HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-08-16 VAC MINUTESVeteran's Advisory Commission
City of Chula Vista
Minutes
August 16, 2011 Chula Vista Veterans Home
6:00 P.M. 700 E. Naples Court
Chula Vista, CA 91910
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL: Present: Gene Pellerin, P John Acosta,_P_ Terry Jensen, P_ Keith
Blum,_P_ Virgil Whitehead,_P _ and Alex Galicia._E Stephen Sprenkle
P
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Steve Sprenkle made a motion to approve the July minutes
as written, seconded by Terry Jensen and approved by all present.
2. ACTION ITEMS:
^ Veterans Activities League report by Virgil Whitehead:
1. Veteran benefit seminar is set for October 7, 2011 at Elks Club. The
seminar is free of charge and approximately 200 people are expected to
attend.
2. Veteran's home picnic day was very successful, some of the attendees
where VFW Post, Border Patrol, Navy Cadets, Congressman Bob Filner,
Mayor Sheryl Cox, as well as Mayor Cox's husband and father.
3. Veteran yard sale to buy coats for Wounded Warriors was very successful.
Coats are being negotiated directly with company for $18.00, which is 50% of
cost. The final amount raised is approximately $2,300. Thanks to Terry
Jensen and John Acosta for their contribution. Ashford University may fund
the project.
4. Turner School for Project Management is free to small business. It is a 3-
month class being held at the airport. Contact Commissioner Alex Galicia for
more information if interested.
5. Home Front San Diego and VFW's are sponsoring a pig roast in Ramona
for Veterans on September 10, 2011. Will be an all day affair and can spend
the night. Pendleton and Balboa Wounded Warriors are invited to attend.
Contact Virgil Whitehead for more information.
6. Rick Roberts Liberty Station, which serves as a halfway house for
Wounded Warriors is completed and taking on Wounded Warriors.
7. Studio One has joined in assisting military with their furniture needs. They
have opened their warehouses and allowed military to choose furniture.
8. There are numerous Wounded Warriors Fundraisers so it is hard to know
which ones are legitimate. Gene Pellerin looked into the Wounded Warrior
Project, located in Jacksonville FL. There are several well-known individuals
that serve on the Board of Directors for the project, and two are well known
by Mr. Pellerin. The research also found that the Project provides a good
percentage of its funds to programs directly supporting Wounded Warriors.
. 9. Help is needed in finding homeless Veterans places to live, even
temporary.
10. Midway Museum is continuously requesting volunteers. Must be able to
make a monthly commitment.
11. San Diego Home Renovation program is underway with a Sears grant to
renovate a home. Any active duty military person can qualify. For more
information contact Mary Tanner at 858-676-6766.
12.Veteran Commission cap discussion to be tabled until September's
meeting. Gene Pellerin is to bring a sample of the cap.
13. Christmas cards for the Commission-Virgil Whitehead to find out the price
• for 50 Christmas cards and will do follow-up at next meeting.
14. County Veteran of the Year is set for November 8, 2011 at the Scottish
Rite Center in Mission Valley. Please try to attend.
15. WD-40 company will donate ten cents for limited edition cans sold.
Proceeds will go to three charities, The Armed Forces YMCA Foundation,
Wounded Warriors project and The Veterans Medical Research Foundation.
The company gave $100,000 checks to each charity.
16. VA states that 95% of Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are
suffering from PTSD and one reason claims are so heavy.
^ Veteran of the Year for San Diego County nomination and process
status-Gene Pellerin will submit the nomination for Tony Stewart before
September 15th. Waiting on more information from Tony to submit with the
nomination.
^ Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission Ethics- Report of who is due
to complete the training was sent out by Mariluz Alvarez. Gene Pellerin
reminded everyone to complete the ethics training if needed to be in
compliance.
^ Library display case items- John Acosta stated the display case is very
small so limited items can be displayed at a time. Terry Jensen stated the
bookstore Borders is going out of business and is selling everything including
fixtures.
• 3. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS:
Comments/ Adjourn:
Gene Pellerin commented that the City of Chula Vista approved the City's first code of
ethics.
John Acosta stated a flagpole is needed for the library. John reminded everyone an
architect and engineer is still needed. Please contact John if they have a contact with an
engineer or architect.
4. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 pm by Gene Pellerin. The Veterans Advisory Commission
will have the next regular meeting on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at the Chula Vista
Veterans' Home, 700 E. Naples Court.
The City of Chula Vista, in complying with the American With Disabilities Act (ADA),
request individuals who require special accommodation to access, attend and/or participate in
a City meeting, activity or service request such accommodation at least forty-eight hours in
advance for meetings and five days for scheduled services and activities. Please contact
Mariluz Alvarez for specific information at (619) 691-5146 or Telecommunications Devices for
the Deaf (619) 585-5655. California Relay Service is also available for the hearing impaired
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