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Saturday
September
19, 2009
0700 to 1500
at the Richards Street Armory
This picture is of Jan Zehren,
teacher at Shorewood Intermediate School and students Maggie Higgins,
Johnna Odon and Audrey Peterson
presenting a check to Stand Down Treasurer Renee Krueger and
Colonel John Schroeder from the
National Guard. They collected boxes of items along with change to
make
a change for "Homeless Veterans"
at the Veterans Day Assemblies at the Shorewood School District.
February 28, 2009 Stand Down
Photos by Dick and Jane Glaser
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Next Meeting
Date
July 7,
2009
3pm
Wisconsin
Veterans Stand Down, Inc.
Meeting
Agenda
July 7,
2009 at 3:00 pm at the National Guard Armory
Minutes
June 2,
2009 Meeting
Meeting called to order by Vice President Robert Hawkins
in the absence of President Greg Jacobs.
The following committee members were present: ,
Sandi, Hammersly, Jesse Torres, Colonel Schroeder, Gwen Sheppard,
Barbara Gilbert, Renee Krueger, Charles Wallace and Kathleen
Hawkins.
Ray Hinojosa was present to discuss the Medical College
of WI Homeless Medical Program and to see if there might be a place
for them at Stand Down. They work with Health Care
for the Homeless. They may be able to provide something for that
group of veterans
that is not VA eligible or perhaps provide some services
that Stand Down currently does not (such as hearing or a podiatrist, etc.).
Ray and Charles will be communicating and see if
something can be worked up and it will be presented at the next meeting.
Follow up care was also a question that was raised.
Barbara Gilbert was present to talk about the Initiative
to find out what homeless veteran’s issues and concerns are instead of
the perceived issues.
She needs to get veterans together in groups and explain
this initiative so that they can fill out the information that is required.
We have identified one of the classrooms in the basement
off the kitchen that is quiet and can be used for this. However,
we need to find
some type of motivator to get the veterans down there
to fill out the survey. The suggestions were: Towels (they
have requested towels to
take with them); moving the backpacks here, or a voucher
to receive shoes from the clothing room (this would be the only way they
could get them).
Now we need to look at these or other incentives
if we can think of any that might work.
Reports
Treasurer’s Report – All the bills are in from the Feb.
Stand Down. We were up considerably in Dental Bills as those extractions
that
needed to be done were almost all medical extractions.
We have noticed a lot more veterans (both young and old) having dental
problems.
We only got one donation in. We have enough for
the next Stand Down but need to work on getting our donations up or some
type of funding.
Insurance – Through CVI – shouldn’t be any issues..
Security/Amnesty – No issues. Sheriffs need to be
contacted for the next event. Marquette’s ROTC provided security
and is looking
forward to helping in the future. We need to make
sure the Amnesty has its own walkie/talkie and stays in the area rather
than with any one person.
Barbers – MATC provided excellent service and barbers
stayed until everything was done.
Need to touch base with them for the next event.
Dental – Dr. Santilli did the exams and vouchers for MATC
and Guadalupe A lot of the extractions were of the medical nature as our
vets
get older and a lot more have dental needs. The
VA has applied for a grant for services and changes are this will go through
and help.
Dr. Santilli will be present at the next Stand Down
Optical – VAMC did the screening and vouchering was done
for glasses at Quality Optical.
We need eye glass (& cases) from 1.50 to about 2.75
with the most being right in the middle.
ID Cards – No issues. Debbie has retired and but is continuing.
Transportation – DAV had 1 van and Vets Place provided
the others. Some of the pickup points and/or times will need to be
worked on.
We need to find some individuals that would be interested
in being certified to drive the DAV vans and can help (they need
to take a course). This could help in drivers for
our event. This one area continues to be a concern.
Job Service – Stan Kogutkiewicz coordinated this.
The clothing vouchers are handed out here as are the backpacks and this
works well
with the clothing room being open first after assembly.
Potawatomi should be present again at the next event.
Food Service – VFW and American Legion continue to provide
our usual wonderful breakfasts and lunches.
We are seeing an increase in the number of participants
and need to remember this in preparation. It was also suggested that
to
go breakfasts not be issued until after everyone is served.
Vets Place cooked the steaks paid for by Stand Down funds and
the Prime Minister provides the lunch Need
to star to check on the steaks for the next event.
The American Legion has plenty of food so we are going
to discontinue the small lunch vouchers. .
The AL needs extra help with clean up down in the kitchen
area after lunch and we will need to identify volunteers for that.
The food bag lunches will be continued. We have
been talking to Panera Bread about doing the lunches for us.
We need to make sure the bag lunches are put at intake
to be distributed when the folders are turned in.
Any extra water will be distributed here.
Service Providers – There was a strong showing by our
Service Providers with positive results. WISCOSH /OSHA should be back at
the next event.
We have a list of the providers that need signs and need
to add to our information sheet, please leave signage..
We will make a note to let our Service Providers (&
volunteers) know that our current Stand Down insurance does not cover children
under 18 years of age.
We therefore request that they do not bring children.
This will be added to their initial invite letters.
We also need to add that everyone clean up their own
areas.
Sister Sgt. was a popular addition to our Service Providers and will be requested at the next event.
Toiletries – We did an inventory of our kits and we are
good for the next event. We need to always think ahead and make sure
we continue to
keep one step ahead so items are always needed.
The United Way drive is this Thursday and we asked for
shampoo and deodorant above other items.
We probably have just about enough kits made up for the
next Stand Down but need to continue to get items.
If we find a small space we can continue to make
up kits so that we are always one step ahead.
Perhaps the back of the room that is used for Amnesty
could be used to make up kits if we can’t find space elsewhere.
Soldier’s Angels is looking into the possibility of having
towels available for the veterans to take with them.
Will have to find a place for check off in the folders
and a place for that distribution.
Intake – Worked very well – no issues.
We had to replace the benches that were used in the
past with chairs, as the benches are no longer at the
Armory.
Legal Assistance – Jesse Torres coordinated this.
Judge Chavez and Justice 2000 will be present. Jesse will be finding
out the time that
the judge will be present. Jesse talked to the
Legal Aid Society and they again want to be part
of Stand Down so we need to make sure they are included.
The corridor where the judge resides needs to have signs
that say Quiet Please starting at where the corridor starts.
The room we use has a large echo. We should discourage
the vets from using the washrooms down that corridor. Also cell phones
became an issue and we are going to do signs to encourage
people to Please turn off your cell phones while at this event.
We also need to stress the fact that the judge and our
legal assistance is for the clients only.
There have been some vendors and nonclients using the
services.
This can also be put into the instructions.
Set-Up/Tear Down – Bob Hawkins and K’uu Wamubu coordinate
this. We will probably have to start using the white tables at intake
and we may need to get a few more. (Perhaps the
Armory can provide some help getting down the tables and chairs so we have
them on Friday).
We really need a lot more help with set-up if we can
find volunteers. Tear down went well as Marquette’s ROTC stayed to
help.
The crew from Great Lakes was also there to help take
items to storage.
Volunteers – Kathy & Bob Hawkins work with the volunteers.
We only have a limited number of places that we can put extra volunteers.
We must know all volunteers in advance to make sure there
is room.
If not, we have to tell them there is no spot for them.
Some volunteers work well in some places and not in others.
We have our Founder’s Award recipient identified for September. We did identify a second recipient.
Clothing – The voucher for the clothing moved to
Job Service and opening the room after Assembly works well.
This is the only small voucher we will have. The
vets normally go right from Job Service to the clothing room.
We had a lot of clothing delivered the day of. If Lands End has our clothing ready earlier, it can be stored at Vets Place until the event.
There is also a need for Large Sizes (2XL to 4XL), not
only at Stand Down but for VPC. The briefs, t’s and sock sets
and hats and gloves
or scarves are provided and coordinated via AMVETS.
These always need to be refilled after every stand down.
After taking inventory, the sizes needed are Medium and
2XL.
We have suggested that the cold weather gear be put into the folder for initialing rather than have the small voucher that is easily lost.
Medical – Worked well as usual in its new place on the drill floor.
WDVA – Vouchering was done at the event itself by Fernando Rodriguez and Jim Duff.
The next Stand Down date is confirmed – it will be Sept. 19, 2009.
Updates
Colonel Schroeder will be transferred to Madison as of
August 1. His replacement is not yet known (if it is someone here
or someone
that is overseas and will be transferred in). He
will be working with his replacement to make sure that they know
the importance of Stand Down. Colonel, you will
be sorely missed.
For those of you that were involved with Stand Down at
the very beginning – we are sorry we have to report that Jess Jespersen
has passed away.
He was found in his house and no one knows how long he
was there until someone found him. Tests are currently being done.
His son said there will be a service here in the area
sometime in the future and we will be updated on anything that is found
out.
The next meeting is July 7, 2009
PLEASE NOTE:
With our Stand Down President having medical issues, we
cannot stress to each of you that plays a role in Stand Down to provide
the information on what exactly you do and provide a
copy of the forms you may use so that we can complete the manual.
We do know exactly what role we each play in the event.
In case someone has to fill in for whatever reason, it is important that
we do this manual.
You can provide me the information in written form or
if you are more comfortable you can provide this information on tape so
that it can be transcribed.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen A. Hawkins, Secretary
Thursday, June 04, 2009
kathleen.hawkins@marquette.edu
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Veterans Helping Veterans
Media Release
For more information contact:
Film Opportunity 10 to 11 am
Greg Jacobs: (414) 902-5729
Meeting the Needs of Newly Returning
Iraq and Other Veterans
Stand Down for Homeless Veterans
Saturday September 19 , 2009
7 am – 3 pm
Richard’s Street Armory 4108
N. Richards
As in previous wars, newly returning
Iraq veterans have served well in under the most dangerous situations leaving
them
with battle related issues beyond
physical injury and disability such as Post Traumatic Stress and other
psychological disorders.
Their service may have fostered
other issues such as self-medication, alcohol and drugs, relationship and
family problems.
Returning home, possibly facing
unemployment, especially with non-transferable job skills, and these other
barriers -
that veteran may be living homeless
in Milwaukee.
Stand Down is a military term
for soldiers resting from battle, Saturday homeless veterans will be brought
from the streets of Milwaukee
County to begin recuperation
through a wide variety of services provided by the Wisconsin Stand Down
Committee: emergency housing,
medical, dental, optical, psycho-social,
post traumatic stress, legal, employment and training, alcohol and drug
treatment, clothing, toiletries,
barbering, federal, state, county
and community based veteran specific services, great breakfast served by
the Veterans of Foreign Wars
who are being honored for their
many years of service to homeless veterans, and a hot and nutritious lunch
provided by the American Legion & Auxiliary
Stand Down’s theme is “Veterans
Helping Veterans.” Volunteers from these organizations
will be helping provide a “Hand
Up-Not A Hand Out”:
WI UAW Veterans, Amer. Legion
& Auxiliary, Alcoholics Anonymous, AMVETS & Auxiliary, Amer. Liver
Foundation, Center for
Veterans Issues, Veterans of
Foreign Wars & Auxiliary, Disabled Amer. Veterans & Auxiliary,
US Army Reserve, WI National Guard,
Milw. Area Technical College,
UWM-Vets Upward Bound, Catholic War Veterans, Milw. Health Department,
Milw. Municipal Court,
Milw. NCO Council, Milw. Vet
Center, Vets Place Central, Nat. Assoc. for Black Veterans, Social Security,
VA Domiciliary,
VA Medical Center, VA Regional
Office, WI Indian Veterans Assoc.-Oneida Chapter, Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle
Club,
Vietnam Veterans of America,
WI Dept. of Veterans Affairs, WI Job Service, Milw. County Veterans Service
Office,
WI Vietnam Veterans Inc., Military
Order of the Purple Heart, Jewish War Veterans, Milw. County War Memorial
Board,
Lands End, Internal Revenue Service,
Marine Corp League of Wisconsin, the Ride to the
Wall Foundation, Paul Revere
& the Raiders and Citizen Volunteers.
DO YOU KNOW A HOMELESS OR "AT
RISK" VETERAN?
WISCONSIN VETERANS
Stand Down Rally
Wisconsin National Guard Armory
Where? 4108 North Richards Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211
Saturday September 19, 2009
7:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Veterans Helping Veterans
A Hand Up - Not A Hand Out
-Federal and State Veterans Information-
-Drug and Alcohol Treatment Information-
-Employment Information-
Together Then - Together Now
For more information contact:
WI Stand Down Voice Mail (Greg
Jacobs): 902-5729
Milwaukee County Veterans Service
Office: 382-1727
Vet's Place Central: 342-5000
Wisconsin Dept. of Veteran Affairs
(Fernando Rodriguez): 382-1756
Veterans Job Service Representatives:
Milwaukee Northside: (Stan Kogutkiewicz)
267-3233
Milwaukee Southside: (Greg
Williams) 389-6293
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Veterans Pick-up Points
Milwaukee Public Library- 10th
& Wisconsin Avenue
-South11th/Mitchell-South16th/National
-Teutonia & Capitol-
Burleigh & 27th Street- Atkinson & Capitol- North Ave & FonDuLac-
North Ave & Martin Luther King Dr-
Silver Spring & Green Bay
Rd- Burleigh & 24th Street(Moody Park)
Pick-up Only from 7:00 A.M. -
11:00 A.M.
“Veterans
Helping Veterans.”
Volunteers
from these organizations will be
helping
provide a “Hand Up-Not A Hand Out”:
WI UAW
Veterans, Amer. Legion & Auxiliary, Alcoholics Anonymous, AMVETS &
Auxiliary, Amer. Liver Foundation,
Center
for Veterans Issues, Veterans of Foreign Wars & Auxiliary, Disabled
Amer. Veterans & Auxiliary, US Army
Reserve,
WI National Guard, Milw. Area Technical College, UWM-Vets Upward Bound,
Catholic War Veterans, Milw.
Health
Department, Milw. Municipal Court,Milw. NCO Council, Milw. Vet Center,
Vets Place Central, Nat. Assoc. for
Black Veterans,
Social Security, VA Domiciliary, VA Medical Center, VA Regional Office,
WI Indian Veterans Assoc.-
Oneida
Chapter, Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club, Vietnam Veterans of America,
WI Dept. of Veterans Affairs, WI Job
Service,
Milw. County Veterans Service Office, WI Vietnam Veterans Inc., Military
Order of the Purple Heart, Jewish
War Veterans,
Milw. County War Memorial Board, Lands End, Internal Revenue Service, Marine
Corp League of
Wisconsin,
the Ride to the Wall Foundation, Paul Revere & the Raiders and Citizen
Volunteers.
Wisconsin Veterans Stand Down, Inc.
Stand Down February 28, 2009
<Break out of intake data>
STAND DOWN WISH LIST
(ON GOING)
All new items
Personal Care Item
Shampoo-Deodorant-Soap-Shave
Cream-Toothpaste
(Should be large sizes and not
travel sizes)
Please remember, the majority
of veterans we see are of the male gender
Small Kleenex packages-Disposable Razors-Combs-Toothbrushes
Wash Clothes-Reading Glasses (Different strengths)-Eyeglass cases
Undergarments (male)
(Sizes needed Medium to 4X)
Briefs-T shirts-Socks
Undergarments (female)-On a much more limited basis and assorted sizes
Briefs-Bras-Socks
Other
Backpacks-4 or 6 foot White (light)
tables
Folding chairs-Walkie Talkies
Milwaukee Stand Down
Official Web Site:
http://www.war-veterans.org/Stddwn.htm
Wisconsin Veterans
Stand Down, Inc.
Post Office
Box 170307
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 53217-8026
Dear Comrades
and Friends;
It's that time again, as you can see by the flyer enclosed it is once again
time for our semi-annual
"Stand
Down" here in Milwaukee. I promised that I would notify you of the
event-- consider yourself notified.
We have experienced many successful recoveries from the plight of homelessness
as a result of services
obtained
at "Stand Down" such as legal services provided by the volunteer lawyers
of the Justice Department,
or the
Municipal Court Judge who donates his time and services in the form of
granting amnesty to individuals
with issues
like traffic and civil violations allowing these veterans to return to
society. It was reported that do
to the
services provided by an IRS agent this past February as much as $40,000
was saved and refunded to
veterans
that would have not known they had money coming. Combined with other
services offered through
"Stand
Down" these veterans re-establish themselves in the work force and once
again provide for themselves
and their
families in much the same manner as you and I often take for granted.
Thank you in advance for your interest and involvement in this program
of service to our less-fortunate
comrades
in their time of need. Wisconsin Stand Down, Inc. is a non-profit
organization registered in the state
with no
paid staff. All the staff and service providers at 'Stand Down" are
volunteers so any and all tax-deductible
contributions
go directly to the veteran in need, and when combined with the services
and supplies that are donated
provide
maximum service at minimum costs. If you can provide a service that
would be needed at "Stand Down"
and would
like to participate as a volunteer, or would like to attend the "Stand
Down" as an "observer" let us know.
If you
are unable to attend but would like to financially contribute to this cause
your donations will be greatly
appreciated
and put to good use to purchase some of the items we do not get donated
such as eyeglasses,
dental
work, toiletry articles and bus tickets etc.
Thank you again for showing that you indeed do:
"Care Enough to Make a Difference!"
Sincerely yours in appreciation;
Greg Jacobs, President
Wisconsin Veterans Stand Down, Inc.
Weekday phone: (414) 902-5729
Evenings/Weekends: (414) 527-1271
Fax: (414)
902-5403
Wisconsin Veterans Stand Down, Inc.
Post Office box 170307
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53217-0307
What is a “Stand Down”?
Many
of our friends and comrades have been asking this question in the Milwaukee
area in recent years
so we will try to shed some light
on the most recent application of the term.
During
a “Stand Down” soldiers are removed from the field of combat for rest and
recreation. Homeless and at-risk
veterans in this country are
not unlike soldiers in combat, living in the field (streets), surviving
by their wits with limited
rations and enduring very unfavorable
living conditions. Every day they must continue to do battle.
Their adversaries
are lack of housing, unemployment,
physical and emotional hardships and hopelessness.
Today’s
version of a “Stand Down” is designed and intended to bring a wide array
of pre-existing specialized resources
together at one location and
to provide a comprehensive therapeutic program to homeless and at-risk
veterans that integrates
employment, housing, medical,
legal and a broad range of social services.
Studies
have concluded that veterans appear to be at-risk of homelessness for much
the same reasons as other Americans.
Socioeconomic structural
factors have largely been responsible for the increased numbers of homeless
people.
Personal vulnerabilities such
as poverty and mental illness have influenced the type of individual that
becomes at risk
of homelessness. These studies
also estimate that as many as 40% of the homeless men in America are combat
trained veterans.
The current “Stand Down” concept has six basic goals:
1. To provide a “hand-up”,
not a “hand-out” for immediate relief from the trauma and stress of homelessness.
2. To provide access
to services and assistance in the area of employment, clothing, matters
of hygiene, medical/dental exams etc.
3. To provide access
to longer term solutions like Department of Veteran Affairs benefits, employment
opportunities, medical /legal
assistance and other social services.
4. To build and maintain
strong long-term interagency and community working relationships.
5. To continue to
raise community and state awareness of the plight of the homeless and at-risk
veterans to develop long term solutions.
6. To encourage and
aid in the replication of this program in our community and other cities
across the state.
Now that
you have a better idea of the current application of the term “Stand Down”
we are hoping that you
will join us in educating the
public and help lessen, if not eliminate the plague
that is infecting veterans and
their families in our community.
Wisconsin Veterans Stand Down
Inc.
Post Office box 170307
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53217-0307
Dear Friends and Comrades:
On behalf
of the Wisconsin Veterans Stand Down committee we are seeking your financial
support for the
funding of our on-going services
to homeless and at risk veterans in our area. At our two Stand Down’s
held in 2008
we helped to provide aid and
comfort to over 300 veterans in the Milwaukee area. This was just
a small segment of
the homeless veteran population
in our city; there is a much larger population of veterans that are at
risk of becoming
homeless if something is not
done now. Our last “Stand Down” was held on September 20, 2008
at the Richards Street
National Guard Armory 4108 North
Richards Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At this Stand Down we served
over 120
needy veterans and their families,
providing various services including providing eyeglasses and dental services
for
homeless or at-risk veterans.
In addition to the aforementioned services we fed over 300 participants
and volunteers
through the generous donations
given to our program by concerned individuals and organizations like you
throughout the state.
We are
currently in the planning stage for our next Stand Down to be held February
28, 2009 once again at the
Richards Street National Guard
Armory in Milwaukee. We are still in need of financial assistance
so that we can provide
hot and nutritious meals, toilet
articles, eye exams, glasses, much needed dental work, work boots and other
items such
as bus passes to get to job interviews
etc. It is our hope that you, your organizations, members and friends
will be able to help us in this
important endeavor.
We are
deeply grateful for whatever assistance you can provide. If you have
any questions
please feel free to call me for
further details.
Sincerely Yours in Comradeship;
Greg Jacobs, President
Weekday phone: (414) 902-5729
Evenings/Weekends: (414) 902-5403
E-MAIL Address:
jacobg@dwd.state.wi.us
(or) gjacobs3@wi.rr.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please complete and return this
form and your tax deductible check to:
Wisconsin Veterans Stand Down
Inc.
PO box 170307
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53217-8026
From: _________________________
Contact Person: ___________________________
Address: __________________________
City: _____________ State: ____ Zip: ______
Yes,
we would like to help. Here is our check for:
( ) $20
( ) $30 ( ) $40
( ) $50 ( ) $75 (
) $100 ( ) other $__________
Thank you on behalf of the Stand
Down Committee and needy veterans of our community.
Wisconsin Veterans
Stand Down, Inc.
CONTACT
GREG JACOBS
Doc's Email
VISIT DOC'S SITES BELOW
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