Minutes – 12 July 2006 – United Veterans Council of Minnesota

Minutes for Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Meeting was held at the VA Hospital in Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Next meeting will be held at 9:30, Wednesday, August 2, 2006 Building 9 VA

• Call to order by the Chairman, Jerry Kyser
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Invocation – Father Al Stangl
• Recognition of visitors and guests and Commander’s of VSO’s
• Welcome: Rose Blessner, SCVA Director of Resource Management on behalf of director Barry Bahl.
• Reports from:

1. Chairman

–Jerry Kyser reported that he attended the U of M Stadium Veteran’s Memorial task force meeting. We will be meeting with architects July 26 for input into what we would like the memorial to be and represent. The POW-MIA day and vigil will be September 15, 2006 at the Veteran Service Building. Vice Chairman-Ralph Donais asked that the UVLC minutes be able to be put into the TREA newsletter that is published monthly.

2. State Agencies

• MN VA Commissioner, represented by Julie Carie. MDVA received a total of supplemental appropriation of 3.480 million for the State Assistance fund, Veteran’s website, grants to counties for their VSO programs, development of college Vet assistance
offices, outreach and assistance, funding for veteran service organizations. The next planning session for the Sept 21st Summit for returning Veterans will be August 11, 2006 at 1:30 P.M. building 9 on the VA campus. The goal is to find issues of importance to the Iraq Vets and resources available to them from various organizations. 13,408 license plates have been sold. Total contributions are $418,000. The WWII memorial is under construction. You can watch it being built on a website at WWII@capitalunderconstruction.com.
• State Legislative Reps and Senators-Rep Dan Severson, reported on efforts of the military and veterans enactments by the 2006 Mn Legislature. He stated that we need to work harder and smarter to pass legislation to eliminate taxes on military pensions. We are very happy about what was accomplished. What’s good for MN is good for Veterans, and visa versa.
• MN Military Affairs – Jerry Kyser reported that currently 2,946 MN Air and Army National Guard are serving outside the USA. Of those, 2,608 are in Iraq providing convoy security. We pray for all of their safety. Gov Pawlenty has volunteered MN NG units to help support border operations in New Mexico. Until the NMNG determines exactly what force they require, our 200 volunteers have not been assigned to go.
• MN Veteran Home- Board member, Bill Woolie reported that the general fund has increased by ,$6.238 million for FY06 and FY07. The new administrator for the Minneapolis Veterans Home is Bob Wikan. They have returned to their offices in the veterans service building. The National Veterans Home conference was held on July 15, 2006, with a pig roast at the Minneapolis Veteran’s Home. Director Steve Musser gave major awards in recognition of support by the Commanders Task Force Veteran’s Service Organizations.
• MN Assistance Council for Vets-Kathy Vitalis reported that Minneapolis Stand Down is August 3,4, with closing ceremonies on August 5th. VSO tent will be available for those organizations wishing to participate. We thank you for your support.

3. Federal Agencies

• VA Regional Office-Sue Ihrke reporting, Mr. Jeffrey Alger will be arriving on station next Monday, July 17. He comes to us from Denver, where he was the Director. He started his career at St Paul in 1974. Our National workload continues to increase. Our office has been able to keep our workload fairly steady with heavy usage of overtime monies. We were given authority to hire an additional 6 employees in the Pension Maintenance Center. Our office is very involved in the upcoming stand down, Governor’s Summit, and other outreach efforts.
• VISN 23-Cynthia Breyfogle, Chief Business Officer reported that VISN23 has taken care of 10,000 Iraq vets. New Bemidji clinic is among 25 new clinics in the VA system. In Mn the VA spent 1.2 billion dollars to serve 420,000 veterans in the state. Western Wisconsin is also opening a clinic.
• Mpls VA Hospital-Mike Siebenaler reported that Minneapolis VA construction project is expected to start mid September. VA is beginning background checks on specific volunteers that have computer access.
• Jimmie L. Coulthard – Cruse-Miller Garrison at Minneapolis VA is on schedule.
• St Cloud VA Hospital-Rose Blessner reported that Saint Cloud has taken care of 1,200 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. There continues to be a large number of returning soldiers taking care of dental needs. They won a national award for outreach to veterans with the welcome home event at SCVA. We were invited to tour the Al Loehr facility after the meeting.
• Ft Snelling Cemetery- Don Emond reported that in the month of June 506 internments of which 58% were cremated. Over the fiscal year there have been 3,280 to date. Overall cremation rate of 48%. Total internments at Fort Snelling are 170,914. Total female veterans interred at Fort Snelling are 1,192. 5000 niche columbaria are nearing completion. Completion date will be sometime in August.
• Any Other Organizations-Mary Garding, Saint Cloud VAMC from Saint Cloud reported about those who had radiation issues to contact Joan Wagner @ Saint Cloud VA.

4. Federal Congressional Reps

• Senator Coleman-John Halverson reported that there is a new law passed on data privacy issues. Flag desecration legislation failed by one vote. Senator continues to push for increased support of both current and older veterans.
4th District Betty McCullum-Josh Straka reported information about data theft and several pieces of legislation were introduced with 124 bipartisan cosponsors.
5th District Martin Sabo-Jason Ilstrup, no report.
6th District Mark Kennedy-Chris Swedzinski handed out press release concerning economy and support toward veterans. Rep Kennedy is running for US Senator.
7th District Collin Peterson—Al Loehr reported that Vetrans preference applies only to government positions, not private agencies. He also mentioned the MN pension issue and the MN legislature and the need to have a better plan to encourage no tax on veteran’s pension. We need enlisted retired veterans to testify and not Generals and Admirals.

5. Announcements:

Lunch was to be served by the SCVA.

6. Old Business:

Reported checks given to Fisher House and VFW Home for $100 each tohonor John O’Neill. Reported that there is $4,200 in the treasury.

7. New Business:

There is a need to update the e-mail listing and regular mailing list. Next meeting is August 2, 2006 at building 9 on the VA Campus.

8. Adjournment:

11:30 Lunch at SCVA.

PRESENT:

Marilyn Nalipinski; Julie Carie, MDVA;Cynthia Breyfogle, VISN23; Jimmie Coulthard, Tiger Base LLC;; Josh Straka, 4th Dist Cong. Betty McCollum; Jason Ilstrup, Rep. Sabo; Ralph Donais, TREA & UVLC; Sid Schmuckler, UVLC; Jerry Nalipinski, VFW/KWV; Bob Smith, Blinded Vets; Jim Hammann, Atomic Vets; Kathy Vitalis, MACV; Al Collen,VFW; Joe Perron, AMVETS, VFW; Al Loehr, VFW & Cong. Collin Peterson; Jerry Kyser,UVLC & VV Charity; Marine Corp League; Clayton Irmen,MOPH Commander; Alan K Ruvelson, JR,ROA; Don Emond, Fort SnellingCemetary; Chris Swedzinski, Congressman Kennedy; Sue Ihrke,St Paul VARO; Post 548; Joe Schirmer,VFW; Mike Siebenaler, Mpls VAMC; Mary O’Hotto, MCLA; Sister Germaine Gagnon, MCLA; Cheryl Thieschafer, SCVA; Rose Blessner,SCVA; Mary Garding,SCVA; Delores B. Atomic Vets; Jolene Simmons, SC StandDown Inc; Dan Severson, MN House of Rep.; Dick Carroll, Ex-POW; Bill Wrollie,DAV & Home Board; Xavier Gagnon, MCL; Father Al Stangl, SCVA.