Calls Upon Individuals, Organizations and Communities to Serve Veterans in Nationwide Effort 

WASHINGTON, DC—The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced a new nationwide initiative designed to build upon its existing partnerships to grow the number of individuals and organizations serving Veterans in their communities. The Department is renewing its commitment to Veterans and embarking upon a “Summer of Service” that seeks the help of citizens across the country to honor that commitment.[quote_box_left]Volunteers can help to serve Veterans by visiting http://www.volunteer.va.gov/ to find out the needs of your local VA facility. Follow #VASummerOfService on Vantage Point, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and join VA in caring for America’s Veterans.[/quote_box_left]

“We have made progress over the past year addressing the challenges we face in delivering care and benefits to millions of Veterans and their families,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald.  “While there is more work to do to honor our sacred commitment to Veterans, we also recognize that VA cannot do it alone. We are asking Americans everywhere to join the Summer of Service and help us give back to those who have given so much to our nation.”

In the coming weeks, VA will be working closely with Congressional partners, Veterans Service Organizations, Mayors and local communities, private sector and non-profit organizations, and VA employees to identify new and innovative ways to support VA’s commitment to care for those who “have borne the battle” and their families.

As part of VA’s Summer of Service, the Department has committed to holding an open house in VA facilities the week of June 28 to spur increased local engagement and welcome members of the community interested in supporting the needs of Veterans. VA has also established the following goals to achieve by Labor Day:

• Increasing Volunteers: Committed to engaging with 100,000 volunteers to support care and benefits programs and local events.
• Increasing Community Partners: Committed to expanding current agreements to provide services and support reaching more than 15,000 Veterans and family.
• Recruiting Medical Professionals: Hiring clinicians and clinical support staff to further expand access to care and homelessness.
• Congress: Host Congressional Members and Staffs at VA facilities across the country.

The Department has an outstanding volunteer program, which will be highlighted throughout the country this summer. VA will build upon the ongoing work of its more than 350,000 employees and 76,000 volunteers around the nation. While the central focus of the campaign will be increasing volunteerism and partnerships, it will also provide individuals and communities an opportunity to support other important priorities. Despite a hiring effort that brought more than 11,000 net new employees onboard over the past year, VA still needs more health care providers, claims specialists, medical support assistants, and cemetery directors to continue to expand needed services. VA’s partners can help by getting the word out this summer.

In the last year, VA has completed more than 46 million appointments, an increase of more than two million from the previous year.  Nearly 3 million Veterans received care in the private sector, an increase of more than 44 percent from the previous year.  The number of Veterans and Survivors receiving monthly compensation and pension benefits has increased to nearly 5 million.  In an effort to improve the Veteran’s customer service experience, VA has begun the most comprehensive re-organization in its history.  The initiative, called MyVA, has been guided by ideas and recommendations from Veterans, employees, and stakeholders.

“There is no mission more noble than serving Veterans and their families. At VA, we constantly strive to improve the way we do our job,” said McDonald.  “State by state, community by community, person by person, there are a number of ways we can all come together to serve Veterans. From expanded partnerships with the private sector and non-profit organizations, to accelerating hiring, to celebrating the commitment of VA employees and volunteers – we need the help of communities everywhere to succeed.”

Volunteers can help to serve Veterans by visiting http://www.volunteer.va.gov/ to find out the needs of your local VA facility. Follow #VASummerOfService on Vantage Point, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and join VA in caring for America’s Veterans.

For more information, go to:   http://www.va.gov/vasummerofservice/

The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency, in partnership with OKI Regional Council of Governments, recently changed the name of the Smog Alert program to Air Quality Advisory.

An Air Quality Advisory is a public message that is issued the day before the agency expects to see levels of air pollution that are unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly and people with asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory problems. The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency provides permitting, enforcement, monitoring and analysis support in Buter, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties.

Though often thought of during the summertime, air quality should be considered year-round. There are two main pollutants that cause air issues: particulate matter and ozone. There could be an Air Quality Advisory in the winter due to high particulate matter levels. Ozone is major pollutant causing air quality issues in the summer.

Along with the new name, there is a new logo which is used in every other major region of Ohio. If you’re traveling to Dayton or Columbus, you may see this in use.

[quote_box_right]

Air Quality Hotlines

24-hour (513) 946-7777
Toll Free (800) 889-0474
Air Quality Index (513) 946-7753
Mold & Pollen Count (513) 946-7753

[/quote_box_right]

Even small changes in daily habits can help improve our local air quality. Precautions everyone can take to help reduce air pollution include:

• Taking the bus, carpooling, biking or walking instead of driving
• Refueling your vehicle after 8 p.m.; do not top off when refueling and tighten the gas cap
• Not idling your vehicle
• Combining trips or eliminating unnecessary vehicle trips 
• Keeping your vehicle maintained with properly inflated tires and timely oil changes 
• Avoiding use of gasoline-powered lawn equipment on Air Quality Advisory days
• Avoiding use of oil-based paints and stains on Air Quality Advisory days
• Never burning leaves or other yard trimmings 
• Always burning clean, seasoned wood in outdoor fire pits, fireplaces and wood stoves
• Not using fire pits or fireplaces for non-essential home heating on Air Quality Advisory days
• Conserving electricity