News
NEWS
HAPPY APRIL BIRTHDAYS TO ANY MEMBERS CELEBRATING THIS MONTH!
WARNING TO VETERANS
Forwarded by Kevin Secor, VSO Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
An organization called Veterans Affairs Services (VAS) is providing benefit and general information on VA and gathering personal information on veterans. This organization is not affiliated with VA in any way
[Websites with the name "vaservices" immediately after the "www" ARE NOT part of the Depatment of Veterans Affairs, the US Government agency. Do not go to them or if approached or called, do not offer them any information concerning yourself or data on other veterans. Keep in mind that the real VA website ends in .gov. Also, be aware that the Department of Veterans Affairs does not randomly call veterans, nor does it ask veterans for information which it does not already have--like Social Security Numbers. In particular, if you have not dealt with the VA previously--and in person--and all of a sudden, you receive a call from someone saying they are with the VA or something similar sounding, hang up the phone. Also, do not respond to emails which suggest that they are from the VA. The VA never conducts official business nor asks for personal information by email. Mike]
VAS may be gaining access to military personnel through their close resemblance to the VA name and seal. Our Legal Counsel has requested that we coordinate with DoD to inform military installations, particularly mobilization sites, of this group and their lack of affiliation or endorsement by VA to provide any services.
In addition, GC requests that if you have any examples of VAS acts that violate chapter 59 of Title 38 United States Code, such as VAS employees assisting veterans in the preparation and presentation of claims for benefits, please pass any additional information to Mr.Daugherty at the address below.
Michael G. Daugherty
Staff Attorney
Department of Veterans Affairs
Office of General Counsel (022G2)
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC20420
VFW District 2 Website is Live
Please check out the web address below:
Commanders Message
Here we are again at the start of another VFW year. My goal as Commander is to promote the VFW principles of Community Activites, Americanism, Hospital Programs and of course helping our fellow Veterans. To achieve these goals will take a lot of hard work from our post members, and the more members we have willing to participate, the easier it will be to accomplish our goal. We went through a period in Post history where a few men ran everything and did everything and the members complained that a "clique" was running the post. We don't want to go back in time. Everyone's ideas will be considered at the meetings and each member will be able to discuss their ideas at the meetings. As Commander I will be open to anyone's advice or suggestion as well as my Officers.
Running a Post Home takes a lot of time work and money. As most members know our only source of income is hall rental. We need volunteers for set-up and clean-up and we could use a few volunteers to bartend. During the next few months we are thinking about running some fund raisers to help with the high cost of building maintenance and utility bills. I would also like to see the building used more during the day. The building can be used for morning coffee, lunches, and playing games or cards. Remember there is more to the Post than just the bar. The bar is only open on Saturday afternoons at this time but I am looking forward to expanding the hours to weekday afternoons as well. If anyone has any ideas for fund raising let me or Jr. Vice Commander John Schaefer know and we will do all we can to implement them.
As our membership grows older it brings to mind the word recruitment. Yes, it is time for us to look for our replacements as we did when we were in the service. There are plenty of young veterans out there but no one ever asks them to join. How can we expect the Post to carry on without new members. We can offer the young veterans help with VA claims through our Service Officer and the Department Service Officer and provide a place for them to go and talk with other veterans their own age as well as we older guys. At this time Post 809 has 188 members on the roster. It would be nice to see more than twelve or fifteen members at a meeting. It is your Post and you are welcome to use it. My email is waweber111@aol.com if anyone has any questions,suggestions or complaints, or call the Post phone at 201-641-9740 . I'm looking forward to seeing you at the up-comming events.
To all our members:
As part of our continued efforts to move our post forward and find more productive ways to communicate with our members, I would like to create an e-mailing list. I would like everyone to forward me their e-mail address. By creating this list, when our post holds functions or events, we can send out e-mails to our members to keep everyone informed.
Please forward your e-mail address to Francis Carrasco at mrfajc@hotmail.com
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
Thank you,
Francis Carrasco
Senior Vice Commander
Membership DriveWe are looking to keep the mission of the VFW moving forward. We can only do this by increasing our membership and encouraging our newest veterans to join. Please reach out to fellow veterans, encourage them to view our site and to become members. Click on the link below for more information on becoming a member, there is also a link for our membership application. Remember that the success of our chapter depends on our members.
Thank you!
Sponsor VFW Post 809
Encourage businesses to support our VFW by becoming sponsors. For a $50.00 yearly donation business cards will be posted on the sponsor's page of this site. Individuals or families may also make a personal donation of $10.00 per year and will also be recognized on our website. For more information please attend our next post meeting.
New Jersey VFW License Plate
Any member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of New Jersey may purchase the VFW license plate at a one-time cost of $30.00.
Just contact Department Headquarters at 609-393-1929 and give us your name and address and they will send you the information you need to fill out and send back.
You will receive the plates in the mail in about three to four weeks after they receive your information.
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The following is important to the 'Vet To Vet' program.
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Everyone should take the time to send a letter of thanks and appreciation to our recovering Vets.
They would like to know we care and want to thank them.
We all remember while serving how important it was to receive mail and how disappointing it was when we didn't.
SEND LETTERS TO:
A Recovering American Soldier
C/O Walter Reed Army Hospital
6900 Georgia Ave NW
Washington, DC 20307-5001
