Read the June 2023 Newsletter from the Delaware Valley Veterans Consortium to stay informed about events and issues happening in the area.Do you have news to share or upcoming events for the July 2023 newsletter and beyond? Please share! This newsletter is published monthly as part of DVVC’s efforts to connect, collaborate, and communicate in service to Veterans throughout our region. Send your updates and questions to dvvcinfo@gmail.com.Member Organizations: To submit articles to the newsletter, please email Collie Turner at collie@heroicgardens.org by the 25th of the month with your news. To submit news to DVVC social media sites, please email Lynne Williams at director@greatcareersphl.org with “For DVVC Social Media” in the subject line.
News from the Executive Committee
Dear DVVC Community,
I am writing this in the shadow of Memorial Day. For too many people, Memorial Day has become about going down the shore, BBQs, a day off from work, pool parties, and the unofficial start of the summer season. All fun things to do, but that’s not how it started, or what it means to Veterans and family members of those who have lost loved ones fighting to preserve our freedom.
Memorial Day began as Decoration Day, shortly after the end of the Civil War, when Americans in towns all over the country started decorating graves as a tribute to the fallen soldiers. The tributes expanded with each conflict, as we lost more servicemembers in WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations around the globe.
In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as a federal holiday to be held on the last Monday in May, and created a three-day weekend for federal employees. The change went into effect in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings, and participating in parades.
I don’t come from a military family and never expected to find myself in the Veteran and military space. My journey here was not charted, and happened by chance. But I find that after over 22 years working with Veterans and active military members, first as a staffer in a congressional office, and the past 18 years at the VA medical center, there is nowhere else I would rather be. I have learned so much and met so many interesting people, listened to their stories, and come to admire the brave men and women who put their life on the line to fight for us. Some returned with visible scars, some with invisible wounds, and some didn’t return at all. Memorial Day is the day to remember those who never returned.
I enjoy the work I do with DVVC, and meeting the people who make DVVC what it is-the regional organization for Veterans and Veteran-serving organizations to connect, collaborate and communicate. I am proud of the work I have done on the team that helps enhance communication: creating the website, working on our brochure, and editing this newsletter. But now, I am passing on editing duties to Collie Turner, founder of Heroic Gardens. Collie is one of the dedicated people working in the Veteran space, helping Veterans heal through experiencing nature.
This newsletter is an important way to communicate with other DVVC member organizations and Veterans. Please send your news stories, announcements, and event flyers to Collie at collie@heroicgardens.org by the 25th of each month for inclusion in the monthly newsletter.
I hope everyone had a safe and reflective Memorial Day.
Fern Billet
VA Liaison to DVVC Executive Committee
Congressional Liaison and Community Relations
Upcoming Events
Save the Date – DVVC Summer Quarterly Meeting – July 21, 2023
Topic: Transitioning to End-of-Life Care: Benefits and Services for Veterans and Their Families
Location to be announced soon! Combination in-person and virtual meeting
Delaware Valley Vietnam Veterans are presenting the 38th Jesse E Hill Flag Memorial
An inspirational display of over 65,000 American Flags in the shape and size of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC. Each flag represents an American killed or a POW/MIA during the Vietnam War.
Also, an honorable display of over 5,000 flags in our Star of Honor Memorial for those brave soldiers lost in the Iraq & Afghanistan Wars and GWOT. Each flag is planted in the ground by someone who cares. Please join us in honoring these brave American soldiers on this patriotic weekend.
Day 1
Friday, 6/9: Volunteers are needed to help plant flags starting at 9:00 AM.
Day 2
Saturday, 6/10: Free Concert & Day of Reflection Bands starting at 12:00 Noon.
Day 3
Sunday, 6/11: Motorcycle Rally – Starting at 12:00 noon at American Legion 960 1537 Woodbourne Road Levittown Pa 19057. Ceremonies to follow arrival at the park. Repatriation Ceremony, starting at 1:00 PM. Volunteers needed to help pull flags after the ceremony.
The event location is the Falls Township Community Park, 9050 Millcreek Road Levittown Pa 19054.
Free for all Veterans and Family Members/Caregivers – 1 Hour Guided Meditation in Nature: June 11 @9:30am
Register:www.heroicgardens.org/forest-bathing
DVVC Executive Committee Update – Proposed Amendment to Bylaws
Our bylaws currently state that a representative from a supporter organization (defined as a for-profit organization) does not have voting rights on issues that come before the general membership. Further, the bylaws appear ambiguous on the question of whether or not a representative of a supporter organization can serve as Chair of DVVC. Theoretically, a representative from a supporter organization could be the chair of DVVC but also have no vote on issues that come before the group.
To correct this, the executive board is proposing the following amendment to the bylaws Section 3:
Section 3: Supporter organizations (SO) are for-profit organizations that proactively or retroactively demonstrate a positive impact on the veteran or military community and/or their families. SO do have voting rights on any votes that come before the general membership. (change is to bolded section)
Further, to clarify that a member of the DVVC Executive Committee can represent a Supporter Organization, the following amendment is proposed to the fourth paragraph of Section 6:
Section 6: When a vacancy exists, the EC shall elect a member of the DVVC to fill the vacant office for the balance of the term for which the former officer had been chosen. If an EC’s organization (either MO or SO) withdraws its membership from the DVVC, then the officer must resign from his or her position on the EC. (change is to bolded section)
These proposed amendments will be voted on at the July quarterly meeting. If you have any questions, please contact a member of the DVVC executive committee or email dvvcinfo@gmail.com
Stay Up-to-Date
Monthly Newsletters from Dept of Military and Veterans Affairs for News, Veteran Events and Opportunities in NJ and PA
Career Support Available from Great Careers Groups
Join in on the adult career online education topics and networking in June 2023 at the Great Careers Groups (GCG). Visit the EVENTS page to register for our Zoom and in-person events. Connect on social media and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Topics include:
- LGBTQ+ OUTstanding Career Group
- DO It! Selling Meet the Author Pyramid Club
- Interview Prep
- Career Success Group Job Seeker Accountability & Networking
- Create Graphics for Social Media Using Canva, and More!
- 5 Tips to Overcome Legal Discrimination
- Virtual Jobseeker Support Meeting
- Resilience Building Call-In
- Ace the Interview
- Optimize LinkedIn for Career Success
- Take Control of Your Career – Do What You Desire, Dare, and Deserve
- Thought Leadership – How to Build it Best to 10X Your Business & Career
- Recruiter on Call with Jobs
- LinkedIn Part 1 of 3 (3-hour workshop)
- How to Develop a Career Portfolio
- Business Executives Networking Group (BENG)
- How to Develop an Effective Financial Plan During a Job Transition
- How to Gain Customers with a LinkedIn Company Page
- Capitalize Your Uniqueness at Business Executives Networking Group (BENG)
- 2023 Tips on Building Your LinkedIn Brand
Any GCG meeting with a $5 fee is free for unemployed veterans by arranging in advance that you want to attend – director@greatcareersphl.org.
VA News
Whole Health: What matters to you?
Whether you want to wake up with less pain, change careers or reduce stress, start by talking with your health care team about what matters to you.
Or visit our Whole Health website to complete a Personal Health Inventory.
Read More https://news.va.gov/73363/live-whole-health-self-care-episode-1/
VA health care travels with you
Are you traveling?
VA has resources across the states to provide you with easily accessible information about telehealth options, the closest VA location, and the Veterans Crisis Line.
How to Get Your Free Veteran ID Card
Your service can get you free event tickets and entry to national parks, discounts from retailers, restaurants, hotels, recreational activities and many other perks.
Learn how you can get your free official Veteran ID card and easily show your Veteran status.
This newsletter serves DVVC member organizations by providing information to share with Veterans they serve.
Member organizations can also use our LinkedIn group, www.linkedin.com/groups/12177627/ and Facebook page, www.facebook.com/dvvcorg to get the word out!