendar and use this link to join the event.
The Distinguished Lecture Series is held on the second Thursday of every month. Save the date for the presentation from Admiral Karen Flaherty-Oxler, MSN, RN, Director of the Cpl. Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, on Thursday, March 11.
Upcoming Events with Philadelphia Area Great Careers Group
Upcoming events from PAGCG and the Business Executives Networking Group division (BENG) are listed at http://bit.ly/CareerEdEvents. Register via links on the website. Jobseeker support meetings are free! Any meeting with a $5 fee is free for veterans by notifying Lynne in advance that you want to attend – director@greatcareersphl.org. Follow PAGCG on social media @greatcareersphl #greatcareersphl!
PAGCG is always looking for volunteers. This is a great way for transitioning Veterans to keep their skills up-to-date & build fresh success stories to talk about in their next interview.
News from the Executive Committee February 2021
Greetings from DVVC’s Executive Committee!
Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in DVVC’s quarterly meeting on Friday, January 22. Since the January quarterly meeting has traditionally been devoted to committee work and planning, the Executive Committee tried something a little different this time.
Using “break-out rooms” on Zoom, attendees were randomly assigned to a room with a member of the Executive Committee acting as the facilitator, to discuss DVVC’s future and what the organization should look like. Using the SOAR analysis to guide the conversation, small groups discussed the Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations and Results of the organization as we currently exist and what the organization should look like as we move forward.
Specifically, discussion centered around questions such as:
- What makes DVVC unique?
- What strengths are most valuable in our marketplace?
- What partnerships would lead to greater success?
- What needs & wants are we currently not fulfilling for our internal & external stakeholders?
- What do we want to achieve in the future?
- How can we make a difference?
- What measures will tell us we are on the track to achieve success?
Great conversations were held in each break-out room and all the notes and suggestions are being studied by the Executive Committee and will be put together in a document that will be shared soon with the full membership.
If you were unable to attend the meeting on January 22 but have some thoughts about these issues that you would like to share, feel free to email them to dvvcinfo@gmail.com.
In other news, a small subcommittee solicited proposals for a new web design and interviewed several candidates and selected a web designer who was approved by the Executive Committee. Watch for the new and improved website to be online very soon!
It’s my pleasure to continue to serve as the VA liaison to DVVC which is a recognized VA Community Veteran Engagement Board. I believe in what DVVC can do for the Veteran community and look forward to the future! If you have any questions about VA health care or DVVC please feel free to reach out to me at Fern.Billet@va.gov.
Fern Billet
Fern Billet, Congressional Liaison and Community Relations
Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center
3900 Woodland Ave., Philadelphia, PA