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Minority Affairs Committee

COMMITTEE REPORT:
Improving Communication

BY JERRY YAMAMOTO, CHAIR

Thanks to the members of the Minority Affairs Committee for their hard work during the past two years. This year, with returning and new members on the committee for the next two-year term, we’re going to continue our work from the past term. The 2009-2010 committee members are Paul Crowell, Ric Davidge, Tommy Gipson, Norm Hawkins, Joe Jenkins, Joe Jennings, Tom Meinhart, Max Nelson, Jorge Pedroza, Pete Peterson, Dave Simmons, James Maddox, Frank Ramirez, and Joe Wynn, our Special Advisor. Thanks to John Rowan for re-appointing this chair.

The committee’s Resolution at the Louisville National Convention on the availability of VA staff who could communicate with families of service personnel in their native language when the member was not competent to comprehend his or her medical condition was not approved. The committee will be working to give members a better understanding of the intent of the Resolution, which is aimed at helping family members, not service members.

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April 24, 2009 Committee Minutes
The National Minority Affairs Committee Meeting was held on Friday April 24, 2009 in the Blair Room at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Silver Spring, MD, starting at 11:30 AM.

Download The Meeting Minutes

Diversity Award
The Vietnam Veterans of America Minority Affairs Committee Diversity Award recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual, business or organization in the promotion of diversity within the veteran’s community.

All nominees must have made a significant contribution to the advancement of diversity and to the mission statement of the VVA. Considered contributions may include, but not limited to initiative and programs that advance harmony and respect, improve social justice, human rights and cultural awareness.

Download The Award Criteria Here
Download The Nominations Procedures Here

VVA Minority Affairs 2009 Business Plan:

The Minority Affairs Committee is established as a standing committee at the national level of Vietnam Veterans of America in accordance with the Constitution of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Article 1, Section 7, Paragraph B, and further defined in Appendix II. “The Minority Affairs Committee shall identify and develop programs of awareness of, and programs of interest to, minority veterans of the Vietnam Veterans of America, and shall seek to expand the membership of minorities in the Vietnam Veterans of America. The Committee shall coordinate its activities closely with the President, other Officers, and committee chairpersons.”

The mission of the Minority Affairs Committee is twofold. First, it is to ensure that the unique circumstances, needs and concerns of our diverse ethnic minority veterans are valued, respected and addressed. The second is to ensure that the inclusive organizational mission respects and values the unique circumstances of our diverse ethnic veterans. Our vision is a committee and veterans’ organization that promotes and values diversity within its organizational structure.

The Minority Affairs Committee will be working to ensure that the health care needs of our minority veterans and their dependents are identified, addressed and responsibly serviced by the Veterans Administration, its staff, facilities and programs. As a part of the national organization we are dedicated to ensuring that the VA is adequately, consistently and sufficiently funded in order to meet the needs of our veterans. The Committee Chair serves as a member of the Government Affairs Committee.

Recent Accomplishments in 2007:

• Committee members worked in VVA Membership Booth during Memorial Day Weekend;
• Presented Second National Diversity Award, in absentia, at the Springfield National Convention to Alfonso R. Batres, Ph.D.
• Requested mailing of letter from National President to HBO Executive Director, regarding the documentary “The War”, letter requesting VA plans for funding and construction of new San Juan, Puerto Rico VA Hospital; letter to Commandant USMC and SecNav for award of Medal of Honor for Marine sergeant’s actions during Vietnam War;
• Attended Public Forum and Brown Bag Lunch hosted in Los Angeles by California Congressmembers Jane Harman and Rob Filner and conferred with them;
• Attended 39th Annual Native American POW WOW in Los Angeles;
• Attended  National Native American POW WOW in DC;
• Participated in Americans of Japanese Ancestry All Wars Reunion in Los Angeles;
• Attended Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference in Washington, DC;
• Attended Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Initiative in Washington, DC;
• Visited VA Center For Minority Veterans to meet with Asian Pacific Islander Coordinator.     

Deliverables:

• Identified three goals critical to the Minority Affairs Committee’s success in the next two years:

• Outreach to Veterans;
• Working Closely with the VA Center For Minority Veterans;
• Development of our political agenda.
• Prepare bimonthly articles for the Minority Affairs Committee column in the VVA Veteran.
• Coordinate with National and regional minority veteran organizations and individuals to recruit minority members and create new VVA chapters.

Measurements:

• Participate in VVA membership recruitment booths at national or regional conventions of minority organizations such as NAACP, National Hispanic Veterans Association, Native American POWWOWS or attend conferences of the Congressional Ethnic and Veterans Caucuses.
• Represent minority veterans concerns at public hearings of VA, CARES Commission and other similar federal panels as well as local, regional, state and national governmental bodies.

Budget:

• Minority Affairs Committee: $ for FY2009 (detailed report available on request).

Print your copy Minority Affairs Brochure