MAJ Lorraine Holland, US Army (ret)

After a long summer, we are now back in business to once again break bread with our MOAA family members on October 13^th. I’m looking forward to meeting a few new MOAA members who we hope will become new members of our Chapter. We are in the odd month for our full Focus Newsletter, so I’ll keep this short! We have three great speakers on tap to discuss a nationwide effort between the American Legion and the Veterans Administration (VA) to provide a place where veterans of all ages can come together to support one another through gaming. A structured Veteran Gaming Program builds on that mission by using teamwork-based gaming to reconnect veterans, support mental wellness, and strengthen engagement in a modern, stigma-free way. Both organizations are reaching out to our veterans to provide Camaraderie with a Purpose!

Additionally, I was reminded earlier this year, after seeing my face on the cover of the Orange County “Elder Care” brochure, that until now, there has not been a lot of emphasis on helping our aging veterans, families, and surviving spouses. I encourage you to look at the last article, “Veterans Counseling Veterans – Serving Our Elderly Veterans Summit at Orlando Lake Nona VA Oct. 10. I talked to the Director of Lake Nona VA, Mr. Tim Cooke, and he informed me he is pulling out all the stops to get informative and knowledgeable guest speakers to attend this first-of-a-kind Summit. Hope to see everyone at our luncheon on October 13th!

Cheers, Lorraine

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Our Seminole County Veteran Services Office Offers FREE Assistance

Mail, Special News / By MAJ Lorraine Holland, US Army (ret)

Our Seminole County Veteran Services Office offers FREE assistance with benefits claims for veterans, their eligible family, and survivor family members of deceased veterans. Note that this CVSO office is part of the Seminole County government, not the Veteran Affairs (VA). All CSVO’s receive the same training so please see the write-up above for Orange County CVSO for a comprehensive listing of services Seminole County CVSO provides.

Location and Office Hours of Seminole County Main Office:

520 W. Lake Mary Blvd, Suite 102, Sanford, FL 32773. Located in the Reflections Plaza at Hidden Lakes, 1/2 mile west of 17-92

Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays — Walk-ins accepted between 8:30am-11am. 

Afternoons and Fridays by appointment only.

On the FIRST Thursday of the month, VA Outreach Coordinator Harold Borrero-Almodovar will be in the office to assist veterans who want to enroll into the VA.

Phone: 407-665-2347

Email InfoVeterans@SeminoleCountyFL.gov

Seminole County CSVO Website: https://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/departments-services/community-services/veterans-services

Seminole County website: https://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/

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Our Orange County Veteran Service Office Offers FREE Assistance

Special News / By MAJ Lorraine Holland, US Army (ret)

Our Orange County Veterans Service Office offers FREE assistance with benefits claims for veterans, their eligible family members, and survivor family members of deceased veterans. Note: This CVSO office is part of the Orange County government, not the Veterans Affairs (VA). The Office also serves as the primary point of contact for residents seeking to learn about and access Veteran Resources and Services. Please note that, due to the complex nature of benefits claims, our services at this office are available on a first-come, first-served, walk-in basis only.

CLAIM BENEFITS

Let us help you claim the benefits you’ve earned, including:

Compensation for service-related injury/disease

Medical care

Vocational training

Financial assistance (eligibility based on income and assets)

Special benefits programs

WHAT WE DO

Assist with filing claims for benefits and appeals

Counsel on currently available VA benefits

Assist with obtaining military records/medals

Advocate on veterans-related issues at the state and national level

Referrals to other agencies

Assist with benefit plan applications for retired military survivors

Community outreach and educational forums on behalf of or for veterans, their families, and surviving spouses.

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE? 

Must be a Veteran or dependent as defined under Title 38 US Code

We encourage anyone with military or veteran-related questions to contact our office for more information about our services

Phone: 407-836-8990

Office Hours: Call us for operating hours and details on the Veterans Services location nearest you.  Clients are seen on a first-come, first-served, walk-in basis only. Main Office is located at 2100 E. Michigan St., Orlando, FL 32806. Office is open 8 am – 3 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. On Wednesday, the office is open 8 am – 2 pm. They are closed every day during lunch hours, 12 pm – 1 pm.

Orange County CVSO Offers Two Other Locations:

Orlando VAMC – Lake Nona

13800 Veterans Way, Orlando, FL 32827 Phone 407-631-1728 or 1729

Open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 8am – 3pm (closed noon -1pm for lunch). Wednesday open 8 am – noon.

Orlando VAMC – CBOC at Lake Baldwin

5201 Raymond St., Orlando, FL 32803

Schedules vary: Please call 407-836-8990 to confirm hours and building/office location.

Orange County CVSO Website: https://www.ocfl.net/CommunityFamilyServices/CitizenResourceOutreach/VeteransServices.aspx

Orange County Website: http://ocfl.net

MARK YOUR CALENDERS -Please note that the Orange County Veterans Service Office on October 24, 2026, between 10 am – 3 pm is hosting a Resource Fair at Barnett Park, 4801 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32808.  This event is open to ALL veterans, their family members, and surviving spouses, not just Orange Co. residents. At the Resource Fair, we are expecting 35-40+ veteran service organizations to table and provide assistance. For further information, email the office at ocveterans@ocfl.net and use the subject: Orange Co. Veterans Resource Fair Inquiry, or go to www.ocfl.net/veterans 

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President’s Message – September 2026

Mail / By MAJ Lorraine Holland, US Army (ret)

President’s Message
I hope you have made the most of your long summer days, and for those of you that traveled to cooler locations, I wish you a safe journey back to Central Florida.

We have made the tough decision to CANCEL our September 8th luncheon at the DoubleTree UCF. The Ballroom is not available on September 8th, and with the response from the email Randy sent out to Central Florida MOAA members who are not members of our Chapter, the DoubleTree restaurant could not accommodate the expected luncheon turnout. Our next luncheon will go on as planned on October 13th, 11:30am at the DoubleTree UCF.

It’s that time of year when The National Hurricane Center continuously monitors any upcoming major weather disturbances, and so please double check to make sure your hurricane plans are in place and your supply kit is well stocked! The National Hurricane Center upped the odds that two systems, one in the Gulf, and the remnants of what had been Tropical Storm Dolly, could develop. Please refer to the attached Hurricane Checklist which provides life saving tips while preparing for seasonal hurricanes.

I want to thank our Chapter members Charles Smith, Joanie Fiebrandt, Kin LaFate, Ashley Orf and Bob Brogan who volunteered at the August 21st Orlando VA Creative Art Show at Lake Nona to support of our local veteran artists. There were several hundred works of art on display, and we had over 300 visitors who had a chance to judge the artwork.

I am grateful and give many thanks to Al and Ruth Schroeder for their tireless efforts to promote our Chapter’s “Healing Through Expression” (HTE) philanthropy non-profit charity. We are very excited that VA Lake Nona has been chosen to host the 2027 and 2028 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival where the top veterans across America will be honored in over 50+ different categories! Our HTE involvement will dramatically increase, so let your voice be known if you are interested in participating in upcoming VA Recreational Therapy artistic endeavors to support this worthwhile cause.

Stay tuned to an end of the month announcement for the October 13th luncheon. And, as always, check out the Florida Council of Chapters newsletter, The Communique’, for the latest going on within the 36 MOAA Chapters in Florida. Go to www.flmoaa.org .
Cheers, Lorraine

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