All posts by vfwpost2713

News

Secretary Carter Participates in Lean In Circle

Leave a comment

Today Secretary of Defense Ash Carter participated in a Lean In Circle at the Pentagon alongside LeanIn.Org Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Facebook Sheryl Sandberg. Lean In Circles are designed as a peer-to-peer mentoring network. This circle included 15 military women of all ranks and services who were able to freely and confidentially speak about the professional challenges they have faced being women in the military. After the hour long circle, Secretary Carter announced that he will be encouraging circles to take place throughout Department of Defense, saying the program is a positive addition to his ongoing efforts to enhance workforce culture and collaboration within the department.

“DoD is a learning organization, and Lean In Circles give our people a way to do what they do best: learn through mentorship, peer to peer and bottom up, by brainstorming with colleagues and by being able to let their guard down,” Secretary Carter said.

Lean In Circles provide all women, including women in the military, an opportunity to learn and grow from each other. Sheryl welcomed the secretary’s support for expanding Lean In Circles within the Defense Department.

“The Department of Defense is the largest employer in the country, and I’m thrilled it is expanding Lean In Circles across all branches and with civilian personnel. My thanks to Secretary Carter and the DoD for taking this important step for equality.”

Lean in Circles are free to join and lead, and can be held online or in physical settings. With the secretary’s support, circles will be allowed within DoD facilities and can be held before, during and after normal work hours.

Free educational materials, chapters, and specific information for military circles can be found online at leanin.org/military.

Patriots Pen, Voice of Democracy, Youth Essay

The Deadline for VFW’s Youth Scholarship Competitions is Fast Approaching Student entries must be submitted by November 1

Leave a comment

image003KANSAS CITY, Mo. (September 22, 2015) – The VFW is still accepting entries for the 2015-16 VFW Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen scholarship competitions. The deadline for student entries in both contests is Nov. 1.

The VFW’s scholarship competitions are dedicated to promoting patriotism among America’s youth. Students are asked to submit an essay in response to a question or statement on a subject that encourages them to consider how democratic ideals and principles apply to their lives. Each year the VFW awards more than $3 million in scholarships and awards to middle and high school students who participate in the two competitions.

This year’s Voice of Democracy theme encourages students to describe, “My Vision for America.” The Voice of Democracy scholarship competition is an audio-essay competition open to students in grades 9-12. The national winner will receive a $30,000 scholarship. Click here to learn more.

The Patriot’s Pen competition is open to students in grades 6-8. This year, students are asked to reflect on the statement, “What Freedom Means to Me.” The national winner will receive a $5,000 award. Click here for the details.

Students should submit their entry (along with a completed entry form) to their participating local VFW Post 2713.

*State of Washington Residents Only: Youth Essay Scholarship competition deadline is Nov. 1st as well.

WDVF

Free 2 year Training for Veteran & Service Member Entrepreneurs via the Washington Diversity and Veterans Foundation

Leave a comment

This message is to introduce the Washington Diversity and Veterans Foundation and invite your organization to become a partner in the fulfillment of our Veterans’ Objective Mission Program.

The Washington Diversity and Veterans Foundation (WDVF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which offers entrepreneurial resources, education, contacts, and tools to veterans and other individuals in the community to help them start or grow their own businesses.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of veterans leave the military to begin careers in the civilian community. Many have the skills, training, and experience to start their own businesses, but lack the entrepreneurial expertise to make those businesses successful. WDVF is committed to helping these veterans utilize their skills to build companies which achieve growth and prosperity and make positive contributions to the community.

In January, 2016, the Veterans’ Objective Mission Program starts, a two-year course designed to help veterans returned to civilian life and in-service military separating within a year to establish and develop businesses. This will increase the number of veteran owned businesses in our communities, fueling economic diversification, creating jobs, and developing sustainable entrepreneurial resources.

This program will serve 90 veterans and in-service members separating within a year. It is free to participants, an important component, since most veterans seeking to start businesses don’t have the financial resources to attend fee-based educational institutions while they start their companies.

We are taking applications now. Selected participants will have to pass a panel interview to start the program in January 2016. For more information, please visit: http://www.wdvfoundation.org

WDVF is seeking sponsors, and/or partnership to support this program. We hope we can count on you to help support our cause. Please find attached a copy of the program’s brochure for your information.

If you have further questions contact me at 253-298-2546 or via email at silvia@wdvfoundation.org and share this information to whom might benefit from this program.

Best Regards,

Silvia Reyes
President-CEO
253-298-2546
http://www.wdvfoundation.org

Benefits

One-Day Estate Planning Clinic for Veterans on Oct. 24 9-4 @ UW Seattle School of Law

Leave a comment

The WA Vets Will Clinic, a nonprofit clinic that serves veterans of Washington are providing estate planning documents at no cost to veterans across the state during the month of October. There are five clinic locations statewide during the month of October.
The Clinic in Seattle will be held on Saturday October 24th from 9am-4pm at the University of Washington School of Law. Free parking is available for all veterans.

Registration for the 2015 Clinic is open at http://www.wavetswillclinic.com/sign-up (full details and disclaimers on the website). Attorneys will use the online registration to prepare draft documents. The veteran will then be scheduled for a one-hour meeting with an attorney on Saturday, October 24. Changes to the documents will be made on-site. The documents are printed, signed and notarized at the clinic. The veteran walks out with a complete set of documents at no cost. To obtain these documents privately, the average cost is $500-$1000. The majority of Washingtonians do not have estate planning documents so the clinic provides a much needed resource.
Veterans of any military branch can receive a free set of estate planning documents (a will, advance health care directive and power of attorney) on Saturday, October 24 from the Washington Veterans Will Clinic. To qualify, the veteran needs discharge papers (DD 214), proof of Washington residency and assets less than $500k ($1 mil if married; spouses are included at the clinic).

Please pass the word to any veterans you know about this great resource. For further information or questions, please contact the North Sound clinic at seattle@wavetswillclinic.com or 425-610-6355.

WVWC Flyer 2015

Uncategorized

Service for Service; Washington Goes to the Dogs

Leave a comment

Registration is open for third annual “Service for Service: Washington Goes to the Dogs” event. This year it will be held on November 5, 2015 at the Emerald Queen Casino and Conference Center.
For more information and to register either as a participant or an exhibitor, please go to the Veterans Training Support Center link listed below.

Event Page: http://veteranstrainingsupportcenter.org/index.php/calendar_main/event_all/485/

RegOnline Form: https://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1749060

Exhibitor Registration Form: https://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1749680

Homeless

Connecticut Becomes First State to End Chronic Homelessness Among Veterans

Leave a comment

Governor Dan Malloy joined by VA Secretary Bob McDonald for historic announcement

Yesterday, Governor Dan Malloy announced that Connecticut has become the first state in the country to end chronic homelessness among veterans. This announcement marks another milestone in the campaign to end veteran homelessness nationwide. With towns, cities, and states coordinating efforts across the board to identify and house homeless veterans, the United States as a whole has become a truly national coalition for homeless veterans.

“We have set a high bar – and with today’s announcement, we’re on our way to achieving it. We are truly a national leader on these issues, because our veterans deserve access to housing, quality health care, education, and career opportunities. It’s our obligation to deliver for them, and that’s just what we’re doing as a state,” Governor Malloy said. “We established this bold goal to end homelessness among our veterans not because it’s good for our economy and makes communities stronger, but because it’s morally right. Ending chronic veteran homelessness is just another step forward and another marker of progress towards reaching our goal of ending all veteran homelessness by the end of this year.”

Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald was on hand for Governor Malloy’s announcement, stating “President Obama has made a bold goal to end veteran homelessness by the end of this year, and states and cities across the country are committed to making sure every Veteran has a safe and stable place to call home. Here in Connecticut, you’ve responded to that challenge by helping the most vulnerable homeless veterans find permanent housing. Americans understand and believe, as I do, that no one who has fought for this country should have to fight to keep a roof over their head. This progress would not be possible without the partnerships that have been built here in Connecticut and across the nation; partnerships across the federal government, with state and local governments, with non-profit organizations and with the private sector. This is not a static challenge; it is an ongoing challenge and we will keep at it because that is what the men and women who have served our nation have earned and deserve.”

To read the full press release and view more coverage from yesterday’s historic announcement, see the latest post in Coalition Call.

VA

Seattle VARO to host Veteran Town Hall Event – Friday, September 18, 2015

Leave a comment

BENEFIT SERVICES PROVIDED TO VETERANS

The Seattle VA Regional Office administers a variety of services and benefits for our nation’s Veterans in Washington State including disability compensation benefits, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment services (VR&E), grants for special adaptive housing, Veterans benefits counseling, outreach services for the homeless, elderly, minority and women Veterans.

VA BENEFITS EMPLOYEES IN SEATTLE

There are 614 employees at the Seattle Regional Office working for Veterans including outreach specialists, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Military Service Coordinators, and Veterans Service Representatives. Veteran employees comprise approximately 54% of the workforce.

KEY PERSONNEL AT THE SEATTLE VA REGIONAL OFFICE

Pritz Navaratnasingam, Director; Bill Borom, Assistant Director; Andrew Graf, Assistant Director; Michael Crouse, Special Missions Program Officer; Ayn-Marie Lofgren, Veterans Service Center Manager; David Boyd, VR&E Officer; Rob Hard, Public Affairs Officer.

YOU ARE INVITED: SEATTLE REGIONAL OFFICE TO HOST TOWN HALL MEETING

The Seattle Regional Office (RO) cordially invites you to attend a Town Hall meeting on Friday, September 18th at 11:00am in Seattle, WA. The Veteran Town Hall event will be hosted by the Seattle RO and provides VA Leadership the opportunity to hear how you envision services for Veterans in the future. Staff will also be available to answer your individual healthcare and benefits-related questions.

What:

VA Town Hall Event

When: Friday, September 18th Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm

Where: Henry M. Jackson Federal Building, 915 2nd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98174 – 4th floor North Auditorium

It’s Your VA – Tell Us What You Think!