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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES for 2021-02-23 FINAL VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Tuesday, February 23, 2020, 1:30 p.m. WebEx Video Conferencing and Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) Present Members Michael Doolittle Isaac Nahakuelua Marcia Brinkley George Sheridan ,John Hiduchick.-Nakayama KonLa_Maor's Office ha Videoconfere ncingj I ............ Members None Guests Hilo L____l Pomaika'i Bartolome, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Nicole Gray, Congressman Kahele's Office ,James Hussey, American Legion Ex-Officio Kona None Ex-QjLiciojtIi1oj Michelle Hiraishi, Deputy Director P&R Kelcie Figueira, Office of Veterans Services Also_f resentLtlilol Brittany Iyo, Secretary ,I Yoshimoto, Deputy Corporation Counsel Absent Minoru Hanato Call to Order Chair Michael Doolittle called the meeting to order at 1 :31 pm. Quorum not met with five members present. Per recommendation from Deputy Corporation Counsel, ,J Yoshimoto, no items on the agenda can be voted on, but discussion can continue. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC None OLD BUSINESS There was no discussion of old business items. The committee agreed to table the items to the next agenda until more members could attend/have been confirmed as an active member of the committee. Homeless Veterans during Pandernic S rmed Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23,2021 Page 2 S Chair Michael Doolittle asked that the guests present at the meeting introduce themselves and how they can assist with Veterans. Nicole Gray -- Congressman Kaialii Kahele's Office: I am sitting in on this meeting to get a better understanding of what is needed in our community and from the veterans. I deal with the case work coming in and also with our military throughout our islands. It would be helpful for me to just understand what's needed, where are our other problems, policy issues that you are looking for or towards, that's basically why I'm here. Chair Doolittle; Specifically for this committee, we'll be looking at a variety of things but a lot of the things is pretty obvious, we don't have any real power, we can't allocate anybody or we can't really draw on any resources other than just make advisory comments about the things that currently exist. Anybody else have any comments about that? Deb is very involved in many veterans' issues; she could probably speak to it more specifically. Debra Lewis: I think this first for both Nicole and Kelcie and Pomai that's sitting in on this one for the Mayor's office, about leaning forward to upstand the issues that we have to deal with for our veterans, the past minutes will give you a little bit of an indication of that. And where can we yes, our resources in order to support that. Sometimes it's not that office, sometimes Kai's office, your case workers might see trends that would be something you could furnish to us and from our end, where do we need legislative support? Right now, we're a little bit floundering because we've got to get the Council and the guidelines for this committee to continue to approve it. Before we used to just talk cemeteries and now were talking other issues that the Mayor wants to and ought to know about with veterans. We're excited about the changes but this little hiccup, if committee meetings don't get put in to the process properly then we get gaps and we don't have quorum. For years this committee didn't have quorum so it's actually the members who you see here are the ones that are really engaged in the community which is exciting for us and that we can continue to move issues forward in that regards. During covid we've been strapped, and we know that the homeless issues are still there, a lot of the social nets that are out there are helping our veterans as well. Really its about getting support to people like Kelcie, that processes claims or the State. What you could work on for example, I'm not making a recommendation or saying this committee does it but for example there use to be two people I her office and right now, she only has herself and an assistant that answers phones. But we have enough claims for two people full time to be working and pretty soon they'll be going for their hearings, which means even more work. 'That might be an issue for example that we would bring up here and say, if you could give a call to the Office of Veterans Services office on Oahu and push them to say how are you going to support our island better. There's Kelcie on our side and there's another one on the Kona side but just Hilo side has enough for two people. So that right there is a good example of something you could help us with. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23,2021 Page 3 Chair Doolittle: Ok, any other comments? Gray: Sorry, I just want to ask Kelcie, what office are you with? Kelcie Figueira: I'm with the Office of Veterans Services, so the State of Hawaii, Office of Veterans Services. Gray: Thanks. Lewis: Kai still has plenty of constituents on the State side, both Senate and the House. I think he worked with Han, Colonel Han before. It's all about connections as we know. Chair: So Roddy is no longer a representative for Veterans Services on this island? Lewis: Correct. Figueira: No, he's not. Chair: Anyone else got anything to add to that? No one? Ok, Kelcie you're the only one and you've taken over everything that Roddy did and you're all along? Figueira: Yes, recently. I am the Supervisor for the island now. I have myself in East Hawaii. I cover from Discovery Harbor to Waimea. I have a representative in Kona who covers from Waimea,Ila vi, Kohala, Kona and Captain gook. 'That is our areas of jurisdiction. But because of COVID, we do work primarily by telephone so I do have some of my clients from West Hawaii calling and I represent those folks as well. Chair: So, East Hawaii doesn't have a representative? Fig: That's me. I'm the representative. Marcia Brinkley: Kelcie, what's the name of the representative on the West side? Figueira: Her name is Diane Ramsey and I can give you her telephone number, Marcia. Do you need her telephone number? Brinkley: Yes. Figueira: Her phone number is 844-6664. Brinkley: Thank you. Figueira: You're welcome. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23,2021 Page 4 Lewis: I just want to say, those that don't know Kelcie, and I can say this about Nicole, in fact today in a meeting with Stevie from your office, who is locally for Kai Kahele, I talked about the two of you. These two individuals who are participating and its fun on my screen because I have Pomai to the right, but these women who are on the bottom row, I call them my rock stars, they're like Rockettes and they make things happen in ways that we can only imagine. I just hope that if you don't know any of the three ladies that are on the bottom, I surround myself with brilliant people, that's how I get things done. These three are just been amazing, they have been working hard on the issues. Kelcie has been there, I was actually on her selection board when she blew us away. I hope to see her with someone else helping out that office. They really are, Veterans come in and ,John can tell the story, I hope we'll have,lohnny introduce himself, Johnny has a story about coming in and if you have an appointment, it's so important to have an appointment so that you're not inconveniencing people, but now it's virtual. But anyway, three great, amazing women. Chair: Well, we certainly need strong advocates (inaudible) visitors and contributors to our committee. We need that kind of input and we need it all the time. Any other comments? If not, I'd like to have ,John introduce himself. I think we're having some kind of connectivity issue, because I keep going dark. Lewis: I think it is on your end Michael because I can see you although your audio is going in and out a little bit. ,John Hiduchick.-Nakayama: My name is ,Johnny Hiduchick.-Nakayama, I'm new to the advisory commission. I'm looking forward to serving all of you and all the Veterans on the island. I'm an Army Combat Veteran, deployed numerous times. I love serving Veterans. I work for the USDA full-time, recently got promoted to Associate Enterprise Director for all of Hawaii and the Western Pacific. So, I started two weeks ago, so I'm still getting my feet wet. We have some great programs that the County is looking to take advantage of so it's a pleasure to be a part of, so thank you. I'm married, I have a seven year old son. I know Deb really well, I know Pomai really well, I know Kelcie really well. It's pretty interesting that Deb said they're the Rockettes, I consider them to rock stars as well so thank you very much for the opportunity to serve. Chair: Excellent, so you're not actually a member then? Hiduchick: I am. Lewis: No, he's a member now, he just got approved. Chair: Excellent. I didn't see any notice circulated about that so it was new to me. Lewis: Pomai has been hard at work trying to process individuals for all boards and commissions. When Johnny's done, would love to hear from Pomai because she's seen everything on that level. Johnny is another go getter. This committee is all filled with Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23,2021 Page 5 now people of action who are making things happen. Johnny is also Chaplain, supporting Yukio Okutsu, member of our VFW 3830, he has a good pulse on what's happening and he's been active and going into the Reserves shortly so we really appreciate having him. Chair: Well certainly a hearty welcome from all of us. We would like to fill our ranks up a little bit. I feel like a naked infantry squad going into combat with two people behind ya. (laughter). Lewis: And you know all about that with your experience in Vietnam, so we don't want you to feel that way, Michael. Chair: Thank you very much. Do we have anything else under our Old Business? Lewis: Ijust thought, Pomai, if you had anything. We'd love to hear just a few words, I know you've been feeding from the fire hose, except there's no,you're just feeding straight from it. Pomaika'i Bartolome: Yes, exactly. I'm Pomai Bartolome, Executive Assistant here at the Mayor's office. Yeah, I thought I'd come to the meeting today for the food, because I heard the food was great. (Laughter) But it's been ajourney trying to fill our Boards and Commissions and trying to find amazing people like,lohnny and Deb and reappointing Mr. Sheridan. Mr. Sheridan, Ijust want to clarify that you were confirmed by Council. George Sheridan: I don't have to get sworn in again? Bartolome: You do, so if you could come to the Mayor's office and we will administer the oath. Sheridan: I'll get down there sometime. Thank you. Bartolome: I also want to let you know that I spoke to Council Member Sue Lee Loy and she is more than willing to help because I know that you've been working on the background for the vacancies to fill so again, she's happy to help. Chair: Can I ask, has Deb Lewis been reinstated yet and officially? Bartolome: Deb, so this Friday is the deadline for my next round of applicants and so Deb will be confirmed next month. Chair: Excellent, she's part of the life blood of this committee so we need her back with legal status. Bartolome: We definitely want her to be legal, so I'm working on that. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23,2021 Page 6 Lewis: She is trying to pick up the pieces, because I had submitted it in December, I actually found that paperwork after I had submitted to you. It didn't get forwarded. Pomai is doing that, imagine doing that for all the boards and commissions. Chair: That's a big task, thank you very much for all that you do. We've been sitting on vacancies for quite some time. Any more comments? Brinkley: Pomai, a couple years ago there was an article in the newspaper(inaudible). Lewis: You broke up Marcie, can you say that again? Brinkley: Ok, a few years ago, before Ijoined, the County put something in the newspaper I don't remember if it was an article or a notice, that this committee was looking for members and I thought that might be helpful to do again. Bartolome: Yes, absolutely. Lewis: I think what we've identified though is at least four of the organizations will not provide contributing members. Next meeting we'll have the option to make those members at-large members or pick other organization that actually can furnish people. Because the ones that are identified are not furnishing people. Bartolome: Yeah, so maybe we want to visit that first before we go ahead and do the media release before we get a bunch of applications and not have a vacancy to fill. Lewis: Like Emile said Korean War Veterans will no longer be able to support it. We had him on the board but he said he's not willing to do it anymore and no one else it. Chair: Part of our last meeting's discussion is maybe move from the major organizations and then have more at-large seats representing people who have connections to the military whether or not, through active service or relatives or the like. If we're not going to get the organizations like Purple Heart and Combat Veterans that are all specified in the statute, then I think we need to revise that and maybe go to more at-large seats. Lewis: Maybe that's something we can discuss next time. Also making sur4e that the whole island is represented. Wouldn't that be nice, to have more people throughout the island. I know Marcie gets kind of lonely sometimes. Chair: And maybe those at-large seats become more geographic in nature. Brinkley: That's a great idea. Chair: That would probably be a great benefit to the community. James Hussey? ,James Hussey: Yes. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23,2021 Page 7 Chair: Welcome to our committee and what can you add to it? Hussey: I was born and raised in Hilo, went in to the Army for 34 years retired in the Army as a Command Sergeant Major and then did 20 years on Federal Service with Congressional staff 10 years (inaudible) and 10 in the Senate as the Military Affairs Advisor and Regional Director for Congressman and Senator in Georgia. Then we returned to Hawaii. Hilo was too wet so my wife and I moved to Kona. We've been here since 2014 I'm active, the past Commander of American Legion, Disabled American Vets VFW and I'm with the Chamber, Kohala Chamber as well. Chair: Excellent. Hussey: Our interest is with, we have a Veterans Coffee every week, not so much since the pandemic, although we just started again two months ago with social distancing and all and we've brought in homeless vets for coffee, looked at their issues, talked to some veterans that have problems negotiating their disability, especially with the new blue water thing which is new, we have some Navy vets that fall into that category. Right now we have a family, veteran's family, in need, we're trying to help the whole family because of the pandemic. He had a job, lost it and we don't want them to go homeless and on the streets. Those are the things we find, we're looking at trying to negotiate. Also, we're working with the Chamber's Homeless committee here in Kona. We see about(inaudible) that are homeless in Kona. Chair: Well, that's certainly been an issue. Well, welcome to the committee, I would advise you to come back to every meeting and give us a little update we need as much input as we can get. Hussey: I'm trying to get some info, we have a Veterans breakfast tomorrow and I'd like to provide a little info from your meeting. Chair: Where is your coffee at? Hussey: It's at Umeke's on Pawai Street in Kona, Wednesday morning 11 :00, free coffee, social distancing, someone donates the coffee. Umeke's sells breakfast, $7.00 for a full breakfast. Lewis: Did you say that it was 11 :30 or 11 :00? Hussey: 9 to 11 and right now it's limited, first-come, first-serve. Right now we're up to about 15, we're the only ones allowed in the restaurant in the morning because they don't open till 11:00( Chair: That's certainly nice of them to do that. Do we have any other input, comments, additions? Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23,2021 Page 8 NEW BUSINESS Election of Officers Chair: introduced the item on agenda. J Yoshimoto: Michael, I stand corrected, let me correct what I said earlier. According to the Charter, Charter basically provides that because this committee is advisory in functions, it says here, the affirmative vote of the majority present shall be sufficient to make any action valid. Given that, we can take official action as far as the minutes and as far as the election of officers. The Charter provides that every year every board and commission shall have an election of officers. In our situation, the election of Chair and Vice.-Chair so, if you'd like to move forward with that, or if you wanted to wait for more membership you have the discretion on that. Chair: Yeah, it would probably be better once we have a larger compliment of members to make that selection. Although I stand continued to serve in my position till the end of my term. Why don't we go ahead and vote on accepting the minutes. Is there a motion out there? Brinkley: I move to accept the minutes of February 25 and December 8'. Sheridan: I second. Minutes have been accepted with five ayes. None opposed. Chair: Do we want to have an election today? Or do we want to wait? Do we have campaign speeches and the like prepared? Lewis: I can't vote, I think the rest of them, I try to speak for them, I think they nominate you, like you said, you want to stay in that position, I think they're more than happy to keep you in that position. Chair: I thank you especially Deb, for your support and George especially, George and 1, our comradery there. It's an honor for me to chair this committee and I look forward to getting back to face-to-face meetings to tell you the truth. Lewis: I guess I would wonder, Marcie's been the Vice.-Chair on the Kona side, is that something that she will continue to do? Brinkley: No, I'm not the Vice.-Chair. Chair: Antonio is the Vice.-Chair on the Kona side. He took over on the Kona side when Carolle resigned. We just recently filled one seat, and I believe said we have three vacant so were looking for those new three members. We'll continue on the way we are. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23,2021 Page 9 Lewis: I wonder if whit says is true, you can look at the vacancies that exist with those organizations. I believe there were four that are a challenge, I don't know how long we want to wait to nominate people to fill the positions. Chair: It's like whatJ was mentioning though, we need Council approval to make any changes in the committee make up. Lewis: If you can make a recommendation to do those positions. Chair: I would make a recommendation right now. (inaudible) HIVM, those are active organizations, I'm not sure what other organizations are really active that provides us with membership. Aren't we authorized 10 members or is it more than that. Brinkley: I believe it's 12, isn't it? Chair: Yeah, I believe it is. How many active members do we have currently? Yoshimoto: By my count seven. Chair: We have seven current active members, so that means if we have 12 authorized then we're five short. (inaudible) The more people we bring to the table with more ideas the more involved we get in every aspect. Lewis: I think looking at the list, we know that Military Order of the Purple Heart it's been vacant. Vacancy of Korean War Veterans. CampTawara has not furnished anyone for quite some time. Navy League has not, although I'm kind of stumped, because I would've thought Navy League, but definitely Combat Infantrymen's Association. So in my head, it's those four and then we can decide. Chair: I had talked with Mike a while back when we had our first Wednesday group active and he was the leader of the Infantrymen's Association and back then they only had five or six active members. Apparently, it's not one of those organizations that a lot of people join and their initiation fees are rather expensive and maybe that's part of the reason. I would suggest we go to more at-large memberships then maybe divide that out to regional representation so that the County has more representation from around the County instead of just centrally located areas like Hilo and Kona. Lewis: I would also suggest to consider at-large members because what we want is active members. People that are going to be active in the community and making sure that we fill that. I think if we fill those positions, we can get that kind of representation. Chair: I would almost suggest that half of the seats on the committee be at-large from the regional areas on the committee. Lewis: And that would do it. Who's in the at-large seat, J, is that Isaac? Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23,2021 Page 10 Yoshimoto: I believe it's Minoru. Lewis: But the other five those are all vacant, J? Military Order of the Purple Heart, Korean War Veterans, CampTawara, Navy League and Combat Infantrymen are all vacant. Yoshimoto: Correct. Lewis: So that would make what yon just said, Michael, five that are designated are vacant and we could make those at-large. Chair: I would then suggest that the make-up be the permanent organizations and then six at-large seats and divide those off amongst a regional designation. I don't know that we have to have boundaries for the regions but it would be nice to have one from the Kohala area, Waimea, Honokaa area, it'd be nice to have one from the Puna area and the South. However we designate those at-large seats by region would probably benefit more than by trying to fill it with these little obscure groups of veterans groups. Lewis: Perhaps we can consider region and contributions, you know the ones that are really contributing. I'm looking at:lames and:lames is part of groups that we have represented and I'm wondering why Names isn't on this committee. I'm so glad you are in here. Chair: We could use a Command Sergeant Major. In any event, that would be my proposal that we open up those six seats to at-large positions and then continue with the representation of our major organizations. Brinkley: I would agree with that. Lewis: So is someone going to make a motion? Chair: C'mon George. Sheridan: I lost track of what we were talking about. Chair: We're advocating that the makeup of the committee should be the six major organization with current representation and the other six seats will be at-large throughout the County. Sheridan: So moved. Brinkley: Second. Chair: Ok, we have a motion, we have a second. All those in favor? Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23,2021 Page I I Motion passed with five ayes. None opposed. Chair: Does this satisfy it for us, P Yoshimoto: Yes, Michael so at this point, it sounds like the committee has authorized you to work with Council Member Lee Loy or who you choose to work on a bill to amend the code as indicated. I would also suggest, looking at the code, there is a provision no member serving more than two consecutive terms. It sounds like you want to have the flexibility to have members serve for longer terms but I throw that back to the committee. Chair: That is another issue I think should be discussed, Deb is going to be on her second term, George has just been reinstated so we've already kind of violated that organization thing. I would suggest that someone make a motion that we abandon the term limits on this committee to those who are interested and active. Like Deb was saying we need people who want to come to the table and bring something to be discussed so we have some momentum to discuss and tackle. I would think motivation to be here ought to be one of the biggest contingencies to being here. The people who've risen up and become vocal about the different issues that affect veterans and their lives, I think those are the people we want to continue and keep on the committee. Lewis: Let mejust echo something, Michael. When James gave us the story about what they do weekly, meeting with the veterans, it's like I'm thinking to myself if we understood how that worked because they've got business, he's got the veterans that come in plus he's got the homeless veterans somehow identified why couldn't we do that elsewhere on the island and if we have active people on all parts of the island then we could make that happen. Right now, we can't we don't have (inaudible). Chair: That would be one of the strong reasons why this regional membership would be a good idea. Those regional members could be more active in their regions and promoting of our veterans. We could do a lot more when were together then when we separate. Lewis: So we'll need a motion for the term limit one. Sheridan: Do the other advisory committees do this, where they don't have term limits? Chair: I would know that. Yoshimoto: Um, You know George, I'm not sure. I think some do and some don't. Let me get a list. Sheridan: The reason I'm asking is because what happens when you get a guy on the committee and it turns out be a negative thing, what do you do then. Yoshimoto: Right, so as I imagine the recommendation going forward would be not to place limit as in terms. In other words you would still have to be reappointed every five Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23,2021 Page 12 years, say, so you would still be subject to renomination and reconfirmation by the Council. So there's a checks and balances there. That's what I would suggest. Chair: Yes, we're not talking about doing away with the term of your appointment but that you're not relegated to not being able to serve because you served one term. Those who really add something to the table, we certainly want to keep active on the committee. Sheridan: Ok, so we just want to do away with the terms completely? Chair: No, we just want to do away with the term limits, how many terms you may sit on the committee. Sheridan: Ok, I move that we eliminate term limits on the council. Chair: On the committee. Sheridan: On the committee. Chair: Ok, we have a motion on the table. Is there a second? Isaac Nahakuelua: Second. Motion passed with five ayes. None opposed. Chair: I hope that gives us a little bit more clarity going forward for our membership and how we organize ourselves. Is there anything else that anybody has to comment on, relative to the committee and its terms and membership? Should we just conclude that part of the discussion and move on? (silence) I think we'll move on then. RKULLmLgffigiaki Chair asked if Kelcie has any new information to report on the cemeteries. Figueira: 'The only thing that I have to report on from Ron Han is the VA/NCA inspection for the cemeteries there was a second round that was supposed to happen August 2020 that has been postponed and hasn't been rescheduled yet. That was for the cemetery inspection for West Hawai'i Chair: Moe is not here to give us any updates. But from what I read from the minutes, Moe was bringing in the Deputy Parks and Rec Director, Michelle Hiraishi. Lewis: I see her, she's waiving her hands. Chair: Yes, I know Michelle, she's on our HIVM Board. (audio not working) Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23,2021 Page 13 Michelle Hiraishi: Good afternoon everyone. Yes, my name is Michelle Hiraishi, and I am the new Deputy Director here at Parks and Rec. I am a Veterans myself, US Army, hoorah. I was five years active and four years reserve in the Medical Service Corp, and I am coming to this meeting, partially because I am new to this role. I am a month and three days now in this job. Moe said we have a meeting we need to go to, and I am very excited that it is this meeting because I am also involved in Veterans Affairs and couple other areas, that's where I first met Moe. I'm excited to be here. I have to say to you, Colonel Lewis, my stepdaughter tells me "Aunty, how come you don't know Deb Lewis, she is wahine in the military." So, I've very glad to finally meet you at least this way. Lewis: Ok, so you have to say where your stepdaughter works, she works for HPR. Hiraishi: Yes, K.uuwehi Hiraishi, she is with Hawai'i Public Radio, used to be with Na LeoTV and a couple other different ones but I know she's had some time that she's spent with you and she's just so enamored. Lewis: And she's very proud of you too and your military service and how great you are. Michelle will not necessarily talk about herself, but my husband knows how well, my husband Doug Adams knows. We're very blessed to have Moe and Michelle coming in. The Mayor's team has just been amazing, both the primaries and the Deputies, incredible quality. Parks and Rec has supported us well. Brittany has done a fabulous job helping make things happen. We really appreciate all the support of Parks and Rec and the things that we do throughout the island. Hirai shi: Thank you very much. Chair: Yeah, a big second to that one. I've known Michelle very briefly, but Moe has been a fabulous associate for us here and now leading the Department of Parks and Rec is just absolutely a great, great change. Welcome to all of you and keep it up. Are you going to be a frequent visitor to our meetings? Hiraishi: I think so, I'm not quite sure yet. Moe and I are still working out what he's assigning to me, so I'm not quite sure that I'll be tasked with this. I hope so, I'll ask. Lewis: With them both being Veterans, I think that's pretty awesome. Chair: Yeah, excellent and thank you very much for being there. Anything else we have on the minutes here? Any announcements or updates we haven't covered yet by anybody? ANNOUNCEMENTS Lewis: I think the only thing is a little tid bit of knowledge is that I didn't mention, Nicole is well connected. Her husband head's up, he's the Sergeant Major at PTA (PohakuloaTraining Area). (Inaudible) I hope you will welcome them warmly for all that they do and have done and if you want to hear stories about going all of the world, they Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23,2021 Page 14 have some great ones. But they are an amazing team, and we look forward to having them continue. She's already jumped in to do this job, he already took over as Command Sergeant Major. They love Hawai'i And Hilo. They have a son who's still in school and having to live through COVID as we know how difficult that is for our families. Just know that they are an amazing power team. Clay: 'Thinks, Deb. Chair: Debra Lewis is our official cheerleader here. She promotes the best in all of us. We are blessed to have the people on this committee that we have. We are truly blessed, they are all compassionate, caring people and they work hard. If we don't have anything else Brinkley: Mike, can I make a quick announcement? Chair: Go ahead. Brinkley: Everybody that belongs to your organizations if you would let them know that the Medical Reserve Corp is looking for volunteers to help with the vaccination pods. They don't have to be medical because they also have non-medical roles like directing people and register. My husband and I are both going to be helping with vaccinations and I've been doing contact tracing for them. Great organization, really well organized. The way people can sign up, it's the Department of Health gov. I'll send the information to Brittany so that she can put it in the minutes. The best part is that if you're helping in a Trod you can get vaccinated even if you're not within the age group. I have already had my vaccinations and it's not just the medical people that can get vaccinated, it's everybody. So please let your people know. Chair: I would encourage everybody to get on the list to get their shots. I've just had my second one here last week, so I'm feeling pretty good about that. True to form,just like they say it will knock you out for one day. I was certainly down for the count for a day. Brinkley: I didn't have any reaction at all, I even had the second one. Itjust depends on the person. Chair: Anything else we have to add? Gray: Ijust wanted to ask if I could gety'alls contact information so I could reach out to you guys. Brittany Iyo: If it's ok with the members, I can just send her the contact sheet that I have. Chair: Yes, please do. Make our contact information available to all those that want to help us. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23,2021 Page 15 Iyo: Ok, I'll email it to you, Nicole. Chair: We actually really solicit comments and input into this committee because we are not all seeing and all hearing. As much input as we can get, helps us all. Gray: Right and it goes both ways because I know I had sent out an email to a few contacts that I had Veterans here in our district asking for opinions on a possible policy that would affect Veterans and we really welcome your responses because Congressman wants to hear what you have to say, you have different perspectives than other people might. It can really go a long way as to whether or not he supports certain things. So, keep an eye out if I send something to you and you have something to say please know that it will be read and considered. Chair: Yeah, Kai is a very open individual. I am appreciative of him being there and we supported him. Any other comments? Last little comment, welcome Johnny to our committee. Looking forward to having you make us aware of the things were not aware of, one more voice to add. 'Thank yon, Names for coming. I look forward to talking with you again. I would like to come over and sit in on one of your coffees one of these days. NEXT MEETING The next meeting is scheduled for May 25 at 1 :30 pm, Sheridan motioned to adjourn. Brinkley seconded. Chair Doolittle: All in favor? Five ayes, meeting adjourned at 2:29 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Li rUta4iy 1yo- Secretary From M Y "ro� jlkl'jh��U Sulbjecto Contact Info for VAC Knutes 02.23.21 IDateo Tuesday, February 23, 2021 3:04:30 PM Hi, Brittany, Here is the contact info for the Medical Reserve Corps that I mentioned in the announcements, if you would please include it in the minutes. Medical Reserve Corps State of Hawaii, Department of Health, Office of Public Preparedness To sign up for medical or non-medical volunteer roles, apply at: D.Y. For more info, contact: Big 1§1and Medlcall Reseirve Coirps Phone: (808) 974-6010 1 mrc@doh.hawallll.gov