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VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION
MINUTES OF OCTOBER 6, 2008 MEETING
415-554-6036
President Levin called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. & led the Pledge.
Commissioners present: Regalado Baldonado, Jill Buck, John Caldera, Veronika Cauley, Renie Champagne, George Gibbs, Cris Gruwell, Jim Guglielmoni, Wallace Levin, Michael Thompson, Bud Wilson, Dara Wong & Raymond Wong. 13 present & 2 not present. Excused Comm. Edwin Wilkerson & Robert Varni. Deputy City Attorney Wayne Snodgrass, Margaret Champagne, Michael Gerold, Yon-Teo Seeger & Erin Henke were also present.
Comm. Cauley moved approval of Oct. Agenda, 2nd by Comm. Guglielmoni. Motion passed. Comm. Champagne moved approval of the Sept. minutes, 2nd by Comm. Buck. Motion passed.
PUBLIC COMMENTS – Comm. Cauley introduced Erin Henke, Director of Communications for Hospice by the Bay. They care for Patients & Families in Marin, San Francisco & Sonoma Counties. They care for about 315 patients daily. They work with the VA Medical Center, mainly helping veterans at home. It is the 2nd oldest Hospice in the country & the first one on the West Coast. 85% of their patients are on Medicare. They provide compassionate service to those living with serious illness & have six months or less to live. When families are facing serious illness they guide the patient & their loved ones through the entire end-of-life experience.
PRESIDENTS REPORT – Comm. Levin reported that Comm. Caldera's Sunshine Ordinance Task Force complaint against the Veterans Affairs Commission would come before the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force on Oct. 14, 2008. That he would attend with Comm. Varni and that it was not necessary for other commissioners to attend.
COMMISSION GOAL AND PLANS - Comm. Buck reported on the need to continue our support for programs like the Homeless Connect event held in the Veterans Building. Comm. Caldera reported that only a few members of the commissions attended the event. That if we are going to support these things, let's just support them more than just a rubber stamp, but let's support it by action. Comm. Gruwell reported that he was a bit offended by his comments. That he has been on the Board of Homeless Connect. That he has been working on that harder than & longer than he has. That he keeps making these general comments about what commissioners do with their time. Always starting with the assumption that they are doing nothing. The reality is that it is not the commissioners responsibility to report to him.
VETERANS EMPLOYMENT – Comm. Thompson reported that the Veterans Employment Committee would hold the 19th Annual Job Fair, on May 13, 2009.
HEALTH & WELFARE – Comm. Cauley & Thompson reported on the condition of former Commissioner Ralph Gipson, who is now recovering at Fort Miley VA Hospital.
LEGISLATION EVALUATION - Comm. Raymond Wong reported on recently passed State legislation, that included a resolution for a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Week, starting Dec. 10. Comm. Gibbs reported on his concern for veterans that do not have an honorable discharge & are not considered to be a veteran by the Veterans Administration.
NATIONAL VETERANS GROUPS – Comm. Raymond Wong reported that on Oct. 25th, VFW District 14 would have a picnic for the veterans at the Livermore VA Hospital.
Comm. Caldera reported that on Sept. 23rd, American Legion Post 315 held their Awards Ceremony at the Veterans Building.
Comm. Guglielmoni reported that he spent 7 days working with the DAV funded Monterey Bay Sports Rehab Centers Day of Fishing on the Bay, for 150 veterans.
Comm. Buck reported on a new veterans group called Vets For Freedom.
Comm. Levin reported that the Navy is looking for veterans that served at the Concord Arms Depot. It is part of the Navy's effort to clean up the site prior to civilian use.
Comm. Champagne reported that the Veterans Day Parade will be held on Sunday, Nov. 9th, starting at 11:00 a.m. The parade will start at 2nd & Market to City Hall.
HONORS REPORT & ADJOURNMENT - Meeting adjourned in memory of the 4,700+ Americans killed in Iraq/Afghanistan, the homeless veterans that died in San Francisco and those veterans that died of suicide during the month of September.
Ezequiel Urrutia, 86, World War II, Army Air Corp, 38 B-24 missions, Purple Heart. Lydia Mead, 54, Vietnam era, Army, retired Master Sergeant.
Frank Winston, 74, Vietnam era, Air Force, Judge Advocate
Wayne Willis, 89, World War II, Army, Battle of the Bulge, POW.
Arthur Ottolini, 86, World War II, Army.
Richard Durban, 66, Navy, Vietnam era, Aviation Electronics.
