Weekly Report 🎖️
Afghanistan War Memorial | Blanket Drive | Army Navy Game Watch Party | Career Fair
During the last Coalition meeting, I announced that I am putting together an Afghanistan War Memorial Commission for the City of Tallahassee.
During the Holidays for Heroes event, another Veteran told me I should include the Iraq War Veterans in the memorial. I will leave that question up to the Coalition.
I need Commanders to ask their members because once this ball starts rolling, we are not changing course.
American Legion Oratorical Society Deadline-
15 December 2024
Why would any student do this? At post level they can win $25 - $75, District Level, $50 - $100, Area Level $75-$125. Contestants who participate in the National ¼ Final round receive $2,000 & those in Semi-Final round competition receive $2000 except the winner who advances to the National Finals where they may win $20,000 or $22,500 or first place $25,000.
The key groups/personnel to interact with at the high schools to promote and/or solicit potential contestants are as follows:
Debate Clubs
High School Guidance Counselors
High School Career Counselors
JROTC Staff
Key Club
Honor Society
Contact American Legion Sauls-Bridges Post 13 for more information
www.floridalegionpost13.org
VIRTUAL JOB FAIR ALERT! Join DAV and RecruitMilitary on Tuesday, December 10, at 11 a.m. (Central) for a virtual job fair featuring dozens of employers who are eager to find veterans, military spouses, members of the National Guard and Reserves and transitioning service members with talent just like you! Although this is a virtual event, there will be both in-person and remote positions available. Register now: https://dav.la/3Vc1hGR.
The President signed H.R. 7777, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2024, into law on November 25, 2024. The law authorizes a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for veterans receiving VA disability compensation and clothing allowance and for survivors receiving dependency indemnity compensation (DIC) payments.
The adjustment, based on the yearly change in the cost of living as determined by the Social Security Administration (SSA), will take effect on Dec. 1, 2024, and will be reflected in veterans’ and survivors’ Jan. 1, 2025, compensation payments.
The COLA adjustment is intended to help cover rising costs of living, such as groceries, housing and health care. For more information, click here.
NORTH FLORIDA SOUTH GEORGIA
VETERAN WELLNESS COALITION
-Meeting Minutes
Minutes for NF/SG Veteran Wellness Coalition meeting 12/4/2024
In attendance:
BaDonna Mitchell -Director of the Tallahassee Vet Center
Randy Soule- NAMI Tallahassee
Nancy O’Farrell- NAMI Tallahassee
Mattie Ward- Legal Services of North Florida
Omar Guzman-Toro- Legal Services of North Florida
Keisha Washington- Veteran
Chelsi Brown- HCA
Reviewed the Mission Statement and voted to approve the following:
To empower veterans with mentorship, support, and resources to overcome adversity, foster resilience, and prevent suicide, ensuring every veteran finds hope, purpose, and
connection in their post-service journey.
Mattie Ward and Omar Guzman- Toro from the Legal Services of North Florida attended for the first time and presented on the new grant the organization was awarded to assist Veterans with legal issues at no-cost (criteria- Veteran must be at risk of losing housing).
The coalition is still working on a logo. Randi and Keisha will reach out to their contacts to see if they would be willing to. Need a volunteer due to no funds available.
Nicole reviewed strategy ideas and surveyed group on which one they would like to do moving forward.
1. Promoting SAHMSA posters with 988 information to different businesses/non profits in Tallahassee and asking them to hang up in a visible location.
2. Approaching local organization about partnering to distribute gun locks, along with the Narcan. Utilizing Veteran members to help create an instructional video to demonstrate how it should be used.
a. Nancy discussed how there are several existing organizations in Tallahassee that
promote safe storage, ie. preventing accidental deaths/homicide. She suggested
approaching them as well to see if they would be interested in partnering to
distribute information and gun locks as well for Suicide Prevention.
3. Continuing to improve transitions by supporting Veterans that have recently transitioned from Active Duty.
a. Discussed how Mike Hazell has spoken with The Honor Center on Eglin AFB and they are open to having our coalition do a presentation for the Active Duty Military in the program. Chelsi Brown offered to do presentations as she already visits with the
The Honor Center on a regular basis as part of her job role. Will need to identify what the coalition wants to be presented.
b. Randi has made numerous attempts to reach Tyndall AFB and their TAPS program to discuss promoting our coalition and will continue attempts after the new year.
c. BaDonna discussed the programming through the Vet Center to connect with Active Duty service members as they transition out of the military who have been identified as being at higher risk for difficult transition. She reports the ASM (Active Service Member) gives the DOD permission to link them with the Vet Center. She identified the program has had some issues due to being a new program. The coalition discussed the importance of working together with community partners to address the needs of the transitioning serve members.
d. Nicole shared information on the 9/11/ Post Case Management Program; however, needs additional information. Nicole will reach out to POC to see if she could do a presentation for the coalition.
4. Coalition discussed reaching out to local schools (all levels) to see if they would be allow the coalition to table at their events. Keisha will reach out to contacts at school to see what days we will be allowed to table. Possibility of partnering with the ROTC program.
5. The coalition discussed how to increase attendance to the meetings. It was recommended to offer a virtual option and in person. It was also discussed to alternate between in person and virtual meetings.
6. The group would like to move forward on hanging posters in local businesses/organizations as soon as possible. Nicole will email link out to order free posters and each members is being asked to request as many posters as possible.
FREE SUICIDE PREVENTION POSTERS & RESOURCES
