Read the November 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 December 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.
Let us know how we can help!
November is Warrior Care Month & National Veterans & Military Family Month
News from the Executive Committee
Dear DVVC members,
Besides October, November has to be my favorite month of the year. Working in the hills of Pennsylvania, I am able to see this nation’s beauty firsthand through the colors of the mountains, the reds, yellows, oranges, and many shades of greens. The cool crisp air in the morning, and the warmth of the sun throughout the day. Bonfires, football, family time, and a time to say thank you for all that we have been blessed with in our lives.
When I was 8 years old, making my Girl Scout Promise, On my Honor, I will try, to Serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law, I took it to heart. Joining the military at 18 years old was something that I was destined to do. After military retirement, serving with DVVC was a perfect transition to continue to serve.
DVVC is a huge part of that service to our country. The assistance that organizations provide the current military, our veterans, and their families, is so important. Mental health, legal services, health care, etc just knowing that it is available should the need arise, gives our men and women in uniform peace of mind. “We All Serve”, a tagline used by another all-volunteer organization called ESGR, comes to mind.
Another opportunity to honor our veterans and to show your support would be by attending Philadelphia’s Veterans Day parade on November 5th. Marchers will start to line up at about 10 am, with the parade kicking off at noon, marching east on Market Street, ending at the north 5th Street to join the Festival where there will be 30+ veterans service organizations, food trucks, and live music.
For more information go to the following website: https://www.phillyveteransparade.org/
I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your service to this beautiful country!!
Tammy Cartagena USAF (Ret.)
Health Benefits Consultant
US Family Health Plan – TRICARE Prime Option
ICYMI: Philadelphia Navy Week 2023
More than 200 visiting Sailors and Marines from across the nation visited, engaged, learned our local history, and ate the finest Philadelphia cheesesteaks (cooked by RDML Sean Bailey among others) during Philadelphia’s first Navy week since 2011
Throughout the week the Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guard participated in more than 100 outreach events across the metropolitan area. The Philadelphia Council of the US Navy League along with Heroic Gardens directly coordinated and supported many of these events.
This included the making and eating of over 50 cheesesteaks graciously donated by Pats King of Steaks. In addition, Sailors from the USS Cooperstown as well as others performed community service events throughout the city. The newly commissioned LCS Cooperstown tour was a highlight for our local MCJRROTC, AND NSCCunits which the Council supports.
The events culminated in a traditional Navy Ball, and the announcement of the newest San Antonio Class LPD the USS Philadelphia.
Thanks to the Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Navy Outreach, Homecoming 250, Philadelphia Council of the US Navy League and Heroic Gardens as well as all local organizations for delivering on such a special occasion. The events culminated in a traditional Navy Ball, and the announcement of the newest San Antonio class LPD the USS Philadelphia. We can’t wait to see you all in 2025!
Upcoming Events
A very special Veterans Day event will take place at the Penn Museum (Harrison Auditorium] on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at 10:00 am.
This will be both an in-person and virtual program and is open to all. For more information, visit www.eternalsoldier.org.
Zoom registration can be found on the flyer’s QR code below.
For more information, visit: Leave No Warrior Behind Panel Discussion | eternal-soldier (eternalsoldier.org)
Congressman Dwight Evans will host a Veterans Entrepreneur Symposium on November 2nd at 3675 Market Street from 9 am to 2 pm. It will include breakfast, lunch, networking, workshops, and a panel.
This event is free and open to all veterans interested in starting their own business or nonprofit or those who wish to grow their existing organization.
Organizations presenting include:
- LA21
- Small Business Administration (SBA)
- Philly VIP
- Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network (GPVN)
- VestedIn
- Bunker Labs Philadelphia
- Greenline Access Capital
- City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce
- St. Joseph’s University Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV)
- Temple’s Small Business Development Center
For additional information and registration please visit https://veteransymposium.eventbrite.com
The 9th Annual Philadelphia Veterans Parade will be held on Sunday, November 5th, 2023, at 12 pm. This year’s theme is Honoring All Our Veterans. For more information, please link at https://www.phillyveteransparade.org/. The parade concludes at North 5th Street and the Veterans Festival takes place from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm between 3rd & 5th Streets on Market St.
DYK: It’s scientifically proven that working with plants can lower conditions related to stress, anxiety, depression, and pain, while raising confidence, increasing bone strength and lightening mood. Heroic Gardens offers FREE classes across Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs for any Veteran interested in working with plants and plant-based materials.
Can’t make it in person? We’ve got a Zoom for that!
Registration is Open for December
Join Veterans from across the country for a
FREE Virtual Gardening Class, the first Sunday of each month.
Learn more and Register here:
Stay Up to Date
Monthly Newsletters from Dept of Military and Veterans Affairs for News, Veteran Events and Opportunities in NJ and PA
In PA see: https://maestro.pa.gov/list/k3hdw2n4/230302C/8z6u9k2ia3mw.vib?test&a0=903
In NJ see: https://dmava.org/
Follow Us on Social Media
The DVVC Newsletter serves member organizations by sharing information with the Veterans they serve. In addition to the newsletter, the DVVC shares news and upcoming events on social media. Member organizations can follow our social media platforms to receive updates and share information about your organization’s news and events. Please engage on the posts and repost or share.
- LinkedIn Company Page – click on the bell at the top right and choose All New Posts
- LinkedIn Group
- LinkedIn Hashtag – in the search bar at the top left, type #dvvcorg and click follow
- Facebook Page
Personal LinkedIn Tips
- Optimize your LinkedIn profile. Take advantage of free online workshops that are available.
- Contact and connect with other LinkedIn users. LinkedIn enables you to network with people and professional organizations in your industry to stay updated with the latest developments and share information with others in your field.
- Give and receive recommendations and endorsements.
- Join other LinkedIn groups to discuss ideas and share industry news to develop professional networks.
- Create engaging content. Just as with other social networks, you can post simple text updates, images, and links to other sites, and you can share posts from other users. You can also record or upload videos directly to LinkedIn from your device to share your insights and experiences or to boost your organization’s brand identity.
Company Page LinkedIn Tips
Boost your organization’s profile to create followers and keep them up to date with what is going on inside your organization. Here are some step-by-step instructions from one of our member organizations if you want to create a business page.
It’s Open Season for Military Insurance
November 13 – December 12, 2023, is when Retired Military, Active Duty Family members are able to make changes to their Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance.
Medical.
- If you have served more than 20 years, or were medically retired with a 30% or more rating from your branch of service, then you are entitled to Tricare Prime or Tricare Select at a very low cost. Tricare Prime is approx. $30 a month for single/ $60 a month for Family. Tricare Select is about $15 a month for a single plus a deductible of $150 for the year/ $30 a month for the family plus a deductible of $300 for the year. Prices do increase annually – but it is minimal.
- If you are an active duty family member (ADFM) you can also change your health care coverage at this time as well. As family members are automatically enrolled in Tricare Prime with Humana, they do have a choice to use Tricare Select. While Tricare Prime is 100% free for the ADFM, Tricare Select has deductibles and cost shares.
- Those military members that are retired and have Medicare Part A and B, are entitled to Tricare For Life, which covers part C and D. For more information about Tricare benefits, visit www.Tricare.mil
Dental/Vision
- All Military retirees and their dependents are now eligible for Dental and Vision benefits through the FedVip program. In Pennsylvania, you have 11 choices for low-cost Dental Insurance and 6 choices for Low-cost vision. You must be enrolled in a Tricare Program in order to utilize this benefit. Go to Benefeds.com and follow the prompts to get enrolled.
If you have any questions concerning eligibility or enrollment, please do not hesitate to contact Tammy Cartagena USAF (Ret.) at 646-284-5736 or TCartagena@svcmcny.org. Text or call – the phone is a direct line.
November Career Education & Networking
Join in on the adult career online education topics and networking in November 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:
- Interview Clinic Check-in
- Create Graphics for Social Media Using Canva & More! Part 2 of 2
- Exploring Salary Negotiation & Compensation Trends
- Career Success Group Job Seeker Accountability & Networking
- How To Conduct A “Stealth” Executive Career Search While Employed
- Optimize LinkedIn for Career Success 2 Part Series
- Virtual Jobseeker Support Group
- The Angel Makers with Patti McCracken
- 7 Concepts on How to Identify & Leverage Your Strengths for Your Career
- LGBTQ+ OUTstanding Careers Group™
- How to Minimize Age Discrimination on Resumes & LinkedIn
- Recruiter on Call with Jobs
- How to Gain Customers with a LinkedIn Company Page
- How to Develop a Career Portfolio
- LinkedIn Part 3 of 3 (3-hour workshop)
- Jump Start Your Job Search Workshop
- Tips to Optimize Your Resume
- Business Executives Networking Group (BENG)
- Want a Successful Consulting Business? Clarify Your Why, What, Who & How
- Make Your Resume Shine!
- Tell Me About Yourself
- And more!
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 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.