Senate Bill 396 which calls for an expansion of the new Surgical Center in Harlingen

Our Senators have filed Senate Bill 396 which calls for an expansion of the new Surgical Center in Harlingen to a Full Medical Services Center.  Our Congressman have filed an identical bill in the House. Veterans wholeheartley support it and are asking for community support.

 

You can help by reading and signing the online petition at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/578/551/374/

We ask that you take some time and sign it.  And if at all possible send it to your friends and ask for their support.  Veterans will sure appreciate it.

Vietnam Veterans Recognition Ceremony: Tuesday 29 March 11 Senate Floor State Capitol beginning at 11:00 am

For your information and distribution to your Vietnam Veteran members.

All Vietnam Veterans as well as their families are invited to participate in a Vietnam Veteran Recognition Ceremony to be held on:

Tuesday

29 March 2011

Beginning at 11:00 am

Senate Floor

State Capitol Building

Austin, Texas

State Senators Hinojosa and Van de Puttee will recognize Vietnam Veterans Day from the floor of the Texas Senate.  Tentatively planned will be recognition of a Vietnam POW, a woman Vietnam Veteran, a representative of Vietnam MIAs, and any Vietnam Medal of Honor recipients able to attend the ceremony.

On display on the Senate floor will be the Maquette (1/5 scale model) of the Texas Capitol Vietnam War Monument, the full size version of which will be placed on the grounds of the Capitol in the future.  It is planned to have the artist/sculptor, Duke Sundt, present with the Maquette.

Please plan on attending and bring your families and friends.  Seating for Vietnam Veterans attending the ceremony will be in the Senate Gallery (3rd floor of the main Capitol building, entrance on the East side of the Capitol).  To ensure parking and seating prior to the start of the ceremony, plan on arriving at the Capitol Complex by 10:00 am.

NOTE:  when the Legislature is in session, parking at the Capitol Complex is at a premium.  On street metered parking is available as well as limited spaces in the covered Visitors Parking Garage located at 12t Street between San Jacinto and Trinity Streets.

Prospective Auxiliary Members

Dear Legionnaire:

Time and time again it has been demonstrated that the most successful Posts are the ones who work cooperatively with their Auxiliary Units.  With this in mind, our Post has approved the formation of an Auxiliary Unit, as we realize the positive effects a Unit can have on a Post.  We hope to build a family organization of Legion and Auxiliary members volunteering together too enable us to do more for our veterans, our youth, and the community.

Do you have female family, relatives, friends, even co-workers who enjoy volunteering?  Would they ;enjoy helping the Auxiliary in the betterment of our veterans, youth, and our community?  Are these women eligible for membership in the American Legion Auxiliary?  If so, will you please share this information in this letter with them – maybe make a copy and take it to work to be posted.

Young girls and women eligible for membership are the wife, daughter,, mother, granddaughter, great-granddaughter, sister, and grandmother, including same step relatives of a Legionnaire or a deceased veteran having served during the eligibility dates.  Women who of their own right are eligible for membership in The American Legion, are also eligible to join The American Legion Auxiliary (they become dual members).

There will be an informational meeting of interested women on March 31 at the Vince Taylor Post 290 at 7 PM.  A Department Auxiliary representative will be present at this meeting to provide information on the various programs and activities, dues, meeting dated, officers, etc.

Having a strong Unit to work closely with our Post will strengthen our commitment to this community.

Please call Donnea Simon, Post member, for more information:

830-833-4460

 

Larry Chapman

Post Commander

Change to: Letter for Prospective Auxiliary Members

All members AL and VFW,

Re: Letter for Prospective Auxiliary Members, the meeting date has changed to March 30th, at 1900 hours.

URGENT: VETERANS NEEDED AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HEARING MONDAY 21 MARCH 2011

Please make every effort to attend the Finance Committee hearing on 

Monday

21 March 2011

10:00 am

E1.036

As you are well aware, the transferability of the 100% property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans to their surviving spouses is the number one legislative priority of the Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations for the 82nd Texas Legislature.  

Coming with very short notice are bills that address our #1 priority.  I ask every veterans service organization to provide representation at this meeting. 

Please send at least one representative from your veterans service organization.  More would be appreciated and will most definitely make a major impact on the members of the Senate Finance Committee.

TCVO and our friends and supporters in the Senate need your support and physical presence now more than ever.  In this time of budget shortfalls we, TCVO, must present a united front for the surviving spouses of our 100% disabled veterans.

If you and your veteran service organization believe that transferring the 100% property tax exemption to the surviving spouse of a 100% disabled veteran is important, and the absolutely right thing to do, please ensure that at least one member of your organization attends this meeting and turns in a card, or better yet, gives testimony in support of the legislation that will ensure that the widows/widowers will be able to keep their homes.

Time to act people.  No excuses.

RSVP directly to me and confirm that your VSO will be at the meeting to support this critical piece of legislation.

Thank you for your support.

John

John A Miterko

Legislative Liaison

Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations

SENATE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

 

COMMITTEE:    Finance  TIME & DATE:  10:00 AM, Monday, March 21, 2011  PLACE:        E1.036 (Finance Room)   CHAIR:        Senator Steve Ogden

 

Those wishing to give public testimony, please limit prepared remarks to 3 minutes.  If submitting written testimony, please submit 25 copies, with your name on each copy, to the Committee during the hearing.

SB 201        Uresti | et al. Relating to the calculation of ad valorem taxes on the residence homestead of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran for the tax year in which the veteran qualifies or ceases to qualify for an exemption from taxation of the homestead.

SB 357        Van de Putte | et al. Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran or the principal residence of the surviving minor children of such a disabled veteran.

SB 516        Patrick | et al. Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran.

SJR 14        Van de Putte | et al. Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a totally disabled veteran or the principal residence of the surviving minor children of such a disabled veteran.

SJR 21        Patrick | et al. Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran in an amount equal to the amount of the residence homestead exemption to which the disabled veteran was entitled.

U. S. Flag at half-staff March 15

U.S. flag half-staff notification   As a mark of respect for the memory of Army Corporal Frank W. Buckles, the last surviving American veteran of World War I, and in remembrance of the generation of American veterans of World War I, President Obama has ordered that the United States flag be displayed at half-staff until sunset on the day of interment, March 15. The full text of the proclamation can be found by clicking here. Click here to read more about Frank W. Buckles.

MILITARY APPRECIATION GAME: Austin Toros vs Idaho Stampede, March 26, 10:15 a.m.

MILITARY APPRECIATION GAME

Austin Toros vs Idaho Stampede
March 26, 10:15 a.m.

MILITARY MOMS OF TEXAS invites you to join us as a token of our
appreciation activities, kids fun, special ceremony, surprises, and
basketball

FREE TICKETS
-pick up at the MMOT table in front of willcall-

if possible, please get tickets in advance
available March 7

see MILITARYMOMSOFTEXAS.ORG for more info

CEDAR PARK CENTER
2100 Avenue of the Stars
Cedar Park, TX
-$10 parking-

Special on court ceremony will honor
The Texas Association of Vietnam Veterans at 11:00 a.m.

-TAVV must submit a total number of tickets needed by March 11-
INFO@MILITARYMOMSOFTEXAS.ORG

CHANGE in Monday Senate Finance Committee Hearing

** REVISION ** SENATE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

COMMITTEE:    Finance

TIME & DATE:  10:00 AM, Monday, March 07, 2011

PLACE:        E1.036 (Finance Room)
CHAIR:        Senator Steve Ogden

Any unfinished business will be moved to a later date, to be determined.

Any supporting written materials for the hearing must be provided to
the Senate Finance Committee (SFC) 2 full business days before your
scheduled hearing day. Please submit 50 copies to the SFC, and 10
copies to the LBB. Agencies should consult the postings regularly and
maintain contact with their budget analyst at the Committee.

Those wishing to give public testimony, please limit prepared remarks
to 3 minutes. If submitting written testimony, please submit 25
copies, with your name on each copy, to the Committee during the
hearing.

The afternoon hearing will reconvene 30 minutes after adjournment of the Senate.

__________________________________________________________________________

 To consider the following:

SB 1          Ogden | et al.
General Appropriations Bill.
Article I - General Government
·                Secretary of State
·                Historical Commission
·                Fire Fighters' Pension Commissioner
·   ---->>>   Veterans Commission <<<----
·                Library and Archive Commission
·                Commission on State Emergency Communications
·                Department of Information Resources
·                Commission on the Arts
·                Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas

To: Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations (TCVO)
From: Legislative Liaison
Subject: Senate Finance Hearing
Date:3 March 2011

Your presence is needed on Monday 7 March 11 at 10:00 am at the State
Capitol Extension Senate Finance Committee room E1.036.
The Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) is facing a 20% reduction in its
budget for the next two years.  This will result in the forced
reduction of full time employees, in particular a projected 22 Service
Officers.  These same Service Officers are the same dedicated
individuals who work with all generations of Texas Veterans to obtain
the benefits that they have earned from the Veterans Administration.
The loss of these Service Reps will result in Texas Veterans facing
significant delays in receiving their VA benefits.
The Senate Finance Committee will have a Public Hearing on 7 March 11
and will address the 20% reduction in funding to the Texas Veterans
Commission as recommended by the House Finance Committee.  TCVO is
working to prevent this proposed budget reduction, and will be
corresponding with and calling all the members of the House Finance
Committee in the next few days to educate them on the major negative
impact this will have on our disabled and disadvantaged brother and
sister veterans.
TVC needs the visible support of the Texas Veteran community at the
Senate Finance Committee hearing.  Please plan on attending this
critical meeting.  Now more than ever TCVO must present a united front
and exhibit our support for the full unreduced funding of TVC.
If you are not able to attend, please have one or more members of your
veteran service organization represent you at this hearing.  For those
willing to make this personal commitment to TVC and to the veterans of
Texas served by TVC, wear your organizations "colors" to distinguish
us as Texas Veterans and to guarantee that we are at this meeting as
visible support for TVC.

Rodeo Austin Military Appreciation Day

Mark your calendars!  Rodeo Austin Military Appreciation Day is
Wednesday March 23rd  Show your military ID card and get Free
Fairgrounds Admission

Note: If you are a Veteran and you do not have a military Veteran ID
card, you can obtain an official military Veteran ID card at our local
VA clinic on Montopolis. You will need your DD-214.  For more
information on the Austin VA clinic go to:
http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/facility.asp?id=135

Schedule for Military Appreciation Day
9:00 am Market Steer Show
9:00 am-1:00 pm School Tours
9:00 am-2:00 pm Company A-9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers and First Ladies of Texas
2:00 pm-3:30 pm Rockin' A Stage Concert featuring Kyle Bennett
4:00 pm-5:30 pm Rockin' A Stage Concert featuring John D. Hale
4:00 pm Carnival Opens
6:00 pm Grand Champion Steer Selection Pre-Judge
6:00 pm United States Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Jump
6:00 pm-7:30 pm Rockin' A Stage Concert featuring Mark McKinney
7:00 pm ProRodeo and Concert featuring Clay Walker
7:00 pm Grand Champion Steer Selection (during ProRodeo performance)
10:00 pm 100X Club live music featuring Jeremy Steding

For more information on the rodeo, visit:
http://www.rodeoaustin.com/default.aspx or call (512) 919-3000