Monthly Archives: March 2018

Six Boys and 13 Hands

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Each year I am hired to go to Washington, DC, with the eighth grade class from Clinton, WI where I grew up, to videotape their trip. I greatly enjoy visiting our nation’s capitol, and each year I take some special memories back with me. This fall’s trip was especially memorable.

On the last night of our trip, we stopped at the Iwo Jima memorial. This memorial is the largest bronze statue in the world and depicts one of the most famous photographs in history — that of the six brave soldiers raising the American Flag at the top of a rocky hill on the island of Iwo Jima, Japan, during WW II.

Over one hundred students and chaperones piled off the buses and headed toward the memorial. I noticed a solitary figure at the base of the statue, and as I got closer he asked, ‘Where are you guys from?’    Continue reading →

March FAC Newsletter

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Deployment Support

This month’s focus in the March FAC Newsletter is on deployment as we have units that have left, are leaving, and are preparing to leave. Please distribute as you deem appropriate, and if you have any questions or if I can assist you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.

2018 FAC Newsletter- March.pdf

Have a wonderful day.

Respectfully,

Yolonda Von Itter
Military Family Assistance Specialist
Skyline Contractor
MN National Guard Readiness Center
1536 Ben Franklin Dr
Arden Hills, MN 55112
Office: 651-282-4055
Mobile:612-382-4181
Yolonda.m.vonitter.ctr@mail.mil

Minnesota Humanities Center Veterans Voices Award

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Minnesota Humanities Logo

Here is your chance to nominate a deserving veteran in your workplace or community! Application and nomination forms can be found at the website below.

The Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) https://mnhum.org/ is excited to announce that nominations for their 2018 Veterans’ Voices Awards are now being accepted. Nominations will be open through Thursday, June 7, 2018.

Now in its sixth year, the Veterans’ Voices Award recognizes former and actively serving Minnesota Veterans who are making significant contributions to their communities and are exemplary humanists. These Veterans also embody the Humanities Center’s mission — “to build a thoughtful, literate, and engaged society” – and values: to build and strengthen relationships, recognize the power of story and danger of absence, learn from and with multiple voices, and amplify community solutions for change.

These awards are part of the Humanities Center’s Veterans’ Voices program that draws on the power of the humanities to call attention to the contributions and often-missed stories of Veterans. This program empowers all Minnesota Veterans to speak in their own voices through storytelling, art, theater, discussion groups and more – amplifying the voices of Veterans throughout our state and helping to bridge the Veteran-civilian divide.

Annette Brechon Kuyper
Director of Military Outreach
Minnesota Department of Military Affairs
20 West 12th Street
Saint Paul, MN 55155-2004
Office: 651.282.4002
Cell: 651.955.3108

Laketrails Wilderness Camping

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Who: Military Teens ages 13-18 (All Branches)
What: Lake trails Camp: Experience a 9 day Outdoor Adventure at Lake of the Woods. Campers will have an experience of a lifetime and will canoe, cook their own food, portage and set-up camp.
When: This summer! Check the website for open sessions.
Where: Lake of the Woods, Oak Island, MN (Transportation is available)
Register: Click Here
POC: Sue Lemm,

2018 Women Veterans Conference

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Who:  All female Veterans
What:  Woman Veterans Conference
When:  Saturday, May 26, 2018  7:45am-5:00pm
Where:  Ramada Inn, 2705 Annapolis Lane N. Plymouth, MN 55441
Register:  Contact info below
P.O.C:  Kimberly Dobler, 612-283-5863

**The mission of the Minnesota Women Veterans Program is to ensure women Veterans have equitable access to federal and state benefits  and services.  We respond to the gender specific needs of women Veterans and ensure that women Veterans are treated with dignity and respect.  Our outreach events are geared to improve the awareness of available benefits, services and eligibility criteria for the women who served in the United States Armed Forces.

Lutheran Social Services Therapeutic Foster Care

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Below please find a blurb on an informational meeting for Lutheran Social Services Therapeutic Foster Care, and the link to Youth Services Network, ysnmn.  Ysnmn is the mobile app for finding homeless services.

Lutheran Social Services Therapeutic Foster Care is hosting a group information meeting on their program on Wednesday, March 28th at 6:30pm at the Center for Changing Lives, 2400 Park Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404. The registration link is below.

LSS Therapeutic Foster Care booklet.pdf

https://ysnmn.org/#/home

Please let me know if you have any questions, updates or changes.  Thank you!

 

Catherine Christiansen
catherine@partnersforhealthykids.org
Office: 763-745-5037
Mobile: 612-501-2632

HAMEL VFW “SOCK HOP” on March 24

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The Hamel VFW is hosting a 1959 Sock Hop/ Birthday Party for one of our dearest friends on March 24th.

There’ll be burgers, fries and root beer floats. So put some grease in your hair (if you have any), ask your honey to slide on her poodle skirt and make it over to the VFW.

There’s a best costume contest as well. 

See you there!

Military Tax Information and Scam Warning

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With the 2017 tax return season upon us, a surge in potential tax scams is likely to come with it. These scams come in many forms including fraudulent returns, phony calls, fake Internal Revenue Service (IRS) emails, as well as phishing schemes. These can lead to the theft of taxpayer money and/or personal data.

Mitigation:

  • Do not carry your Social Security card or any documents that include your SSN or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
  • Do not give businesses your SSN or ITIN just because they ask
  • Protect your financial information
  • Check your credit score every 12 months
  • Secure PII in your home
  • Protect you personal computers by using firewalls, anti-virus software, updating security patches, changing passwords for internet accounts on a regular basis
  • Do not give your personal information over the phone, through the mail, or on the internet unless you have initiated the contact and are sure of the recipient
  • File your taxes as soon as possible

Contact Military OneSource with any tax questions and assistance with tax prep and filing.  http://www.militaryonesource.mil/taxprep