Subject: DAV FL Chapter 16 Newsletter January 2023

CENTRAL FL CHAPTER 16

P.O. Box 916643., Longwood FL 32791

Phone: 407-843-3722 Email: davflchapter16@gmail.com

Website: http://www.davmembersportal.org/chapters/fl/16/default.aspx

23 Issue 01 January 2023

NEWSLETTER

DAV Chapter 16 Meeting January 19th, 2022

DAV Chapter 16 Meeting

January 19, 2023

DAV Chapter 16 & Auxiliary Unit 16 Meetings for the remainder of 2023

3rd Thursday of each month

JANUARY 19

FEBRUARY 16

MARCH 16

APRIL 20

All Chapter meetings are held at:

VFW POST-2093

4444 Edgewater Drive.

Orlando, FL 32804

Bingo 5:00 PM

Dinner 6:00 PM

Meeting 7:00 PM

Events

February 9 – 11, 2023 - 2023 DAV Patriot Boot Camp Winter Event
The DAV Patriot Boot Camp Winter Event will be held in Erlanger, KY. More Info

August 5 – 8, 2023 - National Convention 2023

Harrah’s Atlantic City
777 Harrah’s Blvd.
Atlantic City, NJ 084011
$149 Single/ Double
Phone: 888-516-2215 (8 am-2 am EST, seven days a week)
Group name: DAV 2023 National Convention
Group code: SH07DV3 (All callers will be asked for this code but can also book by saying “DAV 2023 National Conv”

RESERVE ONLINE

NOTE: the CSO office will be closed during this period.

John Markiewicz Department Judge Advocate

I hope everyone had a great Christmas despite the record-low temperatures that gave Florida one of the coldest winters in many years. I hope you all are preparing to attend the Chapter Service Officer Training and the Mid-Winter Conference for the Department of Florida that is coming up the first week of January.

Questions continue to come up regarding a Chapter’s Charitable Giving Program and whether a DAV Chapter or Department is prohibited from giving money to other 501(C) type-chartered organizations or from sponsoring Little League Teams, Boy Scout/Sea Scout Troops and other youth organizations. As we begin a new year, I believe it is appropriate to remind our Chapters of the reasons behind the DAV policy.

There is no blanket prohibition. However, the IRS granted the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) their 501(C)4 Exemption and our various foundations their 501(C)3 Exemptions based on providing benefits by funding programs that serve veterans, more specifically (in the DAV’s case) serving disabled veterans. This means that DAV Chapters and Departments cannot do fundraising jointly with another organization to benefit another non-profit organization, nor make donations to another non-profit organization for other than a specific event or program that provides service to veterans, preferably disabled veterans, such as a Veterans Stand-down, a Veterans Homeless Shelter, a Veterans Caregiver event or some other specific event benefiting the disabled veterans and/or their families.

So, what about sponsoring a Boy Scout Troop, a Sea Scout Troop, a Little League Baseball Team or a ROTC group? The answer is that these are not programs that provide services to veterans, nor specifically to disabled veterans and their families. Accordingly, should a Chapter or Department be audited, as some have been recently, they could find themselves in serious difficulties with the IRS if they are funding these types of activities.In addition DAV Chapters and Departments are prohibited from advertising or promoting their own fund-raising events on social media.

Finally, we all need to be aware that the money being spent or donated by our Chapters and Departments, is money that was donated to the DAV for the benefit and care of our disabled veterans and their families. These funds come, in a large part, from donations received from the local communities and are donated to the DAV with the intent that they fund activities and programs for veterans and, again, more specifically for disabled veterans and their families. The IRS expects us to use funds donated for the purpose for which they granted us the exemption.

We also need to keep in mind that if we spend money donated to us for purposes other than for which it was donated, it does not take long for those donors to withdraw their future support and quit donating.

You can find the

Departments Latest Newsletter

http://www.davmembersportal.org/chapters/fl/16/default.aspx

A MUST READ

CHAPTER 16 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE & CONTEST

Contest period: 9/15/2022 to 2/16/2023

Prizes will be awarded by a drawing conducted at the

February 16, 2023 regular meeting.

Tickets for the drawing may be earned as follows:

• One Ticket: awarded for each Chap 16 inactive member that you bring to a meeting during the contest period (inactive is defined as a member who has not attended a chapter meeting in the previous six months.)

• One Ticket: awarded for any DAV At-Large member that you bring to a meeting during the contest period and a bonus ticket if they transfer to Chap 16.

• Two Tickets: awarded for the eligible guest that you bring to a meeting during the contest period (eligible guest defined as a veteran who is eligible for DAV membership but who is not a member—see DAV Hot List/Prospect List)

• Five Tickets: awarded for each ‘NEW Member’ that you sign up during the contest period to a new full-life membership (either paid in full or set up on a credit card payment plan.)

Prizes

(subject to change—additional prizes may be added)

Smart TV

Drone with Cameras

Fitbit Smart Watch

Samsung Galaxy Tablet

Multiple Gift Cards

VOLUNTEERS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE

Our nation’s heroes travel around the globe to protect our freedoms—it’s only right that we return their dedication. Volunteering to drive a vet ensures that even those living remotely from VA hospitals can make their appointments and never go without the treatment they need.

It’s all part of the DAV Transportation Network, administered by our Hospital Service Coordinators at VA medical facilities around the country.

LVAP HOURS :

We can not say this enough, but please send in your LVAP hours each month. Get kids 15-21 years of age involved for a chance at a scholarship after 100 hours. Anybody (does NOT have to be a vet)

LVAP POC: Mary Lou Davison PH: 904-200-2548 email: davflchapter16@gmail.com The information needed to add NEW members: Last Name, First Name, Full Address, Email, Phone, Date of Birth

Please email me the information, and they will be added.

If you attend our meetings, you should be signed up for LVAP Hours!

Commander's Action Network

Sign up for the Commander's Action Network. http://davcan.com/
fill out the form

To stay informed and take action to support federal legislation and policies affecting veterans, their families, and survivors, please join DAV CAN (Commander’s Action Network) by filling out the information below. As a DAV CAN member, you will get regular updates on important laws and regulations moving through Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Join other DAV members and supporters in advocating for better health care and benefits for veterans, particularly those injured and made ill during their service.

SERVICE OFFICERS

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS service officers, hours are 0900-1400 @ both locations with M-F @ Lake Baldwin VA Outpatient Clinic, 5201 Raymond Street, Orlando, FL 32803 (407-646-5500 ext 28720) and M-Thursday @ the Orlando VAMC at Lake Nona, 13800 Veterans Way, Orlando, FL 32827 (407-631-1833). Please bring your DD214 and any paperwork such as previous claims, decisions, appeals, outside-the-VA doctor reports, etc.

If you are denied a claim, please read the reason why it was denied on the denial letter, as that tells us what we need to do to get the claim approved on appeal. If you want to see what information we will need for the various forms, such as the 21-526EZ, 20-0995, 21-8940, and 21-686c, you can visit https://www.va.gov/find-forms/?q=claims. 21-0966 can be used first in case you are NOT ready to supply the other paperwork, so if the VA rules in your favor, they can pay you back to when you filed the 21-0966 (which might be able to be done over the phone with the VA @ 800-827-1000), but the rest of the paperwork should be filed with the DAV, so we can make sure it is fully completed. Claims filled out completely and accurately will decrease the amount of time it takes to process your claim. Tuesdays and Thursdays 1100-1500, a service officer will be at the VFW Post 2093, 4444 Edgewater Dr, Orlando, FL 32804; DAV chapter 16 cell phone 407-843-3722.

(NSO) National Service Officer

If a veteran wants to talk with an NSO (National Service Officer), they can email dav.vbaspt@va.gov, and include their name, phone number, and a good time to call. It goes in a line (queue); it goes in order of who called first, and an NSO will call them. You can also speak to a service officer Monday Through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST, by calling 1-888-604-0234.

If you want to see what information we will need for the various forms such as the 21-526EZ (Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits), 20-0995 (Decision Review Request: Supplemental Claim, if you have already filed for this illness or injury before, or asking for an increased disability), 21-8940 (Veteran's Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability), 21-686c (Application Request to Add and/or Remove Dependents) you can visit

https://www.va.gov/find-forms/?q=claims.

21-0966 (Intent to File a Claim for Compensation and/or Pension, or Survivors Pension and/or DIC) can be used first in case you are NOT ready to supply the other paperwork, so if the VA rules in your favor, they can pay you back to when you filed the 21-0966 (which might be able to be done over the phone with the VA @ 800-827-1000), but the rest of the paperwork should be filed with the DAV, so we can make sure it is fully completed.

Claims filled out completely and accurately will decrease the amount of time it takes to process your claim.

DAV Florida Chapter 16

P.O. Box 916643., Longwood FL 32791

Phone: 407-843-3722
Email: davflchapter16@gmail.com

Website: http://www.davmembersportal.org/chapters/fl/16/default.aspx

Subscribe

Subject: DAV FL Chapter 16 Newsletter January 2023

DAV Chapter 16 Meeting January 19th, 2022

Sign up for the Commander's Action Network. http://davcan.com/ fill out the form

Sign up for the Commander's Action Network. http://davcan.com/
fill out the form