VA Puget Sound Deputy Director becomes Acting Director at Walla Walla: VA Puget Sound Health Care System Deputy Director DeAnn Dietrich will become Acting Director at Walla Walla VA Medical Center starting June 2. Please click on the press release for more information.

National Volunteer Week: April 27 to May 3 is National Volunteer Week. Please read VA Secretary Peake's message of appreciation to VA volunteers here.

Secretary Peake named one of "50 Most Powerful Physician Executives".: Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake, M.D. was named #9 on the list of the "50 Most Powerful Physician Executives" by Modern Healthcare magazine. Read the article here.

VA One Of Only Three Agencies To Meet 2006 Veterans Goals: Federal Computer Week reported, "Homeland Security Department officials hope a new...contract" set aside for service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses will help them reach the one small-business goal the agency failed to reach in fiscal 2006. FCW added that according to the Small Business Administration's Small Business Procurement Score Card, the Veterans Affairs Department, SBA and the State Department were the only three of 24 agencies that met their veterans goal in 2006.

National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, 2008 : America is blessed to have brave men and women willing to step forward to defend our freedoms and keep us safe. The members of the United States Armed Forces have proudly held fast against determined and ruthless enemies, protected our citizens from harm, and freed millions from oppression. On National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, we pay tribute to the courageous and selfless individuals who were taken captive while serving the cause of peace and securing liberty across the globe.

Veterans tell stories in patchwork of memories: A recent story in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer highlighted the hand-made quilts made by patients in Evaluation and Brief Treatment PTSD Unit at the Seattle division. To read the story, click here for a pdf or text version of the article.

Free Valet Parking for Patients at the Seattle Division: VA Puget Sound is pleased to offer our patients free Valet Parking at the Seattle Division. The Valet Parking is located in the North Parking Lot by the flagpole. Please enter VA Puget Sound from South Columbian Way entrance, and then follow the blue and white signs to the valet booth near the flag pole. This service is designed for patients ONLY, and is available Monday through Friday excluding holidays, from 8:00am to 4:00pm. As a reminder, no tipping is allowed.

Director of state veterans affairs receives prestigious award from VA Secretary: John Lee, director of the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, recently received the prestigious Diamond Award from VA Secretary James Peake. Mr. Lee accepted the award from Secretary Peake at a recent conference of state veterans affairs directors in Washington DC. The Diamond Award is given by the secretary to individuals outside the federal VA who "support the mission of the VA and by their actions and deeds demonstrates on a daily basis the honor due to this nation’s veterans". This is only the second time in the award’s history it has been given. As agency director, Mr. John Lee is responsible for advocacy and outreach to veterans within the State of Washington. Mr. Lee oversees a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and War Trauma Treatment Program that provides readjustment-counseling services to war ear veterans and their family members. These services include grief and counseling support services for eligible family members of state residents deployed from the National Guard and military reserves in times of conflict. Mr. Lee also works very closely with the Seattle VA Regional Office and jointly sponsors training programs for Service Officers from all Veterans Service Organizations with clients in the state to insure they fully understand VA laws and procedures to submit claims.

Economic Stimulus Payments Available for Taxpayers: More than 130 million households will receive economic stimulus payments under the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, beginning in May. The IRS needs your help in reaching taxpayers in your state that are eligible for these economic stimulus payments. Taxpayers that have federal income tax filing requirements and certain taxpayers that do not have a federal tax filing requirement are eligible. It is simple and easy. All they have to do is file a 2007 tax return and the IRS will do the rest. The IRS will automatically figure the payment and send the payment to the taxpayers in your state. In most cases, taxpayers will not have to do anything extra this year to get the rebate. Even those who normally don’t file must file to receive a stimulus payment.

More Education Benefits Coming to Reservists, Guardsmen: Changes Affect Those with Multiple Tours Some members of the National Guard and the Reserves who serve on active duty will see a significant increase in their educational benefits, thanks to improvements announced today by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). “Reservists and National Guardsmen who serve multiple tours on active duty may get an increase in their educational benefits, in keeping with the value of their service to our nation,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. Under new provisions, members who accumulate three years on active duty, regardless of breaks in service, may be eligible for the maximum payment under the Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP). Previously, reservists and guardsmen had to serve two continuous years on active duty to receive the highest payment. The new eligibility rules are retroactive to October, 1, 2007. The top payment under REAP is currently $880.80 per month. The new law, part of the National Defense Authorization Act, also expands the period of eligibility for certain Guard and Reserve members who complete their service obligation before separation from the selected reserve. Members meeting these criteria may be eligible to use REAP benefits for a period of ten years following discharge. Benefits typically end upon separation for members who do not complete their full, obligated service. For more information on changes to VA’s GI Bill benefits, go to www.GIBILL.va.gov or contact VA directly at 1-888-GIBILL1 (or 1-888-442-4551).

Combat Veterans Eligibility for VA Health Care Benefits has been Extended!: Under previous eligibility rules, combat veterans who served in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998 were eligible to be enrolled in Priority Group 6 and receive cost-free health care for two years after discharge for conditions potentially related to combat service. The law has changed to extend eligibility for VA health care for eligible combat veterans! On January 28, 2008, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) became law. This new law extends health care eligibility for combat veterans as follows: · Currently enrolled veterans and new enrollees who were discharged from active duty on or after January 28, 2003 are eligible for the enhanced benefits, for 5 years post discharge. · Veterans discharged from active duty before January 28, 2003, who apply for enrollment on or after January 28, 2008, are eligible for the enhanced benefit until January 27, 2011. To learn more about health benefits for combat veterans, visit our Combat Veteran Fact Sheet at Combat Veteran Fact Sheet

American Lake Division Gym: Did your New Years Resolution include losing weight and being more active? Start the New Year out right and visit the American Lake Division VA gym! Hours of operation: 8 am to 8 pm, Monday – Friday 9 am to 2 pm, Saturday and Sunday. Come workout in the weight room on the 18 station Hydracise Circuit Fitness System elliptical, treadmill, and/or stair stepper machines. Lift weights or punch the bag. Join in and learn to play pickleball or full court basketball. Try the new total body workout on the Bosu trainer or Fitballs. Bring your own video or DVD and workout in the space available for you. The VA Gym had at the American Lake division a record 18,000 plus visits from patients and employees in the year of 2007. Can we reach 25,000 in 08?????

Closed Road - American Lake Division: Due to construction of Building 199, two streets will be closed temporarily for the installation of underground utilities. Starting immediately, the one-way road between the Laundry (Building 143) and the Maintenance Shops (Buildings 19 and 20) will be closed. This road will be closed off and on for the next several months. Traffic can use the streets on the far side of the Laundry. Starting next week, weather dependant, Engle Way will be closed between Buildings 18 and T-98 and between Buildings 16 and 17. All traffic that needs access to the rear of Buildings 2, 71, and 3, including delivery vehicles, can use Custis Road. Traffic to the parking lot behind Building 18 can use the street on the far side of the Laundry. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Tracy Brown at (253) 222-9797.

Parkinson's Disease Patient Education Classes: We will begin on October 16, building 1/room 240, at 1:30pm – 3:30pm. There will be future additional classes that will be held in the same location and same time. Future classes will be published in the daily bulletin, keep your eyes peeled. The following classes will be the first two classes out of eight classes that will be presented. The future classes will run December 18, 2007, February 19, 2008, April 15, 2008, and June 17, 2008. (1). Speech & Swallowing, Shirley Glazer, from the Booth Gardner PD Care Center. (2). Driving, Kay Ballen, from the Booth Gardner PD Care Center. No fee for class and anyone can attend. Please RSVP contact Romay Frank, RN at 1-800-329-8387 x 64560 or 206-277-4560. Special thanks to the Booth Gardner Parkinson’s Care Center and Bastyr University.

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