CALIFORNIA STATE COMMANDERS VETERANS COUNCIL (CSCVC) MEETING

The second meeting of three (3) for 2008 was held from 9:30am to 12:30pm, April 12th, in the Art Hill Room of the Fresno Veterans Memorial Museum http://www.legionofvalor.com/museum.php, downtown Fresno.

The Council. organized in the coordinated interest of the veteran–the servicemember–and their families, was founded 28 February 1966 and incorporated 9 November 1981, and currently has nineteen (19) Council members, including CAL-MOAA, and three (3) affiliate members. More information is available at the website here: http://www.califveterans.com/.

The CAL-MOAA bylaws state that the president shall “Represent the Council of Chapters on the California State Commanders Veterans Council.”

Sixteen (16) individuals were in attendance, including members, museum representatives, and guests. Some of the member organizations representated included Veterans of Foreign Wars, Reserve Officers Association, Vietnam Veterans of America, American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America, California Council of Chapters (CAL-MOAA), Marine Corps League, Retired Enlisted Association, founding member the Legion of Valor, and Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Presentations
–Secretary Tom Johnson, California Department of Veterans Affairs
http://www.cdva.ca.gov/AboutUs/Secretary.aspx
Secretary Johnson provided a recap of a recent Secretary’s Conference in Sacramento and outlined some of the opportunities and challenges for his office and for veterans throughout California. Future budgets will be a challenge; it’s important to keep travel and other expenses down in these difficult times. And young veterans are not moving into the workforce as quickly and easily as their civilian peers. He made an appeal to help pass Gold Star Family Licence Plate legislation, something being opposed as unnecessary, and yet there a number of other states with similar plates.

–Mr. Dennis Egge, the American Retirees Association, sent a letter and appeared in person in an effort to gain CSCVC membership for his organization, saying that his people are all veterans and he’s sure he and his members can and will make a significant contribution to the Council should membership be granted.

Financial Report
The Council is under severe strain financially. The treasurer noted that annual dues income should approach $2,000 if all members made payment; only about half the members have paid the 2008 dues. Generally, there are only two expenditures per year, payments to Sacramento lobbyist Pete Conaty & Associates (total annual billing $6,000) and perhaps $150 for trophy awards. Recently, however, the Council agreed to sponsor a Sacramento event and faces a probable $3,000+ financial liability. CAL-MOAA made a special $1,000 donation in addition to its dues and the money went right to Sacramento and Conaty. Another organization made a $25 donation. It is anticipated that Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) may make a $1,000 donation to help defray the Sacramento event expenses.

The treasurer reported that with the dues collected and donations received, and after a partial payment to Conaty, payment for the trophy, and payment of other minor expenditures (office supplies, postage, and such), about $400 remain in the bank account. Currently there is potential for $2,000 in dues income should all organizations make payment; at the same time, there is a potential annual liability of about $10,000 ($6,000 to Conaty; $3-500 for trophies and awards; and $3,500 for a once each year Sacramento awards event). The treasurer will send letters to member organizations soon asking for donations to make up the deficit.

May Veterans Recognition Luncheon
At the January CSCVC meeting members agreed to sponsor a special veterans recognition luncheon to take place May 7, 2008 in Sacramento, an event planned by Assemblymember Mary Salas/CA79 http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=57284; however, there was no indication at that time that there would be costs involved and, if so, how much. It now seems that the luncheon will indeed take place at the California Chamber of Commerce building, 1215 K Street at Esquire Plaza, 14th Floor, California Room, near the Capitol, in Sacramento, 11:00am, May 7th, and more than 100 people could be involved. CSCVC has the responsibility to pay for the room ($900) and the lunch meals ($2,380); the invited legislators will pay transportion costs for the forty (40) veteran honorees from their districts. The Council’s legislative officer has guaranteed payment by using his own personal credit card. PG&E might donate $1,000 to the event; at least one Council member indicated he will try to arrange a donation up to $350 from his organizations and the ROA representative indicated their chapters have money and will be encouraged to donate. More donations will be needed from others. This is expected to be a very nice event, perhaps the most significant event of the year.

There are no funds in the 2008 CSCVC budget to pay for this event and real concern was expressed. It was noted that further payments to Conaty & Associates would have to be delayed until all May 7th meeting financial obligations are settled.

Council members agreed to have a short meeting that Wednesday morning in the Capitol basement cafeteria followed by visits to two (2) legislative offices in order to make special award presentations. Specifically, awards will go to Senator Cogdill and Assemblykman Lieu as Legislator of the Year in their respective offices. In addition, there should be opportunities to lobby legislators on veterans legislation, a California “Storming the Hill” event, and attend any hearings that day that pertain to veterans. The luncheon would be at 11:00am to about 1:30pm, featuring a prominent speaker. Later in the afternoon there might be opportunities for attendees to visit the Capitol and certain legislative offices, again to lobby bills, attend hearings, visit veterans committee consultants, etc.

Interested MOAA members are invited to attend this event but reservations must be obtained from Bill Manes, e-mail califveterans@cox.net, no later than April 30th.

Legislation
This is the primary business of the Council. William C. Manes, Legislative Officer from Dana Point, CA, provided an extensive listing of current bills carefully arranged in logical groups and as follows:

–Veterans Claims and Services (4)
–Veterans Services - Health Care (5)
–Veterans Services -Housing/Homeless Veterans (3)
–Veterans Services - Employment (1)
–National Guard - Education Benefits (4)
–National Guard - Employment (4)
–Education (5)
–Vehicles, License Plates (4)
–CAL-VET Farm and Home Loan Program ((3)
–Miscellaneous (16)
–Resolutions (2)

A very useful summary was provided listing the bills which are CSCVC supported, those recommended that the Council support, recommended no position on others, and finally one bill to be opposed. Most of these bills have been listed here: http://www.califveterans.com/StateLegislationSummary.htm. In the case of each bill, in a written summary provided at the meeting, there is a description, current status, support/opposition, and in some cases a recommendation.

Secretary Election
On the basis that the current Secretary is likely to be called to active duty in Summer 2008 it was important to choose a successor, and indeed one member volunteered to take the job on a temporary basis

New Business
There was real alarm and concern during the meeting about the Council’s financial situation and it was agreed to discuss the issue at the upcoming 18 October 2008 meeting. One suggestion was to raise the annual dues from $100 to $400 or $500 in order to meet the projected $10K annual expenditures; another was to identify new approaches to fund raising activities. With member organizations losing membership and dues monies, this is perhaps the Council’s most challenging issue for the near future.

Next Meeting
The next meeting has been set for Saturday, 18 October, Art Hill Room, Fresno Veterans Memorial Museum, 2425 Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93721

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