VFW KS District 1

Home Depot offering Post Improvement Grants

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:32:00 -0500

The Home Depot has once again revised their grant program which is now entitled “Building Healthy Community Grants.“

VFW Posts are eligible to apply for up to $2,500 in Home Depot gift cards to be used for remodeling activities to their Post building.

Visit Department of Wisconsin to learn more.

Holiday Mailing Deadlines for Military Delivery

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 08:47:00 -0500

Recommended Mailing Dates to APO/FPO Addresses

WASHINGTON — For military service members stationed around the globe, holiday gifts are a big morale boost. To help the families and friends of U.S. military personnel, the Postal Service offers a discount on its largest Priority Mail Flat Rate box.

The recommended mailing date for the most economical postage to overseas military installations, including Iraq and Afghanistan, is Nov. 13.

Mail sent to overseas military addresses is charged only domestic mail prices. The domestic mail price for the Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box is $13.95, but for packages to APO/FPO addresses overseas the price is reduced to $11.95. Additional discounts are available for customers printing their Priority Mail postage labels online at Click-N-Ship.

Flat-Rate boxes are free at any Post Office, or can be ordered online at shop.usps.com. Postage, labels and customs forms can be printed online any time using Click-N-Ship.

The Postal Service continues to show support to those serving in the armed forces by offering free Military Care Kits, designed specifically for military families sending packages overseas. The mailing kits can be ordered by phone by calling 1-800-610-8734 and asking for the Care Kit. Each kit includes two “America Supports You” large Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes, four medium-sized Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes, six Priority Mail labels, one roll of Priority Mail tape and six customs forms with envelopes.

For online ordering of the Large Priority Mail APO/FPO Flat Rate boxes featuring the “America Supports You” logo and APO/FPO addressing block, Click here. More information about mailing letters and packages to military destinations is available online at Supporting Our Troops.

“Mailing holiday gifts to service members early will help insure that a piece of home arrives in plenty of time to make the celebration complete," said Pranab Shah, vice president and managing director, Global Business.

To ensure delivery of holiday cards and packages by Dec. 25 to military APO/FPO addresses overseas, the Postal Service recommends that mail for service members be entered no later than the mailing dates listed below. Mail addressed to military post offices overseas is subject to certain conditions or restrictions regarding content, preparation and handling. APO/FPO addresses generally require customs forms. To see an online table of updated APO and FPO addresses and mailing restrictions by individual APO/FPO ZIP Codes, Click here, select “Pull-Out Information” and click on “Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail.”

MILITARY MAILING DEADLINES

Military Mail Addressed To	Express Mail® Military Service (EMMS)1/	First-Class Mail® Letters and Cards	Priority Mail®	Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) 2/	Space Available Mail (SAM)3/	Parcel Post®
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090-092	Dec-18	Dec-11	Dec-11	Dec-4	Nov-28	Nov-13
APO/FPO AE ZIP 093	N/A	Dec-4	Dec-4	Dec-1	Nov-21	Nov-13
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098	Dec-18	Dec-11	Dec-11	Dec-4	Nov-28	Nov-13
APO/FPO AA ZIP 340	Dec-18	Dec-11	Dec-11	Dec-4	Nov-28	Nov-13
APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966	Dec-18	Dec-11	Dec-11	Dec-4	Nov-28	Nov-13

VFW Washington Weekly - September 25, 2009

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 07:12:00 -0400

In This Issue:

1. Health Care Victory for Veterans

2. VFW Testifies on Bills

3. House VA Subcommittee Hearings

1. Health Care Victory for Veterans: Key House leaders have agreed to offer an amendment that will put to rest any concerns that VA health care will change under the nation health care reform debate. VFW has been in talks with House VA Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) and Ranking Member Steve Buyer (R-IN) on this important issue. The amendment being offered will ensure that veterans enrolled in VA are automatically deemed as having qualified health care coverage, and also allow veterans using VA health care to purchase other types of insurance through the health insurance exchanges. VFW will continue to monitor health care reform legislation in the House and Senate.

Read more Washington Weekly

September-October Checkpoint

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:58:00 -0400

VFW Checkpoint Magazine -

VFW Washington Weekly - August 7, 2009

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:51:00 -0400

In This Issue:

1. VFW Protects Health Care Programs

2. Vet Bills Update

3. New GI Bill Benefit Begins

4. Senate Hearing on Disability Compensation

5. Congress on Recess

1. VFW Protects Health Care Programs: VFW is working closely with House leadership to ensure national health care reform legislation does not change the way veterans, military retirees and their families receive their health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs or the military's TRICARE program. Key VFW-supported amendments adopted by the House include:

Exclude TRICARE from all reform movements;
Exclude VA health care from all reform movement, and maintain the VA secretary's current authority to operate the organization as he deems appropriate.
Give veterans using VA health care the option of purchasing additional insurance under the new national health care plan. This would expand, not restrict, health care coverage available to them and their families;

VFW will continue to work closely with Congress to ensure that neither VA nor TRICARE are adversely affected under the national health care reform proposal. We have also received assurances from the President that veterans and servicemembers will be safeguarded under any bill passed by Congress.

Continue reading Washington Weekly

VFW: New GI Bill Will Change Lives

Wed, 5 Aug 2009 10:32:00 -0400

WASHINGTON, August 4, 2009 - The national commander of the 2.1 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and its Auxiliaries called this week's implementation of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill a significant milestone for military servicemembers, their families and the entire country.

"The original World War II GI Bill opened higher education to the masses and produced U.S. presidents, scientists, scholars, and captains of industry who were directly responsible for America's tremendous era of growth and prosperity in the second half of the 20th century," said Glen M. Gardner Jr., a Vietnam veteran from Round Rock, Texas.

"The new 21st century GI Bill will provide today's warrior with that same access to a first class education, and it's all due to the leadership and determination of Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.)," he said.

"The VFW is proud to have been an early supporter of his landmark legislation through the advocacy work of our Washington Office on Capitol Hill and the grassroots efforts of our members in every congressional district. Education changes lives, which in turn strengthens families and our communities and nation. We are proud to have helped this bill become reality."

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VA News - Week of June 29, 2009

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 02:10:00 -0400

Congrats

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:23:00 -0400

Congrats to 1st District for achieving All American for the 2008-2009 Leadership year. And to all the POsts in the District for achieving All-State and numerous other Awards

District #1 Sr. Vice

Lynn W. Rolf III

VFW Washington Weekly - May 15, 2009

Mon, 18 May 2009 10:47:00 -0400

In This Issue:

1. VA Appropriations Update

2. House VA Committee Hearings

3. Merchant Mariner Bill Passes House

4. GI Bill Registration Update

1. VA Appropriations Update: In testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki reaffirmed the Administration's support for advanced appropriations, a VFW top priority goal. Advanced appropriations would ensure funding for veterans healthcare is sufficient, timely and predictable for all who use the system by funding the system one year in advance. H.R. 1016 and S. 423, sponsored by House VA Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) and Senate VA Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-HI), respectively, still needs your support. VFW asks you to contact your legislators and urge them to co-sponsor these critical bills. To send a message to your legislators, visit the VFW website at: http://capwiz.com/vfw/issues/alert/?alertid=13251881.

Read more Washington Weekly

District #1 Update

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:47:00 -0400

just a reminder the district conference is this saturday at 11am. Tongie VFW is hosting the event.

Also congrats to the Holton post on their 75 years of deicated service to the organization

Lynn W. Rolf III

District Jr. Vice