Veteran's Commission

VETERANS COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA 5/8/19 Date: 5/8/19 Time: 6:00 PM Location: City Hall Council Chambers 1. Meeting Opening: a. Call to Order- Chairman b. Pledge of Allegiance-Chairman c. Moment of Silence-Chairman d. Roll Call – Clerk 2. Approval of Janauary 9th, 2019 Minutes & Prior Minutes – Clerk/Previous Clerk 3. Old Business a.https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/04/30/frustrations-mount- over-lack-of-progress-on-preventing-veterans-suicide/ b.. Veteran Suicide prevention – Andeth Vann c. VA document forwarded by Chairman on 1/23. Contains offer to provide speaker. d.. Veteran Related Monument 4. New Business a.Guest Speaker Yanitza Mendez : Veterans Outreach Center - Cape & Islands b. City Solicitor Meeting – Open meeting Law- Jay Gaffney c. City Solicitor Meeting – Facebook- Adam Mitchell d. City Flags – Jay Gaffney e Meeting Schedule f. Mmebership 5. VSO Update a. Homelesness b. Other 5. Communications/Information/Scheduled Events Information: Adam Mitchell- : H.R. 840, the Veterans' Access to Child Care Act Events: May 26th, 2019 GLVC Memorial Day 10:30 Ladd Whitney – reading of names of Veterams passing prior year 11:00 Auditorium Speaking Program June 19th, 2019Lowell Spinners Military Appreciation Night June 19th. 2019 GLVC Centennial Lowell Memorial Auditorium 7-9 PM June 22nd.2nd Annual Women Veterans Health Fair.For more information, call 781-687-4482 or email Geri Cherry, Geralyn.cherry@va.gov 6. Adjourn Exhibit A-Veteran of the Month Discussion Paper Background: The City of Lowell Veterans Commission has established the Walter F. Bayliss Veteran of the Month award for outstanding Veterans deserving to be recognized for their service to our country and contribution to the Lowell community. The award was originally designated for Veterans who were Lowell resident but eligibility was later broadened to include Veterans living outside Lowell who made a contribution to the City. The program has honored a substantial number of Veterans with the Veteran of the Month recognition and a ceremony at City Hall conducted in coordination with the Mayor’s office. Issue/Problem: Despite efforts to promote the award (See Outreach Contact List Below) there has been insufficient response to outreach efforts to date and increasing difficulty attracting enough nominees for to meet the monthly target. OPTIONS 1 Continue as is and try to ramp up promotion – 2. Change to Distinguished or Outstanding or some other title Veteran and Schedule Ceremony whenever several deserving vets nominated 3. Other: Outreach Contact List “X” Indicates organization which have been contacted. Civic/Umbrella Lowell Heritage Partnership X Greater Lowell chamber of Commerce –notice was passed on to some member orgs X Lowell Senior Center/Council for the Aging X Lowell Veteran Council Master List X Publications/Media Lowell Cable Tv Jason Marshall mnelson@ltc.org Lowell Community foundation newsletterX Social/Political/Professional Greater Lowell Bar Association X East End club East End club eastendclub1@comcast.net Mark BriereX Lowell ElksX Longmeadow Golf clubX Mt Pleasant Golf club MPGC@comcast.net Chris Green PresidentX Rotary Greater Lowell Republican City Committee X Greater Lowell Democratic City Committee X Lowell ElksX