VFW WI District 5

VFW Washington Weekly - July 21, 2008

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:50 PM

by dist5

In This Issue:
1. FY2009 VA Funding Bill
2. House VA Committee Action
3. VA Outreach Hearing
4. SECDEF Recommends New Guard Chief

1. FY2009 VA Funding Bill: The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously cleared its version of the 2009 VA Funding Bill. The bill provides $72.7 billion in discretionary funding for military construction and Veterans Affairs. This is about $5 billion more than the current fiscal year, and is in line with the House Appropriations Committee's recommendations. It includes:
$47.7 billion in total VA discretionary funding.
$41.1 billion for VA health care.
$1.2 billion for VA construction projects, nearly double the president's request, and $1.1 billion for hospital maintenance and repairs.
$84 million more than the president's request for medical and prosthetic research.
$350 million to help certain higher income Category 8 veterans to begin enrolling in VA.
$250 million targeted to the care of rural veterans.
The bill now moves to the floor of the Senate for a vote.

Read more...

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VFW STATE RAFFLE SALES CONTEST - UPDATED REPORT

Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 12:43 PM

by dist5

All Department of Wisconsin VFW Posts (and Auxiliaries) are eligible to compete in the statewide 50/50 Revenue Sharing Contest for 2008. To see the current standings by division, CLICK HERE

Reminder: All participating Posts must submit a report monthly to:

VFW STATE CONTEST
PO BOX 61
MARSHFIELD, WI 54449

Tickets and a Post Check for payment must accompany report. If your post had NO SALES in the month, you may submit an electronic report HERE

To print a Monthly Contest Report Form or Raffle Poster, Order more Tickets, or review participation rules, CLICK HERE.

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WI VFW LAUNCHES NEW POST REVENUE PROGRAM

Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 12:50 PM

by dist5

SIMPLE PROGRAM EARNS BIG BUCKS FOR YOUR POST & DEPARTMENT - AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO PARTICIPANTS!

At our recent State Convention, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Wisconsin Council of Administration, approved

a statewide program that promises to bring much-needed revenue to both the Department of Wisconsin and all active Posts. All Posts are automatically signed up and eligible to receive their share of the new revenue. Other than depositing the check, there's no work involved at the Post level, except to encourage members and friends in the community to make their routine purchases through the VFW GIFTCARD Program.

Hundreds of regional and national brand business participate in the program already. Participating businesses accept the gift cards much as they do a debit or credit card purchase. The cards are purchased either on line or by mail or fax and sent to customers, who then spend them just like cash. There is no cost to the customer to purchase the cards, either. Buyers may specify which Wisconsin VFW Post is to receive a share of the percentage the merchant is donating to the VFW of Wisconsin. (Some businesses donate 3%, others 7% or more.) The donation is divided between the Department of Wisconsin and the designated Post.

Card Purchasers can establish their own online account and track how much has been donated by way of their purchases. Posts may also log on to see how much has been generated on their behalf as well.

The program is already generating serious donations for other organizations across the country, and if our members get involved, and encourage their friends to do likewise, the cash benefits can be tremendous. You don't have to change a thing about your grocery, gas, or other routine expenses except how you pay for them!

To learn more, read the information below and click on it or the logo above to go directly to the VFW Giftcard Store and get started!

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WAXX 104.5, Country Jam USA And Budweiser Present All American Military Day

Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 06:36 PM

by dist5

WAXX 104.5, Country Jam USA and Budweiser, the Great American Lager, are honored to salute the men and women of our armed forces and their families. On Saturday, July 19th members of the military and a guest will be given FREE admission to Country Jam USA! It's a All American Day with the All American Girl, Carrie Underwood! Any active duty, activated or drilling reservist, or National Guardsman, and retired military and their guest will get in Free to Country Jam! All military will be asked to show a Department of Defense photo ID to obtain admission. Dependents may take advantage of the offer without their service member, though they must present valid dependent I.D. So show your support for the troops by wearing your RED, WHITE AND BLUE  to Country Jam USA, Saturday July 19th. Salute the troops with Country Jam USA, Budweiser, the Great American Lager, and Today's Country, Today's WAXX 104.5!

Country Jam USA is held in Eau Claire.

For more information, CLICK HERE

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Commander-In-Chief Independence Day Message

Friday, July 4, 2008 at 08:04 AM

by dist5

As we celebrate the 232nd anniversary of our nation's independence, let us pause to remember the victories in battle and the blood that was shed to preserve our freedoms. Let us give thanks to our forefathers for their vision of liberty, life and the pursuit of happiness. Most importantly, let us pay tribute to our nation's greatest assets: our servicemen and servicewomen in uniform who so proudly serve our nation in peace and defend our freedoms in war. We salute you for your dedication to duty and service to country. Thank you from the 2.4 million members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Auxiliaries.

God bless America.

George Lisicki
VFW Commander-in-Chief

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Court Limits Agent Orange Benefits

Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 11:28 AM

by dist5

Some Navy veterans who served in Vietnam and now claim they are sick because of exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange during the war now bear a heavier burden of proof if they hope to earn disability compensation and health care for their conditions from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled May 8 that the VA correctly defined "service in Vietnam" as actually setting foot on land or navigating the country's inland waters, rather than off the coast.

The ruling overturns an earlier Court of Veterans Appeals decision that would have forced the VA to broaden its definition, and as a result open the doors to compensation and treatment to more veterans.

The decision in the case, Haas v. Peake, is available online at find it at: www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions/07-7037.pdf

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VFW OFFICER TRAINING REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Friday, June 20, 2008 at 12:37 PM

by dist5

The VFW Department of Wisconsin Officer Training Institute (O.T.I.), scheduled for July 26, 2008, is now open for pre-registration.

The session, which will take place at the Mead Inn, Wisconsin Rapids, is open to all VFW Members interested in learning the "hows and whys" of VFW policies, programs and procedures.

Chairing the training session will be Bill "Knoot" Knudson, who will also serve as Chief of Staff for the coming year. "Last year's OTI, which employed Power Point presentations and several presenters, was acclaimed one of the best ever", says Knudson. "And we're planning to build on that success. Following the session, we received many constructive suggestions and we have incorporated several of them into this year's program. For example, we have creatred a separate 'break-out' session for Quartermasters to allow us to focus exclusively on issues and policies important to these key post officers." Knudson suggested that Trustees might also want to attend the Quartermaster session, but that the general session will also underscore the often misunderstood role of Trustees in the post. "All Trustees should make it a point to attend OTI. Ideally, if all three Post Trustees came, at least one might be well-advised to sit in on the QM session for better understanding of that side of Post Operations," Knudson explained.

As in the past, there will also be a separate training session for District Commanders.

Attendance at the State OTI will be a key element in the 2008/09 White Hat requirements. In addition to a revamped Power Point presentation, OTI workbooks will also be included. The $20 per person Advance Registration Fee includes training materials. (Registration at the door will be $25) Advance registrations must be in hand at State Headquarters no later than Monday, July 21st.

The O.T.I. takes place the day after the State Council of Administration Meeting, which runs on Friday the 25th. Key committee meetings (Finance, Convention, Veterans Service and VFW News) will be held on Thursday afternoon, July 24th.

"We have purposely done all we can to keep the cost of attendance at a minimum", said Knudson. "While some members travelling a longer distance may want to check in the night before, most attendees will not have to deal with any overnight expense." The sessions run from 8:30am (registration) until 4:00pm. Lunch is on your own. There are numerous fast-food restaurants in the area, as well as restaurants at the hotel.

To register, you may go to the VFW Forms Page under the heading of CONFERENCE & CONVENTION forms or CLICK HERE to directly download the mail-in OTI REGISTRATION FORM. 

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