NFL Draft Day and Milvets

All:
Are you a football fan (and I don’t mean the David Beckham kind)?  I am
pleased to announce that in cooperation with the National Football League,
our organization will be participating in the festivities and activities
during the annual ritual known to football fans as Draft Day.  I would like
to extend an invitation to you (and one guest) to participate in Day Two of
the NFL Draft.  The event will take place this month on April 26th.  Be a
part of ESPN and NFL Network live TV audience and compete for chances to win
NFL collectibles and other prizes.  Draft Day 2 will also feature player
autograph sessions, cheerleader appearances, interactive trivia, unique
photo opportunities, EA Madden games, and much more.  I only have 22 slots
so be sure to reply ASAP.  Deadline for RSVP is April 8th.  This is first
come first serve, so be quick with your responses.  To RSVP please email me
back with the following information:

Name:
Age:
Military Affiliation:
What years you served:
Guest Name:
Age:

If you have any questions feel free to contact me at anytime.

Regards
Peter

–
Peter S. Kim
President
U.S. Military Veterans of Columbia University

milvets@gmail.com

Milvets Election Results

Ladies and Gentlemen,
First, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your participation in elections.  This is the highest turn out I’ve ever seen in my years at Columbia.  I would like to inform you that we will have an informal meet and greet at Havana Central 8pm-9pm this evening for you to meet the new executive board.

2009-2010 E-Board
President – Sean O’Keefe
Vice President – John McClelland
Treasurer – Grant Holten
Secretary – Arthur Hayden

Percentage break downs are now available at Milvets Elections.  Thank you all for voting and congrats to the board.

Regards
Peter S. Kim
Chair
Elections Committee

2009-2010 Executive Board Elections

Ladies and Gentlemen,
This email is to notify you that elections for executive board positions have now begun.  Please vote for one candidate for each position.  Any vote that has more than one name for a position will not count.  All votes must be submitted from your Columbia UNI and be submitted before 11:59pm Wednesday evening (March 11th) to milvets@gmail.com.  Any vote received after 11:59pm will not be accepted.  Votes will be tallied and elected officers will be notified by the election committee by noon on Thursday.  After all winners have been contacted a general body email will be dispersed.  Please find the candidates and their statements by clicking on the following link Milvets Elections.  If you have any problems please notify us immediately!!!

Regards
2009 Elections Committee

Minutes from GB Meeting 3/5/09

General Body Meeting 03/05/09
Yellow Ribbon Program
o 13 of the 17 schools within Columbia for the next school year (09-10)
• Numbers have not been made official as of yet
• Firm number for percentage of participation will be available approximately mid May

Student Services
• Columbia has started the creation of the veterans student services (Columbia.edu) web site
• This will include detailed information on support for veterans at Columbia

Walmart grant submitted
After two months, the school will have to report on the status
Results will be quick if/when the grant is given
Results of the grant will be announced April 15th.

Constitution
o General Secretary
• Referee
o Weaken the president
• Must sell their ideas to the E Board
o Ratify or Kill the constitution today
o Several areas of the new constitution are left ambiguous to empower future leaders to bend it to fit current situation
o The constitution was passed with 21 yes, 0 no, and 1 abstention

Election positions
o    A person can be nominated for more than one position
o    Nominations will be held through Sunday
o    Any and all nominations (self nominations are also valid) will be seconded by the election committee
o    Candidate statements must be submitted to milvets@gmail.com by noon
o    Candidate statements received after 12pm on Sunday will not be considered and will not be published with ballots
• President
o Sean O’Keefe
• Vice President
o Grant Holtan
• Treasurer
o Jenny Chong
o Grant Holtan
• General Secretary
o Arthur Hayden
o Paul Darnell
o Brad Jennison (SecDef)
Votes will only be accepted from your UNI account to ensure no double voting. All votes must be submitted via email to milvets@gmail.com

GS Admissions
• Admissions passes on contact information of new veterans to MilVets and we become the contact for questions about student life, New York, etc…

Issue with the YRP, Columbia only has one facility code (plus one at TC), there will be a set amount of money for the YRP, whoever is accepted first (by school) will get the first money, and there will be no additional money for the students who are on the bottom of the list.
Research team for facility codes – what does it take to obtain new facility codes
• Aaron Alfson
• Brad Jennison
• Chris O’Connor

Letter from the Secertary of VA. Re: YRP

THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
WASHINGTON
Dear Higher Education Executive, On June 30th, 2008, President George W. Bush signed into law the Post 911 1 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, the most comprehensive education benefits package since the original GI Bill was signed into law in 1944. The original GI Bill provided millions of veterans the opportunity to become active participants in revitalizing he American dream through their engagement in higher education. We have a collective obligation to extend those same opportunities to the men and women who volunteer to bravely serve in today’s military and to defend the freedoms we so enjoy. This letter provides a brief overview of these new benefits and is intended to assist you in preparing to serve our veterans as honorably as they have served us. Basic Eligibility eterans who served at least 90 days on active duty after September 10,2001, are entitled to these new benefits. Those who served at least 36 months on active duty are entitled to the maximum benefit, while those who served less time are eligible for a percentage of the full benefit based on length of service. Benefits Eligible veterans enrolled full-time are entitled to a tuition benefit, monthly housing allowance, and a yearly books and supplies stipend. The tuition benefit covers up to he highest in-state undergraduate tuition at a public institution of higher learning. The monthly housing allowance is based on military housing benefit rates and the location f the receiving institution. Active duty members, veterans enrolled half-time or less, and veterans enrolled in distance education programs are not eligible for the housing allowance. The maximum yearly books and supplies stipend is $1 000.
t
V
to
The Yellow Ribbon Program The Yellow Ribbon Program provision of the Post-911 1 GI Bill allows institutions to enter into agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund tuition costs above the highest in-state undergraduate tuition rate. Only individuals who qualify for the Post-911 1 GI Bill based on 36 months of service, or who were discharged due to a service-connected disability after serving 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001, are eligible for increased benefits under the Yellow Ribbon Program. VA will match each additional dollar that an institution contributes toward an eligible student’s tuition costs, up to 50 percent of the difference between the student’s tuition benefit and the total cost of tuition and mandatory fees.
Page 2 Implementation VA is working closely with the higher education community to ensure the smoothest possible implementation of these new benefits. We anticipate that proposed regulations will be issued in early December. Institutional representatives will also have the opportunity to attend one of three regional meetings hosted by VA and the American Council on Education. The meetings will be held during January 2009 and are tentatively scheduled to be held in Los Angeles, CA; Washington, DC; and Chicago, IL. We look forward to this opportunity to speak with campus practitioners about this new program. Registration information will be provided in the coming weeks. We hope that this information will assist you in planning for the implementation of the Post-911 1 GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon Program. We are confident that together we can provide the best educational opportunities possible for service members, veterans, and their dependents. For more information, please visit www.GIBILL.VA.gov, or email
questions about the Yellow Ribbon Program to our Yellow Ribbon corporate mailbox at yellow.ri bbon@va.gov.
Sincerely yours,
/ James B. Peake, M.D.

Letter from the Director of the VA Re: YRP. Survey Requirements

January 12, 2009
Dear Higher Education Executive,
You recently received an informational letter about the Yellow Ribbon Program. The Yellow Ribbon Program is a benefit authorized under the Post-9/11 GI Bill that allows your institution to enter into an agreement with VA to provide additional assistance to individuals who are charged tuition and fees that exceed the highest public in-State undergraduate rate in your State.
Purpose
This letter provides you with detailed information on the terms of the agreement that VA proposes to use to implement the Yellow Ribbon Program to assist you in determining if your institution will participate in the program. VA published a proposed rule on December 23, 2008, that includes the terms listed in this letter. The proposed rule is open for comments through January 22, 2009, and is available for viewing at www.regulations.gov. If your institution is interested in participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program, please complete and return the attached survey. The information on the survey will be used to estimate the level of participation in the program and notify the public of schools that anticipate participating.
Participation Requirements
VA proposes that institutions participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program will:
• Provide contributions to eligible individuals who apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program, on a first-come, first-served basis, regardless of the rate at which the individual is pursuing training in any given academic year;
• Provide contributions during the current academic year and all subsequent academic years in which the student maintains satisfactory progress, conduct, and attendance according to the regularly prescribed standards of the institution;
• Make contributions toward the program on behalf of the individual in the form of a waiver;
• Waive the same percentage (up to 50 percent) of established charges that exceed the in-State maximum for all eligible individuals in any given academic year; and
• State the maximum number of new Yellow Ribbon Program applicants for whom contributions will be made in any given academic year.
VA will match the amount that is waived by the institution, up to 50 percent of the amount that exceeds the highest public in-State undergraduate rate in your State. For example, a student attending your institution is charged tuition and fees that are $10,000 greater than the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate in your State. Your institution has entered into an agreement to waive
50 percent of the tuition and fees that exceed the in-State maximum. Under the Yellow Ribbon Program, your institution would waive $5,000 and VA would send the other $5,000 via electronic funds transfer directly to your institution on the student’s behalf.
Yellow Ribbon Program Participating Institutions
Veterans, Reservists and Guard members, Active-Duty servicemembers, and dependents will be able to view a list of potential Yellow Ribbon Program participating institutions beginning on April 1, 2009, on the Search for Approved Programs link at www.gibill.va.gov. Additionally, individuals will be able to view the maximum number of new Yellow Ribbon Program applicants for which contributions will be provided and the percentage the institution plans to waive for each participant during the 2009-2010 academic year.
Yellow Ribbon Program Payments
Benefits are payable for training pursued on or after August 1, 2009. Your institution’s VA certifying official will be responsible for certifying Yellow Ribbon Program students. VA will update its training information for VA certifying officials to include specific instructions for completing enrollment certifications. The institution will be responsible for documenting the number of students certified for the Yellow Ribbon Program and ensuring it limits the certification of newly admitted individuals to the number of individuals designated in the agreement. VA will send tuition and fee payments and Yellow Ribbon Program payments for eligible students via electronic funds transfer directly to the institution after the enrollment certification is received and processed. Institutions will be able to distinguish Yellow Ribbon Program payments from other tuition and fee payments. Any charges above what is covered by tuition benefits, VA matching funds, and the institution’s contribution will be the responsibility of the student.
Yellow Ribbon Program Agreement
VA will notify institutions when the formal Yellow Ribbon Program Agreement is available. The agreement may then be downloaded from VA’s website at www.gibill.va.gov. Institutions will be required to confirm participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program on an annual basis. Formal agreements must be signed by a designated individual who is authorized (in writing) to enter contracts with other entities, including VA. The agreement will become effective upon its acceptance by a duly authorized officer of VA.
Yellow Ribbon Program Survey
If your institution anticipates participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program, please complete the enclosed Yellow Ribbon Program Survey, and return it to VA. All surveys should be received by February 27, 2009. Surveys may be emailed to
the Yellow Ribbon Program corporate mailbox at yellow.ribbon@va.gov or sent via postal mail to the following address:
Department of Veterans Affairs
Education Service (Yellow Ribbon Program)
810 Vermont Ave NW
Washington, DC 20420
Additional Information
VA will determine the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate in your state by reviewing information obtained from public institutions, with the assistance of your State Approving Agency. We will post the tuition rates by State on our website at a later date. You can find more detailed information on the Yellow Ribbon Program on the Information for Educational Professionals link at www.gibill.va.gov, or you may send specific questions to the Yellow Ribbon Program corporate mailbox.
VA looks forward to working with IHLs to provide the best educational opportunities possible to our nation’s veterans and their dependents.
Sincerely,
Keith M. Wilson Director, Education Service
Enclosure
YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM SURVEY
If your institution anticipates participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program, please complete the following.
1. Name of Institution:
2. Address of Institution:
3. Facility Code (if known):
4. Dates of the 2009-2010 Academic Year:
5. Maximum number of individuals for which the institution anticipates providing contributions:
6. Percentage anticipated to be waived for each participating individual:
7. Yellow Ribbon Program Contact Information (name, email, telephone number):
Surveys may be emailed to the Yellow Ribbon Program corporate mailbox at yellow.ribbon@va.gov or sent via postal mail to the following address:
Department of Veterans Affairs
Education Service (Yellow Ribbon Program)
810 Vermont Ave NW
Washington, DC 20420
Materials

Minutes from GB, Feb 04 2009

VA Briefing – if you missed the Q&A and need more information please feel free to stop by the ABC office (5th Floor of Lerner) and look for the Milvets mailbox. I have left the booklet of information that the rep left for us.

GB Meeting
a. Yellow Ribbon Program
Graduate schools must meet with their respective administrations to get the ball rolling in getting their schools to sign onto the YRP. GS is in the finance modeling stage and looking to press forward to meet the timeline set forth by the VA to demonstrate intent to participate in the YRP. Details will follow as they are provided by the administration.
b. Student Services
After meeting with the EVP of Student Services (Jeff Scott), the administration has promised us a webpage on www.columbia.edu that would be cater to veterans. This is a bandaid fix in our pursuit of getting an office of veterans affairs. A proposal of website content was shared with the group and has been forwarded to the EVP’s office.

c. Club Website
Sean O’Keefe now has the proper permissions to access and edit the site. He is still looking for committed talent to recreate and rebrand Milvets on the internet. We hope to have a new site up and running before the end of the spring semester.

d. Constitution Update
Aaron Alfson shared some of the proposals of the constitutional committee. A draft will be prepared and sent around this weekend.

Misc.
The business school veterans have offered to help veterans who need help in writing their resumes and also hone their interviewing skills. Those interested in this must email us at milvets@gmail.com with:
Name:
School/Year/Major:
Military History:
Field of Interest:

If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me at anytime.

Regards
Peter

Minutes from GB Meeting 1/22/09

General Body Meeting Minutes
January 22, 2009 7:30 – 8:30pm
Lerner Hall Room 501

Peter Kim – President
I. Call Meeting to Order
II. Presidential Updates:
A) Introduction of E-Board – Angel Quiles (VP), Erika Gallegos (Treasurer), Grant Holten (Secretary), Sean O’Keefe (DoC)
B) Yellow Ribbon Program
• Curtis Rogers – Dir. of Admissions / Dir. of Finance had meeting with the VP of Finance for Columbia University to push for the yellow ribbon program. He is now in touch with Keith Wilson, director of VA education, who reports to GEN (ret.) Shinseki. He will not go on the record, but GS will be apart of the Yellow Ribbon Program in some fashion, even if Columbia as a whole does not sign on. Each school has their own money (College, SEAS, LAW, Business, etc.)
• What if you have merit-based scholarships?
• There needs to be a system to switch from need based and merit based tuition assistance. GI bill is necessary to participate.
• GS is behind the YRP 100%.
C) Student Services
• Attempting to make a one-stop-shop for VA issues, career counseling, medical, GI Bill… etc.
• To make this possible, Columbia University needs to be involved as much as possible to maintain the system.
• Meeting with EVP of Student Services to begin further talks about one stop shop for veterans.
• Milvets position is to have an office of veterans affairs created
• Patchwork solution is to have a web presence on Columbia.edu.
• Will provide update from the meeting at next GB meeting.

D) Office Hours
• Peter will begin holding office hours on Wednesdays 11-12pm in Uris Hall or by appointment. Pk2197@columbia.edu or 212-991-8432

E) Constitution Amendment Committee
• NLT Feb 13th, 2009
• Constitutional reorganization committee volunteers
John McCelland
Joe Donnelly

F) Prep Course Interest
a. Looking for show of interest in test prep
i. Kaplan (GRE, MCAT, LSAT)
ii. Military discounts (Vet / AD)
iii. Willing to hold events on campus and teach classes here, with enough Vets with the desire
iv. MilVets will have to reserve a room for 3hr blocks
Possibly ask CU community to join with a discount as well. Not enough interest. Issue closed.

G) VA Orientation Interest
Attempting to get a VA rep from the VA to answer in student questions meeting in two weeks. Great amount of interest. Peter will schedule and bring in a VA rep for the next general body meeting.

H) Midterms and Finals Event
Stress busters!

I) End of the Year Party
Great amount of interest in having a party at the end of the year. Joe Donnelly and Justin to help drive committee to put on event.

J) Fleet Week ‘09
• Last year was very successful
• Need coordinator (April)
• Grad schools to consider volunteering to give tours
• Navy Reserve unit possibly to tour Columbia University
• Fleet Week Party
Paul volunteers to work this as he was a direct placement out of last year’s fleet week.

III. Erika Gallagos – Treasurer
- Need to spend more money, to receive more money in the future
- Work to model Harvard’s veterans group model and create a non-profit organization

IV. Sean O’Keefe – Communications Chair
- Website needed to unify veterans groups on campus; Grad schools, Hamilton society etc…
- Student services said that they will create a page within columbia.edu on the students page
- Recruiting – push to give MilVets a little more exposure within the school
- Contact information list to be disseminated amongst the group
School affiliation
Military affiliation
Year / Major

V. Angel Quiles – Vice President
- Introduction
- Need volunteers for fund raising to help a soldier who just lost his legs

VI. Misc – Scholarships
- VA $5000 scholarship for NY residents who have had citizenship for one year or more prior to
- Peter Kim monitoring the status of the www.veteransfund.org scholarship for ‘09-‘10

1/22/09 General Body Meeting Agenda

General Body Meeting Agenda
January 22, 2009 7:30 – 8:30pm
Lerner Hall Room 501

I. Meeting called to order

II. Club update – President
a. Introduction of the E-Board
b. Yellow Ribbon Program Update
c. Student Services
d. Office Hours – Mondays and Wednesdays 11-12pm and by appointment
e. Constitution Amendment Committee
f. Prep Course interest
g. VA orientation interest
h. Midterms and finals – Stress busters
i. End of the year party
j. Fleet Week ‘09

III. Finance update – Erika

IV. Communications update – Sean

V. Meeting Adjourned

There will be a happy hour at the Volstead located at 125 54th Street, between Park and Lex after the meeting from 9pm – whenever you need to go.

GB Meeting Notice – 1/22/09 7:30pm

All,
We will be holding our first GB meeting on Thursday, 1/22/09, at 7:30pm in Lerner Hall. I will post the room number as soon as I hear back from CU events. The meeting agenda will be posted on the milvets blog once it is finalized (look for it to be posted nlt Wed. 1/21/09). If you have any questions or would like to add something to the agenda please email asap.