Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 14 / Friday, January 23, 2009 / Notices 4313 

with experience in providing assistance 

to homeless veterans in order to assist 

such groups in applying for grants 

under this chapter and other grants 

relating to addressing problems of 

homeless veterans’’ (38 U.S.C. 2064). 

Potential applicants should take this 

into consideration when developing 

technical assistance applications to 

ensure their activities as described in 

the application meet the regulatory 

criteria of aiding potential non-profits 

by providing general instructions 

concerning grant applications, 

instruction on completing specific grant 

applications, or providing analyses to be 

used in grant applications (38 CFR 61.50 

(a), (b), (c)). 

Entities that are interested in 

providing technical assistance should be 

aware that historically the Grant and Per 

Diem Program office receives over 1,500 

nationwide inquiries per Notice of Fund 

Availability (NOFA) from prospective 

applicants. It is estimated that an 

additional 1,000 inquiries are received 

nationwide at VA Medical Center 

Homeless Programs. From these 

inquiries, VA has seen an increase in 

the number of applicants each year. 

Approximately 100 to 300 applications 

per funding round have been received 

in past responses to NOFAs under VA’s 

Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 

Program. Those entities applying to 

provide technical assistance should 

consider not only the numbers but the 

diversity of the service provider seeking 

assistance when establishing their 

service plans. 

The applicant for this funding will be 

expected to develop an integrated 

technical assistance plan, using funds 

for purposes as specified in this NOFA, 

the objectives of the program rules and 

regulations to offer technical assistance 

to agencies in their-specified target area. 

Applicants should take note that they 

will be held accountable to provide to 

VA documentation that demonstrates 

the objectives of technical training are 

being met throughout the course of the 

award cycle and documentation that 

clearly demonstrates the completion of 

technical assistance objectives were 

met, cumulatively, at the end of the 

funding period. Also, VA intends to 

conduct both periodic fiscal and 

performance reviews of the awarded 

agency(s). The technical assistance 

should not only raise the awareness of 

providers regarding the availably of 

funds to assist homeless veterans but 

also increase providers’ proficiency in 

applying for these funds to assist 

homeless veterans. Applicants should 

take the aforementioned into 

consideration when developing a 

technical assistance plan. Outcomes 

measures that are specific and 

measurable should be an integral part of 

the technical assistance plan that is 

submitted in the application. 

Grant applicants may not receive 

assistance to replace funds provided by 

any State or local government for the 

same purpose. 

Authority: Funding applied for under this 

Notice is authorized by the ‘‘Homeless 

Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 

2001,’’ Public Law 107–95, § 5, codified as 

amended at 38 U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2013, 2061, 

2064. The program is implemented by the 

final rule codified at 38 CFR Part 61.0. The 

regulations can be found in their entirety in 

38 CFR, Sec. 61.0 through 61.82. Funds made 

available under this Notice are subject to the 

requirements of those regulations. 

Allocation: Approximately $3 million 

is available for the technical assistance 

grant component of this program. 

Funding will be for a period beginning 

on October 1, 2009 and ending on 

September 30, 2011. Not more than 

$500,000.00 per year per technical 

assistance provider will be awarded. 

Applicants should take into 

consideration the 24-month period of 

award when calculating and submitting 

their budgets for this NOFA. 

Funding Priorities: Feedback from 

previous technical assistance users’ and 

documented outcomes from previous 

technical assistance providers indicates 

a demand and preference for face-to-face 

group seminars to deliver technical 

assistance information. In order to meet 

this demand VA establishes the 

following funding priorities. 

Funding priority 1. Eligible entities 

that will provide 45 face-to-face group 

grant writing seminars, nationwide, per 

year, specific to the Grant / Per Diem 

Program will be placed in funding 

priority one. 

With these criteria, of those eligible 

entities in the first funding priority, that 

are legally fundable, the highest scoring 

applicant will be funded first followed 

by the second highest scoring applicant 

until $1 million is funded. Of this group 

not more than one (1) technical 

assistance grant will be awarded to the 

same technical assistance recipient 

(defined by tax identification number). 

Using the guidance above, should the 

goal not be met and if funding is still 

available, remaining funding will go to 

the second funding priority. 

Funding priority 2. Should funding 

still be available, eligible entities 

providing general technical assistance 

activities as stated in the regulations 

will be placed in the second funding 

priority. Of this group not more than 

one (1) technical assistance grant will be 

awarded to the same technical 

assistance recipient (defined by tax 

identification number). Of those eligible 

entities in the second funding priority, 

that are legally fundable, the highest 

scoring applicants will be funded first 

until funding is expended. 

Application Requirements: 

Applicants must provide a cover letter 

indicating which funding priority they 

are applying under. The specific grant 

application requirements will be 

specified in the application package. 

The package includes all required forms 

and certifications. Selections will be 

made based on criteria described in the 

application. Applicants who are 

selected will be notified of any 

additional information needed to 

confirm or clarify information provided 

in the application. Applicants will then 

be notified of the time in which to 

submit such information. If an applicant 

is unable to meet any conditions for 

grant award within the specified time 

frame, VA reserves the right to not 

award funds and to use the funds 

available for other grant and per diem 

applicants. 

Dated: January 13, 2009. 

James B. Peake, 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

[FR Doc. E9–1507 Filed 1–22–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Fund Availability Under VA Homeless 

Providers Grant and Per Diem Program 

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans 

Affairs (VA) is announcing the 

availability of funds for currently 

operational VA Grant and Per Diem 

Special Need Grant Recipients in 

conjunction with their collaborative VA 

Special Need partners and currently 

operational VA Grant and Per Diem 

Special Need Grant Recipients which do 

not involve a collaborative effort to 

make re-applications for assistance 

under the Special Need Grant 

Component of VA’s Homeless Providers 

Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program. The 

focus of this NOFA is to encourage 

applicants to continue to deliver 

services to the homeless Special Need 

veteran population. This Notice 

contains information concerning the 

program, application process, and 

amount of funding available. 

DATES: An original completed and 

collated grant application (plus three 

completed collated copies) for 

assistance under the VA’s Homeless 

Providers Grant and Per Diem Program 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES

4314 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 14 / Friday, January 23, 2009 / Notices 

must be received in the Grant and Per 

Diem Field Office, by 4 p.m. Eastern 

Time on Wednesday, March 25, 2009. 

Applications may not be sent by 

facsimile (FAX). In the interest of 

fairness to all competing applicants, this 

deadline is firm as to date and hour, and 

VA will treat as ineligible for 

consideration any application that is 

received after the deadline. Applicants 

should take this practice into account 

and make early submission of their 

material to avoid any risk of loss of 

eligibility brought about by 

unanticipated delays, computer service 

outages (in the case of Grants.gov), or 

other delivery-related problems. 

For a Copy of the Application 

Package: Download directly from VA’s 

Grant and Per Diem Program Web page 

at: http://www.va.gov/homeless/ 

page.cfm?pg=3 or call the Grant and Per 

Diem Program at (toll-free) 1–877–332– 

0334. In this package is information on 

Grants.gov submission should 

applicants so desire. For a document 

relating to the VA’s Homeless Providers 

Grant and Per Diem Program, see the 

final rule codified at 38 CFR Part 61.0. 

Submission of Application: An 

original completed and collated grant 

application (plus three copies) must be 

submitted to the following address: VA 

Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 

Field Office, 10770 N. 46th Street, Suite 

C–200, Tampa, FL 33617. Applications 

must be received in the Grant and Per 

Diem Field office by the application 

deadline. This includes applications 

submitted through Grants.gov. 

Applications must arrive as a complete 

package. Materials arriving separately 

will not be included in the application 

package for consideration and may 

result in the application being rejected 

or not funded. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Chelsea Watson, VA Homeless 

Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, 

Department of Veterans Affairs, 10770 

N. 46th Street, Suite C–200, Tampa, FL 

33617; (toll-free) 1–877–332–0334. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

Notice announces the availability of 

funds for assistance under VA’s 

Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 

Program for currently operational Grant 

and Per Diem Special Need recipients 

and their collaborative VA partners to 

obtain grant assistance with additional 

operational costs that would not 

otherwise be incurred but for the fact 

that the recipient is providing 

supportive housing beds and services 

for the Special Needs of the centers for 

the following homeless veteran 

populations: 

Women, including women who have 

care of minor dependents; 

Frail elderly; 

Terminally Ill; or 

Chronically mentally ill. 

Definitions of these populations are 

contained in 38 CFR 61.1 Definitions. 

Eligible applicants should review these 

definitions to ensure their proposed 

populations meet the specific 

requirements. 

VA is pleased to issue this Notice of 

Fund Availability (NOFA) for the 

Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 

Program as a part of the effort to end 

chronic homelessness among our 

nation’s veterans. Funding applied for 

under this Notice may be used for: the 

provision of service, operation, or 

personnel to facilitate the following 

with regard to the targeted group: 

Women, Including Women Who Have 

Care of Minor Dependents 

(1) Ensure transportation for women 

and their children, especially for health 

care and educational needs; 

(2) Provide directly or offer referrals 

for adequate and safe child care; 

(3) Ensure children’s health care 

needs are met especially age appropriate 

wellness visits and immunizations; and 

(4) Address safety and security issues 

including segregation procedures from 

other program participants if deemed 

appropriate. 

Frail Elderly 

(1) Ensure the safety of the residents 

in the facility to include preventing 

harm and exploitation; 

(2) Ensure opportunities to keep 

residents mentally and physically agile 

to the fullest extent through the 

incorporation of structured activities, 

physical activity, and plans for social 

engagement within the program and in 

the community; 

(3) Provide opportunities for 

participants to address life transitional 

issues and separation and/or loss issues; 

(4) Provide access to assistance 

devices such as walkers, grippers, or 

other devices necessary for optimal 

functioning; 

(5) Ensure adequate supervision, 

including supervision of medication 

and monitoring of medication 

compliance; and 

(6) Provide opportunities for 

participants either directly or through 

referral for other services particularly 

relevant for the frail elderly, including 

services or programs addressing 

emotional, social, spiritual, and 

generative needs. 

Terminally Ill 

(1) Help participants address lifetransition and life-end issues; 

(2) Ensure that participants are 

afforded timely access to hospice 

services; 

(3) Provide opportunities for 

participants to engage in ‘‘tasks of 

dying,’’ or activities of ‘‘getting things in 

order’’ or other therapeutic actions that 

help resolve end of life issues and 

enable transition and closure; 

(4) Ensure adequate supervision 

including supervision of medication 

and monitoring of medication 

compliance; and 

(5) Provide opportunities for 

participants either directly or through 

referral for other services particularly 

relevant for terminally ill such as legal 

counsel and pain management. 

Chronically Mentally Ill 

(1) Help participants join in and 

engage with the community; 

(2) Facilitate reintegration with the 

community and provide services that 

may optimize reintegration such as lifeskills education, recreational activities, 

and follow up case management; 

(3) Ensure that participants have 

opportunities and services for reestablishing relationships with family; 

(4) Ensure adequate supervision, 

including supervision of medication 

and monitoring of medication 

compliance; and 

(5) Provide opportunities for 

participants, either directly or through 

referral, to obtain other services 

particularly relevant for a chronically 

mentally ill population, such as 

vocational development, benefits 

management, fiduciary or money 

management services, medication 

compliance, and medication education. 

VA is seeking, through this NOFA, to 

renew previous grant and per diem 

Special Need providers and their VA 

collaborative partners to continue to 

serve the Special Need veteran 

populations. 

No part of a Special Need grant may 

be used for any purpose that would 

change significantly the scope of the 

specific grant and per diem project for 

which a capital grant and per diem was 

awarded. As a part of the review 

process, VA will review the original 

project and subsequent renewals as 

listed in the previous Special Need 

applications to ensure significant scope 

changes do not occur displacing other 

homeless veteran populations. VA may 

reject for Special Need Funding those 

applications that significantly alter the 

original scope (38 CFR Section 61.62). 

A separate Special Need application 

is required for each previously funded 

grant and per diem project (identified by 

unique project number (see Application 

Requirements in this NOFA). 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES

Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 14 / Friday, January 23, 2009 / Notices 4315 

Special Need funding may not be 

used for capital improvements or to 

purchase vans or real property. 

However, the leasing of vans or real 

property may be acceptable. Questions 

regarding acceptability should be 

directed to VA’s Grant and Per Diem 

Field Office (at the number listed 

above). Applicants may not receive 

Special Need Assistance to replace 

funds provided by any Federal, state or 

local government agency or program to 

assist homeless persons. 

Authority: Funding applied for under 

this Notice is authorized by the 

‘‘Homeless Veterans Comprehensive 

Assistance Act of 2001,’’ Public Law 

107–95, § 5, codified as amended at 38 

U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2013, 2061, 2064. 

The program is implemented by the 

final rule codified at 38 CFR Part 61.0. 

The regulations can be found in their 

entirety in 38 CFR, Sec. 61.0 through 

61.82. Funds made available under this 

Notice are subject to the requirements of 

those regulations. 

Allocation: Approximately $10 

million is available for current Special 

Need GPD grant component of this 

program. Funding will be for a period 

beginning on October 1, 2009 and 

ending on September 30, 2011. 

Applicants should ensure their funding 

requests are based on this 24 month 

period. As this NOFA is for renewal 

funding; applicant funding requests 

should be in line with prior 

expenditures. Based on Grant and Per 

Diem funding availability, 

approximately, $8 million is expected to 

be made available over the specified 

time (internally) for the current VA 

collaborative partners. 

The goal is to the maximum extent 

possible ensure a continuation of 

Special Need services to homeless 

veterans and their VA collaborative 

partners. 

It is important to be aware that VA 

places great emphasis on responsibility 

and accountability. VA has procedures 

in place to monitor services provided to 

homeless veterans and outcomes 

associated with the services provided in 

grant and per diem-funded programs. 

Applicants should be aware of the 

following: 

Potential applicants should take into 

consideration, ‘‘Grant recipients that 

concurrently receive Special Needs and 

per diem payments shall not be paid 

more than 100 percent of the cost for the 

bed per day, product, operation, 

personnel, or service provided’’ (38 CFR 

61.61(h)). Further, VA per diem 

payment is limited to the applicant’s 

cost of care per eligible veteran minus 

other sources of payments to the 

applicant for furnishing services to 

homeless veterans up to the per day rate 

VA pays for State Home Domiciliary 

care. Awardees will be required to 

support their request for Special Needs 

and per diem payments with adequate 

fiscal documentation as to program 

income and expenses. 

All awardees that are conditionally 

selected in response to this NOFA must 

meet the requirements of the current 

edition of the Life Safety Code of the 

National Fire Protection Association as 

it relates to their specific facility. 

Applicants should note that all facilities 

are to be protected throughout by an 

approved automatic sprinkler system 

unless a facility is specifically exempted 

under the Life Safety Code. Applicants 

should make consideration of this when 

submitting their grant applications as no 

additional funds will be made available 

for capital improvements under this 

NOFA. VA will conduct an inspection 

prior to awardees being able to submit 

request for payment to ensure this 

requirement is met. 

Each grant awardee will have the VA 

liaison that was appointed for its 

corresponding grant and per diem 

program monitor services to ensure the 

Special Need grant is being met and will 

include at least an annual review of 

each program’s progress toward meeting 

internal goals and objectives in helping 

the Special Need homeless veterans as 

identified in each applicant’s original 

Special Need application. Monitoring 

for all participants will include a review 

of the agency’s income and expenses as 

they relate to this project to ensure per 

diem and Special Need payments are 

accurate. 

Monitoring of Homeless Special Need 

participants and services provided by 

GPD recipients will be accomplished 

according to NEPEC procedure. These 

monitoring procedures will be used to 

determine successful accomplishment 

of outcomes for each collaborative 

partnership. 

Funding Priorities: None 

Agreement and Funding Actions: 

Conditionally selected applicants will 

complete a funding agreement with VA 

in accordance with 38 CFR Section 

61.61 and provide any additional 

information as required by VA. Upon 

signature by the Secretary or designated 

representative final selection will be 

completed. 

Funding for operational grant and per 

diem applicants that are finally selected 

will not exceed the period specified in 

this NOFA. A condition to obtain the 

Special Need Grant is for the applicant 

to maintain the original (grant or per 

diem) program for which the Special 

Need grant is sought. 

Application Requirements: A separate 

application is needed for each project 

number, which you are requesting 

Special Needs Funding. In addition, 

current Special Need recipients should 

also list their Special Need Project 

number. A project number is the last 

two digits of the year funded, the 

sequence the application was received, 

and the state abbreviation for the project 

location, (i.e., 00–125–MA would have 

been funded in the year 2000, the 125th 

application received, and the project is 

located in Massachusetts). If you do not 

know your project number call VA’s 

Grant and Per Diem Field Office (tollfree) at 1–877–332–0334. 

The grant application requirements 

are specified in the application package 

and the following additional 

information is required by this NOFA. 

a. Applicants should include in their 

submissions documentation of 

successful past performance. 

b. If the previous Special Needs grant 

was a collaborative the submission must 

include the appropriate performance 

data from the VA collaborative partner 

that the VA met its objectives or 

provided its duties as outlined in the 

original MOA. 

c. An updated MOA signed by the 

VAMC Director and the applicant 

agency Director specifying the 

collaborative and specific duties of the 

non-profit provider and those of the VA 

Medical Center that will be 

accomplished under this grant. 

d. Complete new budgets for the 

provider and collaborative partner with 

costs based on past costs incurred and 

evidence of the same. Providers should 

take into consideration the 24 month 

period of award when calculating and 

submitting their budgets for this NOFA. 

Applicants having questions with 

regard to the funding from previous 

Special Need awards should contact the 

Grant and Per Diem Field Office prior to 

application for this NOFA. 

The package includes the applicant’s 

required forms and certifications. 

Selections will be made based on 

criteria described in the application and 

additional information as specified in 

this NOFA. 

Applicants who are selected will be 

notified of any further additional 

information needed to confirm or clarify 

information provided in the application. 

Applicants will then be notified of the 

deadline to submit such information. If 

an applicant is unable to meet any 

conditions for grant award within the 

specified time frame, VA reserves the 

right to not award funds and to use the 

funds available for other grant and per 

diem applicants. 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES

4316 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 14 / Friday, January 23, 2009 / Notices 

Dated: January 15, 2009. 

Gordon H. Mansfield, 

Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

[FR Doc. E9–1508 Filed 1–22–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Advisory Committee on Homeless 

Veterans; Notice of Meeting 

The Department of Veterans Affairs 

(VA) gives notice under Public Law 92– 

463 (Federal Advisory Committee Act) 

that a meeting of the Advisory 

Committee on Homeless Veterans will 

be held on February 19–20, 2009, in 

room 730, Department of Veterans 

Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., 

Washington, DC, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

each day. The meeting is open to the 

public. 

The purpose of the Committee is to 

provide the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

with an ongoing assessment of the 

effectiveness of the policies, 

organizational structures, and services 

of the Department in assisting homeless 

veterans. The Committee shall assemble 

and review information relating to the 

needs of homeless veterans and provide 

advice on the most appropriate means of 

offering assistance to homeless veterans. 

The Committee will make 

recommendations to the Secretary 

regarding such activities. 

The agenda will include briefings 

from VA and other officials regarding 

services for homeless veterans. The 

Committee will also begin final 

preparation of its upcoming annual 

report and recommendations to the 

Secretary. 

Those wishing to attend the meeting 

should contact Mr. Pete Dougherty, 

Department of Veterans Affairs, at (202) 

461–7401. No time will be allocated for 

receiving oral presentations from the 

public. However, the Committee will 

accept written comments from 

interested parties on issues affecting 

homeless veterans. Such comments 

should be referred to the Committee at 

the following address: Advisory 

Committee on Homeless Veterans, 

Homeless Veterans Programs Office 

(075D), U.S. Department of Veterans 

Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., 

Washington, DC 20420. 

Dated: January 8, 2009. 

By direction of the Secretary: 

E. Philip Riggin, 

Committee Management Officer. 

[FR Doc. E9–1373 Filed 1–22–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Health Services Research and 

Development Service Merit Review 

Board; Notice of Meeting 

The Department of Veterans Affairs 

(VA) gives notice under Public Law 92– 

463 (Federal Advisory Committee Act) 

that a meeting of the Health Services 

Research and Development Service 

Merit Review Board will be held March 

2–4, 2009, at the Crowne Plaza San 

Diego, 2270 Hotel Circle North, San 

Diego, CA. Various subcommittees of 

the Board will meet. Each subcommittee 

meeting of the Merit Review Board will 

be open to the public the first day for 

approximately one half-hour from 8 a.m. 

until 8:30 a.m. to cover administrative 

matters and to discuss the general status 

of the program. The remaining portion 

of the meetings will be closed. The 

closed portion of each meeting will 

involve discussion, examination, 

reference to, and oral review of the 

research proposals and critiques. 

The purpose of the Board is to review 

research and development applications 

involving the measurement and 

evaluation of health care services, the 

testing of new methods of health care 

delivery and management, and nursing 

research. Applications are reviewed for 

scientific and technical merit. 

Recommendations regarding funding are 

submitted to the Chief Research and 

Development Officer. 

On March 2, the subcommittee on 

Nursing Research Initiative will 

convene from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On March 

3–4, five subcommittees on Health 

Services Research A through E will 

convene from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

After the subcommittees meet, there 

will be a debriefing provided to 

members of the Health Services 

Research & Development Scientific 

Merit Review Board. The purposes of 

the debriefing are to discuss the 

outcomes of the review sessions and to 

ensure the integrity and consistency of 

the review process. 

During the closed portion of each 

meeting, discussion and 

recommendations will include 

qualifications of the personnel 

conducting the studies (the disclosure of 

which would constitute a clearly 

unwarranted invasion of personal 

privacy), as well as research information 

(the premature disclosure of which 

would likely compromise significantly 

the implementation of proposed agency 

action regarding such research projects). 

As provided by subsection 10(d) of 

Public Law 92–463, as amended by 

Public Law 94–409, closing portions of 

each meeting is in accordance with 5 

U.S.C. 552b(c)(6) and (9)(B). 

Those who plan to attend the open 

session should contact Ms. Rita Lysik, 

Scientific Merit Review Program 

Manager (124R), Health Services 

Research and Development Service, 

Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 

Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 

20420, at least five days before the 

meeting. For further information, please 

call (202) 461–1521. 

By Direction of the Secretary. 

Dated: January 16, 2009. 

E. Philip Riggin, 

Committee Management Officer. 

[FR Doc. E9–1511 Filed 1–22–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFFAIRS 

Voluntary Service National Advisory 

Committee; Notice of Meeting 

The Department of Veterans Affairs 

gives notice under Public Law 92–463 

(Federal Advisory Committee Act) that 

the annual meeting of the Department of 

Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service 

(VAVS) National Advisory Committee 

(NAC) will be held May 20–22, 2009, at 

the Marriott Westchase, 2900 Briarpark 

Drive, Houston, Texas. The meeting is 

open to the public, and the sessions are 

scheduled as follows: 

May 20—2 p.m. until 4 p.m. 

May 21—8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. 

May 22—8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. 

The Committee, comprised of sixtythree national voluntary organizations, 

advises the Secretary, through the 

Under Secretary for Health, on the 

coordination and promotion of 

volunteer activities within VA health 

care facilities. The primary purposes of 

this meeting are: To provide for 

Committee review of volunteer policies 

and procedures; to accommodate full 

and open communications between 

organization representatives and the 

Voluntary Service Office and field staff; 

to provide educational opportunities 

geared towards improving volunteer 

programs with special emphasis on 

methods to recruit, retain, motivate and 

recognize volunteers; and to approve 

Committee recommendations. 

The May 20 session will involve 

opening ceremonies and remarks by 

several VA and local officials. The May 

21 session will feature the Voluntary 

Service Report and recognition of the 

recipients of the VAVS Award for 

Excellence and NAC Volunteers of the 

Year. In addition, the James H. Parke 

Memorial Scholarship Luncheon will be 

held to honor an outstanding youth 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES