A DIRECTORASSOCIATIONFROMWORDTHE PAGE 9 REGISTER TODAY! CLICK HERE AUG 2022 CORNERCOUNSELINGHOUSING PAGE 12 HONORING THE PURPLE HEART & IT'S RECIPIENTS PAGE 16 VAREP FACES IN THE CROWD PAGE 31 OCTOBER 9 - 11, 2022 GRAND HYATT SAN ANTONIO SAN ANTONIO, TX
• VAREP is the only organization that educates military and veteran families on the importance of financial health on the road to homeownership.
DBA Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals
• VAREP is a 501.c.3 nonprofit organization that was founded to directly educate the 1.4-plus million active military and 22-plus million veterans on sustainable homeownership, financialliteracy education, VA loan awareness, and economic opportunity.
Depending on your audience, you may want to adapt the points listed below to introduce VAREP.
VAREP experienced tremendous growth and recognition in 2021 for the important work that we do. Each of you should be proud and stand tall knowing that your passion to empower veterans to realize the American Dream of homeownership has enabled VAREP to be recognized by key leaders in the real estate, financial, and government sectors as the authority on, and voice of, military and veteran financial-literacy and homeownership.
Jesus Lopez GRAPHIC DESIGNER Nick Preston GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jonathan Gifford
Dear VAREP Members, I present you “RT – ROGER THAT – AUG 2022” E-Zine Newsletter. This is the best way for VAREP National to communicate happenings within our organization to our membership.
ABOUT SON
Mr. Nguyen entered the Navy in 1996 and served as a Radioman on the USS Vincennes (GC-49) and USS Constellation (CV-64). A proud service-connected disabled veteran, Mr. Nguyen holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from of the University of Florida and a Master’s in Organizational Management.
VAREP ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM 2014 - 2022
Son Nguyen VAREP Founder and President
• $70,000 in the form of housing assistance grants for down-payment, closing costs, and adaptive needs. This was in partnership with the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA).
SENIOR WEB DEVELOPER Francisco Labias WEB DEVELOPER David Santana CONTACT HEADQUARTERSVAREP 495info@VAREP.net951·444·7363E.RinconSt., Suite 110 Corona, CA www.VAREP.net92879
• 2,000+ military and veteran families were provided food, utilities payment, rent back payment, basic supplies, clothing, and blankets during the holiday season. This was made possible through our VAREPCares program implemented by the VAREP local chapters.
A Letter From Our President VAREP NATIONAL NEWS ROGER THAT AUG 2022
The comparison chart to the right shows that we fill a much needed gap in financial-literacy and housing components that the other veteran service organizations simply do not offer…In other words: We complement them and do not compete with them. Our organization has only scratched the surface of creating awareness and having people rethink how to better serve underserved military and veteran housing needs. To a great 2022...Cheers!
EDITOR Gretchen Mccroskey SENIORCREATIVEDESIGNER
• 50 homes donated mortgage-free to deserving heroes across America. 1,500 military and veteran families realized the American Dream of homeownership through our programs and services. 20,000 real estate and lending professional were trained as a result of the 80 live events and online membership training. 5,000 military and veteran families educated about homeownership, financial literacy, and the VA loan program through the live Veteran Housing Summit events hosted by VAREP local chapters across the country.
Son Nguyen is the Founder and President of the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP). Mr. Nguyen creates, implements, and oversees the programs within VAREP including working with government agencies and policy makers to create and reform veteran housing policy to remove barriers to homeownership. He is frequently called upon as a subject-matter expert by government agencies, the real estate industry, the lending industry, and real estate trade organizations to consult on a variety of veteran housing issues. Mr. Nguyen has more than 19 years’ experience in real estate, public speaking, supplier diversity, curriculum development, and non-profit management. His record demonstrates innovation and leadership at the highest level. Mr. Nguyen established VAREP as a housing nonprofit for vets, by vets. He believes VAREP’s proactive stance of providing financial-literacy education and advocating homeownership can greatly impact homelessness among the veteran community, by both reducing the current epidemic and preventing future occurrences, one veteran at a time.
HOW TO EXPLAIN WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO I frequently receive phone calls from our membership on how to explain VAREP as an organization.
VAREP Comparison to Other Veteran Nonprofits
PUBLISHEREDITORIAL USA Homeownership Foundation, Inc.
• VAREP is the only organization that educates the real estate practitioner on the important housing-policy and lending initiatives that affect the military and veteran communities.
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Financial Housing,MilitaryHousingAdvocateMilitaryCertificationLenderREALTOR,OutreachLiteracy,LiveCommunityDeceasedWoundedMortgageAffordableMilitaryCreditCreditHousingHousingVAFinancialInformationPeerFamilyPeer-to-PeerRehabilitationEmploymentPermanentApartmentLocalFurnitureHomeCriticalEmergencyEmergencyAssistanceFoodHomeRepairBabyItemsandApplianceRepairandHouseholdItemsMovingAssistanceTransitionalHousingHousingPlacementJobBoardwithRecreationalTherapyCounselingSupportRetreatsMentoringTechnologyTrainingAcademyLiteracyEducationHomeLoanProgramEducationEducationCounselingandDebtManagementEducationandDebtManagementCounselingandVeteranFirstLookHousingPurchaseProgramFreeDonatedHomesforWarriorandSpousesofWarriorsOutreachCommunityHousing,FinancialandEmploymentFairEventsHousingProfessional,andMilitaryandVeteranCourseandVeteranFriendlyDatabasewithaWrittenPolicyPlanandLendingPolicyConferenceandVeteranFinancialLiteracy,andEmploymentResourceCenter MILITARYFOUNDATIONWARRIORS HOMEFRONTOPERATION WARRIORWOUNDEDPROJECT USA CARESVAREPVETERAN COMPARISONNON-PROFITCHART Veterans = 22+ Million Active Duty = 1.4+ Million Wounded Warriors OEF, OIF, ND = 51,849 Active Duty Family of E1 - E6 = 1.1 Million Wounded Warriors OEF, OIF, ND = 51,849 Post Servicemembers9/11& Family XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Military and Veteran Housing Lending Policy XX WoundedXXXXXXXWarriorsXXXXXXX XXXXXX Target Audience NOTE: The non-profit comparison chart does not list the national minority real estate trade organizations including AREAA, NAHREP, and NAREB because we are not structurally set up as a trade organization. We have our membership whom we educate to better serve the military housing needs, but ultimately we are all here to serve the military and veteran communities. 3
N ATIONAL VAREPCONVENTION2022 VAREP 2022 CONVENTION POLICY CONFERENCE 2022AUG TABLE OF CONTENTS 2022 - 2023 NATIONAL EVENTS LETTER FROM OUR FOUNDERS............................ DESIGN CORNER.................................................. HONORING THE PURPLE HEART & RECIPIENTS........................................................IT'SPAGE 2 PAGE 10 PAGE 16 PAGE 20PAGE 9 PAGE 12 PAGE 28 PAGE 31 PAGE 14 LEGISLATIVE CORNER................. ....................... A WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR..................................... HOUSING COUNSELING CORNER.......................... NEC FACESUPDATE........................................................INTHECROWD.......................................... INTERNET SAFETY MONTH: AVOIDING THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNSAFE PRACTICES..........................................................INTERNET NATIONAL CONVENTION JUNE 25TH - 27TH, 2023 GRAND HYATT WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, D.C. OCTOBER 9TH - 11TH, 2022 SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS STAY UPDATED AT: VAREP.NET/CONVENTION SEE PAGE 16 FOR ARTICLE STAY UPDATED AT: VAREP.NET/POLICYCONFERENCE
OCTOBER 9TH - 11TH, 2022 SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS The VAREP National Convention will educate, develop, and empower current and future leaders within the VAREP organization. VAREP leaders and members will be equipped with the necessary tools to serve the military and veteran housing needs. Attendees will participate in sessions to exchange chapter best practices and to explore new ones together. REGISTER TODAY! VAREP.NET/CONVENTION SAVETHEDATE! 5
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Alaska
VAREP Tucson Chapter - Founded on January 28, 2015
VAREP Fresno Chapter - Founded on January 30, 2019
Missouri VAREP St Louis Chapter - Founded on March 10, 2017
ACTIVE CHAPTERS
VAREP Phoenix Chapter - Founded on September 3, 2013
Illinois VAREP Chicago Chapter - Founded on June 21, 2016
VAREP Sacramento Chapter - Founded on June 4, 2013
Arizona
VAREP Miami Chapter - Founded on July 13, 2015
VAREP Northern Kentucky Chapter - Founded on June 13, 2022
VAREP San Antonio Chapter - Founded on December 10, 2013
California VAREP East Bay Area Chapter - Founded on August 24, 2017
Nevada VAREP Las Vegas Chapter - Founded on August 30, 2013
Washington VAREP Tacoma South Sound Chapter - Founded on December 15, 2014
Virginia
VAREP Northern Nevada Chapter - Founded on March 4, 2015
Texas VAREP DFW Chapter - Founded on December, 2015
VAREP San Diego Chapter - Founded on July 29, 2013
Georgia
Oregon VAREP Central Oregon Chapter - Founded on February 12, 2019
VAREP Northern Virginia Chapter - Founded on May 30, 2018
Hawaii VAREP Honolulu Chapter - Founded on April 04, 2014
VAREP Prescott Chapter - Founded on June 27, 2019
VAREP CURRENTLY HAS 29 CHAPTERS LOCATED IN 16 STATES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
VAREP Orange County Chapter - Founded on March 11, 2013
VAREP San Bernardino Chapter- Founded on August 14, 2014
VAREP Central Florida Chapter - Founded on April 14, 2015
Idaho VAREP Treasure Valley Chapter - Founded on May 17, 2018
VAREP Houston Chapter - Founded on March 30, 2015
VAREP South Central Alaska - Founded on June 23, 2020
VAREP Hampton Roads Chapter - Founded on September 5, 2018
VAREP Denver Chapter - Founded on August 14, 2014
Colorado
VAREP Atlanta Chapter - Founded on January 22, 2019
Florida
Kentucky VAREP Louisville Chapter - Founded on June 14, 2018
13 CHAPTERS IN FORMATION Arizona VAREP Kingman Chapter- Coming 2023 California VAREP San Gabriel Chapter - Coming 2023 Colorado VAREP Colorado Springs – Coming 2022 VAREP Northern Colorado – Coming 2022 Florida VAREP Jacksonville Chapter - Coming 2023 Georgia VAREP Augusta Chapter - Coming 2023 New Jersey VAREP North New Jersey Chapter - Coming 2023 North Carolina VAREP Fayetteville Chapter - Coming 2022 Pennsylvania VAREP Philadelphia Chapter - Coming 2023 VAREP Pittsburgh Chapter - Coming 2023 Tennessee VAREP Nashville Chapter - Coming 2022 Texas VAREP Austin Chapter - Coming 2023 Washington VAREP Seattle / Bremerton - Coming 2023 7
The conference is filled with educational sessions and town halls to educate attendees on important housing policy, lending initiatives, and economic development affecting the military and veteran communities. VAREP members have the opportunity to meet with members of Congress to advocate VAREP’s Policy Positions on issues that affect military and veteran homeownership.
REGISTRATION COMING SOON 8 SAVETHEDATE
The Military and Veterans Housing Certification (MVHC) CE course, which can be taken quarterly or more, provides real estate agents and lenders a deeper understanding and skill set when working with the VA Home Loan benefit. Chapter Directors can become certified instructors by attending a nationally sanctioned MVHC course and an instructor’s course followed by the steps in becoming a certified instructor. This allows you to present a class that provides both a certification and CE credits for real estate agents. Providing consistent education to your local real estate community will not only help with membership growth, but also with current member retention. As of this writing, our organization has made some major accomplishments with regards to the steps of becoming a Congressionally Chartered VSO and moving our policy positions forward. This form of group advocacy for veteran rights, benefits and knowledge is great for chapter retention and membership growth.
The chapters efforts over the last 10 years have allowed VAREP to be known as the only veteran nonprofit organization that focuses on successful homeownership.
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR
As chapters, we have an opportunity to impact our communities in many ways. Our VAREPCares events impact and change our veteran communities for the better. The members are looking for an outlet to serve their veteran communities and when a chapter is offering multiple opportunities, that keeps them coming back with a desire to give back even more, step up and take on a leadership role or become a committee chairperson. There is nothing more rewarding than being part of an active chapter that is serving the community and providing valuable experiences for their members to help with retention.
Thank you for reading VAREP Nation, we are always available to you.
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The Lunch and Learn series in the Leadership Toolbox is a great way to set a monthly learning trend that can only be provided by a VAREP chapter.
What a better way to helping veterans than doing it with your brothers and sisters? VAREP has created strong bonds amongst the chapter leadership who have taken the extra step in networking. Not only at the conventions, but chapters leaders have also crossed state lines to be present at other chapter events, coteaching classes and even met up to take vacations together. One thing we have built in growing the mission of VAREP, is that we are all in this together to help One Veteran at a Time. Giving purpose and providing true relationships is our way to build camaraderie and creating retention Lastly, out of all VAREP member benefits, the most rewarding benefit is the community outreach that we do, which is the most common reason why people are attracted to this organization from the start.
Retention…according to the Websters Dictionary the definition of retention is: “the fact of keeping something or someone in one’s memory.” VAREP chapters and national programs are built on retention and the goal of providing our members an experience that encourages them to renew membership. Our goal of each chapter leadership is to provide our members with 4 experiences as a member to enrich their lives. Education, Advocacy, Camaraderie and Community Outreach. These four member experiences done well by our chapters will help retain our members and provide opportunities for chapter leadership development.
Through quality and consistent education to your local real estate community, you are providing an avenue for real estate professionals to better serve your local veterans.
A Ernie Gonzales
Ernie Gonzales Association Director
What Makes a Good Logo?
Simple logos focus on highlighting the most important parts of a brand’s personality with limited real estate. This includes focusing more on aspects like colors and fonts as well as on distilling ideas into their simplest form. For instance, a symbol is a powerful way of creating simplicity, as it can instill a mental association with a particular set of values or ideas. Other great designs for a simple logo include letter and word marks, which dispense with images and focus instead on communicating brand personality directly with fonts and colors. Overall, the most important aspect is to focus on using as few elements as possible to communicate your brand’s identity.
The first quality great logos share is that they’re relevant to the markets their companies target. More importantly, they clearly communicate a brand’s personality and identity. A primary component is the use of colors in your logo, which can trigger different emotions and show your brand’s personality to consumers. A company that sells toys for children may choose bright colors that communicate energy, fun, and excitement. The second important component is the font used in the logo or word mark. Fonts help communicate your brand’s tone and its values, which ultimately help define your personality better. More angular and thin fonts are ideal for highlighting a company that works in technology while softer cursives are excellent for companies that work in jewelry or women’s products.
A logo is a central part of any business’s branding, as it’s usually the first point of contact for most potential customers. That’s why it’s vital to make sure that when you make a logo, it truly represents your brand and can connect with Thereconsumers.areseveral aspects that go into logo design, and they may change depending on your needs and the industry you operate in. Even so, the best logos all share 5 major characteristics, no matter the differences that make them unique. So, what makes a good logo? A good logo is: Simple Relevant Memorable Timeless Versatile These 5 qualities make a logo instantly identifiable, and ensure that when customers look at it, they’ll connect with your brand.
Finally, choosing the right symbol is a key aspect of establishing a visual anchor for your logo. Symbols are important aspects of a logo because they can be used by themselves as a simpler version of your logo. Symbols are also important when building connections between your brand and the ideas and values behind it.
2. Relevant
"The goal of a logo is to create a connection with a consumer and generate interest in your brand. When consumers can easily recall your logo and brand, they are more likely to connect them with your company."
1. Simple Many of the most impactful and successful logos in history are surprisingly simple. From Nike’s single swoosh to Apple’s eponymous design, simple logos are easy to recognize and remember. Simplicity is a key ingredient for logos because most consumers only focus on a logo for a short time. A simple design can express your brand’s personality concisely and effectively.
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Design Corner
Finally, a memorable logo should always strive to be unique. Even in industries where there are standards and common norms for designs, your logo should always aim to stand out from the pack as much as possible.
3. Memorable Another key aspect of a good logo is that it is memorable, even from the first time you see it. The goal of a logo is to create a connection with a consumer and generate interest in your Whenbrand.consumers can easily recall your logo and brand, they are more likely to connect them with your company. Logos that are easy to remember and produce a strong impact are valuable because they help your brand stick in consumers’ Memorableminds.
logos combine many of the elements discussed above, but they find the right balance between the visual and textual aspects. More importantly, they clearly and cohesively communicate your brand’s personality and tone.
4. Timeless The best logos stand out from the pack because they remain relevant and effective over the years. It’s always tempting when you design a logo that incorporates current design trends and fads, but it’s not always the best Thesedecision.logos may look good now, but they will probably need to be redesigned later to keep them current. Instead, a timeless logo is one that will remain relevant and connect with users no matter when it is being used. For instance, McDonald’s golden arches have remained unchanged for decades, as has Coca-Cola’s iconic word mark.
Good logos are easy to design when you focus on the qualities that make them effective. By working to produce a timeless yet versatile design, you can establish a strong foundation to build your brand upon. Making it simple will also help it be more memorable for the audience, thereby ensuring that your design is more relevant. With a good logo in hand, you can start creating an impactful brand that will catch consumers’ eyes while keeping you on their minds for a long time to what-makes-a-good-logohttps://www.tailorbrands.com/logo-maker/come.
Timeless logos focus on quality over quantity, removing many of the unnecessary elements and crazy ideas and focusing on what works. This means focusing exclusively on your brand’s core ideas and values to uncover the most effective way to transmit them without unnecessary clutter. Another important aspect of timeless logos is that they keep colors simple and basic, ignoring gradients and massive palettes in favor of more selective and unique colors.
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Finally, a memorable logo should always strive to be unique. Even in industries where there are standards and common norms for designs, your logo should always aim to stand out from the pack as much as possible.
5. Versatile Last, but certainly not least, a good logo can be used in a variety of ways, shapes, and situations. For example, a logo you can only use in one size online is not very good, as it limits the ways you can expose your brand to the world. On the other hand, choosing a logo that can be resized, printed, or placed on different media makes your brand significantly more visible. Even the best-looking logos are not necessarily good if they become illegible or unrecognizable when you shrink them for packaging or become distorted when you put them on a billboard. One of the easiest ways to make your logo more versatile is to think about what format you create and save it in. Traditional photo images may pixelate when you resize them, but vector files are built to be Onscaled.adesign level, keeping the clutter to a minimum and opting for a simple design will instantly make your logo more versatile. Having too many lines, flourishes, elements, or colors can create a complicated design that will scale poorly. Instead, keep in mind that you have limited real estate, and focus on saying more with less.
In regard to foreclosure, your counselor can help assess your loan situation and work with your servicer to try to find an option that will keep you in your house. It might include filing for a forbearance, completing a modification or refinancing your loan. If a client decides they want to sell their home, a counselor will help them through this process as well. If their VAREP member has referred them over to us, we’ll send them right back to that member once counseling is completed, but we do recommend that you stay connected with your client to stay on top of their situation.
What does USA Homeownership Foundation’s HUD Housing Counselor Do?
Our HUD Housing Counselors are your advocate if you’re trying to avoid a foreclosure, buy a home, use your VA loan benefit, resolve your rental issue, or improve your credit. Our HUD counselors are Veterans themselves and experts in their field. They’re well trained in the several ways to prevent a foreclosure, improve your credit, buy a home, use your VA loan, and resolve your rental issues.
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USA Homeownership Foundation, Inc. (VAREP’s nonprofit organization) is a HUD-approved nonprofit with HUD housing counselors who provide foreclosure prevention, credit, homeownership, rental, and post purchase counseling to Veterans, Servicemembers and Patriots nationwide—all at no cost. If you or your clients are facing a foreclosure or any other housing issue, the sooner you talk to a housing counselor, the better. You can have no better advocate if you're trying to work out a loan modification, improve your credit, buy a home, or use your VA loan benefit. Here’s a quick success story of our client David. David had some serious medical issues, had trouble working with his lender and was facing foreclosure. His sale date was just a few weeks away and he was desperate to save his home. He connected with Thomas Griffin, USA Homeownership Foundation’s HUD Housing Counselor, and Thomas was able to reach out to his lender, stop the sale and get David a loan modification with sustainable, affordable payments. This is just one of our many success stories and you can view it online at https://fb.watch/dz7h5rJ7M7/
CORNERCOUNSELINGHOUSING
USA HOMEOWNERSHIP FOUNDATION’S HUD HOUSING COUNSELORS ARE READY, WILLING AND ABLE TO HELP VETERANS, SERVICEMEMBERS AND PATRIOTS FIND HOUSING SOLUTIONS
How Housing Counseling Works When you contact our Housing Counseling department, you’ll be asked to complete our online intake form, possible a credit authorization and/or a 3rd party authorization form online (www. myhomeownership.org ) and then we will schedule a counseling appointment. During the counseling session, our housing counselor will: How to Work with USA Homeownership’s HUD-Approved Housing Counselors We encourage all of our dedicated VAREP members and partners to share this information. You can help us be the boots on the ground to spread the word that our HUD Housing Counseling Department is here to help our military and patriot communities.
GETTING HELP IS AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3 Contact our Housing Counseling Department by visiting our website at MyHomeOwnership.org click on counseling and complete the online intake forms. And view our short video on Housing Counseling services: myhomeownership.org/counseling/ Email your request to Gabriel Cornejo Housing Counseling Administrative Assistant, at hcadmin@varep.net . 1. Contact 2. Call 3. Email Call our toll free number 888.273.7267 If VAREP members have Veterans, Service Members or Patriots that need any type of rental, foreclosure prevention, Home Buying, VA Loan, Down Payment, Credit, or Financial Literacy counseling please refer them to our Housing Counseling Department to speak with our HUD Housing Counselors. Discuss your current financial situation Review and evaluate your current spending and income Help you develop a sustainable budget Discuss your hardship and housing situation Determine an action plan to provide a housing solution Help you figure out what options are best for you Create an action plan and recommend next steps 13
elcome eventa-yearaMonth,SafetyInternettooncein which you, the public, are told that anywhere between three and different best practices will simplify your approach to staying safe Unfortunately,online. much of the well intentioned advice surrounding Internet Safety Month ignores one basic fact about how people change their habits: We typically only correct our behavior after first making a mistake. We buy rain boots after feeling the unique misery of drenched socks. We become sunscreen evangelists after getting burnt on the beach. We try on a different pair of jeans after a separate pair caused psychic damage to our egos.
IT
wCORNER
MONTH:SAFETYINTERNET Avoiding the consequences of unsafe Internet practices.
when pretending to develop a romantic relationship online, only to later ask for financial support and disappear. None of these situations are hypotheticals. Earlier this year, a woman in Tennessee was fooled in an online dating scam by a thief who stole $390,000 of her money.
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Just last month, after the Twitter account of a famous digital artist was hacked, cybercriminals abused the account to send promotions for a fraudulent collaboration between the artist and the luxury brand Lous Vuitton. By selling fake raffle tickets for the promotion, the scammers raked in $438,000 worth of cryptocurrency. Staying safe in all of these situations can be difficult because, often times, the scammers on the other end are practiced, experienced professionals. Still, there are a few things you can do to best protect yourself from falling for an online scam.
This year, then, for Internet S afety Month, we’re packaging our advice a little differently. Today, we’re going to share stories about the consequences of unsafe Internet practices. By focusing on this context, we hope that you’ll come away with a stronger understanding about, for instance, why you should use a password manager rather than that you should use a password manager. Here’s what to avoid during Internet Safety Month, and every month after. Don’t lose thousands upon thousands of dollars In the world of online scams, criminals care about one thing: Your money. T hat’s true for the criminals who send you phishing emails that ask you to fill out personal information on bogus webpages that spoof the legitimate sites of Netflix, or Facebook, or your bank. It’s also true of the criminals who prey on the elderly and the unassuming
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Do use a password manager to help keep track of the dozens of unique passwords you have. Do use two-factor (also called multi- factor) authentication. With 2FA or MFA, even if your username and password are leaked, your account will still trigger a notification to your phone if a website recognizes that you are logging in from a different device or place. This can stop cyberthieves in their tracks even if they have your accountcredentials.
Do use strong passwords. The longer the password the better in today’s world, in which passwordcracking is more a function of time than “complexity.”
Do use unique passwords for every account. Repeat passwords are a huge risk to you because if your data is breached in an attack on one of the services you use, cybercriminals absolutely will try that password and username combo to access other popular services.
Posted: June 3, 2022 By: https://blog.malwarebytes.com/ Link: https://blog.malwarebytes.com/101/2022/06/internet-safetymonth-avoiding-the-consequences-of-unsafe-internet-practices/
Don’t beat yourself up about it— just get a cybersecurity app to back you up.
Do consider using a browser login that flags unsafe websites. Some browser plugins can warn you if you’re visiting a dangerous website or a website that has trustyounotpluginsoneConsidermalwarewithassociatedbeenpreviousscams.usingoftheseifyou’resurewhocanonline.
Do not click on links in emails or text messages from unknown senders. Even if a message looks like it came from a trustworthy source, like a store you often shop at, you should still be wary of any request to get you to hand over credit card or manyscams,aboutSupporttheCindywebefore.youmoneyDoinformationfinancialonline.notsendtoanyonehaven’tmetWhenspokewithLiebesofCybercrimeNetworkromanceshesaidvictimsofromance scams often sent money to people they had never met in person. Do not trust everything you see online. This may sound simple, but remember that even trusted sources of authority can have their online accounts hacked or spoofed—after all, why else do you think we see so many cryptocurrency scams centering on bogus Twitter accounts for Elon Musk? Because, at first blush, they l ook legitimate. Do not open email attachments from random senders. You never know if what you’ve just received is actually malware in Dodisguise.scrutinize email attachments of all types. Even if you’ve received an attachment from someone or some organization that looks legitimate, remember that, in my case, I was fooled by an email that spoofed the USPS. In fact, a few years ago, threat actors managed to insert malicious attachments into ongoing email threads between two trusted parties. Do run security updates. Many malware campaigns rely on known vulnerabilities that have yet to be patched by individuals and organizations. The best defense you have to these types of attacks is to stay up to date on your software’s security patches.
“Earlier this year, a woman in Tennessee was fooled in an online dating scam by a thief stolewho $390,000 of her money.”
Do use a cybersecurity app. A c ybersecurity tool with real-time protection can stop malware before it has a chance to infect your device. This will provide you with the type of cover you need for when you aren’t remembering every best practice, which is okay. Sometimes you click a link you weren’t supposed to.
D o use a VPN on public WiF i connections. A virtual private network, or VPN, will encrypt your traffic, which can be especially helpful when connecting to public WiFi networks which could be vulnerable to eavesdropping. To learn how to choose the best VPN for you, read our advice here.
Author: David Ruiz Senior Threat Content Writer
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"In years."overawardedHeartsPurplemillionbeentheretotalhave1.8the
Honoring The Purple Heart & It's Recipients
HISTORY OF PURPLE HEART DAY
George Washington awarded the original Purple Heart, designated as a Badge of Merit, in 1782. There was a lack of funds in the Continental Army at the time so the award was a way to honor enlisted and deserving people. The honor is presented to soldiers for “any singularly meritorious action.” It was designed with a piece of silk bound through it with a thin edge of silver. Washington only gave out three of the badges himself, and instead authorized subordinates to issue the badges as they saw fit. The Badge of Merit faded from use but was revived and launched in 1932, this time as the Purple Heart. As well as honoring those wounded in combat, this iteration of the Purple Heart recognized commendable action. It was in 1944 that the policy was tweaked slightly and the Purple Heart was given the purpose we know it for today, specifically to honor those who have been wounded or died. The first service member to be given the modern Purple Heart was General Douglas MacArthur for his service in the Pacific theater during World War II. In total there have been 1.8 million Purple Hearts awarded over the years. Purple Heart Day was first observed in 2014 and has been observed every year since. It’s a chance to reflect on the bravery of those who have fought for the U.S. and to ensure that their courage is never forgotten.
https://www.dvnf.org/national-purple-heart-day/#:~:text=Purple%20Heart%20Day%20on%20August,wounded%20or%20killed%20whilst%20serving.
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Purple Heart Day on August 7 is the kind of day created to give back. It’s a day for Americans to remember and honor the men and women who bravely represented their country and were wounded or killed whilst serving. These people are decorated with a Purple Heart in the name of the President, and this day is for remembering them and their sacrifice. Some states, counties, and cities pause in recognition, as do some sports and entertainment entities. Military and veteran organizations also hold meetings for remembrance. Please join us as we honor those that have been given a Purple Heart.
804 THE PATH HOMEOWNERSHIPSUSTAINABLETO INQUIRIES FOR SERVICES 156 GROUP WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS FROM VHS CHAPTER EVENTS 1 ON 1 COUNSELINGHOUSINGCLIENTS430 171 HOMEOWNERSHIPPRE-PURCHASE 98 POST PURCHASE 271 PREVENTIONFORECLOSURE 63 COUNSELINGSUSTAINABILITYHOMEOWNERSHIPFINANCIAL 74 COUNSELINGCREDIT 611 COUNSELEDCLIENTS 2022 COUNSELING & OUTREACH STATISTICS TYPES OF COUNSELING PROVIDED VAREP’s Housing Counseling Department is a HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency providing home buying, credit, budget, post purchase and foreclosure prevention counseling services to Veterans, Active Military and the community nationwide. Over the past year, from January to December 2022, we provided the following housing counseling services: VISIT WWW.VETHOMEOWNERSHIP.COM OR CALL: 888.273.7267
7,891 LMI INQUIRIESHOUSING INTERNET, TELEPHONE & COMMUNITY EVENTS 3,041 LMI FAMILIES RECEIVED PRE-PURCHASE, CREDIT & HOUSING COUNSELING 971 VETERAN FAMILIES SUCCESSFULLY PLACED IN HOMES THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS 501 VETERANS WERE REFERRED TO HUD VASH PROGRAM 1,121 VETERANS ENGAGED IN CREDIT COUNSELING TO IMPROVE FINANCIAL READINESS 5,710 VETERANS & SERVICEMEMBERS EDUCATED ON VA HOME LOAN BENEFIT, IMPORTANCE OF GOOD CREDIT & HOME BUYING PROCESS THROUGH COUNSELING & OUTREACH EVENTS VISIT WWW.VETHOMEOWNERSHIP.COM OR CALL: 888.273.7267 * Statistics from 2014-2022
“To maintain the momentum from the Policy Conference, I have appointed G-II Varrato, Yeimalis Acevedo-Rasmussen, Robbie Grossman, Lynn Jabs, Nacho Castro, Dex Cajigal, Victoria Blass and Michael Hamilton to form VAREP’s National Legislative Committee (NLC). The NLC’s task is to do the background and heavy-lifting work necessary to move our mission and the bill forward.” - Son Nguyen, VAREP Founder & President G-II VARRATO NLC Chairman U.S. Air Force NACHO CASTRO NLC Member U.S. Army ACEVEDO-RASMUSSENYEIMALIS NLC PatriotMember ROBBIE GROSSMAN NLC PatriotMember VICTORIA BLASS NLC PatriotMember LYNN JABS NLC PatriotMember MICHAEL HAMILTON NLC PatriotMember 20
WATCH THIS SPACE Probably much brighter note our second policy position, informed consumer choice disclosure improvements has gained tremendous traction.
While the primary VAREP NLC legislative mission for 2022 is for VAREP to become a congressionally chartered VSO (Veterans Service Organization), and as I wrote in the last RT, this did not mean that VAREP set aside other, especially important legislative initiatives and efforts, and we remain committed to those as well.
AN UPDATE ON VAREP’S LEGISLATION MISSION WHILE ON CAPITOL HILL JUNE 2022
To that point the NLC did not get the VSO bill loaded into any existing legislation nor is our legislation in a position can be advanced as a stand-alone bill out of the Judiciary Committee, either the House or Senate. That does not mean we have halted our efforts to finalize the legislation language and get the VSO bill on to the floor of either the Senate or the House. We thought at the last moment that we might be able to get it squeezed into the National Defense Authorization Act 2022 (NDAA) but that too proved to be too steep of a hill during the 117th Congress. We have a few months left in the 117th Congress and we are still going to try and move this legislative effort forward in the 117th Congress. Failing that we take another run at this in the 118th Congress beginning in January 20th 2023.
SHORT BACKGROUND: In a **January 2020 Urban Institute report of The Impacts of US Military Service of Homeownership and Income, the authors, Sarah Strochak, Jung Hyun Choi and Laurie Goodman reported that about 80% of veterans and/or active duty servicemembers own their home. Even though the use of the VA Home Loan Benefit has doubled since 2017 from about 700,000 closed VA Home Loans to a little over 1.4 million closed loans in *FY2021, the current VA Home Loan Benefit usage hovers abysmally around 10% to 15% of the total veteran population of most states and as low as 6% in some states, including active duty servicemembers.
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INFORMED CONSUMER CHOICE LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY: Failure to fully disclose the full financial benefits of the VA Home Loan, compared to all other forms of financing remains an unconscionable practice. Improving the Informed Consumer Choice Disclosure law will provide a 'side-by-side' comparison of the differences between a Conventional Loan, to a FHA Loan to a VA Loan thus ending disadvantaging and disenfranchising veterans of the 'full disclosure' of the veteran’s financing options. Why does it make any sense, at all, to disallow a veteran from reviewing, in a side-by-side view, of the actual written financial differences between the VA Home Loan when compared to a FHA Home Loan or a Conventional Home Loan? Updating the "INFORMED CONSUMER CHOICE DISCLOSURE NOTICE" will close that loop.
Representative Kilmer is scheduled to introduce the informed consumer choice disclosure act legislation before Congress goes on their August recess. Likewise in the Senate, Senator Sinema hopes to have the Senate version introduced before the end of the 117th Congress and is looking towards a successful thumbs up voice vote in the Senate before the end of the 117th Congress. We’ll keep ya’ll posted on additional information as the weeks more forward.
And, although the mortgage loan applicant no longer needs to 'self identify' as being eligible to take advantage of his/her VA Home Loan Benefit, because of the 'Military Service Question' on the new and improved URLA (Uniform Residential Loan Application), it is clear that a majority of veterans are, most likely, still being steered away from the VA loan to other forms of financing, i.e. Conventional loans, FHA loans, USDA loans or some other form of home loan financing.
Congressman Derik Kilmer (WA-D) Has been working on our legislation with us since the beginning of the 117th Congress. Lynn Jabs, is a very tight and personal relationship with representative Kilmer and as such has done amazing work in getting this legislation moving forward.
STAY TUNED AND WATCH THIS SPACE Stay Safe! Stay Healthy! And… keep your #SocialDistance #IAmVAREP G-II Varrato II VAREP National Legislative Committee Director Source: Loan Volume by State Veterans Benefits Administration ** Source: January 2020 Research Report Urban Institute
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Media CornerUNMISSABLETIPSTOCREATEANEFFECTIVEINSTAGRAMVIDEO 23
And the excitement doesn’t end there. By partnering Instagram with video content, you’re on your way to creating engaging visuals that’ll help you reach a new audience, convince and convert sales, and drive consumer engagement. But merely creating video content for the sake of it isn’t good enough— you need to be smart and follow this advice on how to craft thumb-stopping Instagram videos that reach your business goals.
The average consumer looks at social media for nearly 2.5 hours every day. That’s a lot of content. To compete on this playing field, you need to ensure that your business gives the audience a solid reason to pause at your Instagram video post. Not only that, if you’re working with video content, you need to hook the audience into your video clip inside the first three seconds — otherwise, their attention will wane, the scrolling will continue, and you’ve lost the game.
If you’re a forward-thinking brand, it’s worth taking the time to familiarize yourself with Instagram. The social media platform now boasts over 1 billion monthly users, and 90% of these people follow at least one business account. These stats make Instagram the must-use social media platform for growing your business.
1. FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE EVERYTHING
58% of people say they
Stories.Instagramseeingproductainterestedbecomehavemoreinbrandorafteritin
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Make Your Content
Visually Appealing Create unique and energetic visuals that capture audience attention and pauses their scrolling pattern. Use a strong color palette — if your brand has a distinctive color scheme, make sure you use it. Instagram has a neutral background, so adding highcontrast typography will also help your content stand out. Lastly, choose a powerful, engaging static image for the first scene of your video.
200+ million people visit at least one business profile on Instagram daily. A Facebook survey reports that 79% of Instagram users search for more information about a product after seeing it on IG. 50% of these users then directly visit the brand’s website. 58% of people say they have become more interested in a brand or product after seeing it in Instagram Stories.
Emotions break the scrolling cycle
Connect with Viewers’ Emotions
Remember that if someone engages with your video, they’re likely to click-through to your brand profile. This is another huge opportunity to make an excellent first impression. Utilize techniques such as creating an aesthetically pleasing grid layout and consistent filters to nail down your brand style.
We live in a mobile-first world, and people are constantly watching videos on-the-go where viewing with sound isn’t an option — in fact, a study by Verizon found that 92% of mobile views are watched with no sound at all. On Instagram, video content is muted by default, so both these points signal a tremendous opportunity to add text to your videos to ensure your message is fully received.
Audiences are increasingly valuesdriven. Younger generations — with their increasing spending power — are very values-driven. In fact, Gen Z is highly likely to make purchases from brands that support social justice causes. If your brand has an opportunity to advocate for positive social change on Instagram, do so in an authentic way. As a brand wants to connect with its audience and start planting seeds of emotion, a great place to start it by creating a sense of community and belonging. Think about who is in your tribe? We’ve seen brands fall back on this fail-safe strategy time and time again. Vancouver-based fitness studio Tight Club does this via their general Instagram aesthetic and posting regular video content with a community focus. Establish Strong Branding In marketing, it’s widely known that a customer will go through seven touchpoints with your brand before making a purchase decision. Therefore, you must craft a strong, memorable brand identity for your Instagram video content and help consumers recall your business on their various interactions and touchpoints with your brand. Here are a few tips to help brand your video content:
For the best user experience, text should be concise — less is certainly more. You don’t want to overwhelm the audience. Be concise, sharp, and to the point. Adding too much text to your Instagram video can have the opposite effect, and your messaging can get lost in the mix. You might feel pressured to fit all your messaging in Establish a solid brand tone of voice that’s the same throughout all of your video content. Brand your video content with a watermark or your brand hashtag.
Use consistent brand colours across your video content. Add voiceover to your videos to make them relatable and recognizable as your own. These starting points will help you establish a strong brand identity that will build consumer confidence in your business.
orlaugh,madepostonstoppedwhocyclescrollingbreakEmotionsthe—hasn’tathat’syouthink,cry?
2. INCLUDE TEXT FOR CAN’T-MISS MESSAGING
— who hasn’t stopped on a post that’s made you laugh, think, or cry? An emotional response doesn’t only get a user to pause; it also creates a personal connection. Brands use this strategy to connect with their audience all the time, and here’s why: Connection influences purchases.
There’s a 50-60% probability of selling to existing customers. This means that brands and companies need to develop customer loyalty. Developing a connection with your audience will increase advocacy for your brand and help increase sales.
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If you know where to look, finding UGC is relatively simple. Using a social listening such as Brandwatch or Buzzsumo to tap into what your audience is saying about your brand and uncover any content worth sharing to your social channels. On Instagram, you can also look at your tagged photos to see if any users have tagged you in content and reshare those posts.
Behind-the-Scenes Looks Behind-the-scenes (sometimes abbreviated to BTS) content that’s filmed on the fly and edited together using video creation software can be beneficial to showing your audience a more authentic side to your brand. BTS videos are a quick and easy way to build trust with your audience because they make your brand feel more human and relatable. Behindthe-scenes videos can be produced at a low price point while also giving your audience the feeling of having access to exclusive access to your business’s inner workings. Fashion brand Anthropologie mastered this technique in recent years.
"Mix up yourstrengthenformatstorytellingyourtomessage." 26
Instagram Reels provide more opportunities to capture audience attention with video. They appear in Instagram’s Explore tab, giving brands better opportunities to get discovered by potential customers. Reels are eternally share-able as well, because they don’t disappear after 24 hours like Instagram Stories. Consider including fun transitions, face filters, or music in your Reels. These will show your brand’s personality, allowing you to connect with your audience further.
Social media runs on trends, and the better your brand can capitalize on a trend (while it’s still trending!) the more visibility you’ll receive. Larger visual trends inform many of the styles and visuals you repeatedly see on Instagram. To see if there’s a 2022 style you haven’t tapped into yet, look at the annual Shutterstock Creative Trends report.
Check out how Ben & Jerry’s did it. Not the next Spielberg? You can combine image and text-based slides into dynamic slideshows using quick cuts. These posts are beginnerfriendly and can take your Instagram to the next level without the need for a production crew. Check out this example by Trade Street Jam Co. You can quickly and easily create posts like this using an online video editor.
If you’re having trouble finding UGC for your brand, incentivize customers through giveaways and Instagram challenges. It also helps to make your branded hashtags easily accessible and encourage customers to use them whenever possible.
A great example of UGC is this clip from Chipotle, who used UGC to promote their queso.
5. WHEN IN DOUBT, ESTABLISHEDEMBRACESTRENDS
3. EXPERIMENT WITH INSTAGRAM REELS
one post, but you can certainly tell a whole story with just a few words.
Stop Motion Stop motion is an artistic style that compiles multiple still images of moving objects and replays them at a faster frame rate. This editing technique gives the illusion of animation for the finished video. A huge benefit of stop motion is that format is easy to replicate, typically only needing a single camera and photo compilation software. This makes it one of the simplest and low-cost options for video creation — providing you have the budget for a camera and software.
For short and snappy Instagram content that’ll capture audience attention, stop motion is useful for living up static product shots, showing the unboxing of a product uniquely, creating looping shots, or creating eye-catching ads like this one for Xbox. User-Generated Content (UGC) UGC is exactly what it sounds like — content that’s created by your users. Typically, UGC is brand loyalists creating video content that demos, reviews, or simply shows off your product. There’s a whole host of benefits that come with hunting down UGC videos. UGC is a format that can go viral because the videos appear less “sales-y” than other content. UGC has the added benefit of a positive review built right into the Thecontent.unique, customer-centric format acts as a trust signal, therefore increasing confidence in your brand.
4. PLAY STORYTELLINGWITH FORMATS Mix up your storytelling format to strengthen your message. Different video formats can highlight various aspects of your business, and some are better than others for certain types of video content. We’ve compiled a list of formats for you to try, based on the content and goal you’re trying to achieve.
6. PREDICT VIDEO TRENDS WITH AI
Using an online video creator, you can create and post video content in minutes, allowing you to react quickly to changing trends instead of going through weeks of creative approvals. Reacting swiftly to trends will ensure that your brand is perceived as relatable and accessible.
8. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF STORIES HIGHLIGHTSAND Instagram Stories offer your audience daily content to snack on without clogging up their main news feed. Stories are vertical photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours and help keep your brand fresh and current. You can add text, stickers, filters, and animations that make them a fun alternative to your more polished and branded news feed posts. Use Instagram Stories for teasers, first looks, behind-the-scenes, and more. It’s also customary to feature posts from followers, creators, and even other brands in your Story, which creates powerful brand affinity within your industry. Shutterstock used their Instagram Story to highlight a new tool within Shutterstock Editor, and Lumen5 used their Instagram Stories to show off their new logo and then saved it in a specialized highlight devoted to products.
With the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, marketers are now able to predict which creative decisions will perform best for their audiences. This means that brands don’t only have opportunities to embrace current trends… They can get ahead of future trends as well. Shutterstock’s 2022 Color Trends report, for example, accurately predicted which shades of the rainbow will get the most clicks by Keepconsumers.in-the-know about which creative video trends are predicted to perform best for your industry. Staying informed on the future trends will give brands a leg-up on competition. It’ll also provide more ways to connect with consumers.
ARE ANDBRANDHELP24DISAPPEARVIDEOSPHOTOSVERTICALANDTHATAFTERHOURSANDKEEPYOURFRESHCURRENT." 27
Social media users tend to take the path of least resistance — meaning that your content needs to make it as easy as possible for the audience to take the desired action. For this to happen, your call-to-action (CTA) must be extremely clear. For example, let’s say that your Instagram video’s goal is to drive subscribers to your newsletter. Using action-oriented words such as “swipe up” or “click the link in our bio” will encourage your audience to take the intended action.
"STORIES
sceneswatchtotheyourrecommendCTAWhentips-to-create-an-effective-instagram-videohttps://www.shutterstock.com/blog/six-unmissable-itcomestoaddingyourtoyourvideocontent,weplacingitthroughoutvideocontent—notjustatend.Thisstrategywillhelpcaptureviewerswhomightnotallthewaythroughtothefinalofyourvideo.
7. STICK TO ONE CALL-TO-ACTIONCLEAR
2022 has seen many local VAREP Chapters busy teaching the MVHC program. This spring the NEC updated the MVHC to version 8.0, and as of June 15, 2022, twelve MVHC classes have been held. In addition to the twelve classes held many, more are already scheduled thru the end of the year, and we welcome even more. As a committee we are committed to improving the process of becoming a MVHC
Becomingandbeentooneisthe-Trainerinstructor.programTheTrain-class,whichrequiredtoattendandofthestepsneededteachtheMVHC,hastotallyrevampedthenewclassistheTeacher. JAIMIE GARRETT NEC PatriotChair MICHELLE CRUMLEY NEC PatriotMember EDDIE DE LEON NEC PatriotMember KIMBERLY LARKINRITTER NEC PatriotMember STEPHEN DEMUTH NEC PatriotMember JOHN MILLER NEC Member U.S. Air Force JEFF WILSON NEC Member U.S. Army SEAN SELTERS NEC Member U.S. Army The Purpose of the National financialknowledgethehomeownershipforpreparingempoweringtoCommitteeEducation(NEC)isassistwithandallcommunitiessustainablethroughadvancementofandliteracy. 28
1.) How to talk with the Military; All about Acronyms 2.) Hot Topics – the VA Amendatory Clause and Assumptions.
Becoming the Trainer even if you are a current instructor, it is always good to be current and have innovative ideas. We look forward to the National Conference this October in San Antonio and offering this to you. Keep up the excellent work providing education within your local communities, you are making an impact!
Becoming the Teacher is full of high energy and will give new instructors great ideas of how to teach the MVHC program and engage with class participants to be more interactive. Be sure to sign up to take
PCS - Know Your Orders is a successful three-hour course that will be taught six times throughout 2022. Michelle Crumley instructs this course, in person, and are made possible through sponsorship with Caliber Home Loans. Watch for this to be offered in the future and be sure to sign up, it is worth your investment of time. We are looking forward to seeing VAREP members at the National Conference in October and working towards common goals to improve the VA Home Benefits of Home Ownership for all ThankVeterans.youto all the local chapters, communities, sponsors, and industry leaders for your continued support. YOU make the difference one Veteran at a time. Jaimie Garrett, National HUDCommittee,EducationChairCertifiedEducator, Patriot 253-224-8906
In addition to the MVHC, local chapters are doing an amazing job educating their communities via lunch and learns. These new Lunch and Learns are being added to the Toolbox for chapters to use.
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HISTORY OF THE NUMBER 22 In 2012 the Department of Veterans Affairs released a 59-page report outlining veteran suicide. The report states the numbers of Veterans who die from suicide each day has remained relatively stable over the past 12 years (varying from 18 -22 per day).
WWW.STOPDROPPUSH.ORG
PROMOTING VETERAN STABILITY TO PREVENT VETERAN SUICIDE 951-963-9386 | info@stopdroppush.org
ALTERNATIVE THERAPY Research has determined in addition to medication and traditional therapy, a holistic approach including alternatives therapies such as existential/transpersonal, animal-assisted psychotherapy and play therapy (examples include martial arts, fly fishing, mountain climbing and rafting) are important as part of the road to recovery for many veterans.
STOP, DROP & PUSH MISSION To lower the 22 veteran lives lost each day due to suicide by educating the public about veteran reintegration issues; connecting alternative veteran therapy providers to those who need treatment; and provide the necessary funding to ensure treatment is possible so our heroes will rediscover purpose and lead productive lives. WHO WE ARE The Stop, Drop and Push Campaign (SDPC) is part of the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals’ (VAREP) philanthropic platform of giving back (VAREP is a 501c.3 non-profit focused on housing for veterans). Although our focus may be on veteran housing, we cannot stand idle while our brothers and sisters are part of the 22 veteran suicide statistic.
FACESIN CROWDTHE “Faces in the Crowd” is a handful of responses to an intriguing question... VAREP Members share their stories of all things VAREP related! 31
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As a patriot, I am compelled to give back to our veterans in honor of the many sacrifices they endured to support our nation. Given appropriate education, time, and resources we can reduce veteran homelessness and make a difference in our local communities - one veteran at a time.
Why do you mission?andtoenergytime,money,yourgive&VAREPits #IAMVAREP
What VAREP?aboutuniqueis
tomorrow?closed 33
VAREPWHYI’m
The level of research and information that is shared with Realtors and the community. The unique community outreach that takes place. The fact that it is unique in that it is run by the real estate community that is passionate about veterans.
VAREPWHYI’m
There would not be a collected voice on Capitol Hill advocating for veteran housing opportunities. What would go undone if VAREP
What would go undone if VAREP #IAMVAREPtomorrow?closed
Families that needs help with homes could possibly continue to struggle, lending practices could go unnoticed and our Vets can be targeted, our local real estate community could continue to be disconnected to the VA program and shy away from it, those of us who are able to go to DC or AZ would not get to experience the friendships we have now created and lessons learned from our trips with guest speakers.
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Long line of Military members within my family. The Military made me who I am and anything I can do to give back to my brothers and sisters, I am willing to do. Someone has to fight for those that sometimes don’t even realize there is a fight that needs to be fought.
VAREPWHYI’m What VAREP?aboutuniqueis VAREPWHYI’m
Why do you give itsVAREP&money,yourtime,energytoandmission?
It is truly an organization that cares for Veterans and does multiple things for the Veteran community. The culture within VAREP is about selfless service a key Military value.
V E TE R A N S ASSOCIAT IO N O F REA L ESTAT E PROFES S IONA L S inf o @VARE P net ww w .VARE P .net 95 1 44 4 7363
The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justi ed, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation.” - George Washington “
