UVLC Minutes –Wednesday, Aug 13th, 2008
• Call to order
• Invocation –
• Pledge of Allegiance – Howard Wilson
• Recognition of visitors and guests and Commander’s of VSO’s: Recognition of: Stan Kowalski, Commander of the VFW. Richard Thill, Commander of the Pearl Harbor survivors. Sid Schmuckler, Commander of the Jewish War Veterans
• Jerry Nalipinski announced Korean War memorial 10 year anniversary on 14th of Sept @ 1:30. Stan Turner is to emcee. The ceremony will include a special dedication, Honor Guard parade and music by the Korean American community. A reception at the nearby National Guard Armory will immediately follow the ceremony.
• The POW/MIA day will be Sept 19 @ 3:30 at the Capital Mall. In 2009 it will be moved to the new stadium at the U of M Where it stared many years ago by the U of M combined ROTC program.
• Reports from: – Chairman, Jerry Kyser- Next UVLC meetings –Wednesday – Sept 10 – Oct 8 5th Floor, Veterans Service Building, St Paul Capitol grounds.
1. State Agencies
• MN Dept of Veteran Affairs – Commissioner Clark Dyrud- Legislation is down for the summer. Good news on the Mpls Veteran’s Home: They were cleared from their last inspections with the health department. Thank Gil Acevedo and the fine staff that has been working hard on this. There is a lot of talk about strategic planning…. When several agencies were combined, they needed a new plan. It begins internally, then there is a need to go out to ask the Veterans Community and other stock holders. A third group is a group of 17 focusing on Mpls Veterans Home strategic plan.
• Mike Pugliese: There will be another state veterans cemetery in Duluth. The application has been accepted for this facility. Starting to gear up for the legislative session. • Gil Acevedo: Mpls is moving forward. Fergus Falls has been cleared of all issues. There was a burglary at the Mpls home. An old server with personal information was stolen, all family members were contacted. The Hastings home is in the news because of an assault on a patient by another patient.
• MN Military Affairs – COL Eric Ahlness: Currently the MN Nat Guard is at the lowest number deployed with about 300 overseas. The numbers will quickly change with future deployment. The RNC places a great demand on over 5,000 police officers. The National Guard will be available to support law enforcement. It’s a convention not a catastrophe. Try to avoid the convention area during the time of the event. Due to this event the UVLC has changed the date to the 10th of Sept.
• MN Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV)- Kathy Vitalis-Quarterly reports were just completed. We have served twice as many veterans in the past year. August 21 International Falls stand down; August 22 Duluth: November 18 is Mankato. National coalition for homeless veterans in June. You are invited to The MACV Comedy Show Fundraiser featuring Jeff Cesario, Scott Hansen and Dave Mordal. This will take place on September 18, 2008 @ 7:30 Holiday Inn East. 2201 Burn Avenue in St Paul. Cost of attending: $30.00 for general seating; $45.00 for gold seating RSVP by September 12 612- 379-3580
• MN Veterans Initiatives Center and Research Institute – Mission Statement: the Veterans Initiative Center will assist Veteran entrepreneurs to start new businesses and initiatives, educate them on the essential knowledge and tools they need to succeed, support them to successfully build and execute their business or research plans, help them to grow their ideas and continue to be a resource for them to help sustain their on-going success. This support is for military and their families. For further information contact John Baker(Board Chair) at 651-773-4111 email jbaker@bkerwaddlaw.com or Jack Sharrett(CEO) at 952-913-3931 email jscharrett@yahoo.com
• MN Vietnam Veterans Charity – TWIN CITIES HONOR FLIGHT –On Saturday September 13, 95 veterans and 48 guardians will be taking the first Twin Cities Honor Flight to Washington DC to see the WWII Memorial. The Veterans go free of charge.
3. Federal Agencies
• VISN 23 –Cynthia Breyfogle- The Network continues to place a high priority on improving access to primary care for veterans living in rural areas. Funding for FY09 looks favorable. through the end of June 2008, VISN 23 has enrolled a total of 26,190 Combat Veterans; this includes 16,379 National Guard members; 4.832 Reservists; and 4.979 active military. Equipment upgrade increased by 20%. 55,000 calls have been taken by the suicide hotline. Approximately 66% of the calls coming from veterans; 5,000 calls were referred to a VA suicide prevention coordinator and 600 veterans were rescued. You can help by spreading the work and logging on to: http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov for more information
• St Cloud VA Hospital – Joan Vincent-The VA is certainly in construction season. There are major road projects underway. The Laboratory and Cardiopulmonary services have relocated to the basement of Building One. Care Units 3 and 4 will be temporarily moved to allow for the addition of a second story on the building for expanded Surgical and Specialty Care.
• Sid Schmuckler: Camp Ripley-The Minnesota Military Museum is a non-profit organization chartered for the purpose of perpetuating Minnesota’s military history. They are registered 501c3 corporations. All donations are tax deductible. The museum is open daily 10:00-5:00 May-September and Thursday and Friday 9:00-4:00 October through April. Group tours are welcome by appointment. Call 320-632-7374.
• Ft Snelling Cemetery – Art Smith – Director
• July total internments 439 current FYTD: 3,950 Total to date 180,515
Caskets 172 1, 835 146,423
Cremations 218 1,741 33,401
Columbarium 49 374 691
Female Veterans total 1,325
July 2008: WWII 157*KOREA 51*VIETNAM 48*PERSIAN GULF 2
*PEACETIME 19*ACTIVE DUTY 2*DEPENDENT 160
There will be major renovations of 3 million dollars that was awarded by a disabled veteran businessman.
4. Federal Congressional Representatives and Senators
• Senator Amy Klobuchar – Martin Ludden- Veteran stimulus package. Dignity for wounded warrior act. Increased funding for suicide prevention and education benefits/GI bill beyond the yellow ribbon was nationalized but not funded. Vets to paramedic act to count their training to get paramedic certification. Martin will be deployed in 6 months.
• 7th District Representative – Collin Peterson – Al Loehr-House passed the VA funding bill go on to the senate for additions and approval. Increase in disability funding claims. Hire 2,100 for supporting claims. Fortunate to have the ear of congress on some necessary funding increases. Impressed with the additions and improvements in Saint Cloud. Thank you to the MN Nat Guard.
• 1st District Representative – Tim Waltz – John Pierce is the new constituent advocate. He will deal with all veteran affairs. He personally has been in the reserve for ten years and has been deployed two times.-Congressman Walz authored The Veterans Pain Care Act of 2008. Walz’s bill requires the Secretary of the VA to develop and implement a comprehensive policy on pain management for veterans enrolled in the VA health care system, and to carry out a program of research, training and education on acute and chronic pain-training and education both for providers, and for veterans and their families.
• 4th District Representative – Betty McCollum – Josh Straka- Congresswoman Betty McCollum strongly supports The Homes for Heroes Act (H.R. 3329)She also supported the increase of reimbursement of mileage to volunteers, bi partisan bill that will hopefully be sent through.
• 5th District Representative – Keith Ellison – Mike Siebenaler-Retroactive records for the funding of the proposed funding.
5. Announcements – Chairman – Vice Chairman
6. Meeting in Recess for 10 minutes
7. Old Business –
Treasure report-There is $3805.41 in the checking account. All dues have been paid. $2,000 was given to the MN Vietnam Veterans Charity for the “Honor flight”. The Report Card will be established when Ralph is available. There was a question about the Veterans license plates. Some of the older plates are being discontinued and are being replaced with new ones.
8. New Business –
Adjournment/ Next Meeting 9:30AM, Wed, Sept10th
Service Building, St Paul Capital grounds
on the 5th floor of MN Vets
There were 55 people in attendance