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Meeting Information



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President Levin called the meeting to order at 6:05PM, a quorum being present.  President Levin asked Margaret Champagne to lead the commission in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

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

RenieChampagne

x

 

 

George Gibbs

x

 

 

Chris Gruwell

x

 

 

James Guglielmoni

x

 

 

Michael Thompson

x

 

 

Edwin Wilkerson

 

 

x

Raymond Wong

x

 

 

Dara Wong

x

 

 

 

Twelve (12) commissioners present, three (3) commissioners excused, eight (8) commissioners required for quorum.  Margaret Champagne and Michael Gerold were present.

 

Acceptance for approval of June 1, 2009 agenda.  Motion by Commissioner Wilson, 2nd by Commissioner Champagne.  Motion passed.

 

ACTION ITEM #1

President Levin reported that because of Mayor Newsom’s support for the Memorial Day ceremony funding, he was able to place ads in six local publications to promote the event.  For the first time in memory the Examiner had nothing about local Memorial Days events prior to the holiday, and a small picture after.  This was the worst Examiner coverage ever.

 

ACTION ITEM #2

The Military Vehicle Preservation Association will conduct a 90th anniversary transcontinental motor convoy across the United States, with as many as 150 historic military vehicles.  They will retrace the original 1919 U.S. Army transcontinental route along the Lincoln highway, in conjunction with the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, celebrating the 200th birthday of our 16th President.  The convoy will leave Washington DC on June 13, 2009, and arrive in San Francisco on July 8, 2009.  Motion by Commissioner Champagne, 2nd by Commissioner Baldonado to support this event.  Motion passed.

 

ACTION ITEM #3

The San Francisco VA Medical Center and VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, with support from the Presidio Trust will be having a welcome home event for Iraq/Afghanistan combat veterans.  The VA will make available to veterans information on enrollment, healthcare, claims/benefits, employment, and education.  Motion by Commissioner Buck, 2nd by Commissioner Thompson to support this event.  Motion passed,

Welcome Home 2009

Golden Gate Club, Presidio of San Francisco

135 Fisher Loop

San Francisco, CA 94129-1194

September 26, 2009

11:00AM – 3:00PM

 

The following committee reports were submitted:

 

PRESIDENT’S REPORT – PRESIDIO MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY

President Levin thanked Commissioners Varni, Wilson, Caldera, Gibbs, Guglielmoni, Thompson, Wilkerson, Raymond and Dara Wong for attending the Memorial Day Ceremony.  President Levin also gave special thanks to Raymond Wong for being the MC; Commissioner D. Wong for editing the written program; Commissioner Buck for taking care of the printing; Commissioner Wilson as parade director, Commissioner Guglielmoni for helping Commissioner Wilson; Commissioner Thompson for leading the Pledge of Allegiance; Commissioner Gibbs for being part of the Buffalo Soldiers’ tribute; Commissioners Varni, Caldera, and Wilkerson for helping with the VIP’s and the press.

 

VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT – COMBAT STRESS PROJECT

Commissioner Buck, Gibbs, Guglielmoni, and Thompson gave reports on the 2nd successful Combat Stress Project May 26th meeting, held at the War Memorial Veterans Building.

 

Commissioner Guglielmoni reported that Commissioner Varni is in the hospital, Commissioner D. Wong will send a card on behalf of the commission.

 

VETERANS EMPLOYMENT

Commissioner Thompson reported on the 19th annual EDD Veterans Employment Committee’s job fair event at Fort Mason Conference Center.  Commissioners Wilkerson, R. Wong, and D. Wong also attended.  There were 26 employers/vendors, and 500 job seekers attending.

 

Commissioner Guglielmoni reported there will be an East Bay Veterans Fair on July 13, 2009,

Concord Hilton

1970 Diamond Boulevard

Concord, CA 94520-5718

 

HOMELESS VETERANS

Commissioner Gibbs reported there will be a Veterans Connect on Tuesday, November 10, 2009, accepting clothing and monetary donations:

SFVAMC Downtown Clinic

401-3rd Street

San Francisco, CA 94107-1214

Commissioner R. Wong reported a $ 250.00 VFW donation.  Commissioner Buck will also be supporting this event.

 

LEGISLATION EVALUATION

Commissioner R.  Wong reported that the following Senate bills have already been passed:

  • SB 469 (Sam Aanestad) Northern California veterans cemetery fees
  • SB 644 (Jeff Denham) civil service examinations: veterans’ preference
  •  

Commissioner R.  Wong reported that the following Senate bills were “held under submission” by the Committee on Appropriations, and are now dead:

  • SB 15 (Gil Cedillo) student financial aid for members and former members of the Armed Forces
  • SB 595 (Gil Cedillo) homeless veterans housing and supportive services act of 2010, May 28, 2009 hearing before Senate appropriations
  • SB 611 (Lou Correa) student financial aid: Cal grant A entitlement awards: veterans
  • SB 646 (Jeff Denham) student financial aid: veterans and dependents

 

NATIONAL VETERANS GROUPS

Commissioner R. Wong reported that the VFW is cracking down on posts that are not following the VFW bylaws.  Commissioner Guglielmoni reported that AMVETS and the DAV are also taking action.

 

President Levin reported that the commission sent a flower wreath to the USS San Francisco CA-38 ceremony on Sunday, May 24, 2009.

 

President Levin presented a Filipino Equity Victory shirt to Commissioner Baldonado for all of his efforts to get this legislation passed.

 

WARMEMORIAL VETERANS BUILDING

Motion by Commissioner Guglielmoni, 2nd by Commissioner Baldonado supporting the flying the POW/MIA flag over the War Memorial Veterans Building every day.  Motion passed.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Commissioner Champagne conveyed his appreciation for the energetic efforts to organize the 2009 Presidio Memorial Day ceremony.

 

OLD BUSINESS

Steven Welch informed the commission that the Sea Scouts are now working with the National Park Service to work out their problems, and that things are looking better.  He also thanked the commission for our help and support.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

AL District #8 Commander Michael Gerold reported that they were providing transportation to the Riverside AL Department Convention June 18-21, 2009 for delegates.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Commissioner Caldera reported that the Veterans for Peace and AL Post #315 were having a program on Afghanistan this month at the War Memorial Veterans Building.

 

The commission will take its traditional summer recess in July, thus there will be no meeting in July.  The next commission meeting will held on August 3, 2009.

 

HONORS REPORT and ADJOURNMENT – Meeting adjourned in memory of the 4,990+ 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 May and the below listed local veterans that recently passed away.

 

Lester Petterson, 83, served in World War II in the Merchant Marine, USNR, SFFD

 

Michael Matushenko, 63, served in Vietnam, U.S. Marine Corps artillery

 

Kado Alvin Marsh, 91, World War II, U.S. Navy aviation chief radioman

 

Milton Rudolph DeLucchi, 90, World War II, U.S. Army Air Corps, photo-reconnaissance, D-Day

 

Colonel William Applegate, 90, served 32 years in the U.S. Army during World War II, Korea, Vietnam

 

Walter Koniuk, 83, World War II, U.S. Marine Corps

 

Alice Audrey Andrews Dilgard, 93, World War II, U.S. Army Air Corps, served 26 years, master sergeant

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:16PM.