CVSO Office Updates
Veterans of Olmsted County,
Summer is finally upon us! I trust that many of you are outdoors and enjoying the long-awaited sunshine. You may notice the first week of June that your CVSO team is out of the office. We are attending our annual National CVSO Training Conference, held in San Antonio, TX from 6-9 June 2022. This training is imperative to keeping our accreditation with VA.
The Olmsted County veteran service officer team are members of the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO). The purpose of this organization is to train and educate CVSOs and veterans advocates in preparation, submission, and representation of claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Also, to advocate on behalf of veterans and eligible family members to receive the benefits which they rightfully earned. There are currently approximately 3,600 members of this association in 32 states. The vision of NACVSO is to have trained CVSOs and veteran advocates in all 50 states.
Thank you, veterans of Olmsted County, for your patience and understanding while our official duties take us away from the office for this short period of time. We don’t enjoy being away from you, but this training is vital so that we may continue to remain the sharpest tools of our trade and steadfast in delivering your well-deserved benefits to you.
 Ashley Laganiere
Senior County Veterans Service Officer
Veteran Service Office Snapshot
April 2022
Total claims submitted to VA: 85
- Compensation: 40
- VA Healthcare: 15
- DIC: 2
- Burial: 16
- Survivor’s Pension: 2
- CHAMPVA: 2
- Records Request: 5
- Special Monthly Pension: 3
Points of contact with veterans (office visits, incoming mail, phone calls returned, emails returned, etc.): 308
Veterans in office: 78
Outreach visits: 4
Total phone calls: 448
Average number of calls per day: 15
Average call length: 3:09
Military retiree and spouses can now make appointments ONLINE to renew or obtain DOD identification cards. Visit https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/locator, enter your address, the radius, and you will be given all options for military ID Card Office locations that you can book appointments for online. Once you select a location, you will be taken to a calendar where you can select a date and time that works best for your schedule.
The nearest location to Rochester is:
133rd AW Minnesota ANG Minneapolis
631 Minuteman Drive
ST. PAUL, MN 55111
612-713-2040
Veteran Outdoors Programs
 www.mnvetsoutdoors.org
www.davmn.org/outdoors
Have you heard of Forest Bathing?
Forest bathing is a Japanese practice of walking slowly and mindfully in nature, using your five senses to “soak” in the ambiance of the forest. Forest plants and trees emit phytoncides, natural oils they use to defend themselves against pests. Phytoncides improve the human immune system by increasing activity of natural killer cells, the cells that respond to virus-infected cells and tumor formation. This effect can last more than 30 days after time in the forest! Phytoncides help increase anti-cancer proteins, and reduce blood pressure, heart rate and stress hormones, as well as anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion. (MN DNR)
Come see what it’s about and experience the healing the power of the forest!
Join us the following dates:
- Sunday, June 19; 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday, July 17; 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday, August 14; 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
To register, email: sara.holger@state.mn.us
*MN State Park passes are free for disabled vets! Please see the park office and show proof of VA disability to obtain your state park vehicle pass
How to apply: Present one of the following to the park attendant.
- current military orders and military ID
- federal government access pass to federal recreational sites and military ID
- a copy of your determination letter or Veterans Affairs Healthcare ID indicating a service-connected disability and a photo ID
Where to apply: Any staffed state park.
Required documentation: Bring your paperwork and let the park attendant know your military status when you arrive.
Governor Walz Signs Veterans Bill Into Law
Governor Walz signed into law a comprehensive veterans bill that among many things will move the state toward ending and preventing veteran homelessness. Chapter 54, SF 4233 includes $5.4 million in a grant to Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans to provide assistance to veterans and former services members and their families who are homelessness or at risk of homelessness. It also includes $1.7 million annually to fund temporary housing options for veterans and former service members who are experiencing homelessness and to increase outreach activities to end homelessness.
- The bill establishes the Veterans Service Organizations (VSO) Grant Program in statute (Minn. Stat. Sec. 197.61). This program provides grants to congressionally chartered veterans service organizations to enhance the effectiveness of Veterans services. ($147,000 increase, ongoing)
- The bill amends the county Veteran service officer grant program (Minn. Stat. Sec. 197.608), authorizing the commissioner of Veterans affairs to use unexpended funds to provide additional grants on a competitive basis for the counties that propose new and innovative ways to serve Veterans and their families, in addition to using funds for training and education for county veterans service officers, which is existing law. ($450,000 increase, ongoing)
- Extends targeted new funding to expand efforts to prevent and end Veteran homelessness (total $8.22 million onetime and ongoing combined)
- Includes state funding to for the construction of a new Fisher House near the Fargo VA Health Care System (Fargo VA HCS) campus. ($500,000 onetime, available until expended)
- Funds operations of state Veterans cemeteries, including the new Redwood County Veterans Cemetery. ($830,000 increase, ongoing)
- Additional funding for the construction of the three new state Veterans Homes being built in Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston. ($26.9 million onetime available until expended)
- Includes a grant to update wastewater infrastructure at the Veterans Campground on Big Marine Lake. ($774,000 onetime)
- Amends existing law (Minn. Stat. Sec. 197.79), expanding service bonuses to Post-9/11 Veterans and Gold Star families. Contrary to our requested language, the bill as passed requires documentation that the servicemember’s home of record at entry into active duty is Minnesota, and the Veteran must also be a Minnesota resident at the time they are applying for the service bonus. ($24.9 million onetime, available through FY2024)
What to Expect at Your C&P Exam
VA compensation and pension (C&P) exams, which are sometimes also called claim exams, are an important part of your claims process. C&P exams help VA rate your disability, which affects how much disability compensation you’ll receive. Watch our YouTube playlist to learn what to expect during your exam.
Remember: Your CVSO is here to help you prepare for your exam. If you have questions about the rating process or how to prepare for your C&P exam, please ask during your next visit.
Upcoming Motorcycle Rides
- Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA) 48-2 Second Annual Iron Ride
- When: Saturday, June 4, 2022
- Location: Stewartville American Legion
- 1100 2nd Ave NW, Stewartville, MN 55976
- Registration: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Riders: $20.00 Passengers: $10
- Kickstands up 11:00 a.m. sharp
- Gun Raffle Winners to Follow
- Partial proceeds go to Ironwood Springs Christian Camp and other proceeds will go towards Vets Helping Vets in the local area
- Eyota Legion Riders Chapter 551 PTSD Awareness Ride
- When: Saturday, June 18, 2022
- Location: Eyota American Legion Post 551
- 11 Madison Ave NW, Eyota MN 55934
- Registration 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Kickstands up 11:15 a.m.
- Donation $20 Rider, $10 Passenger
- Door prizes and meal following the ride at the Eyota American Legion
- Vigilant Guardians ‘Until Valhalla’ Run 2022
- When: Saturday, June 25, 2022
- Location: Eagle Lake American Legion Post 617
- 100 North 3rd Street, Eagle Lake MN 56024
- Registration 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
- Kickstands up 10:30 a.m.
- $20 Rider, $10 Passenger
- Drinks, food, music, raffles, door prizes, support gear
Military History with Nate
Someone, somewhere, somehow thought I am good at all things historic...okay this is my first crack at providing a snapshot of military history for the month of June. I will attempt to provide the forgotten and little-known interesting snippets of military history.
I believe we are all quite aware of the significance of June and important dates of June 6, 1944, June 14, 1775, and June 14, 1777. D-Day, the Army birthday and flag day are the significant dates we all seem to recall. However, on June 18th of 1812 the United States declared war on Great Britain and thus started the War of 1812. Interestingly a veteran of the War of 1812 is buried in Fillmore County, MN. The Fillmore County Service officer, through the VA National Cemetery Administration-Memorial Affairs, secured a government burial marker for this veteran of the War in 1812. The veteran, Elias A. Gray, is buried at Lenora Cemetery.
On June 22nd, 1941, the Wehrmacht marched on the Russian empire (I am guessing that whatever Stalin and Hitler had going on with a sort of pact to leave each other alone quickly collapsed). One June 25th, 1876, Brevet General George Custer and the famed 7th Cavalry were decimated at the Battle of Little Bighorn in southeast Montana.
Our Korean War veterans also know the significance of June 25th as North Korea crossed the 38th parallel into South Korea and the ”police action” in the Far East started. On June 25th in 1991 at the collapse of Soviet rule in Eastern Europe, Yugoslavia splintered with Croatia and Slovenia breaking away and a new chapter of history is written for the Balkan region. On June 28th, 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand is assassinated in Sarajevo and the Guns of August become a reality with four years of bloodletting in Europe in what has become known as the Great War and the War to End all Wars. Five years later June 28th, 1919, the signing of the Treaty of Versailles formally ended World War I. And the rest is history as they say...Until July take care, be safe and thank a veteran for their service to our great country.
By Nathan Pike
Olmsted County Veteran Service Officer
Virtual Suicide Prevention Training
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)
Learn the three steps anyone can take to help prevent suicide. Just like CPR, QPR is an emergency response to someone in crisis and can save lives. QPR is the most widely taught gatekeeper training program in the United States, and more than one million adults have been trained in classroom settings in 48 states. This 1.5-hour class is for members of the community over the age of 16 who want to learn best practices in suicide prevention.
A certificate of attendance is available for this class and will be sent after you fill out the evaluation. Register for the upcoming class:
Veterans Treatment Court Peer Support Group
VFW POST 1215
2775 43rd Street NW
Rochester, MN 55901
Phone: 507-289-6299
Time: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Date: Every other Friday
RSVP Lisa 651-564-1256 or Floyd 507-993-4147
PTSD Support Group
Want to know that others are going through something similar to you? Learn tips on how to handle day-to-day challenges? Meet with new friends or connect with others who understand you? Learn how to talk about things that bother you or how to ask for help? Learn to trust people?
Then this is the group for you!
SEMCIL and Olmsted County Veteran Services is offering a support group for veterans that have been diagnosed with PTSD, or those who have signs and symptoms of PTSD, and their family members. Sometimes the most painful injuries are not physical. Whether it is PTSD, TBI, combat stress, or any other mental health condition, we are here to help you get through it. The group is facilitated by Jennifer Shumaker, veteran and Olmsted County Veteran Service Officer.
Where: VFW Post 1215, 2775 43rd St NW, Rochester, MN 55901
When: Thursdays: Jun 23, Jul 28, Aug 25, Sep 29, Oct 20, Nov 17, Dec 15
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Shumaker.jennifer@co.olmsted.mn.us
Women Over 40 Discussion Group
1st Tuesday of each month
VFW Post 1215
2775 43rd ST NW
Rochester, MN 55901
June 7, Aug 2, Sep 6, Oct 4, Nov 1, Dec 6
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
No registration necessary
Seasons Hospice Ongoing & Special Programs
All grief group participants of Seasons Hospice must be registered 24 hours in advance. To register or for more information, click on the blue button and you will be directed to their website.
Local Service Organization Meetings
For a full list of local organizations and meetings, please click on the blue button.
"To promote the interests and welfare of veterans, their dependents and survivors and to enhance their quality of life through counseling, claims assistance, education, advocacy and special projects."
2100 Campus Dr. SE, Suite 200
Rochester, MN 55904
507-328-6355
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