Veterans Groups using horse sense

NWS Vail Veterans Program 1 DT 7-31-09 Dominique Taylor/dtaylor@vaildaily.com Army specialist Keith Maul, center, gets a hand getting off his horse from volunteer Cricket McLaren, during the Vail Veterans' summer program Friday at Yarmony Creek Lodge along the Colorado River Road. Miller, who lost his leg and his arm while serving in Iraq in Feburary, was enjoying getting back on a horse after his own horse bucked him off a few weeks ago.

Vail vets: ‘Best treatment out there'
Vail program take 14 injured vets fishing, horseback riding, rafting and camping
Lauren Glendenning
lglendenning@vaildaily.com
Vail, CO Colorado
VAIL, Colorado — Less than six months ago Keith Maul had two arms and two legs — now he's learning to get around with a prosthetic right arm and right leg after a grenade exploded on top of his vehicle near Baghdad.

You'd never know it happened so recently — Maul is moving around almost effortlessly and his attitude is positive.

“I just try to be happy and cheerful around everybody,” he said.

Maul is one of 14 of veterans in town for the Vail Veteran's Program. Different groups of injured soldiers come to Vail in both the winters and the summers to get active and realize their injuries can't stop them from doing whatever they want to accomplish, said Cheryl Jensen, the program's founder.
read more here
http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20090731/NEWS/907319946/1078&ParentProfile=1062

These programs are wonderful and Florida has our own program taking care of wounded veterans

Welcome and Thank you for Visiting SouthFloridaVets.org
The South Florida Veterans Multi-Purpose Center (VMPC), is unique. It was started by Veterans in 1989 out of a single desire to help and benefit all Veterans and their families in South Florida.

Since the granting of its IRS 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt status in 1991, the Center has been involved in a broad base of Veteran services. The Center works closely with the VA and other government agencies as well as the public and private sectors to provide quality services and benefits to Veterans throughout Florida.

We are proud that we are the only Veterans organization in South Florida with an IRS 501(c)(3) status that:


Provides professional referral and outreach services to Veterans utilizing public, private, and government organizations.


Owns and operates a Mobile Veterans Center that travels throughout the state and participates in community based Veterans' events.


Funds food programs for Indigent Veterans and their families.


Partnerships with other non-profits for the sole purpose of providing transitional housing for homeless veterans.


Provides a substance abuse and recovery program for Veterans.


Doesn't have special eligibility requirements for veterans to receive services.


Our position is to work towards making a change in the life of veterans who have suffered from the trauma of war or any other duty-related issue. Our goal is to provide veterans of all ranks, backgrounds, and socioeconomic statuses with the services they need and deserve.

We recognize that substance abuse and alcoholism is alarmingly prevalent among veterans. For this reason we dedicate a good portion of our programs and projects to those suffering from the trauma of war (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD) and those who may need ongoing counseling and special assistance.

They need donations to keep providing help to our wounded!

On a personal note, last year, when I was about as depressed as I could get, I received an email from Bob offering to help with the work I do. He found my videos on YouTube and thought they would be very helpful. He is a dear, caring man focused on making life better for our wounded veterans. Bob also made a donation to the work I do. This was at a time when the IRS had me so confused I didn't know what the hell I was doing. I know a lot about PTSD but not the rest of this cluster of bureaucratic mess. I asked for a tax exempt number. It took almost a year to figure out what I was told on the phone by the IRS rep was wrong. Working alone, it has been extremely difficult to figure out exactly what I had to do but I'm learning. The IFOC and I set up a Charter for me. While I have the certificate of Charter from the IFOC, I found out there is more needed to be done before I am registered with the IRS. Donations made to me after July 1 will be tax exempt but I'm asking you not to donate to me right now. Please donate to the South Florida Vets instead. (Believe me, I'll be asking for all the help I can get once everything is done with the IRS because I'm flat broke and really tired of going to H and R Block to be told I can't keep taking a loss and still be considered a business.)

People doing this work not only face very stressful and heart tugging times, they also have to face a mountain of paperwork to provide the work they do. I have a greater appreciation of groups like the South Florida Veterans than ever before after understanding what kind of other things they have to go through to provide help to our veterans. Working with veterans is what we have been called to do and it one of the most gratifying pleasures to see their days a little easier. It is also expensive. The South Florida Veterans not only have to pay the usual expenses, they also have to care and feed their horses. Even is you only have little to spare to donate, please do it and support this organization that is helping so many of our veterans.

Thank you for your interest in donation to the South Florida MPC. Please make a donation using any of the following methods:

Mail us your donations:
South Florida Veterans Multi-Purpose Center
4311 SW 63rd Avenue
Davie, FL 33314
Phone: 954-791-8603

They also have a PayPal button on site.

Our Director: Mr. Robert Bambury
Veterans Affairs Field Services Representative

Mr. Bambury is the Executive Director of the Center and is accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs. He is assigned responsibilities involving the coordination of benefits and other related services for eligible veterans and their dependents and as legal representative/Power of Attorney on their behalf before U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) federal boards. Serves as an advocate for veterans in order to maximize services and benefits for eligible veterans and their families in a designated geographical area. Serves as a liaison to other federal and state agencies in matters related to veterans services and benefits. Interviews veterans and families assessing their needs and eligibility as related to receipt of state and federal benefits in the areas of medical treatment, disability compensation, insurance, pension, debt management, education, training, rehabilitation and housing placement.

Performs case management duties throughout the processes of assessment, researching information, compiling reports, filing claims, formulating appeals, and obtaining benefits; interprets laws, rules, regulations and procedures and provides assistance in the completion of required forms; counsels and assists clients in utilization of appropriate resources, identifies deficiencies and develops a strategy to initiate actions necessary to obtain maximum benefits; advises clients of documentation required to support benefit claims; and makes referrals to other agencies and resources.


Reviews rating board decisions insuring compliance with Title 38 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations; determines if appeal is warranted; initiates the appeal process by preparing a written brief outlining the basis of disagreement; and obtain client's Power of Attorney to utilize as necessary.


Prepares financial statements and interprets the correlation of Social Security, military retirement, other income and net worth affecting USDVA pension and compensation; assists clients in dealing with USDVA Debt Management Agency; prepares financial reports to support client's request for waiver, postponement, compromise offers, or repayment plan for benefit overpayments.


Independently reviews client USDVA files, evaluates evidence including veterans' service and post-service medical records, as well as service histories; researches laws, regulations, policies and case law/precedent decisions from USDVA Board of Veterans Appeals and US Court of Veterans Appeals to prepare for hearings; and writes appellant briefs on issues that were previously adjudicated at a lower level.


Acts as claimant's legal representative during informal hearings before USDVA decision review officers, formal hearings before USDVA administrative hearing officers and Board of Veterans Appeals administrative law judges; presents oral arguments during hearings; obtains sworn testimony during formal hearings through a series of questions that are supportive of the issues on appeal.

By Direction of the Board 2008