Meeting Minutes – September 3, 2014

Call to order – 09:30, Invocation – Pledge of Allegiance –

Greetings: Recognition of visitors and guests –

Announcements – Ralph Donais, Chairman – Jerry Kyser, Vice Chairman.   

  • On 9/21 is POW/MIA Recognition Day
    • At 2 p.m. at UofM  TCF Stadium
  • Jerry Kyser being honored
  • Outstanding Women Veteran’s award nominations still open    

1. Federal Agencies

VA Regional Office – Ron Woolery

  • Without a Director right now- Antoine Waller officially took new job in Baltimore
    • Ms. Donna Myer Hickel is acting Director now
    • Ms. Kaye Anderson and Ms. Hickel will both be interim Assistant Directors
  • Town Hall: Every VA facility is required to conduct a “town hall meeting” open forum
    • At 10:30 on 9/12
  • VA status update: Reduced backlog from peak of 611,000 in March to 264,000
    • As of 8/25, have completed 1,136,000
    • 1.17 million last year- on pace to beat that significantly
    • Non-rating force has completed 2.5 million claims, more than has been completed in any year in the last 15 years
    • Increasing this year in 44% over best year ( which was 4 years ago)
    • 1 in 4 Veterans now submit dependency claims electronically through eBenefits
    • On average, they are receiving payments in 1-3 days
    • A lot of older Veterans do not have eBenefits or do not want to submit them electronically
    • Electronic claims use a system similar to a system used by turbo tax-expedites the process
    • Automating 21% of burials moving forward
    • Will result in automation of about 62,000 burials a year
    • Reduced Veterans pension inventory by 67%, and reduced backlog by 93%
    • Reduced  DIC claims by 58%, reduced backlog by 86%, improved timeliness by 80 days while maintaining a 90% accuracy rate

VISN 23 -Janet Murphy- Director VISN 23 – Christopher Stromberg

  • A few sites flagged in audit: remain open issues until more information given
  • A lot of changes to VA:
    • New Secretary named Robert McDonald , a West Point graduate and former Army Ranger, most well-known from being former COO of Proctor and Gamble
    • Working on a 90 day Transition Plan
  • Increasing outreach to Veterans in community, including Town Hall meeting
  • Bill Funding for Veteran’s Choice- supports Veteran’s choice to choose where they get care
    • Will have a Veteran’s Choice Card
    • Can use it if you cannot get care within 30 days or 40 miles from a VA facility
    • More money for additional staff – will take time to figure out where more staff is needed most

 Mpls VA HCS – Director Patrick J Kelly – Mike Rosecrans- Leg. Liaison

  • Suicide Prevention week is September 8th-12th
    • Staff is available to speak to Veterans and friends and families of Veterans
    • Will have handouts, wristbands, bumper stickers all emblazoned with helpline number
    • MN Military radio is planning a program on this topic on the 14th
  • Pain Awareness Day is 9/18 from 8-3 at Medical Center
    • Informational booths all day  on 2nd floor Atrium
    • Keynote at 11, 12, and 1 in Auditorium
    • Sessions on mindfulness, yoga, and Thai chi
    • Techniques to help Veterans manage pain
  • Audiologies suites in 3 CBOCs
    • Northwest Metro-9, Ramsey Clinic-3, Twin Parts-2, Maplewood-2
    • Anticipating 9-15% increase in productivity once booths underway are complete
  • Eye Clinic reservation will start this month
    • Project to take about a year
    • Will expand from 10 to 31 Eye Lanes

St Cloud VA HCS – Director Barry Bahl –  Trish Aljets

  • Very busy month for us
  • Saturday on 9/6 is 2nd Annual Rendezvous
    • Purpose is to bring Veterans and families friends to campus to see what we are all about
    • 40 different booths manned by service organizations and community partners
    • Kicks off with Suicide Awareness Walk, Stroll, and Roll at 9 am
    • Ends around 3:30 p.m.
    • Folks available to do enrollments
    • Tours of medical center
    • Stages with entertainment
    • Using this event to kick off 90th Anniversary of Medical Center
  • 9/8 is our Town Hall meeting
    • 5 p.m. in Auditorium
    • Please park in Lot just north of building 57 ( mental health building)
  • On 9/17 is 90th Anniversary Party
    • Building 92
    • Invitations have been sent out
    • Open to Public
  • Friday, 9/26 is annual celebration of Caregivers
    •  From 11-1 in Building 96
    • For caregivers, Veterans, and general public
    • Lot of resources available
  • Tuesday, 9/30th : Women Veterans Workshop
    • Will now be holding series of workshops
    • Topic this time is Stress and Relieving Stress
  • 11/9  is Annual Veterans Day Parade
    • Come on up and join us
  • 10/1 and 10/2: Flu Clinics open
  • 4 new providers started within last few weeks
    • 6 more to come
  • New Psychiatry building: parking lot is in
    • Hope to be moving in within next couple of months
  • New walking path is open
  • Disc golf course is reopened open to public
  • Given money to select a design firm to help us design a Adult Day health building
  • Wind turbine is not working
    • Quite a bit in media lately
    • Discussions continue with contractor
    • Hoping to reach resolution soon

Question: Parade kicks off at 1 pm. Line up is at 11:30 if you want to participate. Give me a call if you would like to register to participate

    Ft Snelling Cemetery – Robert Roeser

  • New Director: John G. Knapp from Camp Smith in Hawaii
    • Will come to next meeting to introduce himself
    • Marine Officer/Colonel
  • June: 598 services
    • 135 WWII
    • 73 Korea
    • 101 Vietnam
    • 5 Persian
    • 23 Peacetime
    • 0 Active Duty
    • 230 Dependents
    • Breakdown :
    • 145 Army
    • 83 Navy
    • 38 Airforce
    • 12 Marines
    • 3 Coast Guards
    • 3 Merchant Marines
    • 7 Female Veterans
  • July:  566 services
    • 133 WWII
    •  81 Korea
    •  81 Vietnam
    •  7 Persian
    • 22 Peacetime
    •  1 Active Duty
    •  241 Dependents
    • Breakdown :
    •  142 Army
    •  81 Navy
    •  28 Air force
    •  20 Marines
    •  3 Coast Guards
    •  0 Merchant Marines
  • Year to Date Rifle Squads Performed: 2,007
  • Total Graves/Remains we care for: 210,236
  • Will bring August numbers to next meeting

Vets Employment & Training Service [VETS] –  Davis Seay

  • Congratulate MACV on success of their stand downs
    • Exciting to see record numbers
    • MACV in Mankato was recently awarded another HVRP grant
    • Get to visit them in second quarter to do a meet and greet
  • Jobs for Veterans Day Grant 5 year plan was approved, with an additional funding
    • Salary grant so translates into more positions
    • Staff the local Veteran Employment Representatives for Employer Outreach
  • USARA claims and Veteran preference claims:
    • Cases have remained consistent over the last few months
    • 2 claims granted, 1 settlement, the rest are still in process

2. Federal Congressional Representatives and Senators

 Senator Amy Klobuchar- Greg Swanholm

  • Big news is Veterans Access to Care through Choice Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014
    • Senator was proud to support this act
  • Greg Swanholm  will be taking a step back from constituent’s service work
    • Eller Hendrickson, Intern, will be taking over
    • Introduces himself: Army Veteran, member of American Legion, VFW, AUSA, and Quad A
    • From Northfield, MN
    • Went to Gustavus college
    • Deployed twice to Iraq and Afghanistan
    • Passionate about working with Veterans

Senator Al Franken- Nicole Ly

  • Busy last few months
  • In July, she attended an Army Reserve Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Event
    • Thanks Colonel Beechum for setting that up
  • Held two meetings, with Congressmen Walz, regarding Suicide Prevention
    • With various Veterans organizations and families affected
  • Met with General Nash
    • Attended kickoff to building of solar panel field at Camp Ripley
  • Alex Schuler is joining us as Constituent Service Representative
  • Acknowledge Kathy and rest of MACV staff for fantastic stand down
  • Primarily focusing on Service Academy nomination program for September
  • Alex Schuler
    • Background: Marine Corps Veteran
    • 2 tours to Iraq
    • Out in 2009
    • Degree in Political Science at UofM
    • Worked for Habitat for Humanity
      • In Veteran Outreach at the moment

2nd District Representative – John Kline – Chaz Johnson

  • Service Academy information session
    • Will be 9/22 at Burnsville Diamond Head Education Center
  • Congressmen Kline will be sitting down with Pentagon and DoD to discuss Middle East

3rd District Representative -Eric Paulson – John Paul Yates Not in attendance

4th District Representative – Betty McCollum – Connie Haddeland

  • Shout out to Guard this morning
  • Just came from Congressional Staff Briefing on status and plans lacking for C130 fleets and Cyber Security issues – valuable meeting
  • Ben has been filling in for me, grateful for Ben’s abilities to cover
  • August has been month of National Guard
  • Breaking ground new readiness center and joined facility in Stillwater
  • Went to AHATS in Arden Hills
  • Yesterday spent at Roseville Armory
  • Congresswoman has signed on to a letter to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs:
    • Speaks to certifications for provider agreements for extended care agreements for services such as hospice and palliative care
    • Current rules require all small providers to meet criteria of federal contractors
    • This rule would allow all those small providers to meet the criteria similar to Medicaid and Medicare and bypass the rules applicable to federal contractors
    • Would allow for more options for our aging Veteran population
  • Will be participating in Service Academy evening, sponsored by Congressmen Paulson,  in Bloomington on 9/16
  • Our Service Academy process is underway- already have a few applications

5th District Representative – Keith Ellison – Mike Siebenaler Not in attendance

6th District Representation – Michele Bachmann- Nicole Pelzer

  • Academy Night will be on 9/16
    • At Ramsey Government center in Anoka

7th District Representative – Collin Peterson – Meg Louwagie

  • Busy in community during August Recess
  • City of Redwood Falls joined as a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Cities
    • Will continue to support those efforts in Congress

8th District Representative – Rick Nolan-  Rick Olseen

  • Very busy during recess- Honorary Chair of Duluth Airshow
  • At Solar Panel groundbreaking at Camp Ripley
  • Congressman believes the President should come to Congress with everything that is going on in the world ( like ISIS)
  • Introducing a bill called Restoring Democracy Act
    •  restoring 5 day work week for Congress
  • Veterans Bill- will be helpful for our constituents in rural areas
  • C130s: Interesting to learn they are so old
    • Interesting to see the funding to restore this workhorse of the Air National Guard

1st District Representative – Tim Walz -Shawn Schoesser

  • Congratulating Jerry on his Veterans Voices Award
  • From our Office, Dave Wenzel, has received the Veterans Voices for Veterans on the Rise
    • For his work with college students and Veterans, and advocacy in the community
  • Condolences for Mark Madison and Julie Bailey
  • Congressman was selected by MOAA for an award for his leadership( The Matrix Award)
  • Selected as conferee on bipartisan issues on Senate bill and House bill ( bill we are talking about today)
  • Congressman introduced the Clayhunt for Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act
    • Helps prevent suicide by not recognizing Era or Age
    • Requires independent third party to evaluate DoD and Veterans affairs mental health programs
    • Looking at metrics to establish best practices
    • Forms strategic partnership with Reserves, National Guard, and Veterans Affairs at State level
    • Establish pilot programs for VA providers working in mental health areas
    • Will help supplement education for  Veterans looking to study mental health professions

3.  State Agencies and MN Veteran Assistance Organizations

 MN Dept. of Veteran Affairs – Anna Long

  • Record attendance at State Fair
  • Bridge on Minneapolis Veterans home campus is closed during inspection process
    • Closed through October, more information available
  • Gold Star family retreat coming up
    • 1st weekend of October
  • Planning for Veterans Day
    • Tuesday, 11/11
    • Inver Grove Heights
    • Breakfast 8:30-9:30
    • Programs start at 10:00
  • Partnering with Twin Cities Public Television on documentary about women Veterans
    • Looking to find a currently serving female Veterans to serve as host
    • More information coming
  • New Hire: Eric Gromdall
    • Title: Special Advisor on Indian Veteran Homelessness
    • MN looking to end Veteran homelessness by 2015
    • Ensuring resources and places available to all Veterans
    • Working closely with interagency coalition
    • Open House farewell for Reggie- information coming soon

MN Military Affairs – COL Sandy Best-  Yellow Ribbon – Annette Kyper

  • Welcome to Lt. Colonel Joe Sharky
  • Brigadier General Llyodalt has been promoted to Major General
  • New Deputy Assistant Adjutant General for Air Side: Colon Dave Hamler
  • General Nash, Don Kerr, and several leaders attended National Conference of State Legislators Summit
    • Army Compatible Use Buffer Initiative
    • Funding: want to use MN’s model as a National Model
    • Spoke about MN’s Yellow Ribbon program
  • On 8/22, had a joint groundbreaking in Stillwater
  • On 8/26 many made it out to the State Fair for Veteran Appreciation Day
  • 8/27 was exciting day at Camp Ripley for the MN National Guard/ MN Power Ceremony
  • Honorable Hammock , Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Army, came in to award the DoD Environmental Team award to Camp Ripley for sustainable efforts
  • Discussed how privileged we are in MN to have a supportive Congressional delegation and their staff
  • Talked about providing Red Units and the C130H, and the need to modernize those aircraft
    • Proud to report great synchronization throughout Reserve, Guard, and Active Duty
  • Talked about our Cyber Response strategy
  • Don Kerr will be leading a group of State legislators members staff at Camp Ripley tomorrow
    • 3rd part in a series to help education them about the National Guard
  • On 9/13: a Departure Ceremony for Cottage Grove based 204th  Medical Company
    • 43 soldiers Deploying to Egypt
  • 9/15: Welcoming home 140 soldiers returning home from Afghanistan
    •   114th Transportation Company  returning home
  • National Guard Bureau has identified a budget shortfall
    • 101 million dollars shortfall
    • Not caused by state of MN, but all states will be affected
    • MN has 3 million dollar piece we need to shift and figure out how to handle
  • Readiness Center Transformation Master Plan
    • Study on aging facilities in MN
    • 64 Armory locations in 63 communities
    • This information will be included in report that goes to Congress in December
    • Looking at consolidations in communities
    • Will be sharing will state stakeholders before sharing in December

Annette Kyper:

  • Taking Beyond Yellow Ribbon program nationally
  • 3 days in Alaska next week
  • North Dakota visited us to learn how to bring this to their state, as well
  • 2 more proclamations since we last met
    • Brings total up to 40
    • McGeoff Construction and SuperAmerica (Northern Tier Energy)
    • Red Wood Falls has been named a YR city
    • McCloud county has been named a YR county
    • Fulfills our goal of having a YR network for all of our Army/Air Base communities
    • New communities interested in joining the YRN
  • St. Michael/Albertville has their YRN kickoff party next week
    • 9/18 at 6:30 p.m. at Albertville City Hall
    • Will train the community for 9-12 with information and support
  • Saturday, 10/18, at 9 a.m. at Star Fire Events Center
    • Beginning process of forming YRN for Waseca county
  • Just completed a refreshed list of all YRN point of contacts, will be sending to Ralph
  • 212 cities, 25 counties, and 40 companies that have been proclaimed YR
    • About 94 networks from the cities and counties
  • Please connect with your local YRN to help Veterans

MN Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV)- Kathy Vitalis

  • Our stand downs have already been mentioned
    • Ended up seeing over 1,000 Veterans
    • Often asked “Are they ALL homeless?”
    • About 30-40% were by definition homeless
    • The rest were having some sort of crisis, like an eviction notice, and needed help
    • Part of our homelessness prevention services
  • Also had wonderful events in Virginia and Duluth
    • Congressman Nolan spoke in Duluth
    • In Virginia,
  • Other Stand downs coming up
    • Bemidji is 9/24
    • Grand Rapids on 9/25
  • Legal Clinics coming up
    • Minneapolis 9/9
    • St. Cloud 9/23
  • Annual Fundraising Dinner is soon
    • Tickets are $50
    • Friday, 9/19
    • Silent Auction
    • Begins at 6, Dinner at 7
    • At Landmark Events Center
    • 11501 Masonic Home Drive, Bloomington
    • All info on Website
    • Doran Hocker one of two Veterans chosen by the FLOTUS as one of the stories to share when she announced the mayoral campaign to end homelessness
      • He will be speaker at Dinner, sharing his tale of homelessness
  • Chris Hinton, is also a Veterans Voice award winner
  • Alex Schuler is also a Veterans Voice award winner
  • Jimmy Collier was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the St. Paul Area Coalition for the Homelessness
  • Will be having a premiere to view the Twin Cities public television documentary showcasing the stories of 3 veterans overcoming homelessness
  • Story about Virginia stand down: was asked “why are you standing on a stove?” when told she was standing on the Iron Range on a conference call

Military Action Group (MAG) –  Jerry Kyser

  • Putting together for ideas going forward to next year
  • MAG is an opportunity for organizations to put forward proposals to legislators
  • Next meeting with me 11/25, after the election
  • Trying to get more businesses certified as Veteran Owned Businesses( VOB) without going through Federal certification
  • Want more VOB working on the Vikings Stadium
  • Department of Veteran Affairs is working on a process where they can help verify who is a VOB
    • Women and minorities have a process through which they can get verified, the military needs one too
    • Hopefully, we can then get some money from the state to fund this process
  • 9/11 and 11/11 are important dates before then
  • Flyers up here: for the 21st at 2.p.m listening to retired Lt. Commander Bill Carl about being a POW
  • Applications for Women’s Veterans program here( if you want it electronically, we can send it to you)

  4.  Announcements –

  • About 3 weeks ago, a Veteran asked if there were any golf courses willing to donate a bucket of balls to a Veterans returning home and having difficulty readjusting to civilian life
    • Went to golf course in Fridley, they said absolutely! The golf pro even offered a free lesson.
    • Said to contact them to set it up
  • Jim Fisher, new president of VBA State Council, our office will be closed for a while to help say goodbye to Julie Bailey, a longtime employee.
  • Dan Murphy, with the Air Force Association, our month chapter meeting will be held at Rail Station this month ( meetings are the second Tuesday of every month)
  • On Saturday night, we have our Commemorative Air Force fall party. $15 for tickets. Roseville Orchestra, B25 jets, a lot of fun!
    •  cafmn.org
  • MN Women Veterans giving thanks to and applauding Jerry Kyser for winning award
    • Going to D.C.  to fight for an Equal Rights Amendment to protect women Veterans

  5.  Meeting in Recess for 10 minutes 

  • Beginning balance was $4,846.25
    • 0 deposits
    • $355.14 worth of expenses
    • $4,471.11 as of 9/1
    • Motion made and accepted
  • Old Business: None
  • New Business:
  • The 25th  is next MAG meeting: anything to bring up?
    • No vote taken at MAG
    • Talked retiree pension, business tax credit for hiring Veterans at last meeting
    • Tax credit was pushed out to 8 years for widows, want it to be permanent until status change
  • Younger generation is not coming back to MN
  • Nothing that had anything to do with money for Veterans was passed this year
  • Need people at meetings!
  • Pro-bono lawyer can change our classification so we can say we lobby instead of advise

UVLC Treasurer’s Report as of 1 September, 2014
Balance as of 1 Aug 2014: $4,826.25  
Deposits for Aug, 2014: $0.00
Expenses for Aug, 2014:
      Supplies (printer cartridge): $10.70
Parking Expense: $37.19
Printing Expense: $187.25
Transcription Expense: $120.00
(Total of $355.14)   
Balance as of 1 Sept, 2014
Submitted by Donald Rask, Treasurer UVLC                  
        
Next meeting 1 October, 2014

“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their country.” – George Washington, 1789