(Chillicothe, Ohio) - A new nationwide initiative - a "Summer of Service" - seeks the help of citizens in and around Chillicothe to create and build partnerships to grow the number of individuals and organizations serving Veterans here.

The Chillicothe VA Medical Center is renewing its commitment to Veterans by inviting the community to visit and explore opportunities to serve Veterans during a Volunteering for Veterans open house to spur increased local engagement and welcome members of the community interested in supporting the needs of Veterans.  This event will be held Wednesday, July 1, 2015, outside of Building 30 from

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The Ross County Veterans Council will be providing hot dogs, chips and soda.

"We have made progress over the past year addressing the challenges we face in delivering care and benefits to millions of Veterans and their families," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald.  "While there is more work to do to honor our commitment to Veterans, we also recognize that VA cannot do it alone.  We are asking Americans everywhere to join the Summer of Service and help us give back to those who have given so much to our nation."

In the coming weeks, the Chillicothe VA Medical Center will be working closely with Congressional partners, Veterans service organizations, mayors and local communities, private sector and non-profit organizations, and VA employees to identify new and innovative ways to support VA's commitment to care for those who "have borne the battle" and their families. 

VA has also established the following goals to achieve by Labor Day:

• Increasing the number of volunteers:  Committed to engaging with 100,000 volunteers nationwide to support care and benefits programs and local events.  The Chillicothe VA Voluntary Service (VAVS) recently joined a new Ross County United Way initiative to recruit more volunteers.  Information is available at:  http://www.volunteerrosscounty.org/ 

2 - PSA - VA's Summer of Service

• Increasing Community Partners:  Committed to expanding current agreements to provide services and support reaching more than 15,000 Veterans and family.
• Recruiting Medical Professionals:  Hiring clinicians and clinical support staff to further expand access to care and homelessness.
  • Congress:  Host Congressional members and staffs at VA facilities across the country.

The Department has an outstanding volunteer program, which will be highlighted throughout the country this summer.  VA will build upon the ongoing work of its more than 350,000 employees and 76,000 volunteers around the nation - and the nearly 470 volunteers at the Chillicothe VA Medical Center.  While the central focus of the campaign will be increasing volunteerism and partnerships, it will also provide individuals and communities an opportunity to support other important priorities. Despite a hiring effort that brought more than 11,000 net-new employees onboard over the past year, VA still needs more health care providers, claims specialists, medical support assistants, and cemetery directors to continue to expand needed services.  VA's partners can help by getting the word out this summer.

            In an effort to improve the Veteran's customer service experience, VA has begun the most comprehensive reorganization in its history.  The initiative, called MyVA, has been guided by ideas and recommendations from Veterans, employees, and stakeholders. 

            "There is no mission more noble than serving Veterans and their families.  At VA, we constantly strive to improve the way we do our job," said McDonald.  "State by state, community by community, person by person, there are a number of ways we can all come together to serve Veterans.  From expanded partnerships with the private sector and non-profit organizations, to accelerating hiring, to celebrating the commitment of VA employees and volunteers - we need the help of communities everywhere to succeed."

Volunteers can help serve Veterans by visiting http://www.volunteer.va.gov/ to find out the needs of your local VA facility.  Follow #VASummerOfService on Vantage Point, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and join VA in caring for America's Veterans.  Those interested in learning about volunteer opportunities at the Chillicothe VA can also call Voluntary Service at 740-773-1141, extension 7420. 

Staff Source Inc. is pleased to announce Charlotte Sabo as their new Human Resource Manager. Charlotte comes with over 25 years of combined Human Resources and Staffing experience

 over multiple industries. Charlotte can be reached at (740) 772-2600 or at their new office at 29 North Paint Street, Chillicothe. Staff Source is locally owned and operated by Ken Shelton.  

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) recently awarded the South Central Ohio Human Resource Council (SCOHRC) its prestigious EXCEL Award for the chapter's accomplishments in 2014.

The award is part of the SHRM Affiliate Program for Excellence, which aligns individual chapters and councils with SHRM's goals.  The award recognizes accomplishments and strategic activities and initiatives that enhance the human resources profession.

"At SHRM, advancing the human resources profession is our mission.  The work of our chapters and councils are central to accomplishing that," said Henry G. (Hank) Jackson, president and CEO of SHRM.  "Receiving this award is testament to SCOHRC's commitment to advancing the HR profession through local networking and professional development activities."

The EXCEL award can be earned at four levels: bronze, silver, gold and platinum, and each level has a prescribed set of requirements and accomplishments that have to be met.  SCOHRC will receive recognition in SHRM publications and conferences, a certificate of recognition, and special signage to display at its meetings and events.

South Central Ohio Human Resource Council will meet on June 18 from 11:30 am-1:00 pm in the Chamber of Commerce Conference room where a representative of the U.S. Dept. of Labor will share current COBRA Law updates.  HR professionals are invited to attend this meeting as their guest to learn more about joining SCOHRC/SHRM.

For more information the SHRM EXCEL award visit: www.shrm.org/communities/volunteerresources/resourcesforchapters/pages/award_info.aspx

Presenters: 

Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE)

COSE's Mission: Through our deep understanding of small businesses, we provide the right solutions and resources to help our members succeed - every day - because small business growth and success is our priority.

Please join us for a dynamic round table discussion on simple techniques, strategies and long-term planning that you should consider for your business to reduce energy costs and get back to doing what you do best- running your business! This will also be a great opportunity to learn more about our new partnership with COSE and how to:

Increase your bottom line:

Improving building energy efficiency represents the fastest, least-cost path to increasing your bottom line. Regardless if you own or lease your space, there are many behavioral steps that you can take to reduce costs.

Learn what other Ohio small businesses have done to reduce energy consumption and costs and shift dollars in the bottom line to other priority areas.

Learn how to keep comfort and energy costs balanced:

For indoor environments, the need for heating and cooling never ceases, whether it's the middle of summer, or even the dead of winter. The comfort of you and your employees is crucial to keeping people happy. Because lighting, heating and cooling is so vital in facilities of all sizes and uses, it's imperative to first have an energy blueprint of your space to better understand how best to manage your energy costs and keep your operations running smoothly year-round.

Chillicothe Monument LLC

Kroger - Bridge St.

Staff Source

Kroger - Western Ave.

HairWiz & Company