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Veterans Affairs Commission
875 Stevenson Street, Suite 250
San Francisco, CA 94103
MINUTES OF THE MAY 1, 2006 MEETING
Commission meeting was called to order at 6:10 p.m.
Vice President Levin led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commission Meeting Agenda was approved.
Minutes of the April 3, 2006 meeting were approved.
Commissioners present: Veronika Cauley, Renie Champagne, Cheryl Cook, Ralph Gibson, Fred Gomez, Wallace Levin, Charles Reed, Michael Thompson, Edwin Wilkerson & Raymond Wong. Commissioners Jill Buck, George Gibbs, Bud Wilson, & Brian Zweir were not present Dep. City Attorney Wayne Snodgrass was also present.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
USS IOWA
Comm. Cauley, Levin, Thompson & Wong reported on the latest USS IOWA news. Now that San Francisco has turned it's back on the ship, the IOWA Committee are now working with Vallejo. The Commission has supported the porting of the USS IOWA in San Francisco for over a decade and it would have been a great asset to our tourist industry.
VICE PRESIDENTS REPORT
Vice President Levin reported that President Wilson was out of town. & he has the Web-site ready to go. Plans for Memorial Day are on track.
COMMISSION GOALS & PLANS
The committee wants to move their Homeless Veterans report onto the Mayor & Board of Supervisors.
COUNTYVETERANSSERVICE OFFICE
Comm. Cook reported that their office at Fort Miley is very busy and that they are helping many Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Many are sent back to Iraq, even when they have disabilities. She will attend a veteran's information conference in Reno next month.
HEALTH, WELFARE & EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE
Comm. Wilkerson and Thompson reported that the Veterans Employment Committee will hold the 16TH annual Job Fair on May 17th. The event will be held at Fort Mason. 31 employers will be on hand.
LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Comm. Cook reported that she had developed a list of legislation and she will make it available for our next meeting.
NATIONAL VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
Comm. Wong reported that the VFW held their annual Loyalty Day Program at the Vets Building. Comm. Champagne was the Chairman of the event and he put a lot of effort into it. Comm. Levin also attended.
This is another great program that needs more support from veterans.
A group called Veterans Affairs Services are contacting veterans and they are requesting personal information. They are not an official veterans organization and you should not give them any information.
MEMORIAL DAY
Comm. Levin reported that the Mayor's Memorial Day Citizen's Committee will meet at the Presidio Trust's Public Affairs Building, 201 Halleck, on May 3rd, at 11:00 a.m. Everyone is invited to attend. The Commission is the lead organization putting the event together.
OLD BUSINESS
Deputy City Attorney Snodgrass's draft statement reflecting the views of the commission membership, pertaining to the Commission Administrative Code membership requirements was reviewed. When everyone is satisfied with the legislation, we will then have a vote.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Comm. Levin reported that the S.F. High School JROTC is under attack and this outstanding program needs our support.
Comm. Wong reported that the S.F. Giants will honor active duty members of the Armed Forces and veterans. They will do this at their game on May 26th. Only active duty personal will be admitted free.
Comm. Cauley reported that individuals are claiming to have received medals and awards that they did not actually receive.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned in memory of the 2,700+ members of the Armed Forces of the United States killed in Iraq/Afghanistan and
World War II and Korean War veteran Col. William Strobridge.
Minutes submitted by Wallace Levin, 982-3417. June minutes to follow.
