2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 Minutes of the Veteran’s Affairs Commission
April 2, 2007
The Commission President called the commission to order.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The President took roll call attendance, and in attendance were the following Commissioners: Caldera, Thompson, Guglielmoni, Cook, Wilkerson, Champagne, Cauley, Wong, Baldonado, and Varni. Absent and excused were
Gibbs, and Levin. Unexcused and not in attendance were: Buck, Gibson, Sr., and Gruwell. There were a total of ten Commissioners in attendance. Our City Attorney, Wayne Snodgrass was present, as was Mrs. Margaret Champagne.
Minutes from March were approved, as was the Agenda. (Unanimously)
Visitors were invited to speak, there were none; so there was no public comment.
Newspaper articles were discussed at this time. Mental Health problems of the returning veteran’s, and how an airline received a returning veteran’s remains from Iraq were topics. Group emails were discussed. Commissioner Baldonado was invited by the President to introduce himself to the commission. Mr. Snodgrass warned the Commissioners around the “group email” and the Sunshine Laws, and that we should be careful around content so it does not constitute a “meeting.” Commissioner Cook rephrased and re-iterated Mr. Snodgrass’s concerns.
The President took the County Veteran’s report out of order, so that Commissioner Cook could leave early. She checked to see if everyone received their business cards. New Commissioners were invited to write down their information for their new cards, and she would put in a new order for them to receive their cards. She explained what it is that she, and her office does to the new Commissioners. She also said that she doesn’t know whether or not she will be returning when her commission expires in January. She is trying to set up a satellite office at Laguna Honda Hospital, and has been expanding her staff due to a greater work load. Commissioner Cook presented the Commission with bills that we could ask the group as a commission to share with the Mayor, and the Board of Supervisors. A Commissioner “Code of Conduct” was passed out as well.
Goals and Plans: No Report
Veteran’s City Education Loans: No Report. Item continued.
Low Cost Presidio Vet Housing Plans: Item continued.
Dept of Veteran’s Affairs: Item Continued.
Health, Welfare, and Employment: Commissioner Thompson discussed the Job Fair that is coming up in September and discussed the fact that he had 14 groups on board so far.
Commissioner Varni (?) discussed what was going on with the Board of Education and the Jr. ROTC. The Board of Education voted 4-3 in favor of cutting out the Jr. ROTC in seven High Schools. He says that he is optimistic on the programs continuing.
Commissioner Champagne announced that on May 19th that there would be a Jr. ROTC Group drilling and performing. At the Presidio, and the various schools will receive their medals. The VFW will present six medals, and the seventh one will go to the Naval ROTC. Commissioner Thompson said that the Military Order of the Purple Hearts was going to award seven of the Medals.
Legislative: Commissioner Wong re-iterated Commissioner Cook’s suggestion to look over the list of “Bills” that she handed out to see if there were any that we wanted the Commission, the Board, and the Mayor to support.
Memorial Day Ceremony: Posters were passed out for posting in various sizes. The President encouraged us to be sure and post them where they would be seen. It was discussed whether or not the Navy would be present. It is estimated that close to three thousand people attend the ceremony every year.
Veteran’s Groups: Commissioner Wong discussed two issues. The first one was the VFW’s stance on the troop withdrawal bill. Also, he said that the Veteran’s Administrations discretionary spending bill was 6.6 million dollars; the biggest increase in seventy-seven years. Commissioner Wong discussed his delight that the Sr. ROTC programs are still intact at San Francisco State, and several other institutions. Commissioner Champagne said that the Daughters of the Revolution presented a cart not just to Fort Miley, but is also presenting one to the VARMC in San Diego. These are five passenger golf carts with wheel chair accessibility.
Commissioner Wilkerson went to the Falkland Islands. AK-47’s upset him in Peru.
Old Business: none
New Business: Commissioner Caldera brought up the attendance letters and his concern. He expressed his concerns that the commission isn’t a priority for all of the commissioners, and that getting up and down with phone calls and going in and out of quorum. Commissioner Wong expressed his concern that if we don’t use the War Building for Veteran’s then, the City would take over the building and we would lose it. Commissioner Champagne talked about the Mayoral Appointment’s swearing in was coming up April 12, 2007 Commissioner Baldonado talked about the meeting in front of City Hall on April 9 for supporting of the Filipino Veteran’s.
The meeting was adjourned in memory of the members of the military killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Also of the past Commissioners: Corky Reid and Fred Gomez, and Lucille Gibbs. There was a moment of silence in their memory.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Commissioner Veronika Cauley
Acting Secretary for this Meeting
