Friday, August 29, 2014

VVA Chapter106 Tucson AZ. Nam Jam

This is a fund raiser for Vietnam veteran chapter 106 Tucson AZ. if you get a chance to go please do so

It is the largest Vietnam veteran celebration in the country.You can go and enjoy or be part of it information below.

Nam Jam is October 18th. How about we rally one more time at Tucson's Rillito Downs Racetrack. . . Now that would making the Vietnam Vet Proud !!!
Vietnam Veterans of America
​Tucson Chapter 106


Sponsorship Packet

Vendor Application

Volunteer Opportunities

Bands are considered between August 15 through September 15.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

FW: NDVS and National Guard Joint Workshop - Registration is Open



Subject: FW: NDVS and National Guard Joint Workshop - Registration is Open









Dear Veteran Advocate,

Please see the important upcoming combined Volunteer and Advocacy Workshop information and Registration link below. Please pass on to your membership or other  interested persons who may want to learn more about the topics listed in the Registration. There is no cost to register and attend. Travel costs are not included and are the responsibility of the attendee.

  Scott Fincher,
  VAST Program Manager
  Nevada Department of Veterans Services
  5460 Reno Corporate Drive Room 134
                Reno, NV 89511

                (702)493-9117 c
                (775)688-1653 w
                finchers@veterans.nv.gov

                "Serving America's Hero's"

National Guard, JCF and NDVS Joint Workshop - Registration is Open until September 5, 2014

Nevada Department of Veterans Services 

Nevada National Guard, Joining Community Forces and NDVS
Joint Workshop 

"Preparing Today for Nevada's Tomorrow"

Join us for a Military and Veterans Advocate Volunteer Workshop!  Hosted by the State of Nevada, the workshop is open to all veteran and military supporters, National Guard volunteers and leadership.

Attendees will improve their understanding of programs and techniques that can help military, veterans, and family members prepare for the challenges of today and for the challenges of tomorrow.   Any attendee may also choose to take courses leading to certification as a Nevada Veterans Advocate. These courses will teach participants about State and Federal benefits and how to refer veterans and dependents to the proper agency for service. Courses will also be available for Veteran Service Officers looking to expand their training and for CEU's. Some VSO's may qualify to complete courses leading to Nevada Veterans Service Officer accreditation.  

When:
            
19-21 September 2014:  Nevada National Guard attendees
   
19-22 September 2014:  Nevada Veterans Advocate and Veteran Service Officer participants.

Where:           

Green Valley Ranch Casino, 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway, Henderson, NV

Topics include:
Resiliency Training
Working with Volunteers
Nevada Employment Programs
Effective Family Readiness Groups
The VA Claims and Ratings Process
Nevada Benefits for Military and Veterans
Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Certification Classes
Nevada Veterans Advocate (NVA) Certification Classes
...and more!  

Note - The Nevada Veterans Advocate (NVA) and Veteran Service Officer (VSO) courses offered at this Workshop are intended for participants in the southern half of the state. The Workshop will alternate between Las Vegas and Reno. Next year it will come to Reno, NV and participants from the northern half of the state will be encouraged to attend.

Please R.S.V.P before September 5, 2014 

Enrollment is limited- RSVP early to ensure you don't miss this opportunity.

Register for courses:

Place cursor on the link below, right click and open hyperlink to register.
A complete listing of courses and panels are available on the registration site.


·         A block of rooms have been reserved until August 27, 2014. If reserving a room at the Green Valley Ranch ask for Group "Volunteer Workshop (Green Zone)" and Group code "GCIVOLU". After August 27th room rates will be at the normal rate.
  

Saturday, August 23, 2014

FW: VVA Web Weekly - What's New on vva.org: August 22, 2014




Subject: VVA Web Weekly - What's New on vva.org: August 22, 2014
From: achaney@vva.org
To: vva17nv@outlook.com
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 21:38:28 +0000

VVA's Web Weekly - What's New on vva.org






This email was sent to vva17nv@outlook.com
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Vietnam Veterans of America · 8719 Colesville Road · Suite 100 · Silver Spring, MD 20910 · USA

Having trouble viewing this message? Click here to view the web version.
In This Issue August 22, 2014
Despite On-line Application, VA Backlog Grew
Vets Seeking Care Died in VA Limbo
VA Sec McDonald Apologizes for "Lack of Clarity" in Preventable Deaths
VA Amends Rating Schedule
Retired Army General Named NYC's Vets Commissioner
USA Discounters' Servicemember Fee Scam Shut Down
Vietnam Vets Sought for Research Study
 
FacebookFAO - FacebookYouTube Logo
Veterans Crisis Line
VA Caregiver Hotline
VA Health-Care Applications
Donate to VVA
ADVERTISEMENT
Veterans Consortium Banner Ad
Holiday Stress

Support Senate Bill S.2738

Despite On-line Application, VA Backlog Grew

VA Emblem
In an August 18 AP story appearing in the Air Force Times, the number of backlogged veterans' health-care applications grew, despite an online program the Veterans Administration introduced in 2010 and touted as a quick, easy way for veterans to apply for benefits.
Read story here
As Reported by Atlanta Journal–Constitution

Vets Seeking Care Died in VA Limbo

Internal documents from the Health Eligibility Center in Atlanta show that administrators realized that veterans whose applications were stuck in
In an August 15 Atlanta Journal–Constitution article, Brad Schrade reports that by July 2012, the backlog of veterans whose applications were in so-called pending status had grown to 848,699, according to an internal VA analysis. VA's backlog of pending health-care applications had festered for more than a decade, and the new online applications made the problem worse. As part of that review, a program analyst based in Atlanta discovered a troubling revelation: As many as 47,786 veterans whose applications languished in the pending application pool had died, according to the VA's own records of deceased veterans.
Read article here
As Reported by Washington Examiner Watchdog

VA Sec McDonald Apologizes for "Lack of Clarity" in Preventable Deaths

epartment of Veterans Affairs efforts to downplay its admission that preventable deaths occurred due to delays in medical care were called a "stunning lack of clarity" by the Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald in a letter released Monday. (AP Photo/The Commercial Appeal, Jim Weber)
In an August 18 Washington Examiner Watchdog article, Mark Flatten reports new VA Secretary Robert McDonald acknowledged that Congress and the public were misled in a report released in April, which tied the deaths of 23 patients due to gastrointestinal cancers to unacceptable delays in getting colonoscopies and other procedures at VA hospitals nationwide.
Read Article
From The Veterans Health Council

VA Amends Rating Schedule

In the August 4 Federal Register (Vol. 79, #149), VA published an Interim Final Rule that amends the portion of its Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) dealing with mental disorders and its adjudication regulations that define the term ''psychosis,'' effective August 4.
The VASRD refers to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM–IV), and VA's adjudication regulations refer to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Text Revision (DSM–IV–TR). DSM–IV and DSM–IV–TR were recently updated by issuance of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM–5). This rulemaking removes outdated DSM references by deleting references to DSM–IV and DSM–IV–TR and replacing them with references to DSM–5. Additionally, this rulemaking updates the nomenclature used to refer to certain mental disorders to conform to DSM–5.
The most important point of this amendation is:  "There will be no effect on the rating criteria in the VASRD or the manner in which VA applies the VASRD criteria to the medical evidence of record. In order to provide a global measure of disability, DSM–5 recommends using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule, Version 2; this assessment can also be used over time to track changes in a patient's disabilities.…"
As Reported by Stars and Stripes

Retired Army General Named NYC's Vets Commissioner

Brigadier General Loree K. Sutton
In an August 18 Stars and Stripes article by AP reporter Verena Dobnik, retired Brigadier General Loree K. Sutton, who was the Army's highest ranking psychiatrist, was named as New York's veterans affairs' commissioner, promising she'll use her expertise in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder to serve the city's 200,000 veterans.
Read article here

ADVERTISEMENT

Veterans Consotium Banner Ad
From a CFPB August 14 press release

USA Discounters' Servicemember Fee Scam Shut Down

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has put an end to a servicemember fee scam run by USA Discounters, Ltd., a company that operates a chain of retail stores near military bases and offers financing for purchases. USA Discounters tricked thousands of servicemembers into paying fees for legal protections servicemembers already had and for certain services that the company failed to provide.
The CFPB has obtained more than $350,000 in refunds for servicemembers harmed by this scam, and USA Discounters will pay an additional $50,000 civil penalty.
Read details here
Veteran Research Study

Vietnam Vets Sought for Research Study

A doctoral student at Palo Alto University (CA) is seeking Vietnam veteran participants for a research survey study, entitled "A Study of Courage Among Military Personnel and Veterans."  For more information, contact:  Mr. Uri Kugel at ukugel@paloaltou.edu
 NOTE: This study's I.R.B. documentation has been filed and reviewed by VVA's I.R.B. research officer and judged to be in compliance with all applicable human subjects research guidelines.
Copyright © Vietnam Veterans of America. All Rights Reserved. 8719 Colesville Road, Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910
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FW: Newscast about Ted's Accident



 Subject: Fwd: Newscast about Ted's Accident

Richard and Mike.  FYI .    I will contact you ,   I may need some help. 
    
Thank You !

John L Scaduto
President
Vietnam Veterans of America                                                                  
Chapter  1076
Henderson, NV 

Begin forwarded message:

From: 
Subject: Fwd: Newscast about Ted's Accident

         VVA Officers and Directors this it the latest information about Ted Riccubuono sent to me by his wife Maryanne.  She will get back to me with information about his service at the Veterans Cemetery in Boulder.    It's tentatively scheduled for Sept 8 or 9 ( Mon/ Tue ) 

         As a member of our Chapter we should all make plans to attended his wake and show his Wife and Family how much we appreciated and Loved our fellow VVA BROTHER.
         
          See the Newscast Video about the accident below.


                  Fred,       Please send out this information to  ALL VVA  1076  Members.
                     
Semper Fi
John L Scaduto
President
Vietnam Veterans of America
Chapter  1076
Henderson, NV 

Begin forwarded message:

Date: August 22, 2014 at 11:20:42 AM PDT
To: jlscaduto@msn.com
Subject: Fwd: Fwd: Fwd: Re: Newscast about Ted's Accident


--
Mary



Broker/Salesperson
License 40681
Century 21 JR Realty

Henderson, NV   89015




Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 11:01:55 -0700
From:
To: "riccubuono@icloud.com" <riccubuono@icloud.com>,
   "dao2004@sbcglobal.net" <dao2004@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Fwd: Fwd: Re: Newscast about Ted's Accident



Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 10:58:05 -0700
From:
To:
Subject: Fwd: Re: Newscast about Ted's Accident

Subject: Re: Newscast about Ted's Accident

Anyone wishing to download a copy of the video,can view the version on
youtube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlaRPby6DxA

And use one of the many youtube downloaders. If you do not know how then
contact me.



Military vet speaks out about trying to save Boulder Highway crash victim
By Jennifer Kastner. CREATED Aug 21, 2014

Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- The 76-year-old killed in Wednesday's Boulder
Highway vehicle accident has been identified as Ted Riccubuono.

His wife said he was a U.S. Marine veteran who served in the Vietnam
War. On Thursday, the man who tried to save Riccubuono's life spoke out
to Action News.

Jess Inga said he witnessed the crash on Boulder Highway near Russell
Road from across the street. He told us he ran across several lanes of
traffic to help Riccubuono, who was trapped inside his white sedan.

"I just barely moved his head to where it was straight and I didn't feel
anything wrong but I'm not a doctor so I didn't know if his neck was
broken. I moved it to where his air passage was clear. I grabbed his
arms and put them on his chest [to help him breathe]," Inga said.

When he looked in the backseat of the sedan, he saw a hat with a Semper
Fi pin on it. At that moment, Inga said he knew the victim was a former
Marine.

A former Army ranger, Inga felt even more deeply compelled to continue
with his rescue efforts. He continued helping Riccubuono until
paramedics arrived.

Police said Riccubuono's sedan was T-boned by a pickup that was
traveling along Boulder Highway, near Russell Road. Despite heroic
efforts to save him, Riccubuono's injuries were too severe for him to
survive the crash.

Las Vegas resident Richard Melin said he and Riccubuono served in the
Vietnam War together.

"We ate, slept, stood watch and fought together. Sometimes we fought
with each other," he chuckled. Melin said his fellow brother in arms had
a hilarious sense of humor and was exceptionally witty.

"He had the biggest heart that I've ever known. There's a special place
in heaven for Ted and I'm sure God is taking care of him right now."

Riccubuono's wife said he dedicated his recent years to helping military
families in the community.




Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Veterans Day Parade

Veterans Day Parade
-----------------------------

VVA Chapter 17 received an invitation from the Mesquite Veterans Day Parade Committee to participate in their annual Veterans Day Parade.  It will be held on Saturday, 01 November 2014 at 10am.  Three prizes will be awarded for the most creative entry.  After the parade there will be a noon Bar-B-Que.

Chapter has a float that can be decorated with patriotic colors and with a Veteran’s theme.

It will be necessary to make hotel room reservations for one day before the event.  Room on your own.  Participation discussion will be held at our next general meeting on Saturday, 13 September 2014. 

Saturday, August 16, 2014

FW: MOAA Wins New Benefit for Surviving Spouses



Thank You
Robert Serge
VVA 17 Member
Blog Master
To all my fellow veterans friends and family my we all remember 



Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 08:27:04 -0700
From: rserge@vva17lasvegas.org
To: rserge1@outlook.com
Subject: Fwd: Fw: MOAA Wins New Benefit for Surviving Spouses



--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: richardandshirley@netzero.net
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2014 19:09:56 +0000
To: rserge@vva17lasvegas.org
Subject: Fw: MOAA Wins New Benefit for Surviving Spouses



      
Join | Manage Email SubscriptionAugust 1, 2014

Mr. Small,
After weeks of tense negotiations over dueling versions of legislation to address the plight of tens of thousands of veterans stuck on long waiting lists for care from the VA, House and Senate conferees hammered out a final agreement this week.
The compromise is expected to be passed before Congress breaks for the month-long August recess.
A provision in the VA compromise deal would grant new education opportunities to surviving spouses of servicemembers who died in the line of duty after Sep. 10, 2001.
TheConsumer Financial Protection Bureau and 13 state attorneys general secured $92 million in debt relief for about 17,000 U.S. service members harmed by a predatory lending scheme.
West Point graduate and former Procter & Gamble CEO Bob McDonald was confirmed this week as the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
The VA will now reimburse the cost of schooling at the in-state rate for all veterans enrolled under the GI Bill at any public college or university no matter where the veteran resides.
During the month of August, most elected officials return to their home states/districts. We encourage you to visit your legislators' local offices and use MOAA-provided materials to educate them on key concerns.
Legislative Update is published weekly by MOAA, 201 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.
You are currently subscribed to MOAA Legislative Update as richardandshirley@netzero.net. Manage Subscription
©2014 MOAA, All rights reserved.
MOAA - Military Officers Association of America
One Powerful Voice.®
201 N. Washington Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

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The #1 Worst Carb Ever?
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FixYourBloodSugar.com

FW: Honor Flight Southern Nevada



Thank You
Robert Serge
VVA 17 Member
Blog Master
To all my fellow veterans friends and family my we all remember 

Good Morning,
I just wanted to send an update on our next Fundraiser for our October Flight.
The pancake breakfast is Sept 6th from 7 - 11 at the Red Rock Harley Davidson at Rainbow and Sahara.  If you could help spread the word that would be great.
Thanks so much,


____________________________________________________________
4 Fish to Never Eat
Click to Learn 4 Fish to NEVER Eat (avoid these like the plague!)
InflammationSolution.com

FW: VVA Chapter 17 Pool Party & Picnic Social



Thank You
Robert Serge
VVA 17 Member
Blog Master
To all my fellow veterans friends and family my we all remember 






Just a reminder that the August Social is this evening from 5-8PM.  Bring your favorite picnic food to cook and share.  Hope to see you there, Joni Giancola, Public Relations Chair

Friday, August 15, 2014

FW: VVA Web Weekly - What's New on vva.org: August 15, 2014




Subject: VVA Web Weekly - What's New on vva.org: August 15, 2014
From: webmaster@vva.org
To: vva17nv@outlook.com
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 16:33:17 +0000

VVA's Web Weekly - What's New on vva.org






This email was sent to vva17nv@outlook.com
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Vietnam Veterans of America · 8719 Colesville Road · Suite 100 · Silver Spring, MD 20910 · USA

Having trouble viewing this message? Click here to view the web version.
In This Issue August 15, 2014
Vietnam War Veterans Who Suffer From "Agent Orange" Raise Awareness
PTSD Found to Still Persist Among Vietnam Vets
VVA Letter to VA Employees

Alabama VA Finds More Unread Patient X-rays
Commission to Review VA Scheduling Practices
NH Starts Vets' Court
Walsh Drops Out from MT Senate Race
Suicude Prevention Hotline
FacebookFAO - FacebookYouTube Logo
Veterans Crisis Line
VA Caregiver Hotline
Agent Orange
Donate to VVA
ADVERTISEMENT
Veterans Consortium Banner Ad
Holiday Stress

Support Senate Bill S.2738 and
H.R. 4816

Vietnam War Veterans Who Suffer From "Agent Orange" Raise Awareness

KWCH TV in WICHITA, Kansas, is one of the many media outlets that covered the August 7 Faces of Agent Orange Town Hall meeting held in conjunction with VVA's National Leadership & Education Conference:
Agent Orange Video
Hundreds of war veterans talked about "Agent Orange" at a meeting in Wichita. They wanted to know what was being done about it. The chemical was used during the Vietnam War to clear the jungle. Now, veterans are saying it has not only affected their mental, physical, and emotional health, but also their families. The reason so many veterans were there is to raise awareness of "Agent Orange" and file a claim.
Read More

More Research Needed on Progeny of Vets Exposed to Toxins

In an August 12 Army Times article by Patricia Kime, several U.S. senators say more research is needed on the health of the children and grandchildren of troops exposed to environmental pollution and chemicals while they served in the military. 
Read more
As Reported by The New York Times

PTSD Found to Still Persist Among Vietnam Vets

A veteran visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in November. A study funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs tracked post-traumatic stress disorder among veterans of the era. Credit Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
In an August 7 New York Times article, reporter Ben Carey details some of the findings from the National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study (i.e., the NVVLS, follow up to the historic National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study from the 1980's).
Read more here

NOTE: Dr. Bill Schlenger, one of the study's principal investigators, addressed the VVA National Leadership & Education Conference in Wichita on August 6, 2014.
Letter From John Rowan

VVA Letter to VA Employees

-from an August 10 letter to VA employee representative Alma Lee from VVA National President John Rowan: 

Every day, there are thousands of dedicated VA employees who work their hearts out to provide high-quality medical care to veterans at VA Medical Centers across our nation, and they do provide such care to hundreds of thousands of veterans every day. This is true, no matter how much they may be punished for doing the right thing and, all too often, are punished for being honest people of integrity. The managers and supervisors who take such reprisal actions need to be summarily fired.
Similarly, there are thousands of VA employees who work hard every day to assist veterans with their claims for compensation and pension, or to assist veterans with home-loan guarantees, or GI Bill educational assistance, or VA Vocational Rehabilitation benefits, or work hard to assist veterans' families with a dignified and  proper burial for their veteran.
Our job at the Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) is to help the new leadership at VA get rid of the relatively few employees, particularly in the management ranks, who have proven themselves unworthy. These and other actions will be necessary in order to restore confidence of veterans and their families in the VA, as well as the public. Our aim is to fix the VA and to make it again possible for the good VA employees to have justifiable pride in their organization.
VA needs leadership at every level that is worthy of leading their many dedicated employees.
—John Rowan, VVA National President
As Reported by USA Today

Alabama VA Finds More Unread Patient X-rays

(Photo: Montgomery Advertiser file photo)
In an August 12 article appearing in USA Today by Montgomery Advertiser reporter Kala Katchmar, a review of the imaging system at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System prompted by 900 lost X-rays revealed there were an additional 1,146 unread patient exams going back to 2011.
Read more
As Reported on Military.com

Commission to Review VA Scheduling Practices

Obama and McDonald
In an August 9 Military.com news article by Bryant Jordan, Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald announced that an independent organization will review patient scheduling processes for all VA medical facilities in the country.
Read more

ADVERTISEMENT

Veterans Consotium Banner Ad
As Reported by Washington Times

NH Starts Vets' Court

Judge James Leary questions Veteran Brandon Bastille Thursday Aug. 7, 2014, in Nashua Circuit Court in Nashua, N.H. Bastille is the state's first case designed to handle the cases of military veterans whose crimes were driven by substance abuse, trauma and anger management issues that stem from their service. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
In an AP article published in the August 7 Washington Times, Lynne Tuohy reported on New Hampshire's first criminal court docket dedicated to veterans with mental health and substance-abuse issues.
Read more
As Reported by The Washington Post

Walsh Drops Out from MT Senate Race

Sen. John Walsh, D-Mont., speaks on the National Mall in Washington.
According to an AP report in the The Washington Post on August 7, U.S. Senator John Walsh (D-MT) dropped his election campaign amid allegations he plagiarized large portions of a 2007 research project, leaving fellow Democrats to scramble for a replacement with the election less than three months away.
Read article here
Suicide Hotline

Most suicides are preventable. Both depression and anxiety carry a high risk of suicide. But early diagnosis and intervention with appropriate treatment are the first steps in feeling better.

If you're feeling alone and depressed,
don't hesitate to call the
Crisis Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 and press 1.

Medal of Honor
Copyright © Vietnam Veterans of America. All Rights Reserved. 8719 Colesville Road, Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910
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