Andre Gerard, M.S., M.A. (He/Him)

At 58 years old, I’m still not immune to an “attaboy”, and smart organizations like the USAF have institionalized them to improve moral and distinguish those who deserve accelerated promotion. Like the AF’s first core value of Integrity, I was raised to do the right thing, even when no one is looking, and I don’t do things for recognition or praise. So I’ve been pleasantly surprised to receive recognition during this trip to Germany to help my daughter, including from people whom I respect and admire. One of the senior commanders of the base mentioned publically that he was glad I’d come overseas to support my daughter. My Airbnb host told me her neighbor on this street told her about this nice, polite American who tried to speak German and made friends with her dogs. And a young Airman on base who is really into fitness told me I was a beast after my daughter told him I walked 17.5 miles one day while out exploring. I’m always pleasantly surprised to get external validation, and I still find it very motivating after all these years. I was also pleased to hear from my daughter that she and another junior enlisted Airman colleague of hers had helped a gentleman on base in civilian clothes struggling with a load, only to find out afterwards that he was a senior officer and to receive formal recognition from him for their unsolicited assistance. If your organization isn’t already, it should be publically recognizing and praising good work and good character, and considering those accolades when calculating raises and promotions. It’s also a smart tactic for attracting and retaining top talent in tight labor markets. #attaboy #encouragement #motivation #morale #recognition #workforcemanagement

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🔔 If this video doesn't have classic signs of a potential Life Qualifying Event that Reserve Component Transition Assistance Advisors Program is in place to assist... let's talk about the impacts it may have on a person's body and mind. 💡 Treatment Works For Vets is an invaluable resource for Veterans, family members, and anyone eager to learn more about effective mental health treatments for our brave Veterans. https://lnkd.in/gmSYPv9w 👉 Explore Multiple Paths: Discover various treatment options and find the one that suits you best. There's no need to limit yourself — explore as many paths as you wish and find the perfect fit for your unique needs. ❓ Unsure Where to Start?: Take one of the questionnaires to assess your symptoms and see if treatment could benefit you. It's a simple step that could make a world of difference. 🛤️ Your journey to mental wellness is important. Start today and see how the right treatment can transform your life. 🌟 And don't forget to ask an #RCTAAAdvisor how they can help with your life qualifying event, you may be pleasantly surprised of the programs that are in place to help: https://lnkd.in/g6dF7GXt #VeteranSupport #MentalHealthMatters #TreatmentWorks #VeteranWellness #MentalHealthAwareness Reserve Component Transition Assistance Advisors Program

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Did you make it to our NAIDOC Week Webinar? If not, ✨ Indi Tansey created an amazing digital story for key takeaways. #NAIDOCweek #keepthefireburning #digitalstorytelling #PracticalReconciliation #TakeAction

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Veterans often face significant mental health challenges after their military service, impacting their transition to civilian life. Evaluating the extent of these mental and neurological impairments can be complex. That's why the VA uses the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Score to effectively assess mental disorders in veterans. What is a GAF Score, and Why is it Important? A GAF score is crucial for veterans seeking a VA rating for mental health conditions like PTSD. It helps clinicians determine the level of support needed, which might include frequent therapy sessions or ongoing medical treatment. Want to understand more about how the GAF score affects your veteran disability claims? Check out our blog post today 👇 https://buff.ly/3V0NTEn #militarytransition #mentalhealth #claims

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“We like to paint pictures sometimes and she [ElliQ] saves those pictures,” Hylkema says. “Lots of times if I don’t have time to get on or I’m cleaning around the house and I’m walking by the screen, I’ll see those pictures coming onto the frame of my grandchildren or the pictures we painted together. One of the guiding principles for me, when designing experiences for older adults, is the Japanese welness concept IKIGAI. It refers to a passion that gives value and joy to life.  In this case, the older adults use #dalle3 and #generativeai to create images and then they can choose to share these images with the larger community. This gives many of them a sense of purpose, especially when they receive compliments and ❤️ from their friends and family But, selfishly, it also gives me, the #conversationdesigner, a sense of purpose. Recently, a dear friend wrote me an email after hearing one of his stories on #ElliQ: "Kinda begs the question, was a lifetime of pursuit of the liberal arts an attempt to make lonely seniors feel better? I hope so." I'm at a bit of a crossroads with my content creation and #ai silliness, but I do derive lots of satisfaction and purpose by helping alleviate loneliness for some of our customers. I encourage you to read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dfz7B5_E #chatbot #robot #loneliness #olderadult #conversationalai #chatgpt #llm #chatbotdevelopment #bots #voiceai #japan #ikigai

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A few months ago I spoke with David Hatch, MSc, FIoL from the Leading with integrity: Leadership talk (Podcast). We dove into the problems businesses suffer when they rely on tribal knowledge, how to reduce your reliance on memorization and tribal knowledge, and a bit about our journey bootstrapping the company for 20 years. I hope you like it. https://lnkd.in/ghcm9WMX

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We need your support in addressing a critical issue regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) budget. The VA is facing a massive shortfall of nearly $15 billion over this fiscal year and the next. - The VA requires $2.9 billion to fund veterans' pensions and benefits through the end of the current fiscal year (Sept 30). - It also needs an additional $12 billion for medical care next year—beyond what was allocated in previous appropriations. In response, a bipartisan group of senators, including John Boozman, Sherrod Brown, Patty Murray, Susan Collins, Jon Tester, Kyrsten Sinema, and Jerry Moran, have introduced legislation to address this budget gap. This is vital to ensuring our veterans receive the care and benefits they deserve. We urge you to act now by using legion.org/action to contact your representatives and ask them to support this legislation. Veterans' benefits are not up for debate. Let’s make sure Congress hears us loud and clear. Visit legion.org/action today and make your voice count! #Veterans #VALegislation #SupportOurVeterans #AmericanLegion #VoterVoice

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Check out this new animation of one of my American Civil War paintings (commissioned a few years ago) and now featured in the below video:

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Update -- Nov 26 2024 Our new Series “Navigating Uncertainty’ on the Suicide Zen Forgiveness podcast, is even more timely than I first thought.  I took a look at the stats this morning and I am dismayed to find the time left to losing OVER 1 Million people to suicide is less than 231 hours from NOW. This year it was predicted  that we would lose approximately, 800,000 people to suicide.  Things have changed.  NOW more than ever we need strategies to manage our emotions. We need tips and tools to help us manage day to day. From the Worldmeters stats: At the current rate, based on the numbers below, it will take approximately 231 hours and 51 minutes to reach 1 million suicides this year. This translates to about 9 days and 15 hours. ​ 970,831  Suicides this year Nov 26  11:37 am ET    970,745 Suicides this year as at Nov 26 10:55 am ET Listen to the Suicide Zen Forgiveness Podcast starting December 10th, as we offer some clarity on the state of world, and a variety of options for ways to manage day to day, as we navigate the uncertainty we are all feeling to some extent. Do you have something to add to the conversation? Let me know!

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The VetClaims Difference: As combat veterans ourselves, we know firsthand the frustration of fighting for the VA rating you deserve. That’s why we built VetClaims.AI—to simplify the process and take the stress out of it. You don’t need to spend years chasing what should be yours. With the right expertise and the power of AI, we can help you get it right the first time—in less than an hour. We’ve been in your boots, and now we’re here to make the process faster and easier for you. https://vetclaims.ai #VeteranOwned #VABenefits #AIpowered #WeGetIt #VetClaims #GetWhatYouDeserve

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For those struggling with invisible wounds, many of us have been there, and M22 is here for you. Remember that you’re as resilient as you’ve always been and that there are amazing organizations standing by to support. * Stop Soldier Suicide: 844-889-5610 * Veteran Crisis Line: 988; Press 1 * Nat'l Suicide Prevention: 1-800-273-8255 * Direct message me or send me a text #Mission22 #VeteranWellness #VeteranSupportServices #UnitedWeHeal #PTSDAwarenessMonth

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Federal Communications Commission calling?!? Most likely not unless you are a bad actor!! Defeating brand (businesses, government agencies, NGOs) impersonation is imperative to restore trust in communications. Learn more by reading comments to the Federal Trade Commission as they "Seek Comment for Trade Regulation Rule on Impersonation of Government and Businesses" and may be found here: https://lnkd.in/emN54gaF

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Our Psychedelic Guide Network (PGN) online community has grown by 20 new members over the last two weeks. We used to exist in signal and now exist in Mighty Networks. It really is a great platform for all of our RSVP live events and video replays + resource library. I'm curious if any other psych edelic guides or communities you know of also exist in Mighty Networks? I find myself balancing between: 1. Desiring for the community to connect and be lovely with each other in the general chat area but also... 2. Wanting people to be present, in nature and off screens for their health and wellness What are you finding in other online communities (within or without Mighty Networks?)

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Have you ever noticed how some people or projects just seem to buzz with energy? Ideas flow freely, collaboration is effortless, and progress is palpable. We often call these leaders or teams "energizers." On the flip side, we've all encountered those who drain the life out of a room. Interactions feel unproductive, leaving us disheartened and frustrated. These "de-energizers" not only impact those they directly interact with, but their negativity can ripple throughout an organization. True leadership isn't just about setting goals or making decisions; it's about fostering an environment where positive energy thrives. Effective communication is at the heart of this. It's about inspiring, motivating, and creating connections that fuel productivity and growth. So, let's strive to be the energizers, the leaders who ignite passion and empower others to reach their full potential. #leadership #communication #inspiration #motivation

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Join me for this webinar on how to address trust and need concerns when communicating with your communities about ballot measures.

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OnlyFans is a rotten business corrupting feeble minds, and monetizing the desperate, and people admiring their success tell you about everything you need to know about the current state of society. OnlyFans pulled in $5.6 billion last year, with over 3.2 million "creators" on the platform. It’s on the rise, becoming even more mainstream every day. One question I ask myself – is this surge fueling a deeper societal issue, or is it just pulling back the curtain on something that was always there? It gets uncomfortable at a point: is OnlyFans creating a wave of exploitation under the guise of female empowerment? The idea that selling your body online equals entrepreneurship seems a bit...off. And let’s be real, these photos, videos—whatever they upload—are out there FOREVER. There’s no hitting delete on the internet. AI models, sex robots, etc. The big, shiny promise? Top 0.0001% 'creator' But like...how many can actually hit that peak? Newsflash: Not everyone’s hitting the jackpot. Only the business owner wins no matter what. Like any other hustle, 'creators' gotta promote, push, and peddle nonstop. Yet many jump in thinking it’s just post and profit. Then they realize: whoops, this is still work. So what happens to the 99% who fizzle out? Those who upload a few things, don’t get the attention, and quit? Their content doesn’t just vanish – and neither does the reputation that comes with it. That’s the part no one talks about. Not sitting on a moral high horse. Just can’t help but feel like this is tragic for those who don’t understand the long-term impact. Sex work has been around forever; it’s just packaged differently now. The saloon posters of the Wild West are today’s Instagram feed and OnlyFans profile. Same hustle, different medium. Is it wrong that OnlyFans has made sex work shiny, accessible, and easy to dive into? That’s for society to decide, but I can’t help thinking we’re gonna have a lot of people regretting it years from now.

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Building the best co-responder program for your community requires understanding the expertise of the members of your team and the role each member needs to play. Read the article below to learn how to integrate a Peer Recovery Specialist in your Co-Responder Program to provide additional support and expertise in handling substance abuse recovery. 👇👇👇 https://hubs.li/Q02JVhPh0

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