FARM AND HOME, CEMETERIES, EMPLOYMENT

The purpose of this committee is to make veterans aware of the various ways to obtain the AMERICAN DREAM of home ownership. A “home of your own” may be financed through several means, many of which have special terms for qualified veterans.

 In addition to the rose-colored cottage with the white picket fence, veterans may qualify for special terms on Mobile Home Loans and Farm Loans as well. Two major sources of these loans are the Department of Veterans Affairs (federally Guaranteed VA or “GI” loans) and the California Department of Veterans Affairs (Cal Vet).

 It is important to know that some loans are intended for purchases only, while others may be used to refinance or de-f’inance existing properties. A well-informed veteran will be able to make the right decision for his or her family’s situation.

 The VFW Farm and Home Committee will attempt to keep the CALIFORNIA VETERAN informed on programs that are available to qualified veterans. Each District should appoint a key person to the position of Farm and Home Chairman. When questions arise, try to contact the committee member nearest you for details on programs of interest. All contacts should be reported to the committee for review, so that we may be of more assistance to our VFW Comrades.

 For updates and other information on CAL-VET loans, call 1-800-952-5626. Internet address: https://calvethomeloans.cdva.ca.gov/welcome.html 

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VETERANS CEMETERIES

The National Cemetery Administration is responsible for maintaining more than 2.2 million gravesites at 115 national cemeteries in 39 states (and Puerto Rico), as well as 33 soldiers’ lots and monument sites.  Of the 20 busiest national cemeteries, three are in California, including Riverside, Fort Rosecrans and San Joaquin Valley. All honorably discharged veterans are eligible for burial in a national cemetery.

Burial benefits in a VA National Cemetery include the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave and perpetual care. Many national cemeteries have columbaria or special gravesites for cremated remains. Headstones, markers and their placement are provided at government expense. In addition, a memorial flag is provided to the next of kin.

Veterans, service members and dependents are eligible for burial in a national cemetery, Spouses and minor children of eligible veterans may also be buried in a national cemetery. Gravesites in national cemeteries cannot be reserved. However, spouses may be buried in the same grave. Funeral directors or others making arrangements must apply at the time of death.

The National Cemetery System normally does not conduct burials on weekends. However, a weekend caller will be directed to one of three (3) regional cemetery offices that remain open during weekends, in order to schedule burials at the cemetery of the caller’s choice, the following week.

VA also provides headstones and markers for the unmarked graves of veterans anywhere in the world and for eligible dependents buried in National, State Veteran or Military Post Cemeteries. Headstones and markers are inscribed with the name of the deceased, the years of birth and death, and service branch. VA will accommodate many types of personal headstone inscriptions.

VA will pay a burial allowance up to $2,000 if the veteran’s death is service connected. The VA will pay up to $300 for a burial in a non-government cemetery, under various special circumstances. See your VFW Service Officer’s Guide for specifics

Many National Cemeteries are becoming full and only cremation burial sites remain. We need to work on our Legislators to ensure that all honorably discharged Veterans will have a place of Honor for eternal rest, when their time conies,

It is always best to consider a veteran’s final wishes, ahead of time, and have copies of his/her discharge or separation (DD Form 214) papers available prior to the need.

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VETERANS EMPLOYMENT

Since the consolidation of The California Employment Development Department (EDD) into “One-Stops”, add the Local Veterans Employment Representative (LVER) and Disabled Veteran Outreach Personnel Specialist (DVOPS), plus the extended use of computer technologies, many advances have taken place in veterans’ employment. One-Stops are now in place throughout the state and offer a variety of services to veterans, including job placement and training.

CALJOBS. the Internet-based system, can be accessed from any computer on the Internet. This is a statewide system, with job opportunities from every level up to the executive level. All job orders entered into CALJOBS have a 24-hour veteran hold, where veterans are the only ones able to apply for those jobs while during the 24-hour hold. One-on-one case management services have been offered to Veterans with employment barriers. Employed veterans can seek higher paying jobs through this system, through extensive interdepartmental communications, as well as intra-agency cooperation.

Post commanders and their post veteran’s employment representatives should attend Veterans Employment Council meetings with their counterparts from the other veterans’ organizations, EDD, etc. If your district or county does not have a Veterans Employment Committee, you should take the initiative and organize one for your community. Visit your local EDD Office or One-Stop. Connect with the Veterans Representative and get information on how to get started,

Correspondence received pertaining to Veterans Employment matters, will be mailed to the District Commanders, These should he copied and sent to the District Veterans Employment Chairman and to each Post Commander for their use

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RECOGNITION AND OTHER VFW AWARDS

HONORING EDD, DVOP, and LVER, OR MANAGER OF THE YEAR

This is a separate honor. To honor one of the above, please make a report, in your own words, including how, what, and where the individual was of special help to the VFW. Send the Department Chairman a report for special consideration. The recipient of this award will be presented with a certificate from the Department Commander.

SUBMITTING EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR NOMINATION

The California Employer Advisory Council (CEAC) Veterans Committee, together with the EDD, will recognize employers who advocate the hiring of Veterans. An evaluation team of the Veterans Committee will judge the employer nominated in each of the following three categories:

To assist field office managers and Veterans’ staff in nominating the most deserving employer in their locale, the CEAC Veterans Committee has provided a list of 20 Evaluation Categories. which they use to select the State Employer of the Year. You may wish to use these criteria as a guide in preparing your nomination.

Please ensure that all nominations are written in a clear, narrative text. Detailed information relating to as many of the Evaluation Categories as possible is important for consideration as a State Winner. Supporting documents, to supplement and enhance nominations, are encouraged; however, please do not include original documents, as they will not be returned.

Please complete the Employer of the Year Nomination Form (Form-14) and attach it to your nomination. Send your nomination to Department Headquarters to arrive no later than March 31, 2008. Late submissions will not be considered for the Departments selection as “Employer of the Year Award”.

HOW TO REPORT POST ACTIVITIES

All activities should be reported using the Program Reporting (Form 12). on-line, or by mailing to Department Headquarters. These activities include classes to educate veterans of the availability of Farm and Home loans, Cemeteries and Employment, or by directly assisting veterans in obtaining a home loan, employment, obtaining burial information.

Use the Employment of the Year Report (Form-15) to document all activities of the Post and District Employment Chairman. These should be sent to the Department Chairman.

Important! - To qualify for awards, a Post must send a copy of the (Program Reporting (Form 12) to the Department Chairman with all applicable attachments. 

AWARDS

Awards will be presented as follows, unless otherwise noted elsewhere in this guide:

1st, 2nd and 3rd overall (Post & District) will be awarded a plaque, based on chairman recommendations.

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HOMELESS VETERANS PROGRAM

It is estimated that 1-in-3 of all homeless people in California is a veteran. There are many things that an individual Post or District can do to help alleviate this problem. Set up a Post fund or use the Relief Fund to buy a meal, a tank of gas, a bus ticket, or a room for the night if necessary. Provide support to a local charity that helps the homeless by making donations of food, clothing, or shelter.

Appoint a Homeless Veterans Chairman. It could be the service officer, but your appointment should know the community referral services that are available for the homeless veteran. These services include, but are not limited to, E.D.D. for job and benefit services, community shelters, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, etc.

Find out where a stand down is being held in your area and support it either financially, with clothing drives, other things that are needed, or better yet, volunteer from your Post.

State Homeless Veterans resources can be found on the California Department of Veterans Affairs website http://www.cdva.ca.gov/homeless/default.asp

HOW TO REPORT

All activities should be reported using the Program Reporting (Form 12) either on-line or by submitting to Department Headquarters.

Important! — To qualify for awards a Post must send a copy of the (Program Reporting (Form 12) to the Department Chairman with all applicable attachments.

AWARDS

Awards will be presented as follows, unless otherwise noted elsewhere in this guide:

1st, 2nd and 3rd overall (Post & District) will be awarded a plaque, based on chairman recommendations.

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VETERAN HOMES AND HOSPITALS

OUR MISSION IS TO:

1.   Promote volunteerism, recreational activities and visitations for Veterans in VA and community facilities, to include nursing homes and activities in support of home-based care patients.

2.   Provide a mechanism for recognizing outstanding performance and achievements by health care providers and volunteers.

3.   Inform and disseminate program information at the Post, District, County and Department levels.

4.   Generate enthusiasm and participation in all Committee programs to include the VA -VFW Sponsored Golden Age Games.

5.   Ensure VFW Posts report their hospital activities to the Department Chairman so such documentation can be consolidated and used by Department Office as they deem necessary.

HOW TO REPORT

All activities should be reported using the Program Reporting (Form 12) either on-line or by submitting to Department Headquarters.

Important! — To qualify for awards a Post must send a copy of the (Program Reporting (Form 12) to the Department Chairman with all applicable attachments.

AWARDS

Awards will be presented as follows, unless otherwise noted elsewhere in this guide:

1st, 2nd and 3rd overall (Post & District) will be awarded a plaque, based on chairman recommendations.

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NATIONAL VETERANS WHEELCHAIR AND GOLDEN AGE GAMES PROGRAMS

The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California Golden Age Games/Wheelchair Games Programs are an expensive endeavor and we would invite all to join with us in supporting these most worthy veterans in their health maintenance and care. Veterans under VA care either inpatient or outpatient, are potentially eligible to compete in these events. For the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWCG) all competitors must be wheelchair (power or manual) users. For the National Veterans Golden Age Games (NVGAG), competitors must be 55 or older (ambulatory, non-ambulatory or vision impaired).

The NVGAG’s and the NVWCG’s events are very expensive for our California teams. All posts, auxiliaries (Ladies and Men’s) and pup tents as well as individuals are urged to donate to this premier rehabilitation and therapeutic program, Competition applications for either of the games are obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs Recreation Therapy Offices in the VA Medical Centers or on line at www.va.gov  and insert the name: National Veterans Golden Age Games or National Veterans Wheelchair Games in the search block. These applications are usually available about five months prior to the events.

The VFW Department of California Transportation Grant Applications are available from any Wheelchair Games Committee person or the Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center Recreation Therapy Offices. The Veterans Golden Age/Wheelchair Games Fund is a viable VFW program. Each District and Post must have their own chairman to coordinate reports, pin sales, and fund raising activities for the program.

HOW TO REPORT

All Wheelchair/Golden Age Game activities should be reported using the Program Reporting (Form 12) either on-line or by submitting to Department Headquarters.

Important! — To qualify for awards a Post must send a copy of the Program Reporting (Form 12) to the Department Chairman with all applicable attachments.

ALL-STATE POINTS

A Post will receive 10 points by submitting at least $100.00 to the Department Wheelchair Games Program prior to April 30, 2007.

AWARDS

Awards will be presented as follows, unless otherwise noted elsewhere in this guide:

1st, 2nd and 3rd overall (Post & District) will be awarded a plaque, based on chairman recommendations.

Program participation will be awarded as follows:

All awards will be presented during the awards session at the Department Convention

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