VETERANS AFFAIRS AND REHABILITATION PLAN OF ACTION 2015-2016 Treva Kay ...

VETERANS AFFAIRS AND REHABILITATION

PLAN OF ACTION 2015-2016

Treva Kay Wildrick, Department Chairman

President Pearl's theme of From the Service of One Comes the Support of Many will easily be fulfilled through our VA&R program. The program promotes our Mission to enhance the lives of Veterans, Military and their Families.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

1. Provide opportunities for Auxiliary members to Service Veterans and their Families as Volunteers at VA Health Care facilities through the VA Voluntary Service (VAVS). o Members can become a regular VAVS volunteer and invite others to become VAVS volunteers. o Research volunteer opportunities available at VA Medical Centers, State Veterans homes, Fisher Houses (Note: Pearl's Special Project) and other VA health care locations. o Make sure to enter all of your VAVS hours into the VAVS tracking system.

2. Find opportunities for Auxiliary members to provide volunteer hours in Service to our Veterans and their Families in local Communities and from their Homes. o Sew Quilts for the Quilts of Valor Foundation, Crochet Stocking Hats for the Homeless, Bake Cupcakes for the Local Stand Down or help a Veteran use the Internet. Find out what is needed and then volunteer! o Compile and Report your Service to Veterans hours to your VA&R Chairman.

NOTE:

Field Service and Home Service merged! ALL hours will be combined under the heading of Service to Veterans. A NEW Service to Veterans pin has been designed to reflect this change. Eligibility for the new pin for all who earn their hours under Service to Veterans will be verified through the Department of FL VA&R Chairman and Service to Veterans Committee.

3. Assist Veterans in accessing VA benefits including, but not limited to, health care. This should include coordinating with your local American Legion Post Service Officer. o Help eligible Veterans attain benefits through referrals. o Encourage eligible Veterans to use the VA Health Care system and its services, including Hospitals, Community Based Outpatient Clinics, Vet Centers, etc.

4. Assist in Activities that help Homeless Veterans. o Contact the Homeless Veterans Coordinator at the VA Health Care system nearest to you to explore what can be done to help the Homeless Veterans in your Community.

o Participate in the VA Project CHALENG = Project CHALENG for Veterans enhances the care for Homeless Veterans provided by your local VA and its surrounding community service agencies.

o Raise funds to help Veterans and their Families through the Family Support Network for Veterans at risk of losing their housing or Homeless Veterans transitioning to permanent housing: Make payments of overdue Rent, Utility payments or deposits and Security deposits.

o Host or volunteer at Homeless Veterans' Stand Downs ? events where Homeless Veterans receive free goods and services, i.e. haircuts, dental and medical exams.

o Contact Homeless Veteran Emergency Shelters, Transitional Housing projects and Permanent Housing projects in your Community. Identify volunteer and inkind contribution needs: ? Meal preparation and serving ? Clothes collection and distribution ? Assembly and delivery of hygiene kits or buddy baskets ? Purchase or secure household items or furniture

5. Support Rehabilitation and Healing of Veterans through Arts, Crafts and Hobbies. o Obtain and become familiar with the ALA Guide for Volunteers. o Support VA Creative Arts Festival ? volunteer at the local event. o Identify Arts, Crafts and Hobby Projects targeted to Veterans: ? Writing ? Oral History Recording ? Visual and Performing Arts ? Quilting ? Gardening o Donate supplies to help supplement Visual Veteran Artists' needs for their projects. Contact your local VA Hospital coordinator for a list of items. o Donate funds (through Department) and help local Veterans attend State and National: ? Wheel Chair Games ? Veterans Creative Arts Festivals ? ParaOlympics

6. Promote Job Fairs for Veterans and their Families. o Take part by organizing or working an information table at a Veteran Job Fair. o Co-Host a Legion Family information table at a US Chamber of Commerce Foundation sponsored Job Fair. o Serve as a career e-Mentor for female Veterans via electronic communications. o Support Home Building and Renovation Projects for Veterans and their Families ? volunteer for Habitat for Humanity!

7. Assist and Support Caregivers of Veterans. o Familiarize yourself with the Services of the VA Caregiver Support program. o Invite a VA Caregiver Support Coordinator in the VA Healthcare System to make a presentation to your Unit or District meeting

VA&R MID-YEAR REPORT = UNIT

Unit Name _______________________________________________ Unit # _______ President Name ____________________________________ Phone # ________________ VA&R Chairman Name _____________________________ Phone # ________________

Each Unit VA&R Chairman is required to submit a Narrative Report to District VA&R Chairman by November 1, 2015.

! How many Members participated in Caregiver Support? ______________ ! What activities were performed? _______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________ ! How many Members participated in Service to Veterans? ___________________ ! How many hours were earned? ________________ ! What activities were performed? _______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

! Did your Unit participate or organize a Stand Down? __________ ! What activities were performed? _______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

! How many Veterans were served? _______________________

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VA&R MID-YEAR REPORT = DISTRICT # ___

President Name ____________________________________ Phone # ________________ VA&R Chairman Name _____________________________ Phone # ________________

Each District VA&R Chairman is required to submit a Narrative Report to Department VA&R Chairman by November 15, 2015.

! How many Units / Members participated in Caregiver Support? ______/ _______ ! What activities were performed? _______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________ ! How many Units / Members participated in Service to Veterans?______/_______ ! How many hours were earned? ________________ ! What activities were performed? _______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________ ! How many Units / Members participated or organized a Stand Down? ____/____ ! What activities were performed? _______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________ ! How many Veterans were served? _______________________

VA&R YEAR-END REPORT = UNIT

Unit Name _______________________________________________ Unit # _______ President Name ____________________________________ Phone # ________________ VA&R Chairman Name _____________________________ Phone # ________________

Each Unit VA&R Chairman is required to submit a Narrative Report to District VA&R Chairman by April 15, 2016.

! How many Members participated in Caregiver Support? ______________ ! What activities were performed? _______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________ ! How many Members participated in Service to Veterans? ___________________ ! How many hours were earned? ________________ ! What activities were performed? _______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

! Did your Unit participate or organize a Stand Down? __________ ! What activities were performed? _______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

! How many Veterans were served? _______________________

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VA&R YEAR-END REPORT = DISTRICT # ___

President Name ____________________________________ Phone # ________________ VA&R Chairman Name _____________________________ Phone # ________________

Each District VA&R Chairman is required to submit a Narrative Report to Department VA&R Chairman by May 1, 2016.

! How many Units / Members participated in Caregiver Support? ______/ _______ ! What activities were performed? _______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________ ! How many Units / Members participated in Service to Veterans?______/_______ ! How many hours were earned? ________________ ! What activities were performed? _______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________ ! How many Units / Members participated or organized a Stand Down? ____/____ ! What activities were performed? _______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________ ! How many Veterans were served? _______________________

Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Awards - National

Member Award: Hour Bar Recognition for Service to Veterans Volunteers Type of Award: Hour Bar Presented to: Member by her department via the ALA National Headquarters

Materials and Guidelines: ? Volunteers are recognized when specific hour milestones are reached: 50, 100, 300, 500

and 1,000. ? After the first 1,000-hour bar is awarded, the next bar will be earned in 1,000 hour

increments up to 20,000 hours. ? Hour bars are provided at no cost to departments; however, the appropriate pin (from

which the hour bar is affixed) can be obtained from Emblem Sales at the department's expense. See 2014 Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation: A Guide for Volunteers.

? Beginning 2014-2015 Field and Home service hours were combined into an allencompassing category called Service to Veterans.

Unit Award: Million Member Award Type of Award: Citation Plaque Presented to: One unit per division (5 awards)

Materials and Guidelines: ? Entries must include the award cover sheet located in this Plan. ? Must demonstrate how working the mission of the VA&R committee engaged, retained

and attracted members to grow membership in the unit ? The entry must be typewritten in narrative format, not to exceed 1,000 words. ? Include pictures, clippings, scrapbooks, folders, etc. ? Due to National Chairman Diane Duscheck, 5064 N Elkhart Ave, Whitefish Bay, WI

53217, postmarked or emailed by 5pm EST June 1, 2016.

Unit Award: Unit VA&R Program Awards Type of Award: Citation Plaque Presented to: One unit chairman per division (5 awards)

Materials and Guidelines: ? Entries must include the award cover sheet located in this Plan. ? Awarded to the unit chairman in each division who conducted the best overall

promotion of the VA&R program. ? The entry must be typewritten in narrative format, not to exceed 1,000 words. ? Include pictures, clippings, scrapbooks, folders, etc. ? Units will submit entries to the department chairman by the required date. ? Winning department entries must be sent to the national chairman Diane Duscheck,

5064 N Elkhart Ave, Whitefish Bay, WI 53217, postmarked or emailed by 5pm EST June 1,2016

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