The Elks National Veterans Service Commission 2019 Colorado Veterans Service Training held at the Aspen Elks Lodge # 224 on June 1st, 2019 summit was comprised of leadership from several Colorado Elks Lodges Veterans Service Committees. Cathy Larson President of the Colorado Elks Association and Veterans Service Committee Chair Troy Erickson were both present.  The Elks National Veterans Service Commission 2019 Colorado Veterans Service Training held at the Aspen Elks Lodge # 224 on June 1st, 2019 was such a success, that the 2020 Colorado Veterans Service Training will also be held at the Aspen Lodge for a third year in a row.
Additionally, at the Colorado Veterans Training, Charlene Shields, State Family Program Director (SFPD) of the Colorado National Guard State Family Program offered a very informative presentation.  Charlene implements regulations and programs that have been approved by the National Guard Bureau and Charlene currently serves as the advisor to the Adjutant General on family readiness, quality of life and other Family Program matters for Active Duty Service members and Veterans in Colorado.  The Veteran’s Service Committee at Aspen Elks Lodge # 224 is in the process of working with the Colorado National Guard State Family Program to map out the locations of family readiness groups of the Colorado National Guard in relation Elks Lodges that have active Veteran’s Service Committees in Colorado.  The Veteran Service Committee at the Aspen Elks Lodge # 224 would like to work with other Colorado Elks Lodges Veteran’s Service Committees and the Colorado National Guard State Family Program to offer additional resources or volunteer efforts to the Colorado National Guard State Family Program.
The Colorado National Guard State Family Program has goals that are very similar to Elks Lodges Veterans Service Committees.  The Colorado National Guard State Family Program would like to provide tools to help service members and their families by building family cohesion and morale.  Service members should be adequately prepared prior to deployment for dealing with separation and reintegration with their families so that service members can better focus on their mission during deployment.  Additionally, The Colorado National Guard State Family Program and the Elks Lodges Veterans Service Committees in Colorado want to help military families become more self-sufficient and provide an avenue for sharing timely, accurate information so that active duty service members and their families are aware of family assistance centers, family readiness support assistance, employment, housing and education resources that are available to them.
During the second half of the 2019 Colorado Veterans Service Training, 2019 community investments and grants were a hot topic of discussion.  Troy Erickson reviewed CIP grants available to Elks Lodges, grant requirements and examples of good veteran’s projects available to Colorado Elks Veterans Service Committees.  The Aspen Elks Lodge # 224 would like to find new avenues of funding to the Veterans Service Committee to increase financial support for veterans who participate in local programs for disabled veterans, such as the D.A.V. Winter Sports Clinic held each spring in Aspen / Snowmass, Colorado.
The final presentations of the 2019 Colorado Veterans Service Training related to several programs that benefit disabled veterans in Colorado.  Programs such as Wreaths Across America, Back to Work / Homeless Veterans, Leather Program and Honor Flights for veterans.  In conclusion, many Veteran’s Service Committees from Colorado Elks Lodges look forward to working with the Colorado National Guard State Family Program to enhance the quality of life for active duty service members, their families and veterans across Colorado.