Tuesday, January 27, 2015

FW: VA Announces Single Regional Framework under MyVA Initiative



From: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs <veteransaffairs@public.govdelivery.com>
Date: Mon, Jan 26, 2015 at 9:42 AM
Subject: VA Announces Single Regional Framework under MyVA Initiative
To: grumpiebob@gmail.com




PressReleaseHeader

VA Announces Single Regional Framework under MyVA Initiative

Internal Organizations to Realign Their Existing Structures
Washington – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced that it is taking the first steps under the MyVA initiative to realign its many organizational maps into one map with five regions to better serve Veterans. 
The new regions under the MyVA alignment will allow VA to begin the process of integrating disparate organizational boundaries into a single regional framework to enhance internal coordination. 
"We want every Veteran to have a seamless, integrated, and responsive VA customer service experience every time.  This regional alignment is the first step in empowering Veterans to interact with one VA – MyVA," said Secretary Robert McDonald. "Ultimately, this reform will improve the Veteran experience by enabling Veterans to more easily navigate VA and access their earned care and benefits."
VA's new regional design utilizes state boundaries to divide the country into five regions.  Each organization within VA will begin work to ensure their structures are aligned within this framework by the end of June 2015. 
Veterans are already seeing the impacts of changes made through the MyVA initiative. For example, at the suggestion of VA employees, the Department has made improvements to VA call center operations, to allow call center agents to suspend or resume certain benefit payments at the request of the Veteran, which eliminates additional steps typically required of Veterans.  Also at the suggestion of employees, VA is working towards piloting improved signage in certain facilities, to make sure Veterans know where they are going and that directions are easy to follow. 
Additional VA efforts are currently underway to define the next steps to transform the Department into one that is more centered on the Veteran.
Background on MyVA
Launched on September 2, 2014, MyVA is an initiative which will reorient VA around Veteran needs and empower employees to assist them in delivering excellent customer service to improve the Veteran experience. It is the largest department-wide transformation in VA's history and will be a product of ideas and insights shared by Veterans, employees, members of Congress, VSOs, and other stakeholders.
The first phase of MyVA has included creating the task force and building the team to support the mission and an organizational change of this breadth.  MyVA is focused on five areas of improvement:
1) Improving the Veteran experience
2) Improving the employee experience so they can better serve Veterans
3) Improving internal support services
4) Establishing a culture of continuous improvement, and
5) Enhancing strategic partnerships.
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If you are in crisis and need immediate help, please call 1-800-273-8255 and (PRESS 1) or visit http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/.
If you have questions please visit va.gov/explore and refer to "FAQs and Info" and "Get Assistance."
This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sent to grumpiebob@gmail.com on behalf of US Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW · Washington, DC 20420



--
thank you
vva 17 
member 
Robert Serge
To all my fellow veterans friends and family my we all remember

FW: Thursday mission1/29/2015



> Subject: Thursday mission1/29/2015
> Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 19:30:48 -0800
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Donaghy [mailto:bobdonaghy@me.com]
> Sent: Monday, January 26, 2015 4:48 PM
> To: Undisclosed recipients:
> Subject: Thursday mission
>
> Hi Everyone
>
> This Thursday, Jan 29th, the following interments are scheduled for 8:40 AM
> at the Southern Nevada Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veteran's Memorial
> Drive, Boulder City, 89005. These interments are for Nevada's fallen
> veterans who are without family, homeless, indigent or just forgotten by
> family and friends and remain unclaimed.
>
> This week's interments are:
>
> Army veteran: Leon Chowaniee
> Navy veteran: James Woods
> Marine veteran: Gerald Goodell
>
> For anyone interested in riding over together, some of us meet for breakfast
> at the IHOP ( 4860 Boulder Hwy ) diagonally across the street from Sam's
> Town at around 6:50 AM. It will be KSU at 7:45 AM.
>
> Thank you Bob Donaghy=
>

Sunday, January 25, 2015

FW: VVA: Fw: Free tax return preparation for Veterans, military members and their families


 From: vva@vva2.talklist.com
To: krrisk@comcast.net
Subject: VVA: Fw: Free tax return preparation for Veterans, military members and their families
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 09:22:46 -0600

Free tax return preparation for Veterans, military members and their families
Ken Riskedahl
Tupelo, MS.
VA Seal and Newspaper

Veterans Health Administration Update
VAntage Point Blog

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

01/22/2015 09:45 AM EST
The following links to free tax preparation services will ensure current and former members of the military and their families have access to free tax preparation and electronic filing services to keep more of their hard earned money.Read More
To read this blog entry as well as previous blog posts visit VAntage Point at http://www.blogs.va.gov/.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

FW: Southern Nevada PGR Mission Notice


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stormy [mailto:nevtat@cox.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2015 8:34 AM
> Subject: Southern Nevada PGR Mission Notice
>
> Hi Everyone
>
> This Thursday, Jan. 22nd, the following interments are scheduled for 8:40 AM
> at the Southern Nevada Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veteran's Memorial
> Drive, Boulder City, 89005. These interments are for Nevada's fallen
> veterans who are without family, homeless, indigent or just forgotten by
> family and friends and remain unclaimed.
>
> This week's interments are:
>
> Navy veteran: Robert Allred
> Marine veteran: Steven Manson
>
>
> For anyone interested in riding over together, some of us meet for breakfast
> at the IHOP ( 4860 Boulder Hwy ) diagonally across the street from Sam's
> Town at around 6:50 AM. It will be KSU at 7:45 AM.
>
> Thank you Bob Donaghy=
>

Friday, January 16, 2015

FW: Save the Date - Fisher House Groundbreaking Ceremony



Thank You
Robert Serge
VVA 17 Member
Blog Master
Don't talk about me until you have talked to me.
Don't underestimate me until you challenge me.
Don't judge me until you know me




Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 17:13:58 -0800
Subject: Save the Date - Fisher House Groundbreaking Ceremony



David C. Martinez, Public Affairs Officer
VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System


                                                                                                                  There has always been a VA in NEVADA

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

FW: Fun Shoot this Saturday at the CCSP



Thank You
Robert Serge
VVA 17 Member
Blog Master
Don't talk about me until you have talked to me.
Don't underestimate me until you challenge me.
Don't judge me until you know me



From: rogerhenning@cox.net
To: alnvdist2adj@gmail.com
Subject: Fun Shoot this Saturday at the CCSP
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 15:06:25 -0800


FUN SHOOT WITH AMERICAN LEGION POST 76 and VVA Chapter 17
WHEN:  Saturday January 17, 2015 8:30 AM ~ 10:00 AM
WHERE: Clark County Shooting Park, Rifle and Pistol Range (map)
Clark County Shooting Complex
11357 N Decatur Blvd, Las Vegas, NV  89131
(702) 455-2000· clarkcountynv.gov
Members of Post 76 are getting together this quarter with the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 17 for a fun shoot at the range.  It is not a competition, just a chance to meet some new people, make some new friends and put some holes in those evil paper targets! Because this is a joint meeting, we need a rough count on the number who may attend.  If you are interested, please reply with either a YES, or MAYBE.  If you are not available or not interested at all in this type of activity, you need to do nothing.  No reply is necessary.
This is open to all, members of any organization, friends, family, anyone wanting to come out and have fun shooting rifles and pistols.  We will meet just outside the entrance to the Rifle Range building where you pay.  Because they only assign shooting stands near each other if you turn in your receipts together, we often wait until there are enough for us to break up into groups so that we have stands near each other. 
If you have not yet been to the new range, you must have the required yellow pass documenting that you saw the safety video.  If you don't have one, come 15 minutes early to do that. The entry fee is $9.00 per person.  No Post funds are used for these outside social events.
Don't have a pistol or rifle?  No problem, we have plenty of rifles and pistols for all, so come anyway and we will share what we have.
Come and join us.  No competition, just a bunch of people enjoying putting little holes in targets and cardboard on the target stands!
As always, I put your email address in the bcc field to protect you from spammers and email harvesters.
Roger J. Henning

(702) 595-1795
(702) 256-2214



Tuesday, January 13, 2015

FW: Southern Nevada Patriot Guard Riders Mission Notice



Thank You
Robert Serge
VVA 17 Member
Blog Master
Don't talk about me until you have talked to me.
Don't underestimate me until you challenge me.
Don't judge me until you know me


> From: akan01@centurylink.net
> To: akan01@centurylink.net
> Subject: Southern Nevada Patriot Guard Riders Mission Notice
> Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 21:20:20 -0800
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stormy [mailto:nevtat@cox.net]
> Sent: Monday, January 12, 2015 6:23 PM
> Subject: Southern Nevada Patriot Guard Riders Mission Notice
>
> Hi Everyone
>
> This Thursday, Jan. 15th, the following interments are scheduled for 8:40 AM
> at the Southern Nevada Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veteran's Memorial
> Drive, Boulder City, 89005. These interments are for Nevada's fallen
> veterans who are without family, homeless, indigent or just forgotten by
> family and friends and remain unclaimed.
>
> This week's interments are:
>
> Army veterans: Bruce Disinger, Myron Stevens, Harry Peck, and Donald
> Hushour
>
> USAF veteran: George Mauger
>
>
> For anyone interested in riding over together, some of us meet for breakfast
> at the IHOP ( 4860 Boulder Hwy ) diagonally across the street from Sam's
> Town at around 6:50 AM. It will be KSU at 7:45 AM.
>
> Thank you,
> Bob Donaghy
> Unattended Veteran Services Coordinator, Southern Nevada PGR=
>

Monday, January 12, 2015

FW: Check out Inovairtech's 1st Veterans Day Shooting Competition Las Vegas ...



Thank You
Robert Serge
VVA 17 Member
Blog Master
Don't talk about me until you have talked to me.
Don't underestimate me until you challenge me.
Don't judge me until you know me



From: Kingpig53@aol.com
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 00:43:48 -0500
Subject: Fwd: Check out Inovairtech's 1st Veterans Day Shooting Competition Las Vegas ...
To: rserge1@outlook.com



From: DMLLasVegas@aol.com
To: KINGPIG53@AOL.COM
Sent: 1/11/2015 11:21:01 A.M. Pacific Standard Time
Subj: Check out Inovairtech&apos;s 1st Veterans Day Shooting Competition Las Vegas 2014

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

FW: Thursday Mission 8 Jan 2015



Thank You
Robert Serge
VVA 17 Member
Blog Master
Don't talk about me until you have talked to me.
Don't underestimate me until you challenge me.
Don't judge me until you know me


> From: akan01@centurylink.net
> To: akan01@centurylink.net
> Subject: Thursday Mission 8 Jan 2015
> Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2015 10:24:21 -0800
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Donaghy [mailto:bobdonaghy@me.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 6, 2015 8:15 AM
> To: Undisclosed recipients:
> Subject: Thursday Mission
>
> Hi Everyone
>
> This Thursday, Jan 8th, the following interments are scheduled for 8:40 AM
> at the Southern Nevada Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veteran's Memorial
> Drive, Boulder City, 89005. These interments are for Nevada's fallen
> veterans who are without family, homeless, indigent or just forgotten by
> family and friends and remain unclaimed.
>
> This week's interments are:
>
> Army veteran(s): Rockie Hale
> Navy veteran(s): William Brinple, Christian Heatherington
> USAF veteran(s): Mary Kauffold
>
> For anyone interested in riding over together, some of us meet for breakfast
> at the IHOP ( 4860 Boulder Hwy ) diagonally across the street from Sam's
> Town at around 6:50 AM. It will be KSU at 7:45 AM.
>
> Thank you Bob Donaghy=
>

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Rose Parade Keeping the Spirit of '45 Alive

Rose Parade Keeping the Spirit of '45 Alive by Showcasing Inspiring Stories of America's Greatest Generation

Louis Zamperini, hero of "Unbroken," and legendary Japanese American WWII veterans honored with floats

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This may be the last time America can come together to say 'Thank you!' to the men and women of the WWII generation who did so much to assure a better future for their children and their children's children.
Pasadena, CA (PRWEB) December 31, 2014
The countdown to the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II begins on New Years Day when floats honoring famous members of America's 'greatest generation' will be featured in the 126th Tournament of Roses Parade. The parade begins at 8:00 a.m. PST
The theme for this year's Rose Parade is "Inspiring Stories," - a tribute to those who have loved unconditionally, persevered courageously, endured patiently, and accomplished much on behalf of others.
"We were thinking about an inspirational theme, a theme where we would actually lift people’s lives up.” said Richard Chinen, chairman and president of the Tournament of Roses.
Chinen said this year's Rose Parade theme was inspired by the life of Louis Zamperini which was documented in the best selling book "Unbroken," by Pulitzer Prize winning author Laura Hillebrand. A movie based on the book and directed by Angelina Jolie opened nationwide on Christmas Day. Zamperini ran in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and later survived 47 days in shark infested waters during WWII when his plane crashed in the Pacific, followed by two years of intense brutality in a Japanese POW camp.
Zamperini was chosen to be the grand marshal for the 2015 Rose Parade last May but died on July 2 and will be only the second individual to be posthumously honored as the grand marshal in the history of the parade. He will be represented by his family who will ride in the grand marshall's car behind a riderless white horse, and in front of a float depicting the challenges Zamperini overcame during his life that was produced by the Torrance Rose Bowl Association.
Also honored in this year's parade are Japanese American WWII veterans who fought in Europe as members of the legendary 442nd Regimental Combat Unit and 100th Infantry Battalion, and the Military Intelligence Service that is credited with having helped shorten the war in the Pacific by two years. Together, they became the most highly decorated units, by size and length of service, in the history of the U.S. Army, and received numerous decorations, including the Congressional Medal of Honor. Their float, bearing their motto "Go For Broke," was entered by the City of Alhambra, CA.
"I was deeply inspired by the stories of these young men who sacrificed so much for our country, despite the fact that many of their families were in internment camps simply because of their Japanese ancestry," said Gary Yamauchi, mayor of Alhambra. "We hope our example will encourage other cities and towns in America to make sure that future generations will remember the heroes of WWII from their communities."
The Rose Bowl WWII floats will be the first in a series of events and activities that are planned for this year to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII.
"The Rose Parade and the cities of Alhambra and Torrance have done a great service by focusing attention on the importance of preserving the inspiring stories of the men and women of the WWII generation ," said Warren Hegg, national programs director of "Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive," a nonprofit grassroots coalition of organizations that are planning 70th anniversary events and activities this year.
The group will be meeting in San Diego in February to finalize marketing and media strategies for events honoring the contributions of America's airpower, ground forces, seaborne services and Home Front during WWII.
http://www.Spiritof45Conference.org
"This year may be the last time families and communities throughout America can come together to say 'Thank you!' to the men and women who were the ordinary heroes who did so much to assure a better future for their children and their children's children," said Hegg.
The centerpiece of the year's activities will be a 70th Anniversary Commemoration on the weekend of August 14 - 16, that will include a mass "Kiss in" in Times Square, flyovers by WWII aircraft, events featuring '40's style music and entertainment, oral history interviews, and wreath laying ceremonies at multiple locations around the world. A cross country convoy of WWII vehicles that is being promoted as the "longest Veterans Day Parade in history" is planned for the fall.
"We want everyone to say, 'Here we come, 2015!'" said Chinen.
For more information about the Rose Parade, visit http://www.tournamentofroses.com/rose-parade
For more information about the City of Alhambra's "Go For Broke" float visit
http://www.spiritof45.org/GFB%20Release.pdf
For more information about the Torrance Rose Parade Association float, visit http://torrancerosefloat.com
For more information about the Spirit of '45 70th Anniversary Commemoration visit http://www.Spiritof45.org