 Blog
- Scott's Corner
SEPTEMBER 3, 2008:
This week,
we welcome you to our fall season edition, with a roundup of special
places in America where you can enjoy the changing of the color
that comes with fall foliage. Enjoy our discounts on the Delta or
US Airways Shuttle, for instance, from New York or Washington, and
you can experience the marvelous New England foliage when you touch
down in Boston.
It's
also back to school season, and I’m struck by how much the
Apple iPod has become an education tool. There are a wealth of audiobooks
out there, but schools and universities across America are embracing
the iPod. So check out our special
Apple discounts today.
Speaking
of school, we just awarded three wonderful children of Veterans Advantage
members, $1,000 each as part of our third annual Veterans Advantage
scholarship program. I just reviewed their applications, terrific
kids. One has got a Dad currently serving in Iraq. More on this soon.
Lastly,
be sure to read Dr.
Romberg’s column this week. The Founder of Give-An-Hour
writes about the "subtle but critical shift within the military community" to
recognize the psychological consequences of combat. She makes reference
to Admiral Mullen's remarks in May of this year that "make clear
that a strong military force requires a proactive response to these
consequences. They provide encouragement for officers to lead by
example by seeking appropriate mental health care when needed. And,
most important, they make acknowledging the need for help and seeking
appropriate care honorable and courageous acts."
AUGUST 13, 2008: MILITARY OLYMPIANS
Ever
since my college wrestling days, I've been inspired
by the drama of international sports competitions such as the
Olympics. There's a great sense of "serving one's
country" about it, while the world watches. Naturally,
many of our military servicemen and women are drawn to it for
that reason. This week, we honor those Active Duty military
who are currently in Beijing with dreams of gold. Click
here to read more about them, and be sure to root for them
as they compete. Also in Beijing is Donna DeVarona, the
two-time Olympic gold medallist swimmer and Veterans Advantage
Advisory Board member. This super-star athlete and
sportscaster has long been involved in the Olympic movement.
She's currently working to bring back women's softball
to the Games and is attending with her spouse, Army Veteran and
hedge fund manager John Pinto, and children JD (a standout
swimmer at Brown) and Joanna (a talented actress from Catholic
University). Go Donna!
And
be sure to root for one very special Veteran, Duke Men's
basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski who is
leading America's best professional basketball stars
for its own gold medal run.
We've launched new benefits this week, too, for those
of you who have furry friends in your household – save
10 – 15% on your pet accessories, foods and medicine,
thanks to Target.com and 1800petmeds.com. More
on the wealth of stuff you can get are available here.
JULY 26, 2008: WE HONOR AN IRAQ WAR VET WHO STILL SERVES
Earlier
this month, we were tremendously excited to witness the passage
of a new GI Bill, and were amazed with the level of bipartisan
support for the measure. Rightfully so!
Thanks
to Veterans Advantage Advisory Board member Ed Vick who
made the introductions, today we are profiling a veteran
who was instrumental in generating the necessary support
in Congress to pass this piece of legislation. Iraq and
Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Executive Director
Paul Rieckhoff is our HeroVet for July. He is establishing himself
and his organization as the voice of a new generation of
Veterans, fighting for legislation to recognize, acknowledge
and thank veterans for their service. We congratulate Paul
on his recent successes and are grateful for his service
in Iraq, as well.
The IAVA is hosting a
special Web site that will be updating us on the upgraded
educational benefits of the new GI Bill. Estimates are the
new monies should start getting into the hands of those who
serve by next August. For future updates and how to access
these benefits, check out www.gibill2008.org.
JULY 17, 2008: REMINDER -- OUR MEMBERS-ONLY RENEWAL SALE ENDS TOMORROW, JULY 18
I wanted to pass along a message from our customer service team: Our members-only half price sale ends tomorrow, July 18. With this special offer, current Veterans Advantage members can add three more years to their existing membership for half the price they would normally pay through three of our standard annual renewals -- that's a savings of almost $100!
Its just another way we want to thank our members for their service, and their support. If you are a current member, you can act now by clicking here.
JULY 10, 2008: WE LAUNCH NEW RESOURCES FOR ACTIVE DUTY AND THEIR FAMILIES
The
New York Times ran a piece yesterday on its front page
about a serviceman returning from Iraq, struggling with
alcoholism and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), whose
drunk driving took the life of a 16-year-old cheerleader.
It was a heart-wrenching story that highlights the
extraordinary health issues that so many of our servicemen
and women face returning to the States from Iraq and Afghanistan.
To raise awareness, we are expanding our own services
for Veterans Advantage members with the launch of a special
area devoted to returning active duty troops –as
well as their families – for
dealing with the health issues associated with PTSD and TBI
(traumatic brain injury).
And let us not forget our colleagues who are living with experiences of WWII, Vietnam, and Korea. These conditions do not discriminate.
As
we launch our PTSD Resource Center, we are featuring an article by Dr. Barbara Romberg. I hope you read it. Dr. Romberg, the founder of Give An Hour, is a leader in mental health therapy for those suffering from PTSD and TBI and their families; she’s building a remarkable organization – a nationwide network of health care providers who give one hour a week to help address these critical health issues
JULY 10, 2008: EXTRA SAVINGS FROM DELL UNTIL JULY 13
Did
you know that every Veterans Advantage benefits alert (over
200) in the last seven years was produced and designed on
a Dell computer? Dell, one of our longest-serving partners
is recognizing the loyalty of Veterans Advantage members
with a special 15% discount, combinable with most generally
advertised specials, too, through July 13.
Aside from great quality, Dell offers us upgraded phone support
just for Veterans Advantage members. Click
on over today and upgrade your tech
gear!
JULY 7, 2008: THE NBA HIRES A VET FOR A BIG CHALLENGE
Got a challenging job to fill? Hire a vet. That's what the National Basketball Association (NBA) is doing by hiring the former #2 at the Army Corps of Engineers. you see, the NBA is currently in the throes of a gambling controversy surrounding one of its referees. And with the integrity of the game being questions, the NBA taps General Ronald L. Johnson, its Senior Vice President of Refereer Operations!
JUNE 20, 2008: U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY HONORS CLASS OF 1978
Earlier this month, Lin and I were invited by an old friend of Veterans Advantage to a U.S. Naval Academy Retirement Ceremony. But it wasn’t your typical retirement party; it honored nearly 40 members of the USNA’s Class of 1978, who have given 30 years of service to our country, and their families.
Some hope it’s the start of an annual celebration at Annapolis. Honoring those who have served and given so many years of tireless dedication to our country.
Captain Barton D. “Bart” Buechner was an early Veterans Advantage member, passionate about rail service in America, and helping those who serve. He was instrumental in forging our partnership with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and in raising funds for ESGR’s Foundation in support of mobilized National Guard and Reservists, as part of our cell phone recycling initiative (“Recycle and Reward”).
These days he is working with the California Department of Veterans Affairs as Deputy Administrator of the Veterans Home of California at Yountville. It was great to see him and his wonderful wife Pat. He looks great, and has a lot more to look forward to. We thank Bart for his service to our country, as well as the rest of his class of 1978. We appreciate his early support of Veterans Advantage, helping to bring us to where we are today.
JUNE 19, 2008: NEW GI BILL GETS HOUSE APPROVAL
As reported here first on June 10, the House of Representatives passed funding for the new GI Bill, while also allowing for the benefis to be transferred to family members. The new GI Bill essentially would guarantee a full scholarship at any in-state public university, along with a monthly housing stipend, for people who serve in the military for at least three years. It is aimed at replicating the benefits awarded veterans of World War II and more than doubles the value of the benefit — from $40,000 today to $90,000.
JUNE 16, 2008: NEVER LEAVE A MARINE BEHIND
Honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice is an apolitical gesture that we all should recognize in our own way. The release of "Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives" chronicles in large part the story of Marine Major Steve Beck, a "casualty assistance calls officer" who specializes in helping the bereaved.
The book illustrates the account of the "knock on the door" which all military families dread, the pain suffered by a pregnant Marine widow who is allowed to sleep alongside her husband's coffin the evening before his burial, and a stark photo of passengers of a commercial airliner witnessing another coffin being loaded into the plane's cargo bay.
The book is written by the Rocky Mountain News's own Jim Sheeler. You can click here for its own news coverage about the book, including an online slide show detailing the events I listed above.
The book is available nationwide, and at a discounted $19.72 for Veterans Advantage members in our members only discount Barnes & Noble.com online store (regularly priced at B&N for $20.76).
JUNE 10, 2008: GI BILL DEBATE--AND HOW EFFECTS YOUR WALLET
We found some very interesting data in a nationwide poll of our members: 55% of Veterans Advantage members approve of Virginia Senator Jim Webb's proposed upgrade of educational benefits for the military, otherwise known as the GI Bill. Its being positioned as an expansive upgrade, $52 billion worth.
Meanwhile 45% of Veterans Advantage members surveyed
support Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain's proposal, one
that would increase with the length of service of the serviceman or
woman. The White House, by the way, seems to be offering a compromise
of the two, with transferability of GI Bill benefits to family members,
too.
As part of our ongoing editorial coverage of highlighing benefits relevant to our members, we provided analysis of both measures in a special report to Veterans Advantage members last week.
JUNE 5, 2008: FATHER'S DAY & D-DAY--REMEMBER TO THANK THEM
With Father’s Day less than two weeks away, we wanted to acknowledge the dads among our members here in the States– and those who are thousands of miles away from family and facing the dangers of a war zone. We honor you and will continue doing our best to generate the recognition, respect and rewards you deserve for serving this country. And for those of you back home, this week’s newsletter highlights a lot of special offers that appeal to dad. Many of our partners, including Dell, Apple and Target, ship to APO/FPO locations.
Speaking of special days, tomorrow is D-Day. It struck me just this week when we got a call from a loyal Veterans Advantage member, a World War II Veteran who landed on the beaches of Normandy 64 years ago, and today provides counseling to those returning from Iraq and suffering from PTSD. 86 years young, he’s a hero among us.
Father’s Day is a time to thank your dad. Do your part in whatever way you can.
Enjoy!
MAY 22, 2008: MEMORIAL DAY REMEMBRANCE
This Memorial Day is the fifth for our nation dealing with the wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq. We are reminded that more than 4,000 Americans
have made the ultimate sacrifice in these conflicts. This
day is a day to remember and honor those who have given their
lives in the service of their country most recently in this
war and to recognize and give comfort to the families of
our fallen heroes.
Some time ago Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance
Act. It asked Americans to pause for one minute at 3:00 p.m.
local time and think about those who have made the ultimate
sacrifice. It may seem like a small gesture, but it's a way
to, however briefly, keep faith with those heroes.
Memorial Day is also a time to honor those who have fought
valiantly, returned alive, and yet continue to fight a war
that no one can see. We are only now beginning to realize
and deal with the devastating effects of PTSD (Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder) and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), a 21st
Century illness unique to this generation of warrior. These
survivors deserve the very finest care from the country they
serve. This week, we are honoring special Veteran counselors
who participate in the national Give an Hour network, a 501c3 organization
Veterans Advantage is supporting financially and through
outreach services in communicating its mission to our members. Click
here to read our HeroVet story.
We will be doing more special coverage, devoting resources
and services to this critical area in the weeks ahead. For
now, learn more and donate at www.giveanhour.org.
MAY 6, 2008: MOTHER'S DAY SHOPPING TIPS; ANOTHER NEW BENEFIT LAUNCH
You can call this your last-second Mother’s
Day shopper edition, and I’ve rounded up some of the most-popular
shopping ideas for you. There may still be time on getting some of
these great offers in time for Mother’s Day, including shipping
through 1800flowers.com, and getting an iPod discount at your local
Apple Store – just show Apple your Veterans Advantage card!
Lots of great news from our leading partners,
too. This Saturday is the first-ever National
Train Day, sponsored by Amtrak. There are lots of events nationwide,
including some really neat special events at New York’s Penn
Station. Special offers, too, check out http://www.nationaltrainday.com.
For those who like traveling on the high seas,
we are proud to announce our first special partnership in the cruise
industry, with NCL, Norwegian Cruise Line. It is a very patriotic organization,
based in Florida, and has a terrific new cruise ship – The Pride
of America – that’s the first U.S. flagged cruise ship
in 50 years. Check out more details on special Veterans Advantage/NCL
cruise offers by visiting the
NCL Members Only page at VeteransAdvantage.com.
APRIL 21, 2008: TWO MORE NEW BENEFITS LAUNCHED, THANKS TO A MARINE VETERAN
Great New Benefit News: In the
highly competitive car rental industry we’ve been able to get
special discounts for Veterans Advantage, courtesy of Dollar
Rent A Car and Thrifty
Car Rental. Both providers have been able to secure discounts
and certain money-saving waivers, such as those typically charged for
additional drivers or under-25 drivers. Marine Corps Veteran Gary Paxton
is the CEO of both companies and believes strongly in recognizing service
to the country. Thank you, Gary and thank you to Dollar/Thrifty! Be
sure to check them out today.
If you have the spring fever bug like me, you’ll
want to consider our special entertainment benefits section this week.
There’s some significant dollar savings on baseball tickets,
savings that helps make that family outing easier on your wallet. Other
fun venues and warm weather activities such as zoos & aquariums,
theme parks and movie theaters are included, too. And remember
to use your special Corporate Member ID #, provided to all members
in Members Only.
APRIL 4, 2008: HONORING FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN WITH SCHOLARSHIPS:
We hope you enjoy reading about Gregory
Islan, our HeroVet in this week’s edition.
He’s a terrific guy filling a need that thousands of American
families are struggling with today: paying college tuition in the
face of financial hardships brought by the death of a loved one.
By helping surviving families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
while on Active Duty, Islan’s foundation is not only easing
strife for families today, but also ensuring a better future for
our youth tomorrow. Learn more about his foundation today at www.fallenpatriots.org.
In fact, Lin and I just bumped into Greg Tuesday
night with his lovely wife at the Yale club in NYC, attending “The
Lincoln Prize” awards, hosted by our Alma Mater, Gettysburg College,
and its Lincoln and Soldiers Institute. The Prize goes to the finest
scholarly work in English on Abraham Lincoln, or the American Civil
War soldier, or a subject relating to their era. Philanthropists Richard
Gilder and Lewis Lehrman generously underwrite the $50,000 prize and
the dinner to announce and celebrate. We’re enthusiastic supporters
of this valuable service to promote American history, and encourage
you to learn
more here about the prize and this year’s winner.
MARCH 20, 2008: FIVE YEARS AGO...
We are now at the five-year anniversary of the
Iraq War. It’s appropriate that we take time to thank all of
you who have served, and to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Their courage and dedication are inspiring. We are deeply grateful
for their service. When you see a soldier, sailor, airman, marine,
or coastie, be sure to go out of your way to thank them!
Veterans Advantage has chosen to support two great
501c3 causes in 2008. Please join us with your support:
- Give an
Hour.org: A network of mental health professionals dedicating
free therapy time to the troops and families dealing with the war’s
aftermath. It’s time well spent, and
we are supporting them as well. And if you are a mental
health professional, please contact them today and join this important
effort.
MARCH 7, 2008: PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISCOUNT TIPS
If you haven’t checked out our increasingly
popular Prescription
Drug Discount plan, I want to encourage you to do so today. Our
online pharmaceutical search tool recently added a pricing index of
the most popular medications on one screen. We highlighted just one
of them today, which actually represents a 42% savings on pricing listed
on the Internet, but there are lots of others that can save you money
throughout the year.
Our special RX Travel feature has been very popular
as well, a
downloadable discount card you can print out whenever you find yourself
on the go.
This week we profile John Doman as our TopVet.
As a marine and Vietnam Veteran, John has stared over the last 5 years,
as the Police Chief in the HBO series "The Wire," which is
wrapping up this month after a successful five-year run. We salute
John for his accomplishments and for his determined pursuit of a dream
- to become an actor. He will tell you his Marine Corps experience
had a lot to do with reaching his goal. You’ll enjoy reading
his story.
Finally, a little bookkeeping--As a follow-up
to a special Presidential Election poll in our last newsletter, you’ll
be interested to know that about half our VA members voted for Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice to be John McCain’s running mate in
the November election. If you haven’t voted in our polls yet,
please participate. Our next one comes out in two weeks, be on the
lookout for our next e-newsletter.
FEBRUARY 21, 2008: WE HELP YOUR TAX AND COLLEGE PLANNING
Things are heating up in the political primaries.
With this week’s action now complete, Republican frontrunner
John McCain – already picked by Veterans Advantage members over
a month ago – is starting to speak about being his party’s
nominee for president. One question for the rest of the season is who
he will name as his running mate. Be sure to complete the poll question
to let us know your choice.
Speaking of seasons -- This season also marks
two key financial planning events for millions of Americans nationwide:
FEBRUARY 7, 2008: FAMOUS MILITARY BRATS; SPECIAL VALENTINE'S DAY DISCOUNTS
There are lots to be proud of today in America.
First, the Super Tuesday primary elections of the last week have us
all energized, with real choices on both sides of the aisle. With Mitt
Romney exiting, it looks like John McCain, long favored by Veterans
Advantage members will represent the Republicans. Clinton and Obama
are locked in a struggle to lead the Democrats. You can tell Americans
are charged up and care about our future. The democracy that we all
fought for is alive and well.
There are also some great things happening among
the rich and famous, too. With role models like Michael
Strahan of the Super Bowl-winning New York Giants, finally winning
the big one after 15 years, you can tell an Army Brat upbringing offers
a formula for success. Meanwhile, across the country, there’s
a real good reason to believe that Hollywood can indeed be in touch
with the important things in life, too. Just ask Scarlett
Johansson, who feels nothing beats traveling across the globe to
personally thank all those in uniform.
Finally, and speaking of feel good moments: Valentine’s
Day is next week, and 1800FLOWERS is
there for you. Use the special limited-time coupon code online or by
phone for a 20% discount on your order. That’s a special holiday
upgrade from VA’s Everyday Savings, and a wonderful gift for
a loved one.
FEBRUARY 1, 2008: SAVE ON BIG SCREEN TVs--JUST IN TIME FOR SUPER BOWL VIEWING
If you’re like me, you’re excited
about the upcoming Super Bowl. Between the Patriots’ drive for
perfection led
by son of a Navy Veteran, Bill Bellichick, as it's head coach,
and the rallying New York Giants, led on defense by Army brat Michael
Strahan, it could be a much better game than the spread suggests. And
with their Super Bowl showdown just around the corner, you may want
to consider some great HD television sets at Target.com’s special
online store, where you get 10% off. The latest LCD technologies are
simply amazing!
Dell has got some of its own
special offers, too.
For more sweet deals, stay tuned for our next
newsletter, which will highlight Valentine’s Day, special deals
from Apple and 1-800-flowers.
JANUARY 9, 2008: WE SUPPORT THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE BY HONORING ONE OF ITS BEST
The National Committee for Employer Support of
the Guard and Reserve, a division of the Department of Defense, is
seeking to recognize employers with records of stellar support for
military employees. The group is accepting nominations for the 2008
Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Awards through Jan. 21.
Go to www.esgr.org to submit a nomination.
Winners selected in three categories will be announced in early spring
and will receive their awards during a Sept. 18 award ceremony from Veterans
Advantage HeroVet and ESGR Executive Director Dr. L. Gordon Sumner.
With the start of 2008, a lot of people turn their
attention to resolutions for the coming year. From annual tax planning,
travel and entertainment plans to new home purchases, Veterans Advantage
has you covered.
We also want to remind you about the special upgrade
with our Amtrak benefits program in 2008. If you join Amtrak’s
frequent traveler program, Amtrak Guest Rewards, you’ll receive
a special 1,000 points bonus for new enrollees, enough for a free trip
to many of Amtrak’s scenic destinations. Check
out our Amtrak benefits update today. |
