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POST/DEPT HIGHLIGHTS (Best Practices)
This page will highlight successful and unique community-service projects. If your post or department would like to share the details of a project or activity that would qualify as a “Best Practice” concept, we would love to pass it along to other posts. We'll even include a photograph if it is of the quality necessary for digital reproduction.
What qualifies as a “Best Practice” project?
- Did it provide a service to our veterans/active military or meet a community need?
- Did it involve more than just a few members?
- Did it lead to positive exposure for AMVETS?
- Did it identify and facilitate new members joining your post?
- Can you reproduce the good results again?
- Did you put the plan on paper and archive it for use again?
Submit a brief outline, and if available, an “action” photo of the activity in progress. Send to the National Programs Department. Strive to include in your photographs; banners, flags and/or clothing that identifies the activity as being sponsored or conducted by AMVETS. AADAA (AMVETS Against Drugs and Alcohol Abuse)
The purpose of this program is to help keep youth drug free. Every child in America is at risk of using drugs, regardless of race, ethnicity or economic status. The program features an annual National Essay/Poem and Poster Contest. Each state (Department) may conduct their own competition and then submit their winners for competition at the National level. Featured below are the winner of the 2004 AMVETS Department of Pennsylvania competition. All students are from the Ben Franklin School in Uniontown, Pa. The theme for this year’s contest was “There is No Use for Drug Abuse.”
Below left: (front row, left to right) second place essay winner Michael Tony, first place essay winner Zachary Kodric, third place essay winner Elizabeth Lane; (back row, left to right) teacher Pat Thomas (S.A.A.D cosponsor), AMVETS AADAA State Chair Earl Roberts, teacher Jacqueline Lukachik (S.A.A.D. cosponsor).
Below right: (front row, left to right) second place poster winner Samantha Johnson, third place poster winner Jacob Cahn, first place poster winner Emily Thompson; (back row, left to right) Pat Thomas, Earl Roberts, Jacqueline Lukachik.
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ROTC Medal Program
As ROTC is now recognized as a primary source for recruiting the nation’s military officers, both high school and college-level U.S. Air Force ROTC detachments continue to make good use of the AMVETS ROTC medal program. The program offers attractive medals and certificates that are authorized by Army and Air Force regulations, and while the same regulations don’t exist for Navy or Marine Corps ROTC units, both may still participate in the program. Consisting of a medal pendant, ribbon bar and certificate (may be ordered from the National Quartermaster), the awards are presented annually to the outstanding cadet at each participating ROTC and JROTC unit. Congratulations to all young people who participate in this program and to the AMVETS members who sponsor the program. In the words of Col. Michael J. Dreadla, commander of Air Force ROTC Detachment 695 at the University of Portland (Ore.), “It means a great deal to our cadets to not only win these prestigious awards, but to have them presented by members of the programs that the awards are associated with.”
Clockwise:
Below left: M.Sgt. Johnnie Wiley, USAF (Ret.) and Tiffany Dettor of South Panola High School in Batesville, Mich.
Below right: Carl Lambert of Oregon Post 2000 (Willamina) and Elizabeth Corbin of the University of Portland in Portland, Ore.
Bottom right: Lt. Col. Kraig Evenson and Luke Bischoff of Montana State University in Bozeman, Mont.
Bottom left: Sean M. Phinney of Highland Park High School in Topeka, Kan., and Col. David K. Burke, USAF (Ret.).
Americanism Program
Honored with the AMVETS National Commander's Certificate of Excellence, Pennsylvania Post 19's (Lancaster) Americanism program involves more than 500 students from seven different schools. The program has grown over the past two decades to become a part of the local fabric of the local community.
Below Left: Auxiliary Post 19 Americanism Officer Paula Flory and AMVETS Post 19 Commander William Davis present well-deserved awards to two students.
Below Right: AMVETS National Programs Director Beryl Love (left) presents the certificate of Excellence to Davis, Flory and PNC Vaughn Brown, Sr., co-chair of Post 19's Americanism program.
Above: Lancaster Mayor Charlie Smithgall, a strong supporter of Post 19’s Americanism program, congratulates two young winners of the contest.
Right: A student from Lancaster Catholic High School participates in the 11th grade essay contest.
National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans
National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans (Portland, Oregon)
| Right: Making the rounds in the Portland, Ore., VAMC, Cub Scout John Chubinsky hands World War II veteran Ed Clark a valentine. John and his fellow scouts from Pack 198, Den 1, Billy Buffum (left) and Carson Hoffmaster, accompanied AMVETS NSO James E. Chubinsky (far left) on the visit during the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans in February. The boys went from room to room, giving in-patient veterans valentines and thanking them for their service. |
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National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans (Washington, D.C.)
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The Washington, D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center was one of hundreds of VAMCs across the country to conduct a special program as part of the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans.
Left: Paula Gorman, chief of volunteer services at the D.C. Medical Center, organized participation from local businesses, active military personnel and several veterans service organizations, including AMVETS. Department of D.C. AMVETS member Tommy Morse, Veterans Affairs Voluntary Services (VAVS) representative for the D.C. VAMC, is shown here with Gorman.
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Below: Highlights included a USO entertainment troupe performance (bottom left), casino games for hospitalized veterans (bottom right) and a VIP visit to many wards where flowers, phone cards and Valentine’s Day cards (made by local schoolchildren) were presented to the veterans.
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Contact us:
Beryl W. Love,
Programs Director
Phone: 301-683-4030
Email: blove@amvets.org
Tiffany Hilton,
Programs Associate
Phone: 301-683-4031
Email: thilton@amvets.org
Programs Coordinated or Adminstered by National Headquarters:
• Americanism
• AMVETS Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse (AADAA)
• AMVETS White Clover
• Armed Services Blood
Program (ASBP)
• Boy Scouts of America
• Ceremonial Rifles
• Citizens Flag Alliance
• Freedoms Foundation Youth
Leadership Conference
• Military Funeral Honors (AP3)
• Make a Difference
• National Coalition for
Homeless Veterans (NCHV)
• National Guard -
Memorandum of Understanding
• ROTC
• Scholarships
• Special Olympics
• Task Force DVD
• Veterans Affairs Voluntary Services (VAVS)
• Veterans History Project
Some of the other Programs Supported by posts at the local level:
www.amvets.org/NewAMVETSsite/
• American Red Cross
• Bone Marrow Foundation
• Girl Scouts USA
• Habitat for Humanity
• National Center for missing & exploited childern
• National Transplant Society
Be A Quality Post
ON-TIME REVALIDATION
Revalidation completed by July 15
MEMBERSHIP
Renewed at or greater membership strength than the previous year.
PROGRAMS REPORTING
Reported programs for the preceding June and December
COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS
Provided community service in a number specific areas.
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