Board Minutes June 2007

EXHIBIT 1
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

WDVA Briefing of June 14, 2007
King, Wisconsin
Board Members Present WDVA Staff Members Present
Peter Moran Bill Kloster, Acting Secretary
Marv Freedman Anthony Hardie, Executive Assistant
Rodney C. Moen Bill Crowley, Commandant, King
William Andersen Glen Brower, Commandant, Union Grove
Ken Wendt John Rosinski, Chief Legal Counsel
Mike Diaz, Division of Veterans Homes
Legislative & Program Review Members Present Ken Abrahamsen, Budget Director
Marv Freedman Colleen Holtan, Budget Office
Vera Roddy Steve Stead, WVH-King
Steve Lawrence Shari McCann, WVH-King
Duane Miskulin Rich Calcut, WVH-King PIO
Jim Young Bob Telfer, WVH Staff, sang National Anthem
Tim Thiers Attending Via Video Conference:
Mike Furgal Ken Black, Division of Veterans Benefits
Scott Berger Andrew Schuster, Communications Director
Don Heiliger Seth Perelman, Division of Administration
Mel Brandl, Regional Coordinator
Long Term Care Committee Members Present Julie Van Metre, Executive Staff Assistant
Rod Moen
Ken Wendt Council on Veterans Programs Present
Lewis Harned Russ Alsteen, NCUSA
Rick Scollon Paul Bialk, MCL
Jerry Polus Cleon Brown, USSVWWII
Alan Walker Rick Cherone, MOPH
Dr. Charles Allen Jesse Haro, CWV
Christine Jordan Bill Hustad, WVV
Jackie Guthrie Paul Fine, ANU
Mark Foreman, VVAW
Financial Committee Members Present Chris Kanios, VFW
Bill Andersen Jon LiDonne, CVSO
Al Richards John Margowski, VVA
Mike Demske Walter Peterson, Am ExPOWs
Jim Gausmann Vera Roddy, UWV
Bill Hustad William Sims, NABV
Joe Campbell Mike Smith, ARC
Al Kochenderfer Clif Sorenson, WACVO
Bill Bottoms Clarence Stoel, DAV
Jack Stone, PVA
CVSO Advisory Council Tim Thiers, AMVETS
Mark Grams, Dodge CVSO
Ted Mynyk, Iowa CVSO Others Present
Andrew Clark, Outagamie CVSO Gary Mader, Member
Michael Jackson, Dane CVSO Donald Langer, Member
Nick Benzinger, Shawano CVSO Victor Alvarez
Mike Haley, Chippewa CVSO Cletus Rataichek, AMVETS
John Solis, Rock CVSO Donna Chrzas, Columbia CVSO
Robert Stone, Rusk CVSO Rock Larson, Wood CVSO
Fred Kaiser, Waushara CVSO Holly Hoppe, Oconto CVSO
Tony Tyczynski, Sauk CVSO
Tom Lois, Kenosha CVSO
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The briefing session by WDVA staff for Board, Council and Committee members
commenced at 12:30 p.m. The Colors were posted, the National Anthem was sung and the
Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Mr. Crowley said this special start to the briefing was
because it was the first time that the Board of Veterans Affairs had their meetings at King
on Flag Day. Also, it is a brief commemoration of the 120th anniversary of the founding of
the Wisconsin Veterans Home and the first veterans home in the nation to welcome
spouses as residents. Mr. Moran also noted that June 14 is the 232nd birthday of the
United States Army.
1. Certification of Notice of Meeting and Roll Call

Roll call of Board members: 5 members present for a quorum.
Roll call of CVSO Advisory Council members: 9 members present for a quorum.
Roll call of Legislative and Program Review Committee members: 9 members present, 2
members excused. Quorum present.
Roll call of Long-Term Care Committee members: 9 members present; 2 members
excused.
Roll call of Financial Committee members: 8 members present; 2 members excused.
Quorum present.
Roll call of Council on Veterans Programs members: 20 members present, 2 members
excused, and 2 vacancies. Quorum present.
2. Board Committee Appointment

Chairman Moran introduced Board appointee Jacqueline Guthrie who awaits
Senate confirmation. Until her confirmation Mr. Moran recommended appointment of
Jackie Guthrie as a citizen member to the Long Term Care Committee. It was moved
by Mr. Freedman, seconded by Mr. Wendt and carried on a voice vote to approve the
appointment of Jackie Guthrie to the Long Term Care Committee.
3. Legislative Report
Mr. Hardie talked about several pieces of state legislation:
• Senate Joint Resolution 24 would move forward the process for creating a
constitutional amendment that would prevent inter-fund transfer between any
state funds. We have been advocating with regards to the impact on the
Department of Veterans Affairs should that constitutional amendment pass. The
mortgage loan repayment fund has historically been a funding source for the
Veterans Trust Fund and this bill would prevent those sorts of transfers.
• Senate Bill 19—creditable military service under the Wisconsin Retirement
System passed out of committee. Funding for an actuarial study was approved
by the Joint Committee on Finance.
• Senate Bill 49—free access to state parks and state trails by certain disabled
veterans and former prisoners of war passed out of committee.
• Senate Bills 101 and 146—expanding eligibility for the veterans and surviving
spouses property tax credit passed out of committee. The Department’s
priorities are to expand the credit to remove the age limit, to include those with
individual unemployability, to reduce the disability requirements down to the 30%
level and to liberalize the current residency requirement.
• Senate Bill 173 relating to family military leave is in the Committee on Economic
Development, Job Creation, Family Prosperity and Housing.
• Assembly Bill 43—creditable military service under the Wisconsin Retirement
System passed out of committee.
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• Assembly Bill 63—Hire a Veteran Week, Veteran Recognition Week and
veterans who volunteer in schools passed the Assembly and is awaiting full
Senate action.
• Assembly Bill 75—assistance for veterans affected by depleted uranium passed
the Assembly and is in the Senate Veterans Committee.
• Assembly Bill 243—prohibits consideration of veterans disability payments when
ordering maintenance in a divorce settlement. It is pending in committee.
• Assembly Bill 270—changes the membership of the Council on Veterans
Programs. It has passed the full Assembly and is awaiting action in the Senate
Veterans Committee.
• Assembly Bills 292 and 256—remove the age requirement for the veterans and
surviving spouses property tax credit.
• Assembly Bill 362—provides financial aid to military families and creates an
individual income tax check off for the military family relief fund. WDVA has
approximately $7,000 that has been donated for military family relief and
language in the statutes is insufficient to appropriately distribute those funds.
The requirements for the Assistance to Needy Veterans (ANV) grant are
sufficiently stringent that it is hard to find an activated service member who meets
those criteria. Various amendments are being considered to be able to get that
money to military families and one method would be to separate it from the ANV
program.
• Assembly Bill 365 is another bill expanding eligibility for the veterans and
surviving spouses property tax credit.
• Assembly Bill 370—relates to commercial driver license testing for military
license holders.
The Qualified Veterans Mortgage Bond (QVMB) is a program that allows the
state to issue bonds and use the bond proceeds to provide mortgages in the state
veterans Home Loan Program. This issue continues to move forward in Congress in a
close, bi-partisan fashion with Congressman Paul Ryan and Congressman Ron Kind.
The total cost of the package would be over $300 million in lost revenues over a ten
year period and there has to be an offset for that.
Congress is moving forward with a funding package for veterans issues of

historic levels.
There have been a number of actions that have taken place on the state budget.
There were two motions in the Joint Finance Committee that covered the Department’s
overall budget and other issues regarding the bed tax and the Wisconsin G.I. Bill. The
Senate will begin considering the budget, it will then move to the Assembly and a
conference committee will ultimately be convened.
The motion on the Wisconsin G.I. Bill—current law would allow that the 128
credit limit could be used first within the UW system and then again at the technical
college system. That was certainly never the intention and the Joint Finance Committee
closed this loophole. It also established a prorating on the tuition remission
reimbursement. The Governor’s budget included just over $11 million in general
purpose revenue (GPR) to fund this program and that GPR was retained by the Joint
Committee on Finance as well. Additionally it would provide a deadline so that a person
trying to use these funds would have to claim the remission by the end of each
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semester. The other provisions would reduce the program so that it could only be used
for undergraduate work, there would be a grandfather clause for veterans currently
enrolled in graduate study. The other area is to provide tuition remission only during the
first ten years following separation from service. There has been quite a bit of press
about this issue. Mr. Hardie had prepared a summary of the fiscal bureau paper and
made sure that the veteran’s community was informed about the issue.
Mr. Freedman asked that a copy of the Appleton Post Crescent editorial on the
matter and the press release by the Governor be provided to the Board members. Mr.
Moen said it is clear that the Legislature is very concerned about issues concerning
veterans and we need to work together and continue the dialogue between both parties
in both houses. Veterans issues are not partisan issues.
4. Programs Report—Ken Black

Mr. Black reported his Division programs:
• CVSO Bulletin Updates: #785 addresses the revision of the Lenders’ Service
Guide and Bulletin. #788 addresses administrative changes to the VetEd
application.
• Total cemetery burials for the fiscal year are approximately 1,100 burials.
Northern Cemetery will have 30% fewer burials due to a temporary lack of
columbarium space. The Southern Cemetery will have approximately 800
burials.
• Northern Cemetery construction of private vault and cremation gardens which
began in May should be completed late June. The result of this expansion will be
about 460 burial spaces for vaults and about 444 in ground cremation spaces. A
vendor was selected for the phase two expansion which consists of 704
columbarium niches and a scattering garden.
• The Department of Administration (DOA) is working with the architectural firm to
come up with a process of doing the construction at the Southern Cemetery. We
hope to begin construction this fall. The expansion consists of 5,000 additional
grave spaces, 1,800 niches for new columbaria, in ground cremation gardens
and a scattering garden. The 320 remaining niches are expected to be filled in
the July 2008 time frame. Casket space is sufficient through May 2011.
• The Southern Cemetery recently had a tri-annual review by the National
Cemetery Administration and the inspection went very well.
• Both cemeteries consistently receive a variety of donations.
• Dependent burial fees of $450 per dependent were reviewed and will remain the
same at this time. However, unless additional operational funds are received
within the next year, an increase for fiscal year 2009 will need to be considered.
• The Military Funeral Honors Program expects about a 13% increase over fiscal
year 2006. That puts us at about 5,880 military funeral honors for the fiscal year.
• The Women’s Veterans Conference is scheduled for September 28-29 at Ft.
McCoy.
• The Center for Veterans Issues (CVI) took over the operational control of the
veterans assistance center at King on May 1, 2007. We are currently working
with the federal VA on building codes required in Cottage 16 at Union Grove.
• Two employees are currently on site at the Chippewa Falls homeless program.
Veterans are expected to begin housing there around the Labor Day timeframe.
• The Department continues to expand its efforts in support of HR711, the Troops
to Teachers (TTT) project. The bill expands the number of school districts at
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which TTT candidates can serve the obligated years involved with the stipend or
the bonus.
• The Department has recently participated in two reintegration briefings with the
National Guard.
• VetEd Program process action team has completed its study. The
recommendation will be ready next week.
• Loans and grants—the Veterans Trust Fund (VTF) delinquency rate was at
2.10% in April and 2.12% in May.
• The Personal Loan Program (PLP) volume was $365,000 in March and about
$835,000 in April. The month of May continues to reflect the impact from the
marketing campaign with total loan volume at about $678,000.
• The Home Loan Program volume was $3.5 million for April and $4.7 million for
May—up from $2.8 million in the month of March. The average home loan now
is about $175,000, about $25,000 more than two years ago.
• As of the end of May there was approximately $25,967,000 remaining in the
Qualified Veterans Mortgage Bond (QVMB) pot of money.
• Volume in the Home Improvement Loan Program (HILP) was at $198,000 in
April.
• The Department is planning an additional direct mail initiative the first half of July
to promote all three of the loan programs.
• The customer survey for the HILP and the PLP for the months of April and May
indicated that 20% of the applicants heard about the loan from the direct mail
campaign, 21% from the website and 30% from the CVSO community.
• The maximum loan amount on the Home Loan Program is adjusted every July 1
and the maximum loan will increase from $395,000 to $400,000 on July 1.
Mr. Freedman asked that Mr. Black distribute the detailed written document that
he prepares as his Board report. It would be helpful to have this in the binders on the
day of the meeting.
5. Veterans Homes Report

Commandant Crowley reported that the King Home census was 706 at the end
of May. There are 70 pending applications in various stages of development. The
average time from receipt of application to date of admission is 35 days.
The Home Exchange operation had no significant changes to report. In the

months of April and May there were receipts of $41,816.47 with a net loss of $23.46.
There was a net gain in the past 12 months of $627.12. The Gifts and Bequests total
revenues since the last report: $21,465 and expenditures from that fund: $13,549 for a
net gain of $7,915.
Major functions at the King Home: The first King Day was May 12th with the
Polish Legion of American Veterans. Mr. Freedman attended the annual Open House
on May 20th. State Senator Luther Olson spoke on Memorial Day and over 5,000 flags
were placed on the veterans’ graves. June 24, DAV King Day; July 4, Member Council
Independence Day Celebration; July 22, VFW King Day; August 11, the annual Green
Bay AMVETS King Bicycle Tour and August 12, American Legion King Day (changed
from their traditional Father’s Day visit).
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Construction Projects at King: The steam condensate lines replacement has
been completed. The grounds crew has done an excellent job restoring the area.
The architect has been selected for the resident ceiling lifts project. This will allow for
patient lifts for members in need of assistance and make it safer for the caregiver. The
grant application is on the VA’s priority list; however, the $1.892 million has not yet been
set aside. The architect has been selected for the Olson Hall domestic water piping
replacement project. The 35% design was completed and sent to the VA.
The grant application is on the VA’s priority list; the grant would be approximately
$975,000, however, funds are not currently set aside. One other project being
considered is the replacement of the windows in Olson Hall.
Commandant Brower said that as of May 31, 2007 the skilled nursing facility has
47 members. The assisted living building has 110 members. Admissions are not being
processed for the assisted living because of the upcoming construction projects. Job
offers have been made to several qualified nurses and most positions have been filled
with the exception of one part-time weekend position. Mr. Brower expects to have a
census of 114 members by the end of December. The average length of time to
process applications is about 27 days.
The Union Grove Home has authorization for about 272 staffing positions. As of
May 1, 174 of those positions were filled.
The construction of all three portions of Maurer Hall—the activity center, the food
service and administrative offices have been completed. The Home is working with the
Department of Workforce Development’s visually impaired operators to contract out the
deli and the bar. The deli will open on July 2nd and the pub should open sometime in
the fall. They received a number of significant donated items for the chapel. They
continue to refine and increase knowledge on utilizing the new food service equipment.
Mr. Brower said that because they are making refinements, the quality of the food is
improving.
Ten double rooms are being converted into 15 single rooms in Fairchild and
Shemanske Halls. The remaining double rooms will be fitted with ADA compliant
bathrooms and all the windows in both buildings will be replaced. The census will be
drawn down to about 30 members in the building while under construction. The
replacement of a water heater, water softeners and air handling units are scheduled as
well and a new grant amount is being submitted to the federal VA.
The second phase of the federal VA certification process took place on April 27.
The minor shortcomings detected have been corrected and the VA has been notified.
The Zablocki VA Medical Center sent a letter saying that the survey team has reviewed
those corrective actions and all the standards have been met as of May 24, 2007. A
letter authorizing per diem from the federal office will be forthcoming. The effective date
of this per diem is still unknown as to whether it will be the 24th of May or revert back to
when the first veteran was admitted on September 6, 2006.
The annual assisted living survey was just completed by the VA and encouraging
feedback was received with minor shortcomings noted and all of those corrections have
been made.
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The gazebo donated by the veterans from United Auto Workers Region 4 is now
constructed. The two smaller buses to be used for medical appointments have been
delivered.
The member family picnic will be held on September 30th. Last year close to 400
people were in attendance.
Mr. Diaz gave an update on the status of the King Koach bus. The fundraising
campaign raised nearly $335,000 for the buses. In December 2006 the Department
issued purchase orders for four vehicles for Union Grove. Two have arrived and the
other two will be coming on line at the end of the summer. In March 2007 the
Department submitted a request to the Department of Administration (DOA) for the
procurement of the King Koach, a 40 foot handicapped accessible motor coach. The
next cycle for us to put in an order for that purchase will be in the fall of 2007. DOA
procurement said the timeline for delivery would be 12 to 18 months after the order is
submitted.
Mr. Langer, a King Home member spoke about the cook-chill food system. He
felt that from the consumer point of view it is inferior food. Mr. Crowley said the cook-
chill system of preparing and serving food is commonplace in the commercial industry.
It is a system that was researched and a decision was made six years ago to use this
system at the Home and funding was made available for this $5 million dollar project,
including a total remake of the existing kitchen facilities. There was a learning process
during the first few months. The member food advisory council stated a great deal of
satisfaction with the recipes that were in use at the Home prior to the change to the new
system. The dietary staff did as much as they could to continue those menus as
opposed to going to something that is more common through the industry. Mr. Moran
said that the food is prepared at King and then trucked to Union Grove so there is great
efficiency with this process. Mr. Brower said that efficiency was the key word but he
thinks that we seriously need to take a good look at this whole system, bring in the
experts, consultants and say get this to the quality that we need for our veterans in the
long term. Mr. Moran asked the Secretary to take another look at the food service and
see what we can do to improve the system or what our options might be and report
back to the Board. Mr. Kloster said that the most recent survey in regard to the
satisfaction with the cook/chill system is that the numbers remain the same as under the
old system. The only issue has been variety.
Mr. Mader, chairman of the Member Council and a member of the food
committee said there are very few complaints about the food and if there is, changes
are made.
Mr. Grams had questions about the inequities in the service costs between King
and Union Grove. The answer came in WDVA Bulletin #787, the Comparison Chart for
Care and Services at Wisconsin Veterans Homes. He wanted assurance that as a
CVSO, he can counsel families that there is no charge for these listed services at either
Home. That was determined to be the case and even co-payments are taken care of by
the Home.
6. Financial Report—Colleen Holtan

Ms. Holtan reported that fiscal year-to-date operating expenses for the King
Home have exceeded operating revenue resulting in an operating loss of $539,000;
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contrasted with a net operating income of $6.3 million for the same period. Operating
expenses increased by $5.8 million which was a 13% increase over last fiscal year to
date. $5.3 million of that increase was for salaries and fringe which is consistent with
the decrease in the staff vacancy rate at King. The remainder of the increase was in
supplies and services. Fund equity as of May 31st was $52.2 million, a decrease of
approximately $200,000 since the start of the fiscal year, but $19.3 million greater than
the balance as of May 31, 2006. The increase in equity between 2006 and 2007 is due
to the retrospective medical assistance (MA) payments as well as increase in the capital
assets. The May 30th cash balance was $23,325,751.
Operating revenues for Union Grove were $6.3 million through May 31st, while
operating expenditures were $10.85 million resulting in a year-to-date operating loss of
$4,556,000. The increase in operating revenues includes $1.5 million in member
contributions, $1 million in medical assistance, $750,000 in VA per diems and $220,000
in Medicare. The MA and Medicare are new revenue sources from 2006 to 2007 due to
the opening of the skilled nursing facility. Fiscal year-to-date loss has caused fund
equity to decrease to $17.8 million as of May 31st. Cash uses have exceeded receipts
by $5,652,960 for fiscal year 2007 and the ending case balance for the Home at Union
Grove is a negative $5.3 million.
Assets in the Veterans Trust Fund (VTF) were $71.3 million as of May 31st which
is $7.9 million less than one year earlier. $2.9 million of the decrease was in the cash
balance; $2.8 million in the unpaid principal balance of personal loans and $1.6 million
in the unpaid principal balance of various loan portfolios. The net operating loss
through May 31st was $4,391,616. Fiscal year-to-date non operating expenses were
$1.6 million less than last fiscal year as of the same time period due to decreases in
grant expenditures, of which education grants accounted for $1.1 million of the
decrease; and also due to increases in investment earnings and grant receipts. The
May 31st cash balance of $26,728,000 is $2.3 million less than the balance at the start
of the fiscal year. A significant portion of that is due to the increase in personal loans
originated in 2007 over the 2006 levels.
Assets in the Mortgage Loan Repayment Fund (MLRF) totaled $417.4 million at
the end of May. The MLRF had a net loss of $5,163,645 through May 31st which is
$2,170,000 less than the same period last fiscal year-to-date. The investment earnings
increased and debt service interest decreased to contribute to those changes in
operations. The cash balance in the MLRF was $119.7 million at May 31st, which is an
increase of $15.4 million since June 30th.
The Personal Loan Program (PLP) delinquency rate was 2.1%. The Primary
Mortgage Loan Program (PMLP) delinquency rate for April was 0.71%. In May, 30
applications were received for the PMLP. There was $23.7 million dollars of funds
remaining for the PMLP out of our current proceeds. Those funds are anticipated to be
sufficient to meet the demand until November 2007 based on current projections.
Mr. Freedman requested that Ms. Holtan provide in writing to the Board members
the language she gives verbally as an explanation for the differentials in numbers
between the current fiscal year and the previous fiscal year.
7. Overview of the Assistance to Needy Veterans Grant Program

Mr. Black provided an overview slide presentation. The purpose of the
Assistance to Needy Veterans Grant Program (ANV) is to provide emergency benefits
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to very low income and needy Wisconsin veterans whose household income is within
the program income limit. He stressed that this program is for the neediest of the needy
veteran. The program is broken into two parts—the health care aid and the subsistence
aid. WDVA provides dental, vision and hearing aid in the health care portion.
Subsistence aid is the replacement of veteran’s income lost within a 12-month period
due to illness, injury or natural disaster and not eligible for replacement by any other
means. This is temporary assistance, not long term payments. There are caps
associated with each area of assistance. There is a lifetime cap of $5,000. The
household income limit is 130% of the federal poverty limit for household size. For a
single household it is $1,106 and for two in the household it is $1,483. In determining
the amount of subsistence aid received WDVA considers income before the date
income was lost minus the income received after the date income was lost. The
monetary award amount cannot exceed $2,000 in a 12-month period. The ANV Grant
must be applied for through the County Veterans Service Office, proof of application for
other aid is required, additional information requested must be provided within 30 days.
Mr. Moen asked if there have been recent adjustments for inflation. Mr. Kloster
said that the limits were established two years ago and there is Joint Finance action to
increase the limits in the current budget. The recommendation is for the lifetime limit to
go from $5,000 to $7,500 and that there be no limits on any of the three categories.
The original category of dental care was a limit of $2,500, hearing $3,000, vision $500
and subsistence $2,000.
Mr. Andersen asked how long it took to process these applications. Mr. Black
said that once WDVA gets the correct information in, it is just a matter of days to
complete the process.
Mr. Smerling said it would be beneficial for the Board to see a past history of this
program. The 30 day limit is too difficult to work with. Also, there is no flexibility in the
income limit. The program is overly restrictive both in the processing and in the
flexibility of a veteran in need. Mr. Grams said there has to be a way to provide
services to the needy veterans and not have to make them feel like they’re running
through impossible hoops. Mr. Moran asked the Secretary to look at the program and
come back and advise the Board what can be done to make it more generous and to
improve the time lines.
8. Recess/Adjournment
It was moved by Mr. Freedman, seconded by Mr. Moen and carried on a voice
vote that the Board of Veterans Affairs adjourn; the time was 3:25 p.m. The
Committees stood in recess and the CVSO Advisory Council recessed until 3:30 p.m.
9
MINUTES
CVSO ADVISORY COUNCIL
June 14, 2007
King, Wisconsin
Members Present WDVA Present

Nick Benzinger, Shawano Bill Kloster, Acting Secretary
Andrew Clark, Outagamie Anthony Hardie, Executive Assistant
Mark Grams, Dodge John Rosinski, Chief Legal Counsel
Mike Haley, Chippewa Bill Crowley, Commandant, WVH-K
Michael Jackson, Dane Glen Brower, Commandant, WVH-UG
Fred Kaiser, Waushara Mike Diaz, Division Administrator
Ted Mynyk, Iowa Ken Abrahamsen, Budget Director
John Solis, Rock Colleen Holtan, Budget Office
Robert Stone, Rusk Shari McCann, WVH Exec Staff Secretary
Rich Calcut, WVH-King PIO
Ron Woods, Security Chief
Don Martin, Superintendent Bldgs & Grounds
Linda Eskritt, NSG Supervisor
Leanne Turzinski, OH ADON
Sally Herek, MH DON
Nancy O’Connell, Dir. Materials Management
Shannon Hardel, SH DON
Bev Przyblski, AH DON
Jackie Moore, Adjutant
Colleen Roemer, Executive Staff Assistant
Sherry Kelley, Director Social services
Donna Warzynski, Nursing Administrator
Attending via Video Conference:
Ken Black, Division of Veterans benefits
Seth Perelman, Division of Administration
Mel Brandl, Regional Coordinator
Kathy Scholl, Communications
Julie Van Metre, Executive Staff Assistant
1. Call to Order and Roll Call.

The meeting of the CVSO Advisory Council was called to order at 3:30 p.m. A quorum
was present.
2. Certification of Notice of Meeting.

So noted.
3. Approval of Minutes of April 19, 2007

It was moved by Mr. Mynyk, seconded by Mr. Kaiser and carried on a voice vote to
approve the minutes of the April 19 CVSO Advisory Council meeting.
4. Announcements and Introductions

Mr. Crowley introduced members of the King Home staff (they are listed in the above
column titled, WDVA Present).
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5. WDVA Form 2045 Update
Ken Black said he met with Michael Jackson and John Solis to discuss distribution of
Form 2045. Mr. Black further discussed the matter with his staff and at this point in time they
have not made any determination nor arrived at a solution as to how they should move forward.
Mr. Solis said the matter will be updated at the next meeting of the Council.
6. VBATS Eligibility Update

The CVSOs received an email of what will appear on the WDVA website on the first of
July. For records that have been entered since 2002, if CVSOs see a base file number in red, that
indicates that the veteran is not eligible for state veterans benefits. Mr. Jackson thanked Acting
Secretary Kloster and others who accomplished this because it is exactly what they asked for.
7. VetEd Process Action Team Update

The Process Action Team gave Acting Secretary Kloster a recommendation. Mr. Kloster
had some more specific questions on things that were not done so he sent the report back to Mr.
Black who will call the group back together again. Once that is done, the recommendation will
go back to Mr. Kloster.
8. WDVA Forms/Brochures Changes

Mr. Kloster said that the sheet that compares the services of the two Homes was handed
out by Mr. Crowley at the Northern CVSO Association meeting specifically to get feedback. It
was not meant to be final and released at that time. It was released as a final bulletin the
following week. Mr. Grams cited a problem with another brochure, B0106, the property tax
exemption brochure—a veteran came into his office with a more updated version than the one
Mr. Grams was referencing. CVSOs did not get an update for the change in that bulletin that
occurred in February 2007. Mr. Kloster said he would check on the B0106 to find out if a
bulletin was sent.
9. Discussion Regarding Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and the CVSO
Mr. Jackson said the CVSO Association has a position paper out. A request was made at
the last meeting that the Board support that position paper in terms of keeping the independence
of the County Veterans Service Officers separate from other county departments. Mr. Solis said
the item is on the agenda for the Legislative and Program Review Committee and the Board.
10. Providing Service to Transitioning Soldiers

Mr. Kloster asked that the Advisory Council come back at the next meeting and give the
Department a report on how every county is handling services to transitioning soldiers. The
soldier who walks in your door who’s on terminal leave, doesn’t have a DD-214 yet, but they
want to know about how to go about filing a claim, etc. We need to be standard in the way we
handle every potential veteran. Do we have a problem and if we do, some suggestions on how
we can work that out. Mr. Solis said he could put something out through the CVSO email
system or at the regional meetings to find out if there is uniformity out there.
11. Secretary’s Matters

Mr. Kloster attended the National CVSO Convention in Milwaukee last week. He
commended the CVSOs from Wisconsin who ran the convention, especially the point man, Jim
Young.
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The Department has processed all the CVSO grants and all but three of the checks have
been sent out. We have reached the limit in our current budget so your checks will be coming
out as soon as we get past the end of this month.
The Federal VA in conjunction with the State Directors of Veterans Affairs has created a
system known as “State Benefits Seamless Transition Initiative.” Wisconsin has signed up for
this initiative. This system parallels the real life line system that is part of the Department of
Labor and is handled here in Wisconsin by the Department of Workforce Development. This
system will send a fax to the Department to notify us when a soldier has been released from one
of the major medical centers and is coming back to Wisconsin. If that soldier has indicated that
he or she wants to receive information about state veterans benefits, we will get a fax indicating
the contact information. Mr. Kloster will turn that information over to the system that is already
in place in Wisconsin, the real lifeline network and it will serve as a check to make sure that
system knows the veteran is coming out.
12. Public Input

Mr. Jackson said there are a couple of things on the last minutes that needed follow up.
On page two, fifth paragraph, there was discussion about the Assistance to Needy Veterans
(ANV) Grant approval rate and Mr. Jackson had indicated that it was 25% and Ken Black said it
was 33%. In the last sentence, Mr. Black said that he would report back the reasons for the
denials at the next meeting (this meeting). The other point that Mr. Jackson asked to be put on
this agenda was a similar issue about the ANV program and that was that income earned before
date of injury should not count against veteran if reviewed after date of injury. WDVA stated
that it needs to do more research and figure out the overall impact so that it could make an
informed decision as to whether or not to change this code based upon this anomaly. If not
addressed today, Mr. Jackson would like both issues on the August agenda. Mr. Kloster said a
letter addressing both issues would be sent to CVSOs and if it did not sufficiently address his
concerns, the matters could be placed on the August agenda.
Mr. Black addressed the second item. According to the statutes it is a loss of income,
therefore that date that there is a loss of income is an anchor date. That’s the date we start from
and going forward from that date, there is no income or a limited amount of income. So those
two dates, the anchor date, i.e. when the individual loses income and the income out to 30 days
after that, that’s a part of the equation that WDVA uses. Mr. Solis said the issue is that this is
income that the veteran earned before they became too disabled to work. They are just receiving
the payment after they got injured and cannot work. The pay that one receives today is pay for
work done two weeks ago so why are we counting that income.
13. Council Members’ Matters (Not Subject to Adoption)

Mr. Mynyk said a year and a half ago a veteran tried to pre-register at the Union Grove
cemetery. He had already established eligibility and the cemetery said that the veteran had to re-
establish eligibility through them because they didn’t have computer connection to WDVA to
verify eligibility. Has that been fixed? Mr. Kloster will check on that and send an email reply to
Mr. Solis.
14. Next Meeting Schedule

August 16 in Milwaukee at the War Memorial Center
3
15. Adjournment
It was moved, seconded and carried on a voice vote to adjourn the CVSO Advisory
Council meeting, the time was 4:10 p.m.
John Solis
Chair
4
MINUTES
LEGISLATIVE AND PROGRAM REVIEW COMMITTEE
Meeting of June 14, 2007
Committee Present WDVA Present

Marvin Freedman William Kloster, Acting Secretary
Mike Furgal Anthony Hardie, Executive Assistant
Vera Roddy Bill Crowley, Commandant, King
Jim Young Glen Brower, Commandant, Union Grove
Steve Lawrence John Rosinski, Chief Legal Counsel
Duane Miskulin Mike Diaz, Division Administrator
Tim Thiers Ken Abrahamsen, Budget Director
Don Heiliger Colleen Holtan, Budget Office
Scott Berger Shari McCann, Executive Staff Secretary
Attending Via Videoconference:
Committee Excused Ken Black, Division Administrator
Bud Mautz Seth Perelman, Division Administrator
Paul Weprinsky Julie Van Metre, Executive Staff Assistant
1. Call to Order and Roll Call

The meeting of the Legislative and Program Review Committee was called to order at
4:10 p.m.; a quorum was present.
2. Certification of Notice of Meeting

It was certified that proper notice of the meeting occurred.
3. Approval of Minutes
It was moved by Mr. Lawrence, seconded by Mr. Young and carried on a voice vote to
approve the minutes of the April 19, 2007 meeting. Committee members Miskulin, Lawrence,
Furgal and Thiers did not receive minutes prior to the meeting.
4. Budget Results from Joint Finance Committee Actions

Mr. Freedman asked if members of the Committee had any concerns with the Joint
Finance Committee actions. No one had questions.
5. CVSO Resolutions F002-06 Veterans Education Grant Income Limit; F003-06 Veterans
Education Grant Delimiting Date, and F004-06 Aid to Needy Veteran Grant Improvement
Recommendations
Mr. Freedman said a request was made for the Legislative and Program Review
Committee to take action on the above three Resolutions. The options would be to accept, reject
or consider independent action by separate motion.
It was moved by Mr. Lawrence, seconded by Mr. Heiliger and carried on a voice vote to
receive and file the Veterans Education Grant Income Limit Resolution.
1
It was moved by Mr. Heiliger, seconded by Mr. Miskulin and carried on a voice vote that
the Committee recommends to the Board of Veterans Affairs that the subject matter of the
resolution, mainly raising the income limit on the VetEd Grant from $50,000 to $60,000 be
given full consideration when the 2009-2011 WDVA budget request is being developed.
The next resolution requests that the Committee recommends to the Board that the ten-
year delimiting date be eliminated on the VetEd Program. It was moved by Mr. Thiers,
seconded by Mr. Young and carried on a voice vote to receive and file the CVSO Resolution for
the purpose of presenting an alternative motion.
It was moved by Mr. Berger and seconded by Mr. Lawrence that the Committee
recommends to the Board of Veterans Affairs that the subject matter of the Resolution be given
full consideration when the 2009-2011 WDVA budget request is being developed. Mr.
Freedman asked if the makers of the motion, Mr. Berger and Mr. Lawrence would accept a
friendly amendment to include the language “for full time study” after the word Resolution to
then read, “that the Committee recommend to the Board of Veterans Affairs that the subject
matter of the Resolution for full time study be given full consideration when the 2009-2011
WDVA budget request is being developed. They were in agreement and the motion passed on a
voice vote with one negative vote. Mr. Jackson added that the retraining grant is limited to
vocational education or on-the-job training only.
The Committee discussed the Resolution regarding the Aid to Needy Veteran Grant
Improvement Recommendation. Mr. Freedman read the WDVA omnibus motion—paragraph
17: Assistance for Needy Veterans. Provide $96,000 SEG annually to the Assistance to Needy
Veterans appropriation. Specified that eligible veterans may not receive more than $3,000 in any
consecutive 12-month period for assistance to needy veterans program, health care aid grants and
subsistence grants. Provide a $7,500 assistance to needy veterans lifetime maximum for any
eligible individual. Delete the current maximum for dental care, vision care and hearing care.
Under current law an individual may not receive more than $2,000 in subsistence aid grants
during any 12-month period. Additionally an eligible individual may not receive more than
$5,000 in their lifetime for Assistance to Needy Veterans Grants. The veterans household may
not have liquid assets in excess of $1,000 without losing eligibility for the program. Under
current DVA rules an applicant must earn less than 130% of the federal poverty level to be
eligible for these grants. An unremarried spouse or dependent of a veteran that died while on
active duty, including training are also eligible to receive either of these grants. This provision
would increase the 12-month maximum for Subsistence Aid Grants to $3,000 and the lifetime
maximum for Assistance to Needy Veterans by $7,500. The Health Care Aid Grant Program
provides emergency assistance to financially needy veterans to help pay for medical treatment
and hospitalization. Over any 12-month period, grants for a veteran currently may not exceed
$500 for vision care, $1,500 per ear for hearing care and $2,500 for dental care. This provision
would delete those maximums.
Mr. Freedman said that with respect to the CVSO Resolution, the above paragraph 17
includes in the budget all the amounts requested with the exception of the percentage of the
federal poverty level that would be the income limit.
2
It was moved by Ms. Roddy, seconded by Mr. Young and carried on a voice vote to
receive and file CVSO Resolution F004-06 Aid to Needy Veteran Grant Improvement
Recommendations.
It was moved by Mr. Lawrence, seconded by Mr. Heiliger and carried on a voice vote
that the Legislative and Program Review Committee endorses the improvements to the Aid to
Needy Veterans Grant included in paragraph 17 of Joint Finance Committee’s Veterans Affairs
omnibus motion #63 and recommends that the Board of Veterans endorses the Joint Finance
Committee action and directs the Department to take all necessary steps to ensure that paragraph
17 is included in the final version of SB 40, the 2007-09 biennial budget.
6. Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) and Action on CVSO Association Position
Paper Regarding ADRC Concept and CVSO Involvement
MOTION: It was moved by Mr. Young that it shall be the policy of the Board of
Veterans Affairs and the Department of Veterans Affairs subject to Section 45.43(5)(e)
Wisconsin Statutes, that the County Veterans Service Officers Association of Wisconsin shall
remain separate and distinct from the county Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) for
the reasons including, but not limited to, those stated in the CVSO Association of Wisconsin’s
April 22nd position paper regarding the ADRC concept and CVSO involvement, a copy of which
is attached, incorporated by reference and endorsed in principle by the Board of Veterans
Affairs. The Board of Veterans Affairs also concurs with the CVSO Association’s position paper
where necessary, individual county CVSO offices and the counties’ ADRCs should formalize the
terms of their cooperative relationships in written memorandum of understanding (MOU). The
motion was seconded by Mr. Furgal.
Mr. Freedman asked if the maker of the motion and the second would accept as friendly
amendments that this is a recommendation from the Legislative and Program Review Committee
to the Board, that the statutory cite is Section 45.80(5)(e), and then incorporate the basic
language of the statute so that it refers to county officers and staff shall perform their duties
separately and distinctly from the ADRCs. Mr. Young and Mr. Furgal accepted the friendly
amendments so the amended motion is as follows:
AMENDED MOTION: It was moved by Mr. Young and seconded by Mr. Furgal that
the Legislative and Program Review Committee recommends that it shall be the policy of the
Board of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Veterans Affairs subject to Section 45.80(5)(e)
Wisconsin Statutes, that the County Veterans Service Officers and staff shall perform their duties
separately and distinctly from the county Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) for the
reasons including, but not limited to, those stated in the CVSO Association of Wisconsin’s April
22nd position paper regarding the ADRC concept and CVSO involvement, a copy of which is
attached, incorporated by reference and endorsed in principle by the Board of Veterans Affairs.
The Board of Veterans Affairs also concurs with the CVSO Association’s position paper that,
where necessary, individual county CVSO offices and the county’s ADRCs should formalize the
terms of their cooperative relationships in written memorandum of understanding (MOU).
The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
3
Mr. Kloster had no further matters to discuss with the Committee.
8. Public Input
None.
9. Committee Members’ Matters (Not Subject to Adoption)

Mr. Thiers was at the Senate Committee hearings on SB 19—creditable military service
under the Wisconsin Retirement System. They are not taking into consideration how many
people in state government are going to be able to retire a year or two earlier because they’re
getting credit for that military service.
Mr. Berger felt that the draft minutes of the Board and committees should be distributed
prior to formal adoption. Mr. Freedman said the Board adopted a motion on distribution of
minutes and any concerns should be raised during public comment at the Board meeting
tomorrow.
10. Next Meeting Date

August 16, 2006 in Milwaukee at the War Memorial Center.
11 Adjournment
It was moved by Ms. Roddy, seconded by Mr. Young and carried on a voice vote to
adjourn the meeting; the time was 4:55 p.m.
Marvin Freedman
Chairman
4
MINUTES
LONG TERM CARE COMMITTEE

Rod Moen William Kloster, Deputy Secretary
Ken Wendt Anthony Hardie, Executive Assistant
Charles Allen Mike Diaz, Division Administrator
Christine Jordan Bill Crowley, Commandant, WVH-King
Jerry Polus Glen Brower, Commandant, WVH-Union Grove
Rick Scollon John Rosinski, Chief Legal Counsel
Lew Harned Ken Abrahamsen, Budget Director
Mary Meyer (via videoconference) Colleen Holtan, Budget Office
Alan Walker Shari McCann, Executive Staff Secretary
Jackie Guthrie Attending via Video Conference:
Ken Black, Division of Veterans Benefits
Committee Excused Julie Van Metre, Executive Staff Assistant
Kevin Kavanaugh

The meeting of the Long Term Care Committee was called to order at 4:55 p.m., a
quorum was present.

It was moved by Mr. Walker, seconded by Mr. Wendt and carried unanimously on a
voice vote to approve the minutes of the April 19, 2007 Committee meetings.
4. Dept. of Health & Family Services, Office of Quality Assurance Inspection Reports
Mr. Moen explained that he asked that this item be placed on the agenda so that the
Board is aware of citations by the state and federal government at King and Union Grove. Mr.
Diaz provided information detailing citations at King and Union Grove. Mr. Moen referenced an
article in the Eau Claire Leader Telegram on private sector nursing home inspections. Mr.
Crowley said that in each of the four licensed skilled care buildings, there is an obvious posting
of the latest survey results from the surveyors of the State Department of Health and Family
Services, Division of Quality Assurance for anyone to view at anytime. Mr. Scollon said this
information is available on the internet under medicare.com.
Mr. Kloster reported on the status of the operational study on homes and future care of
veterans. We were expecting the request to be awarded, however, the Department of
Administration (DOA) reviewed our proposal and perceived that there was an error and took the
proposal out. DOA then realized that they had made an error in taking it off, however, they had
disrupted the timeline sufficiently enough that WDVA could not get it done before the end of the
fiscal year. It has caused us to go back and redo the proposal. The proposal will go out shortly
1
after the first of July. The main goal of this operational study is to do a study of our Homes to
include future homes at Chippewa Falls and perhaps other places so that we can determine
exactly what we need to put into the 2009-2011 budget.
Mr. Kloster said that in the past, when the Department has opened a new building and
gotten per diem payments from the federal government, those payments have always been retro-
active back to the date that the first resident was admitted into the facility. The federal VA
officials from Milwaukee who work in collaboration with the Union Grove Home have told us
verbally that the federal VA has a new interpretation of an existing rule which will now only
provide us per diem payments from the date of their final inspection, in this case 24 May. We
may not get per diem from when we introduced our first resident in September to when we had
the final inspection on 24 May. This could be a half a million dollars or more in lost revenue to
the facility. In the past there was a very liberal interpretation of the rule and this new
interpretation is more consistent with the way it is written. We will go through an appeal process
if one is offered. Our argument will be not that the interpretation is incorrect, but that this has
been past practice and based upon past practice we made the decision to open several months
prior to the inspection. There are other states affected and this may have to be resolved
legislatively.
6. Public Input
Mr. Jackson said a new rule signed in December 2006 regarding those veterans who are
70% service-connected disabled or higher, residing in state veterans homes, that the federal VA
can now reimburse the state veterans homes for their care. The VA was to have promulgated
rules by March 21, 2007. That did not happen. Mr. Jackson said the CVSO organization has
contacted the VA to see about getting that done and received one reply from Congresswoman
Baldwin’s office. The impact is that members at the King Home who are rated 70% or higher
take that compensation and pay for their care. Veterans in community-based nursing homes take
that 70% or higher compensation and put it in the bank. He encouraged the Long Term Care
Committee to take action to have the VA promulgate those rules immediately.

Mr. Polus asked if a veteran comes to the Home and has just Medicare, does the Home
pay the difference in co-pay and deductible. Does the cost of care include everything? Mr.
Crowley said the Medicare co-pay and deductible would be paid for by the Home.
Mr. Moen asked at the last meeting about the dollar transfer from King to Union Grove
because of start up costs. Ms. Holtan said that the amount that has been transferred is
$10,410,988.83. The first transfer occurred on June 30, 2002, again in fiscal year 2005 and in
fiscal year 2006. It is projected that there will be a transfer from King to Union Grove at the end
of July 2007 of approximately $6.4 million. Mr. Moen asked when Union Grove would be
sustainable on its own. Ms. Holtan said she would need to redirect that question to the Home or
to Mr. Secretary. Mr. Moen said that he would leave it to the Financial Committee to look into
that. Mr. Kloster said that’s one of the reasons for the operational study, and why the
Department is undertaking business plans for the two homes. Once we get those baseline
numbers, we will do a business plan for the home at Chippewa Falls before we ever open it. Mr.
Moen said along with that, he assumes that WDVA will look at the veterans population in the
state because we’re losing so many WWII veterans. Mr. Kloster said the Department is
2
projecting well out into the future what the need will be for nursing beds. We cannot predict 20
years from now how medical advances will change this.
In answer to Mr. Walker’s comments, Mr. Kloster said that even though we’re trying as
much as possible to make Union Grove and King identical to each other, there are some
differences in the vendors. One area is going to be the canteen and pub operation. WDVA will
have to contract out at Union Grove through a private vendor and hopefully an agreement can be
worked out with the vendor to make the services comparable not only in quality but in price.
The cost of medical care is the same but costs at the canteen or other services that we do not
really need to provide may be different.
Dr. Allen was concerned as WDVA does its studies that it bears in mind our veteran
population may not fit that private model and how they generate revenues. What do you project
when the Chippewa Falls Home comes on board, will you do anything differently?
Mr. Kloster said that a higher level of Medicare patients had been contemplated for
Union Grove and that may or may not work out. At Union Grove the assisted living facility was
built first and then the nursing home. At Chippewa Falls we would start with the skilled nursing
facility because that is where more opportunity is to get the additional Medicare and Medicaid
revenue. The business plans are going to be key to how we begin at Chippewa Falls.
8. Next Meeting Schedule

August 16, 2007 in Milwaukee at the War Memorial Center.
9. Adjournment
It was moved by Mr. Wendt, seconded by Mr. Harned and carried unanimously on a
voice vote to adjourn the meeting; the time was 5:30 p.m.
Rod Moen
Chairman
3
MINUTES
FINANCIAL COMMITTEE

Bill Andersen William Kloster, Acting Secretary
Al Richards Anthony Hardie, Executive Assistant
Bill Hustad Bill Crowley, Commandant, WVH-King
Jim Gausmann Glen Brower, Commandant, WVH-Union Grove
Joe Campbell Mike Diaz, Division of Veterans Homes
Al Kochenderfer John Rosinski, Chief Legal Counsel
Bill Bottoms Ken Abrahamsen, Budget Director
Colleen Holtan, Budget Office
Committee Excused Shari McCann, Executive Staff Secretary
Walter Stenavich Attending Via Videoconference:
Mike Demske Julie Van Metre, Executive Staff Assistant
John O’Brien

The meeting of the Financial Committee was called to order at 5:35 p.m.; a quorum was
present.

3. Approval of Minutes.
It was moved by Mr. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Gausmann and carried unanimously on
a voice vote to approve the minutes of the April 19, 2007 Financial Committee meeting.
4. Discussion of Financial Report Format

Chairman Andersen said that he looks at what WDVA does as a business. When he
invests in stock it is his practice to look at assets, liabilities, cash on hand, fixed assets, and long
term debt; so when it comes to the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs and its financial
statements he would like to see some of that same information. Mr. Campbell recommended a
detailed report at least once a year in August or October at the state’s fiscal year end.
It was moved by Mr. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Hustad and carried on a voice vote that
the Department prepare and present to the Committee a one-page detailed statement for each
report (cash flow, balance sheet, income statement) at the end of each fiscal year.
Acting Secretary Kloster thought that the final report would best be presented in October
because we will have first look numbers in August and Ms. Holtan’s preliminary final would be
in October.
1
Mr. Kloster talked about the Primary Mortgage Loan Interest rates. There has been an
increase in market rates. WDVA’s rate is fixed at 6% and we have very little if any room to
adjust that rate. With the current Qualified Veterans Mortgage Bond (QVMB) money we do not
have the ability to adjust our rate up and down. The QVMB restricts us in the minimum interest
rate we can charge on our mortgage loans. We must cover the cost of money, what we’re paying
for the bond, plus the add-ons that we have for administrative costs, insurance reserve, the
origination fee and servicing fee that we’re paying to the banks who actually make these loans.
We cannot go above one and an eighth percent beyond the cost of money because the federal
government has set a limit on how much money can be made on tax free bonds.
If the rise in interest rates is sustained, we would expect to see more use of our program
and therefore, our amount of available funds would diminish quicker than anticipated. Mr.
Kloster has contacted Capital Finance and asked for them to meet with us to discuss various
options we may have for the future. The Department cannot bond for any more money until the
budget is passed. There is potential for the Department to run out of funding in the Primary
Mortgage Loan Program by November if the budget takes longer than anticipated to pass. If the
budget passes and we can get the increase to our bonding caps, the funds will last until next
summer. Ms. Holtan said that Capital Finance is aware that as soon as the budget passes we
need to go to the Building Commission to get an authorization to issue bonds.
Mr. Kloster said that as far as property foreclosures are concerned, the Department is not
seeing an increase. WDVA’s delinquency rate still remains below one percent. It is normal for
us to take back five to eight homes through foreclosure each year. On the average, when we take
a property back and go through the entire process of foreclosure and sale, which includes making
some repairs to the property, the average loss to the Department is about $15,000. There is an
insurance fund that is set aside to make sure that we cover any of those kinds of losses.
6. Public Input
None.

None.

August 16 in Milwaukee at the War Memorial Center.
9. Adjournment
It was moved by Mr. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Gausmann and carried unanimously on
a voice vote to adjourn the meeting; the time was 5:50 p.m.
Bill Andersen
Chairman
2
MINUTES
COUNCIL ON VETERANS PROGRAMS
Members Present WDVA Present

Russ Alsteen, NCUSA William Kloster, Acting Secretary
Paul Bialk, MCL Anthony Hardie, Executive Assistant
Pat Brown, USSVWWII Bill Crowley, Commandant, WVH-King
Rick Cherone, MOPH Mike Diaz, Veterans Homes
Paul Fine, ANU John Rosinski, Chief Legal Counsel
Mark Foreman, VVAW Ken Abrahamsen, Budget Director
Jesse Haro, CWV Colleen Holtan, Budget Office
Bill Hustad, WVV Steve Stead, WVH-King
Chris Kanios, VFW Shari McCann, Executive Staff Secretary
Jon LiDonne, CVSO Association Rich Calcut, WVH PIO
John Margowski, VVA Attending via Video Conference:
Walter Peterson, Am. ExPOW Ken Black, Division of Veterans Benefits
Vera Roddy, UWV Seth Perelman, Division of Administration
William Sims, NABV Kathy Scholl, Communications
Mike Smith, ARC Julie Van Metre, Executive Staff Assistant
Clif Sorenson, WACVO
Clarence Stoel, DAV Others Present
Jack Stone, PVA Steve Lawrence, VFW Adjutant
Tim Thiers, AMVETS Rick Scollon
Joe Campbell
Al Richards
Members Excused Rod Moen, Board Member
Bud Mautz, Am. Legion Ken Wendt, Board Member
Jerry Rabetski, PLAV Bill Andersen, Board Member
Paul Weprinsky, JWV Marvin Freedman, Board Member
WWI vacancy Jim Young, Vernon CVSO
FCDV vacancy Mark Grams, Dodge CVSO
John Solis, Rock CVSO
Robert Stone, Rusk CVSO
Donna Chrzas, Columbia CVSO
Jackie Guthrie, Board Appointee
Debra Johnson, VAF
Lewis Harned
Al Kochenderfer
Chris Jordan, Walworth CVSO
Nick Benzinger, Shawano CVSO
Ted Mynyk, Iowa CVSO
Holly Hoppe, Oconto CVSO
Michael Jackson, Dane CVSO
Jim Gausmann, LaCrosse CVSO
Mike Furgal
Bill Bottoms (continued)
1
Tony Tyczynski, Sauk CVSO
Gary Mader, WVH Member
Tony Pflanzer, WVH Member
1. Call to Order and Roll Call of Members

The meeting of the Council on Veterans Programs was called to order by Chairman
Sorenson at 8:00 a.m.

3. Introduction of Guests and Announcements

Mr. Sorenson thanked Commandant Crowley for his hospitality. Introductions included
Bill Andersen, Board Member; Rod Moen, Board Member; Jackie Guthrie, Board Appointee and
all other esteemed guests. Mr. Sorenson recognized WVH member Tony Pflanzer and thanked
him for attending the meeting.
It was moved by Mr. Margowski, seconded by Mr. Fine and carried unanimously on a
voice vote to accept the minutes of the April 19-20 meetings.
5. Council Communications
Chairman Sorenson said he will send a letter on behalf of the Council in support of a
Fisher House or comparable facility on the grounds of the VA in Milwaukee.
6. Museum Foundation Report

Bill Hustad, President of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation, said that on June
23rd there will be a Toast to Veterans fund raising event at the Capital Brewery in Madison. On
July 17th the Museum will host a golf outing at the Oaks Golf Course just outside of Madison on
I-94. On November 3rd the Museum will host its annual Gala in the Museum. The Foundation
members are busy planning for those events.
7. Discuss Adding Organizations to the Council—Veterans for Peace and Veterans Assistance
Foundation
Mr. Sorenson said that it is not the Council’s prerogative to say if a group can or cannot
join but it is a courtesy for them to make a request and the Council can forward its
recommendations on to the Legislature. Debra Johnson, Executive Director of the Veterans
Assistance Foundation (VAF) provided information to the Council regarding the VAF.
Ms. Johnson said that the VAF is a non-profit organization formed in 1994 to develop
transitional housing for homeless veterans. The first program opened at King and the
organization has operated the program at Ft. McCoy which transitioned to Tomah and they have
a facility in Madison. They are in the process of developing a 12-bed program encompassing
Tomah and the LaCrosse area. The VAF is a nationally accredited organization. The key staff
of the organization are veterans from Vietnam, Desert Storm and the Iraqi and Enduring
Freedom conflict. They recognize the veterans in Wisconsin and have expanded to assist
homeless veterans throughout the nation as well.
2
Mr. Hustad: How many members of your organization are in the State of Wisconsin?
Ms. Johnson: The Board of Directors consists of nine members and three are from
California and one from Washington, DC.
Mr. Hustad: How many veterans do you serve?
Ms. Johnson: The Tomah facility has 59 veterans; the Madison facility has 3; and in the
new Step-Up Program 2 beds filled there. The VAF currently serve 64 veterans with the
capacity for 70 beds.
Question: Where does the foundation get its money?
Ms. Johnson: The VAF gets the majority of its money through the US Department of
Veterans Affairs Grant and Per Diem Program. Other funds come through the Department of
Labor, Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program and they also do fundraising and accept
donations.
Mr. Bialk: Is this a veteran’s organization as such? Is the staff all veterans?
Ms. Johnson: We are a non-profit organization but we are also an accredited national
veteran’s service organization to assist with veterans claims on the federal level. The key staff
are veterans, three staff members are not veterans. All of the people that the organization assists
are veterans.
Ms. Roddy: How do you meet the unique needs of women veterans?
Ms. Johnson: There are separate beds for women veterans and being on the grounds of
the VA Medical Center, they have a Women Veterans Coordinator who works with the female
veterans.
Mr. Alsteen asked for a printed copy of the information Ms. Johnson just presented. He
would like the material mailed to the Department for inclusion in the mailing to Council
members.
Mr. Sorenson said representatives from both Veterans for Peace and the Veterans
Assistance Foundation have presented information about their organizations. Mr. Smith was
unable to attend the last meeting of the Council and wanted more information on Veterans for
Peace than what appeared in the minutes. Mr. Sorenson said the organization has an on-line
website that he visited for answers to his questions. Mr. Hustad asked about the number of
members they have in Wisconsin and what their mission is and how do they serve veterans.
Mr. Foreman, a member of the Council representing Vietnam Veterans Against the War
(VVAW), is also a member of Veterans for Peace. He noted that the reason veterans are joining
Veterans for Peace is because soldiers of the wars since the Second World War came back with a
lot of questions. Veterans for Peace believe that war should be the very last way to address
conflict.
Mr. Sorenson asked if this was a political organization as opposed to a veteran’s

organization. Mr. Foreman said it is political to take care of ourselves. Veteran’s organizations
take care of veterans who come back from war. We do not want more veterans of war; we
represent veterans who believe that war is insane and that we are the unique group of Americans
who understand that more than anyone else and we need to work hard to prevent any more of our
children and grandchildren getting involved in war.
Mr. Stoel said the Council is here to support veterans and not their own agenda. There
may be 7,000 members of Veterans for Peace nationwide but there are not that many members in
Wisconsin. Mr. Cherone asked if the organization backs any political organizations for bills for
and against the war. Does the organization have a political stance? Mr. Foreman said the
3
organization supports the peace movement and anyone who opposes the war. Ms. Roddy said
the size of the membership of an organization should not be considered. She thought it was
important to recognize voices from all parts of the veteran’s community. Her only concern was
that Veterans for Peace is on the FBI watch list. Mr. Foreman said Veterans for Peace are a
conscience about war. He appreciates and admires what other organizations have done to protect
our benefits to make sure that we get what we’re due. We need to represent more than just one
idea as veterans.
Mr. Alsteen heard questions at a legislative hearing on what it takes for an organization
to be eligible to get on the Council on Veterans Programs. The state statutes do not clearly
define that and he thought that this Council should address eligibility criteria in the future.
It was moved by Mr. Thiers and seconded by Mr. Stoel that the Council endorse the letter
of request for membership on the Council on Veterans Programs by the Veterans for Peace. Roll
call: Alsteen-no; Bialk-no; Brown-no; Cherone-no; Fine-no; Haro-no; Hustad-no; Stoel-no;
Kanios-no; LiDonne-no; Margowski-no; Peterson-yes; Roddy-yes; Foreman-yes; Sims-no;
Smith-no; Sorenson-abstain; Stone-yes; Thiers-no. 14 no; 4 yes; 1 abstention—the motion
failed.
It was moved by Mr. Hustad and seconded by Mr. Fine that the Council goes on record
endorsing Veterans Assistance Foundation membership on the Council on Veterans Programs. It
was noted that Mr. Alsteen had requested additional written information about the Foundation.
It was moved by Mr. Fine, seconded by Mr. Stoel and carried on a voice vote to table the motion
until the next meeting.
8. Discussion Regarding Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC)

Mr. Sorenson said that the CVSO Association prepared a position paper that said the
county veterans service offices should remain separate and distinct from the ADRC as required
under state statute, but that the relationship between CVSO and ADRC be formalized (if
necessary) via written Memorandum of Understanding.
It was moved by Mr. Thiers, seconded by Mr. Alsteen and carried on a voice vote that the
Council on Veterans Programs endorses the CVSO Association position paper.
9. Commanding Officer of the USS Freedom to Address the Council

Mr. Alsteen said there was a fire aboard ship in Marinette and the Commanding Officer
was unable to attend at this time.

Mr. Kloster said that the federal VA announced a program in conjunction with the state
Department of Veterans Affairs to provide a state benefit seamless transition initiative. This
initiative will notify the state directors when a veteran is being moved from one of the military
treatment facilities. When that veteran is being transferred back into their home state, he or she
will sign a release and a copy will be sent to WDVA for action. WDVA has signed up and
participates in that program. The contact information for veterans will be turned over to the real
lifeline network which already exists in Wisconsin through the Department of Labor Workforce
Development.
4
Saturday, September 1 will be the Badger football game at which veterans will be
recognized during the half time show. There will be more details coming out about how tickets
will be made available and whether or not we will be able to have the reception.
It was a busy week in regards to the Wisconsin G.I. Bill and our programs in general
across the state. It is important for us to make sure that as veterans we are heard and that we are
speaking with one voice and united in what we are requesting. There have been changes in the
budget affecting all of state government. As we go through the process we need to realize that
we probably will not be able to get everything we ask for and even though we have great need
and great merit for our need, we have to be patient and united in what we ask for. If we ask for
everything, we may get nothing.
11. Old Business

None.
12. New Business

Mr. Joe Campbell spoke about a Fisher House in Milwaukee. The City of Milwaukee
had a proposal to take over the entire historic district and 37 acres within the VA at Milwaukee.
The plan was pulled off the table about two and a half months ago. Mr. Campbell, along with
various veterans boards have had meetings with Mr. Grippen, the Director of the Milwaukee
VA. One of the resolutions had to do with a Fisher House or a Fisher-type house built on the VA
grounds in Milwaukee. The Fisher House is a wonderful concept, similar to the Ronald
McDonald House; however they will only build new. It could be possible to get a combination
of donors to restore one of the historic buildings and put it into the concept of serving the
veterans and their families while they are in need of recovery and visitation, etc. Effective July
15th all the Milwaukee VA historic properties are going out for requests for proposals and that
means anyone can bid on any part or parcel as they so choose. The federal VA is going to defer
the land for six months, pending the decision on whether to reopen Wood National Cemetery.
The fact of the matter is that Milwaukee has plenty of land to build a Fisher House or Fisher-type
House. Mr. Campbell is the co-founder of an organization called Being There-Reaching Out
which is an organization that gathers the families of the fallen from the State of Wisconsin. Its
mission is to serve these families, allow them to get together three or four times a year and share
their love, their strength, their sadness, their sorrow and their hope with each other. One family
received a donation in remembrance of their son to build a memorial. They have opted to give
that money to the Fisher House in Milwaukee. We have asked them to hold off from the
standpoint that if the money goes to the Fisher House, it is under the control of Secretary
Nicholson. He decides where the Fisher Houses are going to go and Milwaukee is not even on
the list of priorities over the next five years. Mr. Campbell represents the Veterans Board of
Directors in Milwaukee and he is Vice President of the Allied Veterans Council and almost
every veteran organization has taken a position or resolution to Secretary Nicholson. One
resolution is to reopen Wood National Cemetery. The second resolution is to support the
advancement of a Fisher House in Milwaukee as soon as possible. The third resolution is to try
and pull the operating expenses of the historic district off of medical health care and put it under
the parks department. Many of you had been led to believe that once the City of Milwaukee had
pulled their proposal that it was basically all over. Far from it. Secretary Nicholson will be in
Milwaukee next Tuesday for the groundbreaking ceremony of the long overdue relocation of the
spinal cord injury center. He will be there for the remainder of the day to help kick off the
National Wheelchair Games.
5
Mr. Sorenson wanted to clarify that a Fisher House is new construction and a Fisher-type
house could utilize some of the existing under-utilized buildings. Mr. Campbell said that the
beauty of a Fisher House is that they have the structure, management and know-how to run the
facility. Mr. Cherone asked if veterans would manage the Fisher House. Mr. Campbell said that
someone through the VA hospital would be a partner with them in the management. The
manpower in the home itself would probably be privately hired through the Fisher House
concept. Mr. Cherone asked who funds that. Mr. Campbell said it would have to come from
ongoing funds.
Mr. Brown asked for an explanation of the Fisher House and what gave you the idea to
build it and why did you want to proceed down that road when there are so many buildings on
the grounds that really need relocating or restoration. The Fisher House concept comes from the
standpoint that they are established throughout a number of VA medical facilities. The House is
not only for the families to stay in but it is also for the veteran in the recovery process so he
doesn’t have to stay within the hospital, he can go through his rehab while staying at a Fisher
House with his family. The ideal would be to utilize an existing building and get it restored back
to some beauty and more importantly the services that are needed. The Fisher Houses will only
build new, that is just their policy.
Mr. Sorenson said he has drafted a letter stating Council action of April 20th to support
the establishment of a Fisher House. He included a statement about either rehabilitation or reuse
of an existing building for a Fisher-type house. Mr. Sorenson will release the letter to the
Honorable R. James Nicholson. Mr. Peterson, American Ex-POWs noted a typographical error
in the letter that Mr. Sorenson will correct before sending out.
Mr. Campbell recommended that the Council take the opportunity to visit the historic
district and the national cemetery when it meets in Milwaukee in August.
Mr. Sorenson asked Mr. Grams to talk about the Wisconsin G.I. Bill issue. Mr. Grams
referred back to Mr. Kloster’s statement that “if we ask for everything, we may get nothing.”
Consequently, what are we asking for in regards to the Wisconsin G.I. Bill? Mr. Kloster said
that we are looking for it to be restored to what it was intended to be. Mr. Grams said he hopes
that every service organization here is political, that’s how we get benefits. You have to be
active politically to get things done for your organizations. This Council is responsible to take
this information back to your organizations for personal contact to the Senate and Assembly that
we are all in favor of this Wisconsin G.I. Bill staying the same. Mr. Sorenson added that if we
lose benefits that we have earned, we will not get them back.
Mr. Thiers made a motion to recommend to the Board to endorse no changes in the
Wisconsin G.I. Bill. Mr. Sorenson said that unfortunately, since it is not an agenda item, it
would not be an appropriate motion. But the essence of this subject can be reported to the
Board.
13. Activities within the Veterans Community

Mr. Sorenson attended the National County Veterans Service Officers Association
meeting in Milwaukee. Jim Young, the national delegate, did a wonderful job representing
Wisconsin. He thanked the Acting Secretary and staff for all of the support given to the National
Organization. Mr. Sorenson was in Washington, DC to attend the National Coalition for
Homeless Veterans meeting. There will be a forum for women on September 28th at Ft. McCoy.
6
Ms. Roddy said that United Women Veterans has taken over the clothing room at the VA
Hospital. They are looking for donations, especially stylish, back-to-work clothing for our
younger veterans. She will have a pick up point at the War Memorial before the Council meets
there in August if anyone wants to bring in donations of women’s clothing and shoes.
Mr. Stone said the National Veterans Wheelchair Games will begin June 19th in
Milwaukee. Secretary Jim Nicholson will be a part of the kick-off supper on Monday night. He
will also be at the VA Medical Center for a ceremonial groundbreaking at 2 p.m. on June 19th
for the spinal cord injury unit. The Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) organization has gone
into a venture for fundraising with a NASCAR racing team. The number 49 car is now painted
in red, white and blue Paralyzed Veterans of America colors with the logo and pva.org on it.
Mr. Alsteen was in Washington, DC for the Secretary of the Navy briefing to the Marine
Corps Council, Chief of Naval Operations, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and enlisted men
in each of those organizations. He learned that a newer style personnel carrier has been
developed. Bids are being sought to get these personnel carriers mass produced for service
members in Iraq. America appears to not be in a position to produce the carriers in a timely
manner. This information was shocking to Mr. Alsteen—everything is being made in China and
if we ever have to mobilize, he doesn’t know where we are going to get the resources.
Mr. Thiers said the AMVETS State Convention is in Wisconsin Rapids at the Hotel
Mead beginning on June 22nd. AMVETS donated $20,000 to the National Wheelchair Games
and they will have membership applications at the convention to continue support for PVA. The
AMVETS organization provides canteen books for members of the Veterans Home. A rib roast
for the VAP residents will be put on during the AMVET King weekend.
14. Public Input

Mr. Jackson addressed the Department’s position about not sharing draft copies of
minutes with those individuals who are not members of those committees. He provided copies
of the statutes that address public records—19.31, 19.32 and 19.37 Declaration of Policy. The
Department’s position is that draft copies of minutes do not come under the public records law.
Mr. Sorenson said distribution of the Council’s minutes would be made an agenda item at the
August meeting.
Mr. Stone said that Glen Grippen, Director of the Milwaukee VA Medical Center is
being promoted as Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) Director at the VA Rocky
Mountain Network (VISN 19) in July. The hospital is having a party for Mr. Grippen on June
25th.
Ms. Roddy said that Sunday, July 1st is Freedom Day at the Milwaukee County Zoo. It is
hosted by Purple Heart veterans and the Milwaukee County Zoo. All veterans and family
members are invited and it is free for all who have a wrist band.
Mr. Alsteen said that Department Chief Legal Counsel John Rosinski is retiring. He
thanked him for all of his efforts on behalf of the Council.
Mr. Young thanked the Council on Veterans Program for its support in assisting in
putting on the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers annual training in
Milwaukee. It was a four-year process and he thanked the American Legion, Vietnam Veterans
of America, AMVETS and WDVA for their support of the training.
7
August 16-17 in Milwaukee at the War Memorial Center.
16. Adjournment
It was moved by Mr. Haro, seconded by Mr. Thiers and carried on a voice vote to
adjourn, the time was 9:30 a.m.
Clif Sorenson
Chairman
8
BOARD MINUTES
King, Wisconsin
Board Members Present Council on Veterans Programs Members Present

Peter J. Moran Chris Kanios, Sr., VFW
Marvin J. Freedman Bill Hustad, WVV
Rodney C. Moen Russ Alsteen, Navy Club
William H. Andersen Rich Cherone, MOPH
Kenneth C. Wendt Jack Stone, PVA
Jon LiDonne, CVSO Association
Board Members Excused Walter Peterson, Am Ex-POW
Walter M. Stenavich Vera Roddy, UWV
Mack E. Hughes Jesse Haro, CWV
John Margowski, VVA
WDVA Present Tim Thiers, AMVETS
Bill Kloster, Acting Secretary
Anthony Hardie, Executive Assistant Others Present
Bill Crowley, Commandant-King Steve Lawrence, VFW Adjutant
John Rosinski, Chief Legal Counsel Al Kochenderfer, VFW
Mike Diaz, Division of Veterans Homes John Solis, Rock CVSO
Ken Abrahamsen, Budget Director Chris Jordan, Walworth CVSO
Colleen Holtan, Budget Office Donna Chrzas, Columbia CVSO
Shari McCann, Executive Staff Secretary Michael Jackson, Dane CVSO
Steve Stead, WVH-King, Finance Director Mark Grams, Dodge CVSO
Donna Warzynski, Nursing Administrator Ted Mynyk, Iowa CVSO
Dr. Paul Drinka, Medical Director Rock Larson, Wood CVSO
Colleen Roemer, Executive Staff Assistant Holly Hoppe, Oconto CVSO
Polly Kimball, WVH-King, Finance Jim Young, Vernon CVSO
Mary Pavlick, WVH-King, Finance Jim Gausmann, LaCrosse CVSO
Attending via Video Conference: Alan Walker, Long Term Care Committee member
Seth Perelman, Division of Administration William Bottoms, Financial Committee member
Ken Black, Division of Veterans Benefits Mike “Gunner” Furgal, Legislative Committee member
Julie Van Metre, Executive Staff Assistant Al Richards, Financial Committee member
Dr. Petzel, VISN 23 Director
Jackie Guthrie, Veterans Board Appointee
1. Roll Call and Introductions

The meeting of the Board of Veterans Affairs was called to order at 9:40 a.m. The
Pledge of Allegiance was recited followed by a moment of silence. A quorum was present
after roll call of members.
Mr. Crowley asked members of the King Home staff to introduce themselves (they
are listed above at WDVA Present).

It was certified that proper notification of the meeting occurred.
1
It was moved by Mr. Wendt and seconded by Mr. Moen to approve the minutes of the
April 19-20 Board meeting and the Teleconference of May 2, 2007. Mr. Kloster was asked
to clarify a couple of items from the Briefing Minutes. Page 3 second paragraph regarding
the transfer of funds from the Homes to the Veterans Trust Fund where Mr. Hardie addressed
a provision in the upcoming budget to allow $7 million transferred from the Homes account
to the Veterans Trust Fund. The minutes say that any action of that type would be briefed to
the Board prior to a transfer for its concurrence. That is, in fact, true. There is no statutory
or rule requirement attached to this particular transfer that would require approval of the
Board. The second note was a typographical error where it was noted that 3 million veterans
and 1 ½ veterans—it should read 1 ½ million veterans (referring to national membership in
the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary). Those two items will be corrected in
the final minutes. The motion to approve the minutes of April 19-20 as corrected and the
minutes of the May 2 teleconference was approved.
4. Board Members’ Matters

Chairman Moran thanked Commandant Crowley and his staff for hosting this
month’s meetings. Mr. Moran represented the Board at the following venues:
• May 25th new Board member Department briefing at the Madison headquarters with
Jackie Guthrie and Bill Andersen.
• May 26th Memorial Service for Army Sgt. Mark A. Maida in Madison at Resurrection
Cemetery at the invitation of Dane CVSO Michael Jackson. Ms. Ellen Blissenbach
(Gold Star Wives) made a quilt presentation to the family.
• Memorial Day observations at the Dane County Memorial Coliseum where he made a
few remarks before introducing Governor Jim Doyle.
• Traveled to Milwaukee to attend the National Association of County Veterans
Service Officers National Training Conference and addressed the group at the awards
banquet.
• June 19th groundbreaking ceremony of the new spinal cord injury unit at the Zablocki
Veterans Hospital in Milwaukee.
• Wheelchair Games opening ceremonies at the Midwest Airlines Center.
• June 21st, Secretary Kloster, Ken Black and Mr. Moran will tour the Chippewa Falls
facility where a Veterans Assistance Center will be opening in the fall. They will
then travel to the Northern Cemetery in Spooner to discuss future upgrades.
Vice Chairman Freedman represented the Board at the following venues:

• May 17 event sponsored by the Fallen Soldiers Project at the State Capitol. Portraits
are being done by Tim Mayer depicting men and women from Wisconsin killed in
Iraq and Afghanistan.
• King’s 120th Anniversary and Open House on May 20th.
• Mr. Freedman co-chaired the second meeting of the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD) Advisory Panel on May 22nd.
• Speaker at the Memorial Day observance in Footville on May 28th.
• June 3 Wisconsin Korean War Veterans Memorial event at Plover.
• June 7 National Association of County Veterans Service Annual Training Conference
in Milwaukee.
2
Mr. Moen represented the Board at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial
Cemetery Memorial Day observance. Mr. Moen asked that acronyms be spelled out in future
minutes of these meetings.
Mr. Wendt attended the volunteer banquet at the Union Grove Veterans Home on
April 23rd. He attended the Memorial Day program at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in
King. Door County dedicated its new Fallen Soldiers Memorial in Sturgeon Bay.
Mr. Wendt said this is his last meeting as an official member of the Board. He said it
was a great pleasure to serve on the Board and he has met many great veterans and CVSOs.
Mr. Wendt has served on various committees with Secretaries Moses, Ellery, Maurer,
Boland, Scocos and Acting Secretary Kloster. “We must never lose our focus on the mission
we are charged with to serve our over 500,000 veterans in the State with the services and
programs we have for them. I sincerely hope that the present Board and future Board
members continue to do just that.”
Mr. Andersen attended the Department orientation session in Madison. It was

informative and he enjoyed visiting the different areas in the Department and felt reassured
that veterans in the State are getting great care from the professionalism and dedication of the
employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
5. Board Action from Committee and Council Meetings

Mr. Solis said that the CVSO Advisory Council took no action that would require
Board consideration.
Mr. Freedman said the Legislative and Program Review Committee met and took
action on two items, both of which are agenda items of the Board--the County Veterans
Service Officer (CVSO) Resolutions and the CVSO position paper regarding the Aging and
Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and CVSO involvement.
Mr. Moen said the Long Term Care Committee met and took no action that would
require Board consideration today. Mr. Moen had deep concern about recorded violations
from surveys by state and federal inspectors and having that information available to the
Board. The Department provided that information readily and will continue do so in the
future. He will be in contact with the Department to find out what is being done to correct
the fire safety deficiencies as well as other deficiencies that have been recently noted in the
various facilities at King. Mr. Moen said the Committee heard that the transfer of funds from
King to Union Grove took place in 2002, 2005, 2006 for a total of $10.4 million and it is
expected that in July there will be another $6.4 million transferred from King to Union
Grove.
Mr. Andersen said the Financial Committee met and took no action that would
require Board consideration today. The Committee came to the consensus that beginning in
October it will receive a full balance, income statement, cash flow statement with more detail
itemizations.
3
Mr. Sorenson said the Council on Veterans Programs went on record endorsing the
CVSO Association position paper in regard to the ADRC concept. They encouraged all
organizations to get their members actively supporting the Wisconsin G.I. Bill. Mr.
Sorenson thanked the Board and Department for attending the National CVSO Association
Training Conference in Milwaukee.
6. VISN 12 and VISN 23 Reports

A report was delivered by Dr. Petzel, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN)
23 Director. He also spoke on behalf of VISN 12. The workload for both VISNs is up about
one and a half to two percent. That’s important because the amount of money they get is
dependent upon the amount of work they get. He thanked the County Service Officers in the
region as being the reason why the Midwest always seems to have higher than average
workload increases across the Networks.
The 2007 budget is an excellent budget. The supplemental budget is on its way with
about $1.7 billion for the Veterans Administration (VA). The most important part is that we
have about $575 million in non-recurring maintenance/repair money and in minor
construction money so it will allow us to get a little deeper into the minor construction
projects scattered around the nation. The 2008 budget which has been presented to Congress
is even more generous than the 2007 budget. The word is that Congress is going to add to
the Administration’s request so that we are going to have the money that we need to take
care of America’s veterans and the veterans in VISN 12 and 23, at least over the next two
years with almost absolute certainty. You can be sure that the Congress and the
Administration are not financially shirking their responsibilities to these men and women
who have served. We will have the money to provide the care that’s needed.
In Northwestern Wisconsin the Sawyer County Clinic in Hayward has opened. The
Rice Lake part of that two-pronged opening has been delayed because of difficulty finding
lease space. We expect that we are going to be able to do that in July and then a formal
ribbon cutting ceremony will take place to recognize the fact that they’re open and to give
everybody an opportunity to celebrate the beginning of those two clinics.
Efforts have been made over the last couple of years and are still being made to try
and accommodate the special needs of the returning Iraqi veterans. The signature injury
from this conflict is going to be traumatic brain injury. We have four excellent poly-trauma
centers; one of which is in Minneapolis that do a very good job of rehabilitating those
individuals. In order to better identify more mild to moderate traumatic brain injured
patients coming out of this conflict a new program has been instituted—first to educate
providers who have contact with patients and secondly, to institute a mandatory traumatic
brain injury screen for every veteran from that conflict that presents to us. Operation Iraqi
Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) Coordinators have been placed at
every one of our medical centers. A call is being placed to all 4,000 severely injured to
ensure that they have case management. And, the Network has added a substantial amount
of manpower to its mental health workforce. In Network 12 about 173 providers were added
in the last year and a half and Network 23 has added over 145, including suicide prevention
coordinators and case managers in mental health.
4
Mr. Freedman followed up on Dr. Petzel’s comments about Network 23 adding 145
mental health special emphasis program positions and asked for more detail on these
positions. Mr. Petzel said there is a suicide prevention coordinator in each of the medical
centers. There have been program people added for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
treatment and they would be social workers, nurses, clinical nurse specialists and
psychiatrists. We have a lot of difficulty in hiring psychiatrists and across the country there
is a tremendous shortage of those kinds of mental health doctors. There was expansion in the
range of services we have in PTSD and substance abuse. In the western part of Network 23
there are two traveling teams that go to the reservations in the North Dakota, South Dakota
and Northwestern Minnesota to provide PTSD treatment, substance abuse treatment and
other mental health services as a team. A psychiatrist, a psychologist, and several nurses
travel in a huge van that serves as their clinic. Dr. Petzel said he could give a specific listing,
position by position, if the board is interested. Mr. Freedman said that as one of the co-chairs
of the Department’s PTSD Advisory Panel he would find that very helpful as would the other
panel members. Also, helpful would be any particular information that’s a little more
detailed with respect to the specialized outreach you are doing with the Native Americans.
Are you doing any specialized outreach to returning Iraq and Afghan veterans with respect to
PTSD and other mental health issues?
Dr. Petzel said they are meeting with units and families before the soldiers return in
order to prepare the families and educate them about the subtleties of some of these
problems, particularly mental health problems that they might see. Secondly, when the
service member returns, we make presentations at all of the Guard units, particularly in
Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa. In cooperation with the
Veterans Benefits Administration and the State Department of Veterans Affairs in each one
of those states and with the County Veterans Service Officers, we put on programs for every
single returning group of Guard or Reserve about what’s available in the VA. We have
clinical people there to screen people immediately if they wish to be screened and we try to
come back one or two times afterwards. In Minnesota they have 36 and 90 day assemblies
after people have returned and we try to be present at every one of those assemblies.
A new outreach initiative begun in Nebraska was a program for 250 health care
providers about PTSD. It was done by broadcast and it was an attempt to educate them about
what PTSD looks like because primary care providers in small towns are going to be coming
across these people from time to time that are returning and who may become their patients.
Plans are being made to do that in each one of the states that Network 23 serves.
Mr. Freedman asked if Dr. Petzel had anything that summarizes the Nebraska
concept. Dr. Petzel said he had a one-page white paper that he would provide.
Mr. Freedman was particularly gratified to see that suicide prevention coordinators
are being added in the various sites. He read recent reports of a study done that shows that
among white male veterans there is now a 50% greater chance of suicide regardless of what
period the veteran served. He also read accounts indicating that nationally there are no
suicide prevention intervention lines that are staffed 24-hours a day by the VA. Is that
something that is being addressed and how is it being addressed and if they’re not in place
now, what is the timeframe in which that will be done?
5
Dr. Petzel said that a male veteran, no matter when they served, has twice the risk of
suicide of someone who hasn’t served in the military. This present conflict has really
highlighted the suicide issue. That is the primary reason for the addition of the suicide
prevention coordinators and additional people to the suicide programs in general, 24 hours, 7
days a week coverage for this purpose in all of our emergency rooms which can serve as a
hotline. Every one of the medical centers has to have a mental health professional available
in the big institutions, on site, 24-7. Dr. Petzel has heard of no discussions about a suicide
hotline as yet.
If there is substance abuse and some other diagnosis such as PTSD, personality
anxiety disorder, depression, divorce, that person is at higher risk. The Network is in the
process of setting up a program where we’re going to flag the charts of those people so that
when somebody sees them in a primary care clinic they will be aware of the fact that this
person is at higher risk and we’re going to try and require a more thorough suicide
assessment at each one of these visits for these people that are high risk.
Mr. Hardie asked about outreach to active duty service members who are coming
back. Dr. Grippen said VISN 23 doesn’t have very many active duty bases and a huge
proportion of people come from the Guard and Reserve. They have seen about 16,000
people, mostly from the Guard. It is a lot harder to do outreach to active duty service
members. The Department of Defense (DOD) doesn’t always know where people are going
after they’ve been discharged. Network 23 depends upon the post deployment program that
DOD has where they periodically set up phone banks and groups of people gather to contact
veterans in a particular area who have been recently discharged. There is no method
available to them right now to contact people in the regular Army, Navy, Marines or Air
Force who have been discharged post-deployment. It is dependent upon the individual to
make contact. If they’ve been treated in a DOD facility, then we get contact information.
Mr. Hardie said December data from DOD shows that for Wisconsin, about 60% of those
currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of operation were active component
members and about 40% were Guard and Reserve component members. Those numbers
seem to hold nationwide as well. For those who are serving second tours, the risk of PTSD
increased by 50%. Army service members on active duty have an average of 12 months
between their tours of duty overseas and Marine Corps members just 7 months. The greatest
risk appears to be with those members and they are harder to reach.
Dr. Petzel said it is important to see these people early. The medical literature
indicates that if you can diagnose and treat early enough, you have a much higher rate of
success. You avoid all of the social consequences of long-term PTSD--the dissolution of
marriages, the chemical dependency, and the loss of jobs if you start working with them
early.
7. Action on CVSO Resolutions Veterans Education Grant Delimiting Date; Veterans

Education Grant Income Limit; and Aid to Needy Veteran Grant Improvement
Recommendations
Mr. Freedman said the Legislative Committee was briefed on the fiscal impact of the
above-named three resolutions. The Committee took action as follows:
6
¾ Veterans Education (VetEd) Grant Income Limit to be increased from $50,000 annual
income to $60,000 a year. The Legislative and Program Review Committee adopted
a motion to receive and file the CVSO Resolution. It took action on a second motion
which was to recommend to the Board of Veterans Affairs that the subject matter of
the resolution be given full consideration when the 2009-2011 WDVA budget request
is being developed.
It was moved by Mr. Freedman, seconded by Mr. Andersen and carried on a voice
vote that the Board of Veterans Affairs directs that the recommendations contained in the
Veterans Education Grant Income Limit Resolution be given full consideration by the
Department when the 2009-2011 WDVA budget request is being developed.
¾ Veterans Education (VetEd) Grant Delimiting Date. The Legislative and Program
Review Committee took action to receive and file the CVSO Resolution. It then
adopted a motion to recommend to the Board of Veterans Affairs that the subject
matter of the resolution be given full consideration when the 2009-2011 WDVA
budget request is being developed.
It was moved by Mr. Freedman and seconded by Mr. Wendt that the Board of
Veterans Affairs directs that the recommendation contained in the Veterans Education
Delimiting Date resolution be given full consideration by the Department when the 2009-
2011 WDVA budget request is being developed. Mr. Moen asked who imposed the time
line. Mr. Freedman said it is statutory. Mr. Moen asked if a statutory change is requested in
this process. Mr. Freedman said that was what the CVSO resolution requested and the
recommendation of the Committee is to withhold any action to propose the elimination of the
10-year delimiting date by statute until the 2009-2011 budget development.
The motion by the Board passed unanimously on a voice vote.
¾ Aid to Needy Veterans Grant Improvement Recommendations. With respect to this

particular resolution, the Legislative and Program Review Committee noted that with
the exception of not increasing the income limit which is currently 130% of the
federal poverty level for this program to 150% which was the specific
recommendation provided verbally by the CVSO Association, everything else
contained in the resolution is contained in Paragraph 17 of the Joint Finance
Committee Veterans Affairs Omnibus Motion #63. The language in that paragraph
increased the lifetime limit of $5,000 to $7,500; it increased the annual maximum
from $2,500 to $3,000 and it eliminated the individual caps on hearing aids,
eyeglasses and dental care. As a result of that, even though the Joint Finance action
is not definitive, the Committee took two actions--it adopted a motion to receive and
file the CVSO resolution. It also adopted the following motion: The Legislative and
Program Review Committee endorses the improvements to the Aid to Needy
Veterans Grant included in paragraph 17 of Joint Finance Committee’s Veterans
Affairs Omnibus Motion #63 and recommends that the Board of Veterans Affairs
endorse the Joint Finance Committee action and direct the Department to take all
necessary steps to ensure that paragraph 17 is included in the final version of Senate
Bill 40, the 2007-2009 biennial budget.
7
It was moved by Mr. Freedman, seconded by Mr. Moen and carried unanimously on a
voice vote that the Board of Veterans Affairs endorses the improvements to the Aid to Needy
Veterans Grant included in Paragraph 17 of Joint Finance Committee’s Veterans Affairs
Omnibus Motion #63 and directs the Department to take all necessary steps to ensure that
paragraph 17 is included in the final version of Senate Bill 40, the 2007-2009 biennial
budget.
8. Discussion of April 20, 2007 Veterans Trust Fund Briefing

The Board had no questions regarding the prior briefing.
9. Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and Action on CVSO Association
Position Paper Regarding ADRC Concept and CVSO Involvement
Mr. Freedman said that the Legislative and Program Review Committee discussed
and took action on the CVSO Association position paper regarding the ADRC concept and
CVSO involvement. The Committee adopted the following motion: The Legislative and
Program Review Committee recommends that it shall be the policy of the Board of Veterans
Affairs and the Department of Veterans Affairs subject to Section 45.80(5)(e) Wis. Stats. that
the County Veterans Service Officers and staff shall perform their duties separately and
distinctly from the county Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) for the reasons
including, but not limited to, those stated in the CVSO Association of Wisconsin’s April 22nd
position paper regarding the ADRC concept and CVSO involvement (a copy of which is
attached), incorporated by reference and endorsed in principle by the Board of Veterans
Affairs. The Board of Veterans Affairs also concurs with the CVSO Association’s position
paper that, where necessary, individual county CVSO offices and the county’s ADRCs
should formalize the terms of their cooperative relationships in written memoranda of
understanding (MOU).
Mr. Freedman said there was concern raised by Legal Council that since 45.80(5)(e)
does not specifically refer to ‘staff’ of the CVSOs in the statutory mandate that the duties be
performed separately and distinctly, he redrafted the motion offered today to the Board that
he believes represents the intent and spirit of the Committee action but brings it into
conformity with the statutory language.
It was moved by Mr. Freedman and seconded by Mr. Andersen that it shall be the
policy of the Board of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to
Section 45.80(5)(e) Wis. Stats. that the Wisconsin County Veterans Service Officers perform
their duties separately and distinctly from County Aging and Disability Resource Centers for
reasons including but not limited to those stated in the CVSO Association of Wisconsin’s
April 2007 position paper regarding the ADRC concept and CVSO involvement (a copy of
which is attached) incorporated by reference and endorsed in principle by the Board of
Veterans Affairs. It shall also be the position of the Board of Veterans Affairs and the
Department of Veterans Affairs that the duties of CVSO staff must be performed separately
and distinctly from those ADRC. The Board of Veterans Affairs also concurs with the
CVSO Association’s position that, where necessary, individual county CVSO offices and the
county’s ADRCs should formalize the terms of their cooperative relationships in written
memoranda of understanding. Board discussion on the motion followed:
8
Mr. Moen believes that a veteran who calls an office should not be answered by the
ADRC; it should be the County Veterans Service Office. Some counties currently have
shared offices. If we pass this motion and we’re putting this mandate upon counties that they
cannot do this without some memoranda of understanding, how will we enforce this? Mr.
Freedman said this isn’t meant to be a mandate nor is there enforcement contemplated. This
is a recitation of what would become the position of the Board and the Department. The
intent of this motion is that nothing would preclude a CVSO office and ADRCs from sharing
the same office space; it’s just that their statutory duties would be expected to be maintained
separately and distinctly. What we have found is that there has been an attempt to have
CVSO staff members cross-trained to perform ADRC duties. Even though one-stop shops
are a good thing, we have to continue to defend the CVSOs autonomy under the statute. Mr.
Rosinski concurred that the Department has no enforcement authority. These are sections of
the statutes dealing with county responsibilities, enforced by counties, and interpreted by
local corporation counsels. The motion is a statement of the Board’s position on the matter;
it’s supporting the CVSOs as to how this issue shall be dealt with. The Department has no
enforcement mechanism; it is merely a formal statement of position. Michael Jackson said
he understands it is not an enforcement tool but it is a statement of the Department’s
position.
The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
10. Action on Board Policy on Pending Litigation

Chairman Moran said a recent litigation settlement raised these questions: What does
the Board of Veterans Affairs need to know about various Department litigation
involvements? How much does the Board need to know to properly execute its statutory
duties? How much does the Board want to know in this regard? When does the Board need
and want to know about various litigations?
Mr. Freedman said that the term litigation encompasses bankruptcies, foreclosures,
collection actions, unemployment compensation, and claims on disability compensation
benefits. This amounts to a lot of litigation matters. They are routine and unless there is
something that takes them out of the category of being routine, these are purely
administrative and we cannot find justification for asking the Department to take the time to
brief the Board on hundreds of actions of that type. As far as actual lawsuits where the
Department or individual employees are sued in circuit or federal court as far as the delivery
of services and performance of duties, there have been two in the last five years.
MOTION: It was moved by Mr. Freedman that in order to properly and effectively fulfill
its statutory responsibilities, the Board of Veterans Affairs adopts the following policy with
regard to the Secretary’s duty to report to the Board litigation when it is initiated and while it
is pending. The Secretary shall advise the Board, in writing, of the general details of any
litigation, as enumerated below, that is initiated naming either the Secretary, the Department
of Veterans Affairs and/or any of its employees within 30 days of the Department being
placed on notice of the commencement of the litigation. Additionally, the Secretary shall
advise the Board quarterly, in writing, of the status of any litigation, as enumerated below,
that is pending at the end of the quarter within 30 days of the end of the quarter.
The litigation reports shall include the following actions:
9
1. Any lawsuit filed by an individual, business or government entity.
2. Any grievances related to contractual issues initiated by union employees of
the Department, but only once the grievance reaches arbitration.
3. Any personnel appeals and non-union grievances filed with the Wisconsin
Employment Relations Commission.
4. Any discrimination complaint filed with the Wisconsin Department of
Workforce Development, Equal Rights Division (ERD) upon an initial ERD
finding of probable cause; or with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC) upon an initial EEOC determination of discrimination.
The litigation reports do not have to include litigation involving bankruptcy, foreclosure,
collection or unemployment compensation actions or claims by veterans for disability
compensation benefits. The results of Department administrative hearings filed to contest
the denial of a benefit shall be reported to the Board pursuant to VA 1.03 (8) once a final
administrative hearing decision has been rendered.
Any litigation information provided to the Board shall be held in confidence to the extent
required by law and the disclosure to the Board of such information shall not waive any
confidentiality that would otherwise be applicable.
The above motion was seconded by Mr. Wendt for discussion purposes.
Mr. Freedman said that subsequent to putting forth the above motion he spoke with
Department Legal Counsel who indicated that the motion addressed their legal concerns.
Once we receive the reports, if there are questions that cannot be answered without getting
into information that by law is restricted, it will necessitate going into executive session of
the Board which would have to be properly noticed. Mr. Moen asked for guidance with the
language in the last sentence of the first paragraph of the motion which reads, “pending at the
end of the quarter within 30 days of the end of the quarter.” Mr. Rosinski said that at the end
of March, June, September, and December, the Department will review pending litigation
and within 30 days of that date the Board will get the report.
Mr. Freedman, the maker of the motion, offered the following friendly amendment:
changing the word ‘the’ to ‘that’ so the motion reads, “pending at the end of the quarter
within 30 days of the end of the that quarter.” Mr. Wendt, who seconded the motion, felt it
was unnecessary to make the change.
Chairman Moran ruled that the motion (as highlighted by shading) stands as
originally written and read. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
11. Action on Department’s Recommendations for Solvency of the Veterans Trust Fund,
Including Transfer of Funds under sec. 45.03(20) of the Statutes, Based upon Actions Taken
by the Joint Committee on Finance
Secretary Kloster presented briefing slides to give an update on the actions taken by
the Joint Committee on Finance and to explain the Department’s recommendations to extend
the cash flow solvency of the Veterans Trust Fund (VTF). Based on the Governor’s budget
request the Trust Fund would go into a negative cash balance in the second year of the
upcoming biennium.
10
The Joint Committee on Finance has taken several actions: transferred the Nurse
Stipend Program to the Homes; reduced VetEd Grants; reduced Veterans Assistance Program
funding; deleted $110,000 for capital projects planning; provided additional money for
County Veterans Service Officer Grant shortfalls; increased funding for Assistance to Needy
Veterans Grants; and eliminated VTF vacant positions and $243,100 of salaries, fringe and
supplies and services. Based on Governor’s budget as modified by Joint Finance, the Trust
Fund will not experience a negative cash flow until fiscal year 2010.
Veterans Trust Fund ending cash balances based on Governor’s budget as modified
by Joint Finance plus anticipated WDVA current fiscal year savings in the education grant
expenditures, personal loan expenditures, and 5% less than budgeted for salaries, fringe and
supplies and services expenditures will make us solvent in the cash flow projections through
the next two biennia to fiscal year 2011.
The Acting Secretary proposed five courses of action (COA) that will extend the VTF
cash flow solvency until fiscal year 2014. He is assuming that any changes to the Wisconsin
G.I. Bill will not affect what happens with the VTF and as the budget goes through the
process, there will be no other increased costs to the VTF. COA 1 was already approved by
the Board—to hire a Director of Development. This person would be responsible for
soliciting donations to support the VTF and the Museum. That could net WDVA a little over
$2 million between now and 2012. Implementing just that course of action brings the cash
flow projection out through fiscal year 2011.
The next three courses of action involve transfers of funds from the Homes to the
Veterans Trust Fund. COA 2: Reimburse VTF for Nurse Stipend and Aid to Indigent
Veterans Program. The reimbursed funds generate an additional $265,300 of investment
earnings through fiscal year 2012. COA 3: Reimburse VTF for lost interest on seed funding
of Veterans Homes capital projects. COA 4: Transfer funds to VTF for investment earnings
and seek legislative authority to transfer the funds back to the Homes.
Mr. Moen asked about seeking legislative authority. He thought Legislators would be
receptive of adding an amendment to Senate Bill 40 at this time to allow that transfer back.
Mr. Kloster said it is one of our proposals to allow WDVA to move money back and forth
between the Veterans Homes and the VTF but he cannot guarantee that particular event will
occur. Mr. Abrahamsen said there have been extensive discussions with the Legislative
Reference Bureau about drafting an amendment to do that. The problem is a technical issue
as to how that has to be drafted. Budget authority would only be available for the current
biennium for which the legislature would be creating the budget. Whereas, WDVA would
intend to do this in some future biennium and we need to assure that the cash and the budget
authority stay together. Board Chair Moran asked that Mr. Moen also work with Legislators
on the issue of the transfer of funds from the Trust Fund back to the Homes.
The total investment earnings generated by COA 2, 3 and 4 are $2,053,700. Based on
the Governor’s budget as modified by Joint Finance, plus savings, and COA 1, COA 2, COA
3 and COA 4, the Trust Fund remains solvent until fiscal year 2013. Add to that COA 5
which is to re-estimate Personal Loan Program expenditures and solvency is extended until
fiscal year 2014. This would assume that the Department will not do any personal loans in
11
2011, 2012 and 2013. WDVA needs to find additional funds so that it can do personal loans
to generate money for the Trust Fund, but in a worse-case situation, this is the action that can
be taken.
Mr. Freedman asked that if we are currently getting more interest when the loans are
put out than what we earn with the State Investment Board, why don’t we want to give out
every penny? Mr. Kloster said the time phasing of the money, the interest we earn on the
cash is immediate. When loans go out, we get that principal and interest over time—either
ten, five or three years. The interest rate on the personal loans range from 6.25% up to 7.5%.
Mr. Freedman is comfortable operating with an assumption and making it part of our long
term planning over the next biennium. Knowing that the estimate of $7 million a year in
loans is based on usage with a full marketing effort on the program and distribution will not
exceed $6 to$7 million, then he is comfortable with that. Mr. Freedman wanted to make sure
that we didn’t have an identified demand of $10 million or more a year and then we were
going to cut it to $7 million; that would have been problematic. Mr. Andersen liked the
courses of action. He wanted to know how the numbers were reached in the hiring of a
Director of Development. Mr. Kloster said it is based on what we would expect that
individual to capture in donations, plus the first two years there is a subtraction to pay his
salary. The person has two years to generate enough money to put into the Museum
Foundation. The position would then be terminated out of the Veterans Trust Fund and put
into the Museum Foundation. The estimated income from the hiring of a Director of
Development is based on a combination of donations, interest on that money and salary
changes.
Mr. Andersen noted that COA 2 and COA 3 propose transferring $1,217,600 from the
Veterans Homes to the VTF. Why don’t we move more than that amount? Mr. Kloster said
that if the money is needed by the Home, we have no mechanism to move it back. Right now
we’re estimating the end of year cash balance at the Home at King to be $19 million. That
cash balance minus the $1.2 million, minus the $7 million, and an additional decrease in the
Home’s cash flow in the first year of next biennium of $2 million brings us down to $9
million and then at the end of the biennium another $3 million payout. That leaves about a
$6 million buffer. Historically, King and Union Grove have been short in paying the heating
and utility bills. In the budget we asked for an increase in our budget authority to cover
those bills and we were granted an increase based on the 30 year average.
It was moved by Mr. Wendt, seconded by Mr. Andersen and carried unanimously on
a voice vote to approve Courses of Action 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Mr. Freedman said he understands that there is no statutory mandate that the
Secretary has to come to the Board with this information. On the other hand, the Board has
certain statutory responsibilities and in order to function properly and exercise its statutory
authority there is certain information needed. For the record, Mr. Freedman stated that he
appreciates the fact that this was brought to the Board. Generally speaking, it is prudent and
advisable for the Secretary to come to the Board with matters of this import, especially with
the kind of fiscal significance involved, short-term and long-term, to ensure that the Board is
on the same page as the Department and that the Board concurs with important decisions.
Mr. Freedman hoped that this will become a standard way of doing business.
12
Mr. Kloster said that Secretary Scocos started putting this information out beginning
with the ten-year solvency plan and when he returns, he will continue to do exactly that
because it is the right thing to do.
12. Action on use of Loaned Department Lap Top by Board Chair for Official Use
Chairman Moran said the request for use of a lap top computer was withdrawn.

Mr. Kloster issued greetings from Secretary Scocos. He summed up what Secretary
Scocos is going through in Iraq by saying he’s fine, he’s doing well, he’s real busy, it’s hot
and he wishes he had a glass of wine.
The proposed abolishment of the Reviser of Statutes Bureau will have impact on the
Department and on the Board since that is the process our Administrative Rules go through.
Mr. Rosinski added that the services provided by the Reviser will be consolidated into the
Legislative Reference Bureau. The Board has the responsibility to promulgate rules so each
step of the process goes to the Board before the next step can be completed. Inasmuch as at
every step of that process the Reviser is involved after the Board takes its action, there may
be some delay in that process. When there is consolidation there is always a potential that
there will not be enough resources at that new entity to keep things moving as promptly as
they were.
Mr. Kloster said that he had planned to present Glen Brower with a plaque
commending his service here with the Department; unfortunately Glen was feeling ill and
departed earlier in the morning. Mr. Kloster asked Chief Attorney John Rosinski to come
forward for a plaque presentation commending his years of service with the Department of
Veterans Affairs and wishing him all the best in his retirement. Michael Jackson said he has
been around since 1988 and John Rosinski has always been responsive to his inquiries. John
has always given the veterans the benefit of the doubt and has done right by veterans.
Mr. Crowley and Mr. Calcut are conducting a tour of the Home immediately
following this meeting.
Mr. Freedman asked for comment on Joint Finance Committee action on Legislative
Fiscal Bureau paper #186 relating to the Department of Veterans Affairs Central Office
building purchase. Mr. Kloster said that when the budget went through Joint Finance, the
authorization to make that purchase was taken out.
14. Public Input

Michael Jackson publicly thanked the Department, Bill Kloster, Mel Brandl, Nate
Nez, the IT staff, Chairman Moran, and Vice Chair Freedman in terms of the support given
in carrying out the large task of coordinating and hosting the National CVSO Association
Convention. The Department not only provided the keynote speeches at the banquet and at
the beginning ceremonies, but they were the largest financial donor to that effort.
Mr. Jackson said that he understands that Jim Engel continues to be employed by the
Department as a liaison and the CVSO community is very happy about that. Mr. Kloster said
13
that Mr. Engel did not officially retire; he is continuing his employment in the Milwaukee
Claims office.
15. Other Matters (Not Subject to Adoption)

No matters were brought forth.
16. Next Meeting Date and Location

August 16-17 in Milwaukee at the War Memorial Center.
17. Adjournment
It was moved by Mr. Wendt, seconded by Mr. Andersen and carried on a voice vote
to adjourn the meeting, the time was 12:30 p.m.
Pete Moran
Chairman
14

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EXHIBIT 1

WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

1. Certification of Notice of Meeting and Roll Call

2. Board Committee Appointment

Congress is moving forward with a funding package for veterans issues of

4. Programs Report—Ken Black

5. Veterans Homes Report

The Home Exchange operation had no significant changes to report. In the

6. Financial Report—Colleen Holtan

7. Overview of the Assistance to Needy Veterans Grant Program

Members Present WDVA Present

1. Call to Order and Roll Call.

2. Certification of Notice of Meeting.

3. Approval of Minutes of April 19, 2007

4. Announcements and Introductions

6. VBATS Eligibility Update

7. VetEd Process Action Team Update

8. WDVA Forms/Brochures Changes

10. Providing Service to Transitioning Soldiers

11. Secretary’s Matters

12. Public Input

13. Council Members’ Matters (Not Subject to Adoption)

14. Next Meeting Schedule

Committee Present WDVA Present

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

2. Certification of Notice of Meeting

4. Budget Results from Joint Finance Committee Actions

The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.

9. Committee Members’ Matters (Not Subject to Adoption)

10. Next Meeting Date

Committee Present WDVA Present

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

2. Certification of Notice of Meeting

7. Committee Members’ Matters (Not Subject to Adoption)

8. Next Meeting Schedule

Committee Present WDVA Present

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

2. Certification of Notice of Meeting

4. Discussion of Financial Report Format

7. Committee Members’ Matters (Not Subject to Adoption)

8. Next Meeting Date

Members Present WDVA Present

1. Call to Order and Roll Call of Members

2. Certification of Notice of Meeting

3. Introduction of Guests and Announcements

6. Museum Foundation Report

Mr. Sorenson asked if this was a political organization as opposed to a veteran’s

8. Discussion Regarding Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC)

9. Commanding Officer of the USS Freedom to Address the Council

10. Secretary’s Matters

11. Old Business

12. New Business

13. Activities within the Veterans Community

14. Public Input

Board Members Present Council on Veterans Programs Members Present

1. Roll Call and Introductions

2. Certification of Notice of Meeting

4. Board Members’ Matters

Vice Chairman Freedman represented the Board at the following venues:

Mr. Andersen attended the Department orientation session in Madison. It was

5. Board Action from Committee and Council Meetings

6. VISN 12 and VISN 23 Reports

7. Action on CVSO Resolutions Veterans Education Grant Delimiting Date; Veterans

The motion by the Board passed unanimously on a voice vote.