BUDGET DETAILS, CONT.

5.)  Estimates fewer returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan being served by the VA in 2007. However, a GAO audit has found the Bush Administration's budget numbers on veterans' health care to be unreliable based on previous year's projections.

6.)  Continues to deny VA health care funding for new (priority 8) veterans. Lack of funding since 17 JAN 03 has prevented 1 million veterans, who make as little as $26,902 a year, from enrolling in VA health care.
7.)  Funds 17,100 fewer Army National Guard and 5,000 fewer Army Reserves than are authorized by law.
8.)  Lacks funding that would allow repeal of the Disabled Veterans Tax, which forces disabled military retirees to give up one dollar of their pension for every dollar of disability pay they receive. The budget continues to require nearly 400,000 military retirees with service-connected disabilities to continue to pay the Tax.
9.)  Lacks funding that would allow ending the Military Families' Tax. The Survivor Benefit Plan penalizes
survivors, mostly widows, of those killed as a result of combat. These widows lose their survivor benefits if they receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits because their spouse has died of a service-connected injury. The President's budget forces these 53,000 spouses to continue to pay this unfair tax, even though these families have made the greatest sacrifice for our country.
10.)  Increase of 14% for Mental health services is inadequate to meet growing need for Iraqi veterans. An Army study shows that about one in six soldiers in Iraq report symptoms of major depression, serious anxiety or post- traumatic stress disorder, and some experts predict that the number eventually requiring mental health treatment could exceed 170,000. According to a 27 JAN 06 UPI report up to one-third of Iraq war veterans are suffering from some degree of PTSD
11.)  Decreases by $13 million the funding of medical and prosthetic research.  This would set the research grant program back years, just as many troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are coming home with injuries that require this expertise.
[Source: U.S. Newswire 24 FEB 06 ++]

ARE YOU BETWEEN 18-63 (MAYBE 70)??
WANT TO GET BACK INTO THAT UNIFORM?

     You can!  The California State Military Reserve wants you! The job of the SMR is to provide support and training to the CA National Guard.  There is no risk of overseas deployment.  The SMR soldiers are serving as base security, running State HQ, and other State Active duty positions.  Usually the SMR volunteers are not deployed outside CA, but about 77 were activated for the first out of state deployment to help with the Katrina response.  Currently there are about 600 men and women in the SMR, they are looking to raise the ranks to 3000.  There is no physical training, just be able to qualify to perform the duties, disability waivers are available.  If you want more information, call Major Rick Lalor at:  562-795-2898, e-mail:  richard.lalor1@us.army.mil or check the website at www.calguard.ca.gov/casmr.  Member John Madri belongs to the SMR.

    CONSERVATORSHIP LEGISLATION, CONT.

Third, the legislation will require that private conservators are subject to real standards by requiring that they be fully licensed and regulated by the Department of Consumer Affairs.  The Attorney General will have the power to enforce those regulations and requirements, and prosecute conservators who steal from and mistreat those they are charged with protecting.
       But a system that regulates private conservators is not enough.  My legislation will also prevent abusive practices by establishing statewide, uniform standards on what conservators can do, including standards for fees, standards for managing assets, and tightening up requirement for bonding of conservators.  These requirements will apply to all conservators.  These requirements will apply to all conservators, including family members, and friends who take on this role.
     I am also seeking to increase both the resources and the responsibilities of the Public Guardian in each county.  The Public Guardian's Office is responsible for overseeing the affairs of low-income seniors and other adults unable to manage for themselves.  But, public guardians too often turn away seniors due to lack of resources.  My bill will require that the Public Guardian take the cases of all needy adults who met the criteria for services, and will increase funding for the Public Guardian by permitting them to take certain middle-income cases, with established fee scales.
     Finally, this bill will create a true system of checks and balances by establishing independent oversight of the entire conservatorship system through a Conservatorship Ombudsman within the Department of Again.  The ombudsman will be charged with investigating and resolving complaints of abuse made by, or on behalf of, conservatees.  It will be a place that caring family and friends could turn for help.  If the ombudsman existed today, many of the shocking stories of abuse that we have read and heard about could have been prevented.
     It is unconscionable that these abuses have been allowed to occur for too long.  AB1363 is wholesale reform of the conservatorship system in California today, from top to bottom, designed to prevent harm to our parents, our friends and our seniors and allow them to enjoy what should be their golden years.
     If you have a story to tell about a conservatorship, or are interested in supporting this legislation, I hope you will contact my district office at 916-324-4676 or assemblymember.jones@assembly.ca.gov.
   

Note:  This legislation can be important for Veterans because many of our disabled Veterans have conservators assigned to them.  While the conservator is appointed by the VA and must fit the criteria and requirements of the VA, this doesn't necessarily mean that the Veteran is being served well by the conservator and the same abuses as described above can also be happening to Veterans.  The possibility exists that "conservators" can be acting for non-Veterans and Veterans alike at the same time.  So, if the law is enacted, there will be public access to the names of those conservators that are determined by the system to be abusive, etc.  This would be a check and balance situation to make sure that our Veteran "conservatees" and their affairs are being taken care of properly. 

CHAPTER ELECTIONS

     It's time to nominate our 2006-2007 Officers and Board Members.  The elections will be held at the General Meeting in April.  The only qualifications are that you be willing to do the job and are a paid-up member of the Chapter.  You also have to be a paid up member to vote.  Yes, it normally does mean one more meeting a month.    The Officers to be elected are:  President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.  There are three Board Members to be elected. Another office that must be filled is the AVVA representative.  This person of course comes from the AVVA members. Per the VA constitution the Officers' duties are as such:
President:   shall be the chief executive officer of the Chapter and shall, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, supervise and control all of the business affairs and property of the Chapter, and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The President shall preside at all meetings of the members and of the Board, and shall appoint all chairpersons of committees, except the Chairperson of the Nominating Committee.
Vice-President:  In the absence of the Chapter President, or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, the Vice President, or in the event that there be more than one (1) Vice President, the Vice Presidents in the order designated, shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of, and be subject to, all the restrictions upon the President. The Vice Presidents shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the death, removal, or resignation of the President, the Vice President shall assume the position of the President for the remainder of his or her term.
Secretary:  shall record all the proceedings of the meetings of the Board of Directors, and of the members, in a book kept for that purpose, and shall perform like duties for the Executive Committee when required. He or she shall give or cause to be given, notice of all meetings for which notice is required by this Constitution, and shall operate under the supervision of and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the President. In the event of a conflict, the Secretary shall act pursuant to the instructions of the Board. The Secretary shall obtain and have custody of a corporate seal for the Chapter if required by law. The Secretary or Assistant Secretary shall have the authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it, and when so affixed it may be attested by the signature of the Secretary or such Assistant Secretary. The Board may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Chapter and to attest the fixing by his or her signature. The Secretary shall be responsible for the safe-keeping of all DD Forms 214 or other acceptable forms of proof of military service tendered to him or her by any member. He or she shall forward to the office of the Corporation a copy of said form for each duly elected officer and director. The Assistant Secretary, if there be one, shall, in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary, and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board may from time to time prescribe.
                         Continued in the next column..................................

ELECTION INFORMATION, CONT.

Treasurer:  shall have charge and custody of all funds and securities of the Chapter and all funds and securities in any way generated, collected, or obtained in connection with Chapter activities; and the Treasurer shall be responsible for such funds and securities and the receipt and disbursement thereof. He or she shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Chapter and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name of, and to the credit of, the Chapter in such depositories as may be designated by the Board.  The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Chapter as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the President and the Board at its annual meeting, or when the Board, the President, or the Corporation so require, an accounting of all transactions as Treasurer, of the financial condition of the Chapter, in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
Board of Directors: shall be responsible for the control and management of the affairs, property, and interests of the Chapter; for keeping the Corporation advised of all activities of the Chapter; for complying with all reporting requirements established by this Constitution, the rules, resolutions, or directives of the Corporation, or any local, state or Federal law; and for guiding and administering the Chapter so that the purposes, principles, and goals of the Corporation, as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation, and the rules, resolutions, and directives of the Corporation are followed; and for making suggestions and recommending programs.
     There is also a Nominating Committee of three that must be elected.  A State Delegate to the CA State Council must be elected.  This individual must be willing to attend the Council meetings every quarter in Fresno and report of activities be made to the Chapter. 
     After a President is elected, he will choose Committee Chairs for our various committees.  A list of committees and descriptions will be distributed at the March and April meetings, and will be published in the May newsletter.  Members can review them and decide if they would like to be a chair or join a committee of interest.
     OK, everyone, don't panic.  All of these duties seem like a lot of work that you don't have time for.  That's where you Executive Director come in.  Other than the Treasurer duties, the Executive Director under the direction of the Board handles the administrative duties of the Chapter.  So, don't be afraid to run for any office you would like and become an active member of the Chapter.  Also don't be afraid to nominate someone for any position.  They are contacted upon nomination and have the choice of accepting the nomination or not.  By the way, elections are by secret ballot.  And, we won't tell them who nominated them.

 
     SO, CALL THE OFFICE, 916-481-6020 OR E-MAIL AT vva500@sbcglobal.net YOUR NOMINATIONS.  YOU CAN ALSO NOMINATE YOURSELF!