Director Joe Sharpe and Deputy Director Mark Walker of the Legion’s Economic Division are meeting with Department of Housing and Urban Development officials in Washington. They are discussing the homeless veterans situation and exploring ways to reduce their numbers.
Jeff Steele, assistant director of the Legislative Division, is continuing the Legion’s monitoring of America’s involvement in the Middle East as he attends a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on “United States Policy Regarding Iraq.”
Americanism/Children & Youth staff are meeting with the director of Sponsor Relations for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals to discuss development of a CMN hospital balloon icon kits to assist Legion posts in raising money for their local CMN Hospitals, and to discuss refinement to donation tracking from Legion posts to CMN hospitals.
Joseph Grassi, deputy director of the Legion's National Security/Foreign Relations Division, is visiting the USNS Comfort, the Navy’s seagoing hospital ship in Baltimore. Grassi also will attend a meeting following the visit to discuss homeland security and emergency preparedness with local business leaders and government representatives.
Barry Searle, director of the Legion’s National Security Division, is meeting with representatives of the U.S. Army Reserve in Washington to discuss the Legion’s role in the military Family Support Initiative and employment challenges – and solutions – affecting Reservists. The White House recently announced a renewed and sharpened multi-agency government focus on military families.
Legislative Division Assistant Director Jeff Steele is attending a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing to discuss “Iraq, the challenging transition to a civilian mission.” It one of a series of hearings on the topic of the country’s future.
National Security Division Director Barry Searle is attending the Reserve Officers Association National Security Symposium in Washington, D.C. The session features professional development workshops focusing on national security and issues unique to the reserve and National Guard community. Searle will hear prominent speakers including Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz and Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli.
Application packets are being prepared for the 2011 Eight & Forty Lung and Respiratory Disease Nursing Scholarship. Applications will be available to Registered Nurses starting February 1.
The annual American Legion Boys State program update and information letter are being sent to all department program directors, chairpersons and adjutants.
The working group conducting development of an online American Legion Youth Programs Alumni Association are meeting to review a Web page mock-up and to continue refinements of the overall concept proposal.
