PNC Bill Kilgore, National VAVS Representative, Spring 2012 American Veteran Column

 

The week of March 12 was a busy week for yours truly, for I had the responsibility and privilege of representing AMVETS at the 66th VAVS National Advisory Committee meeting in Charleston, S.C. I then made a quick trip to Virginia to attend our National Executive Committee meeting and our Silver Helmet Banquet.

I am extremely honored and proud to share with each of you one of the highlights of the NAC meeting. One of our own, Charles Roth, AMVETS WI Post 2180 life member and VAVS Representative at the Tomah VA Medical Center in Tomah, Wis., was recognized as the Male Volunteer of the Year. Truly an outstanding accomplishment, this is the first time, to my knowledge, that an AMVETS VAVS Representative has ever received such an award. Please join me in congratulating him and acknowledging his dedication and service.

It is time once again for the Department Commanders in the states of Alabama-Missouri, including D.C., to re-certify their VAVS representatives and VA Medical Center deputies. Current certifications for these individuals expire on July 31. Failure to recertify your personnel will result in removal of AMVETS from the VAVS committees at your respective VA Medical Centers. Appointment forms for new certifications or re-certifications can be downloaded from our website, www.amvets.org, on the VAVS program link. You may mail, email, or fax this information to Tiffany Hilton, AMVETS National Programs Associate, at National Headquarters, (thilton@amvets.org), fax (301-683-3031).

In conjunction with the re-certification, all Department Commanders are required to appoint a VAVS Department Coordinator. VAVS Department Coordinators will provide leadership and support for all certified representatives and deputies. Departments are required to submit the name and contact information of a duly appointed VAVS Department Coordinator to National Headquarters as soon as possible, but no later than 14 days after department elections.

It is imperative that we take the re-certification of our representatives and deputies as well as the appointment of a Department Coordinator seriously. AMVETS needs strong leadership in VAVS to recruit “regular scheduled” volunteers, improve programs for our hospitalized veterans, solicit donations of financial and material resources and to attend/participate in VAVS committee meetings in order to coordinate all VAVS activities with the voluntary service office at your respective VA Medical Centers. If I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at (423) 378-3378 or through email at (wgkamvet@charter.net), and of course Beryl Love, our National Programs Director, is also available to assist you anytime, (240) 832-7768.