UVLC Agenda – Septem
• Call to order
• Invocation
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Recognition of Visitors, Guests and Commander’s of VSO’s
Welcome by Chair with Commanders and Visitors recognized. POW program 21 Sept Announced.
• Reports from:
1. Chairman and 1st Vice Chairman.
2. State Agencies
• MN Dept of Veteran AffairsCommissioner Dyrud – Talked of new brochures that have been distributed by MN Veterans Office. Link Line was discussed at this time. Gives Veterans the ability to find information. Discussion of last years Legislature issues. New session starts in February this year. State Fair booths at the fair were successful. Reports are coming in from Campus Reps. Honor Guard information is coming out soon on the reimbursement for honor guard duty. The sum of $50.00 per funeral if the post does not have Charit
• State Legislative Representative or Senator – No one in attendance
• MN Veterans Home Board – Sandy Larson and Dennis O’Gorman from the Veterans Home. Still looking for an executive director for the Mpls home. Building is on going on the campus. Out state homes are doing well with opening being filled. Dennis is taking a new PR position at the home. Dennis – Mpls home was discussed at this time about the mission at the home. Home was commission in 1887 by Veterans. November celebration
information will be forthcoming.
• MN Military Affairs – Col Ahlness Brigade is back and are going threw the re-integration is going well. The support is appreciated by all. Their are 1,100 still out of the state at this time. Kosovo and other destinations are still on going. Federal GI Bill many are qualified bus some due to orders were not. Town Hall meeting South St Paul to pull the community together to support the troops coming back. As high as 85% to 75 % are planning on going back to school. Active duty personnel are also considered in the programs. Any veteran is welcome to attend the re-integration programs.
• MN Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV)- Kathy Vitalis- Carla Cornelius – Stand Down in Duluth 160 veterans November 13 Stand down in Mankato location to be named later golf Tournament went well. MACV is participating in all the re-integrations.
Michael Medina – AMVETS Post #5 of West St Paul Mexican Americans Memorial Harriet Island a memorial to be constructed to honor Mexican American Veterans who have served our country. Phone 651-645-0585
• Other State Organizations
3. Federal Agencies
• VA Regional Office –Jeff Alger-Director Sue Malley new Assistant Director was introduced. Closing our physical year. Hiring 40 new employees in the past few weeks. Moving loan guarantee office being moved to Bloomington area. Good budget year in 07 and 08 looks to be the same. Transition assistance for active duty office is one of the responsibilities of the office.
• VISN 23 – Cynthia Breyfogle for Dr Petzel. 08 budget is in at this time. Second highest increase in the US. Share ideas for ways to help the veterans care that are returning. Benefit books are out. Grand opening of the Bemidji clinic. Several other clinics are doing well. Forms are available for assistance to enroll in VA. Crisis Hot line 800 273 TALK. Recent enrolled.
•Mpls VA Hospital – Steve Kleinglass- Outreach DVSO office help getting people to VA. Spinal Cord injury bldg is coming along well with 30 beds. Activation discussion being held about personnel staffing. Congressional visit last week. Secretary advisory commission meeting for the public will be held next week. Sixty five new parking spaces available soon. new beds are being installed currently. Lots of visitors are visiting the VA this month. 1,100 exams per month currently. Category eight is being discussed again at this time. New Fisher house is going to be built in 2008 22 unit home.
•St Cloud VA Hospital – Rose Jaco survey review the hospital and the hospital came threw with flying colors. Construction projects are on going. Recruitment for several key nurse positions have been filled. New contract that takes affect in November for a Chaplin pastoral program at St. Cloud. This program is to help chaplains that deal with the National Guard. The Wall will be in St. Cloud starting
•St Paul Vets Center No show
•88th Regional Readiness Command No show
•Ft Snelling Cemetery – Art Smith Total interments for August 449. FYTD 4,225, Total to date 176,224. Team site visit at Camp Ripley and Spooner Wisc. Some storm damage for weather recently several of the large trees came down. There is a lot of construction going on so keep alert while driving there. Re-aligning head stones is coming along well and monies have been received to do much of next years work. New cemetery site near DeMoines west on
I-80.
4. Federal Congressional Representatives and Senators
•Senator Norm Coleman – Greg Gorman Bemidji clinic opening tour was attended and impressed with the facility. Secretary Gates called on the 60 days hands off. 134th BCT will be exempt due to our program. VA budget to possibly pass this week. Report on Iraq this week. Working on getting orders changed on National Guard orders.
Great visit to Iraq this past week.
•Senator Amy Klobuchar – Martin Ludden
• 1st District Representative – Tim Waltz – Chad Larmer
• 2nd District Representative- John Kline – Larry Johnson
•3rd District Representative – Jim Ramstad – Margaret Cavanaugh
•4th District Representative – Betty McCollum – Josh Straka Visited National Guard mission of 4th district National guard facilities. Visited VA in MPLS and had positive feedback on the facility. Meeting with 200 of the 600 Marines from the reserves are being called to attend a type of reintegration. Handout given to those who attended
meeting.
•5th District Representative – Keith Ellison – Mike Siebenaler
•6th District Representative – Michele Bachman – Sean Nienow Attended the Marine Reserve meeting. Working in state this last month. Getting names to her of members coming back so she can personally contact them.
•8th District Representative – James Oberstar- Melissa Jabas – Visited National Guard on reintegration. Benefits to get extended to guard personnel.
•7th District Representative – Collin Peterson- Al Lohr Commendation to VA for the recent visits to the Mpls VA.
5. Announcements –
28 October WWII Women’s recognition. Julie 651-297-8818 Volunteers need at the Armed Forces Services Center.
Eye glasses information was handed out to those present.
6. Meeting in Recess for 10 minutes –
Treasurer is overloaded and wanted to be replaced. A new treasurer will be appointed within the next 30 days. Organizations who would take over this position should contact the Chairman. A Letter of Appreciation for past years of service needs to be given to the Treasure. Dick Carol made a motion to honor Jim, 2nd by Dean. Motion Carried
Only a few checks are written each year so there should not be a lot of time spent as treasure. Discussion held on new banner being purchased at this time.
7. Old Business –
Discussion about an advisory committee of our past chairpersons. Discussion on Legislation committee will be established in October.
8. New Business –
Jerry will attend the CVSO meeting on the 10th to inform them about the UVLC.