IAVA’s 5th Annual Heroes’ Gala
Yeah, we got an invitation last night from Paul Rieckhoff to attend IAVA’s Annual Heroes’ Gala in New York City.
We’re thrilled to announce that NBC Nightly News Anchor Brian Williams will again serve as our Master of Ceremonies. And this year, we are proud to honor Corporal Aaron Mankin, Iraq veteran, wounded warrior and spokesperson for UCLA’s Operation Mend, with the IAVA 2011 Veterans Leadership Award. And here’s the really big news: IAVA will also be recognizing committed supporter Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report, with the IAVA 2011 Civilian Service Award! You won’t want to miss that.
Yeah, ya know how thrilled they are? They’re charging $5000/couple.
We hope you’ll be there to join our audience of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, dedicated supporters, and distinguished members of the veterans’ community for this incredible night.
Yeah, even at the cheap seat, obstructed view cost ($500 per), how many Iraq and Afghanistan veterans will be in the audience? To see Brian Williams and Stephen Colbert? Seriously? If I sent $500 directly to Stephen Colbert and Brian Williams, they’d probably come to my house and make me a sandwich after they got done ironing my shirts. For $5000 they’d build my garage.
That’s what I mean when I say that all IAVA does is take in money without a thought for the troops.
Your participation will help IAVA tackle startlingly high unemployment and suicide rates among returning vets. Your attendance will help ensure that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families receive the honor, care and support they deserve throughout their lives.
Really? How is IAVA “tackling” those problems, Paul? By writing how they’re not really heroes in the New York Times? The only job you’ve ever got for a veteran is your own.
I don’t know how many times I’ve read on this blog about veterans who joined IAVA because they believed the excellent ads and then never heard another word from IAVA.
Hollywood-hugging, pole-smoking charlatans.
Fat f**king chance that I’ll be there, Paul. Unless Blackfive is springing for one of those $1/4 million tables.
Category: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Shitbags
“Fat f**king chance that I’ll be there, Paul. Unless Blackfive is springing for one of those $1/4 million tables.”
Think that likely do you?
Jonn, save a couple seats for me and Kris.
TSO: Sure. All B5 has to do is cut Jimbo’s bar stipend for next month.
The entire month? Wow. I guess we all slow down as we get older.
I went to their website thinking that surely they do SOMETHING. As near as I can tell, all they do is negotiate ‘deals’ with commercial vendors and maintain some hyperlinks to other organizations. The staff is huge given their actual outputs and products.
Over the past six months, I’ve applied for no more than four positions within IAVA hoping to get a job (Note: I really want to work within a veterans non profit/vso ). Not a word from them. Then I look at their Linkedin and see non vets filling positions. Sure, I may feel slighted and hold some animosity, but Jonn spells it out perfectly.
“Really? How is IAVA “tackling” those problems, Paul? By writing how they’re not really heroes in the New York Times? The only job you’ve ever got for a veteran is your own.
I don’t know how many times I’ve read on this blog about veterans who joined IAVA because they believed the excellent ads and then never heard another word from IAVA.”
Pretty dead on.
Zedechek, where are you located?
Send Jonn an email to forward to me if you would.
To bad you’re not an Iraq or Afghanistan vet yourself, ehh John? Then you could go for free.
Its not a perfect organization, but any vet that has used the new GI Bill owes IAVA there gratitude.
Belinda–apparently you didn’t use that new GI Bill to take a spelling class at the Learning Annex. Just ask anyone who has tried to get any of their GI Bill benefits how well IAVA going to bat for them has worked.
Yeah, thought so.
Anyone? Really? Any one vet? Wow, that shouldn’t be too hard.
And yeah, the Bill needs fixing. But one probably would not exist at all if it hadn’t been IAVA getting in the ear of Jim Webb. You may not like that because it doesnt jive with your worldview, but facts are facts.
*eats popcorn* I love IAVA threads. @Zedechek, good luck in the job search man. It’s tough, but keep at it. Any chance that you’re in Los Angeles?
Oh, Belinda, you so cute when you’re wrong and stomp your little feet. Tell me, what did IAVA do when it was discovered that the administration wanted to charge insurers for treatment of service-related injuries?
I see the Legion, VFW, et al, doing a myriad of services for veterans. What exactly has the IAVA done besides gone, “Me too!” and put out an absolutely fucking WORTHLESS “report card” which was so heavily slanted in favor of Democrats it wasn’t even worth reading?
What does that have to do with anything? We were discussing the GI Bill, and IAVA’s role in developing it. Try to be more subtle next time when shifting the argument.
Then let’s talk about Reickhoff pushing for caps to the GI Bill after Obama won the election. And let’s talk about Reickhoff telling the Virginia Pilot that all of the VSOs supported caps despite the fact that he was the only one.
Before you call me a liar, remember that I have screen caps even though the Virginia Pilot story came down a few moments after it went up.
The thing is; Reickhoff thought the GI Bill was a great idea before the election and then after the election not so much.
And what has IAVA done for veterans since 2008 – are they going to rest on those laurels for the next 50 years?
And while we’re on the subject, do you honestly think that IAVA is solely responsible for GI Bill?
“Is IAVA solely responsible for the GI Bill?” Of course not. But to ignore their impact on its development and structure is foolish.
The caps is a tough issue and one I disagree with them on. But they are right in that schools should be taking on the Yellow Ribbon Program so its not an issue. This money has to come from somewhere, it can’t always be the government, something I’m sure the readership here agrees with.
As for “what has IAVA done for veterans since 2008” and the jobs cracks in the post – I know you are familiar with the Hiring Heroes Act. Guess whos been involved in that every step of the way? Yeah, IAVA.
Take off your angry emo conservative glasses, John, they are doing some good things.
Hey Belinda, if they were so concerned about hiring veterans, why is it they don’t hire any themselves?
IAVA defines the phrase, “riding someone’s coattails.” As I stated before, the only “good” they’re doing consists of “me too!” shit that’s been done longer and better than most other organizations, without pushing a political agenda in the process.
NHSparky – if their website is up to date, they employ 13 veterans on a staff of 39. 1 in 3. Thats pretty good, and probably a higher percentage than many VSOs.
Link: http://iava.org/content/iava-staff-board
And I should add that that total does not include John’s pal, Paul Riekhoff.
So an organization that purports to benefit veterans has only 13 veteran employees? And that’s “pretty good”? I’ll bet it doesn’t compare well at all to other veterans’ organizations. Do you mean to tell me that they can’t find any qualified veterans to fill those 26 jobs? In an organization that has “veterans” right there in it’s name?
And, oh, you didn’t explain why Reickhoff was gung-ho for the GI Bill before the election then decided we should cap benefits afterwards. I mean, I know why – I want to see you write the words.
I also find it odd that every time I pick a fight with Reickhoff, he sends one of his goof balls over here. Each one goofier than the next. I guess this time he sent a chick so I wouldn’t call you a fuckstick. It almost worked.
Who said Bernie Madoff’s business model is dead?
I am rather curious, what did IAVA actually ‘do’ to impact the development and structure of legislation written and supported by the big 3: VFW, DAV, AmLegion? Did they swing any votes in committee? In either chamber of Congress? Pay the President’s greens fees?
How did the IAVA resolve the VA not paying for the college students for a number of years? Was there supplemental legislation? How big is the lobbying effort? How many IAVA lobbyists are currently sitting in Congress, either as elected members or as paid staffers?
Why does IAVA exist? Failure of the VFW to provide babysitting services? Actually, not kidding on that one.
NHSparky – if their website is up to date, they employ 13 veterans on a staff of 39. 1 in 3. Thats pretty good, and probably a higher percentage than many VSOs.
Really? Because I work for a VSO, and I bet I could provide some SIGNIFICANTLY higher figures if you would be actually interested.
DaveO – “Why does IAVA exist? Failure of the VFW to provide babysitting services? Actually, not kidding on that one.”
Why do they exist? Mentalities like that, for starters.
TSO – Do it then. I think we would all be interested in seeing those numbers.
Want to do some good…try donating to the Fischer House or TAPs. I refuse to donate to any organization that has more than 7% in overhead/advertising.
John, based on the photos of you available on Facebook, you tossing off “goofy” accusations is laughable. And if you think your boy is against the GI Bill now your reading comprehension is pretty poor.
I’m not one of Pauls “goons” either, just a supporter that is sick of your venom.
And yeah, I still think 1 out 3 for a VSO devoted solely to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is pretty good. And it looks like those staffers are all vets of those conflicts, to. Maybe TSO can prove otherwise with other VSOs. And their free membership model should be replicated elsewhere in my opinion.
NHSparky – if their website is up to date, they employ 13 veterans on a staff of 39. 1 in 3. Thats pretty good, and probably a higher percentage than many VSOs.
There are 11 veterans in my shop of 25. I’ve got a better percentage and we have nothing to do with VSO’s. Sorry, but 1 in 3 vet employees in a VSO, to put it nicely, SUCKS.
And seriously, if you’re going to pick a screenname of some fat cokehead 80’s whore, the least you could do is pick someone who was at least halfway hot back in the day, ya know?
Well, I can certainly speak to The American Legion….
National Officers, 100% veterans.
National Board (NEC) 100% veterans.
State Dept Officers and Execs, 100% veterans.
National Commanders, since 1919, veterans.
National Adjutant, since 1919, 100% veterans. (Current Navy)
National Treasurer, Army
National Judge Advocate, Army
Exec Dirs; AF, Army, Army.
Of the Division Directors, of the 12, I think only 2 are non veterans.
membership, 100% veterans.
I don’t have stats below Director, but it greatly exceeds 50% certainly.
Actually, I think I lowballed the 12 divisions, because I thought of 2 more. But still only 2 non-veterans.
NHSparky: You mean she isn’t THE Belinda Carlisle? That she is a poser, pretending to be a cokehead rocker?
Awwwww shit. I thought I was in the company of a real loser, not a fake wannabe loser. Oh, but she is a real loser, supporting Paul Rye Cough.
And Bee Linda, I AM the real “Frankly Opinionated”, just google me. Use the quotes to get rid of the riff-raff.
“And their free membership model should be replicated elsewhere in my opinion.”
I find this interesting as well, and hope you might comment on it. What does one get for membership? TAL prints about 3 million magazines a month, that alone costs. Of Memvership dues, some goes to National (a small %) but the vast bulk goes to the individual posts, where we have brick and mortar bldgs. Regarding services like appearing before the VA for claims, etc, the Legion will do so regardless of whether a vet is a member or not. When I was doing claims (about 8 years ago) I got case files, and never knew (or particularly cared) if the vet was a Legionnaire or not.
There are some folks in IAVA I like (Todd Bowers comes to mind) and others I do not (Tom Tarantino for instance.) What I question about IAVA though is exactly where the money is being spent. I will be the first to admit their commericials are first rate, but when I go to the community of veterans page advertised, it just directs me to their page. When i review their voting scorecard, it is replete with errors.
I have no animus towards IAVA directly, but I still don’t exactly get what they do specifically. I know our Legislative staff works with them, and apparently quite well, so I will exempt any lobbying from my question.
So Belinda is another member of the trolletariat.
Belinda, you were asked questions. You failed to answer them.
Yet you would hold everyone else to a higher standard.
You sir, are a dog.
My shop has 12 vets out of 13. We aren’t a VSO either.
Belinda, is one of yer other personalities named Sam? Or maybe Joe?
My question is sincere. There must be some psychiatric disorder involved and I’d like to get you help.
#33: Joe is an intelligent haunting. Responds to stimuli and drifts onward. Sam and Belinda are trolletarians: they exist to soak up bandwidth, not actually engage the real world.
Where the hell did she go? I still have an hour of work left and I want to be entertained!
Clowns, the lot of ya. Google has answers to these questions. I will just say this TSO- if the American Legion (and the VFW) had been doing its job for Iraq and Afghanistan vets, IAVA wouldn’t have gotten as big as it has. Just the facts, Jack.
Here’s a fact! When we came back from VN we were NOT welcome at the AL, nor the VFW. That has changed! If you can cite a single case where us geezers have NOT embraced a single vet since we took over I’ll be surprised and awed.
That said… is the current system perfect? Hell no!
Stop whining and change the system. We did!
He/She/It says: “I will just say this TSO- if the American Legion (and the VFW) had been doing its job for Iraq and Afghanistan vets, IAVA wouldn’t have gotten as big as it has. Just the facts, Jack.”
Perhaps Bee Linda, it is because there are those who are attracted to “free”, not realizing that it is an offer of fair value for the price. Some people fall for it all the time.
Others want their names on the rolls of anything, regardless if they truly perform.
“IAVA requests all of our veterans report to our new Sergeants Time beginning on June 24. Sergeant’s Time is IAVA’s new initiative to inform our veterans on all the happenings within the organization. An IAVA veteran staff member will be on hand in Community of Veterans to share some of our initiatives and answer your questions in relation to the topic. Can’t make the hard time? Don’t worry. We will be posting videos in addition to the Q &A so you can see for yourself what IAVA is up to. Sergeants Time will take place every Friday from 1:00-1:30pm EST beginning on June 24.”
A number of IAVA folks are also talking amongst ourselves about organizing at community level & starting chapters where we can get together and support our fellow veterans.
JuniorAG,
IAVA, American Legion and VFW member.
Belinda, you mean like on the original GI Bill that was written by the Legion?
Or, like when the Chairman of the Committee in the House that had jurisdiction over the GI Bill said: ” “Passing this historic new GI Bill into law could not have happened without the dedicated efforts of The American Legion, and I want to thank them for their critical support throughout this process.”
Also, you presuppose that one is not a member of the other, which I know for a fact to be incorrect.
JaG #39: Been There Done That! Assuming yer not quite serious (have to, I hope you are being silly).
There is nothing directly wrong with groups like the VVA, for instance (my own particular fit), but I concluded that it makes more sense to infiltrate existing VSO’s. YMMV
Philosophical interlude:
I’ll ask a similar question to what I asked earlier? Have YOU tried the existing VSO’s and found them wanting? Tooooo many of us geezers? It’s not really hubris on my part. TSO, for example is helping to guide the Legion.
The word is ‘divisive’ as in “divide and conquer”… YOU might be The Voice that makes a difference.
Lord knows I don’t agree with the Legion on everything, in fact, our National Adjutant probably deletes my emails on receipt now. But, the idea is to work with what you like in a group, work to fix what you don’t, and accept what you can’t.
“Have YOU tried the existing VSO’s and found them wanting? Tooooo many of us geezers? It’s not really hubris on my part. TSO, for example is helping to guide the Legion.”
Haven’t had the need to use the VSOs, my wife is a VA employee. As for the “Tooo many of us geezers?” the Vietnam generation raised me, I was an Army brat in the ’70s and ’80s. Dad’s Vietnam “band of brothers” was my band of mentors. As for the WWII and Korea vets, I get a kick out of donning my HBTs, steel pot & slinging my M-1 Garand and giving them WWII or Korea war flashbacks during patriotic parades. Anybody know where I can get a decent Korean war flak jacket?
Vet orgs should be a reflection of the ACTIONS of their members. Whatever vet org you are in, you should be an active participant, not just a card carrier.
@BelindaCarlisle: Of all the people who can be accused here of having angry conservative glasses on, I am /definitely/ not one, so let me tell you I completely agree with Jonn.
The caps that IAVA wholeheartedly endorsed /screwed vets/. Schools “should be taking on the yellow Ribbon Program”? I should have a pony, how close is that to arriving to me? Yeah, in an ideal world, schools would want to help those who sacrificed for our country. But you know whose job it’s not? Schools. You know whose job it is to make that happen? The COUNTRY THEY SACRIFICED FOR, yes, including that the government. Yes, money can’t always come from the government, but this is not even a valid argument. These vets worked directly for the government. Their care, feeding, and benefits, /validly/ comes from the government. They’re not exactly sucking on the entitlement teat by being able to go to a school that doesn’t come with cracked out teachers pre-attached.
IAVA needs to practice what it preaches and lock its positions to veterans-only. Is it seriously saying that out of the hundreds of thousands of veterans in the country, only 13 of them are qualified to work for IAVA? Or that they can’t convince more than 13 veterans to work for the exorbitant salaries they’re advertising? Both of those things smell like bullshit. 13 out of 39 in New York City is /ridiculously/ low. And not proportional at all with other VSOs.
Also, if I had a dollar for every IVAW member that called us saying “I tried calling IAVA, but they couldn’t help me with (generic simple question)”, I could buy a ticket to this fancy-ass gala.
Also, looking at the event page, I don’t see /anything/ about Iraq and Afghanistan vets getting into the gala free, so I don’t know what she’s smoking.
Allegedly they can AS, but I haven’t seen it either. However, you should go, you are close enough, and might have a good time. If Vets get a date free, bring Jonn.
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