News Blog

Forward Observer — Pending Payday Lending Legislation: A Debt Trap for Military Veterans

Kerry Smith, Community Legal Services Warns of the Danger

LVMAC Poster Art 2005Kerry Smith, Staff Attorney, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, a leading advocate for low income residents in the Philadelphia area, spoke to the Council at its 20 March business meeting as a member of a coalition of over 90 organizations – including the Community Action Committee of Lehigh Valley, MOAA of Pennsylvania, the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, the Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania; and the Council of Churches, AFL-CIO and AARP of Pennsylvania – who have concerns about the recent lobbying to allow payday lending in Pennsylvania, which is currently illegal. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit — Wan’a Trip to the World War II Memorial?

This trip is for World War II veterans.  The WWII Homefront Gals and Guys organization, operating out of Berks and Lancaster County, is sponsoring a trip to the World War II Memorial on 27 April 2013.  For a few in our area of operations, the pick up points at the Berkshire Mall and the Lancaster Shopping Center are reasonably close.  We hear they are having trouble filling the bus.  So maybe you can bring your own “chaperone”? (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit — Local Habitat for Humanity Seeks Humane Veterans

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…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC News — Veterans, Reservists and the National Guard Should Worry About a Pennsylvania Payday Lending Bill

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In this Issue

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

Pending Payday Lending Legislation: A Debt Trap for Military Veterans

Go to the Forward Observer article on payday lending to read what Kerry Smith told the Council at its 20 March business meeting. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit — Poaching Veterans’ Pensions

Veterans Are Being Preyed Upon Again

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…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit — PA Superior Court “Argues” About Vets

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…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit — Last Call for 2013 Student Vets Conference

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…)

By LVMAC, ago

Forward Observer — VBA Claims Initiative Aims at Reducing Processing Time and Adding Convenience – Is it Possible?

No More In-Person Exam Requirement for Some?

LVMAC Poster Art 2005On 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…)

By LVMAC, ago