Read the February 2022 Newsletter from the Delaware Valley Veterans Consortium to stay informed about events and issues happening in the area.
News from the Executive Committee!
Take a moment to read the comments from Paula Crawford-Gamble at the end of this newsletter!
Thanks for Attending the DVVC Winter Quarterly Meeting!
Thanks to all who attended the Winter Quarterly Meeting, “Progress and Planning for 2022.” We are truly grateful for your ideas, collaboration, and dedication to DVVC and the military and Veteran communities. We look forward to your continued participation in our committee work!
Check your email for the contact information from those who shared in the chat box. For questions or feedback, please email dvvcinfo@gmail.com.
As noted at the meeting, the DVVC executive committee currently has an at-large member vacancy. If you are interested or want to discuss the possibility of joining the executive committee, please contact dvvcinfo@gmail.com or contact one of the executive committee members directly (visit https://dvvc.org/leadership to learn more).
The executive committee meets most weeks online on Fridays from 10 to 11 a.m., and members help out with the work of the four standing committees. Executive committee members need to represent a DVVC member organization.
NEWS FROM OUR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS
West Point Society to Honor General Brooks
The West Point Society of Philadelphia will celebrate Founders Day on Saturday, March 12, at the Union League. The General Alexander M. Haig, Jr., “Guardian of Liberty” Award will be presented to General Vincent Brooks, U.S. Army, Retired, former Commander of U.S. Forces Korea and ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command.
All members of the community who espouse the values of Duty, Honor, Country are welcome!
For information and tickets:
https://sallyport.westpointaog.org/events/73210
Sponsorships info available:
Women Veterans Invited to a Winter Retreat
Cranaleith Spiritual Center is offering a retreat for Women Veterans on Saturday, February 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event is free, and transportation assistance is available. Learn more and register here.
Career Support Available from Great Careers Groups
Encourage the Veterans you serve to join in on the adult career online education topics and networking available in February 2022 from the Great Careers Groups community.
Check out the website at greatcareersphl.org to get all the details. Go to the EVENTS page to register for events and the CONTACT US page to connect on social media, join the MeetUp group, and subscribe to the weekly newsletter.
Follow Great Careers Group & BENG on LinkedIn for even more insights! (And follow DVVC!)
Subject matter expert speaker topics this month include lots of “how to” topics:
- Survive & Thrive After a Job Loss
- Stand Out from the Crowd with a Great Video Career Profile
- Beat Ageism; Get Hired
- Entrepreneur Topics, including Snazzy Graphics for Social Media
- Beating the Applicant Tracking System
- 15 Laws of Growth to Accomplish Your Career Goals (by U.S. Army Reserve Veteran)
- Handling Tough Interview Questions
- Interviewing Techniques
- LGBTQ+ Career Support
- LinkedIn Strategies & Live Profile Reviews
- How to Use Clubhouse Step-by-Step
Reminder: Any meeting with a $5 fee is free for unemployed Veterans by arranging in advance that you want to attend – director@greatcareersphl.org.
VA UPDATE
Wide Variety of Resources Available to Veterans Online
Are you and the Veterans you serve receiving regular email updates from the VA?
Announcements from the Veterans Health Administration and Veterans Benefits Administration, blog posts on hot topics, and notices from national Veteran-serving organizations are shared regularly, with links to read more online.
Some items from recent emails may be of particular value as Veterans begin to navigate 2022:
- New Year, New You: Explore Resources that Can Help You Discover Your Best Health
- Personal Health Inventory
- Navigating Seasonal Depression: Don’t Get SAD, Get Prepared
Take a moment to update your preferences, or help a Veteran sign up, here.
Show Some LOVE to Veterans at VA Medical Centers During National Salute
The week of February 14 is designated each year as an opportunity to say thank you to the more than nine million Veterans who are cared for in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers, outpatient clinics, domiciliaries, and nursing homes.
During the National Salute to Veteran Patients, VA invites individuals, Veterans groups, military personnel, civic organizations, businesses, schools, local media, celebrities, and sports stars to participate in a variety of activities at the VA medical centers. The activities and events include special ward visits and valentine distributions; photo opportunities; school essay contests; special recreation activities and Veteran recognition programs.
The purpose of the program is to:
- pay tribute and express appreciation to Veterans;
- increase community awareness of the role of the VA medical center;
- encourage citizens to visit hospitalized Veterans and to become involved as volunteers.
The week also provides an opportunity for the community to become acquainted with the volunteer opportunities within the medical center.
DVVC member organizations are encouraged to contact their nearest VA Medical Center and ask for Voluntary Service to discover specific opportunities to participate. Follow these links for more information: Cpl. Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia; Coatesville VA Medical Center; Wilmington VA Medical Center.
Let’s share a little LOVE during these tough times.
One DVVC member organization, the Central Montgomery County Business and Professional Women (CMC BPW), is planning their second annual delivery of Valentines and goodies to the residents of the Mary Walker House and LZ II, transitional residence programs of the Veterans Multi-Service Center, another DVVC member organization.
To connect and collaborate on this effort, contact Mo Gillen, chair of CMC BPW’s Joining Forces for Women Veterans program, at mo_gillen@yahoo.com.
NEWS FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 2022
Hello Friends,
The coronavirus pandemic has created a worldwide struggle, placing us all in a dilemma by having to make life-altering decisions. The scale and complexity of the situation is far greater than any one person could comprehend or manage with such high stakes.
During the pandemic, factors like isolation, sickness, grief, job loss, food instability and loss of routines, have devastated Veterans and presented many challenges for families and health care providers across the nation.
Federal and civilian partnerships were pivotal in dramatically meeting the challenges beyond what we’ve seen before. As the VA-designated Community Veteran Engagement Board in this region, the Delaware Valley Veteran Consortium rose to the challenge early with new programming, and new ways to connect, collaborate, and communicate.
DVVC and our more than 150 member organizations have played a major role in meeting the challenges of our Veterans and their families during these challenging times. But we can and will do more and do better, inspired in part by the collaborative efforts witnessed at our Winter Quarterly meeting.
I invite you to explore DVVC’s mission and history by visiting dvvc.org and then get to know some of the other member organizations. You will discover many and varied resources. Utilize the offerings available to complement the services your own organization provides, so together we can meet the many needs of the Veterans we serve.
And please let us know how the Executive Committee of the DVVC can support you.
With appreciation for your service,
Paula Crawford-Gamble
Member at Large, Executive Committee
Veterans Care Excellence Liaison, Penn Medicine
paula.crawford-gamble@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
This newsletter serves DVVC member organizations by providing information to share with Veterans they serve.
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!