THE VOW TO HIRE HEROES ACT OF 2011

THE VOW TO HIRE HEROES ACT OF 2011 Remember we offer partner services through New Horizon's Computer Learning Center. http://veteranrescue.org/?page_id=141 VETERANS MAY QUALIFY FOR ADDITIONAL EDUCATION BENEFITS The Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) offers up to 12 months of retraining assistance to Veterans who meet all the following criteria: Unemployed At least 35 but no more than 60 years old Have an other than dishonorable discharge Not eligible for any other VA education benefit programs (e.g., the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) Not in receipt of VA compensation due to Individual Unemployability (IU) Not enrolled in a federal or state job training program Applications for VRAP are currently being accepted. Participating Veterans may receive up to 12 months of assistance equal to the full-time Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty rate of $1,564 per month, effective October 1, 2012. Assistance under this benefit program ends on March 31, 2014. Programs must meet the following criteria to qualify for VRAP benefits: Be offered by a community college or technical school Lead to an Associates Degree or Certificate Train the Veteran for a high demand occupation UNEMPLOYED VETERANS WITH A SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY MAY QUALIFY FOR ADDITIONAL VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS To qualify, Veterans must: Have previously completed a VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program Apply within six months of exhausting initial claim for unemployment compensation Apply to VA by March 31, 2014 VA offers incentive payments to encourage employers to hire and train program participants. Veterans must apply and qualify for VA vocational rehabilitation benefits prior to being hired VA may reimburse up to one-half the Veterans annual salary for 6 months or longer Gives Veterans a competitive advantage with employers **For more information on these great benefits and how to apply, please visit us online at www.benefits.va.gov/VOW or call toll free at 1-800-827-1000. http://benefits.va.gov /vow/docs/VOW_Factsheet.pdf November 21, 2011, 2:20 pm 4 Comments President Obama Signs Veterans Tax Credit Bill By JAMES DAO If anyone doubted that veterans remain potent political symbols, they need look no further than Congress’s ability to set aside partisan gridlock last week and overwhelmingly enact legislation providing tax credits to businesses that hire veterans. Flanked by veterans advocates, President Obama signed the bill into law this morning. The “VOW to Hire Heroes Act” will provide tax credits of up to $2,400 for employers who hire veterans who have been unemployed at least 4 weeks; up to $5,600 for hiring veterans who have been unemployed longer than 6 months; and up to $9,600 for businesses that hire veterans who have service-connected disabilities and have been unemployed longer than 6 months. Though the unemployment rate among veterans of all ages is actually lower than the overall population, the rate is high among veterans of the current wars, standing at 12 percent, compared with about 9 percent for the population at large. The higher rate is driven largely by widespread joblessness among veterans under 25 years old, whose unemployment rate was 30 percent last month. There has long been debate among economists over whether tax credits actually create jobs, or simply reward businesses for hiring people that they would have hired anyway. In theAtlantic.com, Daniel Indiviglio wrote recently that the tax credits might create at most a few new jobs, but that they were mainly likely to encourage the hiring of veterans over nonveterans when their qualifications are similar. “Few employers will create new jobs from scratch just to try to bring on more veterans and obtain the credit,” Mr. Indiviglio wrote. But Mr. Indiviglio also asserted that shifting the proportion of new hires toward veterans would be a good thing by helping to correct what he called “a grave injustice.” “If these brave men and women chose not to fight for their country but merely remained civilians instead years ago, then many would more likely be employed today,” he said. That sentiment seems to be shared across ideological lines on Capitol Hill and in many business circles right now. An editorial on Bloomberg.com last week, for instance, made the case that even if the tax credits do not stimulate the economy or create new jobs, they are morally the right thing to do. “We have no illusion that these credits are going to create lots of new jobs,” the editorial said. “But they will encourage employers to favor veterans when hiring. In a robust, growing economy, that might be an unnecessary accommodation to returning military personnel. However, after a decade of brutal warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan, where fighting men and women have served grueling multiple deployments, it seems a small and entirely just recompense.” On a White House blog, a Marine Corps veteran, Justin Constantine, wrote on Monday that the tax credits were not “an overall panacea to our veterans’ unemployment problems,” but when combined with other measures, might at least make a dent in the unemployment rate. “Unfortunately, our youngest veterans are entering the private workforce at a very challenging time,” Mr. Constantine wrote. “Many of them are likely to be employed in industries such as construction, manufacturing and transportation, which have all struggled in the last few years. Further, many of these vets come from and return to rural parts of the country, and do not have the benefit of a college degree. Another critical issue is that there currently does not exist a truly effective and cohesive transition assistance program for them. And on top of all that, a staggering number of our returning service members suffer from behavioral health issues, including Post Traumatic Stress, but these issues are not being adequately addressed.” Similarly, Peter Kramer, author of Listening to Prozac, said on NYTimes.com’s Room for Debate on Monday that reducing joblessness among veterans might combat their high suicide rate. The new tax credits, he says, are “a step in the right direction.” “Study after study correlates unemployment with suicidality,” Dr. Kramer wrote. “The workplace can be stressful, but especially for the mentally vulnerable, there is no substitute for what jobs offer in the way of structure, support and meaning.” Still, the bipartisan support for the Hire Heroes Act underscores another truism of Washington politics: Congress loves tax credits, which are an easy way to show concern for large or politically potent voting blocs. In the Washington Post earlier this month, Steve Bell, senior director of the economic policy project of the Bipartisan Policy Center, called it “ironic” and “incongruous” that both parties would get behind new tax credits amid the emerging national debate over tax simplification. “Tax entitlement reform will be tougher than direct spending entitlement reform,” he said.

New Year Blessings

We are looking forward to January when we meet more Veterans and the purchase of the ranch is discussed with donors/investors. Between them and our contracts plus awareness from some very special VIP's. January is going to be a huge Blessing for us. In the meantime, I welcome all questions christi@veteranrescue.org and calls 407-967-8341. I help Veterans individually until then. I'm all about nature and the loving pet, not drug you senseless. http://www.veteranrescue.org/

Vote for us to win $5000

Each business gets 1 wish and voting is very important. Please support us. It costs you nothing. https://www.loveourlocalbusiness.com/base/showcase23?region_id=us&content_id=985 Each business gets 1 wish and voting is very important. Please support us. It costs you nothing. https://www.loveourlocalbusiness.com/base/showcase23?region_id=us&content_id=979

Client info

I welcome all my clients with open arms and doors. Please be courteous. If you book me, especially for a Holiday, and you change your mind or circumstances change, please leave me an email christi@wildcatsanctuaryranch.com or call me 407-967-8341. As always, my prices are negotiable to the client. I offer multiple discounts, especially to active duty Veterans, and long term clients. Just ask, you never know what you'll be missing otherwise. Have a great and safe Holiday week. I look forward to Christmas. http://www.wildcatsanctuaryranch.com/

Bless you

Hello to all my new followers and supporters!! Thank you and God Bless you!!

FAQ

I get asked a lot of why I do what I do: Ms. Hubbard was raised on a small ten acre farm in the woods of Brooksville, Florida, with lots of animals. She actively cared for a variety of pets since she was a small child. These early experiences impacted her in a profound way. Later, she noticed a distinct lack of animal care in her area when owners traveled on vacation. The owners often boarded thei r pets with a vet, typically in cages. Wildcat asked, “Who wants to stay in a cage all day?” The answer – No one! She has handled horses, rabbits, ferrets, cats, dogs, birds, hamsters and gerbils. Years ago, Christi discovered an ability to catch and hold any animal whether feral or domestic, regardless of bites and claws. She’s also hand raised animal babies that were abandoned, sick or just taken too soon from their mother to ensure their health and well being. Her love of animals is partially the reason she earned the moniker “Wildcat”. She also showed the tenacity of a wild cat in her fighting techniques during her police academy training, so “Wildcat” was a natural fit. Throughout her adult life, Ms. Hubbard has gained a lot of different understanding through a lot of diverse work experiences. Ms. Hubbard has worked in Law Enforcement, and has two associates degree, one in Law Enforcement and the other in Criminology. She has earned multiple certificates and gathered a long line of military connections, which include her dad, a Marine, her nephew in the Air Force, a cousin and brother in law both in the Army. A father in law also retired from the Navy. Wildcat Hubbard worked for three years for the local Sheriffs office. For fifteen years, she worked as a receptionist, then two years as a teller. After that, she spent five years in security. She’s also done house and pet sitting and volunteering.

A portion of my services

Today was scrub day. Take apart Bunny living area I'm babysitting and scrub it all clean. Take out 6 bags of trash. Unload, reload, and turn on dishwasher, scoop all kitty litters I'm babysitting them too, feed some mice, keep an eye on everything, oh and have breakfast. I've been up since 4 am. I'm ready for lunch. I already reduced my prices and changed my websites and Facebook business pages too. What are you doing today?

Fees Reduced!!

Thanks to our wonderful clients we have reduced our fees: http://www.wildcatsanctuaryranch.com/?page_id=16

December's Orlando Events

December's volunteer opportunities in Orlando, Fl are up. If you'd like to help us out,we have 3 dates left in which to add up to 5 more. http://veteranrescue.org/?page_id=58 christi@veteranrescue.org

Veteran Rescue Contracts

We now have 7 contracts to operate concession stands in stadiums around Florida and Seattle, Wa. We also have a contract with New Horizons Computer Learning Center, and Signa Pay, and much more going on. We are updating weekly now on Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter mostly. If you are interested or have any questions please contact me at christi@veteranrescue.org We are currently helping 6 Veterans throughout Fl, Va, and Wa. We were recently featured in USA Today newspaper with several other Veteran oriented corporations and non profits.

Automatic Donations for Veteran Rescue now available through your credit card processor http://www.veteranrescue.org Help support our charity today. It's easy and costs you nothing extra. Automatic Donations for Veteran Rescue now available through your credit card processor Thank you Steve for this wonderful opportunity to have donations rolling in from the credit card processing companies. Please contact me for the forms if you are interested. christi@veteranrescue.org If you are a corporation accepting credit cards and would like to help Veteran Rescue build it's programs by switching today and not paying anything extra and having more customers driven to your websites. Please share this wonderful opportunity. Benefits for your charity Added benefit for Veteran Rescue is that they will now receive 50 percent. Added benefit for merchants is that the company is offering a $500 guarantee of lower processing rates. If they can't beat the rates the merchant is paying, they will pay $500. If you own a business that takes credit and debit cards or if you know of a business owner that is interested in supporting veterans, contact me right away. It doesn't cost them anything extra and it will really help Christi as she helps veterans." Benefits for merchants: • Increases business traffic as patrons want to support your charity • No Cost to Switch Service • No new equipment is required Reprogram current equipment • Seamless Transition (Terminals will function the same as they do today.) Help your charity with every transaction