DRAFT

Iowa Democratic Veterans’ Caucus
E-Board Meeting – Minutes
Thursday, September 6, 2018 – 18:00 (6:00 pm)
Waverly Public Library – 1500 W Bremer Ave, Waverly, IA 50677
Call-in number: 319-527-2768, access code: 107040

1. Call to Order – 18:00 (6:00 pm)

2. Approve Agenda
Motion to approve agenda: m/Larry Olk, s/Laura Hubka, Pass

3. Introductions
Ron Healey, Larry Olk, Joe Stutler, Tom Howe, Laura Hubka, Hannah Cregan (Finkenauer), James Maren, Jan Donatelli (DNC VMFC Co-Chair), Shelly Servadio
Jan gave an update from the DNC VMFC. Jan recently cited Iowa as an example of how Dem Vets do it right in an interview with the New York Times.
Hannah gave update from Finkenauer campaign. Abby now has “Standing With Our Veterans” on her site!

4. Financial Report
PAC Income & Expenditures
Current bank balance $338.33. Motion to approve financial report: m/Laura Hubka, s/Tom Howe, Pass
Fundraising
Need to get updated list of needs for fundraising.

5. Amend Caucus Charter
Contact Mike Jesse to get updated Charter, research any needed changes.

6. Job Titles
Keep in mind the difference between the IDVC and the PAC.

7. Legislative issues:
RAMP (Rapid Appeals Modernization Program)
WARNING:
a) Stated purpose to expedite claim process
b) No assurance of review by judges
c) If rejected there may be no appeal
d) If used cannot return to standard claim process
e) While claim is in RAMP process VA reserves right to adjust previous awards
VA is getting heavy pressure from Veteran Service Organizations to stop the RAMP process. We need to keep the pressure up and fix the law.
Discussion of various other Veterans legislation needed.

11. Good of the Order

12. Adjourn 19:30 (7:30 pm)

DRAFT

Handouts, etc:

Vet Benefits by % groupings 1986 – 2016
Vet Benefits Iowa
Vet facts 2014 from VA
vet facts 2017 PEW research
Vet facts summary 2016 from VA
Vet facts summary 2018 from VA
Vet Occupations and Class of Worker by age 2016 data 2018 report VA
Vets by state 2015 from VA
Vets internet use
WWII vets factsheet VA 2010

Iowa Democratic Veterans’ Caucus
E-Board Meeting – Agenda
Thursday, September 6, 2018 – 6:00 pm
Waverly Public Library – 1500 W Bremer Ave, Waverly, IA 50677
Call-in number: 319-527-2768, access code: 107040

1. Call to Order

2. Approve Agenda

3. Introductions

4. Financial Report
PAC Income & Expenditures
Fundraising

5. Job Titles
Mixing of functions
The “Board” outranks everything in a corporation
District Liaisons runs “ALL” (one voting liaison per district)

6. Votes
4 votes (one per district)
Approval requires 2 votes (24 hour minimum)

7. Amend Caucus Charter
#3 Steering Committee Membership (voting)
7th Line, 4th & 5th word (Alternates)
Add: (non-voting)

8. RAMP (Rapid Appeals Modernization Program)
WARNING:
a) Stated purpose to expedite claim process
b) No assurance of review by judges
c) If rejected there may be no appeals
d) If used cannot return to standard claim process
e) While claim is in RAMP process VA reserves right to adjust previous awards

9. Campaign Updates

10. Upcoming IDVC Events

11. Good of the Order

12. Adjourn (NLT 8:00 pm)

Members of the Iowa Democratic Veterans’ Caucus stand on the sidelines undeterred by the Reynolds administration’s treatment of them.

On Monday, August 13, 2018, the Iowa Democratic Veterans’ Caucus was supposed to participate in the Iowa State Fair‘s Veterans Day Parade. Unfortunately, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and her Department of Veterans Affairs decided Democrats aren’t welcome, and barred the IDVC from participating. She didn’t care that the IDVC has participated in the parade going back to 2008. She didn’t care that these men and women put their lives on the line to support and defend the Freedoms we all enjoy.

Despite being barred at the last minute by Reynolds Administration, the IDVC turned out at the Fair on to show support for their fellow service members. They gathered at the Iowa Democratic Party’s State Fair booth in the Varied Industries building immediately after.

Until the afternoon of Friday, August 10, the Veterans’ Caucus was planning on marching in the Veterans’ Parade at the State Fair, as they have done many times over the years including in 2015 under Governor Branstad.

They followed the correct application procedure, their application was approved, and they had already received their tickets and parking passes to participate.

Veterans’ Caucus leadership received a call from a Reynolds Administration official involved with the Parade on Friday informing them that they were barred from participating because they were a political organization. When asked to produce the written rules or record of a vote by the Board governing the Parade banning Veterans’ political groups, the official could produce neither. The official is not on the Iowa State Fair Board.

“Many Veterans choose to get involved in the Iowa Democratic Veterans’ Caucus because we see it as a way to shape the nation we fought to protect. Our motto says that this is our second call to duty,” said Iowa Democratic Party Veterans’ Caucus Chair Ron Healey. “By disinviting our veterans from a parade they have marched in for years, the Reynolds Administration is telling Democratic veterans that their service is worth less than others’ for purely partisan reasons.”

“This follows the Reynolds Administration’s pattern of retaliation against Iowans for politically disagreeing with the governor, but it is absolutely shocking that it would extend to our nation’s Veterans,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price.

As you may have heard, the Iowa Democratic Veterans’ Caucus was barred from participating in the Veterans Day at the Fair parade at the Iowa State Fair this year by the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, a department of the Executive Branch of the State of Iowa led by Kim Reynolds.  The tagline on the governor’s website is “Unleashing Opportunities“, but apparently that only applies to Veterans if they aren’t Democrats.

The media coverage has been rather favorable to Democrats – and why wouldn’t it be, as even many Republicans find the Reynolds’ administration’s actions repugnant.
But just to address the most common questions:
YES, the IDVC has participated in this parade going back to 2008. This is the first year we’ve been told we cannot participate.
NO, no one has been able to produce any rules nor regulations that confirm what the governor and her lackeys have been saying. This decision was made arbitrarily and capriciously, and is clearly a Republican attack on those who put their lives on the line in service to our state and nation.

Here is some of the media coverage:

Iowa Starting Line was first out of the box with coverage:
https://iowastartingline.com/2018/08/13/democratic-veterans-group-booted-from-state-fair-veterans-parade/

Here’s another link to the story from our friends at the Des Moines Register:
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2018/08/13/democratic-military-vets-reynolds-official-barred-us-iowa-state-fair-vets-parade/980304002/

Here’s a link from the local CBS affiliate:
https://cbs2iowa.com/news/iowa-in-focus/veterans-kept-out-of-parade-claim-they-were-targeted-over-politics

Iowa Public Radio has coverage, too:
http://www.iowapublicradio.org/post/parade-organizers-democratic-veterans-group-clash-fair

The Reynolds crew is doubling down, and changing the story:
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2018/08/14/democratic-veterans-banned-iowa-state-fair-parade-governor-kim-reynolds-paul-pate/985808002/

Mason City radio coverage:
https://www.kglonews.com/controversy-at-iowa-state-fair-veterans-parade/

Omaha coverage:
https://www.3newsnow.com/news/iowa-democratic-veterans-caucus-barred-from-veterans-parade-at-iowa-state-fair

Columnist (and Gold Star Family member) Lynda Waddington’s take:
https://www.thegazette.com/subject/opinion/staff-columnist/state-disrespected-military-veterans-20180819

In case anyone is asking, here are some of the “receipts”, as it were.

2008:

2015:

2018:

Veteran’s Day Parade Wristbands & Parking Passes

The Iowa Democratic Veterans’ Caucus will once again be marching in the Iowa State Fair’s Veterans Day Parade on Monday, August 13, 2018.

The Iowa Democratic Veterans’ Caucus will meet on Saturday, August 11, 2018, at 11:00 pm. The meeting will be held at the Black Hawk Labor Temple, 1695 Burton Avenue Waterloo, IA 50703 (map)

Those interested in calling in may do so by dialing 319-527-2768 and entering access code 107040.

Draft Agenda:

August 11, 2018 – 11:00 am
Black Hawk Labor Temple
1695 Burton Avenue Waterloo, IA 50703

Meeting Agenda

01. Call to order.
02. Introductions.
03. Organizing the IDVC – bottom to top.
04. Connecting w/Candidates.
05. Establishing direct contact channel w/Elected Officials.
06. Access status/activity of County Veterans Commissions:
Access, postings, minutes & payments to commission for time.
07. Issues w/VA Healthcare, RAMP, etc.
08. VAN Access, other resources.
09. New Business:
Elevator Speeches.
_______________
10. Good of the Order.
11. Adjourn

Congratulations to Chair Ron Healey of Dubuque and Vice Chair Larry Olk! Healey and Olk were elected at the Iowa Democratic Party‘s State Convention held in Des Moines on Saturday, June 16, 2018.

Thank you to all who ran, and to outgoing Chair Shelly Servadio and Vice Chair Mike Jesse for their efforts!