UVLC Minutes – Wednesday, Sep 1, 2010
• Call to order – 0940 Hrs.
• Invocation – F. Hassie
• Pledge of Allegiance – Don Rask
1. State Agencies and MN Veterans Assistance Organizations
MN Dept of Veteran Affairs – Asst. Dept. Commissioner – Gil Ocevedo: Gave overview of Veterans Homes. He asked for support from all organizations especially for funding.
Amy Rudolph: Gave an update on the legislation. Budget season is here. Also policy proposals are being planned. All these are subject to change with a new Governor.
MN Military Affairs – Col. Ahlness: Absent.
MN Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) – Jimmie Collier: Gave an update on MACV & Veteran’s Court that was held.
MN Veterans Initiatives Center and Research Institute (VICRI) – CEO Larry Josephs – gave update on business meeting at Hiway Credit Union. Also gave overall update on VICRI.
Bryan McDonough Military Heroes Foundation: Tom McDonough: Absent.
Other MN Veteran Organizations: None
2. Federal Agencies
VISN 23 – Kathleen Harrison acting asst. director: Gave an overview of VISN 23 & new
appointments. She gave out 2 handouts.
VA Regional Office – Peter Panos – Gave update on comp & pension etc. Move announcement
will be mid September. Agent Orange approved Aug 31, 2010. Gave presentation on homeless
veteran hotline. 1-877-424-3838
Mpls VA Medical Center – Marci Mylan, Assoc. Director: Introduced new Nurse Exec. Helen
Pearlman. Also spoke on flood at VAMC Mpls. Design for parking garage has been approved.
St. Cloud VA Medical Center – Rose M. Blesener : Briefly reviewed the points on her handout.
New Brighton Vets Center: Absent
Ft Snelling Cemetery – Brad Butler, Supervisory Management Program Analyst:
July Current FYTD Total to Date Breakdown by Service:
Total Internments 417 3,953 191,289 Army 108 CG 4
Caskets 156 1,739 150,882 Navy 65 MM 1
Cremations 201 1,775 38,306 Air Force 24
Columbarium 60 439 2,101 Marines 24
Female Veterans – Total 1,459
New Medalion can only be used in private cemetery. George Weiss, Jr, got recognition by President Obama for the rifle squad. Also provided by Brad Butler were the following which were requested but were not available at
the time of the meeting:
Aug. Current FYTD Total to Date Breakdown by Service:
Total Internments 433 4,386 191,722 Army 103 CG 2
Caskets 160 1,899 151,042 Navy 61 MM 0
Cremations 216 1,991 38,522 Air Force 18
Columbarium 57 496 2,158 Marines 16
Female Veterans – Total 1,471
Veterans Training Service [VETS] – Jodi Bean: Absent
3. Federal Congressional Senators and Representatives
Senator Amy Klobuchar – Martin Ludden: Absent
Senator Al Franken – Nicole Ly: Absent
1st District Representative – Tim Walz – Shawn Schloesser: Absent
2nd District Representative – John Kline – Chaz Johnson: Gave report on Rep. Kline’s activities. Rep. Kline is happy about appointment of the Attorney General.
3rd District Representative – Erik Paulsen – Krysta Carlson: Gave update on Rep Paulson’s
activities and introduced herself.
4th District Representative – Betty McCollum – Connie Haddeland: Reviewed hand out briefly.
5th District Representative – Keith Ellison – Mike Siebenaler: Absent
6th District Representative – Michelle Bachmann – Nicole Severson: Gave a report on Rep Bachmann’s activities.
7th District Representative – Collin Peterson – Al Loehr: Gave report on Rep. Peterson’s activities. Gave report on VFW National Convention.
8th District Representative – James Oberstar – Joe Ellickson: Absent
4. Announcements –
Ralph Donais gave report on retiree co-pay rates for tri-care. We are losing some of our advocates in the legislature so we need to get some of the other legislators to step up.
5. Meeting in Recess for 10 minutes
6. Old Business –
Treasurer’s report given: starting balance – 4,763.45; deposits – $50.00; expenses – $293.50; ending balance – $4,519.95. Also gave members who still need to pay dues.
7. New Business –
Discussion by Al Loehr re: Summer months not having August /September meeting. Possibility of publishing something . Discussion will be taken up at the next meeting. Don Rask brought up disposal of medications.
8. Good of the Order –
Motion to Adjourn by Nalapinske, second by Hassie. Motion carried.
Adjourned: 1140 Hrs. / Next Meeting 0930 Hrs. – Wed, October 6, 2010 Building 9 Auditorium, Mpls Medical Center Campus, Mpls, MN.
Ralph Donais, Chairman: Phone: 763-441-2630 E-mail: r.l.donais@izoom.net
Jerry Kyser, 1st Vice Chairman: Phone: 651-338-2717 E-mail: crazyjerry45@hotmail.com
Lawrence Dean, 2nd Vice Chairman: Phone: 651-484-2837 E-mail: lodean.1@juno.com
Don Rask, Treasurer: Phone: 651-647-0398 E-mail: rchief1533@comcast.net
Fay Hassie, Secretary: Phone: 651-698-5860 E-mail: fhassie@q.net