Veterans Affairs Commission

Composition

1. Board of County Commissioners shall appoint nine (9) voting members, each of whom has separated from the military service under honorable conditions. Of the nine (9) members: 
   1. One (1) member shall be an owner or operator of a local business;
   2. One (1) member shall be an educator or educational administrator; 
   3. Three (3) members shall be at-large; and
   4. Four (4) members shall be members of the American Legions within Calvert County, with one (1) member from each of the following Legions:
      1. American Legion Post 206;
      2. American Legion Post 220;
      3. American Legion Post 274; and 
      4. American Legion Post 85.
2. The Board of County Commissioners shall designate the following non-voting members, who will be considered ex officio:
   1. The Director of Stateside Military Operations of University of Maryland Global Campus, or their designee;
   2. The Veterans Affair Coordinator of College of Southern Maryland, or their designee; and
   3.  A member of the Board of County Commissioners, or their designee

Members shall be appointed for 3-year terms and no Commission member shall be eligible to serve more than three (3) consecutive full terms.

For more information, refer to Resolution 13-21 Pertaining to the Creation of the Veterans Affairs Commission.

Members

Ex Officio Members

• Christian Zimmermann, M.A., M.B.A., College of Southern Maryland Veterans Affairs Coordinator
• Dr. Nicole DeRamus, University of Maryland Global Campus,  Att. VP, Veterans Programs, Dept. of Stateside Military Operations
• Meg Faller, Veteran Liaison
  Calvert County Library

Open Meetings

• The Veterans Affairs Commission complies with the Open Meetings Act. 
• Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 5 p.m. in the Community Resources Building, 30 Duke Street, Prince Frederick, MD, Extension Service Conference Room. Agendas and Minutes are available here  Open Meetings  Open Meetings   Open Meetings   Open Meetings  Open Meetings     Open Meetings    Open Meetings Open Meetings . 

Summary of VAC Highlights and Accomplishments

• Conducted a survey of Calvert County Veterans to gauge the areas of greatest need
• Obtained discounted transit fares for Calvert County veterans
• Monitored veteran-related legislative activity and advocated for Calvert County to adopt Veteran Tax Credits for less than 100% disabled veterans
• Met with veteran-serving groups/individuals including Calvert Hospice, Christmas in April, Greenwell Foundation, Carroll County Veterans Services, Secretary George Owings, Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs
• Reviewed and updated the Veterans Resource Guide, established electronic access with a QR code featured on promotional business cards.
• Provided Community Outreach at the Calvert County Fair and other Veteran events
• Served as catalyst for Economic Development to Create a Veteran Owned Small Business Directory

Future Plans

• Participate in Operation Green Light, National Veteran-Owned Small Business Week and other local Veterans Day observances
• Feasibility study for Veteran Service Officer (VSO) to serve Calvert County
• Continue to monitor legislation and finalize the proposal to the BOCC for Veterans Tax Credits
• Work with State's Attorney Robert Harvey to ensure that local courts identify veterans entering the legal system and provide them with appropriate supports
• Partner with Calvert Library to host monthly veteran workshops on a variety of topics (benefits, claims, employment, education) beginning in 2023

Serve those who served us

Hospice of the Chesapeake – We Honor Veterans Programs
Did you know that 1 out of every 4 Hospice clients is a Veteran and that it is a Medicare requirement that 5% of Hospice’s total staff hours have to be provided by volunteers. Help Hospice hit that mark monthly by assisting with:

• Compassionate Care – Enhance the quality of life for patients and their families by providing companionship, a listening ear and practical assistance.
• Vigil – Provide support to Veteran patients and  their families during the final days and hours of life. 
• Honor Salute – Pay respect to our valued Veteran patients in a unique way. Join service members to honor veterans for their service in the military.
• Vet to Vet –  the program matches trained, experienced Veteran patient care volunteers with Veterans in Hospice care. The pairing creates a bond based on shared understanding of military experience. Sometimes these conversations are the last opportunity for a Veteran to feel their service was not in vain. 
• Patriotic Quilts – Craft patriotic quilts for inclusion in the Honor Salute Kits. 

For more information call 443-837-1508 or email veterans@hospicechesapeake.org  

Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels – Can you spare just two hours a month to help deliver meals to a neighbor in need. If you can, please call the Office on Aging at 410-535-4606. Meals on Wheels is a non-profit, volunteer organization that serves our most vulnerable citizens including many of Calvert  County’s Veterans. 

Charlotte Hall Veterans Home
Anyone interested in volunteering at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home should contact the Director of Volunteer Services, Ms. Sadè Herbert at sade.herbert@pruitthealth.com or call 301-884-8171 ext. 5143 for more information. #ServingThoseWhoServed#volunteersouthernmd

Open Table
Calvert County is the first county in the state of Maryland to launch Open Table, an evidence-based program that aims to build social support networks to help individuals and families in need. This unique volunteer experience will allow you to go beyond giving by investing in others and our community. Table Members (community volunteers) and service providers are trained to access their combined social networks (their skills, knowledge, personal, social and business networks) to support individuals with developing their own life plan and goals. For more information or interest in volunteer, please contact the Program Coordinator at 410-535-1600, ext. 8809.