Attendees: Josie Anton FL; Ray Biondo AR; Julian Cohen CA; Laurie Cohen CA; Jesse Gersten AZ; Joe Kraut SE; Alan Moskin NY; PNC Norman Rosenshein NJ; PNC Larry Schulman NY; Debby Stern FL; Henry Wedell AZ
Staff: NED Herb Rosenbleeth; DOO Larry Richardson; Mrs. Bailor; Cheryl Waldman
Subject: Hospitals and VAVS
- VAVS currently does not have National Chairman due to recent death of PNC Bernard Becker
- Important to coordinate all appointments and reappointments through Department Commanders before sending to National Headquarters
- All VAVS representatives should schedule annual joint review with heads of voluntary services in November 2008
- VAVS Programs
- At some hospitals volunteers are trained in computer operations
- Programs for patients undertaken by JWV volunteers include bingo, trips to ball games, movies with popcorn, once-a-year trip to Shrine Circus with support from VA, summer barbecues, dinners for Jewish patients on holidays, furnishing new housing for previously homeless vets, birthday buddy program, holiday gift program, and ice cream socials
- JWV leads other VSO's in VAVS participation
- Helps veterans of all religions and backgrounds
- Recruitment of new VAVS volunteers
- Recruitment of new volunteers in difficult since younger veterans are difficult to recruit
- Possible to recruit teenage volunteers through groups such as Youth Challenge, a boot camp for kids, or Explorers (aged 14-20) with an emphasis on young interested in health careers
- New program under development in Arizona will make student volunteers eligible for college scholarships if they put in 300 hours of volunteer service
- Some hospitals have student volunteer programs with scholarship possibilities for best volunteers
