VETERANS FOR CHANGEhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/VETERANS-FOR-CHANGE/shapeimage_1_link_0
 
A Note from Jim Davis, founder and president of Veterans-for-Change From myself and on behalf of my family, please let me welcome you home, and thank you so much for your service to our Country! VFC was really a dream I never thought I could pull off, the last 60-days of my father’s life were 24/7 round the clock care for dad, who was a veteran. I was lucky if I got 90 minutes sleep a night. All the time dad would sleep or rest, all I could think about was what the hell am I going to do I know nothing about Veteran claims, benefits, facilities... none of it. So I used my "down time" to sit with my laptop next to dad's bed and research, read, dig, ask questions, and after dad's passing I joined something like 40-50 different veterans groups on Yahoo, asked a ton more questions, dug more, read more. Finally a veteran with severe PTSD said, “Ok, Jim, shit or get off the pot and do something.” So he helped me open the Veterans For Change website group. I have two firm beliefs: 1) There is power in numbers, 2) Harm one vet, you harm them all! JIm and I developed a rather long laundry list of problems with the VA and funding which ended up in 8 revisions before we shot out the first letter. We had a very small group of people I think back then was about 20-25 people, now at 63 and still growing every day, and better now since the last 60-days worth or articles being printed. I sent out personal letters to all 535 members of Congress until this past September when I got laid off and had to cut way back, but I still send out at least 100 letters myself. I and my moderator Aletta work together aside from the groups activities to help and assist veterans and spouses in addressing their claims, delays, denials, so if you know a vet or spouse in need, please, direct them to me. I'm not a VSO nor an attorney, but between Aletta and myself we have a few hundred contacts who can provide information and direction we may lack, and we also draft letters for vets and spouses to send out to help speed up the claims process for them. We do what ever it takes to help anyone who asks. All we do ask of each member is to send letters to their state reps (usually only three, two Senators and one Congressman), but the goal is to get no less than 10 members per state for each state so we have less work to do and can cover a lot more ground. I'd also like to start a college grant program for children of vets, won't be a lot of money for each, but something is better than nothing I think. We also hope to be able to provide some financial assistance to vets, and spouses in emergency situations when we have funds available. I just feel I owe military families a great deal, and I made a promise to dad I would not stop until there was no need to fight any more, which I hope and pray to God happens in the remaining time I have left on earth. I have thought about, but really not put into action or even on paper, but thought about a memorial fund in dad's name for just scholarships, but that's still just a thought, and down the road a bit for me. I need to keep my focus on VFC, and continuing the current battle. We are seeking vets to tell us about their VSO experience, provide a name, address, phone, fax, and E-Mail and which organization they work for, and how they rank on a scale of 1-5, 5 being best. This will help us to help others and make sure they do get the best available in claims processing. We’ve also established a memorial site, where people can post tributes to their loved ones. We're also constantly updating the websites with links to more information we don't have already for all vets to access. So any special links are appreciated to as I have several "self help" vets.I get roughly 300-400 E-Mails per day, most just tell me of their issues and problems, and at 51 years old, I still end up sitting here for a couple hours a day crying like a baby because some of these vets rip my heart out and some I can't help. In the past three years time, I've only told one veteran, I'm sorry I can't help you, but his request was way out on a limb and he had no ground for his claim. As much as I'd like to have helped him because I think any vet is owed more than a "debt of gratitude" I just couldn't find any ground on which he had a valid claim. Aletta and I are also developing a brand new list of VSO's nationwide and we're actually scoring them, so when a vet needs one, we can recommend them, and without hesitation say "this VSO is the best in your area" without hesitation. The best E-Mail address for vets in need to use is vfcgroup_1@sbcglobal.net. Sincerely, Jim Veterans-For-Change 11901 Samuel Drive Garden Grove, California 92840 MEDIA RELEASE Written by: Barbie Perkins-Cooper Date: April 3, 2009 Contact: Jim Davis, President THE TIME IS NOW TO TAKE ACTION FOR OUR VETERANS AND CHANGE Garden Grove, CA – April 3, 2009 – Established in 2006, the mission of Veterans for Change is simple, promoting the rights, treatments and benefits for all Veterans. Founded by Jim Davis, son of retired Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant Lesley Davis, he has made it his mission in life to do all he can to service and fight for the rights of all Veterans. Davis lost his father to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, from exposure to Agent Orange while fighting the war in Vietnam. Since the beginning of Veterans for Change, Davis is asking for Veterans, and citizens to contact Congress, requesting legislation to cover all veterans exposed to TCE (trichloroethylene) and PCE (tetrachloroethylene), especially in the locations of MCAS El Toro, California, MCAS Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and other former and current military locations nationwide. Veterans Administration policy puts the burden of proof on veterans to provide extensive supporting documentations for disability compensation claims for TCE/PCE exposure. These actions established by the VA lead to an emotional war for the veterans, even when the veterans were exposed when stationed at military sites that were contaminated and the illness is linked to TCE/PCE exposure. Veterans for Change requests Congress to be proactive by investigating HERO, Healthcare Effectiveness through Resource Optimization, and establish better access health care when specific care is not available. Many veterans are located in rural areas and have difficulty getting to a Veterans Hospital. Additional health care facilities are needed to service the veterans and to provide quality medical care. With a new administration promising change, now is the time for all Americans to voice their concerns and let President Barack Obama and the new administration to awaken to stop procrastinating and hiding documents from Congress and to give our veterans what is owed to them and their families. The time is now to get involved and let Congress know our Veterans deserve better treatment. Recent discoveries have revealed that billions, not millions, are owed to Veterans who have patiently waited to hear from the Veterans Administration. Some of these claims have been filed for many, many years. Many of these claims have been in the process and review stages for years, sitting on a desk, awaiting a reply, all a reflection of illegally denied claims and possible criminal activity by hundreds, if not thousands of VA employees. It is an outrage that VA employees procrastinate, destroy files, and do not work to service the veterans who deserve the funds, driving them into bankruptcy, suicide, educational benefits and so much more. Members of Veterans for Change have received canned replies stating, “I want to express my appreciation for Veterans who have answered the call of duty,” only to give up. Now that America is involved in stimulus packages that service earmarks and other funds to the bridges to nowhere, the time is now to fund the Veterans who have served their country in times of war and peace. The time is now to service their claims. Let us all make some noise to Washington and our Congressional members to fund programs that honor promises made to our Veterans. The time is now to treat the men and women who serve our country to receive the medical, financial, and emotional support established by the Veterans Administration. Congress, honor the Veterans by providing the benefits and care, regardless of the cost. “Deny, Deny, Until They Die” Posted at Veterans Today on March 22, 2009 by gm by Jim Davis, Veterans for Change My name is Jim Davis. I founded Veterans-For-Change in 2006 because of a promise made to my father, MGySgt. Lesley A. Davis USMC (Ret), who passed away on April 24, 2006, from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gherig's Disease) which was caused by his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. I promised to continue his fight to support veterans, many who are no longer capable of fighting for health care and other benefits owed to them blaw. The VA has declared war on America’s heroes, our vetera I made a promise to my father while he was in the hospital to carry on his fight to make the VA and our Government honor their promise to always care for veterans, their spouses, and children. I know what this means. For years, I witnessed first-hand how the VA has denied what was rightfully due to our veterans. We are in for the fight of our lives and we must take matters into our own hands and act before it's too late. WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST Constant denial by the VA and the Government of any benefits, services, treatments, medications, the best medical facilities, top notch physicians, nurses which should be available any where in the country for our veterans. Veterans, the warriors of our Country, all answered the call to duty by our President and Congress. They willingly risked their lives in defense of this great nation of ours, yet their fight is not over. Every day thousands of claims are filed for benefits, many of which sit idle in limbo, many more go denied, paperwork lost, misplaced, misfiled, shredded, letters unopened. All done to delay and deny claims. Many of our heroes fall due to illness, while others in frustration simply give up after witnessing repeated denials by the VA to provide what was promised them in their enlistment contracts, and what has been vowed by many Presidents. Spouses are not able to collect on benefits because they too are denied, or forced to pay back what should have been corrected in VA’s computer systems years ago and wasn’t. Spouses are also penalized by way of Survivor Benefit Compensation (SBC) and Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments. The VA will deduct from retirement SBC what’s paid them on DIC payments, a “widows tax!” Many have been waiting months, even years to get their claims honored, waiting and some, eventually die before their claims have been approved or appeals been heard, totally dishonoring our heroes. Our veterans suffer the cruel and brutal actions of those who asked them to serve, to fight for our Country, our way of life, our freedoms, yet they want to kill us with their unwritten policy and motto “Deny, deny, until they die!” WHAT IS VETERANS-FOR-CHANGE (VFC) VFC is an issues advocacy organization dedicated to effectively organizing and mobilizing the most powerful grassroots veterans action network in America. We are committed to informed and coordinated written action that will lead to VA policies that promote granting benefits to our veterans and “to error in the veterans favor!” The fight against the Veterans Affairs is a fight I know all too well. Having had to help deal with my fathers claim, then my mothers claim for benefits through the VA. The maze of different opinions, lack of or improper training that Veteran Service Officers have in filing claims, corresponding with countless hundreds and thousands of veterans nationwide who have serious illnesses, and problems with the VA in honoring their claim(s). We are a group of veterans, spouses, family members, and friends. We review a list of current issues the VA fails to address. We then draft a letter which is approved by the group as a whole, then it’s published to be sent out via WebMail, US Mail, or fax to all 535 members of Congress. What we want is quite simple, fund the VA in all programs properly, and effectively to today’s financial needs, not based on 2-3 years prior. We want them to process claims within 90-days, begin to look more serious into the many illnesses suffered today which are or were caused by checmicals, stress, etc, and honor the promises made! We’re all very tired of attending funerals of our fallen heroes because of lack of funding, slowness of processing claims, failure to provide the medical benefits as promised!. That's how I know about this fight. WHY VETERANS-FOR-CHANGE IS NEEDED I founded Veterans-For-Change to honor my fathers request that I continue his fight for other Veterans, to be a veterans action network that will be the front-line voice for all veterans and their families. Our goal is to create a powerful grassroots organization of veterans... committed to the defense and advocacy of veterans benefits to care for those who helped make America great; committed to the dissemination of information about what VA has and has not done and really is. The President, Congress, and Veterans Affairs should be committed to our military, and our veterans, they defended our country, provided national security and defense and protected our freedoms and way of life. They each took an oath to defend the United States and its Constitution from ALL enemies, foreign and domestic and they did, without question, pause or hesitation. We need to hold our elected representatives accountable to uphold their oath of office to defend the United States and its Constitution from ALL enemies, foreign and domestic - which clearly includes and is not limited to protecting our nations veterans! WHY DOES OUR STRUGGLE MATTER? IT MATTERS BECAUSE... • If we don't win the war against the VA other issues won't matter at all. • We won't have an economy to worry about. • We won't have equal rights for all. • We won't have our cherished freedom. And we will live under lack of those who wish to serve holding back because our country will only let them down. WE CAN WIN THIS WAR. WE MUST WIN THIS WAR. Our Veterans stood up to the terror and tyranny of Nazism -- and won. Our Veterans stood up to the terror and tyranny of Communism - and won. If we will stand up to the terror and tyranny of the VA , we will once again win. Veterans-For-Change has been founded so veterans do not have to stand alone against the threat of constant battle and denial of benefits, medications, treatments, top notch medical facilities and medical staff, or dying for their country feeling they’ve been let down, discarded like used equipment. Join us today and become part of this growing movement of loving Americans who will not stand by while our veterans lives are under assault. OUR MEMBERS INCLUDE: Veterans of the Marines, Navy, Army, Air Force, spouses, family members, and friends of Veterans. We come from all backgrounds both secular and religious, liberals and conservatives. These good people have put their differences aside to combat the wrong doings of our Presidents, members of Congress and the Veterans Affairs. To Sign up to help: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VETERANS-FOR-CHANGE/ Salem-News.com (Feb-20-2009 07:25) Veterans for Change Asks Congress to Step Up Salem-News.com The Veterans-For-Change group is also asking that the Congress take prompt action to pass the Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009. (WASHINGTON D.C.) - The small but vocal group Veterans-for-Change released a letter this week to the Congress calling for new legislation in the 111th Congress. Their request is based on the obvious fact that while billions may be spent on war, on bailouts, and economic stimuli, the U.S. Government cannot appropriate sufficient funding to care for Veterans and Widows of Veterans disabled by their President. The group is requesting the Senate introduce and co-sponsor their version of HR 613 - The Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act. HR 613 would authorize the retention of the full final month’s retired pay by the surviving spouse (or other designated survivor) for the month in which the member was alive for at least 24 hours and we ask that the full Congress immediately pass this legislation. The group also asks that the Congress immediately pass HR 775 The Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act which would repeal any off set between SBP and DIC. It also restores eligibility for previously ineligible spouses who elected to transfer their SBP to a surviving child or children. The group in addition is asking that the Congress shall not increase enrollment or co-pay fees for Tricare Standard, Prime, and Tricare-For-Life, for any users by cosponsoring H.R. 816 – The Military Retirees’ Healthcare Protection Act. http://www.salem-news.com/printview.php?id=10028 (1 of 2)2/20/2009 9:59:58 AM Salem-News.Com Furthermore, we also ask that the Congressional Budget Office cease and desist in believing that Veterans, who paid Social Security and Medicare taxes, and gave more through their lives than any, should bear both punitive, additive costs and suffer the indignity of paying for their health care while on Active Duty, unless such law is enacted immediately, which guarantees that a member of any military organization may resign without prejudice. The Veterans-For-Change group is also asking that the Congress take prompt action to pass the Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009 to add those who served and are considered Blue Water Navy be considered as well as others exposed and added to the Agent Orange Presumptive list for any and all illnesses described in that category. These men and women washed their clothing, dishes, showered in or drank water that had been desalinated and filtered, yet was still contaminated with dioxin as these military personnel are no less affected than those with “boots on the ground”. Finally, the group calls for Congress take prompt action to investigate and put forth legislation that would cover all veterans exposed to TCE (trichloroethylene), specifically at MCAS El Toro in California, and MCAS Camp Lejeune in North Carolina as well as all other former and current military installations nationwide. VA policy puts the burden of proof on veterans to provide extensive supporting documentation for disability compensation claims for TCE exposure, even when veterans have been stationed at contaminated military sites and the illness is linked to TCE exposure. Only Congress can stop and correct this. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VETERANS-FOR-CHANGE/http://veterans-for-change.tripod.com/index.htmlmailto:vfcgroup_1@sbcglobal.nethttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/VETERANS-FOR-CHANGE/http://www.salem-news.com/printview.php?id=10028VII-4-05-09.htmlshapeimage_2_link_0shapeimage_2_link_1shapeimage_2_link_2shapeimage_2_link_3shapeimage_2_link_4