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Meeting Information



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City & County ofSan Francisco

Veterans Affairs Commission

minutes of January 5th, 2009 meeting

(415) 554-6036

 

President Levin called the meeting to order at 6:07PM, a quorum being present, and led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Refreshments provided by Commission President Levin, celebrating a productive new year.

 

NOTE:  U.S. flag code changes to allow salute without military dress attire (January 2008), excerpts:

Respecting the hoisting, lowering or passing of the U.S. flag during parades, ceremonies and other events:

·          for current military members in uniform: stand at attention and render a military salute.

·          for veterans or former and present military members’ not in uniform: stand at attention, remove one's hat, place right hand over heart or render a military salute.

·          for plain-clothed civilians: stand at attention, remove one's hat and place right hand over heart.

 

ATTENDANCE – ROLL CALL

 

present

absent

excused

Wallace Levin

x

 

 

Robert Varni

x

 

 

Elbert “Bud” Wilson

x

 

 

Regalado Baldonado

 

 

x

Jill Buck

x

 

 

John Caldera

x

 

 

Veronika Cauley

 

 

x

Renie Champagne

x

 

 

George Gibbs

x

 

 

Chris Gruwell

x

 

 

James Guglielmoni

x

 

 

Michael Thompson

x

 

 

Edwin Wilkerson

x

 

 

Raymond Wong

x

 

 

Dara Wong

x

 

 

Wayne Snodgrass

x

 

 

Margaret Champagne

x

 

 

 

Thirteen (13) commissioners present, two (2) commissioners excused, eight (8) commissioners required for quorum.

 

Commission President Levin circulated $ 5.00 off coupons from Mario Benfield, Alexander Hamilton AL post for Chevy’s Restaurant, San Francisco location only.

 

ELECTIONS for 2009 OFFICERS

Seeing no further nominations from the nominating committee, elections were held by written ballots.   Commission President Levin asked the committee of tellers, Margaret Champagne and Wayne Snodgrass to carefully count the ballots cast.  The elections results were announced:

11 votes cast for Wallace Levin – President

2 votes cast for Veronika Cauley

13 votes cast for Robert Varni – Vice President

13 votes cast for Dara Wong - Secretary

Commission President Levin graciously thanked the commissioners for their confidence in him to lead the Veterans Affairs Commission to another productive new year. 

 

MEETING proceeded:

Acceptance for approval of January 5th, 2009 agenda.  Motion by Commissioner Guglielmoni, 2nd by Commissioner Thompson.  Motion passed.

 

Acceptance for approval of December 1st, 2008 minutes.  Motion by Commissioner Wilson, 2nd by Commissioner Guglielmoni.  Motion passed.

 

The following committee reports were submitted:

 

VICE PRESIDENT VARNI - requested to submit his report toward the latter part of meeting.

 

COMMISSION GOALS AND PLANS

Commissioner(s) Buck and Gibbs proposed that commission plan a picnic at the VA Livermore division’s community living center, and a BBQ picnic for the 3rd Street VA downtown clinic.  Commissioner Gibbs mentioned the logistics of downtown clinic, small kitchen, sidewalk permit might be needed.

 

The veterans service organizations are doing all they can and more should be done, to assist the plight of returning veterans.  Commission President Levin reminds everyone, the commission has no influence over federal legislation and foreign policy decisions.

 

Commissioner Buck reported that the Alameda and Contra Costa counties supports our veterans with welcoming home ceremonies.

 

Commissioner Gibbs mentioned his personal experience from being drafted into the Army, coming back to mainland USA, adapting, overcoming obstacles, medical disability, temporary disability, adjusting to civilian life, filing persistent VA claims to upgrading disability, and gaining insight into the VA.

 

Commissioner Guglielmoni suggested similar obstacles to upgrading disability.  Suggested vets go to different doctor for medical evaluation, changing venue to another facility and do not give up.

 

VETERANS EMPLOYMENT

Commissioner Thompson announced January 14th, 2009 planning meeting at the SFVAMC Downtown Clinic, 1,500 applications/invitations/flyers sent to employers, event will be held on:

May 13th, 2009 10:00AM thru 2:00PM

18th annual San Francisco Job Fair

Fort Mason Conference Center

Fees fund veterans’ employment-related assistance program.  Commissioner Varni proposed the commission to inform the Board of Supervisors to promote job fair.

 

HEALTH & WELFARE

Commissioner Cadera mentioned that returning veterans seeking employment is taking as long as 18 months or more to seek employment.  Commissioner Cadera mentioned book-signing January 28th, 2009 7:00PM about returning veterans unemployment.  Commissioner Cadera mentioned the AL post #315 circulated calendars, Christmas cards, magazines on December 24th, 2008 at Fort Miley.

 

Commissioner D.Wong mentioned the VFW circulated holiday goodies, stockings with scripbooks, etc. on December 23rd, 2008 at Fort Miley nursing care facility.

 

Commissioner Buck mentioned her group of neighbors sponsored a Christmas breakfast for the VA Livermore division’s community living center.

 

Commissioner(s) Guglielmoni and Thompson reported that 500 pocket appointment calendars from DAV post #144 were delivered to DAV service officer at Fort Miley.

 

Commissioner Varni discussed traumatic brain injury (TBI) among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, an ongoing project of outreach to pursue.  Commissioner Varni said, 20% TBI patients coming back from multiple deployments from Iraq, U.S. Army leaving TBI problems to the Department of Veterans Affairs.  As one of the 93 aides to the Secretary to the U.S. Army, he will submit a written proposal of the creation of a model for veterans’ outreach.  The commission could assist his project.

 

HOMELESS VETERANS

Commissioner Gibbs announced the following facilities http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/region.asp?ID=21 are still accepting clothing donations:

SFVAMC Downtown Clinic

401-3rd Street

San Francisco, CA 94107-1214

 

Commissioner(s) Buck, Cadera, Gibbs, and Wilkerson continually delivered donated clothing/items for homeless veterans.  At this time of year, Commissioner Gibbs mentioned that the homeless shelters fill up.

 

NATIONAL VETERANS GROUPS

Commissioner Varni mentioned the December 2008 event for the AL national commander and department commander was lightly attended, but very well done.

 

OLD BUSINESS

Commissioner Champagne thanked all commissioners, and the two (2) parade chairmen present, for their participation in another successful Veterans’ Day parade event, held on November 9th, 2008.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Commissioner Gibbs announced an urgent need for volunteers for the January 27th, 2009 homeless count.  There are many veterans according to the census.  “The street homeless count, which is required of all cities and counties receiving federal homeless assistance funding, is conducted once every two years.  San Francisco’s last homeless count conducted in January 2007 revealed that the city’s homeless population numbered 6,377.”

 

Commissioner Guglielmoni is working on a resolution to be submitted before the DAV department convention.  Commissioner Guglielmoni made six (6) separate funeral flag presentations to World War II veterans’ families.

 

Commissioner Wilkerson is working on a recommendation to be submitted for VFW district and department approvals.

 

HONORS REPORT and ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned in memory of the 4,725+ Americans killed in Iraq/Afghanistan, the homeless veterans that died in San Francisco and the veterans that died because of suicide during the month of December.

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:28PM