Weekly Report🎖
Red Star Families | TVLC | Mission BBQ | Weekend Reading
This week I’m attending the American Legion Department of Florida State Convention.
When I came into the general session, I noticed a few flyers on the chair. This is the first time I’ve seen this initiative and I wholeheartedly support it.
I’m unsure if we have a Red Star Family Chapter in the Big Bend. If so, they are welcome to attend the Commanders Coalition meetings. The Commanders Coalition connects military veterans and their families with resources to lead the happiest and most productive lives possible.
Good Day, Team
15 Veterans came today for the Legal Clinic at American Legion Post 13, Lk
Ella (Thursday). Our volunteer team totaled 18, including 6 attorneys.
LSNF staff, Omar and Cindy and FDVA Veteran service officer Jacqueline
Jordan have been great recent additions to our teamwork on Thursdays. We
also researched and responded to several other Veterans by phone and website
inquiries. Veterans' legal issues this week again included Georgia cases,
wills, child support problems, driver's license reinstatements, divorces,
housing, benefits, real estate, consumer fraud, etc. And thank you for the
consistent volunteer administrative work at the front door and
computer/files tables, Khalid, Kathy, Valerie & Margaret today, with Susie
throughout our Clinic sessions. Kudos to Khalid Shafi, Dexter White, Eddie
McMillian, & Chris Bodiford for the food distribution Wednesday to
several housing facilities..
Please make note that our website address has changed in recent weeks, and
change it if you have it posted anywhere. www.Tallahasseeveteranslegal.com
Florida's legislators are back in town these next few days, compromising on
the State Budget; conference committee meetings between the House and Senate
are now finished and the Legislature will meet soon to finalize their
adoption of the new budget; while awaiting the final budget compilation,
each set of "funding projects" and agency funding can be found on the
Appropriations pages of www.flsenate.gov and www.flhouse.gov
Leon County Veterans Treatment Court on Monday, June 9,
successfully avoided new jail conditions for Veterans in the specialty
court. Please plan to come downtown to Courtroom 2E on Monday June 23 in
the Leon Courthouse; you may decide to become a volunteer Veteran Mentor for
one or more of the Vets in the program. You won't regret the teamwork.
Congratulations to the Florida Dept of Veteran Affairs, assisted
locally by Women Veterans Unite, for hosting the first ever, statewide
conference for Women Veterans last weekend, which included a celebratory
viewing of the WW II Movie "The Six Triple Eight" at the IMAX Friday
evening.
FINAL ACTION finally on HB910/HB277, the VFW-supported bill, as SB910 went
into effect upon the Governor's signature last week. The Senate sponsor we
have been citing for SUMMARIZING VA'S NEEDS (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. More info is coming out on the cuts to VA, which could gut
billions over the next decade, while we are helping additional Veterans
access the VA benefits they deserve and need. Advocates fear fewer doctors,
longer wait times, diminished care for PTSD, suicide prevention and chronic
conditions, and likely "hollowing out the VA system" for for-profit
providers, decreasing specialized care.
Reprise: Nationally, specific budget cuts to our country's "safety net"
were passed through their first chamber of Congress, 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.
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 part-time 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.
I've been asked to re-send this link for people who missed it (in their
spam folder last week): We can finally forward to you the link for the WCTV
interview that broadcast last month
https://www.wctv.tv/2025/05/01/local-nonprofit-protecting-veterans-interest
s-promoting-justice-tallahassee/
What else?
Thank you,
Dan Hendrickson, for the Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative
MISSION BBQ- Tallahassee
Hi Folks!
Sunday, June 15th is Dad's Day.
We would like to formally invite you and your families to come out and celebrate with us. We will have the brisket sandwiches and ribs ready!
Also, please enter for our smoker giveaway. Contest ends at 9AM on JUNE 15th.
Here is the link to enter: https://mission-bbq.com/dads/
Complementary family photos with BAMBAM will be taken by the front entrance.
We hope to see you Sunday, and every day in between.
Proudly Serving Those Who Serve!
Community Ambassador
MISSION BBQ - Tallahassee
216 S Magnolia Dr
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (850) 702-3513 x1
Here is some light reading for the weekend.
~Live long and prosper
Edward W. Hood