December 2019 Monthly Brief

December 2019 Happy Holidays!

In This Issue: Managing Director's Message Volunteer Inspiring Pro Bono - Valerie Daye, Esq. Appellate Advocacy Before the CAVC Training Notable News

Managing Director's Message We’ve seen many changes this year, including an office move and most notably, in March, Executive Director, Ed Glabus moved on to a new opportunity. It was my pleasure, along with Director of Program Operations Mike Kail, to take over the management of TVC. The dedicated staff not only never missed a beat, but through their hard work and dedication, increased services to veterans and their loved ones.

The new year will bring in yet another change in leadership and one that I’m excited to announce. As of 6 January, we will have a new Executive Director, Steve Jordon, and our very own Judy Donegan will become the Deputy Executive Director. Mike and I look forward to working with Steve and Judy and the rest of the TVC team to make 2020 an even more successful year.

Click Here To Read The Press Release

With the holidays upon us, I want to take a moment to pause and express our sincerest gratitude to the 2,700 members of our TVC National Volunteer Corps, who work tirelessly on behalf of veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors. In 2019 to date, our TVC team has screened and placed nearly 1,000 cases with our highly trained and dedicated volunteers, and our client services team has served over 2,900 clients. The Volunteer & Outreach Education team held eight CAVC trainings nationwide and prepared over 260 new volunteers to help veterans receive the justice they deserve. The TVC Discharge Upgrade Program, now sponsored by the DAV Charitable Service Trust, continues to grow, serving more than 2,000 veterans in 2019, and hosting five trainings and four clinics around the country. We’ve had a VERY busy year!

Our weekly TVC Pro Bono Information and Referral Legal Clinic at the DC VA Medical Center has also had a very successful year with the help of our partners at the law firm of Duane Morris, who have made a commitment to staff the clinic twice a month. Our deep appreciation goes out to all our clinic volunteers who have joined forces with us to serve nearly 500 veterans and their loved ones in 2019.

To all our Volunteers, Mission Partners, Donors, and Sponsors, thank you for making our successes possible. We value each of you.

From the entire TVC team, we wish you a relaxing and meaningful holiday season and a very happy new year. We look forward to working with you and achieving even greater successes in 2020. On behalf of all the men and women we have the privilege to represent - America’s veterans and their families, caregivers and survivors - thank you for your volunteer service and support of our mission.

Jim Carlsen Managing Director

Volunteer Inspiring Pro Bono (VIP)

Valerie Daye, Esq.

Valerie Daye, Attorney At Law, LLC Member, TVC National Volunteer CorpsSM

TVC often touts our amazing volunteers and their commitment to our program.

Members of our TVC National Volunteer Corps are an amazing group of dedicated attorneys, but our December Volunteer Inspiring Pro Bono (VIP) truly stands out with her enthusiasm for our program and serving veterans.

Valerie Daye’s family has a long, well documented history of service to our country. Her family has had over 100 members serve our country from the time of the Spanish-American War to present day. Her family rightfully takes great pride in this history of honor and patriotism.

Valerie’s personal commitment to veterans began with her grandfather, Pvt. Frank Pinnix, a WWI Army veteran, who served and fought in France and Italy during the war. When he returned home, he was able to purchase the family farm with the money he earned and saved during his service. That farm in North Carolina is where Valerie was raised by the very same man, whom she admired deeply.

Because of her grandfather’s service, Valerie was able to apply for, and receive, the La Verne Noyes Scholarship, which is available to biological descendants of WWI veterans. Through this scholarship, Valerie attended Howard University School of Law. It’s no wonder that when Valerie learned about The Veterans Consortium, she jumped at the chance to serve the veterans that mean so much to her.

“When I heard about the work TVC was doing and the opportunity to volunteer, I immediately thought of my Grandfather and how I could give back to him,” says Valerie.

Since taking our training in 2016, Valerie has won remands in three of her cases and the VA has agreed to a Joint Motion for Remand in her current case. Valerie also volunteers at our weekly clinics at the DC VA Medical Center (DC VAMC). She was also one of our first volunteers at a highly successful clinic specifically for women veterans at the DC VAMC in the Women’s Health Clinic during Pro Bono Week 2019.

“Working with Valerie has been a true pleasure,” says Courtney Smith, TVC Director of Outreach and Education. “Her energy, enthusiasm and can-do spirit are evident in her case work as well as her work at the pro bono legal clinics. She is a remarkable advocate for veterans and for our program. We are lucky to have her as a member of our TVC National Volunteer Corps.”

“Working with The Veterans Consortium, taking cases and working in the Legal Clinics has been a ver y rewarding experience," says Valerie. “This is one of the best run programs out there. The training was top notch and the mentors are ver y knowledgeable and helpful. I particularly enjoy my work at the clinics. The Veterans Consortium, merely by its commitment of time and presence to these clinics, provides a safe place where veterans are comfortable discussing day to day issues that may be adversely impacting their lives. Being able to provide counsel and direct the veteran to resources becomes one less burden on those who have so honorably served our country.”

In addition to her pro bono work with veterans, Valerie works as a contract attorney in Washington, DC. She enjoys collecting art from unknown, but up and coming artists, living a healthy lifestyle and participating in local 5k and 10k races.

Appellate Advocacy before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Training at ​DC Bar Pro Bono Center

On Friday, December 13th, TVC held a local Appellate Advocacy before the U. S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims training. Over 50 attorneys attended the training, which was held at the DC Bar Pro Bono Center. The day-long CLE training prepares attorneys to represent veterans unjustly denied benefits or compensation earned from military service.

Attendees heard from Chief Judge Margaret Bartley, Clerk of Court Greg Block and dedicated mentor Stacy Tromble of National Veterans Legal Services Program, among others.

We officially welcome the newest members of our TVC National Volunteer CorpsSM!

NOTABLE NEWS Want to apply for the 2020 David Isbell Summer Internship?

Send a cover letter, resume, unofficial law school transcript, and writing sample to Courtney Smith, Director of Volunteer Outreach & Education, at: Courtney.Smith@vetsprobono.org Click Here To Apply

Available Pro Bono CAVC Cases ​for our current ​TVC National Volunteer CorpsSM Click below to view our list of

Available Pro Bono Cases in need of representation by a volunteer attorney.

Upcoming Training Info Partner with us and sponsor a U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Appellate Advocacy training.

*Note: you must be a current volunteer who has taken our training and has been approved as a member on our website in order to log in and view the available cases.

CLICK HERE

For assistance, email volunteer@vetsprobono.org

The impact of your pro bono service is real and tangible for our veterans.

For more information contact: Volunteer Outreach & Education at volunteer@vetsprobono.org

Do you know a Veteran in crisis?

Please share this video with those you think may be interested in volunteering.

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