UVLC Minutes April 4,2007
• Call to order by the Chairman, Jerry Kyser
• Invocation – Jerry Kyser
• Pledge of Allegiance – Lead by Howard Wilson, Merchant Marines
• Recognition of visitors and guests and Commander’s of VSO’s
• Reports from:
1. Chairman, Jerry Kyser-Appreciation
was expressed for the turnout at the committee hearings. 26 out of the 2,300 bills are for Veterans. It is crunch time…We need to call our legislators and tell them the need for passage of the Minnesota GI bill and the Veteran Retirees tax exemption bill.
2. State Agencies
• MN Dept of Veteran Affairs/Legislative Reports-Appreciation was expressed for the lobbying efforts. It is understood by the legislature that the Veterans are present. On Thursday, April 5th at the State Capitol Rotunda there will be the French Legion of Honor Awards presented to Minnesota WWII Veterans John Hinchcliff and Gordon Engle. The French Republic began awarding its highest distinction to American WWII Veterans in 2004. This is the highest honor that France can bestow upon those who have achieved remarkable deeds for France during WWII. French Consul General Jean Baptistse Main de Bossiere will be honoring these two men for their roles in the
liberation of France.
• Christine Kiel distributed three handouts that outlined some of the 2007 Veteran bills of interest:
• Veteran owned small business designation for state contracts
• Firearms safety training exemption for essential employees while in active service
• War Orphan extension
• Minnesota GI bill
• Property Tax exemption for disabled veterans
• MN Veterans Home Board- Chip Cox-The Minneapolis Home has a provisional compliance with VA standards concerning the two citations from the Dept of Health. They will be corrected by next week. Admissions have been deferred until the corrections have been made. $100,000 has been spent on fall alarm equipment. Most importantly is to try to prevent the falls. There was a power failure. The generator kicked in. Xcel came out to re-energize and blew the generator and the switchgear. Crews came out to restore the power. The facility is back on to Xcel. The switchgear is being rebuilt.
• MN Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV)- Stand down is May 17 & 18. Working with the 88th. Please contact Kara is you are interested in volunteering or sponsoring a meal. 651-292-0145. It was suggested that an announcement should be placed in the American Legions and VFW magazines for appropriate circulation. A grant has been received from Help America for $5,000. It will be at the Fort Snelling complex.
3. Federal Agencies
• VA Regional Office-Kay Anderson- Twenty more people will be hired to fulfill the staff needs at the Regional Office. There will be a Women’s Veteran Program on Thursday, May 10th at the American Legion Post 435-6501 Portland Ave S. Richfield, Mn. 4-7P.M. Guest Speaker-Elizabeth Strohfus WWII Aviator and author of “Love at First Flight.”
For more info contact Cynthia.Rasmussen@us.army.mil
• VISN 23 –Dr. Randy Petzel- Bemidji Community out base clinic will be opening in May or June. This will greatly benefit NW MN. Received another bundle of resources. There are twenty-one new positions. They include coordinators and outreach at most of the medical centers. There is a new standard to waiting time until the next appointment. The new standard is thirty days. We want your feedback. There are less than 800 patients on
the waiting list. Money situation: There is enough money in 2007. There will be a supplemental package. There is deliberation on ’08 budget.
• Chaplain Morris had just attended a prayer breakfast. A moment of silence for the most recent soldiers KIA. Major Morris will be attending the funeral in Fraizee MN to support the family of the fallen soldier. His brother is serving in Iraq and will be attending the funeral, then returning to continue his service.
• Mpls VA Hospital – Steve Kleinglass-Never wait with an emergency. There is a need for patients to go to the nearest facility when there is an emergency. New Spinal Cord Injury facility is planning the groundbreaking ceremony for the 11th of May, 2007. There are two new primary care teams coming on board. Opening a tenth operating room. One hundred men and women have been cared for in the Polytrauma unit. Tasks forces are
preparing for the troops coming back home. Fort McCoy will have an enrollment process.
• St Cloud VA Hospital-Joan Vincent- There are five physician vacancies: Optometry, Podiatry, Case Mgr for long term management, suicide prevention coordinator, recruiting operation freedom assignment. Involved with National Guard re-integration program. The number for the acute psychiatric unit is 320-255-6380.
• Ft Snelling Cemetery – Don Emond introduced Sara Elton, Cemetery Director Intern. April statistics: Total interments 368/caskets208/cremations/130 Columbarium 30(260) 43%
Current FYTD: total interments 2,196/caskets1, 181/cremations1, 015/ Columbarium 86 (1011) 46%. Total to Date: total interments 174,197/Caskets143,582/cremations30,529/ columbarium 86(30,615) 17% Female Veterans 1,242/ Rifle Squad Honors 48,262.
Echo Taps on Armed Forces Day May 19, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. Final phase development of land and renovation of buildings will begin in about 3 weeks and should be completed by September of 2009. Sheey Co. received the contract for doing the work.
• 88th Regional Readiness Command-There are 65,000 Army Reservists. 2,000 are with the 88th RRC. April 9 will be a ceremony honoring Sgt Matt Maupin who was captured and not forgotten. Specialist Ahmed Altaie from Ann Arbor, Michigan who was captured and presumed alive who will be promoted. Announcing the Joint Military Ball: Where: Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Minneapolis South 7800 Normandale Blvd. When: Saturday, May 19 cost $45. Point of contact LTC Renee Ellis 612-713-3398. Armed Forces 5K run/walk Saturday May 19, 2007 8a.m. Fort Snelling State Park. Pre registration is $18. Race day registration is $25. Online registration available at www.midwestevents.com www.MNMilitary Expo.com 2007 Minnesota Military Expo Ft Snelling Army Reserve
Complex May 19-20 9-4 this 2-day event is FREE and has lots of displays and interactive exhibits for all ages. For more information contact 1-800-THE ARMY ext 3013
4. Federal Congressional Representatives and Senators
Representative Dan Severson-Thanked the UVLC for being integral in the bill processing. There is 2.2Billion dollar surplus and we don’t have 75 Million to provide this to support the tax exemption for our retirees. This is not a benefit for the retirees, this is a recruiting tool. They have a strong background in leadership. This has been the third year that this has been and initiative. There are 420,000 Veterans in this state. The problem is that we are not being heard. Encouragement was made to contact representatives. Thank you for what you do. Gather on the front line and make a charge. Senator Norm Coleman – In March the Senator visited Morehead, Hibbing and Mankato.
He heard first hand from families of Veterans. April 15 there will be steak fry in Iraq by a Mancini’s fundraiser. Parallel events will take place with video coverage. 11% increase for Health care.
1st District Representative – Tim Walz-Congressman Walz praised House passage of Warrior Assistance Act of 2007. He supported this legislation, which improves training for, and reduces the caseloads of, case managers serving active duty military personnel. The legislation also helps service members make the transition form active duty military into the Department of Veteran Affairs system. Walz stated, “Warriors are priority.” Walz served
24 years in the military. He believes is making the government work for us in the right way. The House budget provides for the largest veterans’ budget increase in American history – $3.5 billion more this year ($32 billion over the next five years) for veterans’ health care than the President’s budget. These additional resources are needed to provide excellent health care for new veterans, repair VA health care facilities, make needed investments in veterans’ mental health care and traumatic brain injury and speed up and improve the accuracy of disability claims processing. “We have a sacred obligation to take care of Veterans; let’s make the VA an advocate not an adversary.” Said Walz
3rd District Representative – Jim Ramstad – Bryan Nelson-The Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act directs the Dept of Veterans Affairs to screen and monitor veterans for risk factors of suicide, provide education for all VA staff, contractors and medical personnel who have interaction with veterans, and makes available a 24-hour mental health care for veterans found to be at risk for suicide.
7th District Representative – Collin Peterson – Al Loehr-An amendment was made to the wounded warrior bill that requires the government to reimburse disabled vets for their travel to/from VA facilities at the same rate as government employees. If passed, the current rate of 11 cents per mile will be increased to 48.5 cents per mile.
5. Meeting in Recess for 10 minutes
6. Old Business-
The revised By-Law approval was tabled due to a request by Tom Shaw for members to have the opportunity to review 30 days prior to acceptance. Motion was put forth by Dick Carroll and seconded by Al Loehr. Motion passed.
7. New Business
8. Adjournment/ Next Meeting Wed, May 2, Bldg 9 – Mpls VA Campus
9. 46 people were in attendance
Respectfully submitted by Jana Kyser
It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the loss of Dick Carroll,78,of Center City. Dick
represented the WWII Submarine Veterans at the UVLC. He was driving the Chisago Co.
Veterans Van back from the Mpls. VA, Friday 4/6/07 at 2pm and died in a head-on collision.
Rose Carroll told me “He died serving Veterans” that’s what he did. Dick will be greatly missed
for his Leadership and Service to Veterans.
Jerry Kyser – Chairman