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VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION
MINUTES OF THE JUNE 4, 2007 MEETING
Commission meeting was called to order at 6:10 p.m.
President Wilson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commission Meeting Agenda was approved.
Commissioners present: Regalado Baldonado, Jill Buck, John Caldera, Renie Champagne, Jim Guglielmoni, Wallace Levin, Robert Varni, Bud Wilson. & Raymond Wong. Margaret Champagne was also present. Comm. Veronika Cauley, George Gibbs, Cheryl Cook, Chris Gruwell, Michael Thompson & Edwin Wilkerson were not present. 9 present & 6 not present (2 excused & 4 absent). Comm. Gruwell & Thompson contacted President Wilson & they were excused.
PRESIDENTS REPORT-Comm. Wilson reported that he needed a copy of the corrected April commission minutes. He read from a copy of Sam Spade's web site about the Memorial Day Ceremony. Jill Buck also wrote about the ceremony in another web site. Comm. Varni suggested that we develop a list of commissioner's organization membership. Comm. Wilson reported on the need for the Commission
to have a phone number that people can call. Then we could call in to get our messages. He also reported the need for a Commission budget. Comm. Levin reported that we had an office in the Veterans Building. The Commission has a desk in room 123. Comm. Levin reported that he has been in contact with the Mayor's Office in an effort to get more funds for Memorial Day & he has informed them of the need for a budget for the commission. These funds are needed for a secretary, phone, etc. He requested time to see what the Mayor's Office will provide for the Commission. Comm. Levin reminded those present that the City has a 6 billion dollar budget. He made a motion, with a 2nd by Comm. Guglielmoni, that President Wilson send a letter to the Mayor & the Board of Supervisors, requesting a budget for the Commission of $20,000. Motion passed.
SECRETARY/VP REPORT-Comm. Levin thanked commissioners, Buck, Caldera, Gibbs, Thompson, Varni, Wilson, Wong, Cook Guglielmoni & Wilkerson for attending the Memorial Day Ceremony & giving their support. Also thank you to Dara Wong. We have over 30 elected officials & it is always a disappointment when so few of them show up for the ceremony. This year only 7 showed up. They were Supervisors SEAN ELSBERND & BEVAN DUFTY, Treasurer JOSE CISNEROS, Senators LELAND YEE & CAROL MIGDEN, Assemblywomen FIONA MA & Congressman TOM LANTOS. They all have been informed of our appreciation.
Most of our elected officials do not even respond to their letter of invitation. He then read the letter about San Francisco's lack of support for the Memorial Day Ceremony that was given to the Mayor. The results of the letter have been positive. Comm. Varni pointed out that there are 50, 000 veterans in the City & that we should make an effort to reach them about issues pertaining veterans. He also said that we should invite the Governor to next year's ceremony.
COMMISSION GOAL & PLANS
Veterans Day Parade-The parade was evaluated, past, present & future, with input from Comm. Caldera, Varni, Levin, Buck & Wilson. Conclusion was that there was a need for improvement. Comm. Levin reported that it is easy to come up with ideas, but very hard to move those ideas forward, under the present conditions.
Trustees Veterans Building Seismic Upgrade Plan-Comm. Levin reported that Deputy City Attorney Snodgrass would not be able to be at our meeting & he will give his evaluation of the plan at a future meeting. Comm. Caldera & Guglielmoni supported our concern over this issue.
JROTC SUPPORT-Comm. Varni reported that there has been no meeting of the JROTC Support Committee. Comm. Champagne reported that he had talked to Col. Powell, the JROTC Director. They have funds for this year. We must continue our efforts to have the JROTC program continue.
LEGISLATION EVALUATION-Comm. Wong presented some information on current bills before the State Legislators for evaluation by the Commission. NATIONAL VETERANS GROUP-Comm. Wong reported that he is still fighting the effort to merge District 15 with another district. Comm. Caldera reported that the Alexander Hamilton Post 448 of the American Legion would have a key spot in the Gay Freedom Day Parade. Comm. Levin reported that they were the only American Legion post to march in the Memorial Day Parade.
OLD BUSINESS-Comm. Regalado Baldonado reported on two bills H.R. 760 (House) & S. 1315 (Senate) that would give Philippine Commonwealth soldiers who served in the U.S. Army during World War II, the same benefits as American soldiers. At that time they were promised these benefits. The Commission, the Board of Supervisors & all of our local Federal Legislators support these bills.
ADJOURNMENT-in memory of the 3,800 Americans killed in Iraq & Afghanistan.
Remembering former commissioners Charles Reed & Fred Gomez.
Minutes submitted by Wallace Levin.
No meeting will be held in July, as we will take our traditional vacation.
