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6.4. SR 01-21-2014 �i EOty lk Request for Action River To Item Number Mayor and City Council 6.4 Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by Awards, Recognition January 21, 2014 Cal Portner, City Administrator and Presentations Item Description Reviewed by Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Committee Update Reviewed by Action Requested N/A Background/Discussion Mayor Dietz will provide an update of the Elk River Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Committee Organization. Financial Impact N/A Attachments ■ Memo from Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Organization Steering Committee p 0 W I R I I a ATURE e; 4 UA _ Elk River Beyond The Yellow Ribbon To: Mayor John Dietz and Council Members Stewart Wilson, Paul Motin, Matt Westgaard and Barbara Burandt From: Steering Committee of the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Organization of Elk River Subject: Progress Report We are pleased to present a report the progress of the Yellow Ribbon Organization, organized to help military families and veterans of all wars, and particularly those deployed in the Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan wars. We have 186 National Guardsmen in the area, reservists and full-time service personnel who are members of five companies serving out of four armories: St. Cloud, Monticello, Cambridge and Anoka. We are handicapped without an armory and privacy laws in locating families who need our help. We are fortunate to have a National Guard Recruiting office in our community as a public information source. After preparing a plan through a 16-step process, Elk River Yellow Ribbon was certified and we had a certification ceremony last year, attended by among others, Governor Mark Dayton. We are grateful to Mayor John Dietz and Elk River Police Captain Ron Nierenhausen who have been excellent members of our Steering Committee. We are equally grateful for the city staff who have helped us in many ways, from the Police and Fire Department with Yellow Ribbon decals on their squad cars and fire trucks to those who erected the banners on poles along Highway 10. We are also grateful to our Steering Committee. In addition we have committees who have organized resources to assist military families. I want to emphasize community members have NEVER turned us down, because helping our veterans, particularly those who have been deployed and returned,resonates with their patriotism. I would be remiss if I did not commend Jim Boyle, editor of the Star News, for his cooperation and serving on the Steering Committee. I also want to commend Dick McCormick of the Faith Based committee who is leading the effort to have bi-monthly military family dinners hosted by churches. We've had four: Central Lutheran, Living Waters (2) and St. Andrews churches. We want to make a few observations. 1. Because of our Yellow Ribbon spirit and organization, we know Elk River is a more welcoming community to its returning veterans and their families. 2. We are impressed with the community's response. No one has turned us down and we must have at least 50 volunteers. 3. We have an anonymous donor who is giving $8,000 to help military veterans. Recently, we gave a veteran, who had just suffered a heart attack, $300 to help pay his rent. 4. We are organized to help families at home to give the soldier peace of mind so they can concentrate on their mission. For example, your own Justin Femrite fixed the water heater for a military family in Otsego whose husband was deployed. 5. Our Faith-Based Committee, chaired by Donita Grell and Carole Greier, has been instrumental in developing military ministries in some of our churches where we think needs of families will surface. One of their members, Henry Griner, father of a son who was deployed, even composed a prayer, which is in your packet. This committee is following the Military Ministry model of Central Lutheran church. 6. I would be remiss if I failed to single out Kayla Stai of the Minnesota School of Business who kept us organized and informed during our early stages. 7. Eugene Graff, Sherburne County Veterans Service Officer, is a member of our Steering Committee and has developed an intake form for any veteran requesting financial assistance. We are organized in the following committees and I'll mention a highlight or two of each. Steering Committee: First chaired by Don Heinzman, now chaired by Henry Griner. Members include Donita Grell, Bruce Tyler, Jim Holt, Cory Franson, Capt. Ron Nierenhausen, Eugene Graff, John Dietz, MaryJo Cobb, and Jim Boyle • Meet monthly at American Legion; • Developed the Action Plan that led to state certification • Planned and carried out the certification ceremony, • Monitors action plan and timeline • With Gene Graff developed the intake form completed by veterans asking for financial help Business and Employers: Chair • North Star SHRM of 40, human resources professionals will hold a workshop on how to research a company, career readiness and transferring their military skills to business skills. • A financial planning workshop is planned for veterans that will go over budgeting, investing, retirement savings options. • An initiative to educate employers on the benefits of hiring and supporting veterans will be carried out through the Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary Lunch and Learn sessions. Elk River City Leadership: John Dietz, chair • Yellow Ribbon banners put up on light poles • Yellow ribbon signs placed at the Welcome to Elk River Signs • Crisis intervention and wellness plan with representative from local public safety and behavioral health by adding military and support processes to existing crisis plans • Trained city staff on where to direct veterans with whom they come in contact?? Elk River Public Safety and Judicial: Captain Ron Nierenhausen, chair • Sherburne County Sheriff will screen booking process to identify veterans and provide them with VA access. • Police department is being trained on how to handle disturbance calls when military personnel are involved especially after returning from deployments. • Officers carry Yellow Ribbon brochures and resource cards in their squad cars to inform military service members or family members. • Educating employees on a veterans' court program underway in Sherburne County under auspices of Kathleen Heaney, Sherburne County Attorney. • Police and fire vehicles display Yellow Ribbon decals. Faith Based Committee: Carol Greier and Donita Grell, co-chairs • Designed packet on how to develop military and family ministries, distributed to churches. • Working actively with five churches on developing military ministries and targeting on five more. • Organized military dinners at Central Lutheran church, Living Waters Church and St. Andrew's Church with plans to have two more. • Purpose is to bring families together and inform them of benefits for them. • Successfully carried out a Yellow Ribbon Prayer Sunday. • Met with Ministerial Association and explained military ministry process, centered on the program at Central Lutheran church Elk River Veteran Organizations/Civic Organizations: Eugene Graff, chair • Provides information to veterans about Veterans Administration benefits. • Provides mentors to veterans • Developed and sends a welcome home letter through the Sherburne County Veterans office. • Briefed Sherburne-Benton County American Legion County Counsel on Yellow Ribbon programs in Elk River and Becker. • Provides Case Management outreach/education state program in partnership with Lutheran Social Services providing counseling to veterans and their families Elk River Social Services/Medical Providers: MaryJo Cobb, chair • Working with local Tricare Representative on how this agency and Yellow Ribbon can work together. • Provides Tricare and mental health information for veterans at community events and social service agencies. • Working with CAER on identifying military families using the food shelf resources and connecting them with Yellow Ribbon network Elk River Education/Youth: Cory Franson and Charlie Blesener, co-chairs • School Counselors have Yellow ribbon information and general information cards • District has provided resources and training for school counselors, principals and teachers on working with students affected by deployment. • Organizing youth on the 43 contacts you had with students last year) volunteer groups: (Boy Scouts) and a contact system when need arises Now, about the future We are a bit dismayed that more families have not come to us for help. Gene Graff observes this is a good thing, because it shows there aren't many problems. Nonetheless, we need to continue some vigorous marketing so military families will think of us. The military dinners are a part of that effort. We will try to develop a data base of families and men and women actively serving and reach out to them, rather than waiting for them to come to us.