Sound Off

"Sound Off"
The editorial page of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Michigan website.

This page is a platform that can used to help us improve the way we all do business in the VFW. As a forum it will allow our readers, our members, our Posts, our Districts and our Department to gain an insight on how others view us as veterans.

Email us your thoughts, opinions, problems and even compliments, to vfwmi@att.net, please use "Sound Off" on the subject line, and we will publish your comments. The VFW Department of Michigan reserves the right to edit or return, unpublished any postings submitted. Please include your name, phone number & email address in your message; we will only publish your email address. Speak out on anything you think that we need to address, improve or change that could help other veterans, members, Posts, Districts or the Department of Michigan.

Letters & Comments...

July 19, 2010 --- "I need some help on this issue. I am an honorably discharged Vietnam Veteran. I have been out of work for a year and a half. My friend is disabled and has been working with Michigan Rehabilitation Services. He has been out of work for a year and a half. Since we had not been able to find employment he was advised by Michigan Rehabilitation Services to apply for a grant to start a business. We decided to form an LLC. My friend owns 51% and I own 49%. A marketing specialist was assigned to help us by the State and we wrote our business plan and financial projections and submitted them. Our business is a gunshop and training center and Michigan Rehabilitation Services has known this from the start. After at least a month of filling out endless paperwork we have been told that they aren't going to be able to help us because our business is selling firearms. This is no different than any other legitimate business! We have met all conditions we were told we had to. Can anyone help us and could anyone tell us what our options are?"

www.house.gov/smbiz

THURSDAY, July 15, 2010, 10:00 AM
Subcommittee on Contracting and Technology
“Improving Contracting Opportunities and Preventing Fraud for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses”
"The hearing examined U.S. government agencies’ veteran contracting programs and what steps can be taken to ensure veteran-owned small businesses are awarded their fair share of federal projects. Witness List | Video Highlights on YouTube | Chairwoman Nye's Opening Statement"

"Above is a link to the U.S. House subcommittee on small business and a hearing it conducted 15 July on fraud in sdvob contracting with the federal government. There are videos of two witness panels plus q & a sessions. One of those testifying is Linda Oliver, small business director of DOD who spoke at our conference last October and Joe Sharpe, of the American Legion. I think this is must viewing for anyone even considering doing business with the federal government.
Regards
Ed R."
edronders@comcast.net

6/2010 -- Video comments on the November 5, 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood, TX 'that killed 13 people and wounded 30 others' [Wikipedia] posted on cbn.com was sent in by:

VFW Outraged by Media Support of Westboro Protestors

"Kansas City, MO, --- "Last week's U.S. Supreme Court filing of a friend-of-the-court brief by 22 news media organizations in support of the First Amendment rights of the Westboro Baptist Church has outraged the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.

"As despicable as their message of hatred is, at least the church has a vested interest in this fight," said VFW National Commander Thomas J. Tradewell Sr., a combat-wounded Vietnam veteran from Sussex, Wis. "The media only filed their brief to protect themselves against potential libel suits."

The case is Albert Snyder v. Fred W. Phelps Sr. (et al), who leads the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., a nonaffiliated church that for years has taunted grieving mourners at military funerals nationwide..." read more

Media Groups Side With Westboro Protestors in Court Case
Published in Stars & Stripes by Jeff Schogol July 16, 2010

ARLINGTON, VA. — "Twenty-two media organizations have sided with a radical church against the father of a fallen Marine who is trying to sue it for picketing his son’s funeral.

The media organizations filed a friend-of-the-court brief on Wednesday with the Supreme Court in favor of the Westboro Baptist Church, which protests near servicemembers’ funerals because it believes that troops’ deaths and other national tragedies are divine revenge for America’s tolerance of gays and lesbians.

The father of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who died in Iraq in 2006, sued the church for picketing near his son’s funeral with signs that said “God hates you,” “You’re in hell” and “Semper Fi fags.” They also distributed a flier with Snyder’s picture on it that read “Burial of an Ass."” read more

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