 Governor Dayton has proclaimed April 2016 to be the "Month of the Military Child"
Children of Service Members and Veterans deal with many issues unique to their situation. Some move frequently, worry about a loved one in harm’s way or just feel the stress of being separated from a parent for extended periods of time. All of these issues can make normal childhood activities, such as going to school, watching TV and playing with friends more difficult. It is estimated that over 15,000 children in Minnesota have been affected by a parent’s deployment.
During the month of April, the State of Minnesota takes time to recognize the Month of the Military Child in order to emphasize the important role children play while a parent or important adult is serving. Governor Mark Dayton will send children of military members and Veterans a letter of gratitude in honor of their service and sacrifice.
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Representatives from local companies interested in hiring Veterans will
be on hand at the American Legion Post 39 in St. Paul on Saturday, April
23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Veterans can now work directly with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to resolve debt collection issues resulting from inappropriate or delayed Choice Program billing. A Community Care Call Center has been set up for Veterans experiencing adverse credit reporting or debt collection resulting from inappropriately billed Choice Program claims. Veterans experiencing these problems can call 1-877-881-7618 for assistance and press 1 at the prompt.
The Veterans with Disabilities Fishing Trip sponsored by Minnesota
Veterans Service Organizations will be held May 23 - 26, 2016 at
Veterans on the Lake in Ely, Minn.
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June 2-3 well known professional fishermen and others will guide a
Veteran and a Soldier for a day on Lake Mille Lacs or the Mississippi
River! Here's your opportunity to get a chance to fish with some of the
best anglers in the Midwest! Minnesota Veterans Service Organizations
sponsoring this event believe that all Veterans and Soldiers of any
branch and service, who have served our country through the years
deserve a day on the lake. Prizes will be awarded to the most successful
anglers!
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For the first time ever, Minnesota’s Veterans will have access to a free entrepreneurship training course called Boots to Business Reboot (Reboot). Hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), with help from several local and national partners, Reboot is a two-step training program that helps Veterans learn what it takes and prepares them to dive into business ownership.
Minnesota Veterans are invited to take the first step of Reboot at a class held on two consecutive Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 13 and May 20, 2016, at Metropolitan State University, St. Paul Campus, 700 East 7th Street, Library Rooms 301 & 302 Saint Paul, Minn 55106. The sessions are free but space is limited.
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The Telling Project is looking for Minnesota Veterans and military family members interested in performing in a play setting. They're heading back to the Guthrie for the third time to continue expanding and deepening the conversation with civilians and military communities.
"Telling: Minnesota 2016" will perform April 29 - May 1, 2016 at the Dowling Studio.
Questions can be emailed to info@thetellingproject.org
The Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota (DAV of MN) Foundation is excited to announce this year’s Old Glory Run in Saint Joseph, Minn, on May 21, 2016. The Old Glory Run is an event to show community support for soldiers and Veterans in Minn. Over the last five years The Old Glory Run has raised over $100,000 to support a variety of programs and services for Veterans across Central Minn. With your support the DAV of MN can continue to help build better lives for our country’s disabled Veterans, and their families.
For more information, please contact DAV of MN at (651) 291-1212 or visit the Old Glory Run website
Accelerates Enrollment of Combat Veterans; All Veterans to Get Option on July 5, 2016
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that it has amended its enrollment regulations to allow Veterans to complete applications for enrollment in VA health care by telephone without the need for a signed paper application. The change is effective immediately for Combat Veterans and will be effective July 5, 2016, for all Veterans.
This phased implementation accelerates VA’s effort to enroll all Combat Veterans with pending applications as part of its ongoing Veterans Enrollment Rework Project. The VA is working to complete the review and rework of all pending health enrollment records for living and deceased Veterans this summer. Veterans can view the amended regulation on the Federal Register website.
“This improvement to our Veterans’ experience is one we can implement now, and it’s the right thing to do for Veterans,” said VA Deputy Secretary Sloan D. Gibson, “Enrolling all 31,000 Combat Veterans with pending applications is the top priority in our effort to fix our enrollment system. Our analysis of our current application process convinced me we could enroll Veterans more quickly using this method, particularly Combat Veterans and those who are transitioning from active duty to Veteran status,” Gibson said.
By adding this telephone application option to VA’s regulations, VA will now offer three ways to enroll. This change provides Veterans an even more convenient way to apply for enrollment, in addition to the paper VA Form 10-10 EZ and online enrollment application process. With publication in the Federal Register today, Combat Veterans may now apply by phone. All other Veterans may apply by phone starting on July 5, 2016.
When Veterans choose to enroll, VA offers an enhancement to their enrollment experience through “Welcome to VA” (W2VA). Veterans enrolled since July 1, 2015 have received a personal introduction to VA health care services, programs and resources to help them become more familiar with VA’s services. In addition, VA sends each new enrollee an introductory letter and personalized handbook in the mail. W2VA enhances communication by reaching out to newly enrolled Veterans through personal phone calls upon enrollment, providing assistance with health care inquiries and assisting with their initial appointment at their preferred VA healthcare facility.
For more information, Veterans can contact the Health Eligibility Center Enrollment and Eligibility Division toll free at 1-855-488-8440.
The
Minnesota Humanities Center is now accepting nominations for its 2016 Veterans’
Voices Award, recognizing Minnesota Veterans who served honorably in
the military and have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their
communities, in their professions, and/or in volunteerism. Veterans Voices is a
statewide program of the Humanities Center that draws on the power of the
humanities to call attention to the stories and contributions of Veterans,
giving an authentic voice to the Veteran experience through play, art
discussion groups, and the Veterans’ Voices Award.
The
Humanities Center invites nominations of candidates who fall into one of two
categories: On the Rise (40 and under) or Legacy (over 40). The Veterans’
Voices Award honors actively engaged former and current military service
members who are thriving and making significant, positive contributions that
improve the lives of people across Minnesota. Award nominations will be
accepted today through June 3, 2016.
These
Awards, now in their fourth year, will be presented at the Veterans’ Voices
Award Ceremony to be held at the Anderson Student Center on the campus of
St. Thomas University in St. Paul on September 11, 2016. WCCO-TV reporter
and Veteran, Reg Chapman, will again emcee this event. Past award presenters
include Governor Mark Dayton and Retired Major General Larry Shellito,
Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.
According
to David O’Fallon, President of the Minnesota Humanities Center, “The Veterans’
Voices Award celebrates the positive and essential role of the
Veteran in the future of our state—they make outstanding contributions as
community leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, artists, and more.”
Since 9/11/2001 more than 88,000
men and women from Minnesotan have been deployed and many have returned home
from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. These Veterans are our neighbors,
neighbors who defended the freedom of all Americans.
“Being honored with the Veterans’
Voices Award has meant I’ve been able to hear many wonderful Veteran
stories as well as tell my own,” said Nick Swaggert, a Marine Corps Veteran and
a 2015 Veterans’ Voices Awardee. “Sharing our stories and working with
the next generation of Veterans is both a continuation of our service and a
moral obligation. I would encourage those positively impacted by a Veteran to
nominate someone whose story should be heard. Only then will people understand
our world.”
Veterans’
Voices strives
to solidify a network of Veterans and civilians, brings Minnesota Veterans
together through the humanities, and forms a public narrative that affirms
Veterans as positive leaders in our communities.
Nominations must include answers to questions
detailing a candidate’s contributions and reasons they exemplify the mission
and values of the Humanities Center. Two information sessions will be hosted
for interested nominators, covering eligibility requirements and qualifiers and
providing tips for completing the nomination form. An In-person Information
Session will be held on Friday, April 15, 2016 at the
Humanities Center in St. Paul, and an Online Webinar Information Session will
be held on Tuesday, April 19, 2016.
For more information about the Veterans’ Voices Award
nomination process and upcoming information sessions visit mnhum.org/vets.
Nominations may be
submitted online (mnhum.org/vets) or by mail to:
Minnesota
Humanities Center
2015
Veterans’ Voices Award
987
Ivy Avenue East
Saint
Paul, MN 55106
All nominations must be received by 11:59 p.m.
on Friday, June 3, 2016. Nominees selected to
receive an award will be notified by Friday, July 8, 2016. Details about the
nomination and past Veterans’ Voices awardees are available at mnhum.org/vets.
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