Central Coast Chapter Minutes for March 17, 2018

                 Central Coast Chapter Minutes for March 17, 2018

Meeting to Order:  1:07 PM

Pledges of Allegiance & SAR

Attendance: 8 including 3 guests

Sunshine Report: Gordon Wiley still unable to attend.

Guest Speaker: John Siler introduced SLO Co. District Attorney Dan Dow. Mr. Dow is currently running for re-election in June. Mr. Dow first visited our chapter four and a half years ago at which time he became friends with our late compatriot, William Siler. Mr. Dow remembered Bill as a great American patriot owing to his WWII service in both the US Army Air Corps and the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Dan Dow is a graduate of the US Army Defense Language Institute in Monterey with a certification in Korean. Following Army active duty Dan enrolled at and later received his Bachelor’s degree from CSU Hayward. Following that Dan earned a J.D. from University of Santa Clara.

The receipt of a law degree led to continued service in the California National Guard as a Major Command Judge Advocate.  Mr. Dow was deployed in both Iraq and Kosovo.

As a Deputy DA and now as DA, Dan has focused on domestic violence, crimes against children and human trafficking. Dan was also instrumental in developing a Veteran’s Court specifically for combat veterans who’ve had brushes with the law and may be in the throes of PTSD. Dan oversees the Veteran’s Court himself.

Dan also mentioned recent significant prosecutions including the cases of human trafficking. Human traffickers Richard Scott Brooks and Oscar Higueros received 65 years to life and 168 years to life respectively. Mr. Dow emphasized that there is often a gang aspect to these types of crimes and that SLO Co. is proactive in its gang suppression efforts.

SLO Co. now has a digital facility at Camp SLO designed for forensic searches of computers, devices, phones et al. The new marijuana law’s impact is still unknown but cultivation must comport with state law while the Feds will monitor exportation.

Once again, Mr. Dow’s presentation was well received and he was presented with a certificate of that appreciation.

Special guests Jim Fosdyck, President of CASSAR and his wife, Un Hui Yi, President for the Women’s Auxiliary were introduced.

President Fosdyck encouraged the Chapter to send someone to the CASSAR Spring Meeting in Concord, CA which convenes on April 19 through April 21. Jim also asked that we consider identifying someone deserving of a flag certificate.

Un Hui Yi was kind enough to present Dan Dow with a Viet Nam Veteran’s Commemorative coin in recognition for his service on behalf of vets.

Motion (Scully) the chapter will cover the hotel and registration expenses (maximum $900.00) for a member to attend the CASSAR Annual Spring Meeting in Concord, CA. Seconded (Harris). President Scully will canvass the membership via email to elicit a quorum and approval.

Closing Pledge

Adjournment: 2:33 PM

 Respectfully Submitted,

 Chris Scrimiger

Chapter Secretary

Presentation of Certificate and Cannon to guest speaker Dan Dow.

Group photo with Dan Dow, Jim Fosdyck, President CASSAR, and his wife, Un Hui Yi, president of CASSAR Ladies Auxillary.

Un Hui Yi was kind enough to present Dan Dow with a Viet Nam Veteran’s Commemorative coin in recognition for his service on behalf of vets.