Memo - Yellow RibbonAdministrative Services Department
Office of the City Manager
Memorandum
To: Mayor and Council
From: Mike Mornson, City Manager
Date: May 9, 2012
Subject: Yellow Ribbon
Mayor Maxwell and Council member Jason Gadd attended a meeting in Minnetonka
with members of other communities and members of the Minnesota National Guard and
Adam Kedrowski who is the coordinator of the Yellow Ribbon Program.
At the meeting there was discussion about a multi -city effort to include the City of
Hopkins, Minnetonka, Wayzata, Excelsior, St. Louis Park and Edina.
The following resolution supports a multi -city effort to form a Yellow Ribbon Coalition.
City of Hopkins
Hennepin County, Minnesota
RESOLUTION NO. 2012-026
Resolution in Support of Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Program
WHEREAS, the United States federal government mandates that every state have a program to
support Service members and their families; and
WHEREAS, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon is the comprehensive state-wide program established
by the Minnesota National Guard to comply with this federal mandate; and
WHEREAS, the desired outcome of Beyond the Ribbon is to establish and sustain a
comprehensive support network that connects and coordinates agencies,
organizations and resources for the purpose of meeting the needs of Service
members, military families and employers across the state of Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, the goal of Beyond the Yellow Ribbon is to create awareness for the purpose of
connecting Service members and their families with community support, training,
services and resources; and
WHEREAS, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon accomplishes this goal by
1. Creating awareness through the Yellow Ribbon Community Campaign and synchronizing
sustainable community support networks.
2. Connecting and coordinating organizations, agencies and companies to provide resources
and support to Service members and their families.
3. Delivering a series of formal Yellow Ribbon Training events to Service members and their
families before, during and after deployment.
4. Providing an opportunity for Minnesotans to support Service members and their families;
and
WHEREAS, representatives from the cities of Edina, Excelsior, Hopkins, Minnetonka, St.
Louis Park and Wayzata, including persons from American Legion posts,
Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, and policy makers, met and agreed to join
together to form the Southwest Twin Cities Yellow Ribbon Coalition, and;
WHEREAS, cities in the Southwest Twin Cities Yellow Ribbon Coalition are united to bring
Service members all the way home; and
WHEREAS, cities in the Southwest Twin Cities Yellow Ribbon Coalition have met and agreed
to make a commitment to unite to honor, support and embrace those affected by
military deployments in order to build awareness and commitment throughout the
community; and
WHEREAS, each city in the Southwest Twin Cities Yellow Ribbon Coalition has promised to
establish its own committee with representatives from the following key areas:
City Leadership, Civic Organizations, Local Military Entities, Schools,
Community Education, Youth Programs, Public Safety, Business and employers,
Faith Based organizations, Service Clubs, Social Services; and
WHEREAS, the members of the Hopkins City Council as well as the City Manager and staff,
believe that support for Service members and their families in Hopkins is of the
utmost importance; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,
that the City of Hopkins City Council approves the city's role in the Southwest
Twin Cities Yellow Ribbon Coalition and pledges its support for the work of this
six -city collaboration.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Hopkins this day of 20_.
Gene Maxwell, Mayor
ATTEST:
Kristine Luedke, City Clerk