California Employer Advisory Council

CEAC Veterans Committee Report

April 5, 2010

The California Employer Advisory Council Veterans' Committee was formed in 1984 to act as an advocate for the employment of veterans in conjunction with the CEAC and the California Employment Development Department.

Goals & Objectives

• To develop a strong recognition program for California employers who provide an outstanding support for employment of veterans.
• To develop a strong working partnership with other associations and agencies who are supportive of veterans.
• To provide enthusiastic support for veterans programs that includes operation Stand Down and the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999.
• To provide direct support for programs honoring veterans including veterans memorials and other activities.
• To develop media support and other activities to gain enhanced support for hiring veterans.

Year 2010 promises to be a year of opportunity and challenges for California employer support of our veterans. An extra effort has been made to help ensure that all California employers become aware of the attributes, dedication, loyalty and trainability as positive traits that veterans bring to the work place.

• 2009/2010 Activities:
  • Club 1072 - 1984 - 2010
  • Employer Support of Guard and Reserve (ESGR)
  • "Hire A Vet - Hire A Hero" Campaign/California Governor
  • CEAC Annual Conference, May 2010
  • California Veteran's Month Activities, May, 2010
  • 2010 CEAC Veterans Employer of the Year Awards
  • VET Fund Memorial Day Golf Tournament, May, 2010 - October 2010
  • CEAC Veterans Committee meetings, 2010 
  • Homeless Veterans Stand Down Foundation 
  • Patriot Day, September 11, 2010
  • California Veterans Board meetings
  • California Veterans Employment Committee
  • National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
  • The CEAC "How You Can Assist Veterans Project" CA Veteran Representative 2010
  • USA Freedom Corps 
  • The annual Long Beach Veterans Parade November, 2010
  • Annual National Veterans Day, November 2010, Emporia, Kansas
  • California Veterans Week activities November, 2010
  • California Stand Downs, April, May, July, August, September, October, November, & December 2010.
    To access information on the 2010 Stand Downs please visit the following websites:
    
    The California Department of Veterans Affairs,
    http://www.cdva.ca.gov/homeless/standdown
    
    The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans,
    http://www.nchv.org/standdownevents.cfm
    
    The US Department of Veterans Affairs
    http://www.va.gov/homeless

CEAC Veterans Committee team members participate in CA Stand Downs during the months of April, May, July, August, September, October, November & December, 2010. These are held in Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Antelope Valley, San Diego, Ventura, Merced, Marysville, Inglewood, Sonora, Compton, Sacramento, Boulder Creek, Fresno, Bakersfield, Ferndale, Dixon, Anderson, & Lancaster.

In 2010 members of the CEAC Veterans Committee team served on the California Veteran Fund Team. This event is an annual scheduled event in Northern and Southern California. VetFund of CDVA is the fundraising arm of the CA Department of Veterans Affairs and generates funds for projects to support California veterans. Funds are used to fulfill the unmet needs of the veterans' homes of California, upkeep of veterans' memorials, and to provide funding for special programs of the department and the veteran community.

The following veteran's homes exist in California:

The Veterans Home of California, Yountville in Napa Valley
The Veterans Home of California, Barstow
Veterans Home of California, Chula Vista
Veterans Home of California, West Los Angeles
Veterans Home of California, Ventura
Veterans Home in Lancaster

Future homes: Fresno & Redding

California employers have supported our veterans through the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. This Committee provides answers to employers' most frequent questions as well as copies of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. It supports reservists who need help dealing with an employer. (800) 336-4590, or http://www.esgr.org. Employers have an opportunity to support veterans through the Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise (DVBE) Program, and the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Act, Public Law 106-50. Visit the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs website at http://www.va.gov, and the U.S. Small Business Administration website at http://www.sba.gov.

Year 2010-2011 promises to be a banner year of opportunity for California employers to support our veterans. For information, please contact Dr. Cal Farmer at (310) 713-3276, or
Claire Hope-Farmer at (805) 987-3118, email .