Commanders Messages
And Information on the Coronavirus Pandemic
17 July 2021 - Letter from your Commander
I am humbled and honored to be serving as your Post 38 Commander for the 2021—2022 term year. I am a former Human Intelligence Collector (97E) for the United States Army and am a third generation Veteran. I am a life member of Post 38 and served as your 2nd Vice Commander this past term.
Last year was filled with a great deal of uncertainty due to COVID-19, so I focused my energy on finding ways to disseminate information to the membership. I worked to engage more frequently on our Post Facebook page and successfully increased our numbers of followers from 249 to 591. Additionally I wrote and published the first Post 38 Monthly in January 2021 and have continued to do so ever since. With this issue, I am proud to be passing the torch on to our new and highly capable 2nd Vice Commander Jeff Acevedo. I am excited to see what this newsletter grows into.
As Commander I intend to focus that same energy toward achieving three main goals this term year.
- Increase Post 38’s involvement in charity and service within our com munity.
- Increase “butts in seats” membership.
- Raise funds to properly repair the boat ramp.
For a more detailed look into my plans for the year, please visit our website www.amvetspost38wv.org and read the Letter from the Commander.
Mikiko Hillyer
Commander Post 38
13 June 2020 – MESSAGE FROM THE POST COMMANDER
A heartfelt greeting to everyone. We have had a great year in advancing the goals set forth in the AMVETS National Charter. Your support by socializing at the Post, attending our feeds and/or events, volunteering to serve as Officers and/or helping at one or more of our functions, or just by paying your membership dues has not only expanded our membership roster but has expanded our ability to fund/donate to our National and community programs serving our veterans and our families, Thank You.
The veterans will have annual elections (July 11, 2020). I would like to encourage you, if you have the time and interest in serving the Post as an Officer, to be nominated/elected or appointed to one of the various positions being vacated. The 2020-2021 year will bring a lot of uncertainty – but with your support and continued commitment our goals of supporting the veterans, their families and the community will continue.
It has been an honor to serve with and for Post 38 and I will be looking forward to seeing you in the days ahead.
Wishing you good health,
Joe Hutton
Commander
NOTE: This message was included in the Post Newsletter sent out to inform members of the July 11, 2020 Annual Meeting with Nominations and Elections
Coronavirus Update from AMVETS National Headquarters
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March 25, 2020 Updates, articles, and AMVETS’ efforts as they pertain to veterans and coronavirus (COVID-19). A significant number of deaths reported in the last 24 hours in the United States… The United States currently counts 55,568 confirmed cases (46,485 yesterday) and 809 deaths (592 yesterday).
The world count has grown to more than 441,887 cases (398,000 yesterday) and 19,784 known deaths (17,252 yesterday). A staggering number of veterans 106 (up from 65 yesterday) are being treated at the New Orleans VA Medical Center. See the full report of the 365 active VA cases below. Thus far, VA has reported four fatalities. Although there are additional known fatalities, it is unclear where they received treatment. If you don’t have emergent medical needs, our recommendation, stay out of medical facilities. VA wants to ‘pause’ the Mission Act for 90 days to slow or limit non-urgent medical referrals to community care providers to prevent further risk of infection. A second staffer at a major New York veterans hospital has tested positive for coronavirus, raising concerns among veterans advocates about the potential spread of the illness within the medical center. As you can see the Coronavirus is growing exponentially as are deaths. Please stay safe. Also, social distancing does not mean social isolation. Please reach out to your fellow vets via facetime or phone calls. Calls to the VA crisis line are up during this difficult and stressful time. Let’s all be part of the solution here. Nonetheless, The Veterans Crisis Line is open. Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1. As far as we can tell the VA Medical Centers (VAMC) are adequately prepared for the initial wave of expected veterans. However, once VAMCs become quickly overwhelmed, it is unclear whether the VA has the supplies and medical practitioners required, which of course is a national issue as there is a known massive shortage of personal protective equipment such as masks and ventilators. Some other key VAMC’s seeing an uptick in COVID Patients:
We will continue to monitor the situation and will provide daily updates and monitor the situation specific to veterans. VA COVID-19 Cases Nationally, as of March 25, 2020, VA is tracking the following Veteran patients with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. This is a rapidly evolving situation and VA will provide updated information as it becomes available and verified. 365 Positive Veteran Cases (up 161 from yesterday) Alaska VAHSRO (Anchorage AK): 1 outpatient Deaths: 4 (up 0 from yesterday) Latest Guard update: More than 9,000 Guard troops mobilized in all states, 3 territories and Washington, DC for COVID-19 response *Source: Military Times* Latest COVID-19 numbers from OSD
Top Stories “Negotiators strike deal on massive coronavirus rescue package,” by Andrew Desiderio, Melanie Zanona and Sarah Ferris: “Senate leaders and the Trump administration clinched a bipartisan deal early Wednesday morning on a nearly $2 trillion emergency relief package in response to the coronavirus pandemic, a move intended to assist businesses and millions of Americans amid an unprecedented halt in the U.S. economy. “The announcement, which came around 1 a.m., capped five days of tense, marathon talks between senators and the White House. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed that the Senate will pass the bill later Wednesday, while House leaders are eyeing an expedited process to get the massive emergency package to President Donald Trump’s desk for signature before the end of the week.” Some key provisions to watch:
The bill is being considered by the House and the hope is for a vote by Tuesda Pandemic prompts an increase in calls to Veterans Crisis Line “The combination of required physical isolation, the worry about getting sick, and the economic turbulence has the potential to be devastating.” Calls to veteran crisis hotline up 12 percent during COVID-19 outbreak, Wilkie tells VSOs “Every day really matters right now, especially when we’re talking about mental wellbeing amid all this uncertainty.” Latest from AMVETS: Yesterday, AMVETS’ Joe Chenelly was on the ‘Bob Lonsberry Show‘ to discuss #coronavirus as it pertains to the #veteran community
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(@jchenelly) Information for Holders of American Income Life Policies
MESSAGE FROM THE POST COMMANDER
Fellow AMVETS:
If you are a holder of an American Income Life Policy then I would like to inform you that the agent that services Post Members has provided me with information that may be useful to you in this period of national crisis with the coronavirus pandemic. If you are laid off, the company will waive your premiums for three (3) months and once the crisis is over you will not have to pay back those premiums (payments). There is a form you must fill out to get this waiver. It is available for download from this site, just click on the download link below.
Please pass on this information to make others aware of this waiver.
Yours in Service,
Joe Hutton
NOTE: This link will take you away from the site, use your browser’s back button to return.link
MESSAGE FROM THE POST COMMANDER
Fellow AMVETS:
There is never an easy way to pass bad news. As you are aware, Post 38 has been closed for an indefinite period as a result of the coronavirus pandemic which has created a bleak period in our country. The closing of the Post also means that all planned activities are either cancelled or on hold.
The Oyster Feed, the Vietnam Veterans Dinner, the Shuffleboard Tournament, and the Easter Egg Hunt are cancelled. Ticket holders for the Oyster Feed will have their money refunded as soon as the Post is reopened – just take your ticket to the bar for your refund (For those of you who do not wish to wait until the Post reopens, Officers will be in the Post on Sunday, March 22 from 1 to 4 PM to do refunds).
We will continue to provide information on Facebook and the Post website while this shutdown is in place – check back often.
We have received some information from the National Commander, Jan Brown and it immediately follows this message.
Yours in service,
Joe Hutton
Commander, Post 38
MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL COMMANDER
Attention AMVETS Post and Department Commanders:
At this time, most or all posts nationwide have been closed by state or local government directives. All posts should comply with those directives. Federal government directives now state no meeting of 10 or more people should be conducted until further notice, which will be based on public health guidance.
A number of posts and departments have already canceled meetings or will need to cancel/postpone scheduled meetings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is understood that those meetings were needed to conduct official business. We do not want these cancelations to leave you in bad positions. The guidance in this memo was created with that in mind.
Post and Department executive committee meetings may be conducted via teleconference, provided members of those committees are notified ahead of time. The commander or committee chair shall conduct the meeting. Minutes must be taken, written and distributed to all the committee’s members. The meeting should begin with a by-name rollcall. Motions should be made, seconded and discussed in the normal fashion. Each motion should be voted on via a rollcall vote. The minutes should note each vote, by name. Those minutes must be ratified at the next possible in-person meeting.
We understand there is a potential meeting postponements may delay some post elections. Teleconferencing should not be used for elections. With that in mind, National Headquarters will not, and Departments should not, hold any post in jeopardy because they are not allowed by state law to meet and elect new officers. The legal orders we’ve seen, so far, are only effective through April. If they are extended, that could also affect Department elections. National will also not hold that against Departments if that is the case. In both instances, the existing officers would remain in place until elections can be legally held.
Further guidance will be issued should the ban on meetings remain in effect when elections season begins.
Please ensure all commanders in your states receive this guidance as soon as possible.
Yours in Service,
Jan C. Brown
Jan C. Brown
AMVETS National Commander
4647 Forbes Blvd.
Lanham, MD 20706
(301) 683-4002
(833) VET-HEAL
jbrown@amvets.org