UVLC Minutes –Wednesday, November 4, 2009
• Call to order – 09:30
• Invocation – Jerry Kyser
• Pledge of Allegiance –Howard Wilson
• Recognition of visitors and guests and Commander’s of VSO’s; Irv Rosenblum is the new Commander for the Jewish War Veterans. Jeff Alger is now the adjutant for the DAV.
• Reports from: Chairman, Jerry Kyser- Vice Chairman Ralph Donais. Twin Cities Honor flight will take place on Nov 7th. You are encouraged to come to the welcome home celebration at the Hubert Humphrey Terminal in the A Baggage Area at 10:30 pm. Jana Kyser will no longer be serving as the Secretary of the ULVC. Keep her in your prayers as she is going to have a hysterectomy on Nov 19. We have received word that the Government of Holland would like to send a Certificate of appreciation to those American Veterans who served in the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 through January 1945. If you know any Veterans, please supply their name, address, unit they served with and phone number. Please contact Jerry Kyser at 651-338-2717 or E-mail him at crazyjerry45@hotmail.com as soon as possible. Thank you to VISN 23 and Calvin McNeal for decals on the wall to represent all of the branches of service.
1. State Agencies and MN Veteran Assistance
MN Dept of Veteran Affairs –Deputy Commissioner – Mike Puglisi – Organizations should share legislative idea for this session. Thanks to Jodi Beam for having a Woman Veteran Summit Recognition Day. The Dept gave its first “Life Time Achievement” award to Sidney Schmuckler. All of the Veterans Homes will have events on Veterans Day: Inver Grove Heights @ 10a.m; there is a free breakfast at 8am. www.mndva.com
MN Military Affairs –Officer Candidate Davin Fischer-Strategy for the legislative initiatives is underway for the next legislative session. Supporting our Troop’s vendors will be honored for their support to the troops in our area. Retroactive pay has been honored for the PDMRI for the interested parties that had the longest deployment in Iraq. wwwbtyr.org (beyond the yellow ribbon) will have information about the retroactive pay.
MN Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV)- Kathy Vitalis-Standdown update: November 10-Mankato. Duluth building project will begin construction in December. In the metro area the first quarter they placed 29 homeless veterans in housing. There are two main events to make note of: Family law clinic for veterans Friday, Nov 13th 3-7 VA Hospital auditorium. To preregister or for more information contact Nathaniel Saltz 612-726-1327 nsaltz@mac-v.org The annual Holiday Open House is Friday, December 4, 2009 12-4 at Building 47 Minneapolis VA Medical Center Campus. One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417.
Mn Veterans Initiatives Center and Reasearch Insitiute(VICTRI) Jack Scharrett, pres/CEO-Fox sports will have some press about their program. They have applications for four separate grants to lead the way and apply for funds for veterans. There have been over 50 clients at the Center. Two veterans are using their office as a base for their
businesses. There are seminar series such as balancing budget, wellness being held at the Center. You are welcome to use conference rooms to accommodate business meetings. The rooms can accommodate up to 25 people. Nov 18, 9-3:30 there will be a full day workshop for veteran entrepreneurs at the Highway Federal Credit Union 840 Westminster Street, St Paul MN 55130. Free-Registration is required: http://mnptac.ecenterdirect.com click training All of this information can be found on the website. www.victri.org
2. Federal Agencies
Mpls VA Medical Center – Steve Kleinglass also represented the network leadership. Fargo received a tribute of recognition for serving homeless veterans. Rob McDivitt is leaving Fargo to serve in Ann Arbor Mich. Des Moines Center is being dedicated. The network continued to be involved in reintegration efforts. There is still flu shot supplies for eligible veterans. The center has vaccinated over 90% of employees. They have vaccinated about
30,000 veterans at the medical center. Eligibility is for those who are enrolled. 400 H1N1 doses have been dispensed at the VA. As soon as there is ample supply there will be an announcement. You should make an informed decision concerning the vaccine once the vaccine is available; the VA will have the capacity to mange the number of people. The bigger issue is getting the supply. CBOC(Community Based Outpatient Clinic)Superior WI will open soon. Northwest Metro Clinic in Elk River-There are many bidders who are interested in this project. The final offers
will be notified with a return bid offer within 45 days.
Pete Panos-Public Affairs Officer chapter 33 Post 9-11 GI Bill. Public Affairs is continuing to offer extended hours to offer checks to veterans who are going to school to receive their funds of $3,000. An 85 year old widow will receive the Purple Heart for her husband on Veterans Day. The dept spent much time to investigate and honor this veteran for his sacrifice.Homeless outreach has had 150 homeless contacts within the last few months.
St Cloud VA Medical Center – Director or Patricia Aljets-The results were excellent following the audit that was conducted last week at the Center. 32,000 veterans were seen this past fiscal year which is a 4.86% increase in serving veterans. Remodeling continues at the facility. Thank you for your support for the deer hunt where 52 participants took 13 deer. Two of them were 9 point bucks. There is a turkey hunt in the Spring. Wednesday, November 11, @1:30 is a Veterans Day Ceremony at the St Cloud VA Medical Center auditorium, Bldg 8.
Ft Snelling Cemetery – Art Smith – Director
October Current FYTD Total to Date
Total Internments 406 4685 187742
Caskets 106 1955 14575
Cremations 203 2232 36734
Columbariums 43 535 1705
Female Veterans-Totals 1408
October 2009 Totals
WWII 116 Korea 58 Vietnam 51 Persian Gulf 0 Active duty 1 Dependents 161
Vets Employment & Training Service [VETS] – Jodi Bean- 35 employers were educated about how to work with employees who have been deployed. Congress is in the process of approval for funding for female veterans and families. Air Guard Museum-Dick Sundby- Minnesota Museum of Aviation and Aerospace. The National Park Service is in support of this effort. All that is needed is the written approval of the Governor. This facility will be shadowing the effort of the Seattle Museum of Flight. Please pass this information on to the members of your organization. A challenger center would be included for space science and education. This would be a draw from a five state area. Contact your area representative. wwwangmuseum.org
3. Federal Congressional Senators and Representatives
2nd District Representative – John Kline – Chaz Johnson- Seventy individuals were at the service academy night. National Defense Authorization Act: This was voted against due to some additions that could not be supported. Kline supports 3.4% increase to military personnel pay. Co sponsor to expand veterans benefit for Agent Orange.
4th District Representative- Betty McCollum- Connie Haddeland-PDMRA benefits handout was given out along with the retroactive stop loss special pay. Eligible personnel will receive a payment of $500 per month (or any portion of a month) that the member was retained on active duty due to Stop Loss. Where Do I go for Additional Information:
Army: https://www.stoplosspay.army.mil
Navy: send email to _NXAG N132C@navy.mil
Marine Corps: https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/stoploss
Air force: http://www.afps.randolph.af.mil/stoploss
5th District Representative –Keith Ellison – Mike Siebenaler-The academy candidates in the district are down. Ellison announces special payments for service members who served under stop loss orders. Ellison commends VA extension of benefits for vet exposed to Agent Orange.
6th District Representative- Michele Bachmann – Tara Westby-Dec 5 academy interviews. Staff Sgt Mills sustained major injuries during his deployment. He has a web site to encourage those that have served www.fortheveterans.org . He was awarded the patriot award at a ceremony held on November 4.
4. Announcements –
Ralph Donias-Retired veterans are not receiving any type of increase in their retirement benefits. Please send pictures of events taking place in your organizations to Ralph so that he can put the pictures on the websites that he supports.
5. Meeting in Recess for 10 minutes
6. Old Business –
Treasures report $3,801.68. Julie Jensen researched the amount that it will cost to do the minutes. The prices range from $18-24 plus mileage of .55 per mile to $30-35/hr. Fleet Reserve had a suggestion for another secretary choice. A motion was modified to have the Chairman find someone to take the minutes for the next meeting not to exceed $150b and see how a transcriber would work out. The motion was unanimously passed.
7. New Business –
Ralph announced that the Veterans home is going to begin to raise money for a new van. It would be approximately $90,000. It was suggested that the UVLC contribute to this effort once that it becomes official. The suggestion was made to have the Commanders Task Force meeting take place after the UVLC meeting.
Adjournment/ Next Meeting 9:30 AM -Wed, Dec 2, 2009 Building 9 Auditorium
Mpls Medical Center Campus, Mpls, MN