June 9, 2006

Comfort Suites, Bismarck, ND

Meeting called to order by Chairman Jenson. Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence for POW/MIAs and those serving overseas.

Roll Call

Present:

Daryl Beard	Dave Hilleren	Dean Overby
Carl Bloomquist	Rudy Jenson	Rick Ryan
Wally Buckingham	Orletta Kilen	Lyle Schuchard
Larry Dakken	Arnold Maier	Gary Skarphol
John Hanson	Jerry Meske

Absent:

Dave Vandergon

Guests:

Members from the North Dakota Veterans Coordinating Council

Motion by Arnold Maier to accept minutes from March 2006 meeting, second by Gary Skarphol. Motion passed.

Presentation:

• Mike Fischer, Disabled American Veterans Commander, Chapter 3, awarded Rick Ryan a plaque commemorating his service on the Administrative Committee representing the D.A.V.
• Chairman Jenson presented a certificate to Rick Ryan and Larry Dakken for their years of service on the Administrative Committee. Plaques were also given from the committee members.

Speakers:

Colonel Chuck Wagner, Chief of Staff, ND National Guard

• Two troops killed in action this week. Funerals will be held in Bismarck, probably next week. Fourteen soldiers from North Dakota have lost their lives to date.
• Memorial Day activities at the Veterans Cemetery were well attended.
• Legislative issues have been submitted to Governor for consideration.
• One issue on the upcoming ballot is an initiated constitutional measure to bring language current in the National Guard.

William Reynolds, American Legion Post 12, Washburn, ND

• Spoke on memorial for North Dakota Medal of Honor recipients; there are eighteen named. This memorial is planned to be placed at Theodore Roosevelt Park in Minot. $100,000 has been raised so far, including the $35,000 from the 2005 legislative session. The projected goal is $300,000.

Scott Davy, License Plate Factory, Roughrider Industries

• Upgrading the decals to include "VETERAN" along with designating the branches of service, specifically the Marine Corp and the Coast Guard; looking for input from the service organizations.

Dan Stenvold, President, North Dakota Veterans Coordinating Council, reported the Council unanimously approved the addition of the word "VETERAN" on the decal. It will be placed above the service branch insignia on the license plate.

Tim Nolz, Job Service North Dakota

• Spoke on assistance given to homeless veterans.
• Job Fairs are almost completed. Hopefully returning Guard members will benefit from these.

Dan Stenvold spoke on NDVCC activities. Their reorganizational meeting will be held July 27, 2006 in Bismarck.

Report on Veterans Home

• Jerry Meske - Legislative Budget Committee toured Veterans Home. Roof needs to be replaced.
• Rudy Jenson - Request made to Emergency Commission for:
  47,200 increase in capital assets - various items to be replaced/repaired ($20,000 spent on Administrator's residence) and $106,000 for pharmacy costs.

Meeting with Governor - Rudy Jenson

• Recommended Appeals Committee for Bonus disputes
• Bonus should be expanded to include active duty
• Any remaining funds from the bonus could be directed to the Postwar Trust Fund to help returning veterans rather than have those funds going to the Veterans Cemetery.
• Governor to introduce legislation regarding picketing at funerals of service members who lost their lives in a combat zone.
• Lyle Schuchard to become voting member on the Workforce Development Council.
• Funds for marketing video on the Veterans Home discussed.

Committee recessed for subcommittee meetings.

Committee reconvened.

Veterans Affairs Budget - Lyle Schuchard, Chairman
Presented draft budget and optional package.
Motion to approve draft budget by Arnold Maier, second by Larry Dakken. Motion passed unanimously. [MOTION #1]

Department of Veterans Affairs Report - Gary Skarphol, Chairman

• Policy on Supervision and Monitoring of Department
  Subcommittee recommends policy #2
  Motion by Daryl Beard to accept policy #2, second by Orletta Kilen. Motion passed.
  "The chairman and secretary of the administrative committee on veterans' affairs (ACOVA) shall appoint a subcommittee as per N.D.C.C. 37-18.1-03 to supervise and govern the department of veterans' affairs.
  The commissioner shall meet with the subcommittee and ACOVA at each ACOVA meeting and at such times as determined by the subcommittee chair or the subcommittee. The commissioner shall provide a r report at these meetings of the activities, issues, needs and concerns of the department as well as respond to any issues brought forward by the subcommittee.
  The subcommittee shall do an annual performance evaluation of the commissioner based on performance criteria set by the subcommittee. It shall review, and update, if necessary, commissioner's position description. The evaluation will be presented to ACOVA."
• Policy on Sponsorship
  Subcommittee recommends policy #2
  Motion by Rick Ryan to accept policy #2, second by John Hanson. Motion passed.
  "The department of veterans' affairs shall limit it's sponsorship of any private citizens or groups requesting use of the State Capitol's meeting rooms, Memorial Hall or the Capitol Grounds to Memorial Day or Veterans' Day events held on the Capitol grounds, Heritage Center or Capitol Building and the veterans' organizations sponsoring these two events"

Motion to accept subcommittee report by Lyle Schuchard, second by Jerry Meske. Motion passed.

Veterans Home Governing Board Appointees - Rudy Jenson
Motion by Lyle Schuchard to table appointments until next meeting, second by John Hanson. Motion passed.

Committee recessed until 8:30am Saturday morning.

June 10, 2006

Meeting called to order by Chairman Jenson. Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence for POW/MIAs and those serving overseas.

Present:

Daryl Beard	Dave Hilleren	Dean Overby
Carl Bloomquist	Rudy Jenson	Rick Ryan
Wally Buckingham	Orletta Kilen	Lyle Schuchard
Larry Dakken	Jerry Meske	Gary Skarphol
John Hanson

Absent:

Arnold Maier

Dave Vandergon

Appeals Committee - Dean Overby, Chair

• No report.

Postwar Trust Fund Committee - Wally Buckingham, Chair

1. Request for Medal of Honor Memorial
   Committee recommends denying request.
   Motion by Daryl Beard that we obligate $50,000 for the Medal of Honor Memorial. Died for lack of second.
2. Committee recommends a transfer $50,000 to the Reserve Fund
   Motion by Rick Ryan to transfer $50,000 to Reserve Fund, second by Gary Skarphol. Motion passed unanimously. [MOTION #2]
3. AMVETS Post 9 request for $5,000 for StandDown
   Committee recommends approval.
   Motion by Gary Skarphol to obligate $5,000 for StandDown, second by Larry Dakken. Motion passed, 1 abstain. [MOTION #3]

Committee discussion on handling requests for Postwar Trust Fund monies. The Committee reaffirmed its previous decisions, and policy, of not using Postwar Trust Fund monies for memorials. As stewards of the Postwar Trust Fund, the committee feels that the funds should be used for living veterans and their dependents. Various ideas brought up, i.e. support for active duty soldiers; assistance to families of soldiers hurt or killed in action. Discussion on making changes to the grant program to accommodate different requests than allowed under the current guidelines. Discussion on helping the fourteen families of soldiers killed in action.

The Postwar Trust Fund committee was tasked to come up with ways to implement the ideas discussed.

Motion by Gary Skarphol to give $500 to next of kin of the fourteen soldiers killed in action, and continue $500 for any future deaths in this situation, second by Larry Dakken. Motion passed unanimously. Next of kin is defined as the person designated by the soldier in their military papers.

Motion by Dean Overby to obligate $10,000 for Casualty Fund, second by John Hanson. Motion passed unanimously.

Department of Veterans Affairs Report - Bob Hanson, Commissioner

Mr. Hanson discussed the following issues:

• VA Identity Theft
• Strategic and Operational Plan
• New staff person, Andrea Swiontek, hired
• Meeting with Association of Counties personnel
• US Senate Budget Field Hearing
• Interservice Family Assistance Committee established - meeting 6/13/06
• CVSO Conferences
• National Association of State Directors on Veterans Affairs Conference - September 9-14, 2006 - Salt Lake City, UT
  Motion by Rick Ryan for Commissioner to attend the NASDVA Convention, second by Carl Bloomquist. Motion passed.
• Sgt. Keeble Medal of Honor designation
• California veterans benefits survey

Legislative Committee - Rick Ryan, Chair

• No legislation submitted. Discussion on veterans' preference. Commissioner tasked with going thru the Century Code for any legislative changes that may be needed.

Next meeting:
Date to be determined; Chairman waiting for new appointments to be named to the committee. Location will be in Bismarck.

Larry Dakken and Rick Ryan expressed their feelings on serving on the Administrative Committee. Both were proud to serve and feel the committee is headed in the right direction on the issues facing them.

Meeting adjourned.