Veterans
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As part of the settlement, the organization will be dissolved and its funds will be distributed to two national and well-respected veterans charities, Fisher House Foundation and Operation Homefront.
The settlement also places a permanent injunction on VietNow’s directors and officers, barring them from any future involvement in running a charity or soliciting donations.
“Veterans and their families sacrifice immensely for our country. They deserve to be treated with the utmost respect and dignity,” said Attorney General Becerra. “It’s a breach of the public trust to deceive and exploit the goodwill of generous Americans. It's even worse when you do so at the expense of our veterans. The California Department of Justice will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute any charity falsely claiming to help our veterans.”
VietNow falsely told prospective donors that it had significant charitable programs. In reality, of the almost $4 million it raised in the last two years, nearly 90 percent of VietNow’s funds went directly to its for-profit professional fundraiser, Corporations for Character. Less than $10,000 was spent on charitable programs.
California law requires charities and fundraisers to notify the attorney general when they have violated the laws in other states.
VietNow failed to notify Attorney General Becerra of an action taken by the Michigan Attorney General.
As a result, when California learned that VietNow had violated Michigan’s laws, Attorney General Becerra promptly issued a cease and desist order prohibiting VietNow from operating or soliciting donations in California.
The settlement, which is joined by 20 other states, resolves the cease and desist order in California and is coordinated with the resolution of an action in Illinois that shuts down the facility. Attorney General Becerra also issued a cease and desist order against Corporations for Character. That action is not part of the settlement.
In California, the attorney general has the primary responsibility for supervising charities and professional fundraisers who solicit on their behalf.
Under Government Code section 12580 et seq., the attorney general may investigate and bring legal actions against charities and fundraisers that misuse charitable assets or engage in fraudulent fundraising practices.
A copy of the settlement agreement is available at https://www.oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/ahead-veterans-day-attorney-general-becerra-announces-dissolution-charity.
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The event will start at noon at 15880 Dam Road Extension between the administration office and Aromas Café.
To start the event, Cruz Torres will sing the National Anthem.
Next, Clearlake Mayor Russell Perdock, and Tad Byrne, a Lake County Campus student, will be speaking about what Veterans Day means to them.
The Lake County Campus, along with other college campuses around the nation, offers veteran support to help guide them through the paperwork to access their benefits and further their education.
Aromas Café will be serving food during the event, including prime rib with mashed potatoes. Food will be served at 50-percent off for those who are veterans.
Come join the celebration as Lake County Campus honors those who have served their country.
For more information call 707-995-7900 or visit the campus Web site at http://LCC.yccd.edu.
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The event will take place at the Ukiah Campus, located at 1000 Hensley Creek Road.
School officials said they are both honored and humbled to come together to recognize and celebrate local veterans on this day.
The Mendocino College Veterans Day Recognition and Barbeque will begin at 11:45 a.m. with a short ceremony, which will include the color guard and a moment of silence for the fallen, in addition to a few brief messages.
The American Legion will be preparing a free barbeque to begin at noon.
Additionally, local agencies, along with Mendocino College representatives will hold a Veterans Resource Fair from noon to 2 p.m., providing information about services available and answering questions.
All events will be held in Pomo Plaza, weather permitting.
In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held in the Little Theatre and the barbeque and Resource Fair will be held in the Lowery Student Center.
For more information, please visit www.mendocino.edu or call 707-468-3101.
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The United Veterans Council of Lake County and Vet Connect/Stand Down Committee said more than 150 veterans were served at the event, which took place at Sept. 27 and 28 at the Lake County Fairgrounds.
The council and committee offered sincere gratitude to the many providers at this year’s Veteran Stand Down.
Veterans met with more than 25 different providers each day.
Services included Lake County Department of Social Services, Lake County Veteran Service offices for both Lake and Mendocino counties, Hospice Services of Lake County, Lake Transit Authority and Lake County Mental Health.
Woodland College, Safe RX and Habitat for Humanity were on hand along with numerous other state, county and local services.
The Department of Veterans Affairs offered member services representatives from the Clearlake and Ukiah Outpatient Clinics, Housing and Urban Development VASH intake and referrals, Community Nursing Home, Veteran Benefits Administration as well as other departments.
Legal Services of Northern California offered expungement services and Frontline Mobile Dental provided cost-free dental services both days, sponsored in full by the Redbud Community Health District. Mini health screenings were administered by nurses from Sutter Health and Mendocino Community Health Clinic.
Sutter Lakeside Hospital provided lunch at no charge both days of the event, the meals were prepared and served by Be Fresh and other community volunteers.
Homeless veterans received supplies such as boots, backpacks and bags, sleeping systems and tents; coats and jackets were provided by Hospice.
LTA provided free bus rides to all veterans going to and from the Stand Down.
The Vet Connect/Stand Down Committee is grateful for the more than 25 organizations, 50 representatives and 38 volunteers that attended the Stand Down both days and to those who began with the setup and stayed for the tear down of this great venue.
It is only because of volunteers and these organizations that the Stand Down is successful and our Veterans can receive so many services, the committee said.
The next Vet Connect event will be held at the American Legion Hall in Clearlake on Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with lunch provided.
The 2018 Stand Down is expected to be held Sept. 20 to 21, again at the Lake County Fairgrounds.
If you would like information on how to help Lake County veterans, please contact Frank Parker at 707-274 9512.
To stay up to date regarding future events, to request information, or if you interested in being a provider at these events, join the Facebook group, Lake County Vet Connect Hook Up Hub.
Donations can be made to LCVC at Umpqua Bank in Lakeport; these donations are used to purchase surplus items and for services such as the dental van, transportation costs and other services.
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“This is great news for us because this five-star rating is a first for the Yountville Home,” said Ursula Stuter, acting administrator of the facility. “This star rating is a reflection of the quality, compassion, and dedication of the Yountville team. Despite having a large facility with four different levels of care, an aging infrastructure, and nearly 900 residents, our team has proven again and again that it can provide some of the best care in the nation.”
In 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services created the Quality Rating System, from one to five stars, to help consumers and their families compare nursing homes.
The Yountville Veterans Home was rated at two stars in 2015 and increased to three stars last year.
This jump to five stars puts the home in the top 10 percent in quality as judged against nursing homes statewide.
This announcement brings all five of the CMS-rated homes operated by the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) to five stars.
“This is a very proud moment for our entire agency,” said CalVet Secretary, Dr. Vito Imbasciani. “A five-star rating at Yountville is the culmination of a concerted effort to improve services across all of CalVet’s programs, and today it feels like we have reached success. Tomorrow we turn to maintenance and improvement in other areas, but today we can rest – and celebrate.”
“Achieving five stars in all five eligible Veterans Homes is a tremendous accomplishment,” said Coby Petersen, deputy secretary over CalVet’s system of eight veterans homes.
“Two years ago, we had only two-star facilities, and our veterans deserved better,” said Petersen. “Staff in every home and at every level have worked hard to improve policies and procedures, strengthen training programs, and develop robust internal audits to ensure that we were providing the best care possible. The results today speak for themselves – this was a team effort and I couldn’t be prouder. As a veteran, this is the quality I would expect for myself or a loved one.”
The annual and periodic surveys conducted by the Department of Public Health for this determination evaluate compliance with Medicare health and safety standards for acute and continuing care providers, including nursing homes, with respect to health inspections and data on nursing and support staffing, quality measures, and health care inspections. These categories are then combined into an overall quality rating of one to five stars.
Founded in 1884, the Veterans Home of California-Yountville is the largest Veterans Home in the U.S., offering skilled nursing, long-term care, and residential accommodations with a wealth of recreational, social, and therapeutic activities for independent living.
Nearly 900 aged or disabled men and women of World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom currently live at the Veterans Home.
See all of the homes and learn more about CalVet at www.calvet.ca.gov.
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The fifth service academy, the Coast Guard Academy, does not require a nomination.
“One of the highest honors I have as a Representative in Congress is annually nominating exceptional candidates from our community to the service academies,” said Rep. Thompson. “Just a few months ago, seven exceptional young men and women were accepted into the academies from our district, and I’m pleased to announce that the nomination process for the next class is underway. If offered appointments, these young men and women will receive both a world-class education and the skills they will need to become tomorrow’s military leaders.”
Eligible candidates must be at least 17 years old, but younger than 23, in the year of their admission to the academy, a United States citizen, unmarried, and a resident of California’s 5th Congressional District.
The benefits of attending a service academy include:
- Cadets will receive a four-year education and degree from some of the most prestigious colleges in the country. All service academies have high academic standards.
- In exchange for a five-year commitment to the military candidates selected receive a world-class education valued at $400,000. Schooling, room, board and books are all paid for. In addition, medical and dental coverage will be provided.
- The service academies’ key focus is on preparing the leaders of tomorrow through leadership, mental, emotional and physical development.
- Cadets will have job security upon graduation as they will go into service as a commissioned officer in the United States military.
- An O-1 commissioned officer earns a base pay of $3,692.10 per month plus 30 days of leave a year.
- A new Second Lieutenant earns $ 2,934.30 per month. In addition, they receive a $253 Basic Allowance for Subsistence. Airborne status pays an extra $150 per month and Combat Zone pay extra $225 month. Additionally, they receive a housing allowance to live off post, which varies by location.
Applications are due to Thompson’s office by Oct. 15.
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“We know that in 2014, an average of 20 veterans a day died in this country from suicide, which is 20 too many,” said VA Secretary David J. Shulkin. “This is a national public health crisis requiring a national public health approach. When it comes to preventing Veteran suicide, VA can’t – and should not – do this alone.”
For Suicide Prevention Month, VA has a number of outreach events planned to raise awareness. Among some of the top events planned.
A number of declaration signings will be held throughout the month within the entire VA health care system, the Department of Defense, veteran service organizations and with other partners around the country that show a commitment of solidarity to prevent Veteran suicides.
Each VA facility will also be asked to commit to Be There, ensuring veterans get the mental health support they need through a “no wrong door” philosophy.
The VA declaration promises:
- To adopt a “no wrong door” philosophy for suicide prevention so every VA employee will assist veterans in need;
- To work with our Community Veteran Engagement Boards or other community partner in suicide prevention efforts;
- To establish a “buddy system” so Veterans can reach out to someone when needed;
- To continue implementation of Press 7, for our telephone systems, where feasible, to provide immediate access to the Veterans and Military Crisis Line
- To establish open access in our facility mental health clinics and same day access in our community based mental health clinics within six months, to ensure prompt attention to the needs of veterans;
- To work across clinical specialties to ensure veterans receive integrated speciality pain management and sleep services as needed;
- To ensure all staff and employees clinical suicide prevention training;
- To arrange appointments for veterans seeking care through Enhanced Enrollment procedures; and
- To increase the number of veterans and providers connecting through our Telemental Health services.
A suicide prevention toolkit is being distributed around the country to stakeholders and community partners.
A number of partnerships will be announced including a national network of volunteer professionals at Give an Hour to expand community-based mental health services for veteran and military communities.
Outreach efforts will target communities and military units that are experiencing high rates of suicide. We are not waiting until they are in crisis.
VA is continuing its work with the Department of Defense to identify at-risk service members and enroll them for VA care and engage them through community programs before they transition out of the military, with a day planned in which employees of both departments will be encouraged to wear the same color to show commitment to suicide prevention.
Monthlong social media events are planned including a Thunderclap, twitter and blog posts; Instagram takehover; Facebook live and other social media media events targeted at suicide prevention.
Veterans in crisis can call the Veterans Crisis Line for confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year at 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text to 838255.
Veterans can also visit Make the Connection, a powerful network of stories of recovery, to learn more visit http://maketheconnection.net.
For more information and resources, visit VeteransCrisisLine.net/BeThere and VeteransCrisisLine.net/SpreadTheWord.
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The fallen sailors are:
- Electronics Technician 1st Class Charles Nathan Findley, 31, from Amazonia, Missouri.
- Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class Abraham Lopez, 39, from El Paso, Texas.
- Electronics Technician 2nd Class Kevin Sayer Bushell, 26, from Gaithersburg, Maryland.
- Electronics Technician 2nd Class Jacob Daniel Drake, 21, from Cable, Ohio.
- Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Timothy Thomas Eckels Jr., 23, from Manchester, Maryland.
- Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Corey George Ingram, 28, from Poughkeepsie, New York.
- Electronics Technician 3rd Class Dustin Louis Doyon, 26, from Suffield, Connecticut.
- Electronics Technician 3rd Class John Henry Hoagland III, 20, from Killeen, Texas.
- Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Logan Stephen Palmer, 23, from Decatur, Illinois.
- Electronics Technician 3rd Class, Kenneth Aaron Smith, 22, of Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
On Aug. 24, divers recovered and identified the remains of Doyon and Smith.
McCain was involved in a collision with the merchant vessel Alnic MC in waters east of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore Aug. 21.
The incident is under investigation to determine the facts and circumstances of the collision.
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More divers and equipment arrived overnight to continue search and recovery operations for eight missing Sailors inside flooded compartments of the ship.
Earlier Thursday, divers recovered the remains of 22-year-old Electronics Technician 3rd Class Kenneth Aaron Smith from New Jersey.
Still missing are:
- Electronics Technician 1st Class Charles Nathan Findley, 31, from Missouri.
- Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class Abraham Lopez, 39, from Texas.
- Electronics Technician 2nd Class Kevin Sayer Bushell, 26, from Maryland.
- Electronics Technician 2nd Class Jacob Daniel Drake, 21, from Ohio.
- Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Timothy Thomas Eckels Jr., 23, from Maryland.
- Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Corey George Ingram, 28, from New York.
- Electronics Technician 3rd Class John Henry Hoagland III, 20, from Texas.
- Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Logan Stephen Palmer, 23, from Illinois.
The incident is under investigation to determine the facts and circumstances of the collision.
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