Jan/Feb 2008 - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

Management Overview:
KWVA VAVS FY 2007
“I want to express our appreciation to all of our members who
are working to help other veterans. That is what a National
Veterans Service Organization is supposed to be doing, and these
men and women have been doing it better and better each year
“President Reagan once observed that it will surprise you
what people can do when they aren’t worried over who gets the
credit. J. D. Randolph has worked tirelessly, out of the limelight,
simply getting the job done for three years (plus) now. Thank
you, JD. Well done, to you and all of our volunteers.”
Louis T Dechert
The Report
In FY 2007, the Korean War Veterans Association performed
with flying colors, and the general membership should be proud
of our support to all veterans. Here is a concise record of what we
did:
• 502 Members volunteered in the VAVS that services both the
VA Hospital System and the National Cemetery.
The number of hours volunteers served:
• 51,297 Regular Scheduled Hours.
• 1,336 Occasional Hours
That is a total of 52,633 hours—an average of 104.8 hours per
person.
In addition, there were representatives and deputies who are
part of the local VAVS committee attendance who served 434
hours. That raises the total number of volunteer hours to 53,067
hours.
How much is that in dollars?
• Using VA’s Monetary Value, based on $18.77 per hour, our
hours saved the VA $996,067.59.
The total of all organizations, both NAC and Non-NAC hours,
was 11,616,428 hours—or 129.2 per volunteer.
How the KWVA can improve its service
We can improve by having more KWVA Representatives and
volunteers in more VA hospitals. We are now in 81 facilities. Our
shortcoming is that we do not have many KWVA representatives
and volunteers in many of the major hospitals. I need help from
the National Directors and the State Departments and Chapter to
get more members volunteering.
I hope this report will help you understand how we are doing.
This year I added the attendance of our representative and
deputies in the local VAVS Committee quarterly meetings. I will
send copies to all Director and State Departments asking for their
help in getting more volunteers.
J. D. Randolph -Director VAVS
National VAVS Representative
Visit the Korean War Veterans Association
Website: www.KWVA.org
BUSINESS
Ask the Secretary...
I received a call today from Joan Froelich, IL, who is a
registrar for the IL school system. Joan has a request from a
Korean War veteran for an honorary high school diploma which he
says has is authorized by a federal law for those whose education
was interrupted because of their service in Korea. She has done
some research; so have I. Neither of us can find any information
on that subject.
Joan has contacted someone from the federal government
who has no knowledge of any such law. I told her she needs
to contact the requestor and ask him where he got that information.
In the meantime, I promised her that I would ask some of
our “experts” and see if anyone knows of such a law.
Frank Cohee
Response from Charley Price
There are no federal statutes, rules, regulations, or other authority to
grant any recognition for a high school diploma for any veterans.
Several states, Florida among them, have passed legislation that grants
a high school diploma to WWII veterans who left school to enter the
Armed Forces during the period 1941-1945. The key is “LEFT
SCHOOL TO ENTER THE ARMED FORCES.”
For any veteran who entered the service from the State of Florida,
who left high school to enter the Armed Forces, and who can provide
such proof, the Department of Education will approve a high school
diploma to be issued by the last high school attended or the high
school of the veteran’s home town. We have made many such presentations.
In fact, one high school in Pensacola had so many veterans
who qualified it held a Senior Prom and it was a smash.
I am happy to report this was one of my bills that was passed and
signed by Governor Jeb Bush in 2001.
Regards,
Charley Price
PRESIDENT from page 3
sidering plans for adding names to the Memorial as many have
sought for many years—some from the very start-up of efforts to
build a Memorial many years ago.
PERPETUATING – REMEMBERING – MAINTAINING
There is a great need for all our Chapters and Departments to
review once more their commitment to our Memorial. A good way
is to re-read The Graybeards, May-June 2006, pp. 25-26. The article
is also available on the website at: http://www.kwva.org/update/
archives/i_update_061118_challenge_fund_sequel.htm.
I want to note especially the Chapters which have supported our
Memorial since May 2006. (See the table on page 3.)
I urge all our Chapters and Departments to reconsider and evaluate
their support of our National Memorial.
For the Good of our Order, and for our Mission, this we’ll support.
Louis T Dechert
National President and Chairman, KWVA/USA
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The Graybeards January-February 2008