HOSPITAL CHAIRMAN: CHRIS SCHMALTZ E Mail:

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1 HOSPITAL CHAIRMAN: CHRIS SCHMALTZ E Mail: Chris@thegunnys.us PROGRAM GOALS Hospital Spotlight Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Issues Volunteer Recr4uitment, Recognition and Support Veterans Voices Writing Project VFW Auxiliary members have been volunteering in hospitals since this organization was founded in In 1928, the Hospital & VAVS Program became the second National Program adopted by the VFW Auxiliary. Since the beginning, the VFW Auxiliary has pledged their unwavering support to help our Country s heroes. Too many veteran patients have no family to support and comfort them when they need it the most. When we make our bedside visits, host a bingo, serve lunches, etc., etc., we really do make a difference. The theme of our National President Sandi Kreibel is BELIEVE ~ WE CAN DO IT - Her Symbol is Uncle Sam & Rosie the Riveter Our Department President Ellie has chosen the Compass as her symbol. Her Theme: 360 Degrees for our Veterans & Their Families. So, let s get our bearings and navigate our way through this program. Where can we serve? Who can serve? Local hospitals Veteran s homes Nursing homes Domiciliaries VA & non-va medical centers and clinics Members Non-members Youth Families

2 What can we do? Every facility has different needs. Some facilities have a volunteer program in place with specific jobs, events & needs. Contact the Voluntary Service Office and ask how you can help. What can we earn? Members can earn Hospital Volunteer Pins from National and Department Headquarters for their volunteer hours. Members can also be eligible for several awards. Additional information and forms are included at the back of the program. Volunteer Recruitment The need for hospital volunteers is greater than ever. Volunteers help free up millions of dollars in health care expenses that can be used for critical services needed for our veterans. Volunteers bring comfort and friendship to patients in hospitals and nursing homes. Our Nation s heroes more than deserve a few hours a month of our time. The next time you make a hospital visit, bring a friend with you. Find what interests and skill sets your friends have and then try to navigate them in a direction that will benefit them, our veterans and our organization. Let them reap the rewards of volunteering for our heroes. Then keep them motivated and show them that you care. Always Thank them. A little goes a long way. Community Volunteer Recruitment Week is set for November 5-11, 2018 and April 7-13, A Hospital Volunteer Recruitment kit is available from the National website at This kit includes posters, public service announcements, reporting and award guidelines. Veterans Voices Writing Project The Veterans Voices Writing Project (VVWP) was created in It is a writing program that helps veterans express themselves and communicate in a creative way. VVWP publishes Veterans Voices a magazine that prints a selection of submissions. The project accepts stories of personal experiences, fiction, poems and artwork from veterans.

3 Some veterans choose to write their stories using humor. Some write about the horrors they experienced during combat. Using writing as a creative expression allows many veterans to heal and gain selfesteem. Members can become involved with a local VVWP representative and assist veterans in writing, recording or typing. Training and resources are provided. For more information and to get involved, visit veteransvoices.org., call or It is our mission to enable military veterans to experience solace and satisfaction through our writing program. Our vision is a world where people appreciate that writing can both heal and entertain. -VVWP Website Veteran & Military Suicide Awareness We may never understand the struggles and challenges of a veteran who has seen war. The physical and mental wounds they have endured leave many in dire circumstances. WE can make a difference by educating ourselves and others about the warning signs of suicide. We can help veterans and their loved ones by sending them in the right direction for help. Veterans Crisis Line can be their life line. For more information go to The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Support for deaf and hearing impaired individuals is available. The Veteran & Military Suicide Awareness Blue Teardrop sticker is the VFW Auxiliary symbol to bring attention to the issue of Military suicide. Wear this teardrop to open the conversation. Printable sheet can be found online at

4 Hospital Donation should be sent to Department By December 31, 2018 A suggested donation of $1.00 per member is requested from each Auxiliary. The amount is based on your membership as of June 30, These funds are presented to medical facilities by the Department President when he/she visits. *All auxiliaries are encouraged to also donate to the VA Hospital Fund. This is a separate fund from the Hospital Fund. The VA Hospital fund is intended to be used at specific facilities and funds must be requested by the VAVS Representative of that particular medical facility. These donations should also be sent to the Department Office and earmarked, for example, Hospital donation for Tibor Rubin VAMC. Do NOT send this donation to the medical facility. *Also, please donate to National Veterans Wheelchair Games and Golden Age Games. DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA MEDICAL ASSISTANCE This special assistance is available to all Auxiliary Members who find themselves in need of help with their hospital bills. $.25 of your $1.00 per member Hospital Quota goes to fund this special assistance. This is a another important reason to send your Hospital Quota. Not only does this fund help our VA Medical Centers, but it helps our Auxiliary Brothers and Sisters as well. DEPARTMENT HOSPITAL VOLUNTEER PIN President Ellie has designed a Hospital Pin that she wants all hospital volunteers to receive. To earn this pin, members & non-members need a minimum of 10 volunteer hours at VA and/or non-va Medical Centers. Please see the enclosed form for ordering pins. FISHER HOUSE The Fisher Houses are a network of comfort homes where military and veteran families can stay, at no cost, while a loved one is receiving treatment. They are located at major military and VA medical centers nation-wide, close to the medical center or hospital they serve. The Fisher House Foundation also operates the Hero Miles program, using donated frequent flyer miles to bring family members to the bedside of injured service members. For more information go to The Hospital Program & VAVS Guide is your greatest resource for the Hospital program. You can find the Guide on the Department

5 website under Hospital Program or the National VFW Auxiliary Website: WHAT ABOUT VAVS? For more information on the VFW Auxiliary s participation in Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) Program, please see that section in the Hospital Program Guide or contact the Department Hospital Chairman. The Diagram below illustrates how the VFW Auxiliary Hospital Program overlaps with and supports the Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) Program. The VFW Auxiliary provides volunteers and resources to VA Facilities across the country, saving Veterans Affairs more the $60 million a year in expenses. To help you stay on course The 2018/2019 Hospital Team Hospital Co-Chair Hospital North & VAVS Hospital South Marlene Raffety PDP Kathy Walery Joyce Daniels 1711 E. Solar Ave Rd 7432 Walnut Rd McGalliard Rd Fresno, CA Fair Oaks, CA Sun City, CA miraffety@comcast.net chefwalery@aol.com joycedaniels@hotmail.com DEPARTMENT AWARDS FOR DISTRICT CHAIRMEN:

6 1. Citation to each District Chairman for participation in the program. 2. $25.00 to one District Chairman for the Best Promotion of Veterans Voices Writing Project (VVWP) 3. Plaque to the District Chairman with Best Promotion of the program goals DEPARTMENT AWARDS FOR AUXILIARY: Citation to the Auxiliary in each membership group with the Best Volunteer Recognition event. Citation to the Auxiliary in each membership group with the most New Volunteers signed up. California hospital pin to every volunteer who serves a minimum of 10 hours, or donates $25.00 in cash or goods to the hospital program. LEGACY AWARD for Best Overall Hospital Program in Honor of PDP Bonnie Gladden. LEGACY AWARD for Best Overall Fisher House Program in Honor of PDP Fran Swanson. LEGACY AWARD for Best Overall Veterans Games in Honor of PDP Marilyn Vernon-Leisure. LEGACY AWARD for Best Overall Military Suicide Awareness in Honor of PDP Joyce Bilyeu. NATIONAL AWARDS AWARDS FOR MEMBERS: 1. Award to one member with the most VA volunteers recruited. Form required. 2. Award to one member with the most sponsored non-member volunteers recruited. Form required. 3. Award to one member with the most non-va volunteers recruited. Form required. 4. Award to one member with the most total recruits from all categories. Form required. In addition to these special awards, Hospital Volunteer Service Pins are also always available. In addition to these special awards, Hospital Volunteer Pins are also always available

7 1. Award to one member with the most VA volunteers recruited. Form Required 2. Award to one member with the most sponsored non-member volunteers recruited. Form Required 3. Award to one member with the most non-va volunteers recruited. Form required 4. Award to one member with the most total recruits from all categories. Form required

8 DEPARTMENT VOLUNTEER PIN REQUEST FORMS ALL PINS WILL BE MAILED TO THE AUXILARY TREASURER FOR PRESENTATION AT AN AUXILARY MEETING AUXILIARY DISTRICT HOSPITAL VOLUNTEER PIN REQUIRED VOLUNTEERING Volunteers with a minimum of ten (10) hours in any hospital, rehabilitation center, rest home, hospice and/or working at home cooking, baking, sewing, crocheting, knitting, delivering or helping with parties. VFW members and non-members are eligible if sponsored by an Auxiliary for these pins. Make accumulated cash donations of $25.00 or more. Request must be made on this form. Names of Volunteers (Use additional paper if necessary) Signature of Auxiliary Hospital Chairman or Auxiliary Treasurer (required): Mailing Address: MAIL COMPLETED FORM TO: Marlene Raffety 1711 E. Solar Ave. Fresno, CA (559) ; E Mail: mlraffety@comcast.com

9 VFW HOSPITAL HOSPITAL CREDIT SHEET 1. Magazines and books, games and puzzles Value $ 2. Comfort items purchased Value $ 3. Cakes, cookies, candy, jelly, etc. purchased Value $ (Store bought/licensed Kitchen only) 4. Coffee, sugar, creamers, napkins, paper cups purchased Value $ 5. Materials for sewing, knitting or other handmade items Value $ Total working at home Members Hours # of Items Non Members Hours # of Items Student Volunteer Hours # of Items 6. Total members traveling to/from hospital 7. Total non-members traveling to/from hospital 8. Total Hours served in Hospital Members Hours Non Members Hours Student Volunteer Hours 9. Entertainers Hours Value $ Total 14 per mile Value $ GRAND TOTAL $ PRESENTATION OF ABOVE GIFTS ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Hosp. Official Aux. Chairman Name of Hospital Aux/District Date Date ATTACH SIGNED CREDIT SHEET TO DEPARTMENT REPORT FORM One copy District Chairman One copy Dept. Chairman One copy for file

10 HOSPITAL EVALUATION GUIDE FOR DONATIONS TO HOSPITAL PROGRAM The following guide has been set up for evaluating donations to the hospital program, giving us a uniform and accurate method of reporting. Please use these figures in making up all reports and compiling all records, including your monthly reports. BOOKS AND MAGAZINES New Books Paperback and Hardback Purchase Price Used Books Paperback in good condition $1.00 Used hardback goods in good condition $2.50 National Geographic, used in good condition $2.50 COMFORT ARTICLES New T shirts, white socks, shaving cream, combs Purchase Price Lap robes (knitted or crocheted) valued $35 each Credit 15 hours ea Robes (machine made) valued $25 each Credit 5 hours ea FOOD (HOMEMADE IN LICENSED KITCHENS) Cakes, Pies $6.00 each Cookies $4.50/dozen Cupcakes and Tarts $6.00/dozen Store bought items Purchase price Candy $5.00/lb Sandwiches $2.00 each Coffee Purchase price Fruit Purchase price Meals being served to patients at picnics, etc. Purchase price NOTE: No food with nuts or seeds should be donated to the VA Hospital MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES New Playing cards, puzzles Purchase Price Flowers or plants Purchase Price Prizes or other gifts for parties Purchase Price Refreshments for Parties Purchase Price CREDIT FOR HOURS SERVED Preparing Food Actual preparation time Serving in Hospital, picnics, bingo, Visits NOTE: Hours are to be reported only for time spent at the Hospital. Remember to report miles, both to and from hospital for each vehicle driven. Should you have questions, contact your District and/or Department Hospital Chairman

11 HOSPITAL SERVICE PINS AND RECOGNITION AWARDS Q: Who orders VFW Auxiliary hospital service pins? A: The local VFW Auxiliary Hospital Chairman orders pins for ALL members Pins bearing the VFW Auxiliary emblem and designating the number of hours a volunteer has devoted to hospital work, will be awarded to members meeting the eligibility requirements noted below. Pins earned in all non-va facilities must be ordered by the local VFW Auxiliary Hospital Chairman. Forms for ordering pins and recognition awards are available on the VFW Auxiliary website, or by contacting the VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters Programs Department. Volunteer hours at a VA and non-va facility may be combined for award purposes. EXAMPLE: Member Linda is a regularly scheduled volunteer in a VA facility, where he/she volunteers 75 hours. He/she then volunteers at a non-va hospital with another 75 hours. He/she may combine those hours for the 150 Hour VFW Auxiliary Pin in addition to any awards offered by the VAVS program. Eligibility: A VFW Auxiliary member in good standing who has volunteered a minimum of 150 hours under the VFW Auxiliary sponsorship in any hospital is eligible to receive a pin as a gift from the VFW National organization. ONLY the pin, or bar indicating the highest number of accumulated hours, per request will be awarded and should be worn. Non-members serving under the VFW Auxiliary sponsorship are not eligible for this pin. There is a special Sponsored Hospital Volunteer Award available for these volunteers. Pins are available for volunteers who have served: Pins are available for volunteers who have served: 150 hours 300 hours ALLOW 4 WEEKS FOR 500 hours DELIVERY OF PINS FROM 1,000 hours THE DATE THE REQUEST 1,500 hours IS MADE. DO NOT WAIT 2,000 hours UNTIL THE END OF THE 2,500 hours YEAR TO REQUEST THESE 3,000 hours PINS. REQUEST THEM AS 4,000 hours THEY ARE EARNED A 5,000 hour pin is triangular

12 Between 6,000 and 9,000 hours are triangular with an additional pearl for each 1,000 hours earned. A bar guard signifying 10,000 hours may be attached to this pin and this hereafter, bar guards are available for each additional 1,000 hours. If pins are to be presented on some special occasion, be sure to allow enough time for the request to be processed and the pins shipped.

13 Lost hospital service pins may be replaced. Request for replacement pins must go directly to the National Headquarters, Attn: Programs Department. Include name, address, Auxiliary # and Membership ID number of the member desiring replacement. DO NOT send the request to the National Ambassador. OUTSTANDING HOSPITAL VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD VFW Auxiliary members who volunteer in both VA and non-va facilities are eligible to be nominated as an Outstanding Hospital Volunteer of the Year in their Membership Group. SPONSORED HOSPITAL VOLUNTEER/STUDENT VOLUNTEER AWARD The sponsored hospital volunteer/student volunteer, who volunteers a minimum of 100 hours under the VFW Auxiliary sponsorship facility, is eligible to receive a special award from the VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters. The award must be requested through the VFW Auxiliary Chairman. Application forms are available on the VFW Auxiliary website: or by contacting VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters, Attn: Programs Department. Only one award may be ordered for each sponsored volunteer, per lifetime. RECRUITER AWARDS FOR VFW AUXILARY MEMBERS AND STUDENT VOLUNTEERS A charm from the VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters will be awarded to each member recruiting one or more volunteers between June 1 and May 15. These awards are available for VFW Auxiliary members and Student Volunteers. Application forms are available on the VFW Auxiliary website: or by contacting the VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters, Attn: Programs Department.,

14 APPLICATON FOR VFW AUXILIARY HOSPITAL RECRUITING AWARDS To be filled out in triplicate: one (1) copy must be retained by the VAVS Representative or VFW Auxiliary Hospital Chairman, one copy to the Department Hospital Chairman, and send the ORIGNIAL to the VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters, Attention: Administrator of Programs, 406 W. 34 th St,. 10 th Floor, Kansas City MO Submitted by: Name/Title (VAVS Rep or Aux. Hospital Chairman) Mailing Address: City State Zip Phone ( ) Signature: Charm to each VFW Auxiliary member Recruiting one or more hospital volunteers between July 1, 2018 and March 31, Be sure all information below is complete Member Recruiting Member ID # Aux. # Number Recruited Date Recruited SIGNED: DATE: Voluntary Service Prog. Mgr./Supervisor of other hospital Must be received by March 15, 2019 Send to: Vickie Rosse, National Hospital Ambassador

15 OUTSTANDING HOSPITAL VOLUNTEER NATIONAL AWARD IN EACH Program Division The Department Hospital Chairman should select ONE Outstanding Hospital Volunteer from the Department, complete this form and return it to the National Ambassador so it is received by March 15, The Hospital Volunteer may be any VFW Auxiliary member who serves as a VFW Auxiliary Hospital Volunteer in any medical facility in your Department (VAMC, military, community, children s hospital, nursing home, therapy center or clinic). VAVS Representatives and Deputies are also eligible to be considered as Outstanding Hospital Volunteer. Volunteer hours at VA and non-va facilities may be combined for award purposes. THE VOLUNTEER MUST SERVE FROM March 1, 2018 THROUGH February 28, NAME OF OUTSTANDING HOSPITAL VOLUNTEER: ADDRESS: CITY STATE ZIP VFW AUXILIARY NAME & NUMBER: (WHERE MEMBERSHIP IS HELD) MEDICAL FACILITY WHERE MEMBER SERVES: 1. How long has he/she been a VFW Auxiliary Hospital Volunteer? 2. Number of hours served from 3/1/18 to 2/28/19? 3. Total hours served as Hospital Volunteer (lifetime hours)? 4. What weekly or monthly Hospital programs has the member participated in?

16 5. What are his/her volunteer assignments? PLEASE ATTACH A SEPARATE SHEET WITH DETAILED INFORMATION ON WHY THIS VFW AUXILIARY MEMBER IS AN OUTSTANDING HOSPITAL VOLUNTEER. SIGNED: DEPARTMENT OF Program Division: (DEPT. HOSPITAL CHAIRMAN) RECEIVED BY NATIONAL AMBASSADOR DATE

17 APPLICATION FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT VFW Auxiliary - Department of California Complete and mail one (1) copy directly to the Department President, Ellie Mello, c/o CA Dept. Office, 9136 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 101, Elk Grove, CA AUXILIARY NAME # DISTRICT NAME OF AUXILIARY MEMBER Date joined auxiliary Date previous year's dues paid Date current year's dues paid Marital Status Does Member (or Spouse) have hospitalization insurance? Medicare? Percentage of Hospital bills paid by insurance Member has has not received a previous hospital grant (if so, give date) Please advise (in detail) why you feel this Member needs assistance. Approved by Auxiliary Treasurer Date Address: Zip *************************************************

18 PHYSICIAN'S STATEMENT Name and location of Hospital (if hospitalized) Date confined from to Diagnosis: Prognosis: Signed Physician s Signature Physician s Address Application Granted [ ] Denied [ ] Date Amount $ If Grant was denied, reason for denial: