VETERANS AFFAIRS & REHABILITATION PLAN OF ACTION
VETERANS AFFAIRS & REHABILITATION 
PLAN OF ACTION
Lynn Bash, Department Chairman VA & R
Department of Alaska
3117 Monashka Bay Road
Kodiak AK 99615-7207
lynnbash@rocketmail.com
(907) 486-6807
Cell (907) 830-4780
Field Service, Susan Waldhaus, Unit 28, 13126 Cape Circle, Anchorage AK 345-8910, smwald@postman.net
VAVS Representative, Eva Aulston, Unit 1, 4435 E. 6th , Anchorage AK, 99708, 333-6661, baltimore1935@aol.com.
VAVS Deputy - Anchorage, Linda Schmitt, Unit 33, PO Box 670694, Chugiak, AK 99567, 688-7171, lschmitt@gci.net
VAVS Deputy - Peninsula, __________________________________
VAVS Deputy - Fairbanks, Marlene Walker, Unit 57, PO Box 74842, Fairbanks, AK 99707, 378-9521, vfw3629@gci.net
VA & R Home Service, Nellie Dale, Unit 12, PO Box 417, Haines AK 99827, 766-2139
Christmas Gift Shop - Anchorage, Connie Christianson, Unit 1, 3135 W. 80th Ave., Anchorage AK 99502, 440-1412, conniek1412@yahoo.com
Christmas Gift Shop - Fairbanks, Marlene Walker, Unit 57, PO Box 74842, Fairbanks, AK 99707, 378-9521, vfw3629@gci.net
THIS PLAN OF ACTION IS DEDICATED TO OUR VETERANS.
WE NEEDED THEM AND THEY SERVED US -
NOW THEY NEED US AND WE MUST SERVE THEM.
OBJECTIVE: TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN RIDE 2 RECOVERY (R2R) EVENTS AND ENCOURAGE FUNDRAISING AND VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION.
Ride to Recovery is a program that benefits mental and physical rehabilitation programs for our wounded warriors that features cycling as the core activity. They provide bikes, technical equipment, clinics an outings for wounded warriors and vets..and so much more, please check them out at http://www.road2recovery.us.com/index.php. Please note that Sarah Palin, our ex-governor, offered a dinner with her as a part of a charity auction on eBay for the Ride 2 Recovery program.
ACTION: Join the ride as a contributor/have a fundraiser(s).
Sponsor a wounded warrior for their Ride 2 Recovery
Educate your community on the Ride 2 Recovery program
Get the American Legion Riders involved.
OBJECTIVE: TO INCREASE OUR DONATION AS A SPONSOR OF THE VETERANS CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL.
The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival each year showcases the artistic achievements of veterans' from across the country. The festival features an art exhibit showing the first place artwork from 53 categories. A live stage show, complete with orchestral accompaniment is performed by veterans who have achieved medal winning status in a variety of categories from the performing arts division of music, drama and dance as well as creative writing.
ACTION: Encourage fundraising with a goal of .18 cents per member. Each unit would contribute .18 cents per member for a total Department contribution of $669.78. This is based on our Department membership goal of 3721 members.
OBJECTIVE: HELP INDIGENT VETERANS.
Helping indigent veterans should be a program done by each Unit within their community on a continual basis. There should be no veteran in need in any of our communities.
ACTION: Sponsor a Stand Down. In August 2009 an annual Stand Down was held at Camp Carroll at Fort Richardson. The annual event provides veterans in need with meals, clothing, gear, haircuts, medical and dental care, legal assistance and other social services. More than 200 rode shuttle buses from town to the event.
Help support Homeless Veterans Shelters. Units can purchase food, toiletry items, clothing, books and cleaning goods, just to name a few. Develop a needs list at the shelters.
There are many things a Unit can do to help our veterans. Here are just a few that can make a big difference in their lives.
1. Write letters, emails or make phone call to state and national representatives to assist in getting our veterans the care they deserve.
2. Provide welcome home celebrations which could include lunches, picnics, and games for their children.
3. Heroes to Hometowns is a program for severely injured service members transitioning to civilian lives. Go to heroestohometowns@legion.org to see how you can help.
4. Operation Comfort Warriors is a program to help purchase comfort items for troops recovering in U.S. military hospitals. 100% of the donations are spent directly on the troops. Go to www.legion.org/ocw to see how you can help.
5. Support the Christmas Gift Shops in Anchorage and Fairbanks.
6. Support the Silver Tea held annually at Unit 1 in Anchorage.
7. Take a veteran to the hospital, dentist, grocery store or shopping., Mow their yard, plow the snow, decorate a Christmas tree for them, etc. etc. etc&&
This Plan of Action will be updated on a regular basis as information becomes available.
Thank you all very much for your continued support and "hard work". If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I want to help in any way I can.
HOW TO RECORD RIDE 2 RECOVERY HOURS
VAVS Hours - If you are assisting a wounded warrior for either physical or mental therapy through the program, these hours would be VAVS hours. If you are a certified volunteer, turn in your hours under your name. If you are an occasional volunteer, state this when turning in your hours. (NOTE, IN ORDER TO USE VAVS HOURS YOU MUST NOTIFY THE VAVS DIRECTOR - THE VAMC THE RIDE IS WORKING WITH TO ASSURE THAT VAVS HOURS HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED IF YOU ARE DIRECTLY WORKING WITH WOUNDED WARRIORS ON THE RIDE.)
Home Service Hours - If you are working at home or at your local Post Home on the ride, i.e. facilitating the route, creating posters, preparing meals, these would be Home Service Hours.
Field Service Hours - the day of the ride anything you do to assist on the ride or after the ride would be field service hours. i.e. hosting a dinner at your Post Home serving and entertaining the ride participants, assisting during the ride with any veteran.
Community Service Hours - you are working within your community to assure that schools, governmental agencies (city council, county board, fire, sheriff an police departments, etc) and community citizens are educated about R2R by contacting them to participate honoring our heroes, these hours are community service hours.