If sheltering pets during natural or other disasters is a concern for your agency, please read on or forward to others who would find this of value. If your agency or organization is looking for valuable plans, forms, job action sheets, checklists, etc. regarding how to open, manage and close a Pet Friendly Shelter during a disaster we recommend that you take time to review the Pet Friendly Shelter Planning and Response Materials found at the following web site:  www.PetShelterPlan.org

In addition to the various planning and response materials there is support documentation regarding facilitating a Pet Friendly Shelter Drill entitled “Pets Are Us”. These drill documents will assist in the planning, conducting and evaluating of a drill designed to assess the capability to open, manage and close a Pet Friendly Shelter.

For a full list of employer commitments, please visit http://www.dol.gov/summerjobs/Partners.htm.

Awards were presented to the following:

• Business/Corporation Award: Genworth Financial
• Community Organization Award: The Volunteer Money Management Program, Senior Connections
• Educational Institution Volunteer Program Award: The Campus Kitchen at The College of William and Mary
• Faith-Based Volunteer Service Award: The Richmond Outreach Center, Inc.
• Family Volunteer Service Award: Khaki and Stacey LaRiviere
• Adult Volunteer Award (Individual aged 19-59): Heidi Abbott
• Senior Volunteer Award (Individual aged 60+): Dr. Ted Ruhnke, Jr.
• Youth Volunteer Award (Individual up to age 18): Katie Goodman

In addition to Governor McDonnell, other participants in the program included: Ned Massee, Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, MeadWestvaco; Samantha Vanterpool Rucker, Chairwoman, Governor's Advisory Board on Volunteerism and National Service; C. B. Sinclair, Chairman, Virginia Service Foundation; and Lisa Schaffner, Director of Public Relations and Marketing, United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).

The Awards are held annually by a partnership between the Governor's Office and the Office on Volunteerism and Community Service at the Virginia Department of Social Services.  The Governor’s Advisory Board on Volunteerism and National Service is charged by the Governor with saluting Virginians who have significantly contributed to the life and welfare of the Commonwealth and its people.

View additional photos from this event.

A free collaborative training and regional community conversation for Public and Private Organizations including: Services Providers, Community Leaders, Faith-Based Groups and more. This is a wonderful opportunity for free trainings/community conversations that will be offered in 4 regions of the state. These collaborative trainings are being provided by Virginia Department of Health, Family & Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia and the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance. Space is limited. Registration is required. Lunch will be provided.

Recently, we have all been inundated with the issue of sexual violence in the headlines and news stories. But, what are our communities perceptions of what constitutes sexual violence? What can be done to expand our understanding and response? This training will provide a holistic framework to examine sexual violence as a continuum across the lifespan.
 

Sessions will include:
• Training on current trends and primary prevention
• Opportunity to examine best practices in addressing various forms of sexual violence prevention
• Discussion on ways communities can collaboratively prevent the problem

For more information and to register please click on the links below or call 800-638-3839 for further assistance.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 Western Region 10 am- 3 pm
Friday, May 4, 2012 Central Region 10 am- 3 pm
Friday, May 18, 2012 Eastern Region 10 am- 3 pm
Thursday, May 24, 2012 Northern Region 10am-3pm

Please give AARP the opportunity to help reward the contribution of one of your top volunteers. The 2012 recipient of Virginia’s AARP Andrus Award for Community Service will be acknowledged nationally by AARP. The recipient, along with a spouse or friend, will be invited to an all expense-paid recognition banquet held in Charlottesville this fall. In addition, please note that each individual whom you nominate will be honored with a special recognition certificate and token of appreciation as a result of your nomination.

The nomination form can be accessed and filed electronically through the AARP website. Please take a moment to review the award criteria and nominate an AARP member who you have witnessed making a difference in the lives of others.  AARP website http://www.aarp.org/giving-back/volunteering/info-03-2010/andrus_award_nomination_form.html.

If you have any questions about this year’s award process, please contact Stephanie Gossett at sgossett@aarp.org or call 804.344.3063.

Nominations must be received in the AARP Virginia State Office by Friday, June 1, 2012.

Be alert to possible identity theft if you receive an IRS notice or letter that states that:
• More than one tax return for you was filed,
• You have a balance due, refund offset or have had collection actions taken against you for a year you did not file a tax return, or
• IRS records indicate you received wages from an employer unknown to you.
 

What to do if your tax records were affected by identity theft?
If you receive a notice from IRS, respond immediately. If you believe someone may have used your SSN fraudulently, please notify IRS immediately by responding to the name and number printed on the notice or letter. You will need to fill out the IRS Identity Theft Affidavit, Form 14039.
For victims of identity theft who have previously been in contact with the IRS and have not achieved a resolution, please contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit, toll-free, at 1-800-908-4490.
 

How can you protect your tax records?
If your tax records are not currently affected by identity theft, but you believe you may be at risk due to a lost/stolen purse or wallet, questionable credit card activity or credit report, etc., contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490.

How can you minimize the chance of becoming a victim?
• Don’t carry your Social Security card or any document(s) with your SSN on it.
• Don’t give a business your SSN just because they ask. Give it only when required.
• Protect your financial information.
• Check your credit report every 12 months.
• Secure personal information in your home.
• Protect your personal computers by using firewalls, anti-spam/virus software, update security patches, and change passwords for Internet accounts.
• Don’t give personal information over the phone, through the mail or on the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or you are sure you know who you are dealing with.
 

All of this info can be found at the ID Theft page on http://www.irs.gov: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=251501,00.html

 

VISTA members will include three full-time positions in technology, data, and events -- as well as a leader with previous VISTA experience. Six members will be assigned to competitively selected mentoring or youth development host sites across Central Virginia. These VISTA opportunities can be found at http://www.americorps.gov/.

An information session regarding the program is scheduled for Wed., March 7, at 1 p.m. at the VMP offices in the Science Museum of Virginia at 2500 W. Broad St., 3rd Floor, Richmond. To learn more about the program, VISTA member opportunities or to receive a project information packet, contact Miriam Davidow, mdavidow@alumni.vcu.edu, 804-828-1536.