A Commitment to Reach Out to Veterans - Wherever They Are

Posted by White House

Lately it seems like everyone has jumped on the social networking bandwagon, or at least have claimed to do so. One can find buttons for Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and others on the front pages of most Federal agencies, including VA. However, social networking sites are more than just a fad to join in order to boost an organization’s hipness. At VA, we’ve found the internet to be one of the most powerful tools in our mission to reach out to our nation’s Veterans across the country.

While many people equate social media with a younger generation of users, as it turns out, Vietnam and Vietnam-era Veterans represent VA’s fastest growing population of online users. Both VA’s website and our social media pages have allowed VA to reach out to Veterans who have traditionally been geographically isolated, as well as those who live far away from large cities or major military installations. The majority of our Veterans live in rural communities and small towns across this great nation -- to include places like Native American tribal lands and Pacific Islands like American Samoa and Guam. In the past, these Vets would have had to make the trek into a VA facility to get information, submit paperwork, or receive care. That is changing. They can now access our online resources to fill out applications, download information and even access care. VA now provides both telemedicine to monitor medical conditions and online mental health counseling via chat rooms. In the past year, we’ve added over 180 Veteran-centric videos to VA’s YouTube channel, which have now been viewed over 250,000 times.

This time last year I had just created the Office of New Media at VA in order to pursue the President and Secretary Shinseki’s mission to increase access to VA. Since fall 2009, we have made a concerted effort to reach and converse with today’s Veterans through the use of a number of new media tools, to include Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, and blogs. In doing so, we have had considerable success. When we started, VA’s primary Facebook page had 879 subscribers. Now we have over 71,000 -- more than any other cabinet-level agency. In fact, we now estimate that VA reaches more Veterans through social media each day than through the VA website. And just in time for Veterans Day, VA has launched its official blog, called VAntage Point. This new platform will allow Veterans to receive timely and useful information straight from the source. It’s something we’re very excited about. Anyone wanting to voice their concerns over Veterans issues can submit a guest post for publication -- and we’re hoping they will.

So as we all take a day to celebrate and honor our nation’s Veterans, I ask all Americans to help spread the word. Get on your Facebook pages and send out links to VA’s resources, sign on as a follower to VA’s or my Twitter feed, then check out VAntage Point. Let’s serve those who have served us and let them know of their benefits. The added bonus is you get to be hip while doing it.

What You Missed: Open for Questions with Pete Souza on White House Photography

Posted by White House

Have you ever wondered about the most exciting part of being the President's photographer or if Bo, the Obamas' dog, is easy to photograph? Pete Souza, Chief Official White House Photographer and Director of the White House Photography Office, sat down with us to answer your questions from Flickr and Facebook in a live video chat. From "getting the shot" to getting the gig, Pete covered a lot of territory in the chat. Use the links below to jump directly to the questions that you're interested in or watch the full video of the chat.

• What are your thoughts and perspective on "Getting the Shot"?


• What is the approval process for photos to be added to Flickr?


• How often do you plan a shot in advance?


• What advice do you have for photo students in a constantly evolving job market?


• What is your list of typical photographic considerations?


• How do you keep photos of the same man, fresh?


• Can you describe your work flow and how many people are involved?


• Can you describe an image that stands out as your favorite?


• How is it different working in the Obama White House after working in the Reagan White House?


• What does it feel like to photograph such an important time in US history?


• Does the President ever ask you to get a shot?


• How many shots do you take of the President on a typical day?


• What do you shoot as a hobby?


• Are there times when you aren't allowed to take photos?


• What are your best tips for getting great candid photos of people?


• If you could only use one lens for the rest of your life, which would you choose?


• Is it difficult capturing intimate moments between the President and the First Lady?


• Are there times when you will shoot film?


• What is the most exciting part of your job?


• How old were you when you got your first camera?


• How did you get your job?


• Are there keywords or feelings that you are looking for in your subject matter?


• What element of yourself do you think influences your photos?


• What about photography inspires and attracts you to the medium?


• What is your biggest challenge photographing the President?


• What is a typical daily schedule for you and has the President ever asked you not to photograph something?


• Do you ever get bored photographing similar events?


• What is your favorite part of your job?


• Have you ever had a run-in with the President or his staff while trying to get a shot?


• Do you try new techniques or stick with the "tried and true"?


• How do you avoid the staged photo opportunities that must constantly fall into your lap?


• Who are other photojournalists that you look up to?


• What kind of security clearance process do you go through to become a White House photographer?


• What has been the most memorable experience you have had during your time at the White House?


• What was your biggest challenge when you switched from film to digital?


• How many people work on the White House photography team? How are assignments divided up?


• What is your ISO in the Oval Office?


• Is Bo easy to shoot?


• What kind of scrutiny do your shots undergo before they are shown to the public?


• Are you aware of any instances where your shots have had an impact on policy?

See more Official White House photographs on the Flickr photo stream and in the photo galleries on www.WhiteHouse.gov.

Open for Questions: Pete Souza on White House Photography

Posted by White House

Pete Souza, Chief Official White House Photographer and Director of the White House Photography Office, has access unlike any other. Camera in tow, Souza travels alongside President Obama to visually document each meeting, trip and encounter for historical record. Check out his work on the White House Flickr photo stream and in the photo galleries on WhiteHouse.gov.

Don't miss the live Open for Questions event with Pete Souza on Thursday, October 28^that 7:00 p.m. EDT. He’ll be answering your questions -- from Flickr and Facebook -- about White House photography, his position, specific photos, and whatever else you come up with in a live video chat.

Here's how you can participate:

• Ask your questions in advance on Flickr
• Ask your questions in advance on Facebook
• Join the discussion live through the White House Facebook application
• Watch the chat through WhiteHouse.gov/live

On the one year anniversary of the Photo of the Day on WhiteHouse.gov, Pete Souza chose his ten favorite photos. Read his blog post and see his top picks here.

Tweet Your Questions to President Obama

Posted by White House

Here’s your chance to ask the President about the issues that have been weighing on your mind. Tomorrow at 4 PM EDT, President Obama will be participating in a live youth town hall event in partnership with MTV, BET, and CMT.

The President will be taking questions from the live audience and Twitter. To ask your question, just use the hashtag #ask plus the topic of your question. For example, if your question is about jobs use #askjobs, if it’s about energy use #askenergy. You can also comment the event using the hashtag #comment. Be sure to tune in tomorrow at 4 PM EDT to see if your question gets asked.

To get the latest news and updates from the White House be sure to follow @WhiteHouse on Twitter or the White House Facebook page.

Ending Violence Against Women

Posted by White House

Last Friday, President Obama signed the proclamation of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Here at the White House, we’ve already started commemorating this important month, recognizing the remarkable work being done to address domestic violence and the distance we still must travel to end it.

On September 22, Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden opened their home for a night dedicated to ending violence against women. It was a night to mark the 16th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act and to recommit ourselves to ending sexual and domestic violence. The event brought together groups from national organizations as well as groups of college students working on this issue on their campuses. Many students had the great opportunity to speak with the Vice President and Dr. Biden about what was going on in their lives and the lives of young people across the country.

The message was clear. Despite all we have accomplished since passing the Violence Against Women Act, there is a new generation of teens and college-age young people who are facing the threat of abuse all too often. Young women, ages 16-24, experience the highest rates of rape and sexual assault. The Vice President addressed the need for systemic change in the way that society values women. He said, “This is not just a problem of black eyes and broken bones, it’s a problem of attitudes.” In fact, a 2009 study of sixth-grade students found that 25% thought it was acceptable for boys to hit their girlfriends. These are attitudes we must change.

This is a generation that has grown up with the Internet. Social networking sites and text messaging have become the favored communication methods of the majority of American teens. The resources we provide victims of violence must keep up with the technological advances we have integrated into our daily lives. Some organizations are already doing this, like the Teen Dating Violence Helpline, which has a “chat” function that is answered by teens. We need to reach people where they are and get young women and girls the information they need.

“Our course of action needs to adapt, to change with the times if we are here to keep a promise we have made to our daughters and granddaughters: to end domestic violence and sexual abuse. Not to reduce it. To end it,” said the Vice President. We have come a long way since the passage of the Violence Against Women Act and there is no better time to renew our pledge to stand up to those attitudes and end violence against women.

Throughout the month of October we will be updating the White House blog and Facebook page with regular updates on violence against women, so please stay tuned!

If you or someone you love has been affected by domestic or sexual violence, visit the Department of Health and Human Services violence against women website for resources. For more information about the Violence Against Women Act, visit the and the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women.

Open for Questions on Education: What You Missed

Posted by White House

On Friday, Secretary Arne Duncan answered your questions about the Administration's Education efforts. We took questions from MSN, whitehouse.gov and facebook, and covered a range of topics from 'No Child Left Behind' and education financing to healthier food in schools and promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) subjects. You can check out the full video of the chat or use the links below to skip to your favorite questions.

• Opening remarks
• Should we nationalize our school curriculum?
• What initiatives have been put in place to help students pay for higher education?
• What programs are being put in place to help students refinance their student loans?
• What is being done to provide healthy snacks and lunches to students?
• Should school days, weeks, and years be made longer? Also, should community organizations be involved in local schools?
• How do we encourage teachers to continue to excel and avoid 'initiative fatigue?'
• How can the school system, parents, and communities work to counteract the negative impacts of bullying: both at schools and online?
• What are some examples of successful initiatives to promote math and science in our schools?
• What can be done to help struggling schools afford the qualified math and science teachers that they need to succeed?
• Is No Child Left Behind working? If not, what is being done to reform the program?
• How can students become proactive in being a part of the reform solution at their respective schools

31,000 Homes Weatherized in June

Posted by White House

Ed. Note: Cross posted from the Energy Blog.

One of the best and most exciting parts of my job is helping make homes and businesses more efficient. Why? The places where we live and work consume 40% of the energy we use in the U.S. Through tune-ups to existing homes or new construction, doing more while using less energy is key to improving our buildings and energy future.

Last week, we announced that during the month of June, more than 31,000 low-income homes nationwide underwent retrofits to use less energy. This month represents the largest number of homes ever upgraded – or “weatherized” – in a single month. Through the Recovery Act, more than 80,000 homes will be weatherized across the country this summer. By March 2012, that total will grow to nearly 600,000 homes – each with upgrades like better furnaces, insulation, and caulking. They will use less energy, perform better, and save homeowners money.

These energy-efficient upgrades are important to the thousands of Americans who are paying less for utilities, and they are also important to the 13,000 American workers whose jobs are supported by our weatherization program.

But when you step back, there is an even bigger trend developing, driven by strong policy and initiatives. Community partnerships are coming up with creative ways to enable energy tune-ups for more and more homes. Places like Washington, New Hampshire, San Antonio, and many others are working with lenders to establish loan funds to help consumers pay the upfront costs of energy-saving improvements so they can upgrade their homes even in economic tough times.

Gene Brady – who has been helping communities in Pennsylvania save energy for 25 years – is leading the charge to install and test new in-home energy monitors to help homeowners make wise choices about energy use. Maine, a state that relies heavily on imported heating oil, has set a target to improve the energy efficiency of all residences and half of its businesses by 2030. Businesses across America are hiring experts to stop energy and money from escaping their buildings and bottom lines.

That is good for America, and that’s what gets me excited.

Have questions about weatherization and saving energy in your home? Send them our way via Facebook, Twitter (#weatherization) or email and we’ll have our experts follow-up with responses in the coming days. You can also find home energy saving tips by visiting EnergySavers.gov.

Open for Questions: Gulf Seafood Safety with Dr. Jane Lubchenco

Posted by White House

On Monday, 2 PM EDT, Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Dr. Jane Lubchenco will host a live chat to answer your questions about the safety of seafood from the Gulf of Mexico.

The men and women of the Gulf who make their livelihood harvesting fish, shrimp, and oysters have been among those hardest hit by this spill. Enjoying some local seafood is one simple way Americans can support the people of the Gulf who have been battered by this spill. If you have questions about the safety of seafood from the Gulf, be sure to tune in Monday at 2 PM at WhiteHouse.gov/live. You can also submit your questions ahead of time via Facebook or our webform.