MDVA events in June:

Already this month, MDVA has hosted a two-day virtual Women Veterans event, partnered with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to provide a claims clinic in Carroll County, provided resource information at the Maryland Municipal League Conference and attended the AMVETS Convention.   As we prepare to close out the fiscal year on June 30th, we know MDVA has set new records for the numbers of Veterans reached by the Outreach & Advocacy Program.  The Maryland Veterans Trust Fund has given more grants to Veterans in need than ever before and the Service & Benefits Program has assisted Veterans throughout Maryland in applying for the benefits they have earned.  The photos below were taken at just a few of the recent MDVA events and activities.

On June 7th, a Veterans Claims Clinic was held at South Carroll Senior & Community Center in Carroll County.  The event was a combined effort of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, Carroll County Government and other organizations.  In this photo MDVA Benefits Specialists Stacey Travers and Andrew Rutherford assist Veterans with claims for VA benefits.

Carroll County Government: Claim Clinic reaches over 120 Veterans

Photo credit: Ming Vincenti, VAMHCS

Lisa Donor, Marketing Director for Charlotte Hall Veterans Home provided a resource table at the Claims Clinic.  She is shown here with MDVA Deputy Secretary Robert Finn.

Charlotte Hall Veterans Home June Newsletter

Memorial Day at Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery

MDVA Deputy Secretary Robert Finn (on the right) attended the AMVETS Convention and presented Governor's Proclamations to: Joe Forrest, Sons of AMVETS Commander, Bruce Rice, outgoing AMVETS Commander, and Mary Mahoney, President of the Ladies Auxiliary.

Roslyn Jones, Women Veterans/Inclusion Program Manager and Janet Thomas, Area Manager, MDVA Service & Benefits Program provide a resource table at the Maryland Municipal League conference.

MDVA Website

Members of the Maryland Veterans Commission visited the Maryland Durable Medical Equipment Warehouse this week to learn more about the program that provides free medical equipment to Maryland residents.  For more information on the program.

In the top photo are: Commissioner Jerome Davis, Chairman KT Tyler and Commissioner Joe Smith.  In the bottom photo: Dr. Ian Edwards is providing a briefing to the members of the commission.

Governor's Office of Small, Minority and Women Owned Businesses

Stay connected to the many opportunities for training, networking, and business development that are taking place across Maryland and on virtual platforms. Here is a highlight of some of the events coming up this month.    06/21/2022 - Introduction to Entrepreneurship (in Spanish) 06/23/2022 - Developing Financial Projections for Your Small Business 06/28/2022 - Proposal Writing Part 1 - Reading a Solicitation 06/30/2022 - Proposal Writing Part 2 - Developing an Outline Upcoming Trainings (registration coming): 07/26/2022 - The Art & Science of Price, Costing, and Negotiations 07/28/2022 - Maryland's Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) Program 08/23/2022 - Writing a Business Plan to Access Capital & Maximize Growth 08/25/2022 - Subcontracting in Maryland's Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program 09/27/2022 - Strategies for Business Networking 09/29/2022 - State Procurement 101 10/25/2022 - Navigating eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA) 10/27/2022 - Maryland's Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Contractors' and Subcontractors' Rights &  Responsibilities 11/15/2022 - Crafting a Compelling Capability Statement 11/17/2022 - Maryland's Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) Program 12/13/2022 - Prime Contracting in Maryland's Small Business Reserve (SBR) Program 12/15/2022 - The Secret Sauce for Doing Business with the State of Maryland Check out the full listing of small business events online at goMDsmallbiz.maryland.gov.

The Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs held the first Maryland Women Veteran and Military Spouse Owned Small Business Resource Webinar on June 14th. 

In the photo below, Laurie Sayles (on the left), a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps is honored. Laurie is the woman veteran small business owner of Civility Management Solutions and she served as the keynote speaker for the event. A Governor's Citation in recognition of her contributions to Maryland's small business community as a woman veteran entrepreneur was presented.

Spotlight on Education: Bowie State University:

Project Restore Accepting Next Round of Applications in Early July

Application scheduled to open 7/7/2022 at 12:00 PM EST

Project Restore will provide $25 million to fill vacant retail and commercial buildings and support business investment, job creation, and economic growth in Maryland's communities. Businesses opening or expanding into vacant retail and commercial properties may be eligible for Project Restore grants from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Project Restore grants can help new and growing businesses with rent payments and operating costs in their first year.

Project Restore provides two grant opportunities for businesses, including nonprofits, that are expanding, moving to or opening in a property that was previously vacant for at least six months:

Property Assistance Grant:  Provides up to $30,000 for one year to support costs associated with rent, mortgage payment or property improvements as applicable.  

Business Operations Grant: For businesses that generate sales and use tax, provides up to $250,000 per calendar year to support capital (property improvements, equipment etc.) and operating (staff salaries, marketing, inventory etc.) costs associated with business operations in the vacant property.  

Please visit https://dhcd.maryland.gov/projectrestore for more details and how to apply.

Federal News

VA Maryland Health Care System: Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program

VA Maryland Health Care System: Update on closing of parking garage

June 23rd: VA Special Event Forum to Address VA Health Care, Benefits, Questions from Veterans

June 27th: PTSD Screening Day: Knowing is the First Step

June 28th: Q&A Session with VA Experts about Benefits and Resources for Women Veterans

Veterans can now file an appeal online with the Board of Veterans' Appeals

Opening the Door: Talking about your trauma story

Live Whole Health #124: Yoga for strength and mobility

Live Whole Health #125: Grounding exercise and connecting with our senses

Live Whole Health: Seated Tai Chi

Live Whole Health: Loving Kindness Meditation

Learn how home, work environment support your health

Blood needed: Armed Services Blood Program Urges Donors to Step Up, health.mil article

VA Home Loan May Save You Money

Lower your monthly mortgage payments with an Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan

Dispelling the Myths of Women Veterans Recognition Day

VR5 Women Veterans Resources

Medallion of Strength: Celebrating Women Veterans

Veterans receive tickets to live concerts, events with Vet Tix

News from Medicare:

For many people, the sooner you act on your COVID-19 symptoms, the better! If you test positive — and are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 — treatments are available to reduce your chances of severe illness.

Here's what you need to know:

• Don't delay —get tested as soon as possibleafter your symptoms Treatment must be started within days after you first develop symptoms to be effective.
• If you test positive, talk to your doctor or healthcare provider right awayto find out if treatment is right for you, even if your symptoms are mild. There are multiple options for treating COVID-19 at home or in an outpatient setting.

COVID-19 Treatments 

If you're symptomatic, you may also want to consider using the Test to Treat program. With thousands of locations nationwide, it can provide faster, easier access to lifesaving COVID-19 treatments. If you test positive, you can see a healthcare provider, and if eligible, get a prescription for an oral COVID-19 treatment and have that prescription filled — all at one location.

Sincerely,

The Medicare Team

For Your Information

The Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs does not endorse the organizations sponsoring these events, and we do not endorse the views they express or the products/services they offer.  The views and opinions expressed in any referenced document do not necessarily state or reflect those of MDVA.  The information provided is intended for your general knowledge only, and serves solely as a MDVA community outreach effort.

Community News

Blue Star Families: The 2022 Military Family Lifestyle Survey is now open until July 10th! Take it here https://syracuseuniversity.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dcLum8O6cJCiCKW?RID=MLRP_56gPVti7FXl2Zim&Q_CHL=email

Blue Star Family Events:  Information & Registration

19 June Juneteenth Commemoration - Mallows Bay Park, Nanjemoy, MD  - 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Juneteenth Commemoration with Blue Star Families’ DEPLOY Fellows

• Join Blue Star Families DEPLOY Fellows as we gather to honor and commemorate Juneteenth. Enjoy yard games, mindfulness activities, and opportunities to connect. For participants 12 years and older, there will be limited opportunities to enjoy a one-hour kayak tour with Atlantic Kayak Co.
• We look forward to seeing you there!

24 June Coffee and Conversation - Vagrant Coffee Baltimore 10.30 am - 12.00 pm 

• Join Blue Star Families for the first Coffee and Conversation in Baltimore. Whether you’re new to the community or you’ve been here a while, we want to meet YOU. Let’s connect over coffee as we discuss events with Blue Star Families.
• Families are welcome. FREE refreshments will be provided to all who attend, and activities and giveaways will be provided.
• We will have coffee and light refreshments.

Hospice of the Chesapeake: We Honor Veterans Program and quilt donations

Women Veterans United Committee, Inc. is collecting donations for the Women Veteran Baby Shower:  More Information and Donations Needed

Wellspring of Life Farm announces three opportunities for Discovery Time for Military Families: June 25th, July 30th and August 27th

MCVET announces  5K/10K Virtual Run & Walk, November 11, 2022

News from Community Building Art Works:

Landscapes in Acrylics - June 22nd at 7pm EST - Virtual

This week we will be exploring landscapes, talking about composition, palette , and perspective with Veteran Artist and Vice Chair, Joe Merritt. This virtual visual art workshop is FREE and no art experience is necessary. Registration HERE. 

Creative Writing Workshop for Military Spouse and Caregivers - June 23rd at 3:30pm EST - Virtual

No experience required! If you can talk, you can write. In this FREE virtual creative writing workshop, we'll consider writing as a tool for communication, expression, and relief from holding it all together. This workshop is in partnership with Blue Star Families. Registration HERE.

Poetic Record: Resilience Workshop for Healthcare Workers - Every Tuesday at 7pm EST - Virtual

Join this FREE ONLINE creative writing workshop which blends poetry and community with the science of resilience. Countless studies and decades of research reveal the link between expressive writing and health. Writing provides a private space for individuals to reinforce positive experiences, display gratitude, and explore and articulate painful truths. During this pandemic, health care workers faced not only the very real danger of COVID-19 but also increased risk of primary and secondary trauma, moral injury, compassion fatigue, and burnout. No experience necessary! Register HERE.

Community Calendar

June 17, 2022 -TODAY

NABVETS Claims Clinic, Largo

June 18, 2022

Ft. Detrick 5K, Ft. Detrick

June 21-23, 2022

Google Veterans Network (VetNet) Virtual Career Week

June 22, 2022

Arthritis Foundation: Veterans & Military Virtual Group Event - Mindful Movement

June 24, 2022

United States Department of Labor Virtual Career Fair

June 25, 2022

Discovery Time for Military Families at Wellspring of Life Farm, Monkton

June 30, 2022

SBA: Elevating Small Business Series Webinar: LBGTQI+ Pride Month

July 22nd - 24th, 2022

5th Annual Skydive with Heroes on the River & Skydive Shenandoah, New Market, VA

July 30, 2022

Discovery Time for Military Families at Wellspring of Life Farm, Monkton

Another photo taken at the Claims Clinic held at the South Carroll Senior & Community Center.  From left to right: Paul Jones, Public Contact Coach, VA Regional Office in Baltimore, MDVA Deputy Secretary Robert Finn, Phil Munley, Director, MDVA Service & Benefits Program and Adrian Gamboa, American Legion National Service Officer.

Message for New Subscribers:

Is this your first edition of the MDVA newsletter?  If so, welcome!  You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up to receive it from our website or you gave permission to an MDVA program, the MD Motor Vehicle Administration or MD Department of Labor to receive information on VA benefits and resources.  We at MDVA respect your privacy and DO NOT share your email address.  We hope you enjoy receiving our bi-weekly newsletter and find it both educational and engaging.  If you have questions about our Department, our Programs, or your VA benefits, please visit veterans.maryland.gov or call 410-260-3838.