Celebrating 70 Years with Veterans Affairs Voluntary Services

Cara Day
Director of Programs & Communications
National Headquarters

This year the VA is celebrating the chartering of the Veterans Affairs Voluntary Services (VAVS), the formal system for volunteers to serve veterans in VA facilities. The VFW Auxiliary is a charter member of the VAVS and one of the largest providers of volunteers, hours and donations in the country. Hundreds of organizations participate in VAVS, but our members are a key partner with the VA in filling in the gaps to serve veterans.

May 4-6, 2016, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the National Advisory Committee (NAC), which is the voting body of the VAVS, will come together for its annual meeting. In addition to the wonderful sessions and workshops for volunteers, Representatives and Deputy Representatives and VA staff, VAVS will commemorate the 70 years that have fulfilled the needs of veterans nationwide in VA facilities.

I will attend that event as your National Representative along with National President Francisca Guilford and our Certifying Official Connie Wahlen. It is truly a wonderful learning experience every year. We hear from great speakers, attend informative workshops and get to know the other great organizations and volunteers.

This conference is open to anyone who is a part of the VAVS system. If you are a volunteer, Representative or Deputy Representative, you should consider coming. I promise you will learn a lot and be inspired in a hundred ways to go back and continue this wonderful part of who we are as an organization.

Learn about the conference here: http://www.volunteer.va.gov/NAC.asp.

When I get back, I’ll be sure to put together a review of my time there. Thank you to all our amazing hospital volunteers! You are making a HUGE difference in the lives of veterans!