Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley, a low income housing building ministry which relies on volunteers, is keenly interested in finding veterans to help them because they come with many of the skill sets needed. It is currently offering a paid, part-time supervisory position at its new Lehigh Valley Read more…
In case you are wondering what we have been up to regarding our trendsetting fly fishing program which is a partnership project with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc., click on the image below: (more…)
Debra Cummins, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Lehigh Valley (HFHLV), an LVMAC member, and her Program Development Director, Thomas Mohr, a veteran, addressed the Council at its 17 March 2013 business meeting on its desire to recruit veterans as volunteers.
She said, “Habitat for Humanity International, the parent organization, has a global vision of everyone having a decent place to live. And Habitat has been in the Lehigh Valley since 1989 improving lives, seeking to put God’s love into action by bringing people together, for it is an ecumenical movement.” She emphasized the organization will work with and provide homes regardless of a person’s religious persuasion. (more…)
Pending Payday Lending Legislation: A Debt Trap for Military Veterans
General Announcements
Homelessness
Scholarship Program
Community Educational Outreach
PTSD Booklet for Families
Healthcare in Our Community
Veterans Supportive Colleges Initiative
DoD/VA News
Go to the Forward Observer article on payday lending to read what Kerry Smith told the Council at its 20 March business meeting. (more…)
David M. Dubois, Deputy Director of the Office of Servicemember Affairs in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau of the Federal Trade Commission, has put out this alert to various veterans groups: “Veterans and their families are a target for some dishonest advisers who are claiming to offer free help with paperwork for pension claims.”
“The scheme involves attorneys, financial planners, and insurance agents trying to get veterans to make decisions about their pensions, without giving them the whole truth,” according to Dubois. (more…)
An Event Honoring Those Who Have Served
On 26 February the Argument Court of the PA Superior Court is coming to Northampton County and will begin its special session by hosting an open program to honor our veterans. The event is called, “Honoring Those Who Serve – A Tribute to Our Veterans.” The purpose of the event is to publicly acknowledge the military service and sacrifices made by veterans and their families. During the program, three veterans of different wars will speak. (more…)
Less than two weeks are left until the March 2nd through 3rd Student Veterans Education & Employment Conference at the William Pitt Student Union on the University of Pittsburgh campus, Pittsburgh, PA. Register today to meet the Student Veterans of America Staff and National Leadership Council Members who know first-hand effective strategies for supporting student veterans. And even fewer days are left to register. The deadline for registration is Friday, February 22nd. (more…)
On 31 January 2013, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced it had begun a new initiative which will reduce the requirement for an in-person medical examination for some veterans when applying for a service-connected disability compensation rating – when sufficient information is in the individual’s records. The intent is to shorten processing times. It is a product of the Veterans Benefits Administration’s (VBA) Transformation Plan – a five-year effort to improve its processes with the goals of eliminating the widely reported backlog in claims and processing all claims within 125 days with 98 percent accuracy by 2015. (more…)
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) began issuing the new “Honoring Our Veterans” license plates in mid-January 2013. The “Honoring Our Veterans” license plate was authorized by Act 194 of 2012. (more…)
The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), under which the Office of Veterans Affairs is found, is hosting its first Pennsylvania Women Veterans Symposium (PWVS) on March 8-10, 2013, at the Wyndham Hotel in Gettysburg. All Pennsylvania women veterans, regardless of period of service, are welcome.
The symposium is geared to meet the needs of women veterans by providing them with information and resources, to include VA benefits and health care. Important guest speakers will be featured, as well as breakout sessions on a variety of topics of particular interest to women veterans. The event will also provide an opportunity to meet fellow vets and build camaraderie. (more…)