articles:
DAV Service Center Reopens
Colorado Springs DAV Service Office
DAV Service Center to Re-Open at New Location
Thanks to the generosity of retired Army Colonel Jack Gloriod, the Disabled American Veterans service center in Colorado Springs will be open again on November 1st, 2011. Mr. Gloriod has donated about 500 square feet of office space in the Lake Avenue Corporate Center and the DAV will return to the business of processing claims for federal benefits for Veterans.
The DAV is known for expediting and providing expert advice during the often confusing and cumbersome process of applying for federal benefits. The closure of the service center in July of this year was a blow to the many Veterans that relied on the expertise of the DAV while seeking help. The new service center will alleviate some of the backlog of cases other organizations have experienced with the closing of the DAV.
Steve Stewart, a retired Army Sergeant First Class, will be the service center coordinator and Aaron Hanley will be the transportation coordinator and administrative specialist. They will be assisted by two students that are in the VA work study program.
“As long as people continue to support our Thrift Store with donations and purchases, we will help as many Veterans as we possibly can. We hope to expand and a strong Thrift Store operation is what keeps us going,” Stewart said.
The new address is 660 Southpointe Court, Suite 316, Colorado Springs 80906 (while the van will be on the ground floor) and the new phone number will be (719) 785-4164. Beginning Tuesday, November 1st, all operations, including the van, will occur at the new location.
The address to the Thrift Store is 2444 E Platte Ave. Colorado Springs, 80909 and their phone number is (719) 636-2537.
On Tuesday, November 1st, we will be at the new location. Everything will be done from a new address.That includes the van, 660 Southpointe Court Suite 316, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
The new phone number is (719) 785-4164. We will not be at this address or answer the phone there until Nov. 1st.
So please use the same phone number (719-380-8005) that you have been using till then. You must have an appointment at the Denver VAMC to reserve a seat on the van. You must be at the Service Center at 7:30am. The van leaves Denver no later than 3:00pm.
The best way to reserve a seat on the van is by email. Send me your full name, last 4, phone number, time of appointment, clinic you will be seen at, and any special information and I will reply as soon as possible.
Disabled American Veterans
Colorado Springs Transportation Center
3754 East LaSalle Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
Phone: (719) 380-8005
Fax: (719) 380-7998
dav.cosprings@gmail.com
http://www.dav.org/
Colorado Springs DAV Service Office
During the past 3 months, my staff has been working with the Disabled American Veterans National & State Headquarters to find a workable solution to the July 29th closure of the Colorado Springs DAV Service Office. The closing of this office was a serious hit to our local veteran support network which left the El Paso County Veterans Service Office as the only remaining VA claims and benefits office in Colorado Springs. We propose a creative and affordable idea for the DAV to reopen the service office in exchange for their commitment to fund 2 full-time employees. DAV agreed and Jack Gloriod donated premium office space to seal the deal. DAV will reopen their Colorado Springs Service Office on November 1, 2011.
BACKGROUND:
• The DAV Service Office, formerly located at 3754 LaSalle Street, was closed on July 29, 2011.
• Since then, my office fielded numerous calls and office visits from constituents and veterans regarding the DAV closure.
• The DAV Service Office is a critical life-line to one of Colorado’s largest populations of veterans.
• My office took the initiative and reached out to the DAV National HQs to offer some creative ideas that would help soothe their budget concerns and still enable them to reopen their office. We offered to help them find charitable office space if they would commit enough funding to support the manpower to reopen the service center.
• National DAV HQs agreed that this would be the ideal solution since the DAV budget was too tight to support the cost of a building lease when their Thrift Stores were not producing sufficient profits to support the service office.
• My office put out the request to several local building owners in central locations or along public bus routes. My Veterans Liaison, Dale Anderson met personally with Jack Gloriod. “Before I could finish telling him the whole story, he offered to be the solution. Beyond premium office space, Jack also provided parking spaces for the DAV van which shuttles veterans to and from Denver as needed. He gave them the whole package.” – Dale Anderson
“I am grateful to Jack’s benevolence in providing such a critical need for this community and all the veterans who depend on the DAV for services and support. He was very gracious to provide premium office space to keep the Colorado Springs DAV Service Office open and actively running. We owe him a debt of gratitude.” - DLL
In addition to managing Gloriod & Associates, Jack is also a retired Army officer and Vietnam veteran and senior board member of the Homefront Cares.
Jack Gloriod (719) 229-9922, (719) 785-4101 work, Jack@gloriod.com
Ed Hartmann (202) 246-7996 cell (National DAV Contact)
Dale Anderson (202) 536-9551 or Cat Mortensen at (202) 225-4422.