Note: All members not present in person are invited to participate by phone, by calling 1-866-266-3378 and entering the JWV Code number 2022656280#.
1. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - Review of Actions and Projects proposed at the IT Committee meeting from the National Convention in August 2009
a. Establishing websites for all departments and posts
1) Results of Dept of TALO test project
2) Reports from any other departments about their website experiences
b. National objective to gather additional member email addresses
1)Results of ongoing harvesting of email addresses at National level
c. Teleconference planning for 2010 – and thinking about topics for 2011
d. PowerPoint presentation for recruiting and retention on JWV.org website
e. Update on status of JWV Forum
2. NEW BUSINESS
a. Uses of Facebook and Twitter
b. Proposals regarding New Projects for this committee
c. Request for volunteers to assume leadership positions on this committee
d. Recommendations for improvement
_____________________________________________________
| FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 3/03/2010 |
|
|
THE JEWISH WAR VETERANS SUPPORTS THE HOUSE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
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________________________________________________________
GULF WAR VETERANS ILLNESSES TASK FORCE 26 Feb. 2010
GWI Statistics: Of the almost 700,000 service members who deployed to Operation Desert Shield/Storm in 1990/1991, there have been 300,000 Gulf War Veterans with claims decisions, 85.7 percent were granted service connection for at least one condition, and 14.3 percent were not granted service connection for any condition (historically same percentage for other era Veterans).
GWVI-TF Mission:
1. Identify gaps in services as well as opportunities to better serve Gulf War Veterans.
2. Better meet the needs of ill Veterans and address environmental exposures in order to determine service connection as soon as possible.
3. Identify lessons learned from past practices and policy that can be applied to today’s policies, programs and services supporting Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom and future conflicts.
GWVI-TF Recommendations:
1. Improve Data Sharing in Connection with DoD to notify Veterans of potential exposures, monitor their long-term health and inform Veterans about decisions regarding additional follow up
2. Improve Delivery of Benefits to Veterans with Gulf War-related disabilities by
a. Reviewing and updating regulations for Gulf War Veterans.
b. Expanding training for VBA examiners on administering disability claims with multiple known exposure incidents
3. Enhance VA healthcare for Veterans through a new model of interdisciplinary health education and training.
4. Increase number of Long Term, Veteran-Focused Studies of Veterans to enhance care VA provides to Veterans.
5. Transition from reactive to proactive medical surveillance to help better identify Veterans’ potential hazardous exposures.
6. Find new treatments for Gulf War Veterans through new research
7. Enhance outreach to provide information and guidance to Veterans about benefits and services available to them for injuries/illnesses associated with Gulf War I service
NEXT STEPS
1. Solicit public comment and outreach to Veterans, their families and other stakeholders
2. Implement recommendations using accountability action plan
3. Recommendations are a first step to improving care and benefits for Gulf War Veterans
SEE: http://www.reasearch.va.gov/resources/pub_individual.cfm?category=GULF%20WAR%20REPORTS
_____________________________________________________________
JWV National Information Technology Committee Meeting
Agenda Friday, March 5, 2010, 11AM-noon EST
Note: All members not present in person are invited to participate by phone, by
calling 1-866-266-3378 and entering the
JWV Code number 2022656280#.
1. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - Review of Actions and Projects proposed at the IT
Committee meeting from the National Convention in August 2009
a. Establishing websites for all departments and posts
1) Results of Dept of TALO test project
2) Reports from any other departments about their website experiences
b. National objective to gather additional member email addresses
1) Results of ongoing harvesting of email addresses at National
level
c. Teleconference planning for 2010 – and thinking about topics for
2011
d. PowerPoint presentation for recruiting and retention on
JWV.org website
e. Update on status of JWV Forum
2. NEW BUSINESS
a. Uses of Facebook and Twitter
b. Proposals regarding New Projects for this committee
c. Request for volunteers to assume leadership positions on this
committee
d. Recommendations for improvement
________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2010
VA Announces $41 Million in Construction Contracts for San Antonio
State-of-Art “Polytrauma Center” Funded
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the award of two contracts totaling $41.5 million to create a “polytrauma center” that cares for the most severely injured Veterans and to improve the existing wards at the Audie L. Murphy VA Medical Center.
“A top priority for VA is providing greater access to VA’s health care system and higher quality of care for the nation’s Veterans,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said. “America’s Veterans have earned the very best that this nation as to offer.”
One contract announced by Secretary Shinseki provides $37.2 million to Robins and Morton of Birmingham, Ala. The contract calls for construction of a three-story, 84,000-square foot “polytrauma center.” It would include physical medicine, rehabilitation services, prosthetics service and research.
“Polytrauma” refers to health care for Veterans who have more than one severe, life-threatening medical problem. Many of VA’s polytrauma patients are recent combat Veterans injured by roadside bombs and other explosives in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A second contract, valued at $4.3 million, went to Strategic Perspectives Development of San Antonio. It provides for upgrades and expansion to ward 4-A, including electrical work, utilities, fire alarm and fire protection systems, telephone and data systems, and asbestos abatement.
Last year, VA spent more than $7.8 billion in Texas on behalf of the state’s 1.7 million Veterans. VA operates 11 major medical centers in the state, more than 40 outpatient clinics, 14 Vet Centers and six national cemeteries.
________________________________________________________
VA Begins Nationwide GI Bill Advertising Campaign to Reach Student Veterans and
Schools
WASHINGTON (Feb. 23, 2010) – The Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) today announced a two-month, nationwide advertising campaign to assist
student Veterans and servicemembers applying for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
“VA, student Veterans and our schools have made significant progress in
implementing the GI Bill this spring, but we still have more to do,” said
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We won’t rest until all
student Veterans have received the education benefit they earned in defense of
our Nation.”
Since inception of this historic new program, VA has issued
nearly $1.9 billion in Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit payments and opened the door to
higher education to 209,490 people.
As of Feb. 12, VA has received spring
semester Post-9/11 GI Bill enrollments from approximately 180,000 student
Veterans and already paid nearly 90 percent of students. All Post-9/11 GI Bill
participants whose spring enrollments were received by Jan. 18 have been paid.
The GI Bill Advertising campaign includes half-page ads in top college
publications, online and social media, print, radio, and outdoor advertising
such as posters and flyers. Public service announcements are being delivered to
approximately 150 college radio stations and 750 local stations in areas where
there is a high density of students, as well as military installations.
Student Veterans on college campuses will also see a variety of posters in
registrars’ offices, dormitories, cafeterias, student union buildings and other
high traffic areas.
“This comprehensive, nationwide advertising campaign will
help us reach those student Veterans, servicemembers and educational
administrators who need help in understanding the GI Bill and their role in the
benefits process,” said Keith Wilson, director of VA’s educational
service.
Social media and online advertising will be extensively used to
reach the younger generation of student Veterans. VA will place banner ads on
social media sites such as Facebook, Google, MySpace, Yahoo, and other outlets.
Text messaging ads will also link student Veterans to VA. By texting
“GIBILL,” Veterans will receive the basic message: “You Served. Get Benefits.”
Veterans will then be directed to follow three steps: “Review your benefit
options online. Submit your application. And check with your school certifying
official to confirm that your VA enrollment certification has been sent to VA.”
VA also developed a hip pocket guide and checklist with helpful tips to
assist Veterans and servicemembers in the application process.
The
Post-9/11 GI Bill, passed by Congress last year, is the most extensive
educational assistance program authorized since the original GI Bill was signed
into law in 1944.
Information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill, as well as VA’s
other educational benefit programs, is available at VA’s Web site, www.gibill.va.gov, or by calling 1-888-GIBILL-1 (or 1-888-442-4551).
_
_____________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2010
Web Site Offers Single Access Point for Wounded Warriors
Three Federal Departments Collaborate on National Resource Directory
WASHINGTON — The federal departments of Veterans Affairs, Labor and Defense unveiled today an improved Web site for wounded warriors.
“VA is committed to tapping into the full powers of the Internet to provide accurate, timely, easy to find and easy to understand information that improves the lives of Veterans, service members, their families and all who care for them,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.
The National Resource Directory is a comprehensive, free, online tool for wounded, ill and injured service members, Veterans and their families. Visitors to the site can find an extensive range of information about Veterans’ benefits, including disability and pension benefits, VA health care and educational opportunities. The site also provides information for those who care for Veterans, such as access to emotional, financial and community assistance.
The Web site has been enhanced to provide a single point of access to a wealth of information from more than 10,000 sites by federal, state and local governments and organizations offering services for wounded warriors.
“This online directory is an invaluable resource for those involved in helping service members and Veterans,” Shinseki said. “Reliable information about government and private-sector programs can be a priceless tool.”
A recent addition to the Web site is a specialized section where users can find help for homeless Veterans. These resources will help end Veteran homelessness over the next five years.
Online Resources 2/2/2/2
The new design will help visitors find needed resources easily. Other enhancements include a fast, accurate search engine; a “bookmark and share” capability that allows users to share valuable resources on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites; and a news feature with updates on relevant information and events. Resources are added daily.
Visit the site at www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov.
______________________________________________________________
Teleconference Notes - February 18, 2010
Attendees: NC Ed Robins OH; NEC Chairman PNC Monte Mayer NY/VT; PNC Mike Berman NJ; PNC Paul Bernstein NY; Stan Bilker PA; Mel Brody SW; Elliott Donn CT; Hannah Deutch NY; Don Feldman PA; Jesse Gersten SW; Jason Kaatz NY; Joe Kraut SE; Saul Laub OH; Andy Lavigne TOLA; Sid Lichter NJ; PNC Jack Litz PA; Shelly Ohren NY; Jerry Paris PA; PNC Norman Rosenshein NY; Bill Singer NY; Helene Van Clief NY
Staff: NED Herb Rosenbleeth; Cheryl Waldman
Subject: National Executive Committee
• Mar. 3 & 4 Capitol Hill Action Days
• Mar. 3 Congressional Reception, Rm 334 Cannon House Office Building, 5:15PM-7:15 PM
• Mar. 4 National Commander’s Testimony, Rm 345 Cannon House Office Building, 9:30 AM (JWV is second on the schedule)
• PNC Jack Litz is sending literature to JWV for members to distribute on Capitol Hill Action Days…looking for legislative sponsors to name January 6 in honor of Haym Salomon
• Hoping to have Allied Veterans Mission and JWV Mission to Israel in October
• JWV now has new online store for supplies
• JWV is currently forming an online Post to be named the Schulte-Burkenthal Post 77
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| FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2/24/2010 |
|
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JWV Protests NATO Afghanistan Detainee Policy and Demands Discharge against Captain Roger Hill Be Expunged
|
__________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2010
VA Education Call Center Again Operating Five Days a Week
Temporary Closures Significantly Cut Post-9/11 GI Bill Pending Inventory
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced that the Education Call Center, closed on Thursdays and Fridays over the past two months, is again operating five days a week
“I am pleased by the progress these call center employees made in significantly cutting our pending inventory of education claims,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “As a result of their efforts, 30,000 additional student Veterans received their checks, bought books, paid the rent, and stayed in school.”
By temporarily reassigning call center employees on Thursdays and Fridays to process Post-9/11 GI Bill claims, VA was able to complete a significant number of education claims from mid-December through mid-February. VA’s goal was always to return call center employees to their permanent duties.
The decision to supplement claims processing staff by the call center employees was a key factor in meeting VA’s aggressive processing goal of Post-9/11 GI Bill claims. As of mid-February 2010, VA’s capacity to process Post-9/11 GI bill claims jumped from an average of 2,000 a day in August 2009 to 7,000 a day.
Since inception of this historic new program, VA has issued nearly $1.9 billion in Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit payments and opened the door to higher education to 209,490 people.
As of Feb. 12, VA received spring semester Post-9/11 GI Bill enrollments from approximately 180,000 student Veterans and already paid nearly 90 percent of them. All Post-9/11 GI Bill participants whose spring enrollments were received by Jan. 18 have been paid.
VA Education Call Center Employees 2/2/2/2
Because VA is now processing spring enrollments timely, advance payments are no longer available at VA regional offices or through the online advance payment Web site.
In December when the decision was made to redirect phone agents to claims processing, the number of pending claims was almost 80,000 and timeliness measures were extremely high. The inventory of education claims was driving call volume at the call center to an all time high of 1.26 million call attempts during November.
That is why in mid-December 2009 VA temporarily reassigned employees at the VA Education Call Center on Thursdays and Fridays, the lowest call volume days, to help process education benefit claims.
Since that time, the call center demand dropped by 42 percent as student Veterans received their payments. The call center received 769,637 call attempts on Monday thru Wednesday during the first two weeks in December 2009. By comparison, the call center received 446,328 call attempts on Monday thru Wednesday through the first two weeks in February 2010.
Information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill, as well as VA’s other educational benefit programs, is available at VA’s Web site, www.gibill.va.gov, or by calling
1-888-GIBILL-1 (or 1-888-442-4551).
# # #
_________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2010
White House Seeks $125 Billion for Veterans in 2011
Homelessness, Claims Increases and Access - Priorities for VA Budget
WASHINGTON – To expand health care to a record-number of Veterans, reduce the
number of homeless Veterans and process a dramatically increased number of new
disability compensation claims, the White House has announced a proposed $125
billion budget next year for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“Our budget proposal provides the resources necessary to continue our aggressive
pursuit of President Obama’s two over-arching goals for Veterans,” said
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “First, the requested budget
will help transform VA into a 21st century organization. And second, it will
ensure that we approach Veterans’ care as a lifetime initiative, from the day
they take their oaths until the day they are laid to rest.”
The $125 billion budget request, which has to be approved by Congress, includes
$60.3 billion for discretionary spending (mostly health care) and $64.7 billion
in mandatory funding (mostly for disability compensation and pensions).
“VA’s 2011 budget request covers many areas but focuses on three central issues
that are of critical importance to our Veterans – easier access to benefits and
services, faster disability claims decisions, and ending the downward spiral
that results in Veterans’ homelessness,” Shinseki said.
Reducing Claims Backlog
The president’s budget proposal includes an increase of $460 million and more
than 4,000 additional claims processors for Veterans benefits. This is a 27
percent funding increase over the 2010 level.
The 1,014,000 claims received in 2009 were a 75 percent increase over the
579,000 received in 2000. Shinseki said the Department expects a 30 percent
increase in claims – to 1,319,000 – in 2011 from 2009 levels.
Budget 2011 – 2/2/2/2
One reason for the increase is VA’s expansion of the number of Agent
Orange-related illnesses that automatically qualify for disability benefits.
Veterans exposed to the Agent Orange herbicides during the Vietnam War are
likely to file additional claims that will have a substantial impact upon the
processing system for benefits, the secretary said.
“We project significantly increased claims inventories in the near term while we
make fundamental improvements to the way we process disability compensation
claims,” Shinseki said.
Long-term reduction of the inventory will come from additional manpower,
improved business practices, plus an infusion of $145 million in the proposed
budget for development of a paperless claims processing system, which plays a
significant role in the transformation of VA.
Automating the GI Bill
The budget proposal includes $44 million to complete by December 2010 an
automated system for processing applications for the new Post-9/11 GI Bill. VA
also plans to start development next year of electronic systems to process
claims from other VA-administered educational programs.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill authorizes the most extensive educational assistance
opportunity since the passage of the original GI Bill in 1944. Over $1.7 billion
in regular Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit payments have been issued since the
implementation of the program on Aug. 1, 2009. In 2011, VA expects the number
of all education claims to grow by 32 percent over 2009, going from 1.7 million
to 2.25 million.
“To meet this increasing workload and process education claims in a timely
manner, VA has established a comprehensive strategy to develop industry-standard
technologies to modernize the delivery of these important educational benefits,”
Shinseki said.
Budget 2011 – 3/3/3/3
Eliminating Homelessness
The budget proposal includes $4.2 billion in 2011 to reduce and help prevent
homelessness among Veterans. That breaks down into $3.4 billion for core medical
services and $799 million for specific homeless programs and expanded medical
care, which includes $294 million for expanded homeless initiatives. This
increased investment for expanded homeless services is consistent with the VA
secretary’s established goal of ultimately eliminating homelessness among
Veterans.
On a typical night, about 131,000 Veterans are homeless. They represent every
war and generation, from the “Greatest Generation” to the latest generation of
Veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. To date, VA operates the largest
system of homeless treatment and assistance programs in the nation.
Targeting Mental Health, Preventing Suicides
“The 2011 budget proposal continues the department’s keen focus on improving the
quality, access and value of mental health care provided to Veterans,” Shinseki
said.
The spending request seeks $5.2 billion for mental health, an increase of $410
million (or 8.5 percent) over current spending, enabling expansion of inpatient,
residential and outpatient mental health services, with emphasis on making
mental health services part of primary care and specialty care.
The secretary noted that one-fifth of the patients seen last year in VA’s health
care facilities had a mental health diagnosis, and that the department has added
more than 6,000 new mental health professionals since 2005, bringing to 19,000
the number of employees dedicated to mental health care.
The budget request will enable the department to continue expanding its programs
for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI),
along with the diagnosis and treatment of depression, substance abuse and other
mental health problems. Shinseki called PSTD treatment “central to VA’s
mission.”
Budget 2011 – 4/4/4/4
The proposed spending will continue VA’s suicide prevention program. Since July
2007, the department’s suicide prevention hotline has received nearly 225,000
calls from Veterans, active-duty personnel and family members. The hotline is
credited with saving the lives of nearly 7,000 people.
Reaching Rural Veterans
For 2011, VA is seeking $250 million to strengthen access to health care for 3.2
million Veterans enrolled in VA’s medical system who live in rural areas. Rural
outreach includes expanded use of home-based primary care and mental health.
A key portion of rural outreach – which shows promise for use with Veterans
across the country – is VA’s innovative “telehealth” program. It links patients
and health care providers by telephones and includes telephone-based data
transmission, enabling daily monitoring of patients with chronic problems.
The budget provides an increase of $42 million for VA’s home telehealth program.
The effort already cares for 35,000 patients and is the largest program of its
kind in the world.
Serving Women Veterans
The 2011 budget provides $217.6 million to meet the gender-specific health care
needs of women Veterans, an increase of $18.6 million (or 9.4 percent) over the
2010 level. Enhanced primary care for women Veterans remains one of the
Department’s top priorities. The number of women Veterans is growing rapidly and
women are increasingly using VA for their health care.
Shinseki said the expansion of health care programs for women Veterans will lead
to higher quality care, increased coordination of care, enhanced privacy and
dignity, and a greater sense of security among women patients.
Budget 2011 – 5/5/5/5
Among the initiatives for women in the 2011 budget proposal are expanded health
care services in Vet Centers, increased training for health care providers to
advance their knowledge and understanding of women’s health issues, and
implementing a peer call center and social networking site for women combat
Veterans. This call center will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Delivering World-Class Health Care
During 2011, VA expects to treat 6.1 million patients, who will account for more
than 800,000 hospitalizations and 83 million outpatient visits.
The total includes 439,000 Veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, for whom
$2.6 billion is included in the budget proposal. That’s an increase of $597
million – or 30 percent – from the current budget.
The proposed budget for health care includes:
· $6.8 billion for long-term care, an increase of $859 million (or 14 percent)
over 2010. This amount includes $1.5 billion for non-institutional long-term
care;
· Expanding access to VA health care system for more than 99,000 Veterans who
were previously denied care because of their incomes;
· $590 million for medical and prosthetic research; and
· Continuing development of a “virtual lifetime electronic record,” a digital
health record that will accompany Veterans throughout their lives.
VA is requesting $54.3 billion in advance appropriations for 2012 for health
care, an increase of $2.8 billion over the 2011 enacted amount. Planned
initiatives in 2012 include better leveraging acquisitions and contracting,
enhancing the use of referral agreements, strengthening VA’s relationship with
the Defense Department, and expanding the use of medical technology.
Budget 2011 – 5/5/5/5
Preserving National Shrines
“VA remains steadfastly committed to providing access to a dignified and
respectful burial for Veterans choosing to be buried in a VA national cemetery,”
Shinseki said. “This promise requires that we maintain national cemeteries as
shrines dedicated to the memory of those who served this nation in uniform.”
The requested $251 million for cemetery operations and maintenance will support
more than 114,000 interments in 2011, a 3.8 percent increase over 2010. In 2011,
the department will maintain 8,441 acres with 3.1 million gravesites. The budget
request includes $37 million to clean and realign an estimated 668,000
headstones and repair 100,000 sunken graves.
Building for the Future
$1.15 billion requested for major construction for 2011 includes funding for
medical facilities in New Orleans; Denver; Palo Alto, Calif.; Alameda, Calif.;
and Omaha, Neb. Also budgeted for 2011 are major expansions and improvements to
the national cemeteries in Indiantown Gap, Pa.; Los Angeles; and Tahoma, Wash.,
and new burial access policies that will provide a burial option to an
additional 500,000 Veterans and enhance service in urban areas.
A requested budget of $468 million for minor construction in 2011 would fund a
wide variety of improvements at VA facilities.
Attached is the 2010 Finance Board report, which is being distributed in
electronic format this year.
Please be sure that quartermasters and commanders of your echelons receive a
copy.
Additional copies can be downloaded from the home page of the JWV web site,
www.jwv.org.
Completed forms must be printed out and returned by certified mail, return
receipt requested,
to JWV National Headquarters, 1811 R St., NW, Washington, DC 20009, by May 1,
2010.
Please call Greg Byrne at 202-265-6280 x 507 with any questions.
______________________________________________________________
Commander's Report 11-30-09
Dear fellow JWVs and our wonderful Patrons of the fastest growing JWV Post in
the country:
1. Our brunch, together with the Brotherhood at Congregation Gates of Prayer on
Nov. 15th , was fantastic. Bert Stolier spoke about his experiences in the
Pacific theatre during ww2 , including being at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
Everyone, including the U.S. Marine Color Guard, was enthralled to listen to
Bert as he described, among other things, being adrift at sea, alone, for 2
whole days. My wife, for one, cried a few times. About 80 people attended,
including about 35 of our members. I know that many of you do not attend events,
and I am grateful that you belong to our Post, but you really should check us
out as we will continue to have events that are worthwhile. These are not dull
business meetings!!
2. You should have received the 2010 JWV calendar. Our member, Capt. Carol
Berman, is featured. In her honor, I have made an additional contribution to JWV,
and I hope you will do the same.
3. The beat goes on!! In the last week, 3 new members joined: Marty Scudder, a
cousin, Henry Rosenblat, an old friend and Viktor Khalimsky. See picture
attached. Viktor was a 22 year old Lt. in the Russian army in the 70s. That
makes 2 such members in the Post.
Also, Mike Kasten, co-owner with his wife Sandy, of Teri Galleries, joined a few
weeks ago. He and Sandy were so inspired by the brunch, that Sandy and son
-in-law Dale Messina, became Patrons, for a total of 5 new additions to our
Post. My son, Eddie Gothard, previously became a Patron, and I hope you will
all consider signing up new Patrons as well as members. Patrons enjoy all
privileges of membership in the JWV, with the exception of holding office and
voting. Any adult can be a patron. You do not have to be a veteran or even
Jewish. You just have to be a mensch. Just mail me your check for $50 (deductable)
made to JWV, and your address, phone number and email address. That's all it
takes to become a Patron. My address is:
5213 Haring Ct.
Metairie, La. 70006.
4. Speaking of membership, when the new slate of officers assumed office on
March 30, 2009, there were 17 paid members, no women and no Patrons.. Today, we
have: 66 new members, 14 Patrons, 2 former Russian soldiers, 7 women, and 10
former IDF veterans, for a total of 109 on our rolls. But, like our New Orleans
Saints, we are not satisfied our complacent because there are many many more
people that could and should be a part of what we are doing for this community,
Jew and non Jew alike.
Have a wonderful holiday season, a wonderful Chanukah, and GO SAINTS. GO HORNETS
Sol
Judge Sol Gothard, JD, MSW, ACSW
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal
State of Louisiana (ret.)
504 887 3570
judgesol@cox.net
Commander, Jules Lazard Post 580 New Orleans
Jewish War Veterans of America
_______________________________________________________________
Attached is the application packet for the 2009-10 JWV Olympiad Award. Please
forward to echelon commanders and all interested participants. To save postage
and printing costs, the application packet will not be printed this year but can
be downloaded directly from the JWV web site home page, http://www.jwv.org/images/uploads/2009-2010_Olympiad_Award.pdf
2009-2010 Olympiad Award Application.
http://www.jwv.org/images/uploads/2009-2010_Olympiad_Award.pdf
_________________________________________________________
Honor our Veterans. Record their stories!
VA and the Library of Congress Veterans History Project have a special message
for all Americans this Veterans Day – Honor our Veterans. Record their stories!
By recording the oral histories of our Veterans, we preserve the human face of
American history for generations to come and honor those men and women who swore
to protect and defend the United States. Each day as Veterans Day approaches,
the VA home page will introduce you to veterans’ oral histories from the digital
archive of the Library of Congress – one from each state and territory.
Interested in a Veteran from your state? Just click on the map. To find out more
about the Veterans History Project and how you can submit your veteran’s oral
history to the Library of Congress, go to www.loc.gov/vets. Do something special
to honor Veterans on Veterans Day, record a Veteran’s history!
It’s featured on the VA homepage now at http://www.va.gov/
____________________________________________________________________
SAVE THE DATE!
THE DATE FOR NATIONAL COMMANDER ROBINS’ UPCOMING TESTIMONY BEFORE THE JOINT
HOUSE AND SENATE VETERANS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN SET
FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010.
THE NEXT SEMI-ANNUAL NEC MEETING WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2010, AT THE
MARRIOTT CRYSTAL CITY AT REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT.
____________________________________________________________________
Contact: Edwin Robins, National Commander
Robert M. Zweiman, International Liaison Officer
Cheryl Waldman, National Public Relations Coordinator
Email:erobins@jwv.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
10/22/2009
JWV Demands Punishment for All Who Spy against the United States
Stewart D. Nozette is the latest in the list of Americans with access to
classified information who have been suspected of spying for allies of the
United States. Since Mr. Nozette has been charged, but not yet convicted, he is
entitled to the presumption of innocence due to all under the American criminal
justice system.
If Mr. Nozette is convicted of spying, however, he will join the ranks of others, such as Jonathan Pollard and Aldrich Ames, who have already been convicted of similar charges. The Jewish War Veterans of the USA (JWV) stands firmly for the punishment of those who put the interests of any other country, including Israel or any of our so-called Allies, above the interests of their own country, the United States of America.
As the JWV said before:
The government of the United States must be protected at all times. The loyalty
of United States citizens must be to our own country. There can be no room for
any other allegiance.
JWV members have fought, and in many cases, died to defend the United States
from those who would do it harm. The allegiance of all Americans must be to
their own country above all others.
The JWV is a firm supporter of the State of Israel, but its interests will never
come before those of our own country.
