Vet Committee

VETERANS SERVICE COMMITTEE Wednesday, November 19th, 2025 3rd Floor Meeting Room, Rm #3308 Members Present: Catherine Lemke, Sue Swiantek, Rod Adams, Bud Suckow and Lorie Floyd. Members Absent: Nick Lemke, Lawrence Peterson. Other Attendees: Sheila Sutton and Cody Jochimsen. Call Meeting to Order: Chair Catherine Lemke called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. Pledge of Allegiance: Suckow led the committee in the Pledge of Allegiance. Approve Agenda: Motion by Floyd, seconded by Suckow, to approve the agenda. Motion carried. Approve the minutes of the September 17 th, 2025 meeting: Motion by Adams, seconded by Swiantek, to approve the minutes of the September 17th, 2025 meeting. Motion carried. Update from Fall CTVSO Conference: Sutton gave update from Fall CTVSO conference and all Continuing education requirements were met despite the government shut down. Introduction of Veterans Service Specialist: Jochimsen introduced himself with a brief background on his military service to the Veteran Service committee. Frequency of Veterans Service committee Meetings : Committee discussed the frequency of meetings and will now meet quarterly or as needed. Holiday gifts for Volunteers: Sutton requested approval to purchase ten (10) $25 Chamber gift certificates for the volunteers. Motion By Floyd, seconded by Suckow to purchase ten (10) $25 Chamber gift certificates for the volunteers. Motion carried. Upcoming training and closures for the office: Sutton advised the committee of the training dates and office closers for the months of December, January, February, and March. CVSO update: Sutton gave an update on office business. Comments from the Veteran’s Community: none. Adjourn: Motion by Suckow, seconded by Floyd, to adjourn the meeting at 10:08 a.m. Motion carried. Sheila Sutton County Veterans Service Officer VETERANS SERVICE COMMITTEE Wednesday, September 17th, 2025 3rd Floor Meeting Room, Rm #3308 Members Present: Catherine Lemke, Sue Swiantek, Rod Adams and Bud Suckow. Members Absent: Nick Lemke, Lawrence Peterson, Lorie Floyd. Other Attendees: Sheila Sutton , Nicole Hager, Brian Wilson -Star News, and Susan Gregori - Veteran’s Community. Call Meeting to Order: Chair Catherine Lemke called the meeting to order at 9:33 a.m. Pledge of Allegiance: Swiantek led the committee in the Pledge of Allegiance. Approve Agenda: Motion by Adams, seconded by Suckow, to approve the agenda. Motion carried. Approve the minutes of the June 18 th, 2025 meeting: Motion by Suckow, seconded by Adams, to approve the minutes of the June 18th, 2025 meeting. Motion carried. Approve the minutes of the August 13 th, 2025 Joint Committee and Commission Meeting: Motion by Suckow, seconded by Swiantek, to approve the minutes of the June 18 th, 2025, meeting. Motion carried. Approval quote from Star News -Central Wisconsin News : Sutton discussed the quote for continuing the monthly news articles for the coming year of 2026. Motion by Suckow, seconded by Swiantek. Motion carried CVSO update: Sutton gave an update on office business. Upcoming training and closures for the office: Sutton advised the committee of the training dates and office closers for the months of September, October, and November. Comments from the Veteran’s Community: none. Adjourn: Motion by Suckow, seconded by Swiantek, to adjourn the meeting at 9:55 a.m. Motion carried. Sheila Sutton County Veterans Service Officer JOINT VETERANS SERVICE COMMITTEE AND VETERANS SERVICE COMMISSION Wednesday, August 13th, 2025 3rd Floor Meeting Room, Rm #3308 Members Present: Catherine Lemke, Lorie Floyd, Nick Lemke, Lawrence Peterson, Rod Adams, Bud Suckow, Jeff Hein, Barry Anderson and Arnold Sova. Members Absent: Sue Swiantek Other Attendees: Sheila Sutton, Karyn Gebert Call Meeting to Order: Chair Catherine Lemke called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. Pledge of Allegiance: L. Peterson led the committee in the Pledge of Allegiance. Approve the Agenda: Motion by Floyd, seconded by Hein, to approve the agenda. Motion carried. Review and approve the proposed 2026 Veterans Service Commission Budget: Motion by Arnie, seconded by Hien, to approve Veterans Service Commission Budget. Motion carried. Review and approve the proposed 2026 Veterans Service Committee Budget: Motion by Floyd seconded by Adams, to approve Veterans Service Committee Budget. Motion carried. Adjourn: Motion by Suckow, seconded by Peterson, to adjourn the meeting at 10:16 a.m. Motion carried. Karyn Gebert Veterans Service Specialist VETERANS SERVICE COMMITTEE Wednesday, June 18th, 2025 3rd Floor Meeting Room, Rm #3308 Members Present: Catherine Lemke, Lorie Floyd, Nick Lemke, Sue Swiantek, Rod Adams and Bud Suckow. Members Absent: Lawrence Peterson Other Attendees: Sheila Sutton, Karyn Gebert, Brian Wilson-Star News Call Meeting to Order: Chair Catherine Lemke called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. Pledge of Allegiance: N. Lemke led the committee in the Pledge of Allegiance. Approve the Agenda: Motion by Floyd, seconded by Suckow, to approve the agenda. Motion carried. Approve the minutes of the March 25 th, 2025 meeting: Motion by Adams, seconded by Floyd, to approve the minutes of the March 25th, 2025 meeting. Motion carried. Update from Spring Conference: Sutton gave an update from the Spring Conference that was held at Barkers Island Inn & Conference in Superior. Memorial Day Recap: Sutton gave a recap on Memorial Day. We had twelve (12) 8 th grade Medford Middle School students volunteered to help put out Memorial flags along with a group of veterans. Sutton attended the Gilman’s Memorial Day which was asked to be the chaplain and Gebert attended Stetsonville’s Memorial Day. Outreach Events: Sutton went over the outreach days that the office will be participating. The Fair before the Fair will be held at the ADRC building on July 16 th, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and Tomah VA Outreach Day on July 29th, 2025. Upcoming training and closures for the office: Sutton advised the committee of the training dates and office closers for the months of July and August. Increase hours of Veteran Service Office to 40 hours per week: Sutton proposed an increase in the Veterans Service Office to 40-hour work week. Motion by Swiantek, seconded by Floyd, to increase hours of Veteran Service Office to 40 hours per week. Motion carried to take it to the personnel committee. CVSO update: Sutton gave an update on office business and carry overs. Comments from the Veteran’s Community: No comments from the Veteran’s Community. Schedule combined Veterans Service Committee and Veterans Service Commission Meeting: The combined Veterans Service Committee and Veterans Service Commission Meeting will be Wednesday, August 13th, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. held in the Meeting Room, Rm #3308 on the 3rd Floor. Adjourn: Motion by Floyd, seconded by Adams, to adjourn the meeting at 10:07 a.m. Motion carried. Karyn Gebert Veterans Service Specialist VETERANS SERVICE COMMITTEE Tuesday, March 25, 2025 County Board Room Members Present: Catherine Lemke, Lorie Floyd, Nick Lemke, Lawrence Peterson, Rod Adams and Bud Suckow. Members Absent: Sue Swiantek. Other Attendees: Sheila Sutton, Karyn Gebert, Nicole Hager, Brian Wilson -Star News, Bill Vach and Susan Gregori-Veteran’s Community. Call Meeting to Order: Chair Catherine Lemke called the meeting to order at 9:31 a.m. Pledge of Allegiance: Peterson led the committee in the Pledge of Allegiance. Approve Agenda: Motion by Floyd, seconded by Suckow, to approve the agenda. Motion carried. Approve the minutes of the December 18th, 2024 meeting: Motion by Peterson, seconded by Suckow, to approve the minutes of the December 18th, 2024 meeting. Motion carried. Donation from Thorp Lions: Thorp Lions donated a motorized wheelchair to the Veterans Service Office to loan out to a veteran in need. Gebert demonstrated how the motorized wheelchair worked. N. Lemke is going to provide Sutton an example of the VFW contract they use for their durable medical equipment loan program. Outreach set for April 23 rd, 2025: Sutton went over the outreach day, which is scheduled for April 23rd, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. held at the Northwoods Veterans Post in Merrill, WI. Approval to purchase material for outreach : Sutton went over the material and radio advertisements that we would like to purchase for outreach. Motion by Adams, seconded by Peterson, to purchase material and radio advertisements for outreach. Motion carried Memorial Day: Flag pick will be Wednesday, May 14 th-May16th. An email went to Medford School for volunteers, and they will be providing us with 10-14 students. Putting Memorial flags up on May 21 st. Sutton will be attending Gilman’s Memorial Day and Gebert will be attending Medford’s Memorial Day. Spring Conference May 5th – 9th: Sutton gave an update on spring conference that will be held at Barkers Island Inn & Conference in Superior. Canceling Rib Lake and Gilman May walk -in hours: Rib Lake May walk -in hours will be cancelled as Sutton and Gebert will be at spring conference. Gilman May walk -in hours will be cancelled for preparation of Memorial Day. CVSO update: Sutton gave an update on office business and carry overs. Upcoming training and closures for the office: Sutton advised the committee of the training dates and office closures for the months of April and May. Comments from the Veteran’s Community: Vach invited the committee to the Vietnam Veterans Day Ceremony on Saturday, March 29th at 3:00 p.m. held at the Medford VFW. Adjourn: Motion by Suckow, seconded by Peterson, to adjourn the meeting at 10:05 a.m. Motion carried. Karyn Gebert Veterans Service Specialist