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VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION
MINUTES OF NOV. 5, 2007 MEETING
Commission meeting was called to order at 6:10 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.
Commissioner Gruwell informed us that he could not attend & he was excused.
12 present & 3 not present (1 excused & 2 absent). Ingrid Serembe, Ralph Gipson,
Margaret Champagne & Dara Wong were also present.
Commission Nov. Agenda & Minutes of Oct. meeting were approved.
PUBLIC COMMENTS - Ingrid Serembe, Commander of American Legion Post 505, spoke about her posts concern about the moving costs, where the veterans will have their offices & meetings, when we will be out of the Veterans Building, during the Seismic Upgrade. She was informed that this subject is part of our monthly agenda for evaluation & action. That the Trust Agreement clearly states that the War Memorial Trustee's, appointed by the Mayor, will deal only with an organization made up of the San Francisco posts of the American Legion, in all issues pertaining to the Veterans Building. That this commission has no authority
in the War Memorial Veterans Building. Comm. Caldera reported on a letter of concern about the Upgrade Plan that he received from Arch Wilson, Adjutant of the American Legion Alexander Hamilton Post 448.
NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT & VICE PRESIDENT FOR 2008
Comm. Champagne nominated Vice President Levin for President. Second by Comm. Wong. There were no other nominations for President.
Comm. Wong nominated Comm. Varni for Vice President. Second by Comm.
Thompson. Comm. Caldera asked if he could nominate himself & was then nominated by Comm. Gibbs. Second by Comm. Baldonado.
Additional nominations & election will be held at the Dec. 3rd meeting.
PRESIDENTS REPORT - Comm. Wilson reported that we now have an official City & County of San Francisco phone 554-6036, for the first time in 23 years.
He thanked the majority of the commission that attended the Mayor's Flag Pole
dedication to all San Francisco veterans of the Armed Forces of the U.S.
V.P./SECRETARY REPORT - Comm. Levin reported that because we did not give up we now have a phone & other support from the City. After a discussion the members of the commission agreed to continue to meet on the first Monday of the month, at 6:00 p.m., at the Veterans Building. He will work on the other support.
COMMISSION GOALS & PLANS- War Memorial Trustees Veterans Building
Seismic Upgrade Plan – Comm. Levin reported that Deputy City Attorney Wayne
Snodgrass will give us a written evaluation of the Veterans Building Seismic Upgrade Plan. Then the commission will be in a better position to take action.
COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE - Comm. Cook reported on & presented new veterans legislation for evaluation. They just opened a Friday out station at the Downtown Clinic. The office just celebrated their 5th year at Fort Miley. They will be moving their main office soon.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS - Comm. Gibbs reported that the VA is increasing their effort to help veterans in prison. They are working on the August 2008 Veterans Stand Down in the East Bay.
HEALTH, WELFARE & EMPLOYMENT - Comm. Thompson reported that on May 14, 2008, the 18th annual San Francisco Job Fair will be held at Fort Mason. Comm. Caldera urged everyone to support the VA's effort to collect used clothing for homeless veterans. Comm. Caldera claimed that ¼ of all homeless in America are veterans & on the 2005 Suicide report that reported on the high rate of suicides among returning Iraq veterans.
JROTC & BLUE ANGELS SUPPORT - Comm. Varni reported that the JROTC
Support Committee is trying to get a year extension for JROTC. Also they are trying to get people that support JROTC to run for the School Board.
LOCAL VETERANS MEMORIALS - Comm. Varni reported on the Foresters of America's World War I Golden Gate Park Fountain Memorial, which was dedicated in 1927. The fountain was originally made for horses to get water & later became a planter for flowers. The future location also needs to be evaluated.
MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY - Comm. Levin reported that this commission is the main coordinator of the Presidio Memorial Day Ceremony & all commissioners' support & participation is needed.
NATIONAL VETERANS GROUPS - Comm. Wong reported that the VFW Chinatown post would hold their 62nd Anniversary Dinner on Dec. 8th, 6:00 p.m.
at the Four Seasons Restaurant.
VETERANS DAY PARADE - Comm. Champagne reported that the Police Dept. informed him today (Nov. 5) that the starting point of the Parade would be at Beale St. & not at 2nd St. This was because of the large conference at the Moscone Center.
OLD BUSINESS – Comm. Cook reported that the requests for commissioner's cards have been delayed, because the order requests had been lost during inter-office transmission. She hoped to have this problem resolved as soon as possible.
HONORS REPORT & ADJOURNMENT - Comm. Levin reported that we should adjourn in memory of the 4,300+ Americans killed in Iraq & Afghanistan, the homeless veterans that died on the streets of the San Francisco during the month of October. In honor of former writer Jack Rosenbaum. He was a World War II veteran & for 50 years he plugged veteran events in the local press.
Minutes submitted by Wallace Levin, 982-3417. Next meeting Dec. 3, 2007.
