Self-Control, Taxes, Brain Boot Camp

Do you ever need a Pressure-relief valve? The Six Secrets of Self-Control, according to Dr. T. Bradbury are:
• Meditate at least 5 minutes/day,
• Keep level blood sugar,
• Exercise at least 10 minutes a day,
• Get enough sleep each night,
• Wait 10 minutes when you feel impulsive, and
• Forgive yourself if you slip up.
See the full article at: http://www.talentsmart.com/articles/The-Six-Secrets-of-Self%E2%88%92Control-614408770-p-1.html

Do you need help getting your taxes filed? If you earned less than $49,000, you may be eligible for several tax credits; free tax help is available through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). To find free tax help in Arizona, call 2-1-1 or see www.211arizona.org or www.assetsforaz.org

Does your brain need a Boot Camp? If you’re more accountable when you have a coach, a membership in this cutting edge program will cost you less than your gym. Over 20 million have joined, reporting that brain science and game theory combine to help people prevent or recover from issues such as TBI, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and ‘brain overload.’ You can get memberships from two months to two years; the one year option averages out to less than $7/month. You get access to assessments and a personalized training program, and e-mail reminders to keep you on track. Try the free assessment for memory, focus, problem-solving, processing speed, and flexibility at: http://www.lumosity.com/

Focus on Jobs

If you are near Cottonwood, the Job & Education Fair will be at the Verde Valley Fairgrounds (at 12th & Cherry St.) on April 4th from 9-2, and Veterans Upward Bound will be there! Employers ready to hire, colleges with program information, and a resume review table, will be there too – so if you are hunting for your next steps, bring your resume and come ready to apply/interview. For more info: http://verdenews.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=46414

Earn while you learn: Some student veterans may be eligible for VA Work Study. Here is a summary from http://www.vetfriendlytoolkit.org/adfinaid/vaworkstudy.cfm: “Eligible veterans, either full- or 3/4-time students in a degree, vocational or professional program, can take advantage of a VA Work-Study Program. Work performed must be related to the VA and linked to the veteran’s interests and abilities and the type of work needed by the institution. The VA Work-Study Program allows for creative, fulfilling and meaningful experiences for the student veteran and a knowledgeable and committed employee for the institution.”

Are you looking for a specific job or one in a specific city or state? Maybe you want to see a sample of how many real job openings in your future field are open at any given time? Try this site to search for real job openings: http://www.indeed.com/

Our friends at Student Veterans of America have highlighted this veteran-owned service organization, which helps connect veterans and their spouses with real jobs, for free: http://recruitmilitary.com/

If you want a shorter route to improving your employment skills, the Yavapai College Fast-Track Management Certificate may be a good fit for you. This program offers in-person or online delivery options, supportive faculty, ability to join a cohort, and intensive short courses, to help you make focused progress toward completion. Check out the student videos and program information at: www.yc.edu/fast-track

Storytelling, BAH, Inspiration & Welcome

Veterans: Do you have a story to tell? “My time at the Zaki Gordon Institute for Independent Filmmaking has been one of the most challenging and rewarding educational experiences of my life. As a veteran, my military experience was absolutely key to my success in this program. The film industry is positively MADE for veterans; it requires individuals to have integrity, to be leaders, be a self-starter, to take initiative, and have the ability to work long grueling hours. So, if you are a veteran, and you are interested in independent filmmaking...without going seven figures in debt, you owe it to yourself to check out ZGI!” contributed by A.S. Bachmeier
The Yavapai College Zaki Gordon Film School in Sedona is featured in this highlight from Northern Arizona University, where the YC Film Certificate is now transferable to an NAU bachelor’s degree as a minor in film: http://extended.nau.edu/tvs/insidenau/index.aspx?play=1122 The ZGI Film School is an intensive, hands-on program teaching documentary, story-telling, and feature film techniques, you can check out more at: http://zgi-yc.com/

Our friend, Robert Short from Guidance Aviation gives a brief explanation of Student-Veterans’ Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and how to budget for income/expenses during your schooling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KARDeB1eLwI

If you aren’t familiar with TED Talks, check out their YouTube channel for an incredibly wide array of subjects. An inspirational video for anyone, but especially for those who have had any brain trauma, this scientist explains the brain science and life-altering experience of having a stroke: http://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html

All Veterans and their families are invited to attend the March 30, 2012 Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day celebration. The event will include a Motorcycle Escort starting at 10:30 a.m. in Clarkdale. It will go through Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Village of Oak Creek and end at Posse Grounds Park, 525 Posse Ground Road in Sedona. Starting at 1:00 p.m., a full color guard will open the festivities. The event will include entertainment, food, information on Veteran’s benefits, and finish with a movie at the Mary D. Fisher Community Theater around 4:30 p.m. For more information, see: www.sedonaaz.gov and click on the calendar of events.

Free Classes, GI Bill Calculator, Brain Info

If you are a Yavapai County or Northern Arizona resident and a veteran, you may be eligible for our free Veterans Upward Bound pre-college classes, many of which are available in an online or open entry format. Please see our webpage (www.yc.edu/VUB) or friend us on Facebook at Northern Arizona Veterans Upward Bound to find out more about our computer, writing, and math modules and how you can get connected to your educational future through VUB.

If you are an OIF/OEF veteran, a new GI Bill Calculator is available to help you keep track of the many changes to the GI Bill, your options, and frequently asked questions at: http://newgibill.org/calculator/ Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of American (IAVA), a veteran-created non-profit organization has many other resources and an online newsletter – check it out!

Are you interested in learning more about your brain? Dr. Daniel Amen has a blog and free e-newsletter with information about learning issues, memory, PTSD, TBI, Alzheimer’s, addictions, weight control, and much more. A veteran himself, Dr. Amen has championed SPECT imaging of the brain in an effort to improve treatment options – you can check out his blog at: http://70.32.73.82/blog/

Benefit Event for Military Families, Homecomings, Online Certificate

A Family Hoedown event is planned for Sunday, March 11, from 3-7 p.m. at the Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott. There will be live music, dancing, and entertainment, raffles and silent auction to raise funds for Blue Star Mothers' non-profit organization, serving military families in Yavapai County. Join the fun - show your support for local military families - and donations are always appreciated.

If you want to see heart-warming Welcome Home videos from returning soldiers, or share your own story, see the Welcome Home Blog at: http://welcomehomeblog.com/

Do you want to build your credentials for advancement or employment? Yavapai College now offers an online Management Certificate option to help you get ahead. The courses for this certificate also build into the Associates in Management and beyond. See more information on the Yavapai College Fast-Track Management webpage at: http://www.yc.edu/fast-track

Jobs and Education for Veterans

If you want to view some of the many resources to help veterans obtain jobs, this website from the White House has several in one handy place:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces/resources
There are links to connect you to veteran-friendly employers, virtual job fairs, careers that match with your goals, and opportunities for military spouses too.

If you’re job hunting, in addition to your local job service agency and job fairs, you might want to check out any of the following resources. **Be very careful of Internet job postings, as many of them are tools for
identity theft: if an online job application asks for an SSN or bank information, it is probably fraudulent. Here are some legitimate job search sites: http://vetjobs.com, www.vacareers.va.gov, www.militaryhire.com, www.hireheroesusa.org, http://job.irs.gov, http://jobs.vetfriends.com, and www.monster.com

From www.Military.com, “Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced legislation, US Senate Bill 2116, the Military and Veterans Education Protection Act, which is intended to improve the current laws
regarding educational benefits for our nation's military service members and veterans. The proposed legislation focuses on what some in Congress believe to be a remedy for for-profit schools targeting and aggressively recruiting service members and veterans, in order to ‘make a quick buck off of (the military's) hard-earned benefits.’ " Read more at:
http://www.military.com/education/content/keys-to-success/senators-move-to-protect-student-veterans.html?ESRC=education.nl