Happy Veterans Day

To all veterans, thank you for your service to our country. We will remember you today and everyday.

VA Extravaganza

Come out to the VA Extravaganza November 9th from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Pegasus Ballroom. Sponsored by Student Development and Enrollment Services, Registrar’s Office / Veteran Services and the Student Veterans Association.

Congresswoman Kosmas will be there to support us

Campus offices will provide services to help us finish our college endeavors such as Disability Services, Career Services, 1st Year Advising, College Advisors, and most importantly the Student Veterans Services Office for all your GI bill needs will be there.

VA Health and OIF/OEF staff from the VA Clinic will be present

Orange county Veteran Services Office will be there

Local Veterans advocacy and lobbying groups such as VFW, DAV, VETJOBS, AMVETS, American Legion, Order of the Purple Heart will be there.

Date: Monday, November 9, 2009
Time: 9:00am - 2:00pm
Location: UCF Student Union, Pegasus Ballroom

Toys for Tots

The annual Toys for Tots is running now until December 5, 2009.

SVA will be collecting unwrapped toys in Millican Hall in the Registar’s Office. Please bring in the toy during regular office hours!

If you have any questions, please email Jackie Fitzgerald at jfitzgerald@knights.ucf.edu

www.toysfortotscentralflorida.org

Operation Care Package

Support Central Florida military serving overseas by donating an item for the Student Veterans Association’s Operation Care Package. Our organization is putting together a few care packages to be shipped to soldiers from our community. Items may include books, board games, stationary, non-perishable food items and more (click here for a complete list of approved items as well as items not permitted). Please act quickly as the final day items will be collected is Friday, November 13th, 2009.

Drop off information:

Donations can be dropped of at the University of Central Florida Office of Veterans Services located at the University of Central Florida in Milican Hall Room 161 (Also Known as the Registrars Office)
Phone Number - 407-823-2707
Office Hours -
Monday & Thursday
9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Address for University of Central Florida
4000 Central Florida Blvd. Orlando, Florida, 32816

The Learning Paradigm Shift Study

In collaboration with UCF’s Veteran Services Office and the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, Dr. Steve Fiore is putting together a focus group composed of veterans currently attending college. The primary interest is in how veterans are managing what is described as “The Learning Paradigm Shift” (i.e., going from military type education and training to college classroom education). But, because this is only one of many issues facing veterans returning to college, we’ve been discussing expanding this into a broader and more comprehensive survey/analysis of veterans in higher education. So the purpose of this focus group is to discuss these and related issues.

Any IST folks who are veterans and currently enrolled, please let him know if you’d be interested in participating in this focus group as your input would be greatly appreciated. Also, please feel free to forward this email to anyone who currently is a veteran enrolled at UCF (or who knows one).

Steve Fiore PhD

SVA Tailgating Schedule 2009

What: Student Veterans Association Tailgating Event
Where: Memory Mall (Near the Psychology Building)

When:
9/19/2009 vs. Buffalo 12:00pm
10/03/2009 vs. Memphis 8:00am
10/17/2009 vs. Miami (TV game) 12:00pm
11/01/2009 vs. Marshall 12:00pm
11/14/2009 vs. Houston (Homecoming) 8:00am
11/21/2009 vs. Tulane 8:00am

For more information contact Torrin Fields.

Kosmas Calls on VA to Alleviate Backlog in Processing Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits Applications

(Washington, D.C.) – On October 15th 2009 Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24) called on the Department of Veterans Affairs to take steps to alleviate the backlog in processing applications for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. The VA Regional Office in Atlanta, which processes applications for the State of Florida, is estimated to have a backlog of over 60,000 pending benefits claims. Kosmas sent a letter to General Eric Shinseki, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, urging his department to quickly conduct a review of application processing procedures in order to institute policies that will expedite the claims.

Congresswoman Kosmas has heard from numerous Central Florida veterans who are beginning classes without receiving their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Though the VA has been working with schools to alert them to the delays and ensure that veterans are able to remain enrolled, many veterans need GI Bill benefits to help cover the cost of supplies and living expenses and could face hardships due to the delays.

“The Post-9/11 GI Bill is one way for our nation to express our sincere appreciation for the sacrifices our brave troops and their families have made by providing access to a full college education, and these bureaucratic delays are simply unacceptable,” said Congresswoman Kosmas. “We must take action quickly to ensure that Central Florida’s veterans receive the full benefits they have earned in a timely manner.”

The GI Bill for the 21st Century, which was passed by Congress and signed into law last year, provides a full, four-year college education to any veteran who has served since September 11, 2001 for at least 90 aggregate days or at least 30 days with a disability discharge. These benefits took effect on August 1st of this year.

Congresswoman Kosmas is working to ensure that Central Florida’s veterans get the support they deserve. She has formed a Veterans Advisory Council to keep her up to date on the issues that are important to Central Florida veterans, and she frequently travels across Florida’s 24th District to meet with veterans about their issues and concerns.

Additionally, Kosmas has led the fight to secure the $371 million needed to complete construction of the new Orlando VA Medical Center, funding which passed the House earlier this year. The approval is a critical step towards completing construction of the new medical center, which will make a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of Central Florida’s 400,000 veterans.

The full text of Congresswoman Kosmas’ letter can be found below:

Dear General Shinseki:

I am writing to express my concern about the backlog in approving applications for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. I have been informed that the Atlanta VA Regional Office has a backlog of approximately 60,000 Post 9/11 GI bill claims.

I have heard from numerous veterans in Florida’s 24th Congressional District who are starting school but are still waiting for a response to their applications. Though we appreciate that the regional office has contacted schools to make them aware of the delay in tuition payments, many of my constituents are facing hardships due to the delay in benefits needed to assist with purchasing supplies and covering living expenses.

I ask that you direct the agency’s Under Secretary for Benefits to quickly conduct a review of Post-9/11 GI Bill application processing in order to institute policies and procedures that will help expedite the claims process and alleviate the backlog at the VA Regional Office in Atlanta and other regional offices.

Congress and the nation recognize the sacrifices made by our brave troops and their families. The Post-9/11 GI Bill is intended to give our veterans, who have put their lives on the line in service to our country, the opportunity to receive the education needed to succeed in today’s economy, and any delay impedes their ability to take the next step in their careers. Immediate action must be taken to help VA offices process Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits more quickly. Thank you for your prompt assistance in this matter, I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

SUZANNE M. KOSMAS
Member of Congress

Did you switch to the 9/11 GI Bill?

We are looking for a few students that are benefiting from the 9/11 GI Bill to meet later this month with Congresswoman Kosmas. The Congresswoman is looking for feedback from students about how the program is going. Please contact Jackie Fitzgerald if you are interested. By phone 727-421-9586 or email jfitzgerald@knights.ucf.edu.

Clay Shoot Benefit for Operation Patriot

Operation Patriot, Inc. is sponsoring the Honor the Heroes Sporting Clay Shoot on September 26, 2009 at Tenoroc Shooting Club in Lakeland, Fl. We will be providing a continental breakfast and catered lunch. There will be a silent auction, door prizes and a 50/50 raffle. The cost is only $80 per shooter or $300 for a four-person team. Registration forms can be printed from its website. Operation Patriot, Inc. was founded in 2004, after learning of the needs of our aging Veterans living in State Veterans Nursing Homes. It is a registered Non-Profit Corporation and has 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. Please go to its website at www.operationpatriot.net to learn about the organization and its goals to help Veterans. If you have any questions, please email Opatriot4@aol.com or call me at (813) 244-8403.

SVA Remembers 9/11

The ceremony will begin at 8:35a.m. by the Reflection Pond at the UCF main campus and will run until 9:30a.m. There will be a Presentation of Colors by the ROTC Color Guard and the SVA will present a memorial wreath at the Reflection Pond. SVA and UCF representatives will then present the guest speakers, who will reflect on each of the events of 9/11 at the times they happened.

All faculty, students and members of the public are welcome.

The Student Veterans Association is the Central Florida chapter of the national Student Veterans of America (http://www.studentveterans.org), based at the University of Central Florida main campus. Members are focused on sharing their experiences and skills with others on campus, in the community and abroad.
Contact Jacqueline Fitzgerald, SVA President for more information by phone at (727) 421-9586 or email jfitzgerald@knights.ucf.edu.