Every Day is Veteran's Day at the CSU

Information from SFSU webpage: http://www.sfsu.edu/outreach/VAevent/

Every Day is Veteran’s Day at the CSU
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Jack Adams Hall, Cesar Chavez Student Center
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA 94132

Be our guest and:
- find out about the program of services, benefits offered by the CSU and local community service providers
- receive a preliminary review of your Fall 2010 CSU Mentor application at the campuses
- network with other students with a military background
- meet veteran service representatives dedicated to helping veterans

Planned Activities
- 0900-1000 Continental breakfast and information fair
- 1000-1200 Presentations on new G.I. Bill, transition issues, benefits, services provided to veterans who are students
- 1200-1300 Lunch and information fair
- 1300-1500 Applicants meet with their CSU campus Admissions and Veterans staff to confirm CSU eligibility, benefits, credits, etc.

Special Accommodations
To request disability accommodations, please contact the Disability Programs & Resource Center at 415/338-2472 (voice/TTY) or e-mail: dprc@sfsu.edu at least two weeks prior to the event.

2nd Annual Small Wonders Gift Drive

The Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injury Support group (TABIS) and the American River College Association of Student Veterans (ASV)teaming up again in support of the Children's Reveiving Home of Sacramento. We are asking for unwrapped new toys, games and/or appropriate clothing for ages infant - 18 years old. A drop box is located in the DSPS office. We can also pick up your donation if needed. Call Barb Westre at 484-8382 or email westreb@arc.losrios.edu.

Employment Report from VetJobs

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market's second-biggest gains after healthcare were in temporary help services, as employers who couldn't invest in full-time staffers turned to part-time labor instead. In October, 34,000 employees entered the workforce in new temporary jobs. Seasonal jobs occupy the second and third spots. Retail work, including store manager and associate, ranks No. 2, and UPS driver helper is No. 3. Despite last year's meltdown on Wall Street, financial specialists are back in demand. Financial advisors rank fourth on the Vault.com list, and financial analysts make the No. 9 spot. Here are the top ten spots

1) Registered Nurse - Salary: $55,000 to $90,000
2) Retail (including store manager, assistant store manager and retail sales associate) - Salary: Sales associates earn $15,000 to $30,000, while store managers can bring home as much as $80,000.
3) UPS Driver Helper (seasonal) - Salary: Part-time driver helpers receive hourly rates of $9.50 or more, depending on their locations.
4) Financial Advisor - Salary: Compensation varies according to the client base. Private bankers, who work with wealthy clients, can earn seven figures.
5) Occupational Therapist - Salary: $50,000 to $75,000
6) Sales (including sales representative and sales and marketing representative) - Salary: $30,000 to the high six figures.
7) Customer Service Representative - Salary: $25,000 to $40,000
8) Controller - Salary: $130,000 to $290,000
9) Accountant - Salary: $75,000 to $90,000
10) Financial Analyst - Salary: First-year analysts at top investment banks can earn six figures including bonus.

Top Ten White Collar Jobs

This information comes from Forbes.
1) Commercial Lending Director, average annual pay in 2009: $128,600 Year-to-year change: -1.4%, best-paying industry: Banking & financial services
2) General Manager, average annual pay in 2009: $118,300 Year-to-year change: -2.6%, best-paying industry: Manufacturing & distribution
3) Engineering Director, average annual pay in 2009: $116,700 Year-to-year change: +3.3%, best-paying industry: Services
4) Finance Director, average annual pay in 2009: $111,200 Year-to-year change: +4.2%, best-paying industry: Utilities
5) Information Systems Director, Average annual pay in 2009: $108,800 Year-to-year change: +1.1%, best-paying industry: Utilities
6) Operations Director, average annual pay in 2009: $108,200 Year-to-year change: +3.4%, best-paying industry: Banking and financial services
7) Information Security Director, average annual pay in 2009: $106,700 Year-to-year change: +1.6%, best-paying industry: Manufacturing & distribution
8) Controller, average annual pay in 2009: $105,800 Year-to-year change: -1.2%, best-paying industry: Utilities
9) Accounting Director, Average annual pay in 2009: $104,500 Year-to-year change: +3.8%, best-paying industry: Banking & financial services
10) National Sales Manager, Average annual pay in 2009: $104,100 Year-to-year change: -3.2%, best-paying industry: Utilities

5. America's Slowest-Growing White-Collar Paychecks

Want to make the most you can without actually running a company? Watch out for these jobs. They are the five white collar jobs below C-level with the slowest pay growth--or greatest pay loss--over the last five years, according to the research firm Compdata's Compensation Survey 2009, which amasses data from almost 5,000 companies. The figures are for base pay and do not include bonuses, options, expenses and other additional compensation.

1) Mortgage Lending Director, average annual pay in 2009: $95,400
Five-year change: -11.8%, best-paying industry: Banking & Financial Services
2) Development Officer, average annual pay in 2009: $102,400
Five-year change: -7.6%, best-paying industry: Nonprofit
3) Nursing Services Director, average annual pay in 2009: $93,200
Five-year change: +0.5%, best-paying industry: Health Care
4) Plant Engineering Manager, average annual pay in 2009: $85,300
Five-year change: +1.5%, best-paying industry: Services
5) Advertising and Public Relations Manager, average annual pay in 2009: $73,200
Five-year change: +2.7%, best-paying industry: Utilities

6. America's Fastest-Growing White-Collar Paychecks

1) Finance Director, Average annual pay in 2009: $111,200
Five-year change: +35.0%, best-paying industry: Utilities
2) General Accounting Manager, Average annual pay in 2009: $77,000
Five-year change: +16.3%, best-paying industry: Utilities
3) Engineering Director, Average annual pay in 2009: $116,700
Five-year change: +14.0%, best-paying industry: Services
4) Marketing Director, average annual pay in 2009: $102,300
Five-year change: +12.3%, best-paying industry: Manufacturing & Distribution
5) Controller, average annual pay in 2009: $105,800
Five-year change: +11.6%, best-paying industry:

ARC Veterans Day 2009 (31 photos), by Kolin Williams

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

ARC Veterans Day Events - Mon, Nov 9

ARC Veterans Day Celebration 9NOV 10-3:00pm

American River College to Host Veterans Day Celebration and Fair

November 9, Sacramento

The American River College Association of Student Veterans (ARCASV) is hosting their first ever Veterans Day celebration on campus on Monday November 9, 2009. This event will be the largest gathering of veteran’s services in the history of the campus. Activities include club and college leadership speaking, veteran’s service provider information booths, and fundraising barbeque. Military recruiters will also be on site to provide entertainment and information for initial entry as well as reenlistment. In attendence will be: VA Patient Advocate, VA Minority Veterans Program, Army One Source, Inter-City Services, VA Mental Health Outreach, Sacramento State Vet Program, Howe Vet Center, Kaplan University, William Jessup University, CA Dept. of Rehabilitation, US Army Reserve, and others.

About the American River College Association of Student Veterans
American River College is one of the largest community colleges in California in terms of student population, and has over 700 veterans using educational benefits on campus. The ASV provides a safe environment for student veterans to help one another facilitate the transition from military service to the college community by creating a positive social network based on fellowship, mentorship, and camaraderie.

Visit us on the web at: www.associationofstudentveterans.com

Free Meal for Veterans and Active Duty Members Nov 8 & 11

McCormick and Schmick's Seafood (nice place with great food) is offering veterans a free meal on Sunday, November 8. They have locations in Sacramento and Roseville. Please present proper identification to your server when you areseated. Proper ID includes VA card, VFW card, American Legion card, dischargepapers, DD214 or other Veterans ID. Please note that in an effort to accommodate as many Veterans as possible, many restaurants will not be able to seat parties larger than 6.

http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/featured-promotion/Veterans-Appreciation-Day\.aspx

Free Meal from Applebee's!In recognition of your service to our country, all veterans and active dutymilitary personnel are invited to eat free at Applebee's Neighborhood Grill &Bar Restaurants this Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009.As you may recall, Applebee's launched a pilot program last year on Veterans Dayoffering free entrees to military service personnel and veterans. Because the response was so overwhelmingly positive, Applebee's is extending the invitation throughout the country this year. We would appreciate your help in spreading the word. Please help us share details across your various communication channels. All U.S. veterans and active duty military with proof of current or former military service will eat free at all Applebee's nationwide on Veterans Day,Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009. Proof of service includes: U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S.Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement, Veterans Organization Card, photograph in uniform or wearing uniform.

Military.com posting

Vets Have Trouble Cashing Emergency GI Bill ChecksSo far the biggest glitch in the VA GI Bill Emergency Payment process is that several veterans find it hard to cash their GI Bill advance payment checks. In some cases it was a matter of bank policy to hold funds until the check clears. This is further complicated because the checks are handwritten US Bank checks, which may have seemed odd to the banks.

Issuing Emergency Education Checks in Sacramento

We will begin issuing hard copy emergency education benefit checks from our Sacramento office on Saturday, October 3rd, from 8-12:00pm and during the week from 8-4:00pm.

Any veteran who can wait 3-7 days to receive a check in the mail should use the website link found at www.va.gov. If a veteran can not wait 3-7 days they can collect a hard copy check from our Oakland or Sacramento locations.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki today announced further outreach to Veteran-students eligible for a special emergency payment of their education benefits. Veterans can now apply online beginning Oct. 2. Veteran-students can also request courtesy transportation to VA regional benefits offices.

“Our Veterans went the extra mile for their country,” Shinseki said. “One of our top priorities in transforming VA is to be, first and foremost, the advocate for Veterans.”

Last week Shinseki announced that on Friday, Oct. 2, VA’s 57 regional benefits offices will begin providing on-the-spot emergency payments up to $3,000 to students who have applied for their education benefits but who have not yet received a government payment.
Citing the distance many Veterans would have to travel to apply in person at a VA benefits office, Shinseki announced Veterans can also apply online at www.va.gov, starting Oct. 2. The online application will guide Veterans through the process to supply needed information. Shinseki noted that online applicants will receive their emergency payments through the mail after processing.

“VA is adapting to meet the financial needs of our Veteran-students who are on campus,” Shinseki said. “They should be focusing on their studies, not worrying about financial difficulties.”

Students without their own transportation can also request free van service, provided by volunteers, to carry them to the nearest benefits office. To obtain this service, Veterans would have to call their nearest VA medical center and ask for the “Volunteer Transportation Coordinator.” Transportation will be on a first-come, first-served, space-available basis. Veterans can find a map and list of medical centers at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=1.

Whether traveling by personal vehicle or volunteer van, VA officials suggest students check their mail boxes and banking accounts before leaving home, since some Veterans will find their checks have already arrived. VA would like to recognize the volunteers and Veterans Service Organizations for partnering with the Department to ensure that Veterans’ needs are met.
The emergency checks are an advance on each student’s education benefits, and the amount will be deducted from future benefits payments. Checks will be written at the regional offices for Veterans who bring a photo ID and evidence of their enrollment. VA officials emphasize that $3,000 is the maximum payment, with many Veterans receiving smaller payments based upon their likely monthly education benefits.

A map and list of the participating VA regional benefits offices is available on the Internet at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=3. The most updated information regarding VA issuing emergency checks will be available at VA’s web site www.va.gov starting Oct. 1.

Applications from approximately 25,000 Veterans are currently being processed for Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefit payments to students or schools.

Emergency GI Bill checks starting 02OCT09

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has authorized checks for up to $3,000 to be given to students who have applied for educational benefits and who have not yet received their government payment. The checks will be distributed to eligible students at VA regional benefits offices across the country starting Oct. 2, 2009.

“Students should be focusing on their studies, not worrying about financial difficulties,” Secretary Shinseki said. “Education creates life-expanding opportunities for our Veterans.”

Starting Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, students can go to one of VA’s 57 regional benefit offices with a photo ID and a course schedule to request advance payment of their education benefits. Because not all these offices are located near students, VA expects to send representatives to schools with large Veteran-student bodies and work with Veteran Service Organizations to help students with transportation needs.

A list of those VA regional offices is available at www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/offices.asp.

“I’m asking our people to get out their road maps and determine how we can reach the largest number of college students who can’t reach us,” VA’s Under Secretary for Benefits Patrick Dunne said. “Not everyone has a car. Not everyone can walk to a VA benefits office.”

Although VA does not know how many students will request emergency funds, it has approximately 25,000 claims pending that may result in payments to students.

The funds VA will give to students now are advance payments of the earned benefits for education. This money will be deducted from future education payments.

VA officials said students should know that after this special payment, they can expect to receive education payments on the normal schedule -- the beginning of the month following the period for which they are reimbursed.

“This is an extraordinary action we’re taking,” said Shinseki. “But it’s necessary because we recognize the hardships some of our Veterans face.”

More than 27,500 students have already received benefits for housing or books under the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, or their schools received their tuition payments.

Sacramento Stand Down 2009

Six of us made it to the Stand Down this year. Kolin, Fred, Jessica, Johnny, Michelle and Christian. After we rolled up the flatware in napkins, we served the homeless vets, scrambled eggs and ham, pancakes and syrup. Jessica really heaped on the eggs and ham!

0700 is awfully early to be somewhere and think clearly. Someone tried to get a word about the website. . . oh well ; (

New GI Bill, same old bureaucratic delays -- latimes.com

New GI Bill, same old bureaucratic delays -- latimes.com

Posted using ShareThis

BBQ News

The BBQ went well!

We made money!

Many more have discovered the ARC Vets Club is on campus!

Here are a few pictures.

The rest are on the Yahoo Group.

Upcoming Events

Things are happening now!

We had an incredibly productive meeting today. If you didn't attend you really missed it.

We are getting ready for the Veteran's Day event on Wednesday, November 9th. There will be numerous vendors there such as Vets4Vets, the Coming Home Project, possibly a Hummer blasting music, The Soldiers Project and many more participants are contributing to the event. Joe Chacon is doing a fantastic job of heading up the media coverage.

Other events coming up are the Stand Down this coming week end at BSA Camp Pollock, 1501 Northgate Blvd. Sacramento, CA.

Then the Returning Home event on Friday, September 25th will be held at Sacramento City College.

Those who missed the meeting - missed out on free River Cats tickets for the playoffs this Friday! And an application for a $500 scholarship was passed out too!!!

Should have been there!

Secretary Shinseki Moves to Simplify PTSD Compensation Rules

WASHINGTON (Aug. 24, 2009) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is taking steps to assist Veterans seeking compensation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

"The hidden wounds of war are being addressed vigorously and comprehensively by this administration as we move VA forward in its transformation to the 21st century," said Secretary Shinseki.

The VA is publishing a proposed regulation today in the Federal Register to make it easier for a Veteran to claim service connection for PTSD by reducing the evidence needed if the stressor claimed by a Veteran is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted over the next 60 days. A final regulation will be published after consideration of all comments received.

Under the new rule, VA would not require corroboration of a stressor related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity if a VA psychiatrist or psychologist confirms that the stressful experience recalled by a Veteran adequately supports a diagnosis of PTSD and the Veteran's symptoms are related to the claimed stressor.

Previously, claims adjudicators were required to corroborate that a non-combat Veteran actually experienced a stressor related to hostile military activity. This rule would simplify the development that is required for these cases.

PTSD is a recognized anxiety disorder that can follow seeing or experiencing an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury to which a person responds with intense fear, helplessness or horror, and is not uncommon in war.

Feelings of fear, confusion or anger often subside, but if the feelings don't go away or get worse, a Veteran may have PTSD.

VA is bolstering its mental health capacity to serve combat Veterans, adding thousands of new professionals to its rolls in the last four years. The Department also has established a suicide prevention helpline
(1-800-273-TALK) and Web site available for online chat in the evenings at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/Veterans

IBM Aids Returning Veterans

Posted by Paul McDougall on July 22, 2009 12:04 PM

IBM has teamed up with American Corporate Partners to provide career development and mentoring services for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's a laudable effort in its own right, and makes a lot of sense given the hi-tech nature of today's military.

Under the plan, IBM will provide mentoring services in five cities—New York, Washington, Raleigh/Durham, Denver, and San Francisco. IBM has engaged On Demand Community to provide additional, online resources. ODC operates Web sites that offer training, skills assessment, and other educational content.
The program matches up mentors with their protégés on a one-to-one basis in particular cities. The pairs are encouraged to spend about 4 hours per month together for a year discussing the practical aspects of business and career development.

Spouses of vets who were killed or severely wounded in action are also eligible to participate.
"This will be a real boost to our program because IBM employees are innovators and role models in the business world who have community service in their DNA," says ACP founder Sid Goodfriend.
IBM should benefit too. Many veterans have received superior training in hi-tech fields such as communications, computer programming, logistics, and electronics. And, of course, these men and women know a thing or two about performing under stress. Put it altogether and you have some excellent job candidates.

"The addition of American Corporate Partners gives IBM volunteers another opportunity to share their wisdom," says Gary Ambrose, IBM's VP for the U.S. Department of Defense. Ambrose is a retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General.

ACP is run by retired generals and political figures, including George Shultz, Paul Wolfowitz, and Bob Dole. Vets can apply to participate in the program at the organization's Web site. http://www.acp-usa.org/

Kind regards, Bobbi Park, Northern California RepresentativeCalifornia Statewide Collaborative for our Military and their Families
916-409-0462 or 530-388-8074

What can a student veteran association do for you?

All college and university campuses should begin preparing for the increased number of student Veterans that will be attending their schools in the future.
As these men and women return to campus they are going to need a support system to help them succeed. One of the most successful support systems for these students is a Student Veteran Association on campus. This is just one way of helping them to succeed and bring them one step closer to a college education.
Does your campus have a Student Veteran Association? If not, below are a few reasons why a Student Veteran Association should be set up on your campus:

1. Peer-to-peer support for the returning Veterans on campus. This creates a tight knit community on campus for all returning Veterans. There is no better way for students to adjust to campus than with students who have recently experienced combat as they have. These Veterans need to be surrounded by people who understand what they have encountered in the past.

2. Main point of contact for all student Veterans. This point of contact should be either a faculty member or a member of administration who oversees all operations associated with the Veteran services at the University/College. This point of contact will be working closely with all student Veterans on campus. They will work with admissions, disability services, financial aid, housing, the counseling center, and the registrar's office to help these students better adjust to their life on campus.

3. A Freshmen Vet-Orientation should be set up specifically for returning Veterans. The Student Veteran Association should arrange for an Orientation program that helps this student population to become familiar with the Veteran-specific resources on campus, to get to know the staff who is most educated and understanding of their needs, and perhaps, most importantly, to allow them to recognize other Veteran students.

4. Proper awareness training should be provided for all faculty members and staff. The faculty members and staff need to be aware of the issues that these student Veterans are facing as well. Training needs to be put in place so they know how to reach out to their students and give them the support they need.

5. Increased awareness of Veteran-specific resources available to them on campus. For example, given that returning Veterans are usually in their early or mid-twenties, they typically do not want to be living with those freshmen who are 18 or 19 years old and right out of high school. So, this will help them find housing where other student Veterans live and consider grouping them together or nearby one another when requesting housing on campus.

It is very important for returning Veterans to have a strong support system in place when they return to school. Every University/College wants their students to succeed by graduating and having a Student Veteran Association in place will help them get one step closer towards their goal of graduating.

It is also important for their classmates to understand what these Veteran students are going through. It would be a good idea to have a key note speaker talk about his/her experiences while in combat with several guest students giving their insights on their experiences. Many students at the age of 18 haven't made executive decisions, experienced cultural differences, or gone out of the country and they don't understand what these Veterans have encountered. The student Veterans shouldn't feel alienated and by all means they should not be treated any different than other students on campus.

Help your student Veterans adjust to their life on campus by starting a Student Veteran Association. Remember, listen to the veterans and learn what works best from your students. The Aurora Foundation is working to help provide more support for those student Veterans on campus.

Suzanne Jackson
The Aurora Foundation

Obama Administration and the State of California Fix Post 9/11 GI Bill Tuition Glitch

Obama Administration and the State of California Fix Post 9/11 GI Bill Tuition Glitch

Veterans Will Now Have Standardized Access to Private, Graduate and Out-of State Schools in California Under Yellow Ribbon Program

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced today a joint solution has been reached between the State of California and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) concerning how tuition and fees are determined. The new definition will allow for standardized application under the new Post 9/11 GI Bill and the accompanying Yellow Ribbon program.
“The Post-9/11 GI Bill is an important part of fulfilling our promise to the men and women who have served our country so honorably,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said. “This solution will allow all Veterans who want to attend a California school the same benefits as any other Veteran across the nation.”
The Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefit authorizes VA to pay the actual tuition and fees charged by a university up to the maximum in-state tuition and fees charged by the most expensive public university in the state.
In interpreting the statute in its implementing regulation, VA determined that it must set separate state maximums for tuition and fees, as opposed to a single combined total.
In California, public schools have traditionally charged no tuition but relatively high fees. Thus a student attending private school in California would receive much less of a basic tuition benefit under the Post 9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon program than students at private schools in other states.
Recently, California’s public universities introduced a new billing line item, “Educational Fee/Tuition.” VA has determined that, under its existing regulations, the Department can consider this new billing line item as “tuition” for the purposes of calculating the state’s maximum payments.
“As a result of this interpretation, the maximum basic benefit VA can pay in California will increase, dramatically reducing the “gap” to be made up by California schools under the Yellow Ribbon agreement,” added Under Secretary for Benefits Patrick W. Dunne.
In California alone, approximately 80 schools have entered into more than 235 agreements for the 2009-2010 school year. The new maximum, in-state tuition amount for California public institutions is now $287 per credit hour.
Over 1,100 colleges, universities and schools across the country have entered into more than 3,400 “Yellow Ribbon” program agreements with VA to improve financial aid for Veterans participating in the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Yellow Ribbon program, a provision of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, funds tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. Institutions can contribute up to 50 percent of those expenses, and VA will match this additional funding for eligible students.
The Yellow Ribbon program is reserved for Veterans eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100 percent benefit level. This includes those who served at least 36 months on active duty or served at least 30 continuous days and were discharged due to a service-related injury.

Meeting Minutes 29JUL09

Meeting Minutes 28JUL09

Bowling night will be held this Sat at AMF Marti Gras Lanes at 5:30pm.

We had five people in attendance at this meeting and decided that we will continue to meet through the summer.

Veterans Day: Christian (Vice-pres) bought up the idea of using a JROTC platoon that he knows to do the Color Guard for that day. He also said that they can throw rifles too! Christian is going to take the lead in setting that up. We also talked about the possibility of having someone sing the National Anthem and doing a flag raising ceremony at 8am. Those two things still need to be worked on.

Joe (Treasurer) visited the local recruiting offices to see what they had to offer to spice up our fund raisers. The big rock wall was one of the main attractions mentioned. We needed to find out what type of access they would need to bring it in, insurance issues, and whether or not having recruiters at our functions would be appropriate. We decided that we were ok with having recruiters around due to the fact that there are always people asking us about or actually joining the military during our fundraisers. In addition, since our club is open to active duty also, recruiters seemed to be ok. Finally, we talked about trying to get the Marines Hummer.

We also did a lot of talking about events for the Fall. Joe has set up a fantasy football league through yahoo and Jess is looking into getting us free tickets to the Rivercats – hopefully coordinating with the CSUS vet club so we can go together. There was also discussion about setting up a softball team to play at Fair Oaks Park and doing an opening day football party on Sept 13 at a local sports viewing pub. The exact dates and times are TBA.

Finally, we discussed T-shirts. Joe will follow up with the veteran here on campus that does printing and such about prices, colors, and options. Barb Westre (co-advisor) will also be doing a quote for us using the people she has used for the TABIS group.

Bowling Night Sat 1AUG at 5:30pm

Bowling night at AMF Marti Gras Lanes in Citrus Heights. The fun will start at 5:30pm so show up early for refreshments. We have two lanes reserved and will bowl for as long as we want to. Rates for games are 4.75 per person and 4.25 for shoes. There are group discounts available however. The bowling ally is located at 4800 Madison Ave right by ARC (916) 332-7150. Hope to see you there!

Job Fair at Mather Hospital 18Aug

I just got word of a job fair at Mather Hospital 18AUG09. This particular job fair is for those that are interested in learning about the opportunities available through the Department of Veterans Affairs. At this job fair you can learn how to find VA jobs, apply for them, and what VA jobs you may qualify for. The event will be from 1230-430 on the first floor of the main hospital at Mather - room 650. I encourage all veterans to take a look at what the VA has to offer. In my experience these jobs can be well paying and suited to make the most of you military experience.

Fliers are posted at the Veterans Service counter and the veterans bulletin board in Student Services.

Meeting Minutes

Hello all!

The Association of Student Veterans is ready for action this fall. We have finalized the first official logo and soon we will have business cards and stationary that our advisor Kolin can communicate with. How exciting!

We voted to amend our constitution to change the membership qualifications for the club. . Previously to become a member with voting privileges, you must attend 2 meetings and 1 event. Now it is either attending 2 meetings and 1 event OR attending 4 meetings in one semester. Their will be a sign in sheet from now on at every meeting as we will be keeping a data base of the attendees.

We discussed reestablishing connections with the Sac State Veteran’s Club. Hopefully their new officers and members will join us August 1st for bowling at the Mardi Gras Bowling Alley, at 4800 Madison Ave
Sacramento, CA 95841-2519 - (916) 332-7150 Time: TBA soon!

One of our valued members has transferred to San Jose State this fall. Amy R is majoring in Forensic Science. We will really miss her because she was instrumental in making the first year of the club a success, as she solicited donations for the barbeque fund raisers. Thank you for your efforts and congratulations on your success Amy. Keep checking the Yahoo group and the blog!

The majority of the meeting that occurred on the 22^nd was devoted to the future plans of the next web site for the club. It will be ready by our next upcoming event, which is The Welcome Day on September 9^th. We do need your help though. Any member who have pictures - - - PLEASE up load them to the Yahoo Groups asap. We need them for the next website.

Oh and don’t forget about the Veteran’s Day Info Fair in November!

Former ARC Veteran Saves Woman!

 

Veterans eligible for cell phone discounts

The Arizona Republic newspaper reports that military veterans and active-duty personnel are eligible for significant discounts on cell phone plans - if they know to ask. Most veterans are unaware of the potential savings on their monthly cell phone bills. Monthly military discounts range from 15 percent on Verizon Wireless plans to 10 percent off - and no activation fee - on T-Mobile agreements. Alltel, Sprint and AT&T offer similar discounts. While not everyone knows about the discounts, those who do say that getting the companies to register them for the cheaper plans is no easy task. Most services require a military identification card, veteran identification card or military discharge papers as proof of veteran status. Some companies require online registration to get the discount. Many companies, including Verizon, also offer discounted plans for customers 65 and older.

Many Activated Guard Members are left out of new GI Bill

Source: fra.org

By Tom Philpott

Because Sgt. 1^st Class Tom Simpson of the Maryland Army National Guard has served on active duty almost continually since the 9/11 attacks, he believed he had earned Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and would be able to transfer them to his 18-year-old daughter who is attending college this fall.

But when full details of the new GI Bill were released in early May, Simpson got a jolt. He isn’t eligible. So his daughter has had to pass on her first choice, New York University, for a college costing $20,000 less a year.

Air National Guard Chief Master Sgt. Bill Scully believed until just two weeks ago that his final two years on active duty, before he retired in November 2003, qualified him for 80 percent of the new GI Bill benefit.

Scully too was mistaken, and he has cancelled plans to continue to pursue a degree in religious studies online through Liberty University.

Like Simpson and Scully, thousands of National Guard members will soon discover, if they haven’t already, that they are the victims, at least temporarily, of a flaw in the new GI Bill. It limits eligibility to Guard members based on what federal law was used to order them to active duty.

Those activated under Title 10 to serve under the command and control of the president for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are eligible for the new GI Bill after 90 days’ deployed. If they serve 36 month cumulative months under Title 10, after Sept. 11, 2001, they get full GI bill benefits.

But the time that Guard members have spent activated under Title 32, -- responding to domestic emergencies or to homeland security missions, or serving fulltime under the Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) program -- will not be count toward Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility.

Excluded are Guard members called up to protect the homeland during Operation Noble Eagle after the 9/11 attacks, as well as Guard members activated to respond to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and 6000 called up for Operation Jump Start to bolster border security with Mexico in 2007-2008.

“Title 32 active duty status means they are on active duty, paid by the federal government but they still technically come under the command and control of the governor,” said Peter Duffy, deputy legislative director of the National Guard Association of the United States. “Much of what the Guard does domestically and even some overseas tours are done on Title 32 status. And although it takes members away from families, and it involves some risk, and it has them doing what counterparts in the active force are doing domestically, it still doesn’t give them [GI Bill] benefits. It’s a big, big gap.”

The original draft of a proposed GI Bill last year excluded all reserve components members. During hurried negotiations to find a more acceptable bill, Congress left out Title 32 Guard members. A Defense official confirmed that the department plans to offer a legislative fix with its 2011 budget.

Data from the Army National Guard and Air National Guard show that 75,098 Army Guard members and 2,460 Air Guard members will not be entitled to the new GI Bill without a legislative fix, says the Government Accountability Office in a July 6 letter report detailing recent gains in Reserve and Guard compensation.

Duffy said his association has been told by the staff of Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), who led last year’s push to enact a Post-9/11 GI Bill, that Webb is aware of the glitch and how it impacts Title 32 Guard members. He intends to lead the push for corrective language sometime after Aug. 1 when the new GI Bill takes effect. Duffy said he would expect any move to eliminate this inequity for Guard members to be applied retroactively back to 9/11.

Webb and other lawmakers appear to be heeding a plea from VA officials not to make any changes to the enormously complex education benefit this year that might interfere with the program’s start in August.

Guardsman Simpson, 45, said “the beauty of Title 32 active duty is that it’s federally funded but it leaves the Guard under the control of governors. That’s how they get around the Posse Comitatus Act” which otherwise prohibits military involvement in domestic law enforcement.

After 9/11, Simpson said, he was among “large numbers of the Guard put on active duty under Title 32 to provide security in airports, power stations, bus terminals -- wherever governors deemed there to be critical infrastructure or important public safety concerns.”

And, for the past four years, he has remained on active duty under Title 32 in a fulltime AGR position.

“I’ve got soldiers who have worked here [at the Maryland Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters in Reisterstown] four or five years on Title 32, and perhaps spent a year on Title 10 orders,” Simpson said. “Yes, they have some eligibility [for new GI Bill benefits] but it’s a sliding scale, with 36 months needed to be the full ride. So, except for what I believe is the inequity of the GI Bill, they should be entitled to far more for their time.”

Scully, 53, spent his last years in the Air National Guard with the 126^th Air Refueling Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Having 80 percent of the new GI Bill, he said, “would have made continuing my education affordable.” It was “a huge disappointment” to learn in late June that his final two years in the AGR after 9/11 did not make him eligible.

Getting his degree “wasn’t something I needed to do,” Scully added. “However, at my pay grade you become accustomed to being concerned with other folks. And I know there are a lot of folks out there who were counting on this GI Bill for future employment and [Guard] promotion opportunities.”

“If this GI Bill had been written only for those who served in combat, or for those who served overseas, I would have no issue with it whatsoever. But Title 10 folks who never left the United States are getting this benefit, and the Title 32 guy, doing that same job, isn’t.”

To comment, e-mail milupdate@aol.com, write to Military Update, P.O. Box 231111, Centreville, VA, 20120-1111 or visit: www.militaryupdate.com

Meeting Minutes for July 8, 2009

We are growing! This week we had seven people at the meeting.

Items discussed:

Logo - We are almost there folks!!! We have a basic prototype and should be ready for business cards and stationary by the end of the Summer semester.

Looking for chair people to:

Organize fundraisers – Melisa we need you!!!!

Activities – social events like rafting, bowling, partying, a concert etc….

ICC Representative – Fred Olivas is seriously considering this position

Organize Out Processing events for our returning soldiers.

Qualifications of membership are being reconsidered. Presently, to become a member with voting privileges, you must attend 2 meetings and 1 event. Next meeting we are going to be creating an amendment to our constitution to change that to either attending 2 meetings and 1 event or attending 4 meetings in one semester. The Secretary will have a sign in sheet from now on at every meeting and will be keeping a data base of the attendees.

We continued discussions on the need for a One-Stop Veteran’s Office. We read the power point presentation from the first meeting to the President of the college. We discussed the possibility of the new officers preparing for another meeting with the President in the fall semester.

Congratulations to Joe Chacon for being elected to the Treasurer’s position. Joe was nominated by President Jessica Waskow and the motion was seconded by Vice President Christian Reynoso. First day in office he is already signing paperwork that officializes our status as a club on campus!

Joe has some great ideas. He stated that we really need to firm up our relationship with Sac State and stream line the process of transferring there from ARC. We also need to swap links with their site.

Website update: 60% of traffic to our site is first time visitors! Help increase our site rating by searching for ARCVETSCLUB all one word and no spaces. Then click one of the links on the results page.

Upcoming events – September 9^th BBQ and Veteran’s Day Info Fair in the Rose Marks Quad