Veterans Employment Committee of San Mateo County Inc.

Business Meeting Minutes: 3/17/08, Monday

Held at the PeninsulaWorks San Carlos Facility-Winter Conference Room.

 

 Recorder: Sheryl Shaffer and Rose Sutton

 

Meeting called to order:  Sheryl Shaffer led Pledge of Allegiance and welcome.  Roll called.

 

Roll call of officers:

Chairperson,         Sheryl Shaffer                Present             AMVETS Post 34

1st Vice Chair/Treasurer,   Helen Wong          Present             AMVETS Post 34

2nd Vice Chair/Correspondence,      Nick Itsines  - Present  - Veteran

3rd Vice Chair/Special Projects,  Joseph Cody,  Excused       World of Veterans

Recorder          Rose Sutton   -   Present  -  Next Step Center

 

Others:

            Frank Sherr                 Present                       AMVETS Post 53

            Michael Taylor            Present                         EDD  San Carlos

            Lucio Vera                  Excused                       EDD San Carlos

            Allan Moltzen              Present                        SMC Vets Ser Officer

                                                                                                     

Minutes of last meeting:  Sheryl reminded everyone that all the minutes are posted on the web site.  www.vecsamnt.org. Just click on the Minutes link on the home page to view the minutes.  Nov 07 minutes were read and accepted with no corrections

 

Correspondence:  We received the minutes from the SCVEC.

 

Secretary/Treasurer Report:  Helen Wong reported account balances and submitted transaction reports. 

           

 Next Step Center: Rose Sutton said "Thankyou" to the VECSM for financial assistance and to Col Nick for his personal financial contribution to pay for bus passes while the Next Step was in the process of being refunded   It was a tremendous impact for the veterans seeking work Rose had to let go all of her staff except for herself and one other person Their hours were  reduced to 20 hrs per week and as of Jan 31, 2008 all staff were laid off  The EDD vet reps (from Santa Clara County) were there to help  Foothill College waive4d fees for college course The money from the VEC went to pay for VTA bus services for Jan/Feb 08 and additional monies to pay for SAMTRANS Work boots and work clothes from proceeds from cookie sales. Bldg 237 if where Next Step will be relocated across the street from the Pink Palace.  Rose said that the Onizuka AFB will be closed within 10 years  Rose lost all her staff except for 1 Rose has hired a new staff member and she has one more position open or a Case Manager.  There will be a Veterans Job Fair in San Francisco on May 14 May is Veterans Appreciation Month.

 

World of Vets Report:  Excused.

 

County Veterans Service Officers Report:  Jim Kenney will retire Thursday.  His replacement is Allan Moltzen and he introduced himself at this meeting  We would like to take this opportunity to thank Jim Kenney for his support for the past 6 years and wish him well in his retirement. He has been a true advocate for veterans in San Mateo county The County Veteran Service Officer is located at, 260 Harbor Blvd, Bldg A.  Allan said he is out stationed at the Peninsula Vet Center in Redwood City 1 day a week and also wants to be out stationed at the VA in Menlo Park.

 

E.E.D. Staff:  Michael Taylor told us being on the planning committee for the “Welcome Home Vets” to be held live at Moffett Field and they expect about 1,000 people.  The VA will help to promote the event.  We will participate in the Hometown Days Parade in May 2008.  We could have a booth there and have flags that we can offer for a “donation”  to generate some funds for our group.  Sheryl said she would like to attend the Hometown Days Parade on Saturday, May 17 and asked the group if we could have our next quarterly meeting on Monday, May 19 and everyone present voted in favor of this

 

TV Show:  Sheryl Shaffer said she will the host on the show on Tuesday March 19 2008 and talk about burial benefits for veterans and the guest will be Leo McArdle of the US Volunteers.  The US Volunteers is a veteran Service Organization that provides honors for veterans

 

FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER:  Helen Wong mentioned that the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 464 will have a booth at the July 4th parade in Redwood City

 

Please note that we meet once a quarter and that the next meeting date is Monday, May 19, 2008.  We encourage you to join us and participate as we would like to keep our VECSM going but we need you to help us. Please mark your calendar. The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

 

Next Meeting: Monday – May 19, 2008 at 3:30 P.M. at EDD-PeninsulaWorks, 550 Quarry Road, Winter Room, San Carlos.

 

BUGLE CALL:  Volume 16,                            Issue 1, 2 & 3.

                                                                      

                                  

                 P.O. Box 25540