Tri-Stars & Stripes Council Meeting Minutes
The Tennessee Tri-Stars and Stripes Council for Military Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families (SMVF) meets regularly to review progress toward strategic goals and to coordinate statewide Veteran and military family initiatives.
This page provides access to official Council meeting minutes, documenting discussions, actions, and decisions taken by Council members in alignment with Executive Order 102 and the 2025–2028 Strategic Plan.
Purpose of Meeting Minutes
Meeting minutes serve as the official record of the Council’s proceedings and are maintained to promote transparency, accountability, and collaboration across state agencies and partner organizations.
Each set of minutes includes:
- Date and location of the meeting
- Attendance and quorum verification
- Agenda items discussed
- Motions and votes taken
- Action items, next steps, and follow-up assignments
The Council held its first formal meeting to establish priorities under Executive Order 102. Members discussed strategic planning, committee formation, and the creation of focus areas such as suicide prevention, veteran employment, education benefits, and outreach. The session emphasized collaboration and the development of a unified statewide veteran services framework.
Subcommittees presented detailed progress reports linked to Executive Order 102 goals. Topics included business development for veterans, improvements to the Tennessee STRONG Act, homelessness prevention, and branding for statewide veteran outreach. Members also discussed improving coordination among partner agencies and nonprofits.
This meeting featured updates on the strategic plan’s submission to the Governor’s Office, the Veteran Coordination Platform, and the new Tri-Stars and Stripes website. Guest speakers included representatives from Operation Stand Down and the Tennessee Department of Health, highlighting TBI support programs and statewide veteran initiatives.
This meeting focused on committee reports and progress updates. Council members reviewed employment and entrepreneurship initiatives, education benefits for military-connected families, suicide prevention strategies, and outreach goals. The Legislative Affairs Committee also briefed members on the state’s policy cycle and how to advance council recommendations effectively.
Committees reported on measurable outcomes and proposed next steps. Highlights included expanding SMVF employment pipelines, refining the STRONG Act education portal, enhancing veteran treatment court coordination, and developing a single statewide SMVF communications brand. Guest presenters discussed veteran mental health and upcoming TDVS events.
Council members discussed updates to the Strategic Plan and the Veteran Coordination Platform. The meeting featured a presentation on the Purple Star School initiative and a tour of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology. Announcements included ribbon cuttings, symposiums, and new quarterly meeting dates through 2026.
Council members reorganized committees and defined five core focus areas: Employment and Entrepreneurship, Education Benefits, Resources and Equity, Suicide Prevention, and Communications. Discussions centered on committee priorities and collaboration to align efforts with Tennessee’s strategic plan for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families.
The Council reviewed updates to the 2025–2028 Strategic Plan and demonstrated new collaboration tools, including SharePoint and Teams access for council and committee members. Members also discussed inclusion of women’s and justice-related veteran issues and approved prior meeting minutes unanimously.