Joining Forces

IAWP has adopted "Joining Forces" as an U.S. nationwide service project.  Joining Forces:

• Brings attention to the unique needs and strength of America’s military families.
• Inspires, educates, and sparks action from all sectors of our society – citizens, communities, businesses, non-profits, faith based institutions, philanthropic organizations, and government - to ensure veterans and military families have the opportunities, resources, and support they have earned.
• Showcases the skills, experience, and dedication of America’s veterans and military spouses to strengthen our nation’s communities.
• Creates greater connections between the American public and the military.

Get involved at a personal, subchapter, chapter or district level.  To learn how you can help, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces/get-involved.

Where Have I Been?

I have been either traveling or moving the last 4 weeks.  The last week of September I traveled to Frankfort, Kentucky to the IAWP Administrative Office.  During my visit there I met with staff and looked through archival files looking for pictures and information for the 100th anniversary book.  Midway through the week I moved to Louisville for the in-person board meeting.  We spent two full days meeting and attending to the business of the association.

Upon my return to Boise, I finished packing and moved to a new home after living in same place for 27 years.  It was a major endeavor to move that many years worth of "stuff" but we got it done and are fairly settled.

On October 15th I traveled to Chicago, Illinois to meet up with the Conference Planning Committee at the Fairmont - Millennium Park, the host hotel for the 100th International Educational Conference.  The Committee toured and allocated all the space and set the budget.

It was a pretty full three weeks for me!

National Disability Month

"A strong workforce is an inclusive workforce: what can YOU do?" That is the theme of this year's National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and the question the Office of Disability Employment Policy hopes all employers are asking themselves.

As part of the month-long observance, ODEP and federal agencies will showcase a variety of events and speaking engagements and highlight resources available to employers and employees alike.

Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy, kicked off NDEAM on Oct. 1 at the United States Business Leadership Network (USBLN) 15th Annual Conference and Expo, where she delivered remarks following the signing and renewal of the ODEP/USBLN alliance. "Only by talking and working closely with all those who have a stake in employing people with disabilities can we expand the conversation about disability employment," Martinez told the group. "And, it's the only way we can foster real, significant and long lasting change."

 

Presidential Proclamation