National Veterans Golden Age Games

This month I am moving a little outside the norm for MAM by raising funds for our veterans who are over 55 years old. I am particularly excited by this effort since it gives us a chance to say thanks to the Vietnam Era vets and those who came before them. The request for this event came from Julius Fleischman, one of our newest co-sponsors. Julius fought in the European Campaign during WWII.

Date: September 27th.

Where: Old Brogue – Great Falls, Va.

Time: Two seatings – 5:30 and 7:30.

Please be sure to make a reservation by calling: (703) 759-3309.

As always, you simply come out and have dinner at the Old Brogue in Great Falls. Myself and my cosponsors will each be contributing a 10 percent match (A 100 percent match this month) of your dinner tab to The Golden Age Games.

If you know of anyone who might be interested in becoming a co-sponsor, please contact me at bob@bobnelsonteam.com or call at (703) 999-5812.

You can also show your support through:

A. The purchase of door prize entries. (ALL Proceeds will go directly to The Golden Age Games)

B. Our buy a vet dinner initiative. We hope to have between 10-15 enlisted personnel for whom you can buy dinner.

C. Or you can make out a fully tax deductible donation to Veterans Administration.

Please come out strong to show your support. This is our first time back after the summer and I’d love to have a huge turnout to show our active duty personnel and veterans just how much we appreciate their service.

If you have a chance, please be sure to thank my co-sponsors.

The Old Brogue

LSA Title Services

Gary Kaihara, DDS

The Grossman Family

Julius Fleischman

The Norman Family

The Nelson Family

James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Taylor Allgyer – First Savings Mortgage

Carrillon Capital

Previous Co-Sponsors

The Heil Family

Mercury LLC

Knight Point Systems

Shiner Roofing and Siding

and our door prize donors:

Adeler Jewelers           Dominion Title

PF Chang’s                      Lodgecliffe Bed and Breakfast

Elite Fitness                   Fitness Together

Turner Framing           Maison Du Vin

Great Falls Design Build     Pinkman Baseball Academy

Legenter LLC.               State Farm Insurance        Downs & Assoc. Insurance

Please read the following to learn more about the Golden Age Games and their importance to our veterans.

Celebrating its 25th year, the National Veterans Golden Age Games offer sports and recreational competitive events for Veterans 55 years of age and older. It is the largest sports and recreation competition for this age group of military Veterans in the world! The Games continue to serve as a showcase for the rehabilitation value that wellness and fitness provide in the lives of older Americans.

The National Veterans Golden Age Games are an outgrowth of the historic involvement in geriatric programs by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For many years, VA has put major emphasis on health and fitness with the goal of Veterans living healthier, longer lives. Many of the events began as recreational activities at VA hospitals and nursing home care units across the country. Inspired by the health and fitness movement for America’s senior citizens, the Games extend that concept to our nation’s aging Veterans. In 1985, the first National Veterans Golden Age Games took place in Albany, Georgia, with 115 competitors representing VA medical facilities across the United States.

A “fountain of youth” for the rapidly aging Veteran population, the Games provide a multi-event sports and therapeutic recreation program for eligible Veterans receiving care at any VA medical facility. It is the premier senior adaptive rehabilitation program in the United States, and the only national seniors’ program designed to improve the quality of life for all older Veterans, including those with a wide range of abilities and disabilities. This event truly reflects VA’s mission – to provide quality programs and health care for America’s aging Veteran population. It has become one of the most progressive and adaptive rehabilitative senior sports programs in the United States and the world.

Over the years, competitive events at the National Veterans Golden Age Games have been adapted to meet specific needs of the participants. The Games have separate age groups and gender divisions. Additionally, because many Veterans also face medical challenges, events were added for those who use wheelchairs and those who have visual impairments. To accommodate the varying degrees of physical conditioning, motor and cognitive skills of the participants, basic competition rules were adapted. The modification of rules and use of adaptive equipment in many events allow non-ambulatory and visually impaired Veterans to participate, in separate divisions where needed and with ambulatory and sighted Veterans when possible. This has made the National Veterans Golden Age Games a truly adaptive therapeutic sports competition that has become a model for other local, state and national senior sports events.

Since 2004, the National Veterans Golden Age Games have been a qualifier for the National Senior Games, a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee. Through this partnership, gold, silver and bronze medalists in certain events have the opportunity to compete further, among America’s elite senior athletes.

The real estate market in Great Falls, Virginia has seen a strong upsurge in sales during the second third of 2010.  During the first four months of 2010, 42 homes sold with a price range of $525,000 – $2.805 million.  Of these, 17 were priced under $1 million, 9 priced between $1.0 – 1.25 million, 13 between $1.25 – $2.0 m and three over $2 million.

During the second four months, a total of 101 homes an increase of almost 2.5 times the first four month.  These had a price range of between $594,900 – $6.5 million.  Of these, 43 were priced under $1 million, 18 $1.0 – $1.25 million, 34 between $1.25 – $2.0 million and six over $2 million.  In addition, another 48 homes are currently under contract.  Of these second four month sales, I have had a total of  $5.3 million either sold or under contract at this writing.

With no job too large or too small, Great Falls Design Build does great work.  I have known Jim Cassell for a great many years and have been happy to refer him to others.  Just this month, he has finished a very complicated deck on my home.  I typically try to serve as my own general contractor and do this type of work myself.  Once Nancy and my sister-in-law Pat completed the drawings, I knew it wasn’t something I wanted to tackle.  Once I received the quote from Jim for the work, it didn’t take me long to go ahead and agree to have him do the work.  The deck came out great and really did exceed my expectation.  Take a look at the Great Falls Design Build website to see some of  their other projects.  Please do let them know I have referred you.

James Gaudiosi with Wells Fargo just informed me that the first time home buyer tax credit is extended for military and certain other federal employees serving outside the U.S.  Myself and I would have to believe most Realtors were not aware of this stipulation in the tax credit legislation.  Please see below for the specifics.

Members of the U.S. military and certain other U.S. federal employees serving outside the U.S. have an extra year to buy a principal residence in the U.S. and qualify for the credit. Thus, an eligible taxpayer must buy, or enter into a binding contract to buy, a principal residence on or before April 30, 2011. If a binding contract is entered into by that date, the taxpayer has until June 30, 2011, to close on the purchase. Members of the uniformed services, members of the Foreign Service and employees of the intelligence community are eligible for this special rule. It applies to any individual (and, if married, the individual’s spouse) who serves on qualified official extended duty service outside of the United States for at least 90 days during the period beginning after Dec. 31, 2008, and ending before May 1, 2010.

In many cases, the credit repayment (recapture) requirement is waived for members of the uniformed services, members of the Foreign Service and employees of the intelligence community. This relief applies where a home is sold or stops being the taxpayer’s principal residence after Dec. 31, 2008, in connection with government orders received by the individual (or the individual’s spouse) for qualified official extended duty service. The credit is still allowable even if this happens during the year of purchase. Qualified official extended duty is any period of extended duty while serving at a place of duty at least 50 miles away from the taxpayer’s principal residence (whether inside or outside the U.S.) or while residing under government orders in government quarters. Extended duty is defined as any period of duty pursuant to a call or order to such duty for a period in excess of 90 days or for an indefinite period.

If you know of anyone whom meets the above criteria and would appreciate the level of support provided by myself and the Bob Nelson Team, please give me a call or drop an e-mail.  I will be more than happy to help them out.

This morning, I stopped and spoke briefly with the receptionist at the Great Falls Executive Suites regarding Military Appreciation Mondays.  We had a very nice conversation regarding the fund raising events and how the community has become so supportive.  At the end of our discussion, I left a copy of the flyer announcing the event on Monday the 24th.  About two hours later, she left two personal checks sitting on the desk I had been using, each for $50 to be donated to Our Military Kids and the Neighbors Foundation.  While I won’t mention her by name, I just have to say how much this is appreciated and the signal it sends our service men and women.

WE ALL CARE AND APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, NOT JUST ONE MONDAY EACH MONTH.

Neighbors Foundation

This month we will be showing our support to the troops who are on the frontlines of the war on terror.  Military Appreciation Mondays will be raising funds for the Great Falls, Va. based group Neighbors Foundation. NIF has provided over 1,600 care packages to servicemen and women serving YOU AND ME in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Some of the things sent include:

• Snack and food items that hold up well in a combat environment.
• Over 75 current magazines regularly donated by Time Warner.
• Holiday items to bring some seasonal cheer.

This month’s dinner at the Old Brogue will be on May 24th.  As always, we will be doing two seatings at 5:30 and 7:30.  As always, you simply come out and have dinner at the Old Brogue in Great Falls.  Myself and my cosponsors will each be contributing a 10 percent match (typically a total of an 80 percent match) of your dinner tab to Neighbors International Foundation.  If you know of anyone who might be interested in becoming a co-sponsor, please contact me at bob@bobnelsonteam.com.

You can also show your support through:
A. The purchase of door prize entries. (ALL Proceeds will go directly to Neighbors Foundation)
B.  Our buy a vet dinner initiative.  We will have between 10-15 enlisted personnel for whom you can buy dinner.
C.  Or you can make out a fully tax deductible donation to Neighbors Foundation.

Be Certain to make at Reservation for
Either the 5:30 or 7:30 Seating by Calling
The Old Brogue at:  (703) 759-3309

Hope to See You There

Please come out strong to show your support.  Due to the heavy rain and the Caps game, last month’s attendance only reach 80 people.  While our vets in attendance appreciated this showing, I was hoping to break our previous best of 130.  We did manage to raise nearly $3,000.  This in part due to one of my recent clients who committed to donating $600 to Our Military Kids.  I was also thrilled to learn last month that the March dinner in support of Lift Me Up’s therapeutic horseback riding raised enough money to jump start that program’s efforts and fund three veterans.

Please be certain to thank my co-sponsors when you have a chance.

Last Month’s Co-sponsors

The Old Brogue

LSA Title Services

Gary Kaihara, DDS

The Grossman Family

The Nelson Family

James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Previous Co-Sponsors

Mercury LLC

Knight Point Systems

Shiner Roofing and Siding

Danny Ott – George Mason Bank

and our door prize donors:

Billy Casper Golf Adeler Jewelers Toll Brothers Homes

PF Chang’s Dominion Title Lodgecliffe Bed and Breakfast

Casa Noble Tequila Elite Fitness Golds Gym

Turner Framing Maison Du Vin Mr. Wash (Car Wash)

Great Falls Design Build Home Equity Builders Campbell Mechanical

State Farm Insurance Downs & Assoc. Insurance

The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority just announced that Fortune Magazine has released its annual list of the 500 companies in the country with the largest revenue.  A total of  eight (up from seven in 2009) Fairfax County-based companies grace the list. Tysons Corner-based mortgage behemoth Freddie Mac comes in at 54, and defense-industry giant Merrifield-based General Dynamics is 69. Other Fairfax County firms on the list are Merrifield-based CSC (138), Tysons Corner-based Capital One Financial (144), Tysons Corner-based Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) (215), Reston-based NII Holdings (468), Reston-based SLM (Sallie Mae) (354), and Tysons Corner-based Gannett (370). Fortunately, you can get the rest of the story from the Washington Business Journal’s Jeff Clabaugh.

Military Appreciation Mondays
Supports
Our Military Kids

April is national Month of the Military Child.

I hope you can come out for this month’s Military Appreciation Mondays event at the Old Brogue which will be in recognition of the contributions made by the children of our Servicemen and Women.  I am particularly proud to be bringing back the truly special program – Our Military Kids. These dedicated folks provide support to children of deployed National Guard and Reserve personnel as well as to children of injured service members through grants for enrichment activities and tutoring.  Such activities help these children cope with the stress of having a parent in a war zone or recovering from injury at home.  OMK grants are made to honor the sacrifices that military families make and to ensure that their children have access to sports, fine arts, or academic tutoring programs.
To show your support, simply come out and have dinner at the Old Brogue in Great Falls.  Myself and my cosponsors will each be contributing a 10 percent match (typically a total of an 80 percent match) of your dinner tab to Our Military Kids.

You can also show your support through:
A. The purchase of door prize entries. (ALL Proceeds go directly to Our Military Kids.)
B.  Our buy a vet dinner initiative.  A minimum donation of $25 to OMK entitles you to purchase dinner for one of our vets.
C.  Or you can make out a fully tax deductible donation to Our Military Kids.

Be Certain to make a Reservation for
Either the 5:30 or 7:30 Seating by Calling
The Old Brogue at:  (703) 759-3309

Hope to See You There

Feel Free to Post the Attached Flyer in Your Office
and forward this email to whomever you think may want to attend.

We Would Love to Break 150 Attendees

I am proud to say that last month’s event in support of the Lift Me Up! therapeutic horseback riding program for our injured vets had approximately 125 people in attendance and raised approximately $4,500. This was our best total to date.  I would like to particularly thank Col. Pete Hilgartner (USMC Ret.) for helping out with a book signing at the last two events.  Let me know if you would like to purchase a copy of Colonel Hilgartner’s book “High Pockets War Stories”.  A $10 donation will be made to OMK with each sale.

Please be certain to support my co-sponsors whenever you have a chance.

Mercury LLC

Knight Point Systems

Shiner Roofing and Siding

James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Danny Ott – George Mason Bank

LSA Title Services

Gary Kaihara, DDS

The Old Brogue

and our door prize donors:

Mr. Wash

Golds Gym

Dominion Title

Turner Framing

Maison Du Vin

Adeler Jewelers

Casa Noble Tequila

Home Equity Builders

Campbell Mechanical

Elite Fitness Concepts

PF Chang’s Restaurant

Great Falls Design Build

Lodgecliffe Bed and Breakfast

Join us for dinner at

The Old Brogue in Great Falls

Monday, March 29th

Seatings at 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM

Reservations Highly Recommended

(703) 759-3309

Approximately 90% of your dinner bill

will be matched and donated to this month’s charity.

Lift Me Up! Therapeutic Riding

Door Prize Drawings will be held

Also Ask About Our Buy a Vet Dinner Donations

Hosted by

The Bob Nelson Team

Previous Co-sponsors Include:

Bob Nelson

Knight Point Systems

Terry Nelson – Mercury LLC.

Kevin Shiner – Shiner Roofing and Siding

James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Danny Ott – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Chris Melnick – LSA Title Services

Gary Kaihara, DDS

The Old Brogue

Previous Door Prize Donors include:

Golds Gym

Dominion Title

Adeler Jewelers

Casa Noble Tequila

Elite Fitness Concepts

Campbell Mechanical

PF Chang’s Restaurant

Great Falls Design Build

Lodgecliffe Bed and Breakfast

As many of you have already heard, I have changed the name of our monthly events to Military Appreciation Mondays. This month’s event to be held on Monday January 25th at the Olde Brogue in Great Falls, Va. and will be supporting the group Thanks USA. This wonderful organization, the brainchild of two local teenagers provides college scholarship money for the children and spouses of our veterans with priority going to the families of those vets who have sustained injuries. Please come out and show your support.

As always, you need do nothing other than come out and enjoy dinner and a fun event. Myself and my co-sponsors will each be donating ten percent of your tab to Thanks USA. In addition, we will be selling door prize chances for a variety of items to include, but not limited to: jewelry from Adeler Jewelers, gift cards for PF Chang’s restaurant, gift baskets, a one year service contract for your heating and air conditioning system, etc.

We are again inviting several servicemen and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. A minimum donation of $25 to Thanks USA, earns you privilege of buying dinner for one of our vets. If you would like to buy dinner for a vet, please e-mail or give me a quick call.

Whether you sign up to buy a vet dinner, purchase door prize entries, or simply come eat dinner your presence goes a long way towards helping raise funds for the organization and showing that we all respect and care about our veterans.

We are again doing two seatings (5:30 and 7:30) to accommodate the overwhelming response we have had to the last four events. Please be sure to make a reservation early since the Snuggery portion of the Old Brogue has filled up for both seatings in the past. Call the Brogue at (703) 759-3309 to do so. Invite your friends and let’s try to fill the entire restaurant this time around!! The only cost to you is your dinner.

If you know them, please be sure to thank my co-sponsors:

The Old Brogue

James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Kevin Shiner – Shiner Roofing and Siding

Danny Ott – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Chris Melnick – LSA Title Services

Gary Kaihara, DDS

and our door prize donors:

PF Chang’s Restaurant

Dominion Title

Adeler Jewelers

Campbell Mechanical

Elite Fitness Concepts

Golds Gym