2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 MINUTES OF AUGUST 4, 2008 MEETING
President Levin called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. & led the Pledge.
Commissioners present: Regalado Baldonado, John Caldera, Veronika Cauley, RenieChampagne, George Gibbs, Cris Gruwell, Jim Guglielmoni, Wallace Levin, Michael Thompson, Robert Varni, Bud Wilson, Dara Wong & Raymond Wong. 13 present & 2 not present. Excused Comm. Jill Buck & Edwin Wilkerson. Deputy City Attorney Wayne Snodgrass & Margaret Champagne were also present.
Comm. Caldera moved approval of the Aug. Agenda, 2nd by Comm. Baldonado. Motion passed. Comm. Guglielmoni moved approval of the minutes of the May meeting, 2nd by Comm. Raymond Wong. Motion passed. Comm. Cauley moved approval of minutes of the June meeting, 2nd by Comm. Dara Wong. Motion passed.
PRESIDENTS REPORT – Comm. Levin reported on the Commissioners Attendance report for 2007 & 2008. The report will be sent to Mayor & the Board.
He welcomed our new Commissioner Dara Wong, who will be an asset to the team.
WAR MEMORIAL VETERANS BUILDING – Comm. Levin reported on 3 War Memorial Trustees cancelled July agenda items The items were to expand the Herbst Theatre stage, additional performance space & allowing a museum to place a banner in building lobby. Veterans should also be able to put up banners in lobby. VICE PRESIDENTS REPORT – Comm. Varni reported that he is working on a plan to bring the Golden Gate Park Forrester's World War I Memorial to the Veterans Building War Memorial Court, after the retrofit project is completed.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS – Comm. Gibbs reported that the East Bay Stand Down for homeless veterans would be held on Aug. 7, 8, 9 & 10, at the Alameda Fair Grounds. Hundreds of Bay Area veterans are given aid & support.
Comm. Wong reported the Veterans of Foreign Wars donated $1,000 to the event.
Comm. Buck is collecting support items from the Pleasanton area for the veterans.
VETERANS EMPLOYMENT – Comm. Thompson reported on Aug. 21st, Veterans
Employment Committee will meet to start planning for the 2009 20th Job Fair.
HEALTH & WELFARE – Comm. Cauley reported on the very successful Veterans focused Project Homeless Connect Event, on July 23, at the War Memorial Veterans Building. This was the first such program just for veterans & the first such event ever held at the Veterans Building. Comm. Cauley has volunteered at many of these events & was commended for her effort. Comm. Caldera reported that American Legion Post 315 collected hundreds of socks, which were given to the veterans. Comm. Buck collected a vanload of items that were donated to the event.
NATIONAL VETERANS GROUPS – Comm. Guglielmoni reported that the DAV presented an award to Willie Mays at the Giants Military Appreciation Night on July 2. Comm. Raymond Wong reported that he & Comm. Dara Wong attended the Aug. 4, Alameda Commissioning of the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf. Comm. Baldonado thanked the Commission for our continued needed support to Filipino Veterans Federal Legislation. He was elected American Legion Post 1 Commander.
HONORS REPORT & ADJOURNMENT - Meeting adjourned in memory of the 4,600+ Americans killed in Iraq/Afghanistan, the homeless veterans that died in San Francisco and those veterans that died of suicide during the month of June & July.
