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CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO
VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION
MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 6, 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 Sept. 11th meeting were approved.
Commissioners present: Veronica Cauley, Cheryl Cook, George Gibbs, James Guglielmoni, Wallace Levin, Michael Thompson, Edwin Wilkerson, Bud Wilson & Raymond Wong. Commissioners Jill Buck, Renie Champagne, Ralph Gipson & Chris Gruwell were not present. Vince Rios & John Sexton were also present.
PRESIDENTS REPORT-President Wilson reported that he had some back problems & that he was getting back to normal. He introduced our new commissioner James Guglielmoni. Comm. Guglielmoni reported that he grew up in South San Francisco & he now lives in the City. He is Commander of DAV Chapter 144 & he is the Adjutant of AMVET Post 25. He works for Techtronis Industries, who service Home Depot Stores.
VICE PRESIDENTS REPORT-Comm. Levin reviewed the passing of Comm.
Charles Reed, Fred Gomez & George Gibbs wife, Lucille Vernon Gibbs. He attended the very moving funeral for Fred Gomez (10/1), with Comm. Wilkerson & Wong. The very emotional & loving funeral for George Gibbs wife, Lucille Gibbs (10/6) with Comm. Wilkerson. The very impressive tribute to Charles Corky Reed (11/4), with Comm. Cook, who also presented some moving information about Corky. Three moving ceremonies for three unique individuals who deserved the tributes paid to them. He also reported that he attended the funeral for PFC Keith Jesse Moore (10/27). PFC Moore is the 2nd San Franciscan killed in Iraq. He enlisted in January & he was killed on Oct. 14th. All in less than ten months.
COMMISSION GOALS & PLANS COMMITTEE-Comm. Gibbs presented a completed Homeless Veterans Plan. He urged the members of the commission to review the plan, so that we can pass it at our next meeting. Bring any changes to the next meeting. We must move this on to the Mayor's Office. Comm. Cook reviewed the plan & urged the commission to move it forward.
COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE-Comm. Cook reported some information from a report. There are now 24.5 million veterans, 1.7 million female veterans, 9.5 million veterans are are now 65 years old or older, 8.1 million are Vietnam veterans & 3.9 million served during World War II.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS-Comm. Gibbs reported that his Veterans Center is moving along and are helping hundreds of veterans. They have a full medical team on hand. They have a need for clean men's clothing of all types. They especially need coats & jackets. The veterans take everything that they get in & they have a need for much more.
HEALTH, WELFARE & EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE-Comm. Thompson reported that the VA is now giving them all of their job listings. He attended the Anniversary event at the Veterans Service Center in San Bruno.
LEGISLATION EVALUATION COMMITTEE-The 3 U.S. Senate bills that Comm. Cook introduced at our last meeting, U.S. Senate bill H.R. 4843 Veterans' Compensation cost -of-living Adjustment Act of 2006, S. 615 Montgomery GI Bill Revitalization Act of 2005 & S. 1180 Sheltering All Veterans Everywhere Act. Comm. Levin made a motion to support these bills, with a 2nd by Comm. Wilkerson.
Motion passed.
NATIONAL VETERANS ORGANIZATION-Comm. Wong reported that the VA is urging all veterans to wear their medals on Veterans Day. He also reported that the VFW Chinatown Post will have their annual dinner on Dec. 2nd.
VETERANS DAY PARADE & MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY-Comm. Wong reported that there are many events being held on Veterans Day, which means that there will be fewer units in the San Francisco Parade. Comm. Wilson reported that he & his wife have put together a unit in the parade of rescue dogs from all over Northern California.
SAN FRANCISCO HIGH SCHOOL JROTC-Comm. Levin reported that the School Board will vote on Nov. 14th on the JROTC. It appears at this time that they will vote to end JROTC in San Francisco. JROTC make up about one third of the units in the Veterans Parade.
NEW BUSINESS-Comm. Levin reported that Comm. Jill Buck has conducted a fantastic & outstanding effort to win the 18th Assembly District race.
NOMINATION OF OFFICERS FOR 2007
Comm. Wilson was nominated for the office of President & Comm. Levin was nominated for the office of Vice President. Election will be held at Dec. meeting.
ADJOURNMENT-in memory of the 2,900+ Americans killed in Iraq & Afghanistan. Charles Reed, Fred Gomez & George Gibbs wife Lucille Gibbs.
Minutes submitted by Wallace Levin, 982-3417.
