FEATURED PROFILE OF THE MONTH

DAVE JONES
SACRAMENTO CITY COUNCILMAN

     We wanted to give the honor of being our first "Profile of the Month" to Dave Jones because of his past and continuous help to Veterans.  Dave and his staff  fully supported and sponsored the Veterans Day Parade and we are truly grateful to him for his help.  We have also noticed that he has a true community spirit and has worked very hard at serving the constituents in his Sacramento District as well as addressing the issues that may affect the Sacramento Valley and the State in general.

    
     Dave Jones grew up in the suburbs of Chicago.  His grandfather, William Jones, was a community leader, teacher and craftsman, whose father and uncles were immigrant coal miners.  His parents, Robert and Joanne, taught Dave and his two sisters that they had a moral obligation to be involved in the community, assist those less fortunate and oppose discrimination.  The Jones family frequently volunteered on public service projects.
     Dave Jones's childhood included camping and hiking, long trips in the family station wagon, Boy Scouts, church activities, trombone practice, little league and track meets.  He was elected Student Council President in High School and graduated from DePauw University.
     After graduating college, Dave attended law school and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.  He met his future wife, Kim Flores, during orientation on his first day at the Kennedy School.  Kim was a native of Northern Californian, and after Dave and Kim graduated, they moved to Sacramento. 
     Kim's parents, Louis and Joyce Flores, were active in the civil rights and farm worker movements.  Her father was one of the first Latino lawyers in town, and her family would make and sell Mexican food at local fairs to raise money for Cesar Chavez and the farm workers during the grape boycott.
     Today, Dave and Kim and their two young children, Isabelle and William, live in the Tahoe Park neighborhood.  Kim Flores works on health policy issues in state government. 
     Dave Jones turned down high-paying jobs with corporate law firms and instead chose to work as a Legal Air attorney at Legal Services of Northern California.  As a public interest lawyer for six years, Dave assisted hundreds of families and senior that could not afford legal counsel.
     Dave's small three-legal aid office challenged powerful special interests.  They stopped local governments and big developers from destroying neighborhoods and from displacing seniors and families.  They fought to crack down on slumlords.  And they worked to develop "inclusionary zoning" policies that have provided thousands of units of affordable housing.  Dave's creative work became a model for housing advocates throughout the state.

     In 1995, Dave Jones was one of 14 people nationwide selected to serve as White House Fellows in the Clinton Administration.  This program brings young leaders who are doing extraordinary work in their local communities into key White House policy roles.
     Dave served in the Department of Justice as counsel to Attorney General Janet Reno, the nation's top low enforcement officer.  For three years, Dave worked on community policing, community prosecution, cyber crime, antiterrorism, drug treatment policies and early childhood education programs.
     In 1998, Dave and Kim and their family returned home to Sacramento.  Dave had worked with Darrell Steinberg to organize a neighborhood association in Tahoe Park.  When Darrell was elected to the State Assembly, he encouraged Dave to run for his vacant City Council seat.  Dave was elected in a landslide and re-elected in 2000.
     Councilmember Jones has worked to bring neighborhoods together to fight for reform. He has led efforts to stop urban sprawl and revitalize urban neighborhoods.  He has worked to protect wildlife habitat, reduce air pollution in the Valley and expand public transit.  He created partnerships between the city and school district to build join-use community centers, parks and libraries.  Dave spearheaded the successful fight to enact a "Living Wage" law and continues to be a strong advocate for affordable housing.
     "I believe that the role of an elected official is to empower people and communities to solve common problems.  As a City Council member, I have tried to give all of our diverse communities a real voice in local government.  "Today, California struggles with a massive crisis.  There are those who seek to resolve our fiscal problems by abandoning our commitment to quality public education, a clean environment, civil rights and affordable health care.  I want to make sure that the concerns and aspirations of California's struggling working families are addressed as we work to reform state government."

Dave Jones with son William at Veterans Day Parade
November 8, 2004

Editor's Note:  Dave Jones is running in the March 2 primary election for Darrell Steinberg's termed-out State Assembly Seat for District 9. 

SPECIAL MEETING!
AT THE VETERANS AFFILIATED COUNCIL
March 10, 2004 - 7PM
VFW Post #67 - 2784 Stockton Blvd. - Sacramento

COME AND MEET THE BOLANOS BROTHERS!
WHO ARE THEY?????

     In the mid 60’s four brothers who were born in California and living in Texas volunteered to serve in their country’s armed Forces. The four brothers, Louis, Ben , Bill, and Rick Bolanos each joined a different branch of service and volunteered for duty in Viet Nam.  When their country called, they answered.
     Louis the oldest joined the navy and answered his country’s call by volunteering for Viet Nam. Ben the second son, joined the Marine Corp and answered his country’s call and volunteered for Viet Nam. Bill the third oldest son joined the Army green beret’s answered his country’s call and volunteered for Viet Nam. Rick the youngest of the four joined the Army answered his country’s call and volunteered for Viet Nam.
     The four brothers have the distinction of being the only family in the United States to have four members of the same family serve in Viet Nam at the same time. Three of them were in actual combat together in Dong Ha. They were cited by President Lyndon Baines Johnson, in a letter to their parents, for their patriotism.
     Theirs is a compelling story. Their message to the United States is that all Americans from every race and culture must do their patriotic duty and serve their communities and their country.  They are presently campaigning throughout the United States for Senator John Kerry, and encouraging all Americans to vote and to remember that.

FREEDOM HAS A PRICE………….YOUR LIFE!

AFTER ACTION REPORT

One of our new additions to the newsletter will be our "After Action Report".  Generally we have been telling you what is going to happen....but thought you might be interested in all of the activities of the Chapter and how they all turned out.
Feb. 7 - The Valentine Dance - The dance went well, the only problem was attendance.  We have determined that the dances will be good fund raisers and will hold more.  But it sure would be nice to see more Chapter members attending.
Feb. 11 - The VAC Meeting - David Grafft, consultant to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee spoke on the legislation pending that concerns Veterans.  The meeting was attended by  VVA President McNeill who is also Senior Vice Commander of the VAC, Doc Kauffman, Jim Armstrong, and E.D. Mary Lou McNeill.
Feb. 17 - VVA General Meeting - Vivian Terry of the California Telephone Access Program gave her presentation on  free telephone equipment for the visually, hearing and mobility impaired.  Members enjoyed cupcakes, muffins and coffee celebrating VVA500's birthday.
Feb. 18-19 - Huey Helicopter - The Vietnam Veterans Helicopter Association made a wonderful effort to bring a Huey that had been shot down three times in Vietnam and restored to McClellan and Mather.  The Huey is on it's way to the Smithsonian.  But, things went awry and they had many problems getting it out of Texas, so it didn't make it.  But we thank them for their hard work.
Feb. 18  - John F. Kennedy Career Day - E.D. Mary Lou McNeill represented the Chapter for Career Day at the School.  Basic information was given on the benefits of joining the service and VVA500's 2004 Scholarship Program was launched.  Criteria for the Program was given to students and teachers.
Feb. 23 - Dave Jones Campaign Office - VVA500 members, Gregory McNeill, Doc Kauffman, Monty Montoya, Mary Lou McNeill, Floyd Volker (who is also VFW Post #1660 Commander), and VAC Commander John Canfield helped man the phone bank for Dave Jones.
Feb. 26 - Preparation for the "Moving Wall" - Mary Lou met with Allen Fisher from East Lawn to make plans for how VVA500 can help East Lawn during the time the "Wall" is here.  More on this next month.

THE TROOPS NEED YOUR HELP!!!

     The forces in Iraq are not getting as much attention from home as they were in the beginning.  Here are the names and addresses of three that you can adopt.  These individuals will share with their unit.  The guys and gals don't ask for much but really do appreciate getting things from home.
Maj. Matt Foster         Maj. Rob Hunt       Lt. Col. Carl Unholz
CJTF-7 C3 FMD         CJTF-7 C3 IMD    CJTF-7  C3 IMD
Unit 91400                   Unit 91400              Unit 91400
APO AE 09342           APO AE 09342      APO AE 09342
   What do they need?  Food, (including junk), toiletries, office supplies (paper clips, sticky pads, staples) entertainment, etc.  Let's let them know we have not forgotten them!

THE VVA500 CHAPTER CALENDAR
►►GET ONE FOR YOURSELF◄◄

Help VVA500 raise funds for scholarships and other important Chapter activities.  You can purchase this 8 1/2 x 11inch laminated wall calendar for $5.00.  If you are coming to a meeting, order ahead and it will be ready for you.  Orders by mail, send check or money order for $5. plus 50 cents for postage and mail to address.  The calendar contains all important holiday dates, military birthdays and important VVA event dates, and chapter information.
 

The Valentine Dance Work Party.  From left, Stan Bollinger, Dino Gomez, Jerry Quint, Doc Kauffman, John Madri, Mary Lou McNeill, Gregory McNeill.  Thanks to all for helping with the set-up, take-down and working during the dance.

CHAPTER EVENTS

The Len Casey Combo played some smooth tunes at the Valentine Dance.

Of course, the Navy, Doc Kauffman got the mop detail after the Valentine Dance.  He was supervised by one of VVA's Officers, Jerry Quint.

BLAST FROM THE PAST
From a VVA500 March, 1991 Newsletter.....just after the cease fire in the Gulf War.
Poem by Major Michael Davis O Donnell, 1/11/70
If you are able, save for them a place inside of you
And save one backward glance when you are leaving
For the places they can no longer go.
Be not ashamed to say you loved them,
Though you may or may not have always.
Take what they have left and what they have taught you
With their dying and keep it with your own.
And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane
Take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind.
As of February 28, 1991, the Gulf War toll was 89 dead, 214 wounded and 44 missing in action.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

     As of the writing of this newsletter, we had a taste of possible disaster with the storm, wind and power outages.  We continue our series with the next category....
                            TOOLS AND SUPPLIES
Mess kits, or paper cups, plates, and plastic utensils
Emergency preparedness manual
Battery-operated radio and extra batteries
Flashlight and extra batteries
Cash or traveler's checks, change
Non-electric can opener, utility knife
Fire extinguisher:  small canister ABC type
Tube tent
Pliers, tape, compass, matches in a waterproof container
Aluminum foil, plastic storage containers
Signal flare
Paper, pencil, needles, thread, medicine dropper
Shut-off wrench, to turn off household gas and water
Whistle, plastic sheeting
Map of the area (for locating shelters)

MARK YOUR CALENDARS - UPCOMING EVENTS
April 1-7 - The "Moving Wall" - East Lawn on Folsom Blvd.
April 2-4 - California State Council Meeting - Fresno
April 9 - American Ex-Prisoners of War - "Lunch with
     Heroes" - Golden Tee Restaurant - Call: 916-685-5369
April 20 - VVA500 Annual Meeting and Elections
April 2004 - Kick off of VVA500 Annual Scholarship
    Program...Essay theme is " How Have Agent Orange and Other Chemicals used in the Vietnam War Affected Vietnam Veterans?"

From Baghdad, in front of one of Saddam's palaces, E.D. Mary Lou McNeill's son, Lt. Col. Carl Unholz, AF, is in the middle in the back row.

IRAQ - THE WAR - UPDATE

From:  NPR All Things Considered by Daniel Zwerdling
     Although mental health care for returning soldiers has vastly improved in the past 30 years, many within the government's medical community say they are barely able to treat veterans from previous conflicts.  Funding for Veterans Affairs' mental health services has been slashed since the mid-1990's, and more cuts are looming.  One of the costs of war is the tremendous toll on the mental health of those who serve.  Our Nation needs to make sure quality services are available when veterans and their families need it.  (Increased demand by veterans with no increases in funding has resulted in a 30% cut in actual services.)