Orange County Veterans Advisory Council Year In Review 2018
Orange County Commitment to Eliminate Veteran’s Homelessness
Veteran’s Serving Orange County Veterans Board of Supervisors Supervisor Michelle Steel 2nd District Office Tim Whitacre-US Marine Corps Supervisor Doug Chaffee 4th District Office Austin Mejia-US Army
City Council
Brea Steven Vargas-US Navy
Laguna Niguel John Mark Jennings, Mayor-US Army JAG Laguna Woods Cynthia Connors, Mayor-US Army Joe Rainey-US Marine Corps
Buena Park Art Brown, Mayor-US Marine Corps Costa Mesa Andrea Marr-US Navy
Mission Viejo Greg Raths, Mayor-US Marine Corps Ed Sachs-US Navy
Cypress Paulo M Morales-US Navy
Placentia Craig Green-US Navy
Dana Point Jamey Federico-US Marine Corps Richard Viczorek-US Marine Corps
San Clemente Steve Swartz, Mayor-US Air Force
Garden Grove George S. Brietigam III-US Coast Guard
Santa Ana Juan Villegas, Mayor Pro Tem-US Army
Huntington Beach Erik Peterson-US Marine Corps
Stanton Alexander A. Ethans, Mayor Pro Tem -US Navy/US Air Force
Laguna Hills Dr. Dore Gilbert, Mayor-US Army Medical
Tustin Barry Cooper-US Marine Corps/US Navy
Federal and State Offices Congressman Luis Correa Office-Veterans Job Caucus & Army Caucus Jose Guevara-US Marine Corps Congressman Gil Cisneros Office-Veterans Affairs & Armed Services Committee Chris Wade-US Marine Corps Congressman Mike Levin-House Committee on Veterans Affairs Senator Tom Umberg-Veterans Affairs Committee-US Army Assemblymember Steven Choi-Korean Army Cliff Wagner-Chief of Staff-US Army Assemblymember William Brough-US Army Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva-Select Committee Veterans Education & Employment Christopher Aguilera-US Marine Corp Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris-Veterans Affairs Committee
Orange County Veterans Advisory Council
1st District Supervisor Andrew Do Mario Munoz-US Marine Corps
4th District Supervisor Doug Chaffee Vacant
2nd District Supervisor Michelle Steel Chase Wickersham-US Army
5th District Supervisor Lisa Bartlett Greg Raths-US Marine Corps
3rd District Supervisor Todd Spitzer Robert V “Bobby” McDonald-US Navy
Memeber At Large Representatives Erik Duane-US Marine Corps Carl David-US Army
Orange County Veterans Service Office Orange County Veterans Service Officer Eddie Falcon-US Navy Supervising Veterans Claims Representative Eric Ensley-US Navy
Orange County Board of Supervisors
Chairman Andrew Do 1st District
Michelle Steel 2nd District
Vice Chair Shawn Nelson 4th District
Todd Spitzer 3rd District
Lisa Bartlett 5th Disrict
Message From Eddie Falcon, Orange County Veterans Service Officer & Veterans Remains Officer As veteran advocates, the Orange County Veterans Service Office (OCVSO) continues to assist veterans, dependents and survivors with proper guidance and counsel in order for them to obtain additional benefits they may be entitled to, based on their military service. In 2018, the Veterans Service Office established a third outstation facility at the Joint Force Training Base, Los Alamitos. This provides us an opportunity to extend our assistance to military personnel, veterans and family members, in Orange County. We continue to be mindful of other opportunities that will allows us additional opportunities’ to serve. Our office personnel strive to be effective and efficient when assisting those who walk through our doors. We understand we are stewards of the public trust. Our message to our brothers and sisters who wore the uniform, you are not alone. The Orange County Veterans Service Office is here to help.
Message From Renee Ramirez, Director, Orange County Community Services It is a very exciting time for OC Community Services (OCCS) as we celebrate our 10-year anniversary as part of the OC Community Resources (OCCR) organization. After a decade of steady progress, we will continue to focus on improving and expanding our services. We take pride in finding creative ways to dramatically increase programs, services and participation levels. Our emphasis and commitment to improving client services in the coming year will focus on seeking additional funding, automating processes, participating in important research, increasing data collection, and local and regional planning efforts. A special thank you to the entire OCCS team and the Orange County Veterans Advisory Council for their focused commitment and dedication to improving services and increasing accessibility to our programs. Without them, we simply would not be where we are today! We have a decade of good work behind us that we look forward to building upon!
District ONE
Jamboree, partners and community leaders break ground on Santa Ana Veterans Village
District TWO Supervisor Steele at Ribbon Cutting Grand Opening of Columbia University at Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos. The Cove Community Development Partners Opens Housing for Homeless Veterans in Newport Beach, CA
OCVAC Meeting Notice Date: Wednesday, August 9, 2017
OCVAC Meeting Notice Date: Wednesday, July 11, 2018
OC Veterans Advisory Council Meeting OC Veterans Advisory Council Meeting 5:00 p.m.
Vanguard University 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
5:00 p.m.
Cypress College Complex Room 414 9200 Valley View Street Cypress, 90630
Great Commission Hall, 2nd Floor, Heath Building (Parking Pass Required)
Have We Helped A Veteran Today?
Supervisor Steel is Guest Speaker at Vanguard
Have We Helped A Veteran Today?
Cypress Earns $100,000 State Grant to Help Expand VRC
District THREE
District FOUR
Placentia Veterans Village Ground Breaking
District FOUR
District FIVE Saddleback College Receives $2 Million State Innovation Award to Assist Veterans in Degree Completion
OCVAC Vice Chair and Mission Viejo Mayor Greg Raths, Supervisor Lisa Bartlett and OCVAC Communications Chair Carl David at the Veterans Resource Fair.
HOUSING
HOUSING
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT
Wayne Gross of the State of California Department of General Services presented a workshop for small business and disabled veterans business certification.
HEALTH
HEALTH
EDUCATION
Amy Thronson, who served in the Air Force, is the Veterans Student Association president
Black Chamber Education Fund Scholarship Recipients
LEGAL
The American Patriots Ball Fashion Island Hotel Adam Karr, O’Melveny; Rochelle Karr, Honoree; Antoinette Balta, President and Founder of VLI; Dr. Karen Vanderwall; and Navy Seal Captain Duncan Smith
MILITARY CHILDREN & FAMILIES
4th District Policy Advisor Steve Spernak & Lisa Wright-Jenkins holding OC Register front page story on “State of Vets in OC”
Lori Pack & Debbie Nichols are presented a proclamation from SenatorJanet Nguyen for Month of the Military Child
AROUND THE COUNTY The Orange County Veterans and Military Family Collaborative
The Collaborative has roughly 110 public and private service providers that represent 150 volunteers with 10 working groups.
AROUND THE COUNTY
Congressman Lou Correa’s Vietnam Veterans Pinning Ceremony at Savanna High School.
AUSA Veterans Golf Tourney with Craig Hanriot, Pete Seitz, Medal of Honor Recipient Jim McCloughan, & Bobby McDonald
US Army Education Tour Washington DC with Congressman John Lewis, Lt. Col Troy Alexander, Daphne Hunter and Dennis Cole.
Disneyland SALUTE Diversity Resource Group
Buffalo Soldiers 150th Anniversary Celebration Flag Lowering Ceremony
AROUND THE COUNTY COLLAGE
Tustin 4th of July with Mayor Al Murray..
Ben Gales Local Interagency Network Coordinator (LINC) CAL Vet Orange County
Military Salute for Navy veteran Willie Blackmon, 94, was honored with six awards including three medals and one ribbon — that he earned for his service during World War II but never received during a halftime ceremony at George Washington Preparatory High School’s homecoming game Friday. Congresswoman Maxine Waters was on hand him to present him with the awards, which her office helped secure.
HEROES HALL COLLAGE
Friends and Families on hand to unveil memorial plaque for 12 airman and 72 Marines that lost their lives in the plane crash at MCAS El Toro in 1965.
AROUND THE COUNTY
US Army “All Female” Color Guard at OC Black Chamber Banquet 2018.
Tanya Acker, General Peter Gravett, Bobby McDonald Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely Leadership & Service Honoree
Nick Berardino, Judge Vincent Okamoto & Bobby McDonald Vietnam Veterans attending the PBS So Cal & Ken Burns “The Vietnam War” Premier
IN MEMORIAM
Orange County Commitment to Eliminate Veteran’s Homelessness Jamboree Breaks Ground on Affordable OC Project Encompassing 75 units, Santa Ana Veterans Village will cater to homeless veterans and their families. Potter’s Lane Midway City is just the first of many new projects to help our homeless veterans from American Family Housing. Bridges at Kraemer Place is a 24-hour emergency homeless shelter facility in the city of Anaheim that is ADA Accessible and serves homeless single men and single women in the North Orange County area. Placentia Veterans Village The City is partnering with the County of Orange, Mercy Housing California, and New Directions to plan, design, construct and administer the Placentia Veterans Village, a permanent supportive housing development that will serve military veterans who are homeless or disabled. The Cove Community Development Partners Opens Housing for Homeless Veterans in Newport Beach, CA
ORANGE COUNTY VETERANS ADVISORY COUNCIL The body was created in March 1978 and is comprised of members appointed by the O.C. Board of Supervisors. They volunteer their time and services without pay. The Council is made up of nine members who are residents of Orange County representing all areas of the county and all are U.S. Military veterans with Honorable Discharges. The function and duties of this Council are: to advise the Board of Supervisors on issues of importance to veterans and their dependents based on input from the veteran community; to provide a source of liaison and communication with various groups relative to veterans issues; and, to promote involvement in veteran’s related events and functions within the County.
Bobby McDonald Chairman District 3
Chase Wickersham District 2
Eric Duane
LTC(R) Carl David Communications Chair At Large
Greg Raths
At Large
Vice Chairman District 5
Mario Munoz District 1
HEROES HALL COLLAGE COLLAGE