Region 1 Veterans Council
Minutes
Note: Next Meeting is Tuesday
October 9, 2007
5:00 pm.
Region 1 Headquarters
27800 George Merrelli Drive
Warren, Mi. (586)
427-9200
UAW Region 1 Veterans
Council Meeting of 8 September 07.
·
Meeting opened
Region 1 Headquarters Warren in due form at 10:07 am
by Brother Allen Opra.
·
Pledge of
Allegiance.
POW\MIA Prayer
by: Brother Al Opra.
·
Jerry McKinney
was excused for a prior commitment. The prayer was given in
fine form as is usual.
Roll call of Officers:
7 present 1 excused and 0 absent.
Roll call of Locals
Present: 140, 160, 228, 235, 262, 314, 653, 771,
869, 889, 961 and 5960.
Locals Absent:
7, 22, 51, 155, 212, 247, 306, 375, 400, 412, 594, 835, 909,
1149, 1248, 1264, 1700, 1777, 1781, 1810, 2280, and 9699.
Host Local:
·
Region 1 Veterans
Council E-Board.
Guests at the meeting.
·
None
Reading
of the Minutes: Brother Harry
“Les” Croyle.
·
The minutes of
September 8, 2007 were approved as read and published.
Motion made and passed to
accept.
Region 1 Veterans
Committee Coordinator: Brother Anthony M. Feyers
·
Brother Tony gave
us the greetings and thoughts of our Region 1 Director
Joseph Peters and Assistant Director Michael Letkowski. Tony
thank all present for attending. He also commented on the
Black Lake Conference and the fact that many of the brothers
and sisters that were there came to the regional meeting. It
was nice to meet the folks that came to Black Lake
for the first time as well as the tried and true Veterans
Conference attendees. He admonished us to take care of the
men and women that are defending us today in all branches of
the service. The e-boards past and present gave this council
good solid leadership and will no doubt continue to do the
same. Please have fun while we are involved in our labors to
help all veterans. Passed Chairman Bill Pearson commented
that it was good to have Brother Feyers at the veterans’
conference and that it showed support for all members of
this council.
Financial report:
Jim French Jr. Finance Officer:
·
Deposit lap top
fund raiser
$3545.00
·
UAW challenge
coins
$ 500.00
·
International
Veterans Activity Fund
$7729.65
Motion made and passed to
accept.
Trustee
Report:
Brother Chuck Hamilton.
·
Trustees report
was given by Brother Chuck Hamilton and the books have been
audited and are in good working order.
Motion made and passed to
accept.
VAVS
Report: Brother Larry Goike
VAVS Dep. Rep.
·
Brother Larry
thanked everyone that helped at the Carnival
and then stated that he could not make the meeting but
Brother Carlton did. The following report is given by
Brother Carlton Pace.
·
A financial
report was given and all accounts are in good shape. Do to
the war more money has been allocated to mental health
concerns. The medical staff to address this issue has
recently been doubled. Do to the increases in Diabetes
patients more space needs to be acquired to handle the
volume. The movement to make the rooms more home like is
still underway at a cost of approximately four thousand
dollars each.
·
John Dingell
V.A. Hospital is one of the first to have an off site
domiciliary care unit and it has fourteen men and two women
patients now. It is projected that in six months it will be
up to its maximum capacity of fifty patients. The mental
health program will be handled mainly on an out-patient
basis.
·
The Country Store
fund raiser will be 8 November 2007 from
7:00 am till 2:30 pm and the set up will be
7 November 2007 volunteers will be needed. All moneys
raised at this event will be used for the scholarship fund.
Last year approximately four thousand dollars was raised
through these efforts.
·
The Southeastern
Michigan Veterans Stand Down contact person is Linda Jones
(313) 576- 3870. President Michael Bethune is ill and Linda
is the man.
Motion made and passed to
accept.
Vice Chairman’s
Report: Brother Carlton Pace.
·
Two hundred fifty
brothers and sisters attended the Black Lake Veterans’
Conference.
·
Ron Gettelfinger
thanked us for the fine job we do in our plants and locals.
The information from this conference will enable us to
support the troops and help our fellow veterans.
·
The Tuskegee
Airmen joined us again at the conference and two original
pilots shared their stories with us. Thanks to the N-Vac for
inviting them.
·
Executive Esgr.
Director Gary Aten told about service personnel’s rights for
reemployment.
·
Jeff Searcy
Wounded Warrior Executive Director stated that their work
starts right at the hospitals over seas with back packs of
necessary items the wounded will need. Then it continues
when they get home with benefit counseling, family
assistance and adaptive sports.
·
Joe Morgan Vice
President of another new veterans group called Veterans of
Modern Warfare. Membership is open to all who served since
August 2, 1990. Free membership afforded till
January 1, 2008. Advocacy on all issues important to
our new generation of warriors.
Motion made and passed to
accept.
Chairman’s
Report:
Brother Al Opra
·
Brother Al gave
all greetings and thanked all for their attendance.
·
21 September 07
the twenty-ninth POW/MIA Recognition Day Novi Michigan
Oakland Hills Memorial Garden Cemetery 12 mi. and Novi
Roads 6:30 pm start.
·
22 September
07 11:00 am packing goodie bags for the car show be
there or be square.
·
23 September 07
Region 1 Car Show we need all the help we car muster start
approximately 0700 till we’re done. Come early or come late
all help is appreciated.
·
7 October 07 VA
Hospital Region 1 Veterans Council Oktoberfest meet at
10:00 am at the hospital to pack bags. Distribution of
same very shortly after packing is complete. Then go home
and feel good for a long time.
·
This is a new
year of the council and host locals are needed to volunteer
to host a meeting. So please ask your respective local
officers for their permission to host a meeting.
·
16-17-18-19
October 07 Southeastern Michigan Stand Down day one set-up,
day two and three stand down and day four take down-clean
up. Linda Jones (313) 576- 3870 contact person for SMSD.
·
27 October 07
Operation Caring Friends packing party 70274 Campground
Rd. Romeo.
Between 32 and 33 Mile Rd. 11:00am till 7:00
pm. Car pool as much as is possible because of limited
parking.
Contact Mary @
merrittone@comcast.net for more information.
·
Today is UAW Day
at the ball park and our own Region 1 Color Guard is
presenting the colors.
·
Mr. Macon one of
the Tuskegee air men is in the VA hospital.
·
Sheila Holmes is
doing as well as can be expected please keep her and all
other military personnel in your prayers.
·
New members were
introduced.
·
Next meeting
October 9, 2007 5:00 pm Host Local 160.
Motion made and passed to
accept.
Legislative
Report: Brother Wayne
Conner II.
·
Brother Wayne
Conner II. Was not in attendance at this meeting.
Chaplain’s
Report: Brother
Jerry McKinney.
·
Brother Jerry
attended the Michigan Veterans Foundation Stand Down 21, 22
and 23 July 2007 and Charles Rouse also attended one day.
Two hundred forty seven over the three days and eighty seven
spent over nights on Army cots.
Motion made and passed to
accept.
Fund Raising
Committee Brother Wally
Allport.
·
Wally reported
that the Challenge Coins are for sale for $10.00 each and to
please take some to sell at your locals.
·
Old
Business:
None
New Business:
·
Talked about a
golf outing at some future date.
Good and Welfare:
·
Brother John
Bishop local 228 talked about his attendance at the Black
Lake Conference and with what he learned in the classes held
there he was able to assist some veterans with his new found
knowledge. This is why we have that conference so we can
help our fellow veterans.
·
Brother Dennis
Rahn reported the need to have an alternate for GLNC
Advisory Board, the need for flags and the ongoing
construction.
·
FYI Great
Lakes National Cemetery 4200 Belford Road Holley Mi.
48482 phone (248) 328-0386 pay toll free (866) 348-8603 Fax
no (248) 328-0612.
www.cem.va.gov/CEM/cems/nchp/greatlakes.asp M-F
8:00am to 4:30 pm Visitation hrs sunrise to sunset 544
acres interments in 2006 1,692. More intel on line. (Last
chance to copy this intel it will be removed from the
minutes H.L.C.)
·
Thank you to the
Officers and Members of the E-board of Region1 Veterans
Council great donuts.
·
The coffee hours
have not been determined as yet but will be soon.
·
We have six
coffee hours at the VA Hospital for the year, all on
Sundays; they run from 9 am to 11 am.
You need to be there at 8:30 am the cost is approximately
$50.00 which includes 4 doz. Donuts, 1 gal of milk, 1 gal of
OJ, and 3 lbs. of coffee.
·
Coffee Hours
Feb. 00, 2008 8:30 am VA Hospital Host Local
·
Coffee Hours
Apr. 00, 2008 8:30 am VA Hospital Host Local
·
Coffee Hours
May.00, 2008 8:30 am VA Hospital Host Local
·
Coffee Hours
Jun. 00, 2008 8:30 am VA Hospital Host Local
·
Coffee Hours
Jul. 00, 2008 8:30 am VA Hospital Host Local
·
Coffee Hours
Nov. 00, 2008 8:30 am VA Hospital Host Local
In the event that you can
not fulfill your agreed to commitment please notify the VAVS
representative or an officer of the council with as much
advance notice as is humanly possible so we may take steps
to fill the void where needed.
The following
are all the scheduled meetings of the Region 1 Veterans
Council for the ensuing year.
1.)
Tuesday, October 9, 2006 @
5:00 pm. Host Local 160
2.)
Tuesday, November 13, 2006 @
5:00 pm. Host Local
3.)
Saturday, December 8, 2006 @
10:00 am. Host Local
4.)
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
@ 5:00 pm. Host Local
5.)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 @
5:00 pm
Host Local
6.)
Saturday, March 8, 2008 @
10:00 am. Host Local
7.)
Tuesday, April 8, 2008 @
5:00 pm Host Local
8.)
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 @
5:00 pm Host Local
9.)
Saturday, June 14, 2008 @
10:00 am Host Local
10.)
Region 1 Veterans Council is dark for July and August
have a safe and happy vacation.
11.)
Saturday, September 13, 2008 @ 10:00 am
Host Local
Welcome Back!!!
All meetings will be
held at Region 1 Headquarters
Motion to adjourn
11:48 am made and passed.
Yours in comradeship and
brotherhood,
Harry “Les” Croyle
Recording Secretary Region 1
Veterans Council.
PATIENT NEEDS
WISH LIST FOR VA
MEDICAL CENTER
Sneakers (New – size 8 and
above)
Tee shirts ( L, XL, 2X, 3X) Dark
Colors please
Slipper sox (mens and
womens)
Sweatshirts ( L, XL, 2X,
3X)
Sweatpants ( L, XL, 2X,
3X)
Combs / Hair
Brushes
Shaving Cream (travel size)
Bars of Soap
Toothbrushes
Nail Clippers
Deodorant
Shampoo (travel
sizes)
Disposable Razors
Emery Board
nail files
Denture
Adhesive
Shower shoes
(flip flops)
Decaf and
Reg Coffee (ground)
Creamora
packets
Sugar
packets
Games for
RecDept
(board games, decks of cards, puzzle books of all kinds)
With Winter approaching gloves are a good item as well as
hats. Paperback books are needed again. I noticed at my last
visit that the
rack was nearly empty again.