UVLC Minutes –Wednesday, December 1 , 2010
Call to order – 09:30, Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance
Greetings: Recognition of visitors and guests –Announcements – Ralph Donais, Chairman Jerry Kyser, Vice Chairman.
State Agencies and MN Veteran Assistance Organizations
MN Dept of Veterans affairs – Anna Long – Tuesday Dec 7th Pearl Harbor Event 5th floor 1000. Hastings Veteran Home, investigation underway and will be finished soon. Residents are being distressed due to investigation. New medical director in place this summer. New administrator was hired for the Mpls home. A BIO will be sent out.
MN Veterans 2010 Legislative Info – Amy Rudolph – The House reduced committees from 36 to 24, the Senate reduced committees from 25 to 16. Bruce Anderson was named chair of the Veteran’s committee in house. Mike Parry is the chair in the Senate. Committ5e staffing has not been announced.
MN Military Affairs – Annette Kipper (Director of Military Outreach) Red Bull Commanding BG David Elicerio talked about Rings Program. The next unit to support New Dawn will leave in the spring. The division will have a three year break before the full division will deploy again. Outreach Yellow Ribbon program is making a difference due to the communities helping our families. Go to Beyondtheyellowribbon.org site for more information. Vet organization is important to program;.
Melissa A. Polusny, PHD presented an overview of The IMPACT OF Combat Deployment and Retention
Challenges on National Guard.
MN Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV)- Kathy Vitalis General Nash visited the Mankato facilities (11 units). More units will be opening in Duluth (11 Units). MACV has eight homes in the cities, one in St. Cloud and Ramsey County with the city of Maplewood will have a five bedroom home to become available soon. Donations are always needed! MACV has a wish list that include many items that are needed when opening a new home. A list will be sent out via the chairman soon.
Military Action Group (MAG)– Jerry Kyser – The next meeting will be on December 16th at 1030 in the State Office Bldg room 300 north, all are welcome. The MAG is attempting to make contact with both parties prior to the session beginning in February. It is important that we maintain what has been accomplished the past few years while moving forward with other issues. MNDOT Veteran’s preference is an important item that we will need to keep up with. Transition groups for both Dayton and Emmer have been contacted as we wait for the outcome of the election,
Federal Agencies
VA Regional Office – Peter Panos, New director is Antwan Waller who was unable to attend today. Claims office has a high priority for processing claims. 120 day for processing all claims is the current goal. The regional office and veteran’s organizations are not moving from the Bldg. The offices will move from floor to floor as the remodeling continues.
VISN 23 –Janet Murphy- Director VISN 23 Unable to attend due to meeting schedules.
Mpls VA Medical Center – Steve Kleinglass, Director or Mike Rosecrans, Leg. Liaison None
St Cloud VA Medical Center – Trish Aljets – Wind generator work continues and will be assembled in
December. Urgent care facility air system is still being worked on and the problem should be resolved soon. Day surgery clinic is also moving forward. Gifts are being given out and visits from many groups make things very busy this month. Donations to Mpls and ST. Cloud totaled $1,891,000 cash and materials last year. Over 4.5 million in donations over the VISN network last year and also 273,00 volunteer hours. Donated items are need for the residents to make their stay better.
New Brighton Vets Center – Carl Sporer
Ft Snelling Cemetery –– Jim Schweizer – 310 interments for November, with a little over half being casket. There were no active duty or KIA burials in November. 600 sites have been readied for winter burials. Wreaths Across America will place wreaths on December 11th at 11 AM with a short ceremony. Vets Employment & Training Service [VETS] – Jodie Bean Current law protects returning veterans with
PTSD that need to go for treatment. Employer must give the veteran the time needed for treatment. Five cases have been opened in since October. Currently four cases open two have merit. USERRA protects reemployment rights even after reinstated.
Veterans in the Arts – Suzanne Asher Introduced at this time. Information to follow in January or February. Federal Congressional Senators and Representatives
Senator Amy Klobuchar – Martin Ludden 130 applicants for academy night. Senator attended many Veteran’s events around the state on Veteran’s Day and the ground breaking in Ramsey for the new CBOC. Inquiries about the Merchant Marine bill were made with no action being take at this time.
Senator Al Franken – No representation
7th District Representative – Collin Peterson- Al Loehr No representation
1st District Representative –Tim Walz – Shawn Schloesser No representation
2nd District Representative – John Kline – Chaz Johnson – Co-sponsor HR 1740 which will reorganize and honor National Guard on the occasion of the 374th anniversary of the Guard. Other co-sponsors were McCollum and Peterson. Congressman will be Chair of the Labor Committee and serve on the Veteran’s Committee. Currently working on a fix for Arlington National Cemetery issues. 80 applicants for the Academy appointments with 36 following up.
3rd District Representative –Erik Paulsen – John-Paul Yates HR 1658 Wounded Warrior Rehabilitationwhich passed in the house. Office is processing academy applicants also.
4th District Representative- Betty McCollum- Connie Haddeland 25 interviews for academy this coming Saturday. Attended the 40th university of the Armed Forces Service Center at the air port. Letter from Representative McCollum handed out. Fix for TRICARE problems being worked on again.
5th District Representative –Keith Ellison – Mike Siebenaler No representation
6th District Representative- Michele Bachmann – Nicole Severson No representation
8th District Representative- James Oberstar – Joe Ellickson No representation
8th District Representative- Congressman Elect Chip Cravaack – not known yet Announcements – AFCS 40th anniversary was held last week. Volunteers are needed to help keep AFCS open.
Meeting in Recess for 10 minutes
Old Business –
Treasures report given at this time. Dues for 2011 will be due in January. Check for the final donation to the Mpls VA will be at the January meeting. Discussion was held on contacting Legislators to give us a written report if they can’t attend our meeting. Transcriber is still needed for our meetings. A wage of $20.00/hour is being offered.
New Business – None
Adjournment/ Next Meeting 9:30 AM – Wed, January 5, VISN