August 14, 2018

DRAFT MEETING MINUTES (in Italic)

San Francisco City Hall, Room 416

 President Dwane J. Kennedy, Presiding

 

• Call to order and Pledge of Allegiance

Meeting called to order at 6:00 pm

• ROLL CALL (Please sign-in on Attendance Sheet)

Present: Commissioners Ellis, Miller, Noetzel, Kim, Barnickel, Olivieri, Chasteen, Wong, Dacumos, Kennedy, Joiner, Marshall, Ishikata, Flaherty

Excused: Commissioners Weeby

• REVIEW of Current Meeting Agenda for approval (action item)
•  
• REVIEW of Draft Minutes of SFVAC meeting of May 8, 2018 (action item)
•  

 

1. Call for Public Comment

Captain Ray - Defense Innovation Unit introduction (is applying to become VAC Commissioner)

Alex Lazar MONS, introduction of office and offer to work together on recognizing veterans in the community

Roger Chin, Lions Club (Foster City) – make veterans more visible in public, fishing trips, VA Hospital lunch visit (they bring 8 courses of Chinese food to hospital).
 

2. Officers’ Reports:
   1. President’s Report, SFVAC President Dwane Kennedy

New members will be introduced in new business

 

2. Vice President’s Report, SFVAC Vice President David Chasteen

Nothing to report

 

3. Old Business:
   1. Follow-up discussion on “SFVAC Candidates Forum”
      •  

 

4. New Business:

 

1.   Introduction of Commissioners Brauer, Ellis, and Ishikata.

 

 

2.   Veterans Honor Initiative (action item)

Barnickel – Idea of issuing certificates of Honor from Mayor and BOS, VAC to do outreach to acknowledge veterans.

 

Joiner – Focus on those who excel in public service, need (formal or informal) criteria to solicit candidates, from public and private sectors.

 

Noetzel – good idea, builds on Commissioner of the month, have a one-page recommendation letter with military background and continuing service for working, add to bylaws for formalization.

     

Olivieri – VAC identify outstanding veterans in community (begin with quarterly, then monthly) and work with wording for certificate, MONS take lead, collaborate with BOS for presentation during weekly meeting and identification of Supervisor to host (placed on agenda), begin informally to get the ball rolling, then formalize with bylaws once we have cemented the SOP and procedures.

 

1^st Chasteen, 2^nd Joiner. Item passes Unanimously.

 

 

3.   9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance (action item)

 

Presentation by 9/11 day, first time in SF, Pier 35, mobilize 1,000 volunteers, pack 250,000 nonperishable meals, all meals stay in SF Bay area

Asks:  for commitments for shift captains (2 hours) or 100 lead volunteers (4 hours), recruit people to volunteer (ideally get a group together) for 2 hours, moments of silence, fire bell.

 

1^st Olivieri, 2^nd Chasteen, Item Passes Unanimously

 

 

4.    SFMTA-Geary Corridor and Service to VA Medical Center (action item)

 

One week from today – Next Tuesday, 8/21, room 400, 1 pm

Can anyone go speak on behalf of the VAC during public comment? If not, I will do it

Write a letter in support of Geary Blvd Project

 

1^st Olivieri, 2^nd Chasteen, Item Passes Unanimously

 

 

5. Communications:  Commissioners report on Communications with the Mayor’s Office

and/or Board of Supervisors.

 

Veterans Mental Health Summit (August 22 at WMVB) has been advertised to the Mayor and Board of Supervisors

 

6. Veterans Related Legislation:  New or possible legislation affecting Veterans or Veterans Community

 

VA Mission Act – expand healthcare and privatize care

 

7. Honors Report and Moment of Silence:  In memory of American Armed Service Members who have made the ultimate sacrifice in all wars and conflicts, plus the passing of homeless veterans and veterans who died while waiting approval of benefits requests and suicides within the veterans and armed services community.
    
8. Adjournment
           

Meeting adjourned at 7:10 pm