VAVS Presentation Convention 2019

We have a goal to have BSMA representation at every VA Facility in the US. We need your

help to do this. If there is a facility of any size in your chapter’s service area, please contact

the VAVS National Rep vavs@bluestarmothers.us to ask if there is a VAVS Representative

or Deputy. Below are the guidelines from the VA for all Representatives and Deputies.

BSMA has a requirement that each Rep or Dep MUST attend a minimum of one VAVS

quarterly meeting during the VA fiscal year or you will be removed as a VAVS Rep or Dep.

Monthly reporting to VAVS National Rep will be required as well as yearly report from VA.

As the Rep and Deputy, it is your responsibility to report to each chapter within that VA

facility’s service area of their needs. You are representing National BSMA and not your

individual chapter. All donations and reported hours are to be recorded as BSMA and not

your individual chapter. This insures that all the hours across the US are compiled together

accurately for our organization.

Recruitment of volunteers is “the” most important responsibility of an BSMA VAVS

Representative and is to be accomplished through your Chapter and/or Department.

How do we do this?

● Willing and able to participate in the orientation provided by the Voluntary Service Officer.

● Physically capable of performing regularly schedules (RS) hours of service and have a source of

transportation.

● The ability to attend committee meetings regularly. If BSMA is not represented by a

Representative or a Deputy Representative at three consecutive meetings, BSMA may be

dropped from the VAVS Committee.

● The ability to recruit volunteers of all ages, both from BSMA membership and the community at

large.

● The ability to work effectively with members of his or her own organization, with

representatives from other organizations on the VAVS Committee and with VA staff.

● A genuine desire to serve on the VAVS Committee and a full realization of his or her

responsibility and the work to be done

Recruitment of volunteers is “the” most important responsibility of an BSMA VAVS

Representative and is to be accomplished through your Chapter and/or Department.

● Representatives may invite VA staff to BSMA meetings to discuss the volunteer

program and assist in recruitment. BSMA leadership may attend VAVS meetings,

medical center briefings and tours to better understand the VAVS Program.

● VA staff members may effectively assist you in planning your recruitment by

determining worthwhile volunteer assignments, preparing effective volunteer

assignment guides and utilizing the media to enhance the recruitment efforts for both

BSMA members and non-members.

● Voluntary Service Staff is available to discuss Representatives new recruitment

methods and techniques, effective utilization of medical center services and effective

use of the media.

During the quarterly VAVS meeting, VAVS staff will provide facility VAVS Representatives and Deputy Representatives with lists of donations and volunteer assignments needed. Responsibilities include:

● Attending quarterly meeting and getting copies of Quarterly VAVS Assignment and Donation Needs List

● Distributing Needs Assessment to all VAVS Chairpersons at chapters in VA Medical facility catchment area. This also includes any chapters in the area that do not have VAVS representation.

● Looking at needs assessment, adapting to particular assignment/donation. ● Filling assignments vacancies, coordinating donations (monetary/non-monetary)

across all chapters.

VAVS Rep/Dep Monthly Report FY2018-2019

May 2019 – Updated 07.17.19 VA Facility: James A. Haley Veterans Hospital and Clinics, Tampa, FL Chapter state and number: FL3 Greater Tampa Bay Date of check in: 27 June 2019 Issues: Report updated following meeting with Voluntary Services Specialist. Comments: With additional matching funds this month, we are sponsoring a total of 8 summer youth volunteers, an increase of 6 from the prior year. Meeting Attended: Quarterly Committee Meeting 23 May 2019 BSM who will be delivering a meal for Fisher Houses I&II in June also attended this meeting. Donations: Non-Monetary - 30 bags of Peet’s coffee for clinics valued at $300. Monetary - $140 matching funds by private donors to sponsor 4 additional summer youth volunteers. Volunteer hours: Rep – 8 includes Quarterly Meeting Occasional – 4 Chapter member also attended Quarterly meeting Rep/Dep name: Nikki Smith, Rep

VAVS Rep/Dep FY 2018-2019 Q3 June 2019 – Updated 07.17.19

AV Facility: James A. Haley Veterans Hospital and Clinics, Tampa, FL Chapter state and number: FL3 Greater Tampa Bay Date of check in: 11 July 2019 Service Hours June: 552.75 Rep – 0 Rep out of town during June Regular Summer Student Volunteers – 518.75 Occasional – 34 Fisher Houses I & II meal prep and delivery Monetary Donations: None Value of Non-Monetary Donations: $370 – Fisher Houses I & II meal cost. Meetings Attended: None Staffing: Mitra Gobin, incoming Chief of Voluntary Services is now scheduled to start early July. He previously serviced as Chief at Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital in Seattle. He is a former resident of Valrico and Lakeland. Youth Summer Volunteers: Staff is not providing interim reports this year. Closing ceremony Thursday 25 July at 1100 in the Main Hospital Auditorium. All are welcome to attend. New: Haley has partnered with The Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA) to provide honor escorts for unclaimed Veterans. In the hospital, the Honor Escort Team honors a deceased patient with a final escort. Employees and patients who are available meet at a designated location lining the hallways for the Final Salute. Taps are played while employees and patients salute the veteran. Upcoming Events: Youth Summer Volunteer Closing Ceremony – Thursday 25 July @ 1000 in Main Hospital Auditorium VAVS Committee Meeting – Thursday 12 September at 1100 at location TBD Fall Fundraiser/Book Sale – Friday 04 October at 0900–1400 in Main Hospital Auditorium. Raffle tickets being printed, on sale shortly. Nikki Smith, Rep

VAVS Rep/Dep Monthly Report

VA Facility:

Chapter state and number:

Date of check in:

Issues:

Comments:

Meeting attended:

Donations:

Volunteer hours:

Rep/Dep name:

Develop Recruitment Strategies ● Regularly Scheduled Volunteers: Drivers, administrative roles, and many other

opportunities. ● Occasional and Special Event Volunteers: Welcome Home Celebrations, Homeless

Veteran Stand Downs ● Younger Generation Assignments (Gulf War, OEF/OIF): Recreation Therapy, Adaptive

Sports (Team River Runner-kayaking; Ride to Recovery-cycling; Golf Supports Our Troops-golf; Project Healing Waters-fishing).

Recognition

● Be sure to thank your volunteers routinely! ● Make sure volunteer hours are recorded under organizational (BSMA) awards ● Apply or recommend someone in your organization for the National Advisory

Committee Volunteer of the Year Award or an outstanding youth volunteer for the James H Parke Memorial Scholarship.

James H Parke Memorial Scholarship

James H. Parke was the first Director of Voluntary Service and the founding father of the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) National Advisory Committee (NAC). The James H. Parke Memorial Fund, comprised of VAVS NAC member organizations, was established in 1976 to serve as the non-profit source of funds for a VAVS Youth Scholarship. Organizations, volunteers, VA staff and others continue to contribute to the Fund.

Each medical center may nominate one VAVS student volunteer for receipt of the award. Recommendations may be made by any VA staff member who acts as a supervisor of the student volunteer or member of the local VAVS Committee. To be eligible, candidates must have completed 100 hours of regularly scheduled VAVS volunteer service during the calendar year prior to September 1; be a student in the 10th grade or above; and have not reached their 19th birthday.

Chapters can sponsor a student volunteer at VA and BSMA receives their hours. Cost to sponsor is $25 and student receives a shirt and end of summer party. Those student volunteers are eligible to apply for VA scholarship at their local facility as well as be eligible to be nominated for the Parke Scholarship.

The nominations form should be completed to reflect the volunteer service and background of the candidate and include: age, years of volunteering, number of volunteer hours, areas of service, and affiliated/supporting organizations, if any.

Criteria on which candidates are evaluated for consideration of awards include:

● Scholastic Activity

● Dependability

● Fulfillment and acceptance of responsibility

● Personality and pleasantness to patients and staff

● Leadership capability

● Inspiration to patients through service performed

● Appearance

If you are interested in contributing to the James H. Parke Memorial Scholarship Fund you may send donations to:

Parke Memorial Scholarship Fund C/O FRA – Chris Slawinski

125 N. West St. Alexandria, VA 22314

Our own National President Anne Parker is a member of the James H Parke Memorial Fund Board of Directors!

2019 James H. Parke Memorial Scholarship

$20,000 Scholarship Recipient Daniel Finney

Dorn VA Medical Center Columbia VA Health Care System

Columbia, South Carolina https://www.volunteer.va.gov/ParkeScholarship.asp