The VVA Talk List is about sharing information that may help us as individuals and as an organization. It is a privilege extended to VVA and AVVA members in good standing only. It is about problem solving for individuals (seeking buddies; looking for help with the VA; etc.), chapters (where can we reach The Moving Wall; how can we raise funds; increase membership; etc.) and the organization (communication problems; organizational priorities; etc.). This is a forum where members can share their ideas and information. We all hope for and want the best for our organization, for our members and their families, and for all those who wore the uniform.

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Our United States Vietnam Veterans were there when we needed them the most. Now they need your support. Please donate your car to the Vietnam Veterans of America. You get a tax deduction and your car donation will be helping those who have given us so much, our veterans. Vietnam Veterans of America is chartered by Congress and has been supporting our dedicated Veterans and their families for over 30 years.

The donation process is simple, fast and secure, and your car donation will help us to provide critical support services for our defenders of freedom in their time of need. Call toll free today at 1-800-Help-Vets or use our easy online donation form to schedule your free towing and join the thousands of other satisfied car donors who have already helped our veterans.

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Washington (Jan. 3, 2010)- To further advocate for Veterans, VA announced that companies identifying themselves as small businesses or Veteran-owned businesses to gain priority for some Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contracts must now provide documentation verifying their status within 90 days of receiving notice from the agency.

"VA is committed to doing business with as well as supporting and protecting Veteran-owned small businesses," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "Although the verification process may initially be a challenge to some small business owners and to VA, it's a necessary step to eliminate misrepresentation by firms trying to receive contracts that should go to service-disabled and other Veteran-owned vendors."

The Veterans Benefits Act of 2010, signed by the President Oct. 13, expanded VA's requirement to verify the status of businesses claiming Veterans preference to compete for VA contracts by being listed in VA's VetBiz.gov "Vendor Information Pages" (VIP) database.  Companies will have to submit an application to substantiate their status as owned and controlled by Veterans, service-disabled Veterans or eligible surviving spouses.  Only companies that submit the information will be listed in the VIP database.

The law requires VA to notify currently listed businesses that within 90 days of the Veteran-owned business receiving the notice they must submit certain business documents. VA sent notices to more than 13,000 listed
businesses by email and mail Dec. 10-11.   Other companies, wanting to
be listed in the database and considered for future set-aside VA contracts, also have to submit application packages. VA will work on those verifications after the existing listings are verified. 

The department plans to post additional information at www.VetBiz.gov in early February informing applicants how to submit their documents electronically.  In the meantime, VA's notice to currently listed businesses encourages them to submit their information on CD-ROM.

Priority processing will be given to those Veteran-owned firms that are in line to receive a set-aside contract from VA, those that already conduct business with VA, and those that have already filed an application for verification. 

For more information, visit the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization's website at www.va.gov/OSDBU/veteran/verification.asp or the main page at www.va.gov/osdbu/.

WASHINGTON (Dec. 30, 2010) - The Social Security Administration has announced that no cost-of-living adjustments will be made to Social Security benefits in 2011 because the consumer price index has not risen since 2008 when the last Social Security increase occurred.

Like recipients of Social Security and other federal benefits, Veterans, their families and survivors will also not see a cost-of-living adjustment in 2011 to their compensation and pension benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Under federal law, the cost-of-living adjustments to VA's compensation and pension rates are the same percentage as for Social Security benefits. 

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Once again, Veterans Radio is opening its phone lines so you can “sound off.” What’s on your mind? How can we help our fellow veterans? How can we help our active duty military? What’s happening at your VA? What would you like to know about our military? What does “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell really mean? What about the capabilities of our troops? Can we “make do” with a smaller Army and Marine Corps? 

Join hosts Dale Throneberry and Gary Lillie at 877-573-7825 on Saturday, January 8th and have your voice heard!

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