VFW HIRING
Visit the SVA Resource Library for job descriptions
MESSAGE FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
Legislative Agenda Statement:
We have completed the first draft of our 2010 Legislative Agenda. We are sending it to you to solicit feedback. We would like to hear your thoughts on these issues, if we explained them clearly enough, and if there is anything you feel that we did not include.
We are opening a one week comment period starting today, in which it is open season on this document. After that, we will compile your comments and submit it to the board to vote on. It will then be printed and we will start distributing it to other VSOs, Members of Congress, and member chapters who would like a copy. It will also be available on our website.
We look forward to your comments and feedback. Please don't hesitate to contact Brian Hawthorne, our Legislative Director, with your suggestions at brian.hawthorne@studentveterans.org.
GI Bill Issues Link:
Attention all GI Bill recipients! If you are having any trouble with your GI Bill benefits, with any chapter, SVA can help! Here is what you do.
First, don't forget to talk to your certifying official to make sure that everything is squared away with your paperwork.
Second, check with your bank account(s) and see what payments you have received from the VA, if any. It would look something like this: US TREASURY 220 VA ED CH33 ***********0 07 in your statement.
Finally, go to http://bit.ly/svagibill and fill out our form, and we will contact the VA on your behalf! You can expect a response from a member of our national staff within 24 hours during the work week. Sometimes it takes time to get a response from the VA, but rest assured that we will not forget about you! We will do everything possible to ensure that your payments are received accurately and on time.
Again, that link is: http://bit.ly/svagibill
Emergency Payment Guide:
For anyone who, or knows someone who, utilized the advanced payment program from the VA last semester, please read our short guide on how the VA will be recouping the funds.
SVA Southern California Summit
Contact SoCal District Director: Chris Hanson chris.hanson@studentveterans.org
California State Director: Josh Ray josh.ray@studentveterans.org
1/23: Message to the Membership
As the elected leadership of SVA, we feel that the most important elements of this organization are the member chapters and the student veterans on the ground at campuses all over the nation. SVA has gone through many phases, from our initial high focus on advocacy, to our focus on growth. In each phase of SVA's development we have been exceptionally successful. Unfortunately these different focuses have sometimes left other facets of SVA's mission untended. As your elected representatives we, and the entire board, are working hard to rebalance SVA's priorities so that this organization can more effectively support its member chapters.
Over the past year, we have stood up the chapter grant program to provide direct funding for activities. This effort will continue and we are working hard to fund the chapter grant program so that we can provide chapters with the support they need to execute their missions. SVA will be establishing a national scholarship program to fill the gap left by insufficient funding from the post 9/11 GI Bill directly. We are also working hard to develop partnerships and programs with the Wounded Warrior Project, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, American Corporate Partners, The VFW, and the American Legion. We are establishing formal agreements with each of these organizations and will continue to expand and develop our partnerships to include any organization that helps veterans in higher education. Our advocacy mission continues under the able leadership of Brian Hawthorne and SVA's Legislative Committee. We are working hard to make a positive impact on the lives of our members. For more information on SVA's strategic plan see http://studentveterans.org/resourcelibrary/
As leaders, we understand that transparency is of the utmost importance to our members. We respect that some member chapters will have questions and concerns regarding the conduct of the board and the distribution of funds. SVA has recently completed an audit, the results of which can be found here {http://studentveterans.org/resourcelibrary/}. SVA is committed to the highest possible level of transparency, and will continue to update the meeting minutes from board meetings on our website. While posting of board documents for the public may lag at times because SVA is run by student veterans, our accounting and financial oversight never does. Rodrigo Garcia is responsible for overseeing all expenditures. His work is checked by Luke Stalcup, another board member, and ultimately the board approves all budgets and expenses. As our audit shows, we take our financial responsibilities very seriously, and will continue to hold ourselves and SVA to the highest standards for non-profit accounting. We are proud to say, both to donors and to members, that SVA is managing its finances responsibly.
During the fall of 2009 SVA established a national conference planning committee under the board of directors. This committee, with oversight from the board, is, and has been working hard to make SVA's 2010 conference its best yet. However, both the board and the committee are not yet prepared to execute this national conference during the spring semester of 2010. Rather, because the most important work that SVA does as an organization is done regionally, SVA will be holding five regional conferences before the national conference.
These conferences are not in lieu of a national conference, but instead are part of one continuous process that will occur throughout the year. They will be held during the spring semester, and will bring together member chapters from each region. At these conferences actionable proposals for adjusting SVA's structure can be produced, a set of coherent priorities for the region and the nation will be established, and state and regional leaders can be identified. Each region will then bring the fruits of their labor to the national conference, which will be held at the beginning of the fall semester. This will be a constructive process of building national unity and cohesion from the bottom up. Through a generous grant from the Woodruff Foundation SVA is able to provide $6800 for each of these conferences.
SVA continues to endure because of the dedication of our members. Your questions, concerns, and input are always welcomed by your elected officers and leaders. We encourage your involvement and we also appreciate your efforts at the local and state level. Your patience is greatly appreciated during the planning process of these conferences. However, should you have any questions, contact us.
-SVA Leadership
1/18 - SVA Supports IAVA in Chase Community Giving
Help your brothers and sisters at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America! IAVA is a charity under consideration for the Chase Community Giving 1 million dollar grant! Through Facebook, Chase Community Giving is allowing YOU to decide which charity the money goes to!
PLEASE VOTE HERE: http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/1111273 We wish IAVA the best of luck in their challenge!
1/12 - Bob Woodruff Foundation Helps SVA Celebrate 2nd Anniversary with Grant to Assist Student Veterans
Student Veterans of America Announces 2nd Anniversary and Reception of Grant from the Bob Woodruff Foundation
WASHINGTON, DC - Student Veterans of America proudly announces its 2nd anniversary, its growth to 246 chapters in only two years and the beginning of its partnership with the Bob Woodruff Foundation to assist veterans succeed in attaining a college degree.
Since SVA's initial founding on January 12th of 2008, the organization has grown from its initial 20 chapters to more than 246 college campuses across the United States. In this time, SVA and its members have played a major role in the passage of the Post 9/11 GI Bill, has established its national headquarters in Washington, D.C. with the support of the Wounded Warrior Project and has worked to help thousands of veterans transition to college.
SVA has accomplished a great deal in a very short time, but much remains to be done. While many arrive home safely, many return with hidden wounds and are lost to an unseen enemy. "As a nation we have a responsibility to help our returning veterans so they can succeed when they arrive to campus and are not lost to the psychological barriers facing them." said Derek Blumke, President Student Veterans of America.
To address the mental health crisis facing service members and veterans arriving to college campuses and to facilitate the creation of programs to assist wounded, injured and ill veterans transition to college Student Veterans of America was recently awarded a grant for $85,000 by the Bob Woodruff Foundation.
"Student Veterans of America is an incredible organization doing great things for the young men and women returning home and we are proud to help them in accomplishing their mission." -Rene Bardorf, Executive Director Bob Woodruff Foundation.
12/3 - SVA Testifies to Congress Advocating for Needed Updates to Post 9/11 GI Bill
Today, SVA Legislative Director, Brian Hawthorne testified to Congress asking for expedited claims processing times to get GI Bill benefits out for those who have yet to receive their checks. Brian, on behalf of SVA's Legislative Committee spoke on these bills currently in Congress:
H.R. 2928, incorporating Apprenticeship and On-The-Job Training Programs into the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill
H.R. 3554, granting Post 9/11 G.I. Bill benefits to service members activated as part of the National Guard
H.R. 3467 and 3661, mandating that the housing allowance be granted to distance education students, thereby enabling an additional 100,000 student veterans to receive housing and living support.
In addition to the support of the preceding bills, SVA recommended that Congress pass legislation to urge the Department of Veterans Affairs to distribute GI Bill housing stipends at the beginning of each month so veterans can pay their bills and their rent on time and as soon as they begin school; to remove the irrevocable decision requirement for veterans so should they find another benefit is better for them they can change back to another benefit; and to allow the Post 9/11 GI Bill to pay for multiple certification examinations, to ensure veterans are able to be properly licensed.
Finally, he spoke before the Subcommittee about increasing the accountability over VA Certifying Officials on campus to ensure proper information is reaching our student veterans and sponsoring legislation to transfer Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to the survivors of our nation's fallen heroes.
11/6 - SVA Offers Our Thoughts and Prayers to Those Affected by Tragedy at Fort Hood
Student Veterans of America wishes to extend our sincerest sympathies to all those affected by the tragedy at Fort Hood. While every soldier's death is a loss that leaves our nation without words or an explanation, those lost yesterday will leave our country in a state of mourning not soon to be forgotten.
While more information will be released about this incident and while we will learn more about the events leading to this unnecessary tragedy, what remains very clear is that we as a nation must come together to support those serving in harm's way and those around the world wearing the uniform.SVA would like to share its deepest condolences with the families, friends and fellow soldiers who lost one of their loved ones and extend our prayers for a speedy recovery to those injured.
10/27 - 2010 SVA National Conference Location
SVA is pleased to announce that Boston, MA was selected to host the 2010 Annual Student Veterans of America National Conference. The National Conference will take place in April 2010. Stay tuned for further details.
10/1 - VFW National Commander Thomas Tradewell Issues "Call to Action" for VFW Posts to Assist Transporting Student Veterans to VA Regional Offices
News Release from the VFW:
"Today, I urge every VFW Post to reach-out to their respective student veteran communities. One easy way to do this is to first determine if there is a Student Veterans of America (SVA) chapter on campus. The SVA has a chapter locator that can be accessed by going to their website: http://www.studentveterans.org/chapters/chapterlocator.php and makes it easy to contact the student group and offer assistance. Since one of the SVA's primary goals is to connect with groups with resources from outside their campuses to help meet the common needs of student veterans, they can help coordinate with VFW Posts and students needing transportation assistance. Otherwise, I encourage any VFW Post with a college campus anywhere in their vicinity, to contact the campus veterans representative or Dean's office to help facilitate assistance."
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=5227