[Youth, Veteran Volunteers]

This program will involve Lodge Veterans Service and Youth Activities Chairmen; District Veterans Service and Youth Activities Chairman; State Veterans Service and Youth Activities Chairmen; VAVS Representatives and VAVS Deputy Representatives; as well as the Elks National Veterans Service Commission and the Grand Lodge Youth Activities Committee.

We need everyone working together harmoniously at every level: local - district - state - national. If everyone is willing to check their egos at the door and work with a focus to serve our veterans and make their lot in life a little better, this program will be successful.

1. Lodge Veterans Service and Youth Activities Chairmen meet with District Veterans Service and Youth Activities Chairmen along with VAVS Representatives and VAVS Deputy Representatives to discuss goals of involving youth in the Veteran Volunteer Program.

2. Lodge Veterans Service and Youth Activities Chairmen, along with VAVS Representative(s) and or VAVS Deputy Representative(s), will contact the local high school(s) in the area. They will speak with Supervisors, School Boards and the Principal(s) or Assistant Principal(s) who, hopefully, will set up an interview with the counselor(s).

3. After speaking with the counselor(s) and explaining our goals, the counselor(s) should be able to put our volunteers (Lodge Veterans Service and Youth Activities Chairmen, VAVS Representative(s) and VAVS Deputy Representative(s)) in contact with students who meet our profile and are interested in performing this type of service.

4. VAVS Representative can instruct these youth volunteers of our role in Serving Our Nation's Veterans.

5. VAVS Representative will set up an interview with the Chief of Voluntary Service or Chief of Recreational Service at the VA Medical Center. This person can then instruct our Lodge Veterans Service and Youth Activities Chairmen, along with our youth volunteers, on what their duties will be.

6. Youth volunteers could work out of the VA Medical Center or at homes of individual veterans.

7. Youth volunteers would never work without supervision (VAVS Representative, VAVS Deputy Representative, Lodge Veterans Service Chairman, Lodge Youth activities Chairman, etc.)

8. Youth volunteers would have their activity monitored by their mentor.

9. Youth volunteers would not be allowed to do anything that would be hazardous to their wellbeing.

10. Students should be made aware that volunteerism of this type, while being very self-satisfying, will also help them meet their community service requirement that they need to graduate.

11. Elk leaders will report to school counselor(s) monthly regarding activity and progress of youth volunteer(s) so that counselor(s) can track this activity and give the volunteer(s) proper credit for their community service assignment(s).

12. When youth volunteers are working at a VA facility, the VAVS Representative or VAVS Deputy Representative will make sure these volunteers are properly signed in so that they receive proper credit for their work.

13. VAVS Representatives or VAVS Deputy Representatives will instruct Lodge Veterans Service and Youth Activities Chairmen of volunteer activities sanctioned and approved by VHA Handbook 1620.1 and any subsequent directives. This will reduce risks to our volunteers and protect them under federal law.