Discounts & Benefits Scott's View: Online Benefits Worth A Look in 2012 As we venture into the new year, we’ve already been keeping in touch with our benefit partners on their continued salute to those who serve and their families with their everyday offers. Today, we wanted to highlight some of those who are honoring your service by supporting Veterans Advantage members in 2012. I also like their easy online access, and welcome you to check them out today:

Military & Veterans Life Scott's View: Last Chance For Special Medal of Honor Commemorative Coins I just got back from our company’s annual holiday party for staff, board members and VIPs, where we distributed these fabulous commemorative coin gift sets recognizing the 150th Anniversary of the Congressional Medal of Honor, courtesy of the US Mint and the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. The CMOH Foundation is co-chaired by Bruce Whitman, the CEO of Flight Safety International, and a recent Veterans Advantage TopVet, who we also honored at our event.

Military & Veterans News Scott's View: Veterans Advantage HeroVet - Louis Zamperini Our most recent HeroVet is Army Veteran Louis Zamperini. I was hoping to meet Zamperini last month where he was due to appear for a speaking engagement near our home. Unfortunately, he arrived dehydrated from a red-eye flight from LA and ended up in the local hospital for a few days!

Military & Veterans Life Scott's View: Bruce Whitman, CEO of Flight Safety International This month, we honor a remarkable TopVet, Air Force Veteran Bruce Whitman. As Flight Safety International CEO, Whitman leads the way in keeping our skies safe. He gives back in countless ways. Read about his work as Vice Chairman of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation.

Military & Veterans Life Scott's View: Honoring West Point's Col. Douglas Wheelock With the last Space Shuttle mission scheduled for July 8, we want to introduce you to our TopRank, Col. Doug "Wheels" Wheelock of the US Army and NASA, the commander of the International Space Station (ISS), Expedition 25. Long-time friend Mark Sullivan introduced us to "Wheels" recently, and we're grateful he did. There's an adage that says true success comes to those who genuinely and freely share their gifts with others. Col. Wheelock embodies that adage. He is truly an inspiring individual with a deep respect for those who serve and those who need a little extra inspiration in order to serve. Enjoy!

Discounts & Benefits Scott's View: Sample Savings Roundup: Target and GNC online Those of you who are looking for everyday savings on your household essentials received an update via our Facebook wall recently, particularly from our 10% Target discount and 15% GNC discounts.

Military & Veterans News Scott's View: Veterans Advantage Members Get Access to Movie Reviews from Mayor Ed Koch Just in time for Oscar season, I'm pleased to announce that we have a great addition to the Veterans Advantage Benefits Program: Fellow military veteran, and former New York City Mayor, Ed Koch is now the movie critic for Veterans Advantage. A self-confessed movie fanatic, His Honor will be offering his thoughts and reviews on new flicks on a weekly basis. Members can refer to the latest in Members Only.

Military & Veterans Life Scott's View: Black History Month - Profiling Harris Faulkner and Major General Frank Miller In recognition of Black history month, we have profiled two great Americans, Vet Family member and Fox News star commentator Harris Faulkner, whose Lt. Col Dad served proudly in Vietnam and Dell senior executive and Veterans Advantage Board member, Major General Frank Miller. Overcoming adversity and against the odds, they have risen to great accomplishment. We are proud to honor them.

Military & Veterans Life Scott's View: We Honor Marriott's Edwin D. Fuller as a Veterans Advantage TopVet There's a lot to be said for employee loyalty. It’s critical for success in any business enterprise. Yet, it seems less prevalent today than ever before. That's why it was so refreshing to meet with Edwin D. Fuller, President of Marriott’s International lodging business recently. A fellow Vietnam Vet, over the last 38 years, Ed has singlehandedly put his fingerprints on every Marriott hotel you've ever seen outside of the United States...and even some in the states, too!

Discounts & Benefits Scott's View: Veterans Advantage Field Reports and Reviews: Air Shuttle and Pets I received some interesting reports of significant discounts for two of our VIP customers, and wanted to relay them to you.

Discounts & Benefits Scott's View: Partners of the Month - Everyday Shopping Retail Discounts This month we are choosing a team approach to our  “Partner of the Month.” With holiday shopping in full swing, and members seeking everyday discounts online, we are highlighting our Everyday Shopping partnerships: Leading names in retail have discounts with Veterans Advantage every day, including the holidays.

Discounts & Benefits Scott's View: Military Families: Thinking Of Special Dads And Grads This is the time of “grads and dads,” celebrating school graduations of family and friends. Our daughter graduates from college this weekend and we were thrilled to learn that she is also a commencement speaker!

Military & Veterans Life Scott's View: TopVet Salute - Snap-on CEO Nicholas Pinchuk In this internet and email age, thank goodness there are those who still value the art of the physical "thank you" note. I was delighted to receive an extremely well-written one in my mailbox from this week’s TopVet Nicholas Pinchuk, CEO of Snap-on (NYSE: SNA).

Discounts & Benefits Scott's View: Benefit Upgrade: 20% Discounts On Greyhound Bus Travel We are pleased to announce a new benefit upgrade for Veterans Advantage members. Greyhound honors your service with an increase to 20% Everyday Savings discount (up from our previous discount of 15%). The new 20% off is available every day of the year (no blackouts!) for an unlimited number of trips, and includes your family members. Just show your active Veterans Advantage card at literally thousands of Greyhound locations across America.

Discounts & Benefits Scott's View: Benefit Upgrade - Omaha Steaks As part of our ongoing coverage to bring you up-to-date on combinable discounts (for instance, check out recent news on Dell computer discounts, pet care, Continental Airlines, and Car Rentals), we're proud to update you on another benefit partner combining discounts and benefits only for Veterans Advantage members.

Military & Veterans News Scott's View: Military Olympians at Vancouver Winter Games Have you been checking out the Winter Olympics in Vancouver? As with so many Olympiads, these games are well represented by those who served our country. My favorite, the bobsled, where all three men's U.S. Olympic bobsled teams -- were piloted by a current or former National Guard member. My favorite is John Napier, who joined the Vermont National Guard to repay his mother for $25,000 in debts, so he can fulfill his bobsled dream. He has also formally requested to be deployed to Afghanistan soon after the games are over. Great kid!

Discounts & Benefits Scott's View: Dell Adds Extra 5% To Your Veterans Advantage Savings This Week We are happy to have Dell going the extra mile for our members this week. Now through January 22, 2010, Veterans Advantage members can access an extra 5% discount on top of the discounts already available in our special online Dell storefront.

Discounts & Benefits Scott's View: New Benefit: College Planning Report We’re glad to announce another new benefit: A special partnership with studentaid.com, a leader in the college planning industry. Through a special link and dedicated toll-free number, Veterans Advantage members are able to get 10% off its College Cost & Planning Report.

Military & Veterans Life Scott's View: National Guard and Reserve are Welcome Here This past week, Lin and I spent some time at Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Georgia with some fraternity brothers and their spouses. The golf was fabulous, especially the new Creek course, and it was great to catch up with old buddies. Two of my fraternity brothers reminded me that they had served in the Army National Guard during Vietnam and asked – were they were eligible to join Veterans Advantage? My answer was a resounding "yes!" Veterans Advantage is open to all who serve or have served their country in the military including Active, Veterans, National Guard, Reserve and their families.

Discounts & Benefits Scott's View: Benefit Upgrade - Dollar and Thrifty Car Rentals I’m pleased to announce a benefit upgrade, a special program for Veterans Advantage members, in the hotly competitive car rental industry. After meeting with executives of Dollar Rent a Car and Thrifty Car Rental at my offices late last month, two great guys, they agreed to enhance their partnership with us.

Discounts & Benefits Scott's View: Celebrate Mother's Day with Veterans Advantage In case you still need a reminder: There are only six days until Mother’s day. There may still be time to take advantage of some of these great offers in time for Mother’s Day, last-second shipping through 1800flowers.com, and getting an computers at your local Apple Store.

Military & Veterans Life The Time George W. Bush, then Presidential Hopeful, Kept his Promise to My Son In late autumn last year, my son and Gettysburg College Freshman Parker Higgins spent an active and picturesque weekend afternoon with two friends on the grounds of the Gettysburg battlefield. Skateboarding to the summit of Little Round Top (the high ground of the battlefield overlooking the wheat field where Picket made his ill-fated charge), he thought he had the beautiful view all to himself, when he spotted

Discounts & Benefits Scott's View: New Benefits - Sports and Recreation, Thanks To Major Retailers Unless you are out west, where there are still some really tough blizzard conditions, you are starting to catch the first whiffs of spring. With that, we wanted to shift coverage to warm weather conditions. First off, our VetFamily award of the week goes to New York Yankees slugger Mark Teixeira. He’s at the top of his game, and credits his Navy pilot dad and his mom, for instilling him the important values in life, leading to his outspoken stance against steroid use. Hats off to Mark!

Military & Veterans Life Scott's View: Veterans Advantage Board Member Considered for Secretary of the Army The press has just reported that Paul "Buddy" Bucha, a Veterans Advantage Advisory Board member, is being considered by the new Administration for the position of Secretary of the Army. I've known Buddy for 25 years. No one is more qualified for this role. A West Point graduate and former Army Captain, Bud is the recipient of our nation’s highest award, the Congressional Medal of Honor. He's also a Veterans Advantage HeroVet (click here to read Paul Bucha profile). A successful businessman and entrepreneur, he has worked tirelessly on Veterans causes for decades and possesses the necessary experience and skills to do the job. We’re rooting for his appointment!