September 20, 2013 Free Hiring Our Heroes at Spokane County Fair and Expo Center

*Job hunting? Upcoming Hiring Our Heroes Events: *Friday, September 20th, 2013 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, for a job fair for veteran job seekers, active duty military members, guard and reserve members, and military spouses, at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, located at 404 N. Havana, Spokane, WA 99202 . This event will be a one-of-a-kind FREE hiring fair for both employers and job seekers.

Employers and job seekers are strongly encouraged to pre-register for FREE. Walk-ins are welcome but space is not guaranteed. Info at https://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/spokane-wa

Click for information about Hiring Our Heros Events future dates.

Veteran's Needs, Local Services, and Supporters - Part One

This is the beginning of an ongoing series about veterans needs, the services available to them in our area, and supporters. It begins with a three-part series provided by Michael Lovas, Communications Director of Spokane Veterans Forum. 

Motorcycle Clubs Step Up for Veterans
(Part One)
By Michael Lovas

Spokane Veterans Forum
In a practical sense, the people we consider heroes are those who take action to bring life to their values – without the expectation of a tangible reward. One organization filled with such people is the Spokane Veterans Forum. It is a national model for all other Veterans Courts and Forums.

This is an all-volunteer organization that supports the Spokane Veterans Court, which is part of the Spokane Country District Court and the Spokane Municipal Court.

The Forum is funded exclusively by donations. Those donations come in the form of funds, food, equipment and services. Members of the Forum are primarily military veterans and surviving family members.

Their job is to mentor other veterans who suffer from PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, Military Sexual Trauma, or are in other serious ways finding the transition from military to civilian insurmountable or at least difficult.

As happens to veterans world-over, such obstacles often invite behaviors that run contra to the law. When veterans commit such offenses, and the offenses are misdemeanors, they usually qualify to be tried in the Veterans Court. In addition to fines and fees, the defendants receive sentences that include a two-year probation, appropriate therapies, an on-going relationship with a Forum mentor and six Forum meetings.

These Forum meetings include a sit-down meal and classes taught by notable professors, psychologists, counselors and therapists. All the topics are chosen based on: 1) their relevance to this highly military-oriented audience, and 2) the practicality of applying the lessons learned in real life.

All the Mentors are volunteers. They receive on-going training in how to help their mentees receive community resources and get help from the Veterans Administration. Often, the mentees have no idea such help is even available. Mentors are also trained in how to ask questions, build rapport and trust and nurture the relationships with their mentees. For many of the mentees, this is the first time they’ve received help that actually works. The key is the relationships with the Mentors.

This year, the "Run Whatcha Brung" event in Old Town, Washington, donated 100% of the proceeds to the Spokane Veterans Forum. Visit here for  more information on the Forum. (Also, Check Gallery\Events and scroll to pictures.)

 Mike Lovas, Communication Director

Spokane Veterans Forum
(509) 465-5599
michael@aboutpeople.com



 

"Vietnam Wall" ~~ A FWD Email Worth Sharing

Every once in a while a Forward (FWD) message arrives that truly is worth sharing. FWD: The Vietnam Wall - THIS IS AMAZING is one of them. In reality, The Virtual Wall ® is the name of the web site run by www.VirtualWall.org Ltd. a New York State not-for-profit corporation. (Learn more here.)  If you just click on one state and see how many young men gave their lives for our country - it is overwhelming. This is really sobering.

First click on a state. When it opens, scroll down to the city and the names will appear. Then click on their names. For example the following on the Palouse from Washington State:

CASTLE ROCK, WASHINGTON:

LCPL LARRY JOSEPH HARDY

COLFAX, WASHINGTON:
SP4 RODGER KENNETH CAIN	PFC MELVIN DOUGLAS EAST	SP4 GREGORY EDWARD SCOTT

FARMINGTON, WASHINGTON:

CAPT LARRY ALLEN TRIMBLE

GARFIELD, WASHINGTON:

SP4 DANNY LEE ARCHER

FARMINGTON, WASHINGTON:

CAPT LARRY ALLEN TRIMBLE

ROCKFORD, WASHINGTON:

CPL MICHAEL GEORGE MURDOCK

Click on the name and it should show you a picture of the person, or at least their bio and medals. This really is an amazing web site. Volunteers spend a lot of time and effort to create and update it.

I hope that everyone who reads or receives this appreciates what
those who served in Vietnam sacrificed for our country. The link is a virtual wall of all those lost during the Vietnam war with the names, bio's and other information on our lost heroes.

Those who remember that time frame, or perhaps lost friends
or family can look them up on this site. Pass the link on to others, as many knew wonderful people whose names are listed: http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm.
 

Women Warriors & The Cowgirls Benefit for Women Veterans, June 9, 2013

A benefit concert supporting the Women Warriors Retreat, hosted by the Cowgirl Co-op for female combat veterans. June 9, 2013,at 5:30 pm. $25.

Where: Cowgirl Co-op, 20424 N. Dunn Rd., Spokane, Washington. For information call (509) 936-1069

With 3 years of successful cowgirl and women warrior retreats for women combat veterans under our cowgirl belts, we have formed a non-profit to further our efforts to connect women veterans with each other. Cowgirls and Women Warriors™ is a non-profit organization that supports weekend retreats to provide hope, health, healing, and other nurturing programs for female veterans. Please consider a donation to help us continue our efforts

Cowgirls and Women Warriors is a registered non-profit in Washington State, Federal ID #45-5153747, and is applying for 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. Donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law.

Congratulations Marine Moms-Bethesda!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Marine Moms-Bethesda’s website has been online FIVE YEARS!

MARINE MOMS BETHESDA not only keeps vistors abreast of upcoming events to benefit the men and women who served our country, it has links to a wide variety of websites aimed at supporting veterans, in a multitude of ways. The website is one of the most important ones for America's heros.

Jane, who describes herself as a Military Brat, and is a guiding hand at Marine Moms-Bethesday wrote:

Thank you to Amber, our web designer, and to the Elf who donates the website's server space! You both have been very kind to a techie DUH person (me) who really, has no business messing with a website. Your patience has been, and is, appreciated!

We began going to Bethesda Naval Hospital in October 2005, and became more organized in January 2007. Our website went online in June of 2007, and we have seen so many changes in the military medical system and wounded warrior care (once upon a time there was no Wounded Warrior Regiment!), served so many wounded Warriors and their families, and we are so grateful to have had the opportunity to give back just a little to our service members and their families for their sacrifices to the greatest country in the world, the United States of America!

To all of our supporters, volunteers, and dedicated Notes4Bethesda writers past and present, please know we are very grateful to you and are deeply grateful for all you have done, through your donations of money, food, and time, to make Marine Moms-Bethesda what it is. You have helped us achieve our Mission of serving wounded, injured, and ill combat patients and their families, ALL service branches, bringing them “touches of home while they are away from home” during a very stressful, life-changing time of their lives. THANK YOU!

To the patients and families we have served - Our Mission is to serve YOU while keeping your security and privacy top most in our minds. We know the hospital is a very busy place and personal privacy for you is precious. Hopefully we leave you with smiles on your faces after a luncheon, and looking forward to seeing us come back again. We honor you, are grateful for your service, and wish you all the best as you move through your recovery and your “new normal”. THANK YOU!

To the helicopter pilots, airplane pilots, military Doctors and Nurses, Corpsmen and Medics, and everyone in between on the battlefields and at the hospitals, you are Angels. THANK YOU for doing all you can, the best you can, to bring our sons and daughters home alive and for the excellent care you provide to them.

Special thanks to Gunny Ski, who opened the doors at Bethesda for us in 2007, and to the Marine Liaison Office and the Command for allowing us to continue our luncheons at Walter Reed. At Richmond, thank you, Paulette at the VA and the Marine Liaison Office Staff for allowing us to expand and serve our Warriors and their families there as well.

Marine Moms-Bethesda is in this for the long run. The war could end tomorrow but the needs will still be there. One day years from now our young Veterans will be our World War II Veterans of today. I would like to see us still around. Perhaps the mission would change, but… I hope we are still around.

With Grateful Thanks to All from Marine Moms-Bethesda,

Love and HUGE Hugs,

Jane