Oregon War Veterans Association (OWVA) is a charitable organization established by US Military Veterans for Veterans and activated National Guardsmen, reservists and their families.
The members of OWVA formed the organization to assist other, less active veteran organizations and veterans who do not belong to another established veteran service organization (VSO). The type of assistance is usually proactive and developmental, rather than through established social services or recreational activities. In this way, we do not compete with the other VSO’s, but serve them in a team effort to affect some of the systemic problems relating to the government’s benefits and services.
OWVA’s specific purposes are listed in its Articles of Incorporation and include: General Veteran Advocacy, Legislation Development, Home Loan Assistance, Charitable Networking, and Member Services.
These purposes comply with the IRS’ code requirement for a 501(c)19 and 170(c)3 designation. This allows OWVA to offer a tax deduction for a charitable contribution from both private and corporate donors.
One very distinct difference from OWVA and the other VSO’s is our ability and willingness to get involved in the political realm. OWVA members know that in order to make a greater impact for vets, it is important to work harder to convince law makers that it is time to demonstrate a greater respect for vets and their service for this country. Tangible, better services are needed by those who have given much or most of their lives for our granted freedoms and liberties.
So, OWVA determined in its charter to be as active as possible in the development of effective legislation and in support of legislative campaigns and initiatives that openly support veterans and their issues.
With this determination, OWVA is uniquely qualified to make a far greater political impact than most other veteran organizations. The members know that this is a two-edged sword, however. Political activity has the ability to divide veterans as much as unite them. So, while OWVA’s founders lean to a more conservative political idealism, we try very hard to gauge what the majority of our membership desires, and then make the best non-partisan decision possible.
During the 2002 election cycle, the leadership (under the name of Oregon Veterans Association) decided to support about 40% Democrat and 60% Republican Candidates, based on a questionnaire completed by each political candidate. We are very proud of our non-partisan effort to influence elections for the benefit of veterans of all political dogmas.
We are not perfect in this effort, but we believe that we can accomplish much more through political activities, than if we avoid them.
OWVA’s current goals and projects are very ambitious. From innovative legislation introduced to both the Oregon Legislature and the U.S. Congress, to the development of a world-wide charitable trust that will be used to deliver children’s services in US War Zones…OWVA aggressively seeks out ways to make a positive difference in the world in which military veterans and their families live.
