Minutes

Larry Zimmerman, Sup. Jersey Cty., IACVAC President

Mike Iwanicki, Sup. McHenry Cty., IACVAC Vice –President

Kurt Daesch, Sup. St. Clair Clair Cty., IACVAC Secretary

John Farrow, Sup. Sangamon Cty., IACVAC Treasurer

Chad Vale, Sup. Woodford Cty., IACVAC Judge Advocate

Richard Campbell, Sup. Kankakee Cty., 1^stDiv. Vice-President

Peter Keith, Sup. Winnebago Cty., 2^nd Div. Vice-President

Mike Brooks, Sup. Peoria Cty., 3^rd Div. Vice-President

Tom Bailey, 4^th Div. Vice-President

Jim Denbow, Sup. Will Cty., IACVAC Past President

John Carr, Sup. Kane Cty., IACVAC Past President

Virgil Johnson, Sup. Henry Cty., IACVAC Past President

Ed Dixon, Sup. Kendall Cty., Guest

Steve Barrett, Asst. Sup. Kendall Cty., Guest

Mike Peck, Sup. Lake Cty., Guest

Roll call shows twelve (12) officers present. The previous minutes having been published, Sup. Iwanicki made motion to accept as published, seconded and PASSED. Treasurer’s Report – Sup. Farrow – Beginning Balance on August 1, 2007, $3,711.76. Ending Balance on December 31, 2007, $7,099.50. CD in the amount of $5,128.44 is awaiting maturity on March 23, 2008. Motion by Sup. Keith to accept the report subject to audit, seconded and PASSED. President’s Remarks – None at this time.

Officers Remarks – Sup. Denbow, It is a good turn-out. Sup. Campbell, Manteno Homeless Program open officially 01/29. VFW office at R.O. has been closed for training. Sup. Vale now has two days in office and a computer, thanks to Sup. Brooks talking to Woodford Cty. Administrator. Sup. Johnson on the status of the expansion of LaSalle Home. Sup. Carr indicates that this is on hold due to the funding. Sup. Denbow on the upcoming VSO School. Are we wanting an Accreditation school, are we going to have enough new people for this? We have put in for a grant for helping to pay for an accreditation school. Sup. Daesch spoke on the dates for the school being October 20^th through the 24^th at Scott A.F.B. with the 126^th Air Refueling Wing at their briefing theater.

Communications – None.

Unfinished Business – Ed Dixon passed out his revision of the Demobilization Package.

New Business – Sup. Peck on the ESGR Program and the benefits of signing up as a supporter and for the advisory board.

Report of the Nomination Committee with the slate of nominees being:

Larry Zimmerman, Supt. Jersey Cty., IACVAC President

Mike Iwanicki, Supt. McHenry Cty., IACVAC Vice-President

Kurt Daesch, Supt. St. Clair Cty., IACVAC Secretary

John Farrow, Supt. Sangamon Cty., IACVAC Treasurer

Chad Vale, Supt. Woodford Cty., IACVAC Judge Advocate

Herb Holderman, Supt. DeKalb Cty., IACVAC Sgt.-at-Arms

Richard Campbell, Supt. Kankakee Cty., 1^st Div. V-P

Peter Keith, Supt. Winnebago Cty., 2^nd Div. V-P

Mike Brooks, Supt. Peoria Cty., 3^rd Div. V-P

Tom Bailey, Supt. Livingston Cty., 4^th Div. V-P

Jim Denbow, Supt. Will Cty., Past President

John Carr, Supt. Kane Cty., Past President

Virgil Johnson, Supt. Henry Cty., Past President

Joseph Craig, Supt. DuPage Cty.

Leon Barnes, Supt. Effingham Cty.

Ed Dixon, Supt. Kendall Cty.

Michael Peck, Supt. Lake Cty.

Maryna Misiewicz, Supt. Stephenson Cty.

Steve Saal, Supt. Tazewell Cty.

Rich Joslin, Del. DeKalb Cty.

Steven Hlavach, Del. Kankakee Cty.

Steven Barrett, Del. Kendall Cty.

Norm Arnswold, Del. Lake Cty.

Bob Howe, Del. McHenry Cty.

Bernard Schwarz, Del. St. Clair Cty.

Gary Eisenhower, Del. Stephenson Cty.

Ralph Hodgson, Del. Tazewell Cty.

Gary Keegan, Alt. DeKalb Cty.

Nick Konz, Alt. Lake Cty.

Gary Jenson, Alt. McHenry Cty.

First timers were Nick Konz of Lake Cty., Steve Barrett of Kendall Cty. and Gary Eisenhower of Stephenson Cty.

Guest Dan Grant of Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn’s office and member of Veterans’Cash Grant Board gave talk on the Veterans’ Cash Grants and on the situation of the funding for additional staffing and beds for Illinois’ Veterans Homes.

Sup. Peck spoke on the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) program. Touched on the need to have the large numbers signed up as supporters and the possibility of joining the ombudsman program to help counsel the local guard and reserve members in what their rights are to return to their civilian jobs.

Demobilization Package – Sup. Dixon reworked and revamped the booklet and included all Illinois counties and the numbers of the VAC’s and the existence of IDVA offices where they exist. Several suggestions were made and considered. Suggestion to include the IACVAC and IDVA web sites on the map page.

Sup. Denbow brought up the up-coming school and whether to make it an accreditation school. So far the count for accreditation is 8 persons would definitely sign up for accreditation class. There is a grant proposal submitted for helping pay for the school. General consensus would be for accreditation.

Reconvened for Committee Caucuses at 1:06 p.m. To return from caucuses at 2:20 p.m.

Good of the Association – Pres. Zimmerman - Report of the Committee Caucuses will be at Business Meeting at tomorrow’s session. The By-Laws change will come up tomorrow that will allow us to schedule our Legislative Meeting to coincide with the IACO meeting. There is a slate of officers for the elected positions that the Nomination Committee has developed. However, the nominations will be open for nominations from the floor and we will elect our officers for the next two years tomorrow.

Johnson motion to recess until 9:00 a.m., seconded by Keith and PASSED. Recessed at 2:35 p.m.

Larry Zimmerman, Supt. Jersey Cty., IACVAC President

Mike Iwanicki, Supt. McHenry Cty., IACVAC Vice-President

Kurt Daesch, Supt. St. Clair Cty., IACVAC Secretary

John Farrow, Supt. Sangamon Cty., IACVAC Treasurer

Chad Vale, Supt. Woodford Cty., IACVAC Judge Advocate

Richard Campbell, Supt. Kankakee Cty., 1^st Div. V-P

Peter Keith, Supt. Winnebago Cty., 2^nd Div. V-P

Mike Brooks, Supt. Peoria Cty., 3^rd Div. V-P

Tom Bailey, Supt. Livingston Cty., 4^th Div. V-P

Jim Denbow, Supt. Will Cty., Past President

John Carr, Supt. Kane Cty., Past President

Virgil Johnson, Supt. Henry Cty., Past President

Joseph Craig, Supt. DuPage Cty.

Leon Barnes, Supt. Effingham Cty.

Ed Dixon, Supt. Kendall Cty.

Michael Peck, Supt. Lake Cty.

Greg Henn, Supt. Madison Cty.

Jerry Vogler, Supt. McLean Cty.

Maryna Misiewicz, Supt. Stephenson Cty.

Steve Saal, Supt. Tazewell Cty.

Steven Hlavach, Del. Kankakee Cty.

Steven Barrett, Del. Kendall Cty.

Nick Konz , Alt. Lake Cty.

Robert Sedlacek, Del. Madison Cty.

Bob Howe, Del. McHenry Cty.

Bernard Schwarz, Del. St. Clair Cty.

Gary Eisenhower, Del. Stephenson Cty.

Ralph Hodgson, Del. Tazewell Cty.

Gary Jenson, Alt. McHenry Cty.

Officers present were 12, counties represented were 20 and the legal votes were 27.

Minutes – The minutes of the previous meetings having been published, motion to accept the minutes as published made by Sup. Denbow and seconded by Sup. Keith. PASSED.

Treasurer’s Report – Sup. Farrow - Beginning Balance on August 1, 2007, $3,711.76. Ending Balance on December 31, 2007, $7,099.50. CD in the amount of $5,128.44 is awaiting maturity on March 23, 2008. Audit was done after meeting yesterday and came up with our total balance as $12,222.24 and we have 250 lapel pins.

Sup. Dixon brought up the case of the Robinsons, a couple posing as veterans throughout Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and other states. Mr. Robinson was extradited from Wisconsin to Kendall Cty. to be tried for fraud and other charges. After confronting Mr. Robinson’s lawyer with all the evidence he convinced his client to plead guilty to slightly reduced charges.

Division Vice-Presidents – 1^st Div., Sup. Campbell – Manteno has put all admissions on hold for the time being and their homeless program will open in February. 2^nd Div., Sup. Keith - . 3^rd Div., Sup. Brooks – Reported on his impending move out of the court house to a different set of offices. 4^th Div., Sup. Bailey – Personal use of county cell phones could end up causing problems due to overuse and IRS rules.

Committee Reports – Legislative, Sup. Carr – Public Law-0950576 “Veterans Nursing While White-Hats” will allow nurses to work in Illinois’ veterans homes while still unregistered and seeking certification as an RN. Veterans Outreach PTSD Program is for those who wish to start a program for counseling veterans with PTSD in their county through the scratch-off funds. Veterans Conservation Act to help honorably discharged veterans with PTSD and an inclination to help restore natural habitats in Illinois. Public Law-09501566 Veterans Preference Act states that veterans be given preference in jobs especially construction involving the state. Public Law-0950157 Vehicle Code Veterans motorcycle license plates and reduced cost plates. Public Law-0950072 Veterans Hospital Visits, allows state employees who are veterans 4 days for hospital visits for evaluation or follow-up on service-connected health issues. Also, stipulates that the days not count against the employees sick time. Public Law 0950644, this has a one-time $5,000 homestead exemption for certain veterans that are just returning home from deployment and a $2,500 exemption that needs to be renewed each year for those with 50 – 70% rating and a $5,000 exemption for those with 80 – 100% which must also be renewed each year. HR-0874 resolution renaming Illinois Route 173 to The 173^rd Airborne Brigade Highway in honor of the men and women of the Army 173^rd Airborne Brigade. On the national level there is DOD bill that seeks relief for the Chapter 61 retirees to receive their retirement and combat related compensation for their disabilities. There is a question on the time period for qualifying. House Rules Bill 2514 Assured Funding of Veterans Health Care for funding of veterans health care through an entitlement program rather than through discretionary funding. The Committee put forth a resolution to have the Association encourage the Illinois legislators to back this bill and the members of the Illinois delegation, as well. Sup. Peck motion to support the resolution, seconded by Sup. Vale and PASSED. Motion to accept committee report by Sup. Iwanicki, seconded by Sup. Johnson and PASSED. Members and Organization – Sup. Campbell – Committee has asked for another printing of the tri-fold. Demobilization Packet has come along very well. Sup. Dixon indicates we should not worry about the printing of the Packet. Many do not know how to make annual report to governor. For this reason the M&O committee will develop generic form for use in making these. How many Tri-Folds? Motion to accept the report made by Sup. Johnson, seconded by Sup. Denbow and PASSED. Rules and By-Laws, Sup. Keith – Reported on the proposed by-laws change to be voted on later in this meeting. Read the present form of the section and the proposed change. Motion to accept the report of the committee by Sup. Iwanicki, seconded by Sup. Misciewicz. Budget and Finance, Sup. Iwanicki – Read the budget proposal. Reported that the Sec. of States office is clamping down on Non-Profits in their not filing each year and on fundraising. Motion to accept the report and budget by Sup. Vale, seconded by Sup. Dixon and PASSED. Ways and Means, Sup. Farrow – Discussed various possible fundraising possibilities including shirts, new bags and others. Motion by Sup. Iwanicki to accept the committee report, seconded by Sup. Dixon and PASSED. Education and Training, Sup. Denbow – Discussed that there is a grant proposal for helping fund and would be best to have Accreditation School as opposed to just CEU’s. Sup. Daesch announced the 2008 VSO Training School as October 20 – 24, 2008 at Scott AFB, Belleville and that there would be security checks necessary for the attendees. Motion to accept committee report made by Sup. Peck and seconded by Sup. Keith and PASSED.

NACVSO – Sup. Carr spoke on the upcoming national convention and school to be held June 14-21, in Charleston, SC at the Airport Embassy Suites. Next year in San Diego. Question on when computer access will be available to those that have passed the TRIP Training. National has been working on this for a few years. Discussion of the subject. Motion to accept report made by Sup. Denbow and seconded by Sup. Dixon and PASSED.

Unfinished Business – Pres. Zimmerman read by-laws change, motion by Sup. Dixon to accept the proposed change to the IACVAC By-Laws, seconded by Sup. Iwanicki and PASSED. Report Sup. on the Robinson situation with him pleading guilty to a slightly reduced charge in light of the overwhelming evidence against him.

Report of the Nomination Committee with the slate of nominees being:

New Business – Elections – Nominations opened to the floor. Sup. Bailey asks if the nominees must be present to be considered. Break taken for research. By-Laws show no mention of this point and it is not addressed in Robert’s Rules. Nominations closed. Motion to have secretary cast unanimous ballot for the slate nominated made by Sup. Henn and sec. by Del. Hlavach and PASSED Sec. Daesch cast one unanimous ballot for the nominated individuals. Audit report made by Iwanicki, all accounts are in proper order and balanced. Motion to accept report by Sup. Iwanicki , seconded by Sup. Keith and PASSED.

Good of the Association – Sup. Vogler ask about data on the amount of funds coming into county as a result of veterans compensation and other funds? Information is available at va.gov and look under the link for demographics. Sup. Misciewicz brought up the upcoming program addressing Women Vet’s issues. Sec. Daesch brought up April 15 deadline for nominations for the IACVAC Awards. Also, the upcoming Legislative Meeting in conjunction with IACO Board of Director’s meeting on April 28 and Legislative meeting on April 29. September meetings Board of Directors’ on Thursday, September 4^th at 7:30, the General Meeting on September 5^th at 10:00 a.m. and the Banquet at 6:30 p.m. and the Business Meeting on Sepotember 6^th at 9:00 a.m. This will be at The Chateau in Bloomington. Motion by Sup. Denbow to pay for printing of the Tri-Folds, seconded by Sup. Vale and PASSED. Motion made by Sup. Denbow to allow Treas. Farrow to order 100 new bags, seconded by Sup. Carr and PASSED. Sup. Denbow reminded all present that it is very important to pass on changes in Superintendent, Delegates, telephone numbers e-mail addresses and other items to effect changes to the directory and to the Demobilization packet. 50/50 $41 won by Sup. Keith.