Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Veterans Curation Project: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs


The award-winning Veterans Curation Project continues to gain national attention. The innovative training and employment program for Iraq and Afghanistan returnees was recently featured in Soldier Magazine. The Veterans Curation Project was started first-in-the-nation in Augusta, GA in collaboration with the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Warrior Transition Battalion (Fort Gordon), the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, the Department of Labor, and the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project.

Veterans (and uniquely in Augusta, active duty soldiers in the Warrior Transition Battalion) take part in training, learning how to curate, perserve, inventory, and photograph artifacts, and scan related records. In addition to the curation and computer skills, veterans and soldiers also gain confidence in their abilities, themselves, and enjoy meaningful work in a supportive environment.

The House of Representatives has voted to expand funding for this innovative program. It still needs Senate approval.

To see the article on the VCP, click here: http://www.army.mil/-news/2010/11/01/47087-veterans-curation-project-those-who-make-history-help-preserve-it/

Thursday, October 7, 2010

KISS Supports Wounded Warriors




The most storied rock group in history supported the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project this year at every stop along their North American tour. This photo is from the wrap up concert in Fontana, California, and shows the band presenting a check for $501,018 to the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project. Thank you KISS!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Star Note for the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project


The CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project received a star note from BG Jeff Foley, now the former commanding general of Fort Gordon, this year. The note from June of 2010 states, "To the Members of the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project: I take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks for the outstanding support you provide to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines and their families serving our great nation here at Fort Gordon. The CSRA is truly a community of patriots. Our service members feel your pride in their sacrifice every day. As we continue to serve our nation with pride, you honor us with your constant reverent support. Thank you, again, for being such a great neighbor and for holding dear the Freedom our service members protect. Sincerely, Jeffrey W. Foley, Brigadier General, US Army, Commanding General"

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Veterans Employment Seminar: Know Your Rights

The first Augusta-area Veterans Employment Seminar was held Monday, June 14th, 2010 at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, presented by the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project and John B. Long, Esq.

The need for the seminar came up after veterans told us they were being asked inappropriate and possibly illegal questions on job interviews, including being asked for copies of their medical records, and details about their service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Monday's seminar, where Mr. Long and Mr. Mont Miller presented information about USERRA (the 1994 act meant to protect service members' and veterans' employment rights) helped give veterans information on how to handle those types of questions.

Among the suggestions given: redirect those kinds of questions to a discussion of your skills and what you have to contribute on the job.

An article on the seminar from the Augusta Chronicle can be found at:
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/business/2010-06-14/legal-forum-aims-aid-vets-civilian-jobs?v=1276554666

A follow up seminar will be held in three months. Please check back for exact location and time or contact Susan Folk at Folk.Susan@gmail.com.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Mentor Training Program May 18th, 2010

Mentor Training & Overview Starts May 18th in Augusta

The CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project (www.projectaugusta.org) is launching a Mentor Program. This Mentor Program will augment care for those active duty personnel at the Warrior Transition Battalion (Fort Gordon).

Mentors will serve as navigators and sounding boards to help mentees make positive life choices and decisions to help them achieve the best outcomes possible as they make the transition from active duty to civilian status, and reintegrate back into the community.

West Point graduate COL (ret.) Jon Dodson, Mentor Coordinator with the Walter Reed Wounded Warrior Mentor Program will be with us on Tuesday, the 18th of May at American Legion Post 205 in Augusta from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to provide an overview of their program, explain the benefits of mentoring, and he'll also conduct a very brief training on protecting privacy as it relates to health information (HIPAA). Pizza and refreshments will be served. We will also provide an overview of the Augusta Wounded Warrior Mentor Program.

Augusta Wounded Warrior Mentor Program

WHAT WE ARE: An initiative of the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project, and a community-based program for soldiers in the Warrior Transition Battalion on Fort Gordon, GA.

WHAT IS A MENTOR? A navigator and sounding board to assist a Warrior in Transition (WT) in planning a productive and meaningful life and profession after service.

WHO ARE THE WOUNDED WARRIOR MENTORS? This is a volunteer program. Mentors for the Warrior Transition Battalion are Red Cross-trained Veterans who have had successful private sector careers, as well as retired Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard officers and senior Noncommissioned Officers. The mentors are screened by a panel including Warrior Transition Battalion staff and CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project volunteers.

WHAT IS THE MENTOR’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE WOUNDED WARRIOR?
It is a one-on-one relationship that aims to build a trusting bond between the mentor and the mentee. Our primary focus is the WT.

WHAT CAN A MENTOR DO FOR YOU?
· Help the WT plan for a productive life and profession in the event of separation from the military.
· Help WT set life goals based on their interests and get them on a path towards achieving them. This includes suggesting appropriate professional and personal development opportunities.
· Assist the WT in developing and considering options for the future, and in choosing a course of action.
· Help WT plan their educational goals and assist them in putting a plan into action.
· As appropriate, assist WT in preparing a personal budget and making sound financial plans, encouraging the WT to take advantage of the full range of VA, community and other benefits available.


Please reply to Susan Folk, folk.susan@gmail.com and let us know if you are able to attend!

Directions to American Legion Post 205, 2012 Highland Avenue, Augusta, GA 30904 (Phone: 706-733-4069)

From Ft Gordon: Head east on Gordon HWY/US278/US E/GA-10 E/JEFFERSON Davis Memorial HWY. Turn left onto Highland AVE. 2102 Highland AVE is on the right.


From North Augusta: South on Georgia Ave/US-25 BR toward E SUMMIT AVE. (crossing into GA). US-25 becomes 13th st, 13th St becomes RA DENT BLVD. Turn slight right onto Wrightsboro Road, 2102 Highland Ave is on the left.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Survivor Outreach Services-Augusta, GA

Fort Gordon's Garrison Commander is increasing outreach and services to survivors of fallen Soldiers.

Contact Suzanne Crosby (suzanne.crosby@us.army.mil), of Survivor Outreach Services to learn more about their upcoming February 25th event that starts at 9:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Cultural Center in downtown Augusta at 13th and Greene Streets.

See their announcement below!

Laurie
_____________________________________________

The Army has implemented the new Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) program to
assist the survivors of our fallen Soldiers. The SOS staff is hosting
"Coffee Break with SOS" as a networking event for event sponsors and service
providers to learn about SOS and meet others who assist our CSRA survivors.

Three tables will be provided for service providers to share their business
cards or brochures with other service providers. When you RSVP, please let
me know if you will want to utilize table space.
"Coffee Break with SOS" will be held on February 25, 2010 from 9:30-11:00
a.m. in the Grand Hall at Sacred Heart (1301 Greene Street). We hope you
will come join us for your midmorning cup of coffee. The event is open to
the public so you may invite other coworkers or friends that might have an
interest in assisting our survivors. Please RSVP to Survivor Outreach
Services by February 22, 2010 at (706) 787-4SOS(4676) or (706)
787-1SOS(1767) or email us at Suzanne.crosby@us.army.mil.

Free Legal Help for Military & Veterans in GA

Great News for Georgia's Service Members, Veterans and Their Families

The State Bar Association of Georgia has launched a program to provide coordinated and free legal services to military personnel and veterans. Mike Monahan, Director of the program, and Norman Zoller, Coordinating Attorney, visited the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project Transition Round Table today and briefed on the program.

To find out more about it, visit: http://www.gabar.org/programs/military_legal_assistance_program/

or contact Mike Monahan at mikem@gabar.org or Norman Zoller at normanz@gabar.org.

We also plan on including Augusta area attorneys in our next Transition Round Table to better connect the local legal community with our ongoing efforts to streamline the system. The round table provides the platform for networking and harnessing resources dedicated to transitioning service members, veterans and their families.

To get a copy of the next meeting's agenda (slated for April 14th, 2010 at 11:30 a.m.), or to get a copy of the Transition Round Table charter, contact Susan Folk, folk.susan@gmail.com

Laurie