Archive for Leadership
Free Veterans Day Outdoor Concert
Posted by: | CommentsAt our nation’s Capitol, the Veterans Day National Committee is gearing up for the attendance of thousands to mark the occasion with a special Veterans Day Celebration Concert, as this year the holiday falls within the eleventh year of the new millennium.
The outdoor Concert will be free, taking place on Vermont Avenue Northwest with streets between H and I closed for the duration of the event. Festivities will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 10. Performances will include the famous rhythm and blues (R&B) group the Chi-Lites, as well as the popular R&B and pop-funk band Kool & the Gang, whose hit song “Celebration” was number one for two straight weeks in February, 1981.
Other attending guests will be daytime soap-opera personality James Reynolds, the pop band Tucker and country music star and the Animal Planet TV channel host Lucas Hoge. The Concert is hosted by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with support from national nonprofit organization Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV) as well as several other veterans service organizations and sponsors.
“HHV invites the community to join us in this exciting celebration,” said Mike Lynch, HHV president and CEO. “The Concert is free because we feel that the price of our freedom has already been paid by those who wore the United States’ armed forces uniform. If you’re able, please do attend this event to show your support of our nation’s veterans.” HHV is the largest distributor of free therapeutic arts & crafts kits to our nation’s military and VA hospitals and state veterans nursing homes, having provided over 27 million craft kits since 1971. For more information visit www.hhv.org or call (888) 567-VETS.
VA Chaplains & MCA Joint Conference 2-6 May 2011
Posted by: | CommentsVeterans Affairs Chaplains Leadership Conference
Military Chaplains Association National Institute
2-6 May 2011
Reserve your room now at the Crowne Plaza Hampton Marina Hotel.
PLEASE NOTE!
Due to funding problems encountered because of the potential U. S. Government shut-down, the Crowne Plaza Marina Hotel has extended our room block rate guarantee through 18 April.
Please call the Passkey Reservation Center at 1-888- 233-9527.
The booking code for our joint room block is “VAM.” Or use the booking link immediately below with the same code.
VA Chaplains & Military Chaplains Association Conference, 2-6 May 2011
The room rate is $77.00 [double or single occupancy]. This includes a very nice buffet breakfast. On a space available basis, the hotel will honor our room rate for two days prior to the main event. Any days after the conference will be difficult to obtain because of heavy booking for that weekend in May.
Join us for key leader presentations on Warrior Care issues and important updates on benefits and issues that concern all chaplains – whether active military, Veterans Affairs, or retired.
MCA National Executive Committee members and Veterans Affairs Chaplain Field Leadership Council members should arrive on Sunday, 1 May unless they are local commuters. Both groups will convene early Monday morning. All other participants should arrive not later than Monday, 2 May.
Registration begins at Noon and continues until 4 PM. Then join us Monday late afternoon for a Joint Welcome Reception from 4 to 5:30 PM. We are looking forward to your participation for this third bi-annual joint meeting.
The registration fee in $125.00 for all DVA, MCA, and other registrants. The Emerson Foundation Luncheon on Wednesday, 4 May is $30.00 per meal. The Awards Banquet on Thursday evening, 5 May is $45.00 per meal. You are welcome to bring meal guests even if they can’t participate in other parts of the conference.
Go here for important conference information. Please read before registering.
Go here for the registration form to download and send by surface mail.
Go here for the event registration form online and make your payment via PayPal.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Policy vote next week
Posted by: | CommentsA United States Senate vote on major defense budget legislation next week will deal with bill language that seeks to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy. The legislation is the huge and complex Fiscal Year 2011 Defense Authorization Bill.
MCA members nationwide hold numerous points of view on the DADT policy and any potential change. Across those diverse perspectives we see a common and insistent thread. We are deeply concerned about the welfare of all Troops, their officers, and their chaplains.
Should the government choose to repeal the DADT policy, we strongly urge military leaders to safeguard an environment of accuracy, fairness, and justice. We urge this for all parties affected – whether they favor or do not favor the policy change.
Please pray fervently for the wisdom of our legislators. Please let your Senator and Representative know your position on this issue.
Respectfully yours / Chaplain Michael L. McCoy, Sr., MCA National President.