Meeting Information

San Francisco Veterans Affairs Commission

3-5-01

Minutes of March 5, 2001 Meeting of The Commission

The meeting was called to order be Secretary Wallace Levin. (President Charles Coolidge and Vice President George Gibbs were unable to attend the meeting).

Commissioners Veronika Cauley, Renie Champagne, CArla hollis, Robert De La Cruz, Wallace Levin, Jim Lineberger, Elizabeth Melnik, CJ O’Mara, Glenn Raswyck and Edwin Wilkerson were present. Also present were Wayne Snodgrass (City Attorney), Cheryl Cook (S.F. County Veterans Service Office) and Raymond Wong (VFW District 15 Commander).

Secretary Levin led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Renie Champagne made a motion, seconded be Edwin Wilkerson, to approve the agenda. Motion passed unanimously.

Glenn Raswyck made a motion, seconded by Veronika Cauley, to approve the minutes of the Feb. 5, 2001 meeting. Motion passed unanimously.

Reports

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS Raymond Wong reported that the Veterans of Foreign Wars supports the President’s decision to improve quality of life for the military with better pay, better housing and better healthcare, keeping the rangers in black berets, and the enforcement of the no fly zone in Iraq. VFW California Department Commander Arthur Harris and Department President Deborah Jacobs will visit San Francisco on March 10th.

RESOURCE FAIRE Cheryl Cook reported that the Resource Fair Committee meets every month. The next meeting will be on MArch 12th, at 25 Van Ness Avenue. There are now 37 participants and Edwin Wilkerson and CJ O’Mara attend the Meetings. She also reported that the Department of Veterans Affairs had opened a new clinic in South San Francisco, for all veterans.

COMMISSION BUDGET Committee Chairman Edwin Wilkerson reported that the Office of the Mayor, had given the Commission funds to buy cards for all members of the Commission. He urged all members of the Commission to get the proper information required, so that the cards could be ordered.

COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP The Board of supervisors Rules Committee, on March 1, 2001 appointed Michael Thompson and Carla Hollis to the Commission. We welcome them to the Commission. Renie Champagne made a motion, seconded by Elizabeth Melnik and passed by all of the commissioners present, to urge Mayor Willie Brown to appoint Raymond Wong to the Veterans Affairs Commision.

LEGISLATIVE A new Legislative Committee was formed, mad up of Renie Champagne, Elizabeth Melnik and CJ O’Mara. Cheryl Cook will give the committee her support. Wallace Levin reported that a federal appeals court has ruled that the government owes free lifetime medical care to certain veterans of World War II and the Korean War because recruiters promised them such care if they served in the armed forces for a minimum of 20 years.

MEMORIAL DAY Thanks to the great support from the 91st Division and the Presidio Trust, this Memorial Day Ceremony will be a super event. The Presidio Trust thanks to Lisa Hillstrom, Special Events Program Coordinator and the 91st Division thanks to LTC Richard Mollica, Deputy Chief of Staff. They both have given the Mayor’s Memorial Day Citizens Committee the needed logistical support.

91ST DIVISION FLAG MEMORIAL The Board of Supervisors passed a resolution urging the Mayor to work with the San francisco Veterans Community to identify an appropriate place of prominence in City Hall for the 363rd Infantry Regiment Battle Flags, and place the flags in this location as soon as possible. Supervisor Leland Yee’s Resolution was co-sponsored by Supervisors Newsom, Daly, McGoldrick and Hall. All members of the Board of Supervisorspresent voted in support of the resolution.

USS IOWA Edwin Wilkerson and Wallace Levin reported that William Stephens and Merylin Wong, Directors of Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square, went to Newport, Rhode Island, to attend the Battleship Iowa farewell ceremony. The ship was to leave on March 3rd, but because of bad weather it did not leave until March 8th. It will leave the Panama Canal and go into the Paific on MArch 28th. It should arrive in San Francisco bay on April 20, 21, or 22.

VETERANS BUILDING Wallace Levin suggested that VAC send a letter to the City Attorney, requesting the advice and opinion of the City Attorney with regards to veterans authority, jurisdiction, restrictions and rights in the future uses of the Veterans Building. Renie Champagne made a motion, seconded by CJ O’Mara, to send the letter.

WEBSITE Webmaster CJ O’Mara reported that the VAC Website now has two pages listing California and Federal legislation pertaining to veterans. She also requested that someone put the minutes in electronic format. Carla Hollis will do the job.

ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned in memory of the 21 members of the National Guard, that died in that tragic air crash.