Legionnaire Jimmie Foster believes it’s important to bring new members into The American Legion. But the leading candidate for 2010-2011 national commander believes renewing former members is just as important.
That’s why Foster, if elected, will focus his national commander’s incentive program on renewals. His Lucky 7 program – introduced during last Friday’s National Membership & Post Activities Committee meeting – will provide a special pin to Legionnaires who bring in at least two new members and up to five renewals.
“I want you to continue to get new members,” Foster, the national commander’s representative to the National Legislative Commission. “But also I want you to keep the ones we have. We do a dynamic job getting new members. But I think we do a terrible job with those going out the back door.
“I think a lot of that is after you get their money the first time, you don’t actually communicate with them. You might meet them one time at the post. You don’t ask them what they would like to do, or how involved they would like to become in your post, your organization. The lack of communication drives them out the back door.”
When the Post-9/11 GI Bill became law over the summer, veterans and their family members showed up in masses to take advantage of it. As a result, VA became clogged with a backlog of claims and only had estimates of exactly how many individuals were using the landmark legislation. At the close of the first academic semester, VA has released a report that answers those questions, providing official statistics and giving an explanation for the backlog.
In the report, VA says 164,144 individuals have enrolled in classes under the GI Bill, and 130,309 of them have received payments. That leaves 34,000 students still waiting – a number which is down from about 240,000 in August but still seen as unacceptable by vet supporters. Currently, the VA says it is paying about 4,500 students per day, and that it takes on average 47 days to process payments from the day the school certifies enrollment in VA. In all, 352,281 people have applied for a Certificate of Eligibility, and 292,896 have received one. They will receive funding when they enroll in a school.
VA reports that $517 million has been paid out to students and $385 million to schools. An additional 65,282 payments totaling $193 million were made to students this fall during the emergency payment period, which sent advance funding to destitute individuals who were still waiting on their first GI Bill checks.
VA says that the sometimes-controversial claims process takes about one to one and a half hours to process a single payment. Four nonintegrated systems store, calculate, pay and send letters – a setup that VA calls “a burdensome entry and reentry of data”.
The backlog was especially bad in the beginning of the semester, when many students were enrolled in school without having received payments. To remedy the situation, VA reports that it hired 230 employees beyond the 520 original ones. They all are required to work overtime at least three days a month.
To improve the system, VA says it continues to review the process and streamline letters to veterans and their dependents who are attending school on their behalf.
On Aug. 24, 2009, The American Legion National Executive Committee adopted Resolution 1, The American Legion Policy on VA and National Health Care Reform, and Resolution 2, The American Legion Policy on DoD’s Medical Health System and National Health Care Reform. The goal of these resolutions was to make sure that neither DoD’s or VA’s health-care delivery systems were adversely affected by legislation introduced and passed in each chamber.
Very early in the process, The American Legion received assurances from key congressional leaders and the president that nothing in the national health-care reform legislation would adversely affect either the DoD or VA health-care systems. Both the House and the Senate have passed their versions of national health-care reform legislation, and both bills span over 2,000 pages of legislative language. In a review of each bill, it appears neither DoD or VA health-care systems will be adversely affected; however, the current ongoing negotiations between House, Senate and the White House are being conducted in “closed sessions” with little to no detailed information being officially released or reported.
The American Legion will continue to closely monitor developments and keep The American Legion family informed as specifics are revealed. Clearly, changes to Medicare’s reimbursement rates to participating health-care providers could possibly have an effect on TRICARE and TRICARE for Life beneficiaries. This is just one of the many provisions The American Legion has publicly expressed concerns over.
Another concern deals with any requirement for mandatory public or private health-care insurance. Neither TRICARE or VA health care is an insurance provider, but rather a health-care provider. So The American Legion has publicly expressed its concerns with “cookie cutter” approaches in mandating health-care insurance coverage with the threat of fines or penalties for noncompliance. Both DoD and VA health care are earned benefits for honorable military service and the thanks of a grateful nation.
In keeping with the constitutional intent of the democratic process, the voice of We, the people, remains absolutely critical in the representative form of government we enjoy; therefore, you are encouraged to ask your two senators and your representative specific questions you may have on the issue of national health-care reform as it relates to veterans, servicemembers and their families.
An old Chinese proverb declares, “May you live in interesting times.” The upcoming year will likely show why these words are a blessing and a curse.
Change is always interesting, and in an era marked by the global spread of democratic governance, change often comes at the ballot box. In 2010, elections will be conducted in a number of key countries.
The United States will hold congressional elections. A shift in power would probably influence domestic policy more than foreign policy. But, as George W. Bush learned in the Beltway battle over the Iraq troop surge, and as Bill Clinton learned in the Balkans, and as Ronald Reagan learned in Central America, a determined Congress can have a significant impact on foreign policy.
Britain will hold elections and will likely oust the party of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, after 13 years in power. David Cameron, the would-be prime minister, has staked out a decidedly independent, pro-sovereignty position, promising that he would “never allow Britain to slide into a federal Europe.”
Iraqis will vote for parliament, testing a fragile political-constitutional system. The good news is that post-Baathist Iraq has risen to the occasion before, most recently in November, when the parliament hammered out a crucial set of rules for administering the 2010 election.
But elections are only a small part of the big picture for Iraq in 2010. By the end of August, the United States will withdraw all combat forces from Iraq, leaving 50,000 troops behind for training, counterinsurgency/counterterrorism and protection of U.S. facilities. In other words, August will mark the end of the war for American troops.
Beyond Iraq, there are elections in the Philippines, Ethiopia, the Palestinian territory, Brazil and elsewhere, but the elections in Ukraine, Poland and the Czech Republic could be the most interesting in relation to U.S. foreign and defense policy.
Still smarting from Washington’s retreat on missile defense, Czech and Polish politicians face electorates that could punish them for taking a risk on the U.S. missile defense program – something that appears to have yielded only Russian anger.
In Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, the pro-Western sitting president, is facing Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and Viktor Yanukovich. The bad news for those who want Ukraine to remain independent and Western-oriented is that Yushchenko’s poll numbers are dismal. Yanukovich was “Moscow’s man” in 2004, according to the BBC, and Tymoshenko is viewed as co-opted by Moscow. “We are happy working with the government of Yulia Tymoshenko,” Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said.
Given Moscow’s military presence in the Crimea and refusal to view its former vassals as independent countries, who’s in charge in Ukraine – and how he or she relates to Russia – could have serious implications for the United States and NATO. Ukraine is not a NATO member. Of course, neither was Georgia in 2008, yet the Russia-Georgia war badly damaged Western relations with Moscow.
NATO, by the way, will complete work on a new Strategic Concept in 2010. The Strategic Concept is a mission statement of sorts. The last time NATO adopted a new Strategic Concept was in 1999. Much has changed since then.
While on the subject of change, a big one that is supposed to happen in 2010 is the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facilities. However, it won’t happen on schedule. Missing the president’s January 2010 deadline is probably a good thing. Understandably, the American people oppose by a 2-1 margin the plan to shut down GITMO and move the detainees into the United States. Leaving much to be desired are the alternatives to GITMO: handing over the detainees to other countries, where many have been released; transferring them to federal prisons; and/or trying them in U.S. courts. Stateside trials like the preparations for the Manhattan trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other al Qaeda terrorists already figure to dominate the news in 2010.
That brings us to Afghanistan, where Osama bin Laden and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed hatched their mass-murder plan. After a thorough re-review, the president has ordered 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan; this follows his early-2009 deployment of about 20,000 troops. Perhaps by this time next year, we will be able to say that the Afghanistan surge worked as well as the Iraq surge. However, it would seem that letting the Taliban know when the United States will end its offensive – the president promises “after 18 months, our troops will begin to come home” – won’t make Gen. McChrystal’s mission any easier.
Next door to Afghanistan, only Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and a handful of clerics know what 2010 holds for Iran. If 2009 is any guide; we can expect plenty of gamesmanship from Tehran and tough talk from the United Nations, but no real action. As French president Nicolas Sarkozy recently observed, “Since 2005, Iran has violated five Security Council resolutions… An offer of dialogue was made in 2005, an offer of dialogue was made in 2006, an offer of dialogue was made in 2007, an offer of dialogue was made in 2008, and another one was made in 2009… What did the international community gain from these offers?” His answer: “More enriched uranium, more centrifuges.”
Exasperated, Sarkozy finally concluded, “There comes a time when facts are stubborn and decisions must be made.”
WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced today the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has selected the Frazier International History Museum in Louisville, Ky., as the new home of the Bloedner Monument, the nation’s oldest Civil War memorial.
The Bloedner Monument was removed from Cave Hill National Cemetery in Louisville in December 2008 and taken to a temporary facility where it was professionally conserved by Conservation Solutions Inc. to arrest further damage.
“The removal of an important monument from a national cemetery is rare and was not undertaken without great deliberation,” said Secretary Shinseki.“However, the overwhelming significance of the Bloedner Monument and its failing condition warranted this unusual step.”
The monument was carved in January 1862 by Pvt. August Bloedner to commemorate his fellow soldiers of the 32nd Indiana Infantry, all of them German immigrants who fell in the Battle of Rowlett’s Station near Munfordville, Ky.The monument’s original location was on the battlefield, marking the graves of 13 soldiers who perished there.When most of these remains were removed to Cave Hill National Cemetery in 1867, the Bloedner Monument was moved there as well.
VA historians, in collaboration with the Kentucky Heritage Council and Heritage Preservation Inc., selected the Frazier International Museum as the new home from three interested facilities based on Civil War exhibit plans, controlled environment and security, financial stability, annual visitation and proximity to Cave Hill National Cemetery.
The monument was fabricated from St. Genevieve limestone, with a base of Bedford limestone added in 1867.It measures approximately 5 feet long, 1 foot deep and 3 ½ feet high.The monument is carved on one side with a relief of an eagle and an inscription in German in a rustic script.The text was approximately 300 words and 2,500 characters long at the time it was carved.Because of the poor quality of the limestone and effects of the environment, the monument has lost a significant amount of material.Only about 50 percent of the original carving and inscription remains.
The monument was temporarily relocated to a University of Louisville facility for treatment while VA conducted a thorough evaluation of potential sites.The evaluation process included written proposals and site visits.VA posted information on the Internet, mailed information to Veterans and Civil War heritage groups and held a public information meeting to solicit suggestions.
A new monument, with an interpretive sign explaining the significance of the original Bloedner Monument and indicating its location, will be placed at Cave Hill National Cemetery in 2010.
Another batch of items purchased for the soldiers of the U.S. Army’s Bravo Troop 3-61 Cavalry arrived in Afghanistan recently.
Christmas was a great time for the soldiers of Black Knight Troop. After a day of relaxing and playing football myself, 1SG Burton and the Troop Commander placed all the items in a gathering area and then I took the center of the troop giving them a Christmas Speech, I told them how fortunate we were to have the folks back home that “Gave a Shit” that this was an overwhelming amount of support and that we have a great family and team not just here in country but back in the great USA.
I was, needless to say, nearly in tears while I was talking and looking at the amount of “gifts” there were in the stack. It was knowing that the time, effort, and care that was taken to put all this together. I also asked the troop for a moment of silence for the men lost on October 3rd, the silence was hauntingly quiet and you could tell that the fallen soldiers were in the minds of us all name by name.
There’s been a time in everyone’s life where they wish they could have done things differently. Prepared better. Responded differently. Changed courses. Well, this is your chance to re-write history.
ARE YOU A WOMAN VETERAN?
Business and Professional Women’s Foundation is looking for WOMEN VETERANS to write letters to enlisted women, offering practical advice on how to best transition from the military to the civilian workplace.
Join our campaign to reach out to women service members currently overseas. These women are coming home to employers and communities that are unsure of how to interpret and integrate their impressive military skills and experiences.
BPW Foundation’s research has shown that women veterans struggle with networking and finding employment. These women are unsure about how to apply for veterans’ benefits and don’t know what benefits are available. Often the G.I. Bill is a mystery. These women have virtually no transition time: spending only two weeks “out processing” before entering the civilian world. And without comprehensive assistance on how their vast military-learned skills can be applied in the civilian workforce, these women are being set up for failure. We cannot allow these women to be forgotten.
HOW TO WRITE A DEAR JANE LETTER
·What do you wish you had known at the time of your separation?
·What tools did you use to find meaningful employment?
·How did you ease back into your family life?
·What could have made the transition easier?
·What (if anything) would you do differently to jump-start your post-military employment?
HOW TO JOIN DEAR JANE
Your signed letter should be between 300-1000 words. Include your name, rank and dates of service. Anonymous letters will be accepted, but we prefer the power of your name; if anonymous, please include your rank and dates of service.
Letters will be sent out beginning on Veterans Day, November 11.
Please spread the word. We want as many women veterans and enlisted women to Dear Jane!
Department of Idaho Legion family members joined with several organizations to bring holiday cheer to the 12 veterans living in the South Eastern Idaho Community Action Agency’s Freedom LZ Veterans Shelter and Jefferson House Transitional Housing.
Donations from American Legion Post 4, and its American Legion Riders, Auxiliary and 40/8, along with several other organizations, made it possible for veterans staying at both facilities to receive Christmas gifts each year. The gifts were delivered on Christmas Eve.
Freedom LZ and Jefferson House are programs that help rehabilitate veterans who are homeless, need medical attention or have other specific needs. The programs have an 85-percent success rate.
The Bannock County Commissioners conducted a press conference on December 17, 2009 to recognize and thank the organizations involved.
“What a neat opportunity for us as commissioners to be a part of this,” Bannock County Commissioner Karl Anderson said during the press conference. “We’re here to do the honor of thanking you guys for letting these people know the community loves them, honors them and is extremely grateful for what they’ve done.”
Business, all business, must adhere to a fundamental basic formula: money in – money out = profit. When it comes to generating revenue, you have to have something to sell, someone has to be willing to buy it, you have to locate the people willing to buy your product or service, and finally, you have to ask them to give you their money. That’s more difficult than it sounds.
•Most of the clients I work with have identified what they want to sell, but assigning a strategy market value to their offering is much more of a challenge. Figuring out just how much money, time (translated into money) and effort (translated into money) goes into getting your widget into the hands of the customer requires a lot of thought.
•Identify your target customer. Knowing you’ll have customers and understanding exactly who they are going to be are two completely different things. You must know everything about your perfect customer and who they are giving your money to (yes, your money). Your job is to convince then to shop with you.
•Once you have identified your customer with distinctive intimacy, you have to let them know you exist.
•Depending on the price point of your offering, you will have to be able to sell, and close sales. This is usually the biggest emotional challenge for new entrepreneurs. Many of us feel uncomfortable or even dishonest asking others to turn over their money to us.
If you start your business planning understanding these basic principles, you will soon be able to set realistic goals and a solid revenue forecast.
Louis J. Celli Jr. is a retired Army master sergeant who has started and developed businesses, and has counseled hundreds of veteran entrepreneurs. Readers can send questions for “On Point” to lcelli@nevbrc.org.
She was no Pershing, Truman or Teddy Roosevelt Jr. She did not rank alongside Patton or Ike.
But she was well educated, determined and dedicated to the causes of Americanism just like them. Although not a warrior on a battlefield or an eventual president, Verna B. Grimm chronicled their battles and causes.
During her 34 years at the helm of The American Legion Library, she was probably best known for growing and cataloging hundreds of war posters.
Messages like “America needs your scrap rubber,” “On the job for victory” and “The Army is counting on you for more metal” are all depicted with artwork on the posters that Grimm constantly sought for the library she ran from its founding in 1923 until her retirement in 1957.
In a guide to the exhibit that has been viewed by the public since 1937, Grimm wrote: “The students and children will be interested in learning of these phases of the World War (I) not found in history text books. They will learn that the war was not just a series of battles, but that with it life had to be lived as gallantly as possible and these personal associations helped make the ordeal endurable.”
Since then, she looked everywhere for posters from World War II and beyond, all while managing a library that later soared to more than 12,000 books and pamphlets.
Before moving to Indianapolis to start up the Legion Library, Grimm’s life mirrored the tragic turns met by other war-time widows. But for this widow, the battlefield was the streets of Centralia, Wash., not a European war zone.
Grimm’s marriage to Army Lt. Warren O. Grimm on April 15, 1918, ended just 19 months later when he and four other Legionnaires were gunned down during an Armistice Day parade on Nov. 11, 1919. Her husband, the Legion post commander, led the parade in honor of Centralia’s veterans.
The Industrial Workers of the World (Wobblies) already had a troubled relationship with the town dating back to 1914. Some of the union members, including some unemployed lumber workers, had been kicked out of town after conflicts with local authorities. A few returned to loot stores, adding to the friction.
A Centralia union hall opened in 1917, but was looted in 1918, so the Wobblies were ready for revenge. When the 1919 parade passed in front of the union hall, the Wobblies feared for another attack. The armed Wobblies accused some of the parade participants of storming the hall first. But others recapping the events note that Grimm and fellow Legionnaire Arthur McElfresh were gunned down in the middle of the street, not approaching the hall. Two other Legionnaires also lost their lives in the battle that ensued.
The assassinated post commander left behind his 6-month-old daughter, Shirley Ann, and his widow, Verna, to determine the family’s fate.
Verna persevered and earned a master’s degree in library science from Columbia University. She rejected a reference librarian offer from the New York Public Library, instead opting to move to Indianapolis to launch the Legion’s library.
Outside of her library work, Verna raised Shirley Ann and authored “A Bibliography of Book Plate Literature.” In her travels, Verna collected matchbook covers and wine corks as souvenirs.
Her reputation as a collector – don’t forget all those war posters – earned her this distinction in a post on the Internet that she never lived to experience: “God bless you Verna B. Grimm. I heartily propose her canonization as St. Verna, patron saint of compulsive collectors.”
A more serious honor came her way in 1958, just a few months after her death.
In October 1958, the Legion’s National Executive Committee paid posthumous tribute to their grand collector by renaming “her” library as “The Verna B. Grimm Memorial Book Collection.”
While husband Warren earned his honors as part of the American Expeditionary Forces in Siberia, his bride earned recognition in her own right by chronicling the lives of thousands of other Legionnaires.
