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Our Veterans Training School (VTS) continues to be a solid performer and our "secret weapon" for assisting clients to become financially responsible and able to live independently. Our program includes 17 classes arranged by tracks: Life Skills, Business, Computers and three Vocational Courses: Security Officer Training, Commercial Drivers License (Class B) and the Fundamentals of Culinary Arts. All our part-time instructors are highly-accomplished professionals with significant credentials.
Frank Boback, Veterans Training School Manager and Registrar, is responsible for conducting student intakes, enrolling and tracking student progress, and referring students to the VTS Employment Department or Information Resource Center for additional program support. Frank has extensive veteran- and education-related employment experience, having worked as a Veterans Representative for the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development and as graduate and undergraduate academic advisor at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Sarah Sanchez, Employment Retention Manager at VTS, provides comprehensive student assessments and employment assistance to job seekers. A significant part of Sarah's job includes providing nine months of continuous outreach and follow up services to veterans after their date of hire. Sarah has significant experience in the field of human services, where she has worked for ten years. She specializes in assisting veterans with multiple barriers to find and retain employment.
The Veterans Training School's most recent initiative is the renovation of the Information Resource Center (IRC). This spring, we plan to upgrade our resource library, add six (6) state-of-the-art computer workstations to support our computer track and offer business classes in the newly-renovated center. For more information on the Veterans Training School, we invite you to view the section page on our website at: www.neshv.org/veterans_training_school.html
Thanks, as always, to our Board for their support, the Gold Star Mothers, staff, volunteers and our generous benefactors. And, to our respected clients, keep up the good work that you are doing and take advantage of what is offered here including the training programs. Stay strong and persevere!
Laurence D. Fitzmaurice
In this edition, I am pleased to present our fiscal year 2007 Annual Report, with a lot to be grateful for and another opportunity to add more depth to our already broad array of services. We finished our fiscal year with a positive fund balance as we have in the recent past. This, in part, due to the generous contributions of our many benefactors. The Annual Report, which contains details of our sources of Revenue and Expense, is located on our website at: Annual Report. As many of you know, we not only offer emergency shelter, food and clothing here at our ten story facility at Court Street in Boston but also the following services within our building:
FY 2008 will bring additional challenges for increased funding needs and enhanced initiatives projected due to returning Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, many of whom will suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and subsequently may become homeless. We continue to anticipate and plan for the changing dynamic of our client population and rely upon the support of our benefactors to further our efforts. Since our founding in 1990, the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans has been home to Veterans from every state in the Union and, currently less than 50% of our clients are from Boston. In 1991 the Shelter was recognized by President George H.W. Bush as the 142nd Point of Light. As a supporter of our work, I am pleased to provide you with our fiscal year 2007 Annual Report and to convey my deepest appreciation. We strive to perform in such a way as to maintain your confidence and trust.
Thanks, as always, to our Board for their support, the Gold Star Mothers, staff, volunteers and our generous benefactors. And, to our respected clients, keep up the good work that you are doing and take advantage of what is offered here including the training programs. Stay strong and persevere!
Laurence D. Fitzmaurice
SUPER BOWL ENTHUSIASM …
This same excitement is felt by the Board and Staff of NESHV as we advance the play downfield into the second half of our fiscal year. We too face formidable obstacles. The economy and rising costs, many fueled by rising energy costs, put increasing pressure on fund raising and cost containment. While we recognize that discretionary income may be tight for the general donor community, we hope that some will choose to support us in this very competitive atmosphere. It is our job to convince them of our worthiness. This challenge is met with great enthusiasm by those of us responsible for the efficient and effective delivery of services to our Veteran clients in transition. Some current events stimulate donor interest. Our Annual Report will be out shortly to our current donor base and others. Calliope is putting on a musical benefit on February 16th and our website www.neshv.org has further information. A promotional video for the event may be found at www.calliopemusic.org . Also, Steve Wilkos, host of the nationally televised show, taped a segment here which is tentatively scheduled for February. Please check our website for the exact date when it has been determined. We also rely on our corporate and individual supporters to spread the word on what we do, why we do it and how we do it. AND … Thanks, as always, to our Board for their support, the Gold Star Mothers, staff, volunteers and our generous benefactors. And, to our respected clients, keep up the good work that you are doing and take advantage of what is offered here including the training programs. Stay strong and persevere!
Laurence D. Fitzmaurice
TIME FOR NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS …
Ted is the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Society of CPAs. He is a retired Coast Guard Captain. Volunteers also are part of the fabric of what makes things work here and the following were major contributors to the festive seasonal celebrations as well as to the regular routine daily operations: Members of Raytheon Corp's Human Resource Division, who helped to assemble and trim our Christmas trees; Staff from John Hancock Financial Services, who helped to wrap presents; State employees from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, who greeted our Adopt-A-Vet sponsors and received in our client's holiday gifts; Mike and Nancy Solomon, who together with volunteers from the Clarendon Hill Tower Association and Major General Henry Knox Lodge; sponsored the annual holiday dessert party; and Lori Frankian, who generously sponsored our Christmas Eve dessert party again this year.
We look forward with confidence to a solid 2008. AND … Thanks, as always, to our Board for their support, the Gold Star Mothers, staff, volunteers and our generous benefactors. And, to our respected clients, keep up the good work that you are doing and take advantage of what is offered here including the training programs. Stay strong and persevere! HAPPY New year !!!!!!!!!
Laurence D. Fitzmaurice
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©2005-2007 New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans - All Rights Reserved 17 Court Street, Boston, MA 02108 - Main number 617-371-1800 - info@neshv.org Privacy Policy |
As I write this, the outcome of Super Bowl 42 is yet to be determined. The enthusiasm for the match up is contagious even for those who may not be regular fans.
January
2008. It seems like it snuck up faster than usual this year. This is the traditional time to "take stock" of our lives and our priorities and resolve to improve our condition. Sometimes easier said than done but, nevertheless, worth the effort. Our Board is invaluable in helping me and our staff to focus on the Mission and goals. Our Chairman, Dan Daly and our Vice-Chairman, Ted Flynn were just reelected to their respective posts. Dan is the President of Daly & Company, Inc. He was a naval officer in Vietnam in command of a swift boat.
We are also grateful to the many folks who contributed the holiday music and performances, including: Tim McHale and the Boston Minstrels, Joey Scott & the Connection, for providing our clients with musical entertainment and karaoke sing-a-long's; comedian's Steve Sweeney, Tony V and Jim McCue, whose humor also helped to make our season especially bright. To each of them, along with the scores of other volunteers and supporters, we are most appreciative.
