THE LATEST NEWS FROM
THE UNITED VOLUNTARY SERVICES
- Veterans Reclaiming Their Lives Through Leisure
- OGA Announces 2011 Award Recipients
- Valentines for Veterans Concert at John Ascuga's Nugget Hotel Casino
- 2009 New York State Service to Armed Forces Award
- Certificate of appreciation for outstanding support of the Jupiter Vet Center
- National Veterans Wheelchair Games
NEWS RELEASE
Veterans Reclaiming Their Lives Through Leisure
Vietnam Veterans Howie Slater, Jim Wyatt, Antone Sousa and Louis Workman get together to workout at the Presidio YMCA in San Francisco. They are enrolled in the Presidio Fitness Program for Veterans, a form of recreation therapy provided by the San Francisco VA Medical Center in partnership with the Presidio YMCA. Chris Geronimo, Recreation Therapist in the PTSD Outpatient Clinic at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and Director of the Presidio Fitness Program states, "In a nutshell, recreation therapy is a gateway toward better health and wellness. It uses a holistic approach to augment a Veteran's existing treatment plan and allows the Veteran to practice the coping and interpersonal skills they've learned. Veterans can reclaim their life through leisure and recreation." The goal of recreation therapy is to help Veterans who have illnesses, disabilities and other conditions use activities in ways that improve or maintain physical, emotional, social, and cognitive functioning for a better quality of life and increased independence. Recreation therapy also enhances morale, self esteem and life satisfaction. United Voluntary Services is proud to support this Fitness Program.
OGA Announces 2011 Award Recipients
On Oct, 14, 2011, at its annual meeting, the Oregon Golf Association recognized the Veterans Golf Club in White City, OR as the Club of the year. Watch the news story here.
For their dedication to promoting the game of golf, and for the services they provide those who have served our country---Veterans Golf Club in White City, OR is identified as the OGA Members Club of the year.
Based at Veteran's Memorial Golf Club in White City on the campus of Veterans Affairs Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics, the purpose of the Club is to stimulate interest in the game of golf and bring together veterans and their families in supporting the health and well being of loved ones in the center.
Membership in the club is free to inpatients--as well as free entry into their tournaments, with prizes awarded in the form of VA Canteen Coupon Books. Free lessons are given to interested patients. Annually this club donates to United Voluntary Services in support of other impatient programs--including the annual 4th of July picnic, Christmas party & gifts, and other activities.
Veterans Club is more than just a club. It is about volunteers , who continue to serve brethren, giving vets a place to heal. It is about giving back to veterans who gave their all for our county.
On February 12, 2011 United Voluntary Services was proud to serve as one of the partners in assisting the VA Sierra Pacific Health Care System, which is located in Reno, Nevada, by sponsoring a Valentines for Veterans Concert at John Ascuga's Nugget Hotel Casino. Also assisting in the sponsorship of this concert was the non-profit group Help Hospitalized Veterans together with several local businesses and community personalities who donated their services to make this concert possible. This concert, which was free of charge and open to the general public, was presented as part of the VA Sierra Pacific Health Care System's National Salute to Veteran Patients which is an event held annually to celebrate and 
to honor the men and women who have served this Country in uniform. In addition to show appreciation to America's Veterans, this concert also served to increase community awareness of VA programs and services, to encourage citizens to become a VA volunteer, and to increase the awareness of the issues facing injured Veterans and their families. The concert was a huge success and attracted over 1800 guests who attended to demonstrate their support of the many Veterans who reside in the northern Nevada area. The 60's legend Gary Lewis and the Playboys was the featured act at the concert and local media personalities also had prominent roles in this event.
United Voluntary Services was represented at this concert by Glenn Endsley, Representative of the United Voluntary Services Unit located at the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System and his Deputy Representative Jana Johnson. In recognition of United Voluntary Services financial support towards this concert, Mr Endsley accepted on behalf of United Voluntary Services a plaque which was presented by Kurt W. Schlegelmilch, M.D., FACHE, Director VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System at the beginning of the concert. This plaque was given in recognition of United Voluntary Services support of our Nation's Veterans and the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System. The picture accompanying this article shows Mr Endsley and Ms Johnson holding the plaque.
Richard Walters, Director and Representative of UVS to the Bath, NY VA Medical Center
Subject: Award
The American Red Cross has been involved with service to the Armed Forces for over 125 years. Emergency messaging is arranged for someone in the military from the family, notifying of a birth of a child, a serious illness or death. Another service is working with wounded soldiers in military hospitals and veterans in VA Hospitals and Medical Centers. Red Cross volunteers are even in Iraq and Afghanistan assisting the troops. There are countless numbers of volunteers working at military facilities around the country and world. New York State American Red Cross wanted to recognize a volunteer for the service to our nation's veterans. The Greater Steuben Chapter has the honor of one such volunteer. This volunteer has worked at the Bath VA Medical Center since 1993. He has been on various committees planning for the needs of the veterans, the volunteers, and the VA. This volunteer is a Navy veteran of the Korean War. His dedication to the veterans goes beyond what most volunteers do. He has the compassion for all of the veterans either residing at the Bath VA or living out in the community, including hospice care for one of the veterans who was dying and didn't have any known family. This volunteer spent many hours with this gentleman until he quietly passed away so he would not die alone.
This compassion for the welfare of the veterans was carried over as a Red Cross volunteer. He helped develop programs stemming from the SAF Grant Approved in 2008. The Visiting Vets program was a result of this grant that has made a difference in the lives of his "extended family" of veterans. I am honored to present the 2009 New York State Service to Armed Forces Award to Dick Walters a Representative of and Director for the United Voluntary Services.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Jupiter Veterans Center in Jupiter, FL recently opened to provide counseling services to returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Services offered at the center include individual and group counseling for veterans and their families, family counseling for military-related issues, bereavement counseling for families who experience an active-duty death, substance abuse assessment and referral, employment, benefits, and legal help.
Marvin Littky, National Vice President of United Voluntary Services (shown in photo on the left) received a certificate of appreciation from Dr. Raul Diaz, for outstanding support of the Jupiter Vet Center. The organization provided food for the Grand Opening, the Veteran's Luncheon last year and past funding of books to facilitate Veterans counseling, which has significantly contributed to the success of the Jupiter Vet Center.
The National Veterans Wheelchair Games represent the largest annual wheelchair sports event in the world. In 2010, 583 wheelchair athletes came from 45 states, Puerto Rico, and Great Britain to compete at the Games in Denver, Colorado. The 2011 Games will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania August 1-6, hosted by VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System and the 
Keystone Chapter of PVA. Both VA and PVA are committed to the rehabilitation of Veterans with disabilities through these Games, and will continue their efforts to make sure the National Veterans Wheelchair Games are challenging and rewarding every year.
The games are back to McGuire from where they started. United Volunary Services has donated $1,000.00 to the 2012 games which will be in Richmond, Virginia, June 25 - 30.