Fwd: Your December E-Vets!

Your December 2017 E-Vets! Since 1927, the mission of the Texas Veterans Commission has been to advocate for and provide superior service to veterans that will significantly improve the quality of life for all Texas veterans, their families, and survivors. "90 Years of Superior Service..." This year the Texas Veterans Commission marked its 90th anniversary, and as 2017 comes to a close, we look back at a year filled with great accomplishments, strong partnerships, and perseverance through great tragedy. Across the state, our Claims Representation and Counseling team members filed more than 126,000 claims on behalf of disabled veterans in 2017 – exceeding our target goal by 24%. Meanwhile, our Veteran Entrepreneur Program provided services to nearly 3,635 veteran owned businesses in Texas. We welcomed a new Commissioner, Kevin Barber from Houston, and said farewell to our Commission Vice Chairman, James Scott from San Antonio. Partnering once again with the Texas Workforce Commission, we held successful Hiring Red, White, and You! job fairs in 28 cities across the state. We also helped Texans to use books as a bridge and talk about what happens when veterans come home by working with our friends at the Texas State Library's "The Veteran Experience".  But this year also brought its share of challenges. Hurricane Harvey damaged the facilities that housed one of the TVC offices in Corpus Christi causing us to temporarily move the office to Del Mar College. As soon as the new location was secured, a move was completed in short order, and veterans were being seen as quickly as possible. TVC's Health Care Advocacy Program, in its partnership with the Veterans Health Care Administration, worked with the VA and local pharmacies to ensure no disruptions in the delivery of veterans' prescriptions and to promptly reschedule any VA medical appointments that were disrupted by Harvey. In Wilson County, the Veteran County Service Officer, H.R. Grimm was part of the group of officials who assisted the family members and veterans following the Sutherland Springs church shootings. He was available every day after the tragedy, and remains on call should anyone need his services. Throughout all of the events this year - just as we have throughout all of our 90 year history - we remain steadfast and committed to providing superior service to all Texas veterans, their families, and survivors. May you all have a joyous holiday season, merry Christmas, and happy new year. Al Cantu, Commission Chairman The Reverend Richard McLeon, Commission Vice Chair Jake Ellzey, Commission Secretary Daniel Moran, Commissioner Kevin Barber, Commissioner Thomas Palladino, Executive Director In partnership with State Workforce Agencies, Hilton Honors is donating points to eligible transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses. By becoming an Honors Military member, you will receive a 100,000 point donation to help make travel more financially feasible during job-search related activities. To find out if you're eligible, please contact our Employment Operations Specialist, Tim Frere at timothy.frere@tvc.texas.gov. Over the last three months our Women Veterans Program honored 28 Legacy Women Veterans of WWII, Korea and Vietnam at Veterans Land Board Retirement Homes in Texas. Recognizing the sacrifice of women, who with courage served our country in its time of need, reminds us that women play a vital role in our national defense.  During the 85th Texas Legislative session, June 12th was established as Women Veterans Day. On June 12, 1948 President Harry S. Truman signed the Armed Services Integration Act enabling women to serve as permanent, regular members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. If you are a woman veteran or know a woman veteran who would like to know more, please contact us at texaswomenvets@tvc.texas.gov. Recently Collin College, which serves Collin and Rockwall counties, located north and northeast of Dallas, opened three Veterans Resource Centers on their campuses. As Collin County continues to be the fastest growing county for veterans moving to the region - growing from 5,000 students in 1986 to nearly 53,000 - the College is making plans for future campuses in Wylie, Allen, Celina and Farmersville. To learn more about their veterans resources, click here. When you donate to the Fund for Veterans' Assistance, do you know where that money goes? In San Antonio, your gift helps support an Army veteran who found himself struggling financially after spending several years as a full-time caregiver to his elderly mother. After her passing, he faced high bills, major house repairs, and property taxes. Therefore, he could not attend medical appointments to address his own health issues as he was unable to afford a car payment or pubic transportation. Once referred to the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) Call-A-Ride 4 Vets program, he was provided with two free monthly VIA bus passes and the program also referred him to Goodwill Veterans Resource and Career Center to help with his long-term financial stability. These programs are supported by grants made possible with your donation to the Fund for Veterans' Assistance. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that the application process for the national Veterans Identification Card (VIC) is now available for veterans. Veterans with honorable service will be able to apply for the ID card, which will provide proof of military service, and may be accepted by retailers in lieu of the standard DD-214 form to obtain promotional discounts and other services where offered to veterans. To request a VIC, Veterans must visit vets.gov, click on "Apply for Printed Veteran ID Card" on the bottom left of the page and sign in or create an account. Looking to see what veterans' events are going on in your area? Then check out our Texas Veterans Commission events calendar to see the latest events in your area! The Texas Legislature proclaimed June 12 as Women Veterans Day, and we're looking for feedback on how to mark the occasion: Take the Women Veterans Day Survey! State partners and online resources: Texas Workforce Commission TexVet: Get Connected 211 Texas Texas Lottery Commission Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans Texas Wide Open for Veterans Veterans Land Board Texas Military Forces Texas Health and Human Services Commission Texas Veterans Portal Follow TVC on social media!

This message was sent to alpost290web@gmail.com from comm@tvc.texas.gov

Texas Veterans Commission
Texas Veterans Commission
PO Box 12277
Austin, Texas 78711-2277

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