Monthly Archives: January 2013

Upcoming Job Fairs

Upcoming Job Fairs

Attending a job fair is a proactive way of getting to know companies or industries you’re interested in. It’s also a great way to make contacts. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and do some homework on participating companies.

For more information on how to prepare, help writing your resume, and to receive notifications about local job opportunities and career fairs become an SSV client! Just give us a call at (256) 883-7035 and be sure to have your DD214 and military resume. We would be honored to help.

Fraternal Order of the Eagles supports SSV in January

January is SSV’s month at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles! Lupi Rodriguez, a member of the FOE and the Office Administrator at SSV, is heading the efforts and has some great fundraisers in line for this month.

First off, there will be a Bake Sale! The Bake Sale will be at the FOE (look below for address) on January 18th from 10:30am until everything is sold. Everything in the Bake Sale is homemade – but if sweets aren’t your thing or you’d like to read a book and eat your cake too, there will be paperback books on sale as well!

Also, there will be a raffle! Buy tickets now for $2 each or $10 for 6 tickets in an effort to win a lovely Eagle Ring made by Landstrom’s Gold. The drawing will be on January 31st in the bar area of the FOE (see address below). Click here to see the ring.

For tickets or for more information please call Lupi Rodriguez at (256) 682-5662

FOE is located at 2500 10th Street Huntsville, Alabama 35805 (click here for a map)

New Scholarship Available for Alabama Residents

State Treasurer and CollegeCounts Board Chair Young Boozer is calling on eligible Alabama students to apply for the newly-established CollegeCounts Scholarship.

“This scholarship program will help qualified Alabamians who may find it difficult to get other types of scholarship assistance,” said Treasurer Boozer. “Not every student makes a 30 or higher on their ACT, or has parents who can afford to write a check for tuition. But there are thousands of bright young minds in our state who work hard and deserve help achieving their dream of a college degree.” Treasurer Boozer and other members of the CollegeCounts Board announced the scholarship program today at Wetumpka High School. The program is designed to offer financial assistance to Alabama students who plan to enroll in Alabama colleges and universities. It will provide one-time awards of $4,000 to qualified recipients enrolling in four-year schools and $2,000 to those enrolling in two-year schools. Eligible students may apply online beginning January 2 at www.collegecountsalabama.com

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for this scholarship:

    *    Be a high school senior or first-time college freshman

    *    Be a U.S. citizen

    *    Be an Alabama resident

    *    Be enrolled or planning to enroll in an Alabama eligible educational institution

    *    Demonstrate financial need

    *    Have a minimum GPA of 2.75

    *    Have an ACT score of 26 or below (applicants attending a two-year school will not be required to submit ACT scores)

Quick Facts:

*    Scholarships will be applied to tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment.
*    Payments will be made directly to the institution and will be issued in the fall and spring.
*    The application opens on January 2, 2013, and closes March 7, 2013.
*    There are two primary funding sources for the Scholarship Program: administrative fees from the CollegeCounts 529 Fund and surplus funds from the Alabama Higher Education Loan Corporation (AHELC).
*    Administrative fees explained: “CollegeCounts 529 Fund” is the marketing name for what is actually known as the ACES Trust Fund under Alabama law. The ACES Trust Fund is part of the ACES Program, which was established as a college savings alternative that allows contributors to open savings accounts to pay for a beneficiary’s qualified educational expenses at an eligible institution of higher education. These savings accounts can be sold directly to individuals or sold to individuals by financial advisors. The ACES Trust Fund receives a 0.10% administrative fee each year from the assets held in the advisor-sold program.
*    AHELC Surplus Funds explained: The Alabama Higher Education Loan Corporation (AHELC) was established to provide student loans to Alabamians. After a long period of inactivity, AHELC was revived, only to see its business model abolished by the U.S. Congress. As a result, the AHELC board of directors chose to cease operations, dissolve the nonprofit corporation, and grant the existing surplus to help fund Alabama’s CollegeCounts Scholarship Program. This decision was made in accordance with AHELC’s founding purpose of funding higher education student aid.

The CollegeCounts Board of Directors is the sponsor of the CollegeCounts Scholarship Program, and the Alabama State Treasurer’s Office is delegated the administrative responsibilities of the program. CollegeCounts is the marketing name for the Alabama College Education Savings Program created by Alabama law (Code of Alabama, as amended, §16-33C-10, et al). All promotional and marketing materials for the CollegeCounts Scholarship Program will utilize the name CollegeCounts in describing the savings program, the scholarship program and the Board.

Trace Adkins to Perform at 2nd Annual Veterans Benefit Concert in Huntsville!

The American Freedom Foundation announced its 2nd annual American Freedom Festival Huntsville presented by Northrop Grumman to be held on March 22, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. at the Von Braun Center Propst Arena featuring legendary country icon Trace Adkins with special guest star, Jana Kramer.

This benefit concert for our Veterans and Men and Women of America’s Armed Forces will benefit Still Serving Veterans and other Huntsville area Veterans Community Blueprint partner organizations.

Ticket Information

$74.50 (Limited Number of Gold Circle – which will include preferred seating)

$59.50 (Floor Seating)

$44.50 (1st Level – Arena Bowl)

$29.50 (2nd Level – Arena Bowl)

Tickets are on sale NOW and will be available through the Von Braun Center box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or at www.americanfreedomfoundation.org and via Phonecharge at (800) 745-3000.  Accessible seating is available for patrons with disabilities

About Trace Adkins

In the fifteen years since his platinum debut, Trace Adkins has released ten studio albums, three greatest hits packages, and thirty chart singles including modern classics like “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing,” “Then They Do,” “Hot Mama,” “Songs About Me,” “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” “Ladies Love Country Boys” and “You’re Gonna Miss This.” He has also racked up four Grammy nominations and five ACM and CMT awards. But there’s more. In recent years, Trace has made his mark as a TV and film actor, a voiceover artist, an author, a social commentator, and a participant on NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice.  He has turned his entertainingly articulated views into a well-received book, A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Freethinking Roughneck, and has even inspired an action comic book series, Luke McBain, that has proven to be one of the genre’s hottest sellers.  Adkins’ newest project, Proud To Be Here, exhibit his strength, focus and passion for a fully lived life infuse in every song.  It is the perfect distillation of Trace’s art, displaying once again his ability to pour emotional truth into his music, whether it is of the tender or the rowdy variety.  Accomplishments like that – along with sales in the tens of millions – explain the respect Adkins has earned from Country fans and the industry alike.  www.traceadkins.com

About Jana Kramer

If you ask Jana Kramer to describe her life in this very moment she would say, “Dreams really do come true.” The singer/songwriter/actress has already had success with three songs that were featured on The CW’s “One Tree Hill,” where she plays the firecracker actress, Alex Dupre. Jana debuted on the country music scene with the popular hit single “Why Ya Wanna” earning  her the title of highest charting debut single from a new female artist since Taylor Swift, peaking at #3. “Why Ya Wanna” was certified Gold and garnered nominations for 3 American Country Awards including New Artist of the Year.  Her highly praised self-titled debut album premiered on the album chart at #5. The new follow up single “Whiskey” is impacting radio now, impressively gaining over 30 adds in its’ first week.  All eyes are on Jana as she boldly graces country music with a fresh, new sound and powerful new music.  “Country music is in my blood, “ said Jana.  I love country music because it tells a story and I have a lot of stories to tell.”  www.janakramer.com

About The American Freedom Foundation, Inc.

The American Freedom Foundation, Inc. mission is to honor the men and women of America’s armed forces, raise awareness for their service and sacrifice and raise money for organizations that serve and support our Veterans, active duty military and their families. Throughout its short history, the American Freedom Foundation has made grants of approximately $1.1 million to over 30 military organizations.  The American Freedom Festivals are a series of concert events that take place across the country featuring music performers, actors, athletes, dignitaries and other supporters, joining together to help support and fulfill the mission of the American Freedom Foundation, Inc.

About Still Serving Veterans

Still Serving Veterans (SSV) is an Alabama-based Veterans’ service organization that empowers Veterans, wounded warriors and their families to optimally transition into meaningful new careers and post-military lives with all the benefits and service that they have earned.  Founded in 2005, Still Serving Veterans (SSV) has helped more than 5,000 Veterans and their families connect with the services they need to deal with life changing injuries while reintegrating into civilian lives and careers.  SSV has secured over $63 million in additional benefits, services, and salaries for our one-on-one case managed Veterans since 2007. In 2011, SSV opened 655 new Veteran cases, secured over $9.19 million for Veteran clients, and helped 130 Veterans get hired. www.stillservingveterans.org

Click here for original article

Athens WWII Veterans to Receive Over-due Awards

On January 17th at 3:00pm, the Alabama Veterans Museum will be holding a Ceremony in the Events Center (across from the museum) in Athens. Refreshments following in the Powers Rm at the Veterans Museum. During the ceremony, four WWII Veterans from Athens will be receiving the Legion of Honor.

The Legion of Honor is France’s most distinguished decoration and it can be bestowed to recognize the special contribution and act of bravery while fighting for the liberation of our country during WWII. The decision to honor World War II combatants applies only to living veterans who served on French territory and in French territorial waters and airspace from 1944-1945. Those selected are appointed to the rank of Knight of the Legion of Honor

On Jan 17th, Denis Barbet, Consul General of France will be there at the Alabama Veterans Museum in Athens to bestow this award on four of our local WWII heroes. Receiving the award will be:

Image

Cal Bonner – Army WWII

Image

Theo Calvin – Army WWII

Image

William P. (Jack) Hunter – Army Air Corps WWII

Image

Clifford Wilford – Army WWII

Please come to witness these genuine American Heroes receive this prestigious honor.

January 17th, 2013, 3:00.
Alabama Veterans Museum
100 W. Pryor St
Athens, AL

Get directions here.

Contact Sandy Thompson, Director at 256-771-7578 for more information.