Veterans Advisory Council - Feb. 27, 2025

Agenda

Location:

Camp Withycombe

15300 SE Industrial Way, Happy Valley, OR 97015 Map

Directions: OMM is located 1.5 miles off I-205, exit 12-A southbound or exit 12 northbound. From I-205, turn right onto 212-E and then make a left onto SE 82nd Drive. At the traffic light, make a right onto SE Tolbert Street. The entrance to Camp Withycombe will be ahead once over the overpass.

Once on post and past the security entrance gate, follow signs to the Museum by making a right. The Museum will soon be on your right.

If the Museum’s parking lot is full, continue up the road and make a left at the stop sign and then an immediate left into the AFRC parking lot. Museum visitors may park in spaces nearest to the Museum.

Access to the Museum’s Historic Park and parking areas is limited to daytime and during special events at the Museum.

2:30 pm Welcome

Establishment of a Quorum Introductions

Adoption of Minutes:

• August 2024, October 2024

2:35 pm Subcommittee Updates:

• Laurie will give an update on the Legislative Subcommittee
• A statement from Tracy will be read about the Veteran’s Expo Subcommittee

3:20 pm New/Old Business:

Exec Committee Officer: secretary needed.

3:40 pm VAC Communication Update:

• Re-Invigorate VAC Subcommittee, recruitment and retention of VAC members

4:10 pm Camp Whithiecomb Tour 

4:20 pm VSO Updates – Gus 

4:25 pm Member Updates, Announcements and Upcoming Events 

4:30 pm Adjourn

Minutes

FACILITATOR: Betty Fish-Ferguson

NOTETAKER: Sean Wells

Present:

• Betty Fish-Ferguson
• Paul Edgar
• Laurie Kimmell
• Tracy Bogard
• Carol Bernhard
• John Budiao
• Thomas McAlarney
• Don Hedlind
• Tawnya Lege
• Austin Hansen
• Dan Miner
• Brian Gornick

Staff:

• Tracy Garell
• Ken Bietschek
• Sean Wells
• Joey Johns
• Gus Bedwell
• Paul Savas

Other attendees:

• Steven Beals
• Aubrie Balkwill
• Don Kingsborough
• James Manning

Meeting Called to Order and Introductions

Introductions: VAC members and prospective members introduced themselves. A quorum was established at 2:31 pm. Laurie motioned to accept the February agenda. Betty seconded. Agenda adopted.

Adoption of Minutes Dan motioned to adopt the August and October 2024 minutes. Betty seconded. August and October 2024 adopted. 

Subcommittee Updates

• Legislative Subcommittee
  • Laurie gave an update on various bills regarding veterans that are working their way through the legislature. This includes bills on the honorable discharge status of veterans and a bill on remains coordination. Laurie recommended that everyone subscribe to get updates on what is happening in the legislature.
• Expo Subcommittee
  • The Expo subcommittee had flagged over the past year. Betty gave some background information about the planned event and asked for volunteers. Tom volunteered as a co-chair to assist Tracy. Future meetings will be hybrid and Sean will set up a recurring meeting to get things back on track.
• Outreach Subcommittee
  • Betty told the committee about an upcoming outreach opportunity at Pioneer Community Center. She will attend and Gus will provide VSO materials. Betty will reach out to the Community Center and anyone interested in attending should reach out to the VAC mailbox.

New/Old Business

• Exec Committee Officer: secretary needed. Betty explained that the VAC Exec committee needs a secretary. She gave a brief overview of the exec committee, duties and when they meet. Dan volunteered for the position and the committee voted to appoint him.
• New members: The exec committee hasn’t had a chance to meet to discuss the applications. They will be discussed at the next exec meeting, March 5th at 9:30 at the County Offices.
• A new subcommittee was proposed regarding freeway memorials in Clackamas County by Brian Gornick. He explained the process of memorial highways. He provided his background with highway memorials and a Monuments Subcommittee was proposed with Brian as the chair with two other members.) A motion was made by Laurie Kimmell to form a monument subcommittee. Dan seconded, discussion (none), motion passes. Subcommittee was approved. Brian, Dan, and Laurie volunteered as members.
• Dan said that he was involved with Canine Cavalry. He talked about HB 2830 and working to pass a bill to recognize psychological disability and not just physical to qualify for a service dog. He requested that the VAC voice its support of it.
• Dan brought up the book Wounding Warriors, a book about policy failing veterans. He suggested the County buy the book for VAC members.
• Betty announced she would be resigning as chair. She’ll remain on the VAC at large and the Expo subcommittee.

Member Updates, Announcements and Upcoming Events

• Updates brought up as new business.

Adjourn 

The meeting was adjourned at 3:50 pm followed by a tour of Camp Withycombe.

Next Meeting

Veterans Advisory Council

Thursday, April 24, 2:30-4:30pm – In Person