Stand
Down
Saturday
September
20, 2008
0700 to
1500 at the Richards Street Armory




Next
Meeting Date
June 3, 2008
Wisconsin
Veterans Stand Down, Inc.
Meeting
Agenda
June
3, 2008
Wisconsin
Veterans Stand Down, Inc.
MINUTES
May
6, 2008
Meeting called to order by President Greg Jacobs. The following
committee members were present: Mike Malloy,
Gwen Sheppard, K’uu Wamubu, Ray Christensen, Bruce A. Campbell, Jesse
Torres, William Sims, Robert Hawkins and Kathleen Hawkins.
Reports
Treasury looks good. All the bills may not yet in for the
February Stand Down.
A couple more donations have come in.
Insurance – Through CVI. No issues.
Security/Amnesty – Mike Malloy coordinated Amnesty and it worked well.
Deputy Al Moe from the Sheriffs Dept.
will be retiring soon but he did bring someone that will continue to
provide security and that worked out well.
Barbers – MATC provided hair cuts and as usual did an excellent job.
Certificates have been sent and well received.
Dental – Dr. Santilli was there and vouchering was done for dental work.
We need to discuss and adjust the system
for vouchering so we don’t miss the vets that are eligible for grants.
Some are going up in $$
in large numbers so we really need to be aware of this.
Optical – We had our usual screening for glasses and things worked out
well. We did have a couple with late vouchers
for services, they do have a cut off date. Not all followed through
on the vouchers they received either which is a bit of a concern.
ID Cards – No issues.
Transportation – Our new contacts from DAV were at the meeting from
DAV Transportation, that is Bruce Campbell
and Ray Christensen. We need to work out structured pick
up times at the locations which will help. The library does
not yield us any takers anymore but we want to check whether St. James
(across the street) will let us use that site.
We will most likely need 3 DAV vans and one from vets place (they only
have 1 driver).
K’uu will coordinate all this with the DAV.
Job Service – Stan Kogutkiewicz coordinates this. A lot more vets see
job service because they not only get backpacks
but also have to go to Job Service to be able to go to the clothing
room. It was suggested that not only the backpacks
but the clothing vouchers be handed out here and then everyone knows
they have been to see Job Service (a real important
reason to come to Stand Down). We need also to check our supply
of backpacks and see if more need to be purchased.
Food Service – VFW and American Legion provided our usual wonderful
breakfast and lunch.
Vets Place cooks the steaks for us and the Prime Minister provides
the lunch meal. We need to check with the VFW and
see if it would help them out if we provide a couple of volunteers
to work with them at breakfast. The DOL Grant from the
American Legion helps provide the extra lunch. The grant will
be administered by Post 448 in the future per discussion
with State Adjutant by Greg. The steaks will be paid for out
of the grant also.
The bag lunches always go over well. We do though need to get
a few more/different items for them with a little more sustenance.
We already have the volunteers that will be doing the bag lunches.
Service Providers – There was a strong showing by our Service Providers
with positive results. The providers seemed to stay longer this time.
The changed layout seemed to work very well.
Toiletries – It is time to restock all our items, esp. toothpaste, shampoo
and deodorant. We always need razors, soap,
shave cream & powder, toothpaste, small Kleenex, and toothpaste
(all regular sizes). We seem to have a lot of toothbrushes
right now. We need to remember that a majority of our vets are
male and get those types of items. We need to find out
where the form is from United Way so when they have their distribution,
we get the items we need.
Intake – Worked very well – no issues.
Legal Assistance – Jesse Torres coordinated this. Judge Chavez
& Mosley provided. Judge Chavez stayed until the end
and took care of a lot of issues. Justice 2000 is also a great
help. It will be the same group for the next Stand Down with
Judge Mosley being there only part of the time. Hopefully, we
can have someone there from the Driver’s License
reinstatement program and if we can’t have as much information as possible
there.
Set-Up/Tear Down – Bob Hawkins and K’uu Wamubu coordinated this.
An excellent job by all those that helped out.
Hopefully we can get Great Lakes to come down and help again with tear
down. Don’t know how we could have done it without them.
We need to purchase about 20 more tables and we should be good.
We can coordinate
with Colonel Schroeder for them to be delivered at the armory.
Volunteers – Kathy & Bob Hawkins work with the volunteers.
We still have at times too many volunteers but that is
getting better as volunteers now know they should ask first and see
if we have places for them.
Nomination of Officers was held. Elections to be held at the next
meeting.
Here are those that were nominated:
President: Gregory Jacobs by Gwen Sheppard
Vice President: Robert Hawkins by Mike Malloy
Secretary: Kathleen Hawkins by K’uu Wamubu
Treasurer: Renee Krueger by K’uu Wamubu
Board of Directors:
Jesse Torres
K’uu Wamubu
George Martin
Karyl Richson (all returning to the board)
New to board:
Mike Malloy
Gwen Sheppard
Clothing – The voucher for the clothing will be moved to Job Service
and opening the room after Assembly was an
excellent idea and works well. VPC takes care of the clothing
room and the National Guard picks up the clothing at
Lands End and delivers. We need to make sure the tags from now
on are cut out of the Lands End clothing since some
have tried to return them. This has to be done on Friday (due
to time constraints) so we have to have plenty of volunteers.
The American Legion DOL Grant is also helping us supplement with shoes
and other items we need. There is also a need for
Large Sizes (2XL to 4XL), not only at Stand Down but for VPC.
We are encouraging the clothing donated to be new or just gently used.
This will help all concerned if we can do that.
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. When the storage unit
is inventoried, we will know what we have.
The sizes are M thru 6XL.
We do need to move on getting another storage unit close to the first
one. People keep donating items
or we keep getting items and have no where to go with them.
Medical – Worked well as usual. The new location did not pose
any problems. We talked about perhaps
adding audiology screening and a podiatrist in the future.
These seem to be two of the issues that the veterans could really use
help with.
WDVA – Worked with DSO Office assistant vets with claims and paperwork
for ANV grant.
Just need to pay closer attention to who is eligible for this grant.
The date for the next Stand Down is September 20, 2008.
Next Meeting Date is Tuesday, June 3 at 3:00 p.m. at the Armory.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen A. Hawkins, Secretary
Thursday, May 08, 2008
kathleen.hawkins@marquette.edu
Stand Down
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
20, 2008 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.
“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.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Web Site:
http://www.war-veterans.org/Stddwn.htm
Next Stand
Down: September 20 , 2008
Next Meeting
Date: (May 6 , 2008) 3PM @ Armory.
Web Site
http://www.war-veterans.org/Stddwn.htm
2008
Board
of Directors
President
> Greg Jacobs
Vice President
> Bob Hawkins
Treasurer
> Renee Krueger
Secretary
> Kathy Hawkins
Board of
Directors
Karyl Richson
Dave Kurtz
Dan Cadotte
Jesse Torres
George Martin
Kuu Wamubu
Mike Malloy
Aubrey James
Wisconsin Veterans Stand
Down, Inc.
<Stand Down February
23, 2008
<Break out of intake
data>
Total Veterans Registered at Intake: 108
Gender: Male: 101 / Female: 07
Transportation: Came in by van: 32 /Walk-in: 76
Racial Breakdown:
Black: 88/ White: 19/ Hispanic01/
Native American-01/ Other:
0
Marital Status:
Single: 52 Married: 11/ Divorced:
32/ Separated: 09/ Widower04
Housing:
On Own: 25 / VA/VPC:06
Friend/Relative: 41 Street: 08/
Shelter28
Employment:
Unemployed: 95/ Working: 13 /
Looking for work: Yes: 52 / No:
56
Education Level:
GED/HS Grad: 84/ Less
than HS: 06 /2YR Deg.: 11
/4YR Deg: 07
Number of Stand Downs Attended:
First Stand Down: 56 Second Stand Down
14 / Attended Three or More Stand Downs:
38
On Disability:
SCD under 30%: 05/ SCD over 30%:16 /
Pending: 08 / NSCD:
29/ Int. in Filing for SCD: 30
Branch of Service:
Army: 71 /Marines: 19 / Navy: 10
/Air Force: 08/ Coast Guard: 0
Service Era:
WWII Era: 01 / Korean Era: 04 / Vietnam Era: 57
/ Gulf War Era: 05/ Peacetime:
41
Total Non-Veterans: 09
Gender: Female: 05 Male: 04
Spouse of Vet Served: 03/ Child of Vet Served:03/
Relative of Vet : 02 Guest of Vet Served: 01
Data from Stand Down
February 23, 2008
Total Number of Participating Volunteers Registered: 256
Clinic Report
Eligibility and registration, mental health screening section ---65
Unique SS# seen @ Stand Down ---08
Blood Pressure Screening----32
Blood Glucose Readings-----30
TB Tests given ----37
TB Tests Read------35
TB Tests w/positive reading ---- 0
Medical
Eye exams done @ Stand Down ---- 43
Veteran Vouchers for glasses: -----16
Veterans provided reading glasses @ Stand Down: -----30
Dentist
Dental Screenings done @ Stand Down ---31
Veterans Vouchers for dental work -----21
Job Service Report
# of Veterans that received services by Job Service Vet Staff at
Stand Down 64
# of Veterans that were registered in a Job Center office that had
not seen Vet Staff 11
# of Veterans not registered with a Job Center that were provided
job search information 39
# of job referrals at Stand Down 04
# of bus tickets passed out at Stand Down for Veterans to get to
Job Service 27
Legal
Veterans seen by judge @ Stand Down----36
Veterans’ Warrants “lifted” by judge @ Stand Down-----08
Commitments withdrawn by judge @ Stand Down------02
Veterans given referrals to Justice 2000 Court Alternatives Program
for follow up----07
Social Security
Veterans requesting other benefit information----20
MATC Barbers
Haircuts given @ Stand Down-----47
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
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
When? September
20, 2008
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)
438-2019
Milwaukee Southside: (Greg Williams)
389-6293
WISCONSIN VETS STAND DOWN WEB PAGE: http://www.war-veterans.org/Stddwn.htm
(Donated & Maintained by Jeff (Doc) Dentice)
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
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 2006 we helped to provide aid and
comfort to over 350 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 February 24, 2007 at the Richards Street National Guard
Armory 4108 North Richards Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
At this Stand Down we served nearly 150 needy veterans, 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 September 22, 2007 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) jacobg3@aol.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.
Post Office box 170307
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53217-8026
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.
CONTACT
GREG
JACOBS
WISCONSIN VETS STAND
DOWN WEB PAGE
http://www.war-veterans.org/Stddwn.htm
Courtesy of
Jeff (Doc) Dentice)
Doc's
Email
VISIT DOC'S SITES BELOW