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VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION
MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 4, 2006 MEETING
Commission meeting was called to order at 6:10 p.m.
President Wilson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commission Meeting Agenda & Minutes of Nov. 6th meeting were approved.
Commissioners present: Renie Champagne, Cheryl Cook, George Gibbs, James Guglielmoni, Wallace Levin, Michael Thompson, Edwin Wilkerson, Bud Wilson & Raymond Wong. Commissioners Jill Buck, Veronica Cauley, Ralph Gipson & Chris Gruwell were not present. VFW Cooties State Commander Harold Bankley & John Sexton were also present. Also present was Kenneth Breiten, who has his application in for appointment to the commission.
PUBLIC COMMENT-Raymond Guiducci, Vice President of San Francisco Naval Heritage Museum. He & two other former members of the Historic Ships at Pacific Square have formed another group to bring the USS IOWA to San Francisco. They are promoting bringing the ship to pier 48. He stated that they will need three and a half million a year to make expenses. He claimed that they had the support from the Chamber of Commerce. He wants the support of the commission. Comm. Champagne made a motion, second by Guglielmoni to close this discussion until the San Francisco Naval Heritage Museum presents us with material that spells out their plan. Motion passed.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 2007-Bud Wilson was nominated & elected President & Wallace Levin was nominated & elected Vice President.
PRESIDENTS REPORT-President Wilson reported that Merilyn Wong informed him that they are fund raising, the Navy will take action in 30 to 60 days & they will need about 20 million to bring the ship to Vallejo. She also thanked the Commission for all of the support that we have given the Historic Ships at Pacific Square during the past eleven years. He thanked Comm. Cook & Wilkerson for providing the food for tonight's meeting.
COMMISSION GOALS & PLANS COMMITTEE-Comm. Levin made a motion that the Homeless Plan developed by Comm. Gibbs & Buck be sent to the Mayor & the Board of Supervisors. Second by Comm. Wilkerson. Motion passed. Comm. Levin reported that Comm. Buck ran a great campaign to win the Assembly seat in District 18, in the East Bay. She did not win but she did a fantastic job & will be a great candidate in the future.
COUNTYVETERANSSERVICE OFFICE-Comm. Cook reported that she will soon fill her vacant position and that her office will open an office at Laguna Honda Hospital. She hopes to increase her staff in 2007.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS-Comm. Gibbs reported that his VA Office still needs clean clothing for homeless veterans. He especially needs men's warm coats.
HEALTH, WELFARE & EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE-Comm. Thompson reported that the SF Job Fair will be held at Fort Mason, on May 23, 2007. He and Comm. Champagne attend a meeting of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. They met the employment staffs from the VA Hospitals in Palo Alto & San Bruno.
They also met 4 Iraq veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. He was informed that 37% of Iraq veterans have this problem. Comm. Cook & Guglielmoni reported that this is a very big problem facing Iraq veterans.
LEGISLATION EVALUATION COMMITTEE-Comm. Cook presented some material on legislation. Comm. Wong reported the VFW is supporting HR 5385, Military Construction & Military quality of life legislation.
VETERANS DAY PARADE-Comm. Champagne reported that JROTC S.F. Coordinator LTC Powell was the parade Grand Marshall. LTC Powell also directs the Lincoln High JROTC. Comm. Wilson & his wife sponsored a Rescue Dog unit in the parade that was the highlight of the event. Mrs. Wilson organized the unit from local military & law enforcement agencies. She should get a medal for her efforts.
NATIONAL VETERANS ORGANIZATION-Comm. Wong & Dara Wong visited a WWII veteran, who was a POW for 42 months and survived the death march. The veteran is Francis Seidl & he is now living at a board & care facility. He also presented the fantastic VFW District 15 Newsletter. The publication is put together by Dara Wong & she also should get a medal. He reported that there is a petition to save the JROTC.
OLD BUSINESS-Comm. Levin reported on the School Board meeting, where the School Board voted 4 to 2, to do away with JROTC in 2008. There were about 1,500 high school students there & they were very upset with the vote. Many citizens are still working to save JROTC & we must not give up in our effort to save this important & productive program.
ADJOURNMENT-in memory of the 3,000+ Americans killed in Iraq & Afghanistan. Charles Reed, Fred Gomez & George Gibbs wife Lucille Gibbs.
Minutes submitted by Wallace Levin, 982-3417.
