VA Medical Center

October-December 2011

VAVS NEWSLETTER

VAMC Battle Creek, Michigan

The Battle Creek VA Medical Center was chosen to host a 2012 “VAlentines for Veterans Concert,” featuring pop, country, and gospel music legend B.J. Thomas. Mr. Thomas will be performing at W.K. Kellogg Auditorium in Battle Creek on February 14, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. for area Veterans, military personnel, and their families. Special invita-tions will be extended to Gold Star Families. We are combining the concert with a special Welcome Home Event to provide information to Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation New Dawn Veterans. Watch and listen for more information. Community and Volunteer Service will accept donations to GPF 1020, VAlentines for Veterans Concert.

Dancing couple enjoying themselves at the 2011 Valentines for Veterans Concert.

Patrons at the W.K. Kellogg Auditorium wait anxiously for the Valentines for Veterans Concert to begin.

B.J. Thomas

Page 2 VA Medical Center

VA Medical Center Community and Volunteer Service

5500 Armstrong Road Battle Creek, MI 49037

CURRENT NEEDS LIST – October – December 2011

MISCELLANEOUS Decaffeinated Coffee

McDonald/Burger King Gift Cards Sweetener

Gas Card ($20.00 amounts) Creamer

DVD-movies Individually wrapped cookies

CD-Audio Books Coffee Pots, 42-50 Cup

Hand Held Games Reading glasses

New Socks (all sizes) 9 x 12 Envelopes

New Men’s White T-shirts (2XL or larger) Relaxation CD’s

New Men’s Underwear (S, M) Stamps, .44 cents

Casual Shoes (sizes 10-13) TOILETRIES

Sweatpants, (all sizes) Deodorant

Sweatshirts (2XL or larger) Body Wash

Shower Shoes Shave Cream

Playing Cards Hair Brushes/Combs

Irons

Due to infection control policies, personal care items must be new and not have expired. No Sample Sizes No Sunglasses No Bar Soap

100 percent of your donation(s) will be used for Veterans’ needs Needed Monetary Donations

General Post Fund (GPF)

GPF Name Balance GPF Name Balance 1003 Christmas Fund $4,606.84 1020 Video for Vets – Project funds showing of first run

movies over VA Cable system. Sponsor is listed in the bi-monthly movie guide.

$1,118.97

1005 Recreation

(UNDESIGNATED)

$11,744.70 1020 Valentines for Veterans Concert-2012 $9,036.89

1009

Emergency Funds: Battle Creek or Grand Rapids

$711.79

1020 VA History Museum $25.00

1016 Homeless Veterans Fund $5,051.92 1025 Pontoon Boat Fund $1,134.12

1018 Grand Rapids Cookie

Fund

$632.10

1026 National Veterans Programs/Games (Golden Age Games)

$3,446.35

1020 Cultural Transformation $456.12 1034

Mental Health Intensive Care Management Fund $352.66

1020 Homeless Stand Downs $412.50 1041 Seamless Transition fund/ Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn

$871.57

1020 Planetree Initiatives $156.00 1041 Welcome Home Events $3,508.46

Bolded items are high need priority. Please call and check with the office prior to making purchases. If you wish

to contribute or have any questions, call Community and Volunteer Service at (269) 223-5497. Make checks payable to the VA Medical Center. In the “memo” section of the check, please indicate which General Post Fund you want the donation deposited into.

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Summer Serve Program

This year we had 28 students for the 2011 Summer Serve Program. Twenty-two new youth joined us, with six returning from last year. The students contributed more than 700 hours this summer while escorting Veterans to various activities sponsored by Veteran Service Organizations and trips to the Canteen. Thank you to all Service Organizations for your role in making this an enjoyable and successful summer for our Veterans and students.

Watermelon Fest

Staff planned an enjoyable Watermelon Fest with live music, shuffle board, games, and other activities. The American Red Cross worked with Meijer to have 72 watermelons donated for the event. There was a great turn out of Veterans, staff and volunteers. All volunteers worked hard escorting Veterans from the Community Living Center to the Pavilion, serving watermelon, drinks, and assisting with activities. Watermelon was taken to the wards and distributed to Veterans that could not make it to the Pavilion. Sixty-four volunteers contributed more than 250 hours. Thanks to Veterans, volunteers, and staff for all their help in making this one of our best Watermelon Fests ever!

American Red Cross Volunteer, Joy Neulieb, offers watermelon during the fest.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline

Gets New Name

The Suicide Prevention Hotline is now called the “Veterans Crisis Line”. The message and the number remain the same; 1-800-273-8255, press 1 for Veteran. The Veterans Crisis Line remains available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It is confidential and offers both counseling and referrals to Veterans, Service Members and their families.

VAVS Santa Letter

Event

The VAVS Executive Committee will be selling “Santa Letters” in the Canteen October 31, through November 4, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. These letters will be personalized for your loved ones. Orv Stevens, American Legion, VAVS Representative, is chairing this activity and would like your help selling, stuffing, or mailing letters. Contact Community and Volunteer Service at (269) 223-5497 if you would like to assist with this fundraiser. All proceeds will be used for General Post Fund 1003, Christmas Fund.

Air National Guard Band of the Great

Lakes

On Saturday, November 12, 2011, the Battle Creek VA host the performance of the Air National Guard Band of the Great Lakes. The program will take place in Building 138, Theatre, at 3:00 p.m.

It is open to all Veterans, staff, volunteers, and the Community.

New Military Archive and Record

Address

The National Archives and Records Administration has a new address for the National Personnel Records Center:

National Personnel Records Center

1 Archives Drive

St. Louis, Missouri 63138-1002

This information will be helpful if you need to access your military records.

Volunteer Opportunity

With the newly renovated Inpatient Mental Health, we invite you to support this patient population. This may be an ice cream social, music, arts and crafts, bingo, board games, refreshments, puzzles, visitations, etc.

To schedule an activity or if you have questions, contact Community and Volunteer Service at (269) 223-5497.

Page 4 VA Medical Center

Reminders

The Welcome Home is being held on February 14, 2012, at 5:00 p.m. at the W.K. Kellogg Auditorium in combination with this year’s Valentines for Veterans Concert. If you would like a table at our Welcome Home event, please turn in your registration forms by November 1, 2011.

Letters for scheduling recreational events on the 2012 Recreation Activity Calendar will be mailed in November 2011. Please work with your organization on dates and return your material to Therapeutic Recreation Section as soon as possible.

Certifications

JoAnn Beachnau, Representative, Military Order of the Cooties Auxiliary

William Beachnau, Deputy Representative, Military Order of the Cooties

Emily Hansen, Representative, American Gold Star Mothers

Captain Lisa Mueller, 2nd Deputy Representative, The Salvation Army

Annual Joint Reviews

October

Daughters of the American Revolution

Marine Corps League Auxiliary

Military Order of the Purple Heart

Ladies Auxiliary to the Military Order of the Purple Heart

November

American Legion Auxiliary

Jewish War Veterans

Ladies Auxiliary, Polish Legion of American Veterans

United Auto Workers

Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary

Recertifications

Barbara Bridenstine, Representative, The Salvation Army

Major Thomas Riggs, Deputy Representative, The Salvation Army

New...Stars and Stripes Baby

Program

The Stars and Stripes Baby Program is a volunteer program that assists staff by providing social support to pregnant Veterans or the significant other of Veterans. This social support helps maintain the connection between the Veteran who is receiving prenatal care in the community and the Medical Center.

How the program works

We are notified of a pregnancy and a VA volunteer will contact the expectant mother by phone. The volunteer will provide social support through regular telephone conversations during the pregnancy.

Gifts for Baby and Mom

As the mother’s due date nears, our VA volunteers prepare a “welcome basket” for the new baby. The volunteers also think of the new mother and put together a small gift to present to her. The “welcome baskets” are prepared from donated items such as basic infant care items, clothing, blankets, and toys. The gift baskets for mothers often include sparkling cider, candles, bathrobes, bubble bath, lotions, candies, and other similar items. The items donated to support this program come from individuals, Veteran Service Organizations, civic groups, and other community partnerships. This support helps create a sense of involvement between the Veteran and the community.

Dates to Remember

November

2—Hospital Wide Clothing Distribution

11—Veterans Day, Office Closed

24—Thanksgiving Day, Office Closed

December

14—VAVS Committee Meeting

20—VAVS Gift Wrap

21—VAVS Gift Distribution

26—Christmas Day Observed, Office Closed

January

2— New Year’s Day Observed, Office Closed

16—Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Office Closed

Did you know…

We have a complimentary coffee program at our Grand Rapids Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC)?

This group of volunteers are dedicated to providing coffee and refreshments to our outpatient Veterans and families that may be waiting for appointments.

The coffee room is located near the entrance and is open from 7:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

The next time you are at the Grand Rapids CBOC, stop in and say “hi” to these volunteers.

Congratulations Winners

The following individuals are winners of our Annual Training Newsletter response forms.

First Place: Dick Knowlton, Doug Wood, and Gail Adcock

Second Place: Floyd Carmichael, Leann Sanborn, and John Gothberg

Third Place: Marge Kokmeyer, Marie Center, and Sharon Paul.

Please stop in Community and Volunteer Service, Building 10, room 110, and pick up your prize at your earliest convenience.

If you haven't done so already, please mail or drop off the last page of the Annual Training Newsletter with your signature for certification. These were due by September 23, 2011.

Carnival Facts

The patient carnival was held on October 13, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Volunteers in 16 game booths and a hot dog booth, served more than 250 Veterans. Prizes and food items distributed totaled more than 5,000 items. There were 52 volunteers that contributed 257 hours toward this fun day. The sharing and cooperation by everyone involved gave special meaning to this year’s Carnival. Each Veteran, volunteer, and staff had a good time.

Volunteer, Billy Douglas, speaks with Veteran participants at the 2011 Patient Carnival.

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Community and Volunteer Service

Staff

Nancy Babcock

Chief, Community and Volunteer Service

Dawn Craig

Volunteer Service Specialist

Linda Heidenreich

Program Support Assistant

Brian Pegouske

Volunteer Service Specialist Intern

Community and Volunteer Service

Building 10, Room 110

VA Medical Center

5500 Armstrong Road

Battle Creek, MI 49037

(269) 223-5497

www.Facebook.com/VABattleCreek

and click the “Like” button

or on the web:

www.battlecreek.va.gov

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