Veterans Advisory Council - Feb. 26, 2026

Minutes

1. 2:30 p.m.--Call meeting to Order
   1. Establishment of a Quorum: Prior to roll call, Gus introduced Kaitlin who gave an overview of her past experience working with disability policies in texas and how she’s been acclimating.
   2. Paul, Laurie, Tracy B., Carol, Tom, (Dan excused, Aubrie, Don, James, Steaven Beals, Gus, Sean, Miachel Blackwell, Kyrion, Tracy G, Joey, Quorum established. Brian, Tawnya, Betty
   3. Approval of Agenda. Aubrie Motioned to approve. Kyrion seconded. Passed unanimasuly.
2. Approval of last General Meeting Approved with corrections on the Month and attendance.
3. MinutesChair Report (3-5 min). Laurie expressed her apprichiation for people showing up but asked that more members volunteer for subcommittees. Hoped to have everyone participate on committees. The women’s conference is being put on hold this year due to lack of member participation and contractual issues. Laurie went to salem to speak on the house bill, but due to timing she was unable to testify though the bill passed anyway.
4. Committee Reports
   1. Social Services Tracy G. – Report: Tracy talked about milage reimbursement for VAC members. Explained the milage form and the vendor form.
   2. , VSO – Report -Gus gave an update on a change to the VA’s consideration on disability that would negatively affect veterans. After backlash from every veterans’ organization it was rescinded. 2A change: VA looks at how vets handle finance as to whether they are incompetent. It used to disqualify folks from owning firearms. Ended by talking about HB4132 Tracy reinterated tha t
   3. VET Housing – Vet Employment (17 min), Joey let the VAC know that SSD can provide funds for memorial signage for 19 veterans. Brian will get the paperwork to Joey to finalize the process.
   4. Danielle – Fiscal - Office
   5. Monument Committee – Brian G. (3 min): Brian talked about ODOT removing flags and flowers from memorials. ODOT says that the flags are not lit at night and can end up in the road which violates the flag code. Brian is brainstorming ways to address these issues. When a plan is formulated the legislature will need to be lobbied.
   6. Mental Health Committee (3 Min): Laurie let the VAC know that the 988+1 cards were shown to the subcommittee, but they didn’t have the hearing impaired number. Joey said that the card might be too small for the full number. Joey shared the billboard draft and there was a discussion on word choice on crisis vs suicide. He then shared the flyer and card templates. Tawnya asked about how many veteran’s had been helped and sean provided numbers. There will also be a wrap applied to county shuttles. Aubrie asked about 988+1 stats for Clackamas county specifically, but those numbers weren’t readily available. She was curious about how the stats would be effected by the media campaign that the subcommittee is doing. Paul brought up the Community Needs Assessment, a survey that SSD is running to find out the best things for them to focus on. Sean will send out a link to it after the meeting.
5. New Business -
   1. Bylaws Amendments
      1. Motion to accept the change on not abbrivating Board of County Commissioners.Passed.
      2. Motion to clarify language in section 2. Passed.
      3. Motion to insert the word cause in recall section 4. Tracy motioned to pass, Aubrie seconded. Passed.
      4. Artcle 4 section 1 A, update the bylaws
      5. Brian motioned to accept, tracy seconded. Approved.
      6. Motion to add words to article IV section B add words. Aubrie motioned to accept, Kyrion seconed. Accepted.
      7. Artlec 4 section d, updated voting language. Paul motioned to accept, Kyrion seconded. Acepted.
      8. Article 5 added lanauge for section 3 term of office. Paul motion ed to accept, aubrie seconded. Accepted.
      9. Article 6 executive committee, updated to reflect current practices, updated subcommittee language, and the current subcomittees. Paul motioned ot accept, Kyrion seconded. Accepted.
      10. Article 8: updated language. Aubrie motioned to accept, Kyrion seconded. Accepted.
   2. Sean will send the new County template to Joey and Laurie. There may be a new round of voting later.
6. 4:30 p.m. Adjournment – Break into Committee’s – Announcements
   Don let the VAC know aout the Oregon state grange erecting a plaque in the state capital. He asked the VAC to weigh in on language. Don Krupp was appointed to the monument committee. The timeline is currently unknown. Gus recommened finding a disabled veteran to speak at the unveiling ceremony so that the average veteran can feel seen. .
   Carol added that she is a member of the sunnyside grange will celebrate its 90th aniversry on Sunday 2:00 April 12th. At sunnyside and 122nd.

There will be dessert. Adjourned at 4:29/