UVLC Minutes–Wednesday, February 3, 2010
• Call to order – 0930 Hrs.
• Pledge of Allegiance – Howard Wilson
• Invocation – Jerry Kyser
• Recognition of visitors and guests and Commander’s of VSO’s -none
• Reports from: Chairman, Ralph Donais-Vice Chairman Jerry Kyser: Jerry will hand out responsibilities for each member organization—each org should send a note for whom to send this to. February 9, 2010 at 1030 Hrs. is Veterans Day on the hill.
1. Federal Agencies
VISN 23 –Cynthia Breyfogle, Acting Director: Jim Dank: They are still waiting for confirmation on Dr. Petzel for Under Secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Clinic closures will be on VISN web site. Consolidated patient account center in Levenworth has been moved back to 2012.
VA Regional Office – Peter Panos, PAO for Dr Carol Fillman, Director: Boot camp is planned for veterans women’s conference in June. Education benefits-all that were applied for in Jan should be done by the end of Feb. If they have not received payment for the Fall they can still be paid at regional office. Veterans sensitivity training is ongoing and has gone to veterans service organizations. Commented on the $3,000 advance.
Mpls VA Medical Center – Steve Kleinglass, Director: Absent
St Cloud VA Medical Center – Sheryl Kittelson—Nat’l salute to hospitalized vets next week ; tours and art show 13th. Construction is moving forward. Energy projects are ongoing.
Minneapolis Vets Center – : Bernard Beamon talked abou the new Vet center in Brooklyn Park.
Ft Snelling Cemetery – Brad Butler for Art Smith, Director:
December Current FYTD Total to Date
Total Internments 327 1,430 188,766
Caskets 195 697 149,840
Cremations 103 594 37,125
Columbarium 29 139 1,801
Female Veterans- Total 1,423
Veterans Training Service [VETS] – Jodi Bean: 10 case for USARA. Next veteran career day May 5,2010 , 11-3. Wells Fargo job fair, Best Buy is going to help this year.
2. State Agencies and MN Veteran Assistance Organizations
MN Dept of Veteran Affairs – Deputy Commissioner – Amy Rudolph: No policy initiatives this year. 10:30on the 9th is Vets on the hill day. Get your appointments now. Some bills have been introduced. One was a bill to determine where to have Veterans Day celebrations each year.
MN Veterans 2009 Legislative Info – Information Officer – Anna Long: Newsletters available and there is a new brochure available. They are running a campaign with WCCO (Veteran of the month program).
MN Military Affairs – Col Eric Ahnes: Earned benefit program comments. 34th Inf coming back home –next group on Friday, then another on the 9th. Annual report was handed out. Got several awards including 2 Emmys, environmental award. They did not ask for supplemental requests this year. Cedar Street is being upgraded. (old hanger) 1/3 no alcohol; 1/3 bar area/1/3 conventions etc
MN Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV)- Kathy Vitalis : Thank you to all who have donated. Letters of support are needed for them to get funding. Need these updated. 43 homeless vets housed and employed in this economy. Carey Jacsha is the new operations director. Duluth is closed –wall busting will start next week. May25-26 metro standdown (Fort Snelling)
MN Veterans Initiatives Center and Research Institute (VICTRI) – Jim Coulthard—comments on center at Sauk Center. They are looking into some grants. Honor Flights: Jerry Kyser: The next flight on May2 is full. The next flight will be Oct/Nov. They need guardians. Local website: Honorflighttwincities.org National website:
honorflight.org.
DAV: Jeff Alger: They have 2 fund raisers –Golf tournament & May 22 5K in Cold Spring. They are launching a new beer, Old Glory Lager, a portion of the proceeds go to veterans foundation.
Beyond the Yellow ribbon: John Stepan TAA (Transition Assistance Advisor). They just got word there will be an event March 6-7 at Mpls Convention Center CBWTU conference at the same time at the Convention Center. Have 28 CBWTU soldiers. Other MN Veteran Organizations: None
3. Federal Congressional Senators and Representatives
Senator Amy Klobuchar –Greg Swanholm – She has been on several trips. She presented a flag to USS Arizona survivor.
Senator Al Franken – Nicole Ly – Doing legislative planning. He wants to know our priorities. They will get e-mails to everyone regarding the Open House on Feb. 17, 2010 at 30 East Plato Blvd.
7th District Representative – Collin Peterson- Al Loehr: Received draft of 2010 budget for Veterans Affairs-one of the best he has seen in many years.
1st District Representative –Tim Walz – Absent
2nd District Representative – John Kline – Chaz Johnson: John will be doing his job bouncing between his committees. He met with the nominees for the academy.
3rd District Representative –Erik Paulsen – John-Paul Yates: It’s kind of quiet time right now.
4th District Representative- Betty McCollum- Connie Haddeland- She provided a letter from Betty & a brief summary of the budget. She gave report on new GI Bill money.
5th District Representative –Keith Ellison – Mike Siebenaler: Absent
6th District Representative- Bachmann – Tara Westby: They sent a woman to the Merchant Marine Academy. They are doing Valentines for veterans.
8th District Representative- James Oberstar – Melissa Jabas – He is pleased with budget for Veterans Affairs. She spoke about cuts to Tricare.
Highway Federal Credit Union: Spoke about what they want to do for Veterans. They are now the 3rd largestCredit Union In the state since they merged with Ft. Snelling Credit Union. Joe Shermmers: He spoke about Paintings at Little Falls, a history project. They have 8’X10’ paintings painted on silk. The paintings are depicting scenes from 1812-Iraq. Honoring the dead by educating the living. They will be displayed in the chapel at the cemetery.
4. Announcements –
Ralph announced that many of the people coming back do not have jobs. Jerry announced that he would mail out responsibilities of each organization. Ralph announced dues are due.
5. Meeting in Recess for 10 minutes
6. Old Business –
Treasurer’s report-given. 4 Organizations have paid dues. Need update on POC’s . Books are up to date as of the end of last year.
7. New Business –
Feb 9 @1030 Vets on the Hill. Mike Pugliese talked about talking points and to thank the legislature for what they have done in the past two years. He also talked about cleaning up the current veteran’s preference bill. We need to have a legislative agenda: VeteransPreference, Presumption certificate of eligibility, veterans courts, small business, MACV, maintain property tax exemption for widows after the 2 years, maintain Dept. of Veteran Affairs budget levels and continue Military Honor Guard support. Motion by Al Loehr that these be our main topics to legislators. Motion carried. Mike Pugliese commented on the tax committee being the
problem with the tax exemption.
Adjourned: 1145 Hrs/ Next Meeting 9:30 AM – Wed, March 3, 2010 Building 9 Auditorium Mpls Medical Center Campus, Mpls, MN
Ralph Donais, Chairman: Phone: 763-441-2630 E-mail: r.l.donais@izoom.net
Jerry Kyser, 1st Vice Chairman: Phone: 651-338-2717 E-mail: crazyjerry45@hotmail.com
Lawrence Dean, 2nd Vice Chairman: Phone: 651-484-2837 E-mail: lodean.1@uno.com
Don Rask, Treasurer: Phone: 651-647-0398 E-mail: rchief1533@comcast.net
Fay Hassie, Secretary: Phone: 651-698-5860 E-mail: Hassco@iname.com