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VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION
MINUTES OF DEC. 3, 2007 MEETING
Commission meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m.
President Wilson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioners present: Regalado Baldonado, John Caldera, Renie Champagne, Cheryl Cook, George Gibbs, James Guglielmoni, Wallace Levin, Michael Thompson, Robert Varni, Edwin Wilkerson, Bud Wilson & Raymond Wong. Commissioners Jill Buck, Veronika Cauley & Chris Gruwell were not present. 12 present & 3 not present. Margaret Champagne & Dara Wong were also present.
Commission Dec. Agenda was approved. Minutes of Nov. meeting were approved. Motion by Comm. Varni, 2nd by Comm. Guglielmoni. Comm. Cook voted no & Comm. Caldera abstained. Comm. Caldera requested that under Public Comments his report of receiving a letter of concern about the Upgrade Plan that he received from Arch Wilson, Adjutant of the American Legion Alexander Hamilton Post 448, be added to the minutes. He also wanted his claim that 1/4 of all homeless in America are veterans & that there was a high rate of suicides among returning Iraq veterans, added to the minutes under Health, Welfare & Employment. These additions were added to the November 2007 minutes. Comm. Champagne questioned the number of homeless veterans reported. Comm. Guglielmoni reported that the Veterans Administration reported that in 2005 nationally there were 744,000 homeless people & that of this number 194,000 were veterans. That 1/4 of all homeless people are veterans.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 2008 – Comm. Wilson re-opened the nominations. Those nominated at the Nov. meeting were Comm. Levin for President. Comm. Varni & Comm Caldera for Vice President. There were no additional nominations. By written ballot Comm. Levin was elected President & Comm. Varni was elected Vice President for 2008.
PRESIDENT REPORT – Comm. Wilson reported that he had been informed by Sue Turley, who lost her son in Iraq, that the organization Wreaths of America would have a ceremony at the Presidio National Cemetery on Dec. 15th. They will also place wreaths on many of the graves. This project pays tribute to deceased veterans during the Christmas Season. Specifically honoring those killed in Iraq.
VICE PRESIDENT – Comm. Levin reported on the meeting held at House Speaker
Pelosi's Office. There were many from those groups that actually are providing service to veterans. Pelosi's Office will develop a list of those that are helping veterans & will hold additional meetings.
JROTC SUPPORT – Comm. Varni reported that the School Board did not approve a resolution to continue the JROTC for another year, but at the same time do away with the Lowell & Mission High JROTC. Board President Sanchez pulled the resolution prior to the vote.
LEGISLATION EVALUATION – Comm. Cook passed out information on Federal
legislation for the commission to evaluate. Selected bills will be placed on the Agenda for the next meeting. Comm. Baldonado felt that H.R.0760 Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 should be Filipino American Veterans Equity Act.
LOCAL VETERANS MEMORIALS – Comm. Varni reported that he is looking into how much it would cost to repair the Golden Gate Park Forrester's Fountain.
Comm. Caldera presented a request that the commission support the combined
effort of the American Legion Bob Basker Post 315 & the Veterans For Peace, Chapter 69's endeavor to hang 4,000 computer disks from the trees across from City Hall, when 4,000 Americans are killed in Iraq. Comm. Levin reported that the Mayor's Veteran's Flag Pole Project has been completed. The lights & the plaque have been installed.
NATIONAL VETERANS GROUP – Comm. Wong & Comm. Guglielmoni reported that all mail to members of the Armed Forces must have the name of a specific person & their address.
VETERANS DAY PARADE – Comm. Champagne reported that they had many problems because of the last minute change of the starting point of the parade. But
even with this problem it was a successful parade. In 2008 Rotary International will
celebrate their 100% Anniversary & they will be a major part of the parade.
NEW BUSINESS – Comm. Cook requested that the commission have a set mailing address, so that all mail for the commissioners can reach the commissioners in a timely manner. Comm. Levin reported that the City will provide us with a City Hall
address at the start of 2008.
HONORS REPORT & ADJOURNMENT Comm. Levin reported that 4,300+ Americans have been killed in Iraq & Afghanistan. We should adjourn in their honor & also in honor of all of the homeless veterans that died in San Francisco during the month of November.
