2011-02-17 Veteran Advisory Committee Minutes

Home

Veterans Advisory Committee Page 2 February 17, 2011 CALL TO ORDER • Chairperson Penny Fox called the meeting to order at 3:05pm and announced that there were 10 members present. (* *Audio Problems with Videoconferencin2 Equipment — Telephone Used for Audio) Kona still had problems hearing Chairperson Fox introduced the two new members: Brian Jordan attending in Hilo and Joseph Nimori attending in Kona. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC None. PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES — November 18, 2010 The minutes of the November 18, 2010 meeting were approved as submitted. REPORT ON CEMETERIES — STATE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD Hawaii Island - East Hawaii Representative — Mr. Keith Ribbentrop Mr. Ribbentrop provided a written report of the State Veterans Advisory Board Meeting for committee members to review. (Copy Attached) He said the report is self - explanatory, if anyone has questions please call him. Hawaii Island - West Hawaii Representative - Mr. Herb Lum Mr. Lum reported that the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery III has been granted "shrine status ". The Adjutant General, Director of Engineering stated that Phase II C is 99.9% completed. The only item remaining is the figurines that go on the gate which was just completed. The West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery Development and Expansion Association proposed (6) figurines on the gate (5) military services and (1) with the Hawaiian Warrior. VA approved the (5) figures representing the services and excluded the Hawaiian Warrior figurine. The VA requested the size and design of these figurines. The Association said they had someone who volunteered to design the figurines so OVS would only pay for the cost of materials. Since then, the designer that volunteered is no longer on the island and is unable to work on this project. The Association is faced with finding another designer or to choose another subject for the gate decoration. At this point they are attempting to find a designer and have been unsuccessful so far. The VA is waiting for the design plan so they can approve or disapprove it. The Association will probably be discussing soon what the options are and go from there. Discussion that took place later in the meeting relatin�to gate at Veterans Cemetery III: Mr. Jordan said he's new and doesn't know the rules of the committee and asked if there is sometime in this meeting that he can ask questions. Chairperson Fox said you can ask questions on the agenda item by just raising your hand.