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Message from the Director

It has been said that “a volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can

feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as

volunteers, but as citizens—citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.”

As we review 2009 and look to 2010 and beyond, we know that it is our relationships with

our community that assists VA in keeping the Veterans and their family members at the

center of everything we do. Volunteers are partners as they assist in welcoming new

Veterans to a health care facility, honor a fallen hero during a service at a national cemetery,

visit with a family member in a Fisher House or teach a disabled Veteran to ski during the VA

Winter Sports Clinic.

I extend my sincere thanks to all of our VA Voluntary Service staff, volunteers, organizations,

and community partners for your noteworthy service and continued generosity. Thank you

for continuing to be our partners in service to America’s heroes.

Laura B. Balun

Director, Voluntary Service Office

Fiscal Year 2009

Director’s Message P.1

mmunity Resources P.2

ear 2009 Priorities P.3

ear 2010 Priorities P.4

ion Statement

nt of Veterans Affairs

President Abraham

promise, “To care for

shall have borne the

battle, and for his widow and

his orphan” by serving and

honoring the men and women

who are America’s Veterans.

Mission Statement

Voluntary Service

To provide a structured

Volunteer Program under

the management of VA

compensated employees

in cooperation with

community resources to

serve America’s Veterans

and their families with

dignity and compassion.

Annual Report
       

     

         

         

           

         

     

       

       

         

       

         

       

         

         

     

            

   

     

     

       

           

       

         

     

        

       

         

       

              

          

         

       

                

                    

                   

                

                      

                

        

Community Resources Helping VA.

In fiscal year 2009, 84,367 Regularly Scheduled volunteers gave

time to assist veterans at VA facilities. Our community partners

give Veterans and their families a tremendous amount of moral

support and emotional comfort and encouragement. While we

measure this support, we know it is priceless to those who

receive the benefit of service.

Giving Time. . .

11,897,208 Hours of Service to VA Facilities

Giving Resources . . .

$82,597,990 Monetary and In‐Kind Donations

Total Value of Volunteer Contributions
 

$323,516,452

VA Voluntary Service

National Advisory Committee

The National Advisory Commit‐

tee (NAC) of VA Voluntary Ser‐

vice was established by VA Cir‐

cular No. 117, dated May 17,

1947, and became a federally

chartered advisory committee

on February 5, 1975.

The Committee provides advice

to the Secretary of Veterans

Affairs, through the Under Sec‐

retary for Health, on the coordi‐

nation and promotion of volun‐

teer activities within VA health

care facilities, and on other

matters relating to volunteer‐

ism. It keeps the officers and

members of participating or‐

ganizations informed of volun‐

teer needs and accomplish‐

ments.

The NAC Executive Committee

is made up of 20 member or‐

ganizations that monitor and

perform oversight of the NAC

membership policies and proce‐

dures. Members of the Execu‐

tive Committee are appointed

by the Chairman of the NAC.
  

   

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VAVS 2009 Priorities
 	 Develop Volunteer Training materials for Adaptive
 

Activities.
 

A volunteer recruitment/training brochure was developed and

distributed for the adaptive kayak program.

	 Expand National Salute Program to include Community‐

Based Events for Veterans and Their Families , including

Concerts.

11 Valentines for Veterans concerts were held in 2009 across the

country providing entertainment and information to Veterans and

their families.

	 Develop Orientation and Training Materials for National

Cemetery Administration (NCA) Volunteers.

VAVS Central Office continues to work with NCA to promote

volunteerism at national cemeteries and to make the process

more accessible.

	 Coordinate Training Materials to be Posted on the
 

Internet
 

Tools for the completion of required training are being finalized.

Remote volunteers will be able to complete certain trainings with‐

out needing to travel to the medical centers.

The Department of Veterans Affairs

Voluntary Service (VAVS) Program,

the largest volunteer program in the

Federal government, has provided 63

years of service to America’s Veter‐

ans seeking care in VA health care

facilities. Since 1946, VAVS volun‐

teers have donated 712million hours

of service. With more than 350 na‐

tional and community organizations

supporting the Program, VAVS also is

advised by a National Advisory Com‐

mittee (NAC), composed of 60 major

veteran, civic and service organiza‐

tions.

VAVS volunteers and their organiza‐

tions contributed an estimated

$82,597 million in gifts and dona‐

tions. These donations supplement

VA appropriations to medical cen‐

ters, clinics, vet centers and nursing

homes. These significant contribu‐

tions allow VA to assist direct patient

care programs, as well as support

services and activities that may not

be fiscal priorities from year to year.

As VA has expanded its care of Vet‐

eran patients into the community,

volunteers roles have also expanded.

They assist Veterans by augmenting

staff in medical care foster homes,

respite programs as well as hospital

units, community living centers, out‐

patient clinics, community based

activities, end‐of –life and palliative

care programs. Volunteers are also

providing assistance at our VA na‐

tional cemeteries, veterans outreach

centers and VA regional offices.
            

       

   

           

     

           

        

           

   

          

         

           

       

   

       

       

       

              

      

       

   

     

        

  

   

   

          

                      

         

                      

                  

                 

                  

                  

     

           

Professional Development

VAVS is also committed to the

professional development of its staff

and volunteers. Throughout the

year, we provide training for VAVS

representatives and deputy repre‐

sentatives at the NAC meetings and

at local medical centers. VA employ‐

ees also have the opportunity to

attend VAVS Professional Manage‐

ment Seminars, other VA

approved training as well as profes‐

sional society trainings such as the

Association for Hospital Volunteer

Resource Professionals (AHVRP).

There are also many community, FY 2010 Priorities for VAVS Office state and national volunteer organi‐

zations with active VAVS partici‐

pants. This helps us keep abreast of

Continue to coordinate Training and Orientation Materials on the new trends in volunteerism.

VAVS Internet site.

Encourage field facilities to include outpatients when planning their
 

National Salute to Veteran Patients Programs, i.e. planning community Fiscal Year 2009 Report
 

concerts , scheduling activities at Community Based Outpatient Clinics,
 

etc.
 

Develop additional recruitment materials for VA facilities and NAC

members.

Develop a dashboard to show the impact of volunteers in their

assignments at local VA facilities.

Cultivate abilities to automate NAC activities.

VOLUNTARY SERVICE
 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

810 Vermont Ave, NW

Washington, DC 20420

202.461.7300 ph

202.273.9040 fax

www.volunteer.va.gov