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UPDATED July 19, 2010, 7: 25 A.M.
The post has a new home. AMVETS in partnership with Holiday Retirement has
embarked upon a program that will assist our nation's
veterans, especially our senior veterans. To learn more
about the benefits of being an AMVET in post 9, call
706/507/0397 or e-mail:
commander@amvetsga9.org Our first post meeting
in our new post home will be August 4, 2010. Supper will
be served at 6: P.M. This supper meeting is RSVP.
The Post Administrative offices are located on the first
floor in suite 132, as you entered the main lobby, go
past the elevator, turn left and suite 132 is the second
door on the left. VA clains and other types of
assistance by appointment by calling (706) 507/0397 or
e-mailing
commander@amvetsga9.org Walk-In appointments are
welcomed, if a PSO is available and not assisting
another veteran. Assistance is available to veterans who
are active duty law enforcement. There is no charge for
consultations and/or working a claim.
Post 9 has paid its 2010
membership in the CVVC. The commander or his designee
will be an active voting member on the CVVC board. All
post 9 members are encouraged to attend CVVC meetings.
The CVVC meets the 4th Saturday of each month at the old
welcome center at 1000 Victory Drive, Columbus, Georgia.
Next to the Naval Museum.
The following action has been
taken by the post membership:
Approved resolutions to join
the Chattahoochee Valley Veterans Council, to pay post
expenses and send two delegates to the 2010 National
Convention'
Congressional general
elections are just around the coroner. The Post
Legislative Committee will soon post it's findings on
the website about each candidate(s) stand on veterans
issues and if they are supporting veterans. AMVETS
Post 9 does not currently have a political action
committee, as our VFW sister organization does so we
don't endorse candidates. The Post Legislative
Committee can only post the voting records and or views
on the issues that may impact our members or veterans in
general. It is very important that our members
understand that veterans should not vote for or against
a candidate, because of their party affiliation but how
they vote or stand on issues effecting our veterans. As
veterans, we must stay educated on the issues and who
supports us and who doesn't Veterans are one of the
largest voting blocks in the political arena.
GOVERNOR SIGNS PTSD LICENSE
BILL INTO LAW.
In the face of strong
opposition by Georgia's veterans, the governor ignored
our concerns about the possible adverse impact this law
could have on Georgia's Veterans. As Post Commander, I
urge our members and the veterans at-large to review the
article by Lily Gordon, Staff Reporter for the Columbus
Ledger-Enquirer. Click on the below links to read:
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2010/06/10/1152805/gov-perdue-signs-ptsd-license.html
http://www.wtvm.com/Global/story.asp?S=12561832
Please pay careful attention
to the comments of some of our local senate delegation
and to other veterans advocates such as the GDOVA and
the Chattahoochee Valley Veterans Council. We must hold
our politicians accountable, when they ignore our
concerns on issues that impact veterans. Not one member
of the Columbus Legislative Delegation called any
spokesperson for any Columbus veterans organization to
get their input on SB-419.
We recommend that no Georgia
Veteran have this PTSD designation placed on their
Georgia Drivers License. Call 706/507/0397 or email:
commander@amvetsga9.org for consultation on this
issue.
Senate Bill 419 is signed by
the Governor.
AMVETS Post 9, the Southern
States Police and Veterans Coalition and the
Chattahoochee Valley Veterans Council opposed the bill
and asked the governor to veto the bill until the issue
could be studied more for any adverse impact that the
law might have on Georgia's veterans. The Georgia
Department of Veterans Affairs also opposed the bill.
The legislation was introduced and sailed through both
houses before any veterans organization was aware of it.
General Poythress (RET) also opposed the bill and wrote
the governor urging him to veto the bill. The governor a
USAF veteran signed the bill anyway. The law concerns
Veterans with PTSD. Until we can make a determination on
any adverse impact this law may have on this class of
veterans, we urge any veteran diagnosed with a PTSD
disability not to agree to have this notation made a
part of his or her drivers license information.
Veterans are encouraged to
contact the Post 9 Commander or the Post 9 Judge
Advocate (Post Attorney) for consultation on this law.
706/507/0397.
The Commander attended the 64th
annual Department Convention held in Valdosta on June
4-6-2010. A convention report will be made at the June
Post Meeting.
VA CLAIMS ASSISTANCE:
New claims keep coming into the
post. Post 9 is currently monitoring 25 cases that have
been referred
to our Georgia AMVETS NSO (National Service Office).
NEW MEMBERS
The Post has joined 10 new
members, since June. The commander would
like for each post member to sign up at least one new
member prior to September 2010. All new applicants will receive the
remainder of the 2010 year dues free. The membership
will not be processed until the 2011 membership year
begins in September. Therefore, they won't be billed
again until September 2011. Life Memberships are not
effected.
HB-674: The Georgia Senate VM&HS
Committee
chaired by Senator John Douglas of the 17th favorably passed HB-674 out of committee. However the
Senate Rules Committee Chaired by Senator Don Balfour of
the 9th failed to place HB-674 on the calendar so the
full senate could vote on the bill. By not acting on
this important legislation, the senate leadership failed
to aid Georgia's veterans, police and other civic
organizations who depend on bingo to fund their programs
and services to their members and their communities
through out Georgia. Contact your senator and tell him or her that this legislation is vital to
our programs and services for veterans. Ask him or her
to support this legislation, when it is reintroduced in
the 2011 session of the Georgia General Assembly. Use this link to contact
your senator:
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/senate/senatelist.php
We sincerely thank the Georgia
House leadership and members who introduced, supported
and passed HB-674 in support of Georgia's police,
veterans and other civic organizations. Please follow
this link to track who supported us and who did not:
http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/votes/hv0283.htm
AMVETS Leadership
Conference, Pigeon Forge, TN a success. See
www.amvets.org for
details
The CVVC (Chattahoochee
Valley Veterans Council) held its monthly meeting on
June 26,
2010. The commander has placed membership in the
CVVC by Post 9 on the agenda calendar for the post's
June meeting. Having attended two prior meetings on
revitalizing the CVVC, Saturday's meeting appeared to be
very productive. Post 9 Commander Richards believes that
CVVC is headed in the right direction on several fronts.
Legislative/Governmental Affairs has been placed on the
front burner. The CBLS setting forth the organization
structure is being drafted with the input from both the
CVVC's old new members. As this old organization becomes
revitalized with new programs and services, look for
positive action benefiting our veterans of not only the
Chattahoochee Valley but all of Georgia's veterans.
Maybe, if the CVVC is successful in its goals and
objectives that a similar organization can take root in
other areas of Georgia. As one leader said at the
meeting "there is power in numbers.
VETERANS PARADE
NOVEMBER 14, 2009
AMVETS Post 9 and DAV
Chapter 56 and St. Mathews BSA, Troop 2 participated in
rhe veterans parade held on Saturday November 14, 2009.
The parade was a great success. The Commanders of both
DAV Chapter 56, AMVETS Post 9 and the Scoutmasters
of St. Mathews Troop 2 wish to express their
sincere appreciation to our sponsors who assisted our
effort with this event. We thank Mr. Emanuel Jones,
President and CEO and Lloyd Yancey, General Manager of
Legacy Chevrolet, Columbus for loaning the float
vehicle. Mr. Jones served as a Captain in the U.S. Army.
We thank him for his continued service and support of
veterans. We also wish to thank Trailers & Hitches
of Columbus for their support of this event. We
urge all veterans
and the public to support these sponsors, as they have
supported veterans.
TRICARE BENEFITS UNDER THE PROPOSED
HEALTHCARE ACT:
The following links were
provided by Nils Juarez Palma to Post 9, during its 2009 annual Clover Drive
@ Fort Benning on 23-24 October. The links represent two different views on the healthcare issue.
ht
www.military.com/news/article/congressmans-fight-to-protect-tricare.html
h
www.diversityinc.com/content/1757/article/6210/?5_Myths_About_Healthcare_Reform
AMVETS 2010 ANNUAL
CLOVER LEAF DRIVE.
AMVETS Post 9 GA and AMVETS
Post 57 AL will hold joint Clover Leaf Drives during
2010.
PHENIX CITY, ALABAMA Post 57
Commander Gerald L. Webber 334/614/4242 or e-mail: commanderamvetspost57@gmail.com
ATHENS, ALABAMA AMVETS
MIMS - RUSSELL POST 21 RECEIVES CHARTER.
Commander Larry D. Stark
256/444/1411 or email: lstark7376@charter.net
The Georgia SEC approved a new Charter for
Post 221 in Holly Springs, Georgia.
(18) Posts were represented
at this 2nd quarter session of 2009.
EDWARD M. KENNEDY WAS AN
AMVET. Click on the link on the home page and read about
his military service and his support of veterans.
VA will add almost 300,000 CAT 8 veterans to the VA eligibility
healthcare system.
Click here for more Information |
