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advocacy, military, Military families, military monday, Military Support Series, ScoutComms, Veterans

Military Support Series – ScoutComms

February 10, 2014 No Comments

One of the things I love about blogging is getting to meet really awesome people, and then talk about them. I met Fred right after I had moved into town. It was my very first blogging conference, and whether he knows it or not he sort of came to my “virtual” rescue and offered some moral support. Then I stumbled upon him again at a military related seminar…..and once more at an Operation Homefront event. Yeah, he’s everywhere. One of these days I’m going to let him hire me. Anyway, Fred is the CEO and founder of ScoutComms.

ScoutComms provides strategic and unique assistance in the world of aerospace, defense and veterans sectors. The list is incredibly long of the really cool things that they offer to their clients. Services provided include media relations specifically targeted to increase outreach to exactly those that need it, Thought Leadership Support, consulting and guidance on veteran focused corporate giving programs and so much more. ScoutComms specializes in something called ‘Precision Public Relations’, spending the time to find the right journalist, media outlet or partner for their client. Who better to provide this large list of services then veterans and those that have spent years working closely with, and supporting, them.

Recently ScoutComms underwent a change. It was a slight change that largely went under the radar, which is indicative of what I appreciate about how this organization runs themselves. ScoutComms is now a registered B-corporation, or Benefit Corporation. They are the first in the Nation to focus specifically on veterans and military family issues. They’ve taken on the mantle of not only providing services in a unique way, but blending it with advocacy and support.

We’re one of the first social enterprises focused on veterans’ issues, but as the movement grows, we certainly hope to not be the last. As a social enterprise, we’re approaching our mission in much the same way we always have: through creating and implementing communications and philanthropic strategies for our clients and the veterans’ organizations we support. For our current clients, nothing will change in the way we provide a personal, precision consulting experience, and we hope this evolution opens the doors to future clients who share our vision that doing business and doing good are not mutually exclusive.

ScoutComms also has a blog, and something they call The Scout Report, a newsletter of sorts. If you are a veteran, a milspouse, military-connected person or just concerned about veteran/military issues you should subscribe to this. You can catch up on all the past issues of The Scout Report here. It is very exciting to see this happen from the beginning, and I have absolutely no doubt that ScoutComms will accomplish great things moving forward.

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#VeteranJobsSpotlight, Rob Dyer, RuckPack, Veterans

RuckPack Nutrition and Employment for Veterans #VeteranJobsSpotlight

November 15, 2013 No Comments

**From now until November 17th, RuckPack will donate 25% of profits to MARSOC, Navy SEAL and Green Beret foundations. Regularly RuckPack maintains a 10% of profits giving to these military charities.

It has always been a goal here at CSL to pass along as many resources as possible to service members and their families. Recently I have revamped my tabs and been keeping up with the #MilitarySpotlightSeries. After being involved in so many hiring fairs and meeting so many companies that have made hiring Veterans and Military Spouses, taking the time to showcase some of those companies should also be a priority. So, I give you #VeteransJobsSpotlight Number One.

Frustrated by having to take up to twenty pills and capsules per day, Rob Dyer and his team of Special Ops Marines came up with the idea for RuckPack®––a single-source, power-packed vitamin & energy shot capable of delivering maximum performance, caffeine-free. To ensure only the most essential ingredients for an energy shot were included in RuckPack®, Marine Special Operations Forces tested and used the product while fighting on the front lines in Afghanistan.

In 2008, Rob Dyer established Noots! Nutrition, LLC and officially released RuckPack® on Veterans Day, 2011. The peak performance nutrition shot designed for military warriors is now available to life’s warriors everywhere.

Today, RuckPack® is over 80% military service-member owned. It’s a brand whose owners live by a code of service to country and community and who uphold the ideals of honor, dedication, and integrity. RuckPack will never fall short of such ideals.

So, why is RuckPack my first Veteran Job Spotlight?

Committed to country and service, RuckPack is the first company to offer veterans nationwide the opportunity to earn cash through commissioned sales.

A way to both quickly scale the company and create opportunities for veterans to earn money, RuckPack’s Veterans Distributor Program offers a 10 percent cut for all sales to qualifying retailers made by program members.

To reach every veteran in the country with this opportunity, the only requirement will be proof of military time served. From there, trust has been established. RuckPack believes that veterans have earned the right to continue to earn money.

Visit RuckPack to learn more about their product, order some, and learn more about enlisting in their Veteran Distributor Program.

Check out the founder, and Marine Vet, Rob Dyer on Shark Tank!

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#HonorAVet, milfam, military, Veterans, Veterans Day

Five Ways to Honor Veterans on Veteran’s Day

November 8, 2013 No Comments

Photo courtsey of Jessica DelVecchio Photography. Hire this woman!!

November 11, 1919, Woodrow Wilson enacted Armistice Day. It has grown from there, and evolved from a day to honor those that served in WWI to a day to honor all Veterans. General Dwight Eisenhower was a bolstering factor in making the first National Veteran’s Day in the mid 40’s; however, it was not signed as a law until Eisenhower was president, in 1954.

72-901-1 HR7786 Veterans Day June 1 1954

By U.S. Government [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

All over the country people celebrate the day in different ways, setting aside time to honor those who have served. I grew up in an extremely patriotic home. That might sound silly I know, because we are all proud of our country; but instilling a sense of pride and understanding in our children as they grow can have such a profound effect on who you are as person. My parents did such a wonderful job with this, and I want to instill that same thing in my children whether my husband stays in the military or not. What are some ways that you can Honor (I say that instead of Celebrate, because celebrate just doesn’t sound right) Veterans in your neighborhood?

1. The Veteran’s Day Parade: This is a staple for most holidays, and if a town is awesome I bet they probably have one. It’s not only community building, but many Veterans take part in these events, and who wouldn’t love to hear a cheer for them in the crowd.

**For my DC/VA peeps, check out the Veteran’s Day Parade in Manassas, Va on November 9th

2. Visit a local Memorial: Not only will most memorials be decked out with flags, many of them have special events. Visiting memorials can be a great teaching tool for your children. Children surprisingly handle a lot, and here in our house we talk openly and honestly. We have visited Arlington and Walter Reed with our children and it has been a great experience.

**DC/VA – There will be events at most of the major memorials including The Air Force, Navy, Marine Corp, Vietnam and WWII memorials. Another fun and unique event will be taking place at Mount Vernon. There will be a wreath-laying, music and lots of other fun period-related activities. Military service members (including retired) get in free on November 11th.

3. Holiday Mail for Heroes: The Red Cross has a Holiday Mail program for sending letters to troops and their families who are medical facilities and installations across the world. The deadline is December 6, so there isn’t a whole lot of time, but it can be a lot of fun, and a great way to involve even the littlest patriots in your family. Mine will be participating in an event at our local Red Cross, so check out their website to see if there is any event near you or get all the details and guidelines you need to make your own letters.

4. Help a Veteran in Your Life: And when I say “help”, but maybe its not just a physical act of helping. Maybe you invite them over for dinner, maybe you send them a note, or maybe its just as simple as extending a hand to thank them for their service. Sometimes that is all they need to put a smile on their face.

5. Don’t forget their families: If there is a family in your circle with a dad/mom deployed, remember to thank them too. Keeping the fires burning can be a tough job, and sometimes we aren’t the ones that get any recognition. That isn’t meant to pity us, no…we are safe in our beds each night. Believe me, we understand what that means. And while most times when anyone says thanks to me, or anything like that, I awkward accept it and loudly say that it is my husband who deserves all the praise…doesn’t mean that the extra thought doesn’t give me a little pep in my step. I know my fellow Millies appreciate it as well.

Stop by the VA’s “Veteran’s Day” #HonorAVet website to find listings of what is going on near you!

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#militarymonday, Celebration of Service, community service, Home Depot Foundation, homeless veterans, Veterans, Washington DC

Home Depot Foundation – Doing More for Veterans D.C. Project

October 14, 2013 No Comments

The Home Depot Foundation, created in 2002, is the organization that manages the grants, initiatives and disaster relief for Home Depot. It also manages Team Depot, the associate-led volunteer group. Community service has always been of great importance to Home Depot, being involved within the communities they are located. The foundation was formed to repair the lives and homes of those around them, by connecting with local non-profits. Since its inception, the foundation has invested over $340 million to assist veterans and their families in need, as well to improve local parks, playgrounds and community buildings. The Home Depot Foundation has committed $80million over the next five years to the needs of Veterans. The sheer magnitude of all Home Depot has accomplished is staggering. Please take time to read more about the projects on their website. Partners to the Home Depot Foundation include Habitat For Humanity, The Fisher House, Semper Fi Fund, Operation Homefront, Team Rubicon and many more.

This week, the Celebration of Service, which runs from 9/11 to Veterans’s Day, will bring The Home Depot Foundation to Washington, DC, to partner with The National Association of Concerned Veterans. The NACV is one of the oldest active veterans service organizations. It began operating in the DC Metro area in 1972. The focus has been on housing, employment, training and reintegration. They have created a comprehensive program that seeks to create the easiest transition for Vets. Their transitional housing in the DC area provides a safe place for both male and female veterans, as well as their children and families. Team Depot will be bringing a team to update and renovate the transitional homes in the city, which is one of 350 projects completed during this Celebration of Service. Dedicating time and money explicitly to ensure that every Veteran and their families have a safe place to call home is a goal that began in 2011; and since that time the Home Depot Foundation has invested over $52 million. More than $1.5 million of that has been with local Veteran assistance organizations in the DC area.

Visit Home Depot’s Foundation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Watching this short video about Home Depot and their Mission to serve

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