2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO
VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION
MINUTES OF OCT. 1, 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, Chris Gruwell, James Guglielmoni, Wallace Levin, Michael Thompson, Robert Varni, Edwin Wilkerson, Bud Wilson & Raymond Wong. Commissioners Jill Buck, Veronika Cauley, Cheryl Cook & George Gibbs were not present. Commissioners Cauley, Cook & Gibbs informed us that they could not attend & they were excused. 11 present & 4 not present (3 Excused & 1 Absent). Dep. City Attorney Wayne Snodgrass & Margaret Champagne were also present.
Commission Meeting Agenda & Minutes of Sept. meeting were approved.
PRESIDENTS REPORT-Comm. Wilson reported that he was contacted by the Mayor's Office in response to our letter for a budget. We may have to change the day & time that we meet to get a secretary and we should get additional help.
V.P./SECRETARY REPORT-Comm. Levin reported that he has been consulting with the Mayor's Office during the past year, in an effort to get us a secretary & other support. A poll of the commission was held, with the first Monday & Wednesday as good days to meet. Starting at 5:00 p.m. also appeared to be good. The Mayor's project to dedicate the Veteran's Flag Pole at Polk & Grove, to all veterans who served in the Armed Forces of the United States is in the works.
COMMISSION GOALS & PLANS-War Memorial Trustees Veterans Building Seismic Upgrade Plan-Comm. Levin reported that Deputy City Attorney Wayne Snodgrass made a presentation at our Sept. meeting. It has been transcribed & he will give us a written evaluation of the Veterans Building Seismic Upgrade Plan.
Veterans City Education Loans/Grants Plan-Comm. Gruwell reported that he hopes to get the city to set aside $20,000 for this project to help veterans at City College. A start up date could come before the end of the year.
HEALTH, WELFARE & EMPLOYMENT-Comm. Thompson reported on Oct. 24th the Veterans Employment Committee would meet to plan the 18th annual 2008 Job Fair at Fort Mason.
LEGISLATION EVALUATION-Comm. Wong reported that in Sept. he attended a
VFW Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. He met with the staffs of ten members of Congress from Northern California about veteran's issues.
LOCAL VETERAN MEMORIALS-Comm. Varni reported that on the 10th floor of the Marines Memorial Club they have the names of all Americans killed in Iraq for public viewing.
JROTC SUPPORT-Comm. Varni reported that the Save JROTC Task Force is requesting that the School Board extend the JROTC for an additional year. There is also a plan to unite San Francisco's 55,000 veterans, in an effort to elect more pro JROTC members to the School Board.
FLEET WEEK BLUE ANGELS SUPPORT-Comm. Gruwell reported that the Board of Supervisors voted 7 to 3 in support of the Blue Angels. He made a motion
that we thank those that gave their support to the Blue Angels. 2ND by Comm. Champagne. Motion passed. Comm. Gruwell made a motion that we convey our Fleet Week Support Resolution & thanks to Edward Leonard, Fleet Week Chairman. 2nd by Comm. Wong. Motion passed.
NATIONAL VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS-Comm. Wong reported that the VFW is conducting a free trip to Vietnam drawing for veterans that received the Purple Heart Medal. The Chinatown VFW Chinatown post will hold their 62nd
Anniversary Dinner on Dec. 8th, 6:00 p.m., at the Four Seasons Restaurant.
Comm. Guglielmoni reported that he was appointed by the American Legion to the Freedom Foundation & he was appointed to the DAV Legislative Committee.
Comm. Caldera reported that only a few posts attend the monthly American Legion District 8 meetings.
Comm. Levin reported that the American Legion War Memorial Commission would have an election for Chairman on Oct. 16th.
VETERANS DAY PARADE-Comm. Champagne reported that the Veterans Day Parade would be held on Sunday, Nov. 11th. The parade starts at 11:00 a.m. Daly City will dedicate their new Community Building at 2:00 p.m. on Nov. 11th.
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 September & former commissioner Charles "Corky" Reed, whose ashes were
recently spread near Custer's Grave, at the Little Big Horn.
Minutes submitted by Wallace Levin, 982-3417.
