Veterans News

Catch up on all the ENVSC Action from the Convention in Kansas City

It was great to see so many of you in Kansas City! Here's a recap of the ENVSC events and activities over the whole Convention.

On Saturday, State Veterans Chairs gathered to share ideas and learn about how ENVSC programs can help veterans in their state. You can find your State Veterans Chair here if you want to get involved in service to veterans.

On Sunday, we awarded the National Veterans Service Volunteer of the Year award to Darrell Quinley of Grandview-Hickman Mills, Mo., Lodge No. 2088. Read about his years of service and dedication to serving his fellow veterans here.

On Sunday, we hosted an Elks Voluntary Service panel presentation, where we reviewed the program and featured three outstanding volunteers who shared their expertise with the crowd. Click here to view the slides about the program.

  • Samanatha Barrett talked about volunteering at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cameron, including bringing her children along to events, asking veterans about their needs directly, and establishing a pen pal program in which local students write to Veterans Home residents.
  • Bob Keyser talked about being a Representative at Colorado Veterans Treatment Courts, including being a mentor to the veterans, meeting veterans' needs like food and bus fare, securing appropriate clothes for veterans to wear to court, and hosting social events for newly sober veterans.
  • Jimmy Folk shared his experience as the Massachusetts State Veterans Chair, tips on managing relationships with VA staff, and rallying huge financial and volunteer support for the VA New England Adaptive Summer Sports Clinic for Disabled Veterans. Click here to read about National Adaptive Sports and Arts Events.

Later on Sunday, Commission Chair Paul Ryan gave the ENVSC Annual Report, and we debuted a new video all about the Elks Emergency Assistance Fund. Click here to watch it.

This fund is available in the 13 cities with the highest number of unhoused veterans. If the fund isn’t available in your area, the best thing you can do is encourage veterans to contact their nearest VA. Our assistance fund is just one of many such resources available to veterans who are working with a VA or SSVF Social Worker.

At the booth, we greeted volunteers, awarded a gift to our Voluntary Service Representatives and Deputy Representatives, had veterans and volunteers sign our Wall of Service, and talked about Welcome Home Kits and Freedom Grants. We also honored our State Veteran Volunteer of the Year winners, and several people came by to pose with the sign!

We also held a Veterans Leather Program seminar, co-hosted by Chair Chuck Mudge and Vice-Chair Curtis Blystone.

  • Click here to view the slides, which focus mainly on how a Lodge and state can get involved in the program.
  • If you have questions or want to get involved, you can call Chuck at 573-513-2605 or email Curtis at Blystonecurtis@gmail.com.

    We also shared information about the Veterans Crisis Line. Help us spread the word. Click here to view a page where you can print free Veterans Crisis Line materials and flyers to hang up and hand out at the Lodge. You never know when someone might need the information.

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