Weekly Report 🎖
Coalition expands | TVLC | Civil Air Patrol | MOAA | Veterans Florida
Good afternoon Coalition!
I have excellent news to report. The Commanders Coalition is GROWING! 2 chapters are in the preliminary stages of formation; 1 in southwest Georgia and 1 in South Florida.
I am putting together guidance for interested parties who are outside of the big bend to start their own Commanders Coalition meetings in their perspective regions.
Remember, we are here to amplify the voice of the VSO. All efforts in the coalition are aimed at supporting the VSO’s in the field doing the work.
The Commanders Coalition must become a 501c19 to provide a financial vehicle to operate. The reason 501c19 was chosen is simply because certain VSO’s cannot donate money to nonprofits that aren’t solely for Veterans.
I have been meeting with a number of Veterans who have a wealth of experience and expertise serving in national nonprofit leadership roles. More information to follow.
We plan on selling 2025 Commanders Coalition T-Shirts to raise money to cover the 501c19 formation costs.
More information to follow.
Good Evening, Team! We can finally forward to you the link for the WCTV
interview that broadcast last month. Tease Susie, John Linney, Craig Winger and
me for looking too serious.
https://www.wctv.tv/2025/05/01/local-nonprofit-protecting-veterans-interest
s-promoting-justice-tallahassee/
https://www.wctv.tv/2025/05/01/local-nonprofit-protecting-veterans-interests
-promoting-justice-tallahassee/
At yesterday’s Legal Clinic at Lk Ella (Thursday), our volunteer team totaled 14
(including 4 attorneys and one provider by phone), assisting 11 Veterans
and family members, plus 8 Vets in phone responses who couldn't come to the
in-person clinic! Veterans' legal issues this week again included different
county and state jurisdictions outside Leon, and requests included child
support problems, driver's license reinstatements, divorces, housing,
benefits, probation issues, real estate, consumer fraud, wills... And
thank you for the consistent volunteer administrative work at the front door
and computer/files tables, Khalid & Margaret, with Susie throughout our
Clinic sessions. Kudos to Khalid Shafi, David Girouard, Chris Bodiford,
Dexter White and Shane Blodgett for the food distribution Wednesday to Grace
Mission, Vet Village, Kenwood Apts, and Good Samaritan.
This Monday, May 19th is another session of Leon County's Veteran Treatment Court, 3:00 pm in Courtroom 2E of the downtown Courthouse. Please come observe and maybe you'll want to volunteer to become a Veteran Mentor to join the Vets participating in the diversion program. They need you if you have some time and ears to listen.
Nationally, specific budget cuts to our country's "safety net" were passed
through their first committees yesterday, despite the bipartisan opposition
from citizens, agencies and elected officials from both parties. VA's job
freeze and cuts are still rolling out, despite more Vets getting added to
the health care system under the expanded disability benefits laws enacted
in recent years.
Reprise: Locally, VA's housing program is soon to have a vacancy (a
retirement) with no opportunity for new staffing, and medical folks have now
been warning Vets of lengthy delays in referrals to specialists, etc: Call
your friends who work for the federal VA to let them know they're
appreciated and give them your contact info in case they lose their VA cell
number amidst the funding cuts, layoffs and firings that are including
probationary employees, as well as former military Veterans in a variety of
specialties (and the latest projections target some 84,000 VA jobs and
programs to be cut!) And be sure to let us know about parttime job
opportunities for Veterans on subsistence, as well as any emergency housing,
shared rentals, etc. since housing is still scarce and services are delayed
via waiting lists. A FLORIDA SENATOR SUMMARIZED VA'S NEEDS AGAIN (on the Senate floor): more than 952,000 claims have been pending longer than 125
days, including 23,900 in Florida; the backlog is still more than 241,000
including claims that go back DECADES. (The VFW-supported bill he sponsored
did pass the legislature and is on its way to the Governor SB910/HB277).
What else?
Thank you,
Dan Hendrickson, for the Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative
Commander Frank Roycraft has been selected to lead the Coalition meeting in June.
Major Cheryl Walters, USAF Retired, President of the Tallahassee Chapter of Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) invites you to attend the Monday, 16 June 2025 dinner meeting.
Our speaker will be long time FSU Hall of Fame Football coach Jim Gladden, (now retired) innovator of the “FSU Block Party” (punt, field goal, and extra point block) made famous in the 1980’s. His kick block innovations contributed to many FSU victories during his four decades at FSU. (70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 00’s) He changed college football! His innovations caused opposing coaches to change their formations and kick protections used at the High School, College, and NFL levels. He also coached many All American edge pass rushers as well as first round draft choices. Jim is an outstanding speaker who was in great demand on the football speaking circuit when he was actively coaching.
Please join us for a night of friendship and camaraderie.
· “WHO DO YOU WANT IN YOUR FOXHOLE?” by Jim Gladden
· 16 June 2025
· Elks Lodge, 276 North Magnolia
· Social hour begins at 5PM
· Dinner begins at 6PM
· Speaker at 6:45 PM
· Dress-Business casual
Tickets may be purchased below: (please complete registration by noon on Saturday, June 7, 2025)
https://tallahassee-moaa-dinner-jim-gladden.cheddarup.com
The Veterans Florida Expo 2025, June 6-7 in Tampa, FL, is the most unique, meaningful, and memorable event you will attend this year.
Be our special guest for a free, personalized and informational experience like none other if you are a:
Separating or retiring member of the US Armed Forces
Veteran
Member of the Florida National Guard or Reserves
Spouse of a veteran or military member
Experts are gathering from all over Florida to assist you with easing your transition out of the military and into your new life, accessing your state and federal benefits, or launching or growing your entrepreneurial endeavors through one-on-one discussions covering a wide range of topics and extensive networking.
No other state stands ready for military and veteran families and individuals as Florida, and no other event is as focused on you and your journey than the Expo.
Our entire team looks forward to hosting you at the Expo and providing you the Florida resources necessary to start your next journey in the Sunshine State.
Please welcome the Tallahassee Composite Squadron to the Commanders Coalition
Cadet 2nd Lt. J. Leroy Johnson
FL-432 Cadet Commander
Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary
(M) 8505677415
GoCivilAirPatrol.com