Thanks to the Blue Star Families Museums Initiative, more than 1,600 museums across the country offer free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families in a summer program that runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day nationwide.

To view the complete list of participating museums visit the Blue Star Museums Website: http://www.nea.gov/national/bluestarmuseums/index2012.php

Blue Star Families is a national, nonprofit network of military families from all ranks and services, including guard and reserve, with a mission to support, connect and empower military families. In addition to morale and empowerment programs, Blue Star Families raises awareness of the challenges and strengths of military family life and works to make military life more sustainable through programs and partnerships like Operation Honor Cards, MilKidz Club and Blue Star Museums. Membership includes military spouses, children and parents as well as service members, veterans and the civilians who strongly support them. To learn more about Blue Star Families, visit http://www.bluestarfam.org.

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• Blue Star Museums Offer Military Families Free Tickets (detroit.cbslocal.com)

Friday, May 18th : 9:30am – 1:30pm Sponsor: There are 50 employers invited and 2700 job openings available.  Location: Battleship New Jersey at the Camden Waterfront, Camden New New Jersey,  Parking is free in Lot 2 of the Susqueahanna Bank Center. Bring 50 resumes and “Dress for Success”. Other details can be found at NJ DOLWD Website.

Friday, May 18^th: 10 AM – 2 PM  Sponsor: Corporate Gray www.corporate-gray.com  Location: Waterford Reception Ctr, Courtyard by Marriott, 6710 Commerce Street, Springfield, VA 22150.  Clearance Required: Professionals, FREE SEMINAR:  Understanding Your Value on the Marketplace, 9 – 10 AM

Friday, May 18^th:  10 AM – 3 PM   Sponsor:  TargetedJobs (www.targetedjobs.com) Location: Westfield Marriott-Dulles, 14750 Conference Center Drive, Chantilly, VA 20151 Tech/Eng’g/Sec Clearance   Recommend Pre-registration

Friday, May 18^th: 10 A M – 3 PM Sponsor: US Chamber/Military Spouse Business Alliance (www.uschamber.com); Location: Doubletree Hotel 8728 Colesville Road Silver Spring, MD 20910 for  Military & Spouses & Caregivers/Wounded Warriors ( www.military.com)              

Friday, May 18^th: 8 AM – 4 PM  Sponsor: MilitaryLeaders (www.militaryleaders.com) Location: Embassy Suites-Philadelphia Airport, 9000 Bartram Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19153 for Separating & Former Military

Monday, May 21^st: 10 AM – 3 PM  Sponsor: JCA 50+ Employment Expo (mgordon@AccessJCA.org for info) Location: Marriott Bethesda North Hotel & Conf Ctr, 5701 Marinelli Road, Bethesda, MD for 50+ Job Seekers. Call 301.255.4209 for information.  FREE Seminars: Online Applications;  www.accessjca.org Changing Careers; Job Training Info;Resume help;  How toSurf the Net; Web Site lists

Monday, May 21^st: 10 AM – 3 PM  Sponsor:  PSI (www.PSIjobfairs.com)  Location:  Hilton Hotel Times Square,  1335 Avenue of the Americas,  New York, NY 10001.  4 year degree required

Monday, May 21^st : 6 PM Sponsor: United Career Fairs (www.unitedcareerfairs.com)  Location: Crowne Plaza Richmond West, 6531 W. Broad Street, Richmond, VA for Sales/Management

Tuesday, May 22^nd : 6 PM  Sponsor: United Career Fairs (www.unitedcareerfairs.com) Location: Holiday Inn Columbia, 7900 Washington Blvd, Columbia, MD 20794 for Sales/Management

Tuesday, May 22^nd : 10 AM – 4 PM  Sponsor: TechExpo (www.techexpoUSA.com)  Location:  The Lee Club, Bldg 9009, Ft. Lee, VA 23801.  Active Security Clearance Required

Wednesday, May 23^rd: 11 AM – 4 PM EDT Sponsor: Milicruit Virtual CF – National.  All Veterans may register online:  www.veteranscareerfair.com/calendar.html

Wednesday, May 23^rd : 6 PM Sponsor: United Career Fairs (www.unitedcareerfairs.com) Location: Hilton Garden Inn, 3950 Fair Ridge Drive, Fairfax, VA 22033 Sales

Wednesday, May 23^rd : 9 AM – 2 PM Sponsor: Ft Meade Community Job Fair (www.dllr.state.md.us/employment/jobfairs.shtml)  Location: Club Meade, 6600 Mapes Road, Ft. Meade, MD. General/Open but must have ID and Car registration & Insurance  if not military ID

Wednesday, May 23^rd : 1 – 4 PM Sponsor: US Chamber/Hiring Our Heroes www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes     Location: Warwick National Guard Armory, 15 Farm Spring Road, Hartford, CT 06032 for Military/Veterans/Spouses

Thursday, May 24^th : Noon – 5 PM Sponsor: Security Clearance EXPO (www.securityclearanceexpo.com)   HAPPY HOUR Hiring Event.  Location: Sheraton Premiere-Tysons Cntr, 8661 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22182 for Top Secret/TS with Poly. Register online to attend OR Submit resume to: Resumes@SecurityClearanceEXPO.com; Subject: Evening Mixer VA and you will be advised.

Thursday, May 24^th : 11 AM – 3 PM Sponsor: Hiring Our Heroes US Chamber of Commerce/RecruitMilitary (www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/events)  Location: M&T Bank Stadium, 1101 Russell Street, Baltimore, MD 21230 for Military/Veterans/Spouses/Guard & Reserve

Thursday, May 24^th : 11 AM – 3 PM Sponsor: Catalyst Career Group (www.catalystcareergroup.com) Location:  The Affinia Manhattan, 371 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001 General/Professional                                                     

Thursday, May 24^th : 1 – 4 PM Sponsor: Nation Wide Job Fairs (www.nationwidejobfairs.com) Location: TBD, New York, New York.  General/Open

Thursday, May 24^th : 10:30 AM 2 PM Sponsor: Choice Career Fairs (www.choicecareerfairs.com) Location:         Holiday Inn, 440 W. 57^th Street, New York, NY 10019 for General/Open Pre-registration Recommended

Tuesday, May 29^th : 11 AM – 2 PM Sponsor: National Career Fairs (www.nationalcareerfairs.com)  Location:         Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel, 515 US Highway One South, Iselin, NJ 08830 for General/Open                                 

Wednesday, May 30^th : Noon – 3 PM EDT Sponsor: Corporate Gray Virtual Career Fair. Register at either Web site: www.corporate-gray.com/jobfairs/299  OR www.brazenconnect.com/event/corp-gray_main_may_30 . Military /Veterans  No Clearance Required   

Wednesday, May 30^th  : 10 AM – 3 PM  Sponsor: Veterans Opportunities (www.vetopps.com/events)              Location: VA Medical Center, 50 Irving Street, Washington, DC 20010 for Military & Veterans. Register online for details.

Wednesday, May 30^th : 10 AM – 3 PM Sponsor:  TargetedJobs  Virtual Career Fair for the East Coast.  Register at: www.targetedjobs.com  Technical and Engineering            

Thursday, May 31^st  : 10 AM – 2 PM Sponsor: CivilianJobs (www.civilianjobs.com)  Location: The Lee Club, 1611 Lee Avenue, Ft. Lee, VA for Military/Veterans/Spouses  Military ID Required must register 2 weeks in advance

Write your message online by May 18th and the VFW will print and deliver it at no cost to you. What an awesome thing to do during Military Appreciation Month for a hospitalized veteran this Memorial Day!

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by May 18, 2012—

Memorial Day is right around the corner. Will you show our nation’s hospitalized veterans you respect their sacrifice for our American freedoms?  VFW is asking you to sign a Thank You card.

When you do, we’ll print a real card with your name on it to be placed in the hands of a hospitalized veteran who needs to know that their sacrifice has not been forgotten.

Signing the card shows you honor the fallen … stand strong for the wounded … and carry those still fighting in your heart and in your prayers.

Please respond by May 18 so VFW can deliver signed cards to as many hospitalized veterans as possible. With your help, we’ll show unwavering respect and support FOR VETERANS.

You can help VFW reach even more lonely veterans in 3 easy steps:

	Sign your card and we’ll print it and deliver it to a hospitalized veteran.
	Invite your email contacts! Forward this to your friends, family and co-workers.
	Get your network involved—ask your Facebook friends to sign a card, too

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The Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans Affairs will begin accepting applications on May 15, 2012 for veterans interested in going back to school!

Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP)

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Labor (DoL) are working together to roll out this new program on July 1, 2012.

The VRAP offers 12 months of training assistance to Veterans who:

• Are at least 35 but no more than 60 years old
• Are unemployed
• Received an other than dishonorable discharge
• Are not be eligible for any other VA education benefit program (e.g.: the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance)
• Are not in receipt of VA compensation due to “unemployability”
• Are not enrolled in a federal or state job training program

The program is limited to 45,000 participants during fiscal year 2012, and to 54,000 participants from October 1, 2012, through March 31, 2014. Participants will receive a monthly payment equal to the full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty program (currently $1,473 per month). DoL will offer employment assistance to every Veteran who participates or applies to the VRAP program.

Participants must be enrolled in a VA approved program of education offered by a community college or technical school. The program must lead to an Associate Degree, Non-College Degree, or a Certificate, and train the Veteran for a high demand occupation.

VRAP will provide training for programs of education that lead to a high demand occupation, as determined by the Department of Labor. Click here to see a listing of high demand occupations.

The Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans Affairs will begin accepting applications on May 15, 2012. To complete the application, you will need to know your direct deposit information (bank routing number and account number), the name and location of your school, the program you wish to pursue, and the applicable high demand occupation.

May is Military Appreciation Month, so…Eat Some Wings and Help a Vet!

For the second straight year, Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants across America will partner with the VFW to conduct a fundraising event for U.S. troops and their families. During the entire month of May (Military Appreciation Month), participating Buffalo Wild Wings locations will donate 10% of a guest’s total food purchase to the VFW Foundation when that customer shows their military ID, VFW membership id card or a “Return the Favor” card here:

The Buffalo Wild Wings event is aptly entitled “Salute the Troops” and it seeks to also thank restaurant patrons, as participants will receive a complimentary yellow wristband. Wearing the wristband into a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant anytime in May will facilitate another 10% donation to the VFW Foundation. Wearing the wristband in June entitles guests to 10% off their own food and non-alcoholic beverage purchases. The wristband offer is limited to one per check, while supplies last (500 wristbands at each participating restaurant).

For more information and participating locations, visit troops.buffalowildwings.com.

• View the flyer here
• Register for FREE tickets online here

2012 Information:

The Cobo Center in the heart of Detroit will host the National Veteran Small Business Conference and Expo June 26-29, 2012. Its elegant banquet rooms and over 70 meeting rooms totaling 178,446 square feet equip Cobo Center to accommodate capacities from up to 10,000.

Join nearly 6,000 participants in Detroit for the opportunity to:

• Connect with procurement decision makers from other businesses and federal agencies
• Expand knowledge through over 200 training and business requirement sessions
• Engage with other attendees and gain visibility in the Expo Hall of nearly 500 booths
• Use VetGovPartner to facilitate online and onsite networking including face-to-face sessions with senior procurement decision makers.

The United States Department of Labor recently released the 2012 first quarter national unemployment rate for veterans.

Currently 10.3 percent of Gulf War-era II veterans, those who have served since 2001, remain unemployed.   That is 2.1% higher than the national unemployment rate of 8.2%.

Thanks to a recent surge in Veterans Job Fairs, and the passage of the VOW to Hire Vets legislation in late 2011, the current number of unemployed veterans has decreased substantially.  Especially when compared to the ghastly 12% annual veteran unemployment rate that was reported by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics in 2011.

Another contributing factor to the 1.7% decrease, is the large number of returning troops smart enough to realize their bleak employment future, and make prompt use of their GI Bill instead.  That still leaves an estimated 300,000 Gulf War-era II veterans actively seeking employment in the U.S today.

Arizona: 360,000 Illegal Immigrants

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Arizona had 360,000 unauthorized immigrants enter their state in 2011. Arizona recently passed a law that would authorize officers to arrest anyone they have “probable cause” to believe is eligible to be deported. The law also would bar aliens without proper papers from seeking or performing work.

Arizona (whose law is being challenged by the current White House administration) says its 370-mile border with Mexico is the crossing point for half the U.S.’s illegal immigrants, giving it the right to tackle a problem the national government has failed to address.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said, “It seems to me that the federal government just doesn’t want to know who is here illegally or not.” Read more…

Walmart: 365 New Stores in Mexico

One of every five Walmart stores is now south of the border, and the company reported total sales of  US $29 billion in Mexico during 2011.   That may explain why Walmart also opened 365 new stores in Mexico in 2011.

Walmart also pays miserable wages, employs an army of unpaid “baggers” at its checkout lines, and has been accused of widespread violation of labor laws.  This is difficult to morally digest, when it has been proven that they could obviously afford the $24 million it took to bribe Mexican officials.  Read more…

Resolution: Making Everyone Happy

My 3-step proposal to rectify, correct, and resolve all of this insanity is very simple:

1. Allow Arizona to re-capture and deport those 360,000 illegals now working in the U.S.
2. Send those Arizona deports, once back in Mexico, immediately to work for Walmart.    (Walmart can cover the U.S. deportation cost as penalty for their criminal activity.  After spending $24 million to bribe officials, that averages out to around $67,000 per deportee….which is more than enough!)
3. Put those 300,000 Veterans to work for the Border Patrol….Homeland Security….or anywhere else they can continue to serve and protect, and definitely send a few thousand to oversee (as store managers) those 360,000 new Walmart workers in Mexico!

Easy enough?