Minority Affairs Committee

VVA Veteran Minority Affairs
Committee Report for March/April 2012

The VVA Minority Affairs Committee is required by Convention Resolution to provide this yearly report on actions which are taken which further the implementation of currently active convention resolutions. The current committee resolutions are referenced below.

MA-1 Language-Translated DVA Benefits Materials. The committee continues to monitor the DVA benefits materials to insure that they are translated in the relevant language for veterans and their families.  

MA-2 Minority Affairs Coverage in the VVA Veteran. The committee is continually looking for articles to print in the VVA Veteran about minority veteran activities, such as was done with an article on Alaskan native vets.

MA-3 Asian American/Pacific Islander Veterans. The committee chair participated in two conference calls for the White House Initiative on Asian American Pacific Islanders in December and the VVA was in attendance at a WHIAAPI Roundtable at the VA in January 2012.

MA-5 Foreign National Vietnam Veterans Immigration. The committee continues to actively support the foreign national Vietnam Veterans who seek medical services in the United States.

MA-6 Involvement by Minority Veterans Welcomed in VVA. The committee annually has health information and recruitment booths at the NAACP National Convention and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Conference as well as attending the conferences and dinners of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies and local ethnic veteran community programs. It also interfaces with the VA Center For Minority Veterans staff.

MA-7 Puerto Rican Veterans and U.S. Virgin Islanders. The committee has been approached to make an inspection visit of VA facilities in Puerto Rico with the Regional Director.

MA-8 Recognition of the Services and Sacrifices Made by the Veterans of the Territory of Guam and U.S. Pacific Islanders. The committee continues to support the improvement in health services for the Vietnam veterans of Guam and all U. S. Pacific Islanders. This is the reason for the ongoing involvement of the committee in the White House Initiative on Asian American Pacific Islanders conference calls and roundtables.

MA-9 Awareness and Sensitivity to Racial, Cultural and Gender-Related Equity Issues. The committee recently visited the Capitol office of California Congresswoman Barbara Lee to advise the congresswoman of the VVA’s support of her Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2011 that supports Asian American Pacific Islanders health issues.

MA-10 Self-Determination for Puerto Rico. The committee continues to monitor the progress of attempts to have a plebiscite vote in Puerto Rico to determine its future.

MA-11 U.S. Montagnard Veterans. The committee is attempting to work on a study of the status of Montagnard veterans to provide the mandated report to the National Board of Directors that was not done as required to the Board by Spring 2004.

MA-4-95 Native American and Alaskan Natives Resolution was retired at the 2011 onvention because its goals were met with the establishment of an Office of Tribal Relations at the VA and the appointment of its director. The VA also signed an MOU with the Indian Health Services that was directed to provide services by both agencies. The committee plans to monitor the progress of this office and its director in assisting Native American veterans.

The committee will continue to maintain its contacts with the ethnic minority congressional caucuses in this term. It will continue to coordinate with the VA Center For Minority Veterans, the National Association For Black Veterans and other ethnic minority veteran organizations.

The committee is looking forward to participating in several seminars at this summer’s National Leadership Conference in Irving, Texas. It also continues to setup a Point of Contact Minority Affairs person in each state.

The Minority Committee members are: Jerry Yamamoto, Chair; Dave Simmons, Vice Chair; Members Cecilio Besares, Paul Crowell, Ric Davidge, Tommy Gipson, Virgie Hibbler, Joe Jennings, James Maddox, Tom Meinhardt, Pete Peterson, Alvin Roberts, Ron Speight, Connie Steers, Pat Toro and Tom Wilson. Joe Wynn (NABVets)is a Special Advisor. AVVA Advisors are Donna Crowell and Mary Miller.

MINUTES FOR JANUARY 2012 COMMITTEE MEETING

ATTENDEES:  Joe Jennings, Pat Toro, Pete Peterson, John Birch, James Maddox and Jerry Yamamoto, Chair.

The members present approved the meeting agenda as written.

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

FISCAL YEAR 2012 - 2013    
VVA MINORITY AFFAIRS  COMMITTEE  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 FY 2011 - 2012

• Presented Fifth National Diversity Award in person to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki at the 2011 Reno National Convention. Also selected Tammy Duckworth for award.
• Attended Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Legislative Conference in Washington, DC and co-hosted membership/information booth with VVA InterGovernment Affairs Department.
• Stephanie Birdwell, Director, VA Office of Tribal Relations, spoke at MAC committee meeting at National Board of Directors meeting in Silver Spring, MD.
• Co-hosted with NABVETS a health benefit and membership info booth as well as a separate Veterans Health Council booth at 2011 NAACP National Convention in Los Angeles.
• Attended Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Gala in DC.
• Made  presentation about MAC Point of Contact Project at CSCP Winter Meeting in California.
• Met in DC and local district offices with California Congresswomen and staff to gain support and sponsorship of veteran legislative bills.
• Participated in two White House Initiative Asian American Pacific Islander Conference Calls.
• Participated in VA White House Initiative Asian American Pacific Islander Roundtable in DC.

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, Native American POWWOWS or attend conferences of the Congressional Ethnic and Veterans Caucuses.
• Represent minority veterans concerns at public hearings of VA, Federal Commissions and other similar federal panels as well as local, regional, state and national governmental bodies.

Budget:

• Minority Affairs Committee:  $   proposed  budget for FY 2012-2013  

Print your copy Minority Affairs Brochure