Mission, Vision & Core Values
Mission
The Macoupin County Veterans Assistance Commission exists to find, serve, and advocate for every Veteran, survivor, and dependent in Macoupin County — without exception. Through expert claims development, direct financial assistance, and comprehensive benefits navigation, the Commission ensures that those who answered the call receive every benefit they have earned, delivered with the competence, urgency, and dignity their service demands.
Vision
To be the most trusted, most capable, and most Veteran-centered assistance commission in the State of Illinois — where every Veteran in Macoupin County is known, every eligible claim is developed to its fullest potential, and no one who served this nation is left without the support they have earned.
Find every Veteran. Fight for every benefit. Leave no one behind.
There is no charge for any VAC service rendered.
Core Values
1. Service Before Self
We honor the sacrifice of Veterans by placing their needs at the forefront of everything we do.
2. Integrity
We operate with transparency, accountability to the public trust, and strict adherence to all applicable federal, state, and local law and ethical standards.
3. Advocacy
We pursue every available benefit with the same determination our Veterans brought to their service. No claim is too complex, no fight too long, no Veteran too forgotten to deserve our full effort.
4. Compassion
We treat every Veteran with dignity, respect, and understanding.
5. Excellence
We hold ourselves to the highest professional standards in VSO practice, claims development, and administrative operations — because Veterans who served with excellence deserve to be served with excellence.
6. Stewardship
We responsibly manage public funds to ensure assistance reaches those in need.
7. Accountability
We measure what we do, report what we find, and answer for what we deliver. The Veterans of Macoupin County, the taxpayers who fund this Commission, and the law that governs our operations hold us to a standard we willingly accept and actively uphold.
8. Outreach
We do not wait for Veterans to find us. We find them. Through community partnerships, proactive engagement, and presence across Macoupin County, we ensure that geography, age, disability, or circumstance never prevents a Veteran from receiving what they have earned.
Statement of Authority. The Macoupin County Veterans Assistance Commission is established by law and operates pursuant to the Military Veterans Assistance Act (330 ILCS 45). The Commission is accountable to the Veterans it serves, funded by the public trust, and governed by the highest standards of statutory compliance, professional practice, and ethical conduct.
Formally adopted by the Board of Commissioners as Resolution R-2026-05 on May 13, 2026.
Our Team
Robert “Bobby” Scott
Superintendent & Veterans Service Officer · NACVSO accredited
As Superintendent, Bobby leads the Commission — setting strategy, ensuring compliance, and overseeing claims quality and the office's most complex and sensitive cases. He is also an accredited Veterans Service Officer, assisting Veterans, survivors, and dependents across the full range of benefits — disability compensation, pension and Aid & Attendance, health care enrollment, education, survivor and burial benefits, military records, and appeals. A retired U.S. Army Veteran and project-management certified, he has served as Superintendent since December 2024.
macvac@macvac.org
Neal Cobren
Veterans Service Officer · NACVSO- and DAV-accredited
Neal is a dually accredited Veterans Service Officer — through both NACVSO and the DAV — serving Veterans, survivors, and dependents across the full range of benefits. He prepares, develops, and files claims for VA disability compensation, pension and Aid & Attendance, health care enrollment, education, and survivor and burial benefits; obtains military and medical records; screens for PACT Act and toxic-exposure eligibility; and represents Veterans through appeals. He works each case thoroughly so Veterans and their families receive every benefit they've earned.
macvac@macvac.org
Jordan Cervi
Administrative & Office Manager · Operations
Jordan manages the administrative operations of the office: scheduling and appointment management, intake processing and file assembly, records management and retention, data entry and record hygiene in the VBS system, correspondence, the community inbox, and day-to-day office administration and compliance support. This keeps the office organized and the claims process moving efficiently.
macvac@macvac.orgThe Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) also has a Veterans Service Officer co-located in our office.
Visit Us
Our office — the Veteran Resource Center — is located at 570 N. Broad Street, Carlinville, with parking out front and additional parking on the right side of the building — look for the posted parking signs. Look for the lit Veterans Assistance Commission and IDVA signage at the arched entrance. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours, and appointments are encouraged.
📍 570 N. Broad Street, P.O. Box 12, Carlinville, IL 62626
☎ (217) 854-5249 · 🕔 Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Our Community & History
Carlinville is the seat of Macoupin County, home to the historic “Million Dollar Courthouse” and the 1869 “Cannonball Jail” — a stop on Historic Route 66. The Commission is proud to serve the Veterans of this community.
Board of Commissioners
Our Commission is formed by delegates from the chartered Veterans Service Organizations across Macoupin County — the American Legion, VFW, and AMVETS posts that represent our Veteran community. The member posts and their current Commanders are listed first, followed by each post's Board delegate.
Post officers and delegates current as of June 2026. Roles rotate annually — please confirm meeting dates directly with the post.
Member Posts & Commanders
| Post | Location | Commander | Post Phone | Meets | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Legion Post 554 | 554 Ramey St, Carlinville | James D. Hudson | (217) 854-2769 | 2nd Wed, 7:00 PM | Facebook ↗ |
| American Legion Post 362 | 120 E. Henry St, Staunton | George Compton | (618) 635-3636 | 3rd Mon, 7:30 PM | — |
| American Legion Post 578 | 319 N. Marion St, Bunker Hill | Robert Brunaugh | (618) 585-4478 | 1st Wed, 7:00 PM | — |
| American Legion Post 386 | 118 S. Dye St, Virden | Albert L. Rogers | (217) 965-4114 | 2nd Mon, 6:15 PM | Facebook ↗ |
| American Legion Post 1034 | 115 W. State St, Palmyra | Darrell L. Rothe | — | 1st Wed, 7:00 PM | Facebook ↗ |
| American Legion Post 476 | P.O. Box 775, Brighton | James W. Winslade | (618) 406-2225 | 3rd Thu, 7:00 PM | — |
| American Legion Post 594 | 21294 Route 138, Mt. Olive | Ronald E. Hubert | (217) 999-2615 | 3rd Mon, 7:00 PM | — |
| VFW Post 1104 | 208 S. West St, Carlinville | Daniel Tate | (217) 854-8683 | 1st Tue, 6:30 PM | — |
| VFW Post 1241 | 120 E. Henry St, Staunton | Bradley Lemke | (618) 635-3636 | 3rd Tue, 7:00 PM | Facebook ↗ |
| VFW Post 5790 | 21294 Route 138, Mt. Olive | Charlie Lueken | (217) 999-2615 | 2nd Sun, 4:00 PM | Facebook ↗ |
| AMVETS Post 55 | 21294 Route 138, Mt. Olive | Ron Hubert | (217) 999-2615 | — | — |
Several posts share a hall: the three Mt. Olive posts (American Legion 594, VFW 5790, and AMVETS 55) all meet at 21294 Route 138; in Staunton, American Legion Post 362 and VFW Post 1241 share the VFW building at 120 E. Henry Street.
Board Delegates
| Post | Delegate | Alternate |
|---|---|---|
| American Legion Post 554 — Carlinville | James Hudson | Jerry Loveless |
| American Legion Post 362 — Staunton | Jim Rondi | — |
| American Legion Post 578 — Bunker Hill | Rick Elliot | — |
| American Legion Post 386 — Virden | Tony O’Neal | — |
| American Legion Post 1034 — Palmyra | Dick Hunt | — |
| American Legion Post 476 — Brighton | — | — |
| American Legion Post 594 — Mt. Olive | — | — |
| VFW Post 1104 — Carlinville | — | — |
| VFW Post 1241 — Staunton | Brad Lemke | — |
| VFW Post 5790 — Mt. Olive | — | — |
| AMVETS Post 55 — Mt. Olive | George Compton | — |
Looking for a post near you? American Legion — Find a Post ↗ · VFW — Find a Post ↗
Commission Governance
Delegate Structure
The Commission is governed by Primary and Alternate delegates of the federally and state-chartered Veterans service organizations located in Macoupin County. Each VSO selects one delegate and one alternate annually. All Commission actions require a majority vote of the full membership.
Legal Authority
The VAC operates under the Illinois Military Veterans Assistance Act (330 ILCS 45), as amended by Public Acts 102-0732 (HB 5184) and 102-1132 (HB 2369). The Commission maintains bylaws, adopts policies, and complies with all applicable state and federal regulations.
VA Accreditation
The Superintendent and Veteran Service Officers are accredited by the VA Office of General Counsel under 38 CFR 14.629. Accreditation authorizes staff to prepare, present, and prosecute claims before the VA on behalf of Veterans and their families.
Professional Training
Staff participate in annual continuing education through IACVAC (Illinois Association of County VACs), NACVSO (National Association of County Veterans Service Officers), and IACO (Illinois Association of County Officials).
Authority & the MVAA
The Commission is established and governed under the Illinois Military Veterans Assistance Act (330 ILCS 45). We are funded by the Macoupin County Veterans' assistance tax levy — which is exactly why every service we provide is free to Veterans and their families. Our accredited Veterans Service Officers are accredited through the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO).
Learn more about the MVAA: watch the Military Veterans Assistance Act video, produced by the Illinois Attorney General's Military and Veterans Rights Bureau.
Governing authority: 330 ILCS 45 (Illinois Military Veterans Assistance Act). Board meetings are open to the public under the Illinois Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120); agendas and minutes are posted under Board & Meetings.
Professional Affiliations
IACVAC
The state association providing training, policy guidance, and legislative advocacy for all Illinois County VACs. Annual CEU training conference each September.
Visit Website ↗NACVSO
National organization providing VA accreditation training (Basic Benefits Course) and the Certified Veterans Advocate (CVA) program.
Visit Website ↗IACO
Promotes professionalism in County government through annual meetings, seminars, and in-service training for County officials across Illinois.
Visit Website ↗Governing Law and Regulations
| Authority | Description | Effective |
|---|---|---|
| 330 ILCS 45 | Illinois Military Veterans Assistance Act (MVAA) — primary governing statute | Ongoing |
| PA 102-0732 | HB 5184 — structural amendments to VAC governance, funding, and Superintendent duties | Enacted 2022 |
| PA 102-1132 | HB 2369 — operational/ethical amendments to the MVAA | Feb 12, 2023 |
| 38 CFR 14.629 | VA requirements for accreditation of service organization representatives | Ongoing |
| VA M21-1 | VA Adjudication Procedures Manual — guide for processing benefit claims | Ongoing |
Per VAC citation standard, the MVAA's confirmed amendments are PA 102-0732 and PA 102-1132.