September Meeting Brief

Sept 22, 2017

Chapter 5 Meeting After Action Keeping Our Members in the know!!!

At our meeting on Saturday September 16th, we discussed several key topics. For those that attended and those unable to, this is a brief summary of the meeting. We want to keep our family in the know. The meeting did last a little longer due to several questions regarding IU (Individual Unemployability).

What we did/discussed this month:

• Once again, we had approximately 70 members attending.

• We voted in 2 transfer members and welcomed several guests and prospective members.

• National Service Office NSO (Frank Tejeda)

  • Frank Tejeda was the only office to meet their goals for 2016

  • The busier we can make them, the better possibility of getting another NSO

  • The state is looking for 2 people to become DSO (Department Service Officers). These are paid positions. If you are interested or know of anyone contact the NSO office at: vbahou@va.gov

• Chapter Service Officer (CSO)

  • The CSO’s were introduced

  • The CSO office at Wayland Baptist University on I35N at Weidner is set to be open the 1^st Thursday of every month. The time is still being determined, but more likely will be in the late afternoon to early evening

  • Pass the word to any veteran you know

  • I want to caution all CSO’s to be very aware of the FIOA and HIPPA regulations when helping veterans. Contact may have to held in another part of the church or after the meeting. Privacy must be maintained at all times

• Legislative Committee:

  • Guido Libertiny explained how the action to stop Individual Unemployment (IU) is dead. The president and VA secretary has stated it will continue

  • Widows are now allowed to receive both SBP (Survivors Benefit Plan) and DIC (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation). However, criteria must be met

  • The supervisor of the VA Choice Program will be at the next chapter meeting to discuss this program

• Volunteers:

  • Remember as the largest chapter in Texas we have the lowest amount of volunteer hours. We need to start taking credit for all the work we do for our veterans

  • Audie Murphy and the VA in general are always looking for volunteers

  • Volunteer Hours:

    • We need to account for all our volunteer hours

    • CSO’s need to account for their time assisting the veterans

    • If you go to Floresville Veterans Home, or any place and spend time with veterans

    • Time spent helping with the Forget Me Nots, Golden Corral, etc

    • If you not registered with the state, you will need to complete the Registration form AND the form to submit the hours

    • Ft Sam Houston Cemetery is looking for volunteers

    • The paper work necessary to submit volunteer hours can be located on our chapter website

    • I am taking the responsibility to be the contact for the monthly report to the state

    • Send you information to me in an email or bring it to the chapter meeting and I will combine all hours into one report

  • Audie Murphy and the VA in general are always looking for volunteers.

  • DAV has a scholarship program for high school students. The countrywide awards are based on their number of volunteer hours

• Membership:

  • We now have 5499 chapter members. We need 181 more members to meet our recruitment goal for 2017

  • Keep up the good work

  • There are several awards/rewards for signing up members

  • There is a convenient, fast, paperless mobile phone app to help members signup new members

  • This link provides more information https://davalamo5.org/membership-sign-up-information/

  • As noted we have gained several new members including 1 that signed up during the meeting

  • To limit interruptions during the meeting, if a member is signed up during the meeting, please hold off all announcements till GOOD OF THE ORDER portion of the agenda

• Women’s Veteran Advocate:

  • The conference in Houston was cut short due to Hurricane Harvey

• PAO information:

  • The chapter donated 4 traffic signs to the Ft Sam Houston Cemetery

  • If you have a DV license plate, please be courteous and not use the handicap parking places—if you do not really need them

  • DV license plates (only) are not authorized to park in the Handicap parking places at the Audie Murphy Hospital. You must have a Blue Placard or the wheelchair on your license plate

  • PAO JR Garza attended the funeral for the owner of the Drop Zone

  • Do Not take a picture with a politician wearing any kind of DAV apparel. The DAV is a nonpartisan organization. We get our funding from everyone

• National DAV 5K Run/Walk/Roll/Ride To Honor Veterans

  • This event is fast approaching

  • I have contacted several businesses about promoting and sponsorship

  • We still are in need of volunteers and participants.

  • Information and sign up can be located at http://www.dav5k.org/events/san-antonio/

  • These hours can be used as volunteer hours and provide more visibility for our chapter

• Miscellaneous:

  • 3 chapter members did an audit of our budget report

  • Maria Scott thanked Ernest Ybarra and Atwell Rose for their help in driving her to Corpus to check on her properties after Hurricane Henry

  • You must dial all phone numbers in the San Antonio area with the 10 digit number. Officially starting in October, the city of San Antonio will be implementing a new area code (726)

  • Lone Star Battle Buddies helps train dogs and owners to become service dogs. You can contact our very own Al Contreras at 830-980-6190 for more information

  • The chapter voted to purchase 500 pocket calendars. These will have our name and website on the front. They are for anyone who wants one and for recruiting

  • Local PBS station KLRN is hosting a 10 day documentary on the Viet Nam war. It airs at 1900 hours CST

  • Effective Jan 2018 the DOD and Tricare will be moving out of the North Central Federal Clinic (off Gold Canyon and Henderson Pass). They will be going to the 2^nd floor of a Texas Med Clinic. More information to follow

  • The supervisor for the Choice Program will be at our next meeting. She will discuss the program and be available for questions

• The Blog: https://davalamo5.org/blog/

  • Is up and running

  • Feel free to leave comments

  • Check it out and leave any comments/ideas/updates, etc

• Happy birthday to all September birthdays

  • Ralph Parris would still appreciate visitors. He was awake and in good spirts. He is in Room #110 Meridian Care, 7181 Crestway Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78239

  • Jim Bowens I received a call from his son in law and James is settling into being at his daughter’s house.

  • Lula Emery (past DAVA Commander and our Commanders wife) is still recovering. Please keep her in mind as she slowly recovers

  • Robert Rayl is at home recovering. He is able to go without his back brace for periods at a time.

  • Good to see Jeff Berg is feeling better

  • Jim Davis is still hoping to attend the meetings starting in Oct. He is going through chemo.

  • Dale Prescott had a stint put in on Sept 19th. He is up and running around

  • Leroy Rogers is at home and slowly recovering. Still some issues with his meds, but Hilda says all is good otherwise. She takes him out to help his recovery

  • Adjutant Amanda Almaraz is wearing boot on her foot and recovering well

  • Joe Noonan’s 10 year old grandson is still recovering great from his medical procedure several months ago

  • Joshua Hill – USMC veteran from Tyler I s slowing regaining his health (I am helping with his claim)

  • If you know of any chapter member that may be under the weather, please let one of our chaplains/officers know so we may visit and check on them

  • Please keep all our members and veterans in harm’s way in our prayers

• Bingo at Floresville:

  • Sunday Sept 24th

  • From 1430-1600

  • Frank Tejeda South Texas Veterans Home

  • 200 Veterans Drive, Floresville, TX

  • Volunteers are always appreciated, so any time you may give is great

• Bingo at the Community Life Center:

  • Saturday Oct 7^th

  • 1400-1600 hours

  • Audie Murphy VA Hospital

  • Volunteers are always appreciated

• Military Retiree Appreciation Day

  • Saturday Oct 14^th

  • 0800 – 1200 hours

  • BAMC Medical Mall

• October Meeting:

  • Oct 21st at 0930 hours

  • Rolling Oaks Baptist Church

    • 6401 Wenzel Rd, SATX 78233

  • Hope to see everyone there

• Veterans Day Celebration

  • Friday Nov 3^rd

  • 1100-1400 hours

  • BAMC Garden Entrance Lawn

• Bingo at the Community Life Center:

  • Sunday Dec 2nd

  • 1400-1600 hours

  • Audie Murphy VA Hospital

  • Volunteers are always appreciated

 All the officers would like to thank everyone who attended the Meeting on Saturday.  We hope this provides more information to those who were there.  For those who were not in attendance, it was a great meeting and good food.

Kevin Crozier
DAV Chapter 5 Commander
KC/kc