Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.

Women Veterans Committee

Meeting Minutes

Friday, January 19, 2007

 

                                                                                               

 

Called to Order:  2:15PM                

 

Approval of October 06 committee Minutes:  Accepted without objection.

 

In Attendance:  Marsha Four, Chair                        Sandy Miller, Vice Chair

                                    Dr. Tom Berger                                 Sandie Wilson          

                                    Connie Christensen              Elaine Simmons, AVVA

 

Guests:           Col. Denise Daily, Military Director, DACOWITS

                        Ken Holybee

                        Susan Edgerton, VVA Staff

                        John Margowski

                        Dr. Ed Ryan

                       

Review Contact Lists of Members

 

Presentation:
Col. Denise Daily, Military Director, Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS), a DOD federal advisory committee

o       Committee composition: civilians/non active duty military, spouses, retired military; prior military experience is important, civilians with women workplace expertise

o       Charter authorizes 15 members; each has a Three year term

o       Meetings open to the public; announced in Federal Register

o       In 2005 did 80 focus groups

o       DACOWITS Looks at long term issues

o       Women still hold primary Responsibility of child care and is one reason for leaving military

o       Question: How does DOD keep women, making family and military life compatible? Top leadership needs broad life experiences. What is needed to keep women long enough to reach general officer positions.

o       Women service members have the highest divorce rate irrespective of rank (Rand Study)

o       Sexual Assault

o       DOD formulated committee for the care of victims

§         Established Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO)

§         Development of Restricted/Unrestricted Reporting

o       Federal Advisory Compliance Committee: Oversight & Follow up to see if compliance and regulations are being met. It is charged to report back to Congress. Authorized for only one year.

o       Victim resources: Four points of contact

§         Chaplain

§         SAPRO

§         Victims Advocate: explains Reporting processes.

§         Health Care Provider

o       Restricted Reporting– only victim and points of contact are involved

§         Victim has time to get treatment and decide if she/he wants to go into unrestricted process

o       Unrestricted Reporting – assault is reported to law enforcement and anonymity is lost

           

FY 08 Budget Submission discussed with consideration for the 10th anniversary of the Women’s Memorial (WIMSA) and the 25th anniversary of The Wall

 

VVA Chair and Committee Reports

 

Continued business:

o       Convention Resolutions

§         WV-6-05 Support for Women Veterans - Retain

§         WV-2-05 Medical Treatment of Women Veterans by DVA - Retain

§         WV-3-03 Department of Veterans Affairs Women Veterans Program Managers – Retain

§         Thoughts on revised/retired/new resolutions

·        Gender specific treatment and programs for women with PTSD.  PTSD & Women Veterans Committee will work together on resolution

·        Sexual Assault of Women Serving in the Armed Forces with review current resolution

o       Discussion on Speaker for Convention Breakfast

o       Web Site is constantly being updated

 

New business:

o       Suggestion for Guest Speaker next meeting

o       10th Anniversary of WIMSA - October 18 –20, 2007

o       25th Anniversary of The Wall

 

Meeting adjourned at 3:55PM