HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 05-14-2010
St. Lucie County Veterans Advisory Council
Ad Hoc Committee
Meeting Minutes May 14, 2010
Meeting convened at 9:00 a.m. with Chair Ron Knepshield and Vice Chair Cathy LaValle
presiding. The meeting was called to order with the following 15 organizations in attendance:
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82 All Airborne Assn.; AFSA 564; Al Post 171; AL Post 355; AL 355 Auxiliary; Legion Riders
Post 358; AMRA Chap. FL -1; AMVETS 15 Aux.; Band of Brothers Assn.; DAV Chapter 113;
Jewish War Veterans Post 705; Special Forces Assn; Special Forces Motorcycle Club; USSVI
TC Base; Vietnam Veterans of America Chap. 566. Members excused: Fred Masters, AL 318;
Peter Popolizio, Korean War Veterans.
Chair Ron Knepshield reminded members of the purpose of the Ad Hoc Committee.
Old Business
: none to discuss.
New Business
: At the April United Veterans meeting, a motion was made to call for an Ad
Hoc committee meeting in order to discuss making a formal recommendation to the Board
of County Commissioners regarding the need for an additional counselor.
Chair Knepshield explained that he recalled being told that the Veterans staff would have
the same number of service officers that were in place prior to the retirements of Paul Hiott
and Helen Simpson. That number was three service officers in the Port St. Lucie office
and one in the Ft. Pierce office. During the March BOCC meeting, Chairman Knepshield
recalled that both Commissioner Grande and Commissioner Craft indicated the office
would be fine.
After the last United Veterans meeting in April, Chairman Knepshield was concerned when
hearing that the County was going to fill only one service officer position and not two.
Motion was made by Lynn Steele “to recommend to the St. Lucie County Board of County
Commissioners to hire an additional veteran service officer”. Motion seconded by Rick
Vassar. Discussion continued. Members voiced concern that the County has not kept
their word. Donna Carlsen, Veteran Services Coordinator reminded members that since
the retirements of Hiott and Simpson, positions have been filled. Donna filled the position
vacated by Paul Hiott (with a different title), Larry Coleman filled the position vacated by
Helen Simpson and is now a VSO II working in the Ft. Pierce office. New hire Mark Fowler
filled the position vacated by Larry and is the new VSO working in the Port St. Lucie office.
Stefanie Myers, Community Services Manager, spoke to members. Ms. Myers shared the
plan she and Donna have developed:
1. Fill the VSO position vacated by Larry Coleman
2. Complete initial certification training (June 7-11) for both the new VSO (Mark Fowler)
and for Eileen Hagerhorst.
3. Post the VSO II position vacated by Donna Carlsen
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St. Lucie County Veterans Advisory Council – May 14, 2010
4. Complete cross training with Community Services case managers to provide support to
VSO’s as needed.
5. Identify potential grant opportunities that could assist veterans in the County, as well as
provide funding for additional staff.
Members continued to discuss. Chairman Knepshield agreed the plan sounds good and if
followed, there is no need to make a formal recommendation to the BOCC at this time.
Cathy LaValle made a motion to amend the original motion to read “members endorse the
staffing plan developed by Stefanie Myers, Community Services Manager and Donna
Carlsen, Veteran Services Coordinator, as read in these minutes”. Motion to amend
seconded by Lynn Steele. Amended motion passed with unanimous vote.
There being no further business, motion to adjourn was made by Cathy LaValle, seconded
by Roy Brewer. Meeting adjourned at 9:24 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Hagerhorst
Executive Assistant, St. Lucie County Veteran Services
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St. Lucie County Veterans Advisory Council – May 14, 2010
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