Tidbits

LVMAC Tidbit — For Memorial Day Pole Watchers

flagdayanimation5This is for those who keep their heads up.  We are writing about U.S. flag etiquette on Memorial Day and also, the Commonwealth’s — having taken note of the Whitehall Township’s unintentional breach of flag decorum.   We should be proud of how many Americans display their flag — something probably unique to our nation.  Nevertheless, as proud as we are to be Americans, frequently forget proper flag etiquette.

On Monday, 25 May, it goes as follows: (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC News — Last Call — for Our Annual Salute Your Troops Dinner!

LVMAC Salute to the Troops Dinner Flyer 22May2015LVMAC Logo (Best Small PNG)The Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council  is conducting its “Salute to the Troops” this year on 22 May, starting at 6 p.m., again at the Days Hotel (The Jetport), 3400 Airport Road in Allentown.  Please come, but immediately make your reservation.  Don’t worry if you a few days beyond the suspense date on the form, though tables are filling quickly and we do need to get the order in to the caterer as soon as possible.
(more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit — Small Business Administration Ups Its Game Locally

SBA LogoThe Eastern Pennsylvania (aka Philadelphia) District of the Small Business Administration seems to be improving its veterans outreach into the Lehigh Valley and nearby these days.  Late last year they did something with CACLV, an odd acquaintance.  Hopefully, we will continue to see more of the types of efforts shown below.   It has been said 40 percent of all military servicemembers upon discharge wish to start their own businesses (or work for themselves).  The statistic is questionable, but there are certainly enough veterans in this third largest metropolitan statistical area of the commonwealth with the aptitude, perseverance and seriousness required to start their own business, if they only knew how.  (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit — Treatment Trends Seeks Case Manager for Veterans

TTI LogoVeterans Sanctuary is dead, killed off by a lack of government-private sector cooperation, but Treatment Trends, Inc. persists in seeking ways to assist those veterans with profound drug and alcohol programs find a better life.  Now it is seeking a Veterans Treatment Case Manager to aid veterans who are receiving addiction treatment in Keenan House and the Halfway Home of the Lehigh Valley in an effort to help them access community health, veterans support services, social and VA services.  This part of a “veterans track” effort within the organization and has been recognized by the Office of Veterans Affairs, Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs with grant funding. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit — VA Health Care Expands Eligibility

va_sealJust announced on 17 March 2015 and effective as of 2015, the VA has eliminated the use of net worth as a determining factor for both health care programs and copayment responsibilities. The intention is to make the program more accessible to low-income veterans.  The VA estimates this may affect only 190,000 Veterans over a five year period, but VA estimates can be wrong. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit — Permanent Employment for the Chronically Unemployed?

Lehigh Conf of ChurchesOne of the smaller, gold-nugget programs we help fund as part of our effort to assist veterans is Lehigh Conferences of Church’s Permanent Employment Program (PEP) because its vision entails assisting “chronically unemployed individuals to search for, and obtain, meaningful employment by providing barrier assessment, education, case management, and subsidized work experiences in the Lehigh Valley” – in other words, a holistic, work-oriented approach. In so doing, it can take a veteran who was once unemployed to a state of self-sufficiency through meaningful, permanent employment which does not have to be subsidized. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit — PTSD/Co-Occurring Disorder Vet Grant Opportunity, Short Notice

Frankly, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania seems poor in distributing word or notifying of grant opportunities in the veterans arena.  As a consequence, this grant opportunity has been extended beyond its original 13 or 14 February deadline.  So, we are taking the unusual step of trying to spread the word, since they have only extended the deadline to 27 February.

An extension has been given to the following grant:

The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) is announcing the availability of up to $750,000 in competitive grants from funds appropriated for Veterans outreach and shall be used for programs providing treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and co-occurring disorders such as substance abuse for Veterans. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago