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Minutes 09-10-14 MINUTES OF THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING HELD IN CONFERENCE ROOM B, CITY HALL 100 E. BOYNTON EACH BOULEVARD, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014, AT 10:00 A.M. PRESENT: Tom Kaiser, Chair Jeff Livergood, Board Liaison Steve Anton James Bowman Frank Bregoli Stuart Preston Bridget Roberts Karl Washington Stanley Gavlick, Alternate Jeffrey Korentur, Alternate Robert Manson, Alternate ABSENT: Kenneth C. Nichols, Alternate I. CALL TO ORDER — Tom Kaiser, Chairman Chair Kaiser called the meeting to order at 10:08 a.m. 11. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE — All Hands The members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Mr. Gavlick. 111. INVOCATION — Designated Chair Kaiser gave the invocation. IV. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS Roll call established a quorum was present. Also present was Dotti Moore, Honorary Member, Eric Hanson Home Depot, Jeff Montgomery, Manager, Home Depot, and Arnold May, Veterans Support Committee, Valencia Pointe Men's Club. V. AGENDA APPROVAL, September 10, 2014 There were no changes to the agenda. Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, Florida September 10, 2014 VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES, May 14, 2014 Motion Mr. Bregoli moved to approve the minutes of May 14, 2014. Mr. Preston seconded the motion that unanimously passed. VII. COMMENTS a. Chair Chair Kaiser acknowledged the public in attendance. Mr. Montgomery, Store Manager of Home Depot, supports the veterans and wants to support the Committee. Chair Kaiser requested minutes be sent to Mr. May and Mr. Montgomery. Mr. May recalled being made an Honorary Member; however, he was not on the list. b. Members or Visitors None. VIII. OLD BUSINESS: a. Veterans Memorial Park Events Chair Kaiser explained the 9-11 Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park is an important event and the entire Commission needs to be present and encourage others to attend. They will have a firing squad and bugle. Chair Kaiser contacted the Fire Department and created the program. Included in the program was a plaque honoring the press who are very valuable to the mission of the Veterans Commission. He noted the Palm Beach Post was at the Park yesterday taking photos of the monuments being brought in and they conducted interviews. They interviewed the Fire Chief. Chair Kaiser had not heard from the Sun-Sentinel which has been an ardent supporter. There will be one main tent. Chair Kaiser expressed his opinion that everything the Veterans Commission does enhances the City. i. POW/MIA Boy Scout Vigil, September 19-20, 2014. Ceremony September 20, Time TBD Press releases have announced the event, which will be held next Friday. The City allowed a few tents for the Scouts to house equipment. The event starts at 5 p.m. and pizza will be served at 8 p.m. Breakfast will consist of bagels, hot chocolate and coffee. The closing ceremony will start at 10 a.m. on September 20 and will last about 20 minutes. Chair Kaiser explained the event was a training session for the Boy Scouts and no overnight sleeping will be permitted. The walk was a vigil for POW /MIAs. 2 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, Florida Septemb 10, 2014 A Beirut Memorial will be unveiled on October 23rd at the Park. The Park has several benches that serve as memorials and they will be inscribed with the faces of the three men killed in Beirut. Chair Kaiser suggested having the face of a Marine on each side and the Navy Corpsman who was from Boynton Beach in the middle. Chair Kaiser obtained the photographs except for one Marine. Many things are being done to draw attention to the Park. He thought it was better for the Park to tell a story instead of just having monuments. Chair Kaiser explained he did not know if the event would move forward since he does not have a third face for the bench. He may cancel it. Mr. Anton was aware G Star School has video production classes, and he wants to approach them to ascertain if they can produce a video about each monument at no cost and what each one means for the City. The videos can be put on the City's webpage. Mr. Anton proposed a 20 or 30- minute video about each memorial. The students can research the monuments, speak to the veterans and learn. The video could air on Channel 20 and a shorter version could be viewed on the City's website. It was hoped the video could gain national attention through media outlets as it would recognize the students and the veterans. Additionally, Chair Kaiser's brother had filmed the all the monuments and he shows it to veterans on Long Island and he suggested adding to the video his brother created. Chair Kaiser advised he was on the Board at G Star. When Mr. Anton inquired if he should approach the School, there were no objections. Additionally, he inquired if Home Depot could make a donation to produce a video. Chair Kaiser explained Home Depot was providing manpower for the event. They were receptive to the suggestion, but no promises were made. Chair Kaiser suggested higher management officials at Home Depot view the monuments. Chair Kaiser requested a motion the Veterans Advisory Commission endorse the project and enhance what his brother was doing on Long Island. He would try to set up a tour. Mr. Livergood clarified the motion would confirm the Veterans Advisory Commission was authorizing a discussion about creating a video as part of that project. Motion Mr. Bregoli so moved. Mr. Preston seconded the motion that unanimously passed. ii. Veterans Day events, November 11, 2014, Time TBD Chair Kaiser advised his brother would be down for this event. The ceremony would start at 10 a.m. at the Park. He requested the members bring any photographs they have pertaining to their service. iii. Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, December 16, 2014. Glenn Miller 3 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, Florida September 10, 2014 Band Tribute. Times TBD. Chair Kaiser advised this would be the biggest event in years. He anticipated about 200 or more Battle of the Bulge veterans would attend in addition to their families, friends and other veterans. Two port-o- potties will be ordered. Parking would be accommodated at Bud's Chicken and CVS drugstore that were recognized on the program as Friends of the Veterans. The building across the street and St. Mark Church would also permit event parking. Barricades and traffic control would be needed. Discussion followed about dancing to the Glenn Miller Band Tribute. The Delray Beach Lions Club will supply water. Mr. Gavlick also commented his wife is a member of the Gold Coast Quilting Club and they started a Quilt of Valor. There are six handmade quilts that the Club will raffle off. Every veteran will receive a raffle and the presenter will draw the number and make the presentation. Additionally, the name of the quilt maker was on the quilt. It was noted the Battle of the Bulge ended the same day Glenn Miller died. The quilt presentations will be part of the program. Mr. Gavlick wanted the ceremony to be a full ceremony with rifles and taps as the monument is unveiled. Chair Kaiser was bringing in an eight piece band and hoped if more funds were collected, more musicians could play. The big -band 1940s sound was wanted. A suggestion was made to incorporate a high school band, but practice may be problematic. It was noted Park Vista was a nationally- ranked high school band. Chair Kaiser explained 3' x 5' flags for all five armed forces were needed. Mr. May commented if they can get the flags to him, his organization will put them up by 10 a.m. Chair Kaiser commented he has many interment flags, and he would like to do something for a female veteran. Chair Kaiser commented there was destruction of two flagpoles at the Park that related to friends of a soldier who was killed in Afghanistan. They drew on benches and left flowers and candies at the Park. The Park is not to be desecrated. He thought perhaps the image of the solider killed in Afghanistan could be inscribed on a bench. A question was posed about the funds for the Battle of the Bulge event and Chair Kaiser explained the cost would be split. He also noted there were only five bricks left for sale. I. NEW BUSINESS: Mr. Bregoli commented he had last year's membership list and requested receiving an updated one. Chair Kaiser pointed out Kurt Leuchner, Dottie Moore, Honorary Members and Arnold May should be included in attendance. Chair Kaiser's contact information will be included on the back of the program. Discussion followed regarding whether the Veterans Advisory Commission had connections to the local Chamber of Commerce. It was thought being involved with them was a good way to get the word out to the local business community and distribute information across a large group of people. There may be funds available. The City 4 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, Florida September 10, 2014 also has a TV station. If the Veterans Advisory Commission can create a video, they can air it and market the Veterans Commission. Mr. Anton also pointed out the City has a Facebook page and website and Mr. Livergood agreed to bring the information to the webmaster. They could post a schedule of events and photographs. Mr. May explained next month the Valencia Pointe Men's Club will have a food drive for non - perishable items for homeless veterans. If any of the veterans organizations could do anything, it would be appreciated. The VA Hospital has a pantry that needs small amounts of food coming in steadily. Homeless veterans can get a medical check -up, receive clothing, shower and take non - perishable food from the VA pantry with them. Clothing drives were already held. Anyone interested in helping should contact him. Chair Kaiser suggested at the next Veterans Day event, they include a notice to bring canned goods. Donating a $50 gift card was suggested as an incentive to bring non - perishable foods; however, Chair Kaiser was unsure that could be done. X. BENEDICTION, MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER Chair Kaiser gave the benediction. I. NEXT BOARD MEETING — Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at 10:00 AM II. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m. Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist 100314 5