HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-09-18 VAC MINUTES-r
VETERANS ADVISORY COMMISSION
CITY OF CHULA VISTA
MINUTES
September 18, 2001
TUESDAY, 6:00 P.M.
1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chula Vista Veterans Home
700 East Naples Court
A moment of silent prayer was held to remember all who perished on September 11, 2001.
2. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER — 6:15 p.m.
3. ROLL CALL — Stephen Arends P , Carmen Fedje A , Agustive Hermes, Jr. A ,
.William Poindexter P , Robert White P , A.Y. Casillas P , Stephen Millikin P
Guests. Trevor Angood, Eastlake High School
John Smith, Director of Public Relations, Chula Vista Veterans Home
Joe Raskin (being sworn in October 16`h as Commissioner, replacing Steve Arends)
Steve Hamilton, Post Commander
Herb James,
0 Bob Lind -
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - The minutes of August 21st approved and accepted.
Out of Order for Tonight: Chair Arends thanked all officials for responding to the tragedies in New York City,
Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania, including police and firefighters who have traveled East to assist in search and
recovery in those areas. He also thanked Chula Vista officials for last Saturday's memorial service
5. ACTION ITEMS
Unfinished Business
a. Street Names
At the August 301h banquet, Trevor Angood was recognized by the Mayor's office for his work on the street name project
this past school year, Phase Two of the project will begin at Eastlake this year and will expand to include 119 names.
A letter was written to the Mayor on 8/7/01 requesting that a street be named in honor of Bill Ayers. Andy Campbell to
respond.
b. Veterans Memorial
Four additional names were added to the Memorial, completed on 9/6/01. Design for parks on City Council agenda on
9/18/01.
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• c. Chula Vista Veterans Home Support Foundation Update
Donations continuing to come in for the foundation.
Golf tournament scheduled for Veterans Day, November 121'- to be a fundraising event for the Foundation.
d. Veterans Home Update
The Veterans Home currently has 197 residents, however, still waiting for Barstow to be certified so that the focus will turn
to Chula Vista. Our Veterans Home has 110 veterans on the waiting list for the Skilled Nursing Facility. Assisted Care
possibilities have had to go elsewhere and the governor is aware of the problem. The regulation states that there must be
120 days before next certification. The Veterans Community wants those days "dropped" before starting in Chula Vista.
The opening of the Chula Vista Home heeds to be pushed with no more delay.
e. Veteran of the Year Award
The Commissioners voted to extend review of applications until the October 161i meeting.
f. Goals and Objectives
Continue to advise and make recommendations to the City Council regarding veterans concerns, and on matters which the
Board has special knowledge and expertise. Elect new chair for the Commission.
g. Legislative Reports
Governor elected three new members to the Calvet Board.
0 h. Oral History
Mr. Poindexter reported that he made contact with Hilltop High School Social Studies Department and that the mechanics
are being worked out.
COMMUNICATIONS
Chair Arends updated the Commissioners on several items of information.
CHAIR'S COMMENTS
Chair thanked Commissioners for their support and service to their country and city. Thanked hosts for providing the Veterans
Home for meetings. Reminded all of meetings in the County and invitation to attend. Advised that the CVVH Volunteer
Recognition Luncheon had been postponed.
None
None
•
COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS
STAFF COMMENTS
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PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
7. ADJOURNMENT — 7:55 p.m. To the next regularly scheduled meeting at 6:00 p.m., on Tuesday,
October 16, Human Resources Conference Room at City Hail, 276 Fourth Avenue,
Chula Vista, CA 91910
NOTE: City Council Meeting for Tuesday, October 16, 2001 has been cancelled. Joseph Raskin, new
commissioner for the Veterans Advisory Commission, will be sworn in at the City Clerk's Office prior to
the meeting.
Trudi . Mayes
Clerical Support
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Subject: FW: NaAews 43/01 (Sept. 16, 2001)
Message from the Secretary of Defense to America's
Veterans
From ecretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- As the men and women who have fought
America's wars, you -- more than all others -- understand
what the September 11th attack on freedom and democracy means
for the days ahead.
More than simple acts of terrorism by radical or
unbalanced individuals, this was an attack on our way of
life, our country, our home.
In a recent message to U.S. armed forces here and abroad,
I spoke of the memorable moments that have marked all great
crises throughout our history, images that live forever in
our hearts and in our minds.
Not surprisingly, we've seen many such moments during
this crisis as well -- moments of remarkable courage and
selflessness; moments of fierce patriotism and pride:
Policemen and firefighters working night and day, with no
thought for themselves; men, women and children giving blood
until the banks are overflowing; businesses and corporations
donating coffee, food and water to sustain those who would
not stop working; chaplains counseling distraught families;
friends and total strangers reaching out in loving gestures
f human support.
And everywhere -- the American flag, on buses and
taxicabs, in windows and over doorways, as armbands, on
jackets and hats, and most especially, waving in glorious
defiance above the smoking and twisted wreckage our enemies
have wrought. One such flag, unfurled by firefighters,
proudly hangs huge and proud near the gash in the Pentagon
wall.
But I also warned that more -- much more -- will be asked
of Americans in the weeks and months ahead.
We face well -organized and sophisticated enemies, made
all the more powerful by the terror they are so willing to
unleash. Now that terror has been brought to our door, we owe
it to ourselves and -- as the president has said -- to all
future generations, to stop it, eliminate it and destroy it
at its cora.
Today, all Americans are united in anguish and anger. But
we must also be united in purpose and in will.
While the immediate task of vanquishing freedom's enemies
will fall to our military men and women, all of us --
particularly those like you who understand the price of
freedom -- will be called upon to strengthen our national
resolve.
And so, as we ask God's tender mercies on all those who
have fallen, we ask also for His guidance and protection for
all of us who remain to finish the task now before us.
I thank the same God for America's veterans -- those of
you who made us free and kept us free. I thank God for all
.*u have done, and for all I know you will do again, to
support peace and final victory.
God bless you, and God bless America.
Donald H. Rumsfeld
-USN-