UVLC Minutes – Wednesday, October 3, 2007
• Call to order
• Invocation – Chaplain – 1st Lt. Vince Hokkanen
• Pledge of Allegiance- Howard Wilson
• Recognition of visitors and guests and Commander’s of VSO’s
• Reports from:
1. Chairman and 1st Vice Chairman:
Jerry was asked that the UVLC come up with ideas for the Governors Initiatives. He suggested that they continue to pursue those issues that have not yet passed. Don Severson has spent 44 years collecting books on WW1 Aviation. He has donated his collection to the St Paul Library. October 14 @ 2:00 will be the dedication of his collection. Ralph announced a million dollar grant act for returning veterans education. Call 1-800-554-8732.
THE REMODELING of BUILDING 9s AUDITORIUM is DELAYED Until JANUARY 2008. NOV and DEC UVLC meetings are at Building 9 .
2. State Agencies
• MN Dept of Veteran Affairs – Deputy Commissioner Mike Pugliese-2008 is a bonding year. Mike expressed the need for input to have a successful legislative session. The only number that anyone needs to care for Veteran issues is: VET. Linkage Line: 1-800- 546-5838.The National Guard is providing the $50 for honor guard if the Post does not have gaming. The State Veterans Day Program is on November 10 @ 11:00 at the Inver Grove Heights Community Center. Fort Snelling Chapel will have a Veterans Day Program on the 11th at 11:00. The Commanders Task Force Leaders will be announced this month. November 9 @ 8P.M. Lt Col John Morris, National Guard
Chaplain, is the guest speaker for a Veterans Day Service @ Temple of Aaron Synagogue @ 616 South Mississippi Rive Boulevard in St Paul.
• MN Veterans Home Board – Sandy Larson-There was a commission meeting on September 27, looking at all of the options for the Veterans Homes. The outcome is being very well thought out. There are four candidates being considered for the Directors position. The Deputy Directors position does take legislative authority.
• MN Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) – Kathy Vitalis –MACV has hired additional staff. The Standdown is expanding to International Falls. Currently they are being held in Mankato, Duluth and the Twin Cities. They are bringing communities together. MACV has been a part of a 30-day integration meeting. The returning veterans want to volunteer. Younger people are seeking services. April – June average age was 48. July-Sept average age was 37. Mankato Standdown is November 13. For more information call 507-345-8258.
• MN Dept of Employment and Economic Development – Gary Quernemoen November 6, 11:00 – 4:30 Vet Job Fair at Earle-Brown Heritage Center 6155 Earle Brown Drive, Minneapolis, MN map and directions: www.earlbrown.com This is sponsored by : Veterans Employment Service www.deed.state.mn.us 763-785-6465
Registration forms are available for employers.
3. Federal Agencies
• VA Regional Office – Ron Lustman-The department has met all of their goals in 2007. There are 456 employees. There have been 107 new employees in the last 5 months.
• VISN 23 – Cynthia Breyfogle -The suicide prevention line is available 1-800-273-TALK. Family members or anyone who is concerned about someone’s mental health should always call 911 first.
• MPLS VA Hospital – Steve Kleinglass – Director- In summary 2007 was a good year. 6% more veterans were cared for at the VA. The polytrauma center is open. There are all new Beds at the Hospital. There are 150 more staff than last year. Most of the new providers are in the Mental Health arena because that is the area getting the most
emphases. We have spent over $ 300 million doing all this. The Joint Commission Survey has stated that MPLS VA is fully accredited. The new Fisher House will be on 54th Ave and the design is being worked on. The building has all the funds needed to be built. Today Best Buy Corp Is Donating a 40 inch TV,12 laptop computers and other
electronic equipment. Al Loehr asked about the numbers of people enrolled for the Polly Trauma Unit. 4000 have enrolled, 2100 have asked for services, 135 have been Hospitalized so the vast majority will be getting out patient services. The MPLS VA will continue to work to improve our Veterans care.
• St Cloud VA Hospital–Barry Bahl – Director. It was a great year for improvements Optometry: New clinic and a second optometrist was added, Podiatry: Added two more PT podiatrists, Dental: One more dentist for a total of six, CT Scanner, Expanding hours of orthopedics17 more case managers in mental health, 13 more caseworkers for long
term care, Home base primary care is expanding,3 additional procedure rooms and 6 recovery rooms. 40 veterans were able to attend the Oct 2 deer hunt at Camp Veterans Day Program at Building 96 followed by a parade on November 11.
• 88th Regional Readiness Command – Sgt MAJ Janet Jones- There are ten Regional Readiness Commands. 18,500 have been deployed since 9/11. There have been some issues with recruiting. They expect to mobilize 400 and 570 will be returning. There are 40 Minnesota Welcome Home Warrior events. There are many family programs, including kids camps in Salem Wisconsin. This will include children of those either current or future deployments.
• Ft Snelling Cemetery – Art Smith – Director
Ft Snelling Cemetery Sept 2007 Current FYTD Total to Date
• Total interments 344 4569 117,568
• Caskets 152 2187 144,588
• Cremations 160 2065 31,633
• Columbarium 32 317 317 1,283 female vets
• August 2007(updated 9/6/07
• WW11 147
• Korea 52
• Vietnam 64
• Persian Gulf 1
• Active Duty 1
• Peacetime 17
• Dependent 167
4. Federal Congressional Representatives and Senators
• Senator Norm Coleman – Greg Gorhman Involvement in the month of September includes the following: Funding for VA budget 11% increase, Defense Authorization Legislation, Yellow ribbon reintegration, Nurse Aide amendment: 2 year extension of certification due to deployment TriCare reimbursement increase, GI bill changes
to make Nat Guard benefits portable
• Senator Amy Klobuchar – Martin Ludden: Co sponsored cell phone Bill of Rights for soldiers. They are no longer on contracts.
• 2nd District Representative – John Kline – Mike Osskopp: Veteran Affairs budget
• Recently returned from Iraq
• 3rd District Representative – Jim Ramstad – Margaret Cavanaugh: Congressman Ramstad is retiring. He will be around for another 14 months. Working with addiction recovery health care parity bill
• 4th District Representative – Betty McCollum – Josh Straka, Distributed the Veterans Update of key bills the 110th Congress has passed into law. Fiscal Year 2007 Funding –H J. 20 Iraq Accountability Act – FY 2007 Supplemental –H R 2206FY 2008 Budget Resolution/Veterans Funding – S. Con.Res.21
• 5th District Representative – Keith Ellison – Mike Siebenaler Congressman Ellison began his first term in Congress by supporting legislation important to Mn Veterans –measures that strive to meet the needs our nation’s veterans and their Families today and increase funding for veteran health care backing the National Guard and Reservists, Supporting active duty military families.H.R.1481
• 6th District Representative – Michele Bachman – Sean Nienow -One of the greatest accomplishments in the recent past was when the St Cloud office was able to award the surviving 80 year old brother the bronze star, purple heart and four other medals that were never awarded to his brother in 1945. This was a great honor.
• 7th District Representative – Collin Peterson – Al Loehr- The Family Leave act is when the immediate family may give care to their wounded family member for six months without any issues from their employer.
5. Announcements –
Chairman – Vice Chairman-Ralph Donais_ Greetings from TREA. There were 700 military retirees in attendance. The biggest issue was the tax exemptions of military pay for retirees. There are plans for a VA clinic in Elk River.
6. Meeting in Recess for 10 minutes
7. Old Business-
Thank you to Jim Hasselgrave for working as the Treasurer for the UVLC for so many years. Jimmy Lee Coultard was unanimously elected to be the new Treasurer. A new checking account will be set up which requires two signatures to write any checks. This account will be at the University Bank in St Paul.
• New Business-
• There is a need to establish a Fall and Winter Legislative Committee.
• Jerry Nalipinski has been appointed to be the chairman of the nomination committee.
• Dues should be paid one year at a time
• Al Loehr recommended that a certificate of appreciation be given to Senator Ramstad when it is closer to his retirement date.
• The Jewish War Veterans said that they would share a space with the UVLC in the veterans service building
8. Adjournment/ Next Meeting 9:30 am, Wed, November 7th at Mpls VA Campus, Building 9. It was previously mentioned that the meeting would be in a different location. This remodeling has been postponed until January.