Getting our Military Families what they DeserveBy Jay Chalnick 15 January 2009
NEW YORK, NY– In his Inaugural speech, President-elect Obama will no doubt voice his intention to ensure those who have served their country in the US military get what they deserve. As he said, “This is something I care deeply about.” The team of people who built MyVetwork (www.myvetwork.com) will be among those cheering his words.
One of them is Brendan Hart who left the Marine Corps in 2005, and wanted to reconnect with other veterans, people who would understand what he went through and what support he may need. Plenty of services exist, says Hart, 26, on medical leave from Dartmouth College because of a contaminated smallpox vaccine he was given while serving. But finding them was another matter. Hart launched Student Veterans of America, now one of the many military-focused groups taking advantage of www.myvetwork.com, the new online community designed specifically to facilitate the intention of President-elect Obama and others to take advantage of available technology to get to veterans the services they have earned.
MyVetwork.com is the first-ever online social network designed specifically for our military and their families that lets them shape their own community…so they can connect and interact with each other while exchanging information on getting the services and resources they need– all in one place. This has not been possible until now; MyVetwork.com provides the timely vehicle to bring to reality Michele Obama’s “vision of a system that does more to support military families, both when loved ones are deployed and long after they return.”
“Why is it that no one has ever asked the military community what they need?” says John R. Campbell, Founder and CEO of MyVetwork, and a decorated Vietnam era Marine officer. “We’ve conducted interviews across service branches, ranks and cities, and have heard time and again our service men and women want to connect with one another, share stories, exchange resources, and give and receive support. This fundamental and natural channel for sharing information is long overdue. And they want all the groups who serve them to be easily accessible, under one umbrella.”
MyVetwork invites active duty, retired, and veteran military members and their families to build their own community and interact on multiple levels of shared interests. The community is built upon a dynamic customized platform specific to the military, providing the basis for a community that’s shaped by and for its members. Member profiles and sophisticated matching algorithms make it easy for participants to find others with similar interests; make peer-to-peer recommendations; locate long lost buddies; find other parents of wounded veterans eager to exchange critical information; look for support from someone who has “walked in their boots;” give, receive mentoring or career advice; and exchange information on a virtually unlimited number of topics.
Large Veterans Service Organizations (VSO’s) like the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) with its 1.9 million members; AMVETS (600,000); and the American Legion Auxiliary (750,000) are partnering with MyVetwork to provide a new means of connection and interaction among their members. Similarly, smaller groups like VET Foundation, Army Wife Talk Radio, and The Coming Home Project; Strategic Outreach for Families of all Reservists (SOFAR) have signed on to get exposure and expand membership.
All will join the applause for President-elect Obama who seeks a “shift in attitude in the VA” to make sure those who served are getting treated with the honor and respect they deserve.”
# # #
About MyVetwork
MyVetwork (www.myvetwork.com) is a not for profit organization with 501(c)(3) status, and is free to members. MyVetwork is the exclusive trademark of MyVetwork, LLC
source: http://disabilties.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxbgp
Comments are closed for this post.
