VETERANS AND FAMILY SUPPORT

2024-2025
 
Tracy Bogard
PO Box 453
Lake Oswego, OR  97034
971-678-2595
Lovfwaux12140@gmail.com
SEPTEMBER
 

Brothers and Sisters,

 

I am seeing a lot of Facebook posts from our Oregon Auxiliaries doing amazing activities with our Adopted Units and Standdowns in August. Please remember to send in those reports monthly. It would be amazing to send an article to National for all the hard work we are accomplishing.

 

Please remember that we have 4000 troops deploying this year and some units have not been adopted. Talk to your Posts/Auxiliaries to see if you can support a unit and let me know. I have units all over the state that need our support. Money is tight with the OR National Guard, so if they are asking for assistance, it is because they are lacking in that area and need our help.


 SUICIDE AWARENESS

1.       September is Suicide Awareness Month. Plan an activity to help your community be prepared when they encounter an emergency event happening.

2.      Become familiar with the hotline https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

3.      There are many resources on the VFW website: Mental Wellness - VFW

4.       

 Click on the links below and you will go to the website page to find more information

Additional Mental health Resources

1.      Know the Five Signs of Emotional Suffering

2.     VFW: Change Direction

3.     Mental Wellness Campaign Brochure

4.    Mental Health Overview PowerPoint

5.     PatientsLikeMe Brochure

6.    Make Your Pledge to Change the Culture Surrounding Mental Health

7.     VA Mental Health Information

 

 

YELLOW RIBBON EVENTS/ADOPTED UNITS

1.      Save the date: Oct 12th at 11 am - Rider Stadium Southern Oregon University Ashland OR for the Mobilization of the 1/186th Infantry. For more information email me.

2.     A few of the National Guard Southern Units have been adopted, however, there are more that need our assistance. Ashley Taylor (VFW Dept of OR Post Chair) and I will be contacting those Posts/Auxiliaries that have units deploying shortly to offer more information.

3.     Thank you to Posts/Auxiliaries that attended Mobilization Ceremonies and Send Off Days with our troops in Forest Grove and Salem. In August over 500 soldiers deployed in Oregon and VFW Post and Auxiliary members showed up to offer information on Unmet Needs and offer support for the soldiers and their families.

 

    

 MAP GRANTS

Map Grants should be available soon. Please make sure you meet with your Adopted Unit SFRG and plan your events for the year. Once the funding is open, we can request the funding needed.

 

NEW VFW NATIONAL GUIDELINES

1.       Each Post, including their Auxiliary, only has $5000.00 per fiscal year to apply for their adopted unit functions. 1 event cannot be more than$1500.00.

2.      Grants will not be available until early to mid-September.

3.      Once the money runs out there will be no more.

4.      PLAN Ahead - National VFW Headquarters no longer requires Post/Auxiliaries to wait until 2 weeks before the event. You can apply for all events once the money is available.

5.      Units must be adopted before the MAP grant is applied for.

6.      Receipts and final reports still need to be submitted.

7.      National would like Post/Auxiliaries to fundraise in their communities for this program to create a stronger bond with the military and the community.

 

 

SPORTSCLIPS HELP A HERO

Please share information with your local colleges and at your recruiting events to attract more veteran students to apply.

 

 

 

Scholarship Details: NOV 15th Deadline

Scholarships of up to $5,000 will be awarded to qualified applicants.

1.       Awarded scholarships are limited to one per family per semester.

2.      Applications for the fall semester will be accepted Jan. 1 through April 30.

3.      Applications for the spring semester will be accepted Aug. 1 through Nov. 15.

4.      Fall semester scholarships will be awarded in August, and spring semester scholarships will be awarded in January.

5.      Scholarships must be used by the end of the school semester for which the veteran is applying, or they will become null and void.

6.      Scholarships are restricted for tuition and fees only and will be paid directly to accredited schools.

  

I know this is a lot of information. Please feel free to contact me. I look forward to reading everyone’s activities.