UVLC Minutes –Wednesday, Nov 7, 2007
• Call to order
• Invocation – Jerry Kyser
• Pledge of Allegiance – Jimmie Lee Coulthard
• Recognition of visitors and guests and Commander’s of VSO’s
• Reports from:
1. Chairman –Jerry Kyser-
Red Tail Project first because Video– Rebuild of P-51C for Tuskegee Airman Tribute – Tim Barzen, Commemorative Air Force (CAF) They ask for support after providing information about their mission around the rebuild of the P-51 and the school projects. Their hope is to be able to replicate this nation-wide
2. State Agencies
• MN Dept of Veteran Affairs –Deputy Commissioner Mike Pugliese and Christine Kiel Brandy Wilson hired as the Women Veterans Benefits Coordinator. Clark Dyrud will speak at the official State Veterans Day Program on the 10th in Inver Grove Heights Community Center.
• MN Dept of Employment and Economic Development – Jim Warnest –Vets Job Fair This is Jim’s last meeting. He is retiring in December. There were over 100 employers at the job fair with job openings for the 1100 veterans who attended this event. Jodie is Jim’s replacement at DOL-VETS
• MN Secretary of State – Mark Ritchie Secretary Ritchie explained the plan to initiate a “Vote in Honor of This Veteran” duplicated from a program in Maine. Also reviewing legislation so all veterans can vote in time to be
counted. A handout from his office titled “Voting for Military Personnel & Overseas Voters” was distributed explaining problems & solutions proposed.
• MN Veterans Home Board – Dean Ascheman- Vets Home Board Member The task force for the Veterans Home Board has reported to the Governor & the decision will soon be forthcoming. The Vets 4 Vets Foundation reported the granting of three more grants. 1st to the Ft Snelling Rifle Squad, 2nd To the Veterans & Community Housing Project for furniture and 3rd To the Hazelden Foundation for a pilot program at the renewal center. Dean also introduced National DAV Commander, Robert Reynolds.
• MN Military Affairs – COL Eric Ahlness Col. Ahlness stated they were awarded an Emmy for their working with the community reintegration, stating 119 soldiers have new employment, 175 legal case, 3 cases to the VAMC,
75% want higher education, 320 received onsite counsel, 500 received deer tags, 285 taken safety motorcycle training courses. Interagency support is why this is working.
• MN Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV)- Kathy Vitalis 2007 Holiday Open House is held on Friday December 7th from 12 PM until 4 PM at Building 47. Mankato Standown at Altell Convention Center November 13th. A community outreach coordinator was hired for the Duluth area…that the jobs fair was good for their connections to
employers. That 12 Veterans were taken to Washington DC from a $1,000 grant which they enjoyed.
3. Federal Agencies
• VA Regional Office – Jeff Alger- Director and National DAV Comm. Robert Reynolds Julie Carrie has been hired as his assistant. They have need for more space for their new 100 employees and have the expectation to hired 100 to 150 more for their increasing workload. Nat. DAV Commander Robert Reynolds congratulated those attending members for their support and all of the work that they do to support Minnesota veterans.
• VISN 23 – Cynthia Breyfogle – Deputy Network Director 21,000 OIF OEF veterans in our VISN for care…currently under a continuing resolution budget….Star Award to four teams in the VISN…looking at the numbers of category 8 veterans with high incomes for staffing—space available. The question is how many veterans will this
involve.…Jim Peak is Secretary Nominee…he is a Doctor.
• Mpls VA Hospital – Steve Kleinglass – Director
There have been 17,000 flu shots that have been given at the hospital. Steve wanted to encourage everyone to contact your Veterans Service Officer to see if you are eligible for receiving services at the VA. The Minneapolis VA was given a National Award for efficiency and compliance.
• St Cloud VA Hospital – Rose Blesener-Project Update: Completed the parking lot. Road project is complete until Spring. Second floor specialty unit is being remodeled. Replace the flooring throughout the main floor along with asbestos abatement. Modular building will arrive in a month. Full accreditation with Jayco was received based on their recent survey with the hospital. New clinical education program. Hired a new full time Woman Veterans
Coordinator. In ‘07 they treated 1,600 female veterans, which about 5% of the total veteran population. Following the Veterans Day ceremony there will be a parade. There will be over 300 veterans marching in the parade.
• St Paul Vets Center – Ernie Boswell-The Vets Center will be moving to new quarters. There are many new outreach efforts. All of the programs will be defined in the next month’s meeting. Anger management reintegration training was just completed.
Ft Snelling Cemetery-Art Smith
Oct 2007 Current FYTD Total to Date
• Total interments 399 4968 176,965
• Caskets 162 2349 144,750
• Cremations 200 2265 31,861
• Columbarium 32 317 317 1,289 female vets
October 2007
• WW11 129
• Korea 44
• Vietnam 40
• Persian Gulf 0
• Active Duty 0
• Dependent 166
• Art Smith talked about the flag ceremony recitation controversy at internment. The VA clarified its decision to allow the ceremony, if requested by the family.
4. Federal Congressional Representatives and Senators
• Senator Norm Coleman – Greg Gorham-Updates from the month: Red Bull chapter 30 benefits. Board of correction for military records was not going to take the applications as a group. It would remove the 730-day requirement long term and allow the 20 months of service to meet the requirements. Drafted a letter to the President to change the orders. Senator introduced the upward bound improvement act, provides GED training,
employment counseling, textbooks, free of charge. 180-day requirement for service to qualify for this program. Working currently to get the 180-day requirement removed so that more guard and reserve soldiers can benefit from this program.
• 2nd District Representative – John Kline – Mike Osskopp-The GI bill passed the military affairs subcommittee. The Veterans bill passed the house 4 months ago. There is an attempt to submit a clean bill. The Veterans are held hostage by attaching other items to the veteran’s bill.
• 3rd District Representative – Jim Ramstad – Margaret Cavanaugh
• 4th District Representative – Betty McCollum – Josh Straka-The funding bill is the largest increase in veterans spending in 77 years. We hope that the President can quickly sign it. Permanent tax relief has been signed for returning veterans.
• 5th District Representative – Keith Ellison – Mike Siebenaler-Ellison signed on to HR 463-honor our commitment to veterans act, and change to the requirements for grants. Children of soldiers who have lost their lives would be contenders regardless of income.
• 6th District Representative – Michele Bachman – Sean Nienow-Congresswoman is concerned about the veterans funding.
• 8th District Representative – James Oberstar- Alana Petersen-Congressman had surgery on a nerve in his neck. He is recovering well.
• 7th District Representative – Collin Peterson – Al Loehr- New chairman of the Veteran Affairs committee is a great advocate for the Veterans. Happy Veterans Day to all.
5. Announcements –
Chairman- November 10th at Inver Grove Heights is the State Veterans Day Tribute. 2P.M the Veterans Home Program in Minneapolis.
6. Meeting in Recess for 10 minutes
7. Old Business-
Business expenses were approved for the amount $554.00. This included expenses for copying, Grandview CVSO fall conference, banner for the state fair, and postage. Dick Carroll and Jerry Nalipinski corrected our CD account so that it has the correct name. Nominating committee is to report at the December meeting.
8. New Business-
A new listing of members will be coming in the future with billing for membership. All checks need to be sent to Jimmie Lee Coulthard @ 201 West Roosevelt St. River Falls, Wisconsin 54022. Enclosed with the minutes is a military voting proposal. Please give this to your organizations so that it can be voted on at the next UVLC meeting. We are also asking for support of the Governors new initiative that you have received.
9. Adjournment
/ Next Meeting 9:30 am, Wed, December 5th at Mpls VA Campus, Building 9
Number of people is attendance was 53.
Submitted by Jimmie Lee Coulthard