VFW WI Post 9202

ONLY A FEW WEEKS LEFT IN RAFFLE SALES CONTEST!

Posted at 06:34 PM on Monday, January 5, 2009 by Darrell

As we enter the final weeks of sales opportunities for VFW/Ladies Auxiliary Joint Raffle Ticket Sales, some Posts are showing impressive leads.

Now is the time for participating Posts to put the pedal to the metal and get a move on!

CLICK HERE to see latest standings!

VA News Briefs

Posted at 08:43 AM on Thursday, January 1, 2009 by Darrell

VA Ramps Up Job Search for Injured Vets

WASHINGTON – Thirty percent of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are veterans – the second highest ranking among cabinet departments after the Department of Defense -- and nearly 8 percent of VA employees are service-connected disabled veterans.  But the VA intends to increase the number of disabled veterans who obtain employment in its workforce.

"I am proud of this effort," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.  "VA knows the true quality of our men and women, and we should be a leader in employing them."

Peake said all severely injured veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will be contacted by VA's Veterans Employment Coordination Service to determine their interest in -- and qualifications for -- VA jobs.  So far, that office has identified 2,300 severely injured veterans of those wars, of whom 600 expressed interest in VA employment.

Click here to read more

Some Veterans to See Another Travel Reimbursement Increase

WASHINGTON – Service-disabled and low-income veterans who are reimbursed for travel expenses while receiving care at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities will see an increase in their payments beginning January 9. 

A recently passed law allows VA to cut the amount it must withhold from their mileage reimbursement.  The deductible amount will be $3 for each one-way trip and $6 for each round trip -- with a cap per calendar-month of $18, or six one-way trips or three round trips, whichever comes first.  The previous deductible was $7.77 for a one-way trip, and $15.54 for a round trip, with a calendar-month cap of $46.62.

January Grassroots Survey

Posted at 08:31 AM on Thursday, January 1, 2009 by Darrell

Last month, we asked, "With the election over, do you think our citizens will become more united?"

A majority of respondents—more than 65% percent—believe that the division of American citizens will continue in the years to come. Many noted, however, that people really need to put their differences aside for the health of the country.

• "America is strong as a people, and it's the people who will bring us back as the guiding light of the world, not the government."
• "These are tough times. We've used times like this to re-unite and get stronger. We're Americans first, as that we're all one."
• "We have to, and leaders in all organizations would best serve the goals of the organization and the country by encouraging everyone to do so."

Click here to see more results

Vets Visits on TV - December 2008

Posted at 07:29 AM on Monday, December 29, 2008 by Darrell

VA Reaches 11,000 Survivors for Retroactive Benefit

Posted at 07:01 AM on Monday, December 29, 2008 by Darrell

WASHINGTON (Dec. 24, 2008) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has identified nearly 11,000 surviving spouses of deceased veterans who will receive a lump-sum payment before the New Year to correct an error in their VA benefits.  Also documented were more than 73,000 who had been previously paid.  VA officials are still tracking down eligible survivors.

"I am pleased that our task force working to correct this problem has been able to identify this first group this week," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. "We understand the difference these funds can make for these surviving spouses, especially during the holiday season."

Payments will be released to these survivors on Dec. 29.  The total value of the payments is about $24 million.

At issue is a 1996 federal law that makes a surviving spouse eligible to receive the veteran's VA compensation or pension benefit for the month of the veteran's death.  VA failed to properly implement that law in all cases.

Most likely to have been affected by this problem are surviving spouses who never applied for VA survivors' benefits following the death of a veteran.  Eligible for the payment are surviving spouses of veterans who died after Dec. 31, 1996.  The Department doesn't have current addresses for many of them, which makes the process of contacting them difficult.

VA has established a special Survivor Call Center (1-800-749-8387) for spouses who believe they may be eligible for this retroactive benefit. The Call Center is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Central Standard Time.  Inquiries may also be submitted through the Internet at http://www.vba.va.gov/survivorsbenefit.htm.

January Meeting

Posted at 11:11 AM on Sunday, December 28, 2008 by Darrell in Next Meeting

The next Post meeting will be held on 26 January at 7:00 PM  in the American Legion Hall located at N120W15932 Freistadt Road all eligible veterans are invited to attend this meeting.  Looking forward to seeing you there.  Refreshments will be served by the Ladies Auxilixry after the meeting.

A Christmas Message from VFW National Commander

Posted at 08:07 AM on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 by Darrell

Anyone who has worn a uniform overseas knows this is the most difficult time of year to be separated from family and friends.

"It is easy to say 'let us remember our troops' during the Christmas season, but how many of us really understand the painful nobility of this sacrifice?" Bruce Kluger asked in USA Today last Christmas. "For those on active duty in the Middle East, the business of battle knows no holiday."

I could not have possibly said it better. But this writer did not stop there. "Equally heartbreaking—and incomprehensible—is the wrenching vacuum that war inflicts on families on the home front," he wrote.

Christmas celebrations in Afghanistan and Iraq are, by necessity, subdued. More quality food, special church services and private thoughts of loved ones usually constitute this most beloved of holidays in the war zone. Yet these gestures never seem to be enough.

On Dec. 25, 2007, McClatchy News Service was one of the few media outlets to report on the troops directly from the field. At Patrol Base Warrior Keep in southwest Baghdad, two of its reporters interviewed soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, to sample their sentiments.

"If I didn't feel like this is where I needed to be, I think it'd be horrible," Chaplain Eric Light told them. "Our holidays are so tied to our families, it's nearly impossible to re-create them here."

What we can do as veterans is to remind those around us of the emotional importance of this time of year to the troops thousands of miles from home. After all, they are "honoring our nation with their service while fighting wars whose consequences have nothing and everything to do with the humanity at the heart of the holiday," Kluger aptly pointed out.

While we are keeping them in our thoughts, let's not forget the other GIs on far-flung fronts that never make newspaper headlines. From Kosovo in the Balkans to South Korea in Northeast Asia, tens of thousands of Americans maintain lonely vigils. Still others prowl the seas, protecting our shores from afar. Their missions should never be taken for granted or forgotten.

The debt of gratitude we owe the tiny percentage—less than 1%—of Americans who bear the burden of our freedom can probably never be adequately paid. But the least we can do is to give them more than a passing thought. As we enjoy Christmas revelry, keep in mind that someone in uniform is making that possible. Chances are that it might even be a family member. If so, you need not be reminded of the sacrifices being made.

As the mother of one Afghanistan soldier said, "Each American should remember during this season that our soldiers are fighting the battle over there so we can be safe here at home."

In that spirit, let my wife, Jean, and me wish all veterans a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a great New Year.

Glen Gardner
VFW Commander-in-Chief

Wisconsin State Raffle - Post Sales Results to Date

Posted at 07:25 PM on Monday, December 22, 2008 by Darrell

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Latest Results: Post Sales of VFW Raffle Tickets

Posted at 04:43 PM on Thursday, December 18, 2008 by Darrell

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Operation Uplink Gets One Million Minutes for Holiday Talk Time

Posted at 06:18 AM on Thursday, December 18, 2008 by Darrell

VA Urges Vets to Sign-up for Direct Deposits

Posted at 02:50 PM on Monday, December 15, 2008 by Darrell

WASHINGTON (December 15, 2008) -- Every month, 730,000 veterans or survivors look for their compensation, pension checks or educational assistance payments in their mailboxes.  Nearly all receive them, but theft and mail delays cause problems for some veterans, which can be prevented by direct deposits.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is urging those veterans and family members now receiving paper checks to join nearly 3.1 million others whose VA payments are safely deposited electronically.

"VA is teaming up with the Treasury Department in a new campaign to protect government beneficiaries against the theft of funds and of their identities," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. "Veterans earned -- and rely on -- the financial support we send them every month.  I urge them to help VA ensure they get those funds reliably and safely by signing up for direct deposit."

Peake cited several easy ways to sign up for direct deposit -- calling VA toll-free at (800) 333-1795 or enrolling online at www.GoDirect.org.  Veterans, and family members who receive VA payments, also can sign up by contacting a VA regional benefits office or their financial institution.  Information about direct deposits will be included in VA's monthly compensation and pension envelopes throughout 2009.

The VA Secretary urged veterans to remember that direct deposits relieve worry about mail delivery being delayed by severe weather or natural disasters.  The deposits also eliminate trips to banks or credit unions to deposit checks, while providing immediate access to money at the same time each month.

Wreaths Across America Wrapup

Posted at 07:33 AM on Monday, December 15, 2008 by Darrell

Wisconsin State Raffle - Post Sales Results to Date

Posted at 09:03 PM on Sunday, December 14, 2008 by Darrell

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Christmas tree newspaper article

Posted at 05:35 PM on Friday, December 12, 2008 by Darrell in Post News

On November 29th the Germantown Express ran an article on our tree sales.  To view the article CLICK HERE:

VFW Wants Veterans Corp. Shut Down

Posted at 05:34 PM on Friday, December 12, 2008 by Darrell

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2008--The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is calling on Congress to stop appropriating federal funding for the Veterans Business Development Corporation, which is better known as The Veterans Corporation, or TVC.

Congress created TVC in 1999 to provide military veterans with the resources and guidance necessary to start small businesses, but an investigation report released yesterday by the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship revealed that TVC failed to achieve its goals.

According to the bipartisan report by committee chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) and ranking member Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), TVC failed to establish and maintain veterans business resource centers, it didn't become self-sufficient as required, and the use of federal funding for executive compensation and questionable expenditures was deemed unacceptable.

The Senate committee recommended that TVC no longer receive any federal funding for fiscal 2009 and beyond. The VFW national commander agrees.

Click here to continue reading.

A copy of the report is available here.

December Newsletter

Posted at 05:01 PM on Friday, December 12, 2008 by Darrell in Newsletter

The December newsletter is finished and you can read or print a part or all of the newsletter on this site.  A few of the highlights are listed below.  To view or print simply CLICK HERE:

• Minutes, Christmas tree sales
• Honor Flights, social Security a simple concept
• Eligibility for dental care at the VA
• VA appeals, award banquet, chaplains corner
• Lighter side of the law, next meeting
• VFW gift cards
• Ladies Auxiliary newsletter

December 2008 meeting

Posted at 07:43 AM on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 by Darrell in Next Meeting

The next Post meeting will be held on 22 Decemember at 7:00 PM  in the American Legion Hall located at N120W15932 Freistadt Road all eligible veterans are invited to attend this meeting.  Looking forward to seeing you there.  Refreshments will be served by the Ladies Auxilixry after the meeting.

SAVE MONEY & MAKE MONEY FOR YOUR POST NOW!

Posted at 05:17 PM on Monday, December 8, 2008 by Darrell

Sign In/My Account       Post Commander Log In      How it Works FREE Movies!     FREE Shipping!   FREE with Purchase!   Receive a Marcus Theaters  "Buy One Get One" coupon and 2 Free Frosty Flicks admissions with any purchase of $200 or more. *While supplies last. Save on     Shipping!     Shipping on all orders of $100 or more is FREE through 12/31/08!     Staples Lands' End American Eagle Outfitters 3% Extra - Total of 5% 2% Extra - Total of 7% 1% Extra - Total of 4%   KB Toy's Borders Bath & Body Works 2% Extra - Total of 8% 2% Extra - Total of 6% 2% Extra - Total of 6%   Gift Card Boxes 5% Extra - Total of 15%

VFW: GOVERNMENT SHOULD HELP EMPLOYERS

Posted at 10:17 AM on Monday, December 8, 2008 by Darrell

COMMUNITY SERVICE REPORTS DATA IS ONLINE

Posted at 08:32 PM on Sunday, December 7, 2008 by Darrell

Your Post Action Report submissions are now available to view online.

 

A new Post Action Reports Summary may be viewed by clicking on the COMMUNITY SERVICE SUMMARIES link found on the main page of all Wisconsin VFW Webcom Blog sites. This link is also found under the  Wisconsin QUICK LINKS - Find It Here! link at the top of the State Main Page. Scroll down to Post Action Report Summaries.

 

All data entered on the new automated Online Report Form through the E-Forms link will appear each time the Summary Report is updated from now on. (At least weekly.)

 

Post Officers are reminded that the best way to report Post Activities is through the new Online Report Form. Using this form requires signing up for a login and password, which is very easy to do. There is a simple Tutorial Video that demonstrates how to get your login and password for the online forms system.

 

Reports submitted on forms from prior years will not be accepted for filing. Please refer to the 2008/2009 Wisconsin VFW Program Guide for instructions and details on the current form.

 

Use of the earlier e-Filing version of the 2008/2009 manual form is discouraged. If you downloaded that and continue to use it, please expect significant delay in posting your entries.

 

Post Action Reports submitted by regular mail using the manual form may take up to 6 weeks for processing. You are strongly advised to designate a member of your Post with computer access to enter your information through the new system.

 

Thank you for all you do for Veterans and the VFW of Wisconsin. Report your activities promptly and accurately to receive full credit!

Obama Picks Shinseki to Lead Veterans Affairs

Posted at 06:15 PM on Sunday, December 7, 2008 by Darrell

Via Associated Press and other sources

President-elect Barack Obama has nominated retired Gen. Eric K. Shinseki to be the next Veterans Affairs secretary.  Obama made the announcement Sunday in Chicago along with Shinseki.

VFW Washington Weekly - December 5, 2008

Posted at 08:58 AM on Saturday, December 6, 2008 by Darrell

In This Issue:
1. TSGLI Benefits Expand
2. Obama Announces National Security Team
3. 30th Anniversary of Army Integrating WACs
4. VA Opening 31 New Outpatient Clinics

1. TSGLI Benefits Expand: More servicemembers may now qualify for Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (TSGLI), because of newly expanded benefits resulting from a recent review by the Department of Veterans Affairs. TSGLI, which VFW was a lead proponent of, provides tax-free payments between $25,000 and $100,000 per traumatic event, which can be used to help with unseen expenses or provide a financial start on life after recovery. The TSGLI program began Dec. 1, 2005, as a non-option selection attached to Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI). All servicemembers from that point forward who elected SGLI benefits pay $1 towards this coverage each month.

Servicemembers who incurred a qualifying traumatic injury from Oct. 7 2001, through Nov. 30, 2005, while on orders outside the United States in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, or serving in a Combat Zone Tax Exclusion area, are now also covered by TSGLI, regardless of whether they elected SGLI coverage or not. Servicemembers that have already submitted a claim in the past do not need to resubmit.
The VA and TSGLI offices for each service will conduct a reachback of previously denied claims to see if they qualify for payment under the new guidance. Notifications will be sent to servicemembers if an additional award is due. TSGLI is a congressionally mandated program that applies to members of all branches of service and all components — active, Guard or Reserve, who incur a traumatic, physical injury based on an external force of violence. For more information, go to: http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=4849

Read more Washington Weekly

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 2008

Posted at 09:20 PM on Friday, December 5, 2008 by Darrell

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

On National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we mourn the more than 2,400 Americans whose lives were lost in the surprise attack on our homeland that changed the course of history. Their service and sacrifice and the service and sacrifice of all our World War II veterans will be forever honored on this day by the citizens of a free and grateful Nation.

On December 7, 1941, the enemy nearly destroyed our Pacific Fleet, and the United States was forced into a long and terrible war. A generation of Americans stepped forward to fight for our country. Their message to America's enemies was clear: If you attack this country and harm our people, there is no corner of the Earth remote enough to protect you from the reach of our Nation's Armed Forces.

Read the full proclamation here

At the same time, President Bush also signed a proclamation which establishes the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument.  Click here to read the proclamation.

Additional Video: Six crew members of the USS Arizona return to Pearl Harbor for 67th anniversary of the attack.

 Reminder to all VFW Posts: The United States flag will be at half-staff, Sunday, December 7, from sunrise to sunset, for National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

New VFW Surgeon General Elected

Posted at 12:00 PM on Friday, December 5, 2008 by Darrell

James Tuorila of East St. Cloud has been elected as the new surgeon general for the international Veterans of Foreign Wars organization.

"I was humbled by it," Tuorila said. "I never imagined I'd climb this high or this fast in the VFW. It also came as a surprise no one would run against me."

The VFW, which was founded 108 years ago, has posts throughout the world, including Europe and countries in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

During Tuorila's one-year position as surgeon general, he will serve at the discretion of the VFW commander in chief. As such, he could be sent to give speeches, to meet with groups, to visit veterans' hospitals or any other duties. He also serves on the VFW National Council of Administration and attends all of those meetings, which often focus on the needs of returning veterans.

He has also served as the Minnesota VFW surgeon general.

Tuorila has had a long and distinguished career as a VA employee, as a private-practice psychologist and as an adjunct professor of psychology.

Read more from source article (via VFW.org)

VA News - Week of December 1, 2008

Posted at 08:56 AM on Friday, December 5, 2008 by Darrell

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