National Veterans Service Commission
Wounded Warrior Project Frequently Asked Questions
How can a small Lodge take part in this program?
We are aware that not all Lodges have the resources to host an event on their own. However, Lodges can certainly support one another. Support may also come from other local veterans organizations such as AMVETS, American Legion, and the VFW. Be sure to talk with your District Deputy and state representatives. Because the events will not take place until May 1, 2010, there should be time to include the event(s) in the state budget.
How long do we have to submit a proposal and how soon will the events take place?
The deadline for Lodges to submit requests to their ENVSC State Chairmen, is December 1, 2009. Proposals approved by the ENVSC State Chairmen will be forwarded to the director of the Elks National Veterans Service Commission by January 15, 2010. Events will be held from May 1, 2010, through April 30, 2011.
How will the grant money be used?
The Elks National Foundation has given the Elks National Veterans Service Commission a one-time grant of $50,000 for the program. Ideally, the grant money will cover only the costs associated with air transportation of the Veterans to the event location, i.e. the nearest airport. Grant money can be used for equipment rentals, housing, and other necessities of the Wounded Warriors themselves. It cannot be used for any expenses incurred by Elks or their volunteers.
It is not necessary for the Lodge to pay every cost associated with the event in order to receive approval. However, requests will be judged, in part, on how much support the Lodge, District, or State can provide. The more logistical and financial support provided by Lodge and State, the more events can be held and the more Veterans we can help.
The Wounded Warrior Project will assign a regional coordinator to each approved outdoor event. Once a Lodge request receives final approval, all details, including financial ones, will be explained to the Elks event coordinator by the regional coordinator from Wounded Warrior Project.
Won’t these Wounded Warriors have special needs?
The Wounded Warrior Project will select the Veterans based on their ability and desire to take part in the event. In addition, a trained staff member from WWP will accompany each group of wounded warriors taking part in an event. This staff member will be aware of any special needs of the veterans and is there to assist. The staff members themselves will be veterans, and most likely have incurred a combat injury of their own.
Typically, a group of 4-5 Wounded Warriors will have one additional WWP staff member professionally trained to work with the Veterans. A group of seven or more may have two staff members assigned to it. Whatever number of Veterans the Lodge says it can support, that is the total number the Wounded Warrior Project will assign to the event, including staff.
There are VA Hospitals and military bases in our area. Can we contact them ourselves?
Lodges are not to make arrangements on their own with the Veterans, hospitals, or military bases.
This program is a partnership between the Elks and the Wounded Warrior Project. After review by the Chicago headquarters, proposals will be forwarded to a project coordinator employed by the Wounded Warrior Project. The WWP project coordinator will contact the veterans who wish to participate in the Lodge event.
We are aware that many Lodges have a working relationship with local military bases and hospitals and have taken Veterans from those facilities on various trips. The Elks National Veterans Service Commission believes in these trips and wishes to encourage Lodges to continue to do such work, but those events are not part of this program. Grant money cannot be used for any other event other than one approved for the Elks/Wounded Warrior Project by the Director of the Elks National Veterans Service Commission.
How did the ENVSC/Wounded Warrior program get started?
In 2007, Jan Jonker, the incoming State President of the Alaska State Elks Association, was searching for a program that the state’s Members would get behind and support. Veterans always held a tender place in his heart, so he was looking for something to help these deserving members of our society as well as to revitalize their Veterans Program.
He heard about the Wounded Warrior Project and the good work they were doing. After contacting representatives from the organization, he made a pledge to the Wounded Warrior Project that the Alaska Elks Association would seek to raise $3.00 per Member to support their organization.
The response from the Alaska Elks was overwhelming, and within a year they almost doubled what was asked. The money was sent to the Wounded Warrior Project to offset the costs of air travel and housing for veterans participating in what was, at that time, called the Wounded Warriors Outdoors program.
Several groups of these veterans came to Alaska, and Elks Lodges volunteered to assist with meals, local transportation, and other personal assistance. Elks often acted as guides on fishing and hunting expeditions.
The cooperative effort between the Elks of Alaska and the Wounded Warrior Project was so successful that it developed into a state program, which they have named the Alaska Elks Wounded Veterans Project. This project focuses on all wounded Veterans and is a collaboration between the State Association, member Lodges, military bases, and the Wounded Warrior Project. Although their focus has shifted more to active military personnel and Veterans in military hospitals, Alaska still hosts groups from the Wounded Warrior Project.
Due to the success of the Alaska Elks Wounded Veterans Project, State Sponsor PGER Roger True, then Chairman of the Elks National Veterans Service Commission, proposed that this type of program be brought to national attention. Through the generosity of the Elks National Foundation, a grant of $50,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project was approved in February of 2009 and a proposal for a joint effort between Elks Lodges and the Wounded Warrior Project approved in May of 2009.
Have any Elks Lodges had previous experiences with the Wounded Warrior Project?
For those Lodges interested in obtaining first hand information from Elks who have hosted Wounded Warrior events:
Kodiak, AK Elks Lodge No.1772, has hosted WWP events for almost three years. Neil Duncan, the young veteran who accepted the check for Wounded Warrior Project at the Grand Lodge Convention in Portland, Oregon was scheduled in July, 2008, to go fishing with other Wounded Warriors and Elks from Kodiak.
A good contact at Kodiak Elks Lodge No. 1772 is DDGER Bob Johnson. His email is tundrabob@starband.net.
Homer, AK Elks Lodge No. 2127, at the request of the WWP, this year hosted a young wounded troop and his family on a fishing trip this July. A good contact at Homer Elks Lodge No. 2127 is Leading Knight and WWP Project Chairperson, Ms Terry Felde. E-mail: tlfelde@gmail.com.
