EVENTS For JANUARY  19 JANUARY-dinner meeting     -1830 hours-BAE systems- (Tracor) 25 JANUARY-BOARD MEETING      -1330 HOURS        -CAMP MABRY NAVAL RESERVE BLDG  28 JANUARY- ROWC     -Luncheon-Austin Woman's CLUB         -See Page 4 for further details- SPECIAL NOTE NO. 1 THE upcoming Council and Chapters meeting which is to be hosted by the Austin Chapter, will be discussed at the Board Meeting and it is hoped that all Board members will make a special effort to attend. All other members are invited-especially if you might have ideas to contribute SPECIAL NOTE NO. 2  THE ROWC will host a VALENTINE DINNER DANCE on Saturday, 5 February, 2005, at the Austin Woman's Club. Details-next Bulletin-this is a HEADS UP and a chance to ask your Valentine to save the date. Repeat Notice, Special Attention USAF-ROTC-JROTC- COL Del Vecchio reports that he has had fair response from members volunteering to be presenters of awards next spring, but there are still vacant spots that need filling. All who have taken part in this program in the past have reported a very rewarding experience. It takes only part of an afternoon (or morning]. You would be impressed by the young people who earn these awards. Call 512-244-3248 or e-mail: colonelbdOsbcglobal.net When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign: that aII the dunces in the world are in confederation against him.                                                    Jonathon Swift DUES It's that time again-Look at the label on your NL-if it says "paid through 12, 2004, you are already riding on EMPTY. Your Treasurer and your Membership Officer would both appreciate your submission of your 05 dues ASAP. Downloading the Bulletin from the WEB does not exempt you. I am never bored.......being bored is an insult to oneself.                                                                  Jules Renard

Meet our Singers-CONT'D WILLIAM J. BUCHHOLTZ. BARITONE: Dr. Buchholtz was born in Ames, Iowa, and graduated from the University of Iowa with a medical degree in Dentistry. He was twenty years an officer in the U.S. Navy and is married to the former Bonnie Purvis. They have three children. Following retirement from the Navy, Dr. Buchholtz moved his family here and established a dental practice in Austin. The CHORD RANGERS CHORUS, the local Chapter of the S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A., was chartered in October, 1961 and celebrated their 40th year of continuous activity in 2001. One special program for which the chapter has gained recognition has been the Boy's Night Out/Girls Night Out. Working with local school districts and their music teachers, the Chord rangers help local high schoolers learn four-part harmony singing side by side with members of the chorus. Last year, the Chorus sponsored about 30 high school students with their instructors to attend "Harmony Explosion," the Society's music camp in Denton, Texas. The Chorus raises money for other charities in Austin, sings at hospitals and nursing homes during the year, makes appearances on Memorial Day, Veterans' Day, and several other holidays. They raise money, most notably during the St. Valentine's season, by singing in homes and offices for a nominal charge. ONE LUCKY JANUARY BABY WILL WIN A BIRTHDAY PRESENT, a GIFT FROM THE Editorial Staff.  JANUARY BIRTHDAYS- LtC George Armstrong Mrs. Rita Ounn Mrs. Joan Bandsuch Mrs. Rita Ounn Mrs. Betty Bosserman Mrs. Christa Pierce Mrs. Mary Boyce Maj. Leonard Reink Mrs. Jane Day Maj. Loyd Reiss Mrs. Jo Jo Edwards, Jr. COL William Richardson Mrs. Marjorie Grain Mrs. Mary Ann Rose Mrs. Peggy Holland LtC Milton Rose CAPT Merlen Howe Mrs. Virginia Seideman Mrs. Marte Kopra Mrs. Kathryn Slepr COL B.J. Martin Mrs. Shirley Smith Mrs. Gennie Meek Mrs. Mary Sokolewicz Mrs. Enge Meier COL Bryan Spencer COL Donald Mishler Mrs. Sylvia Trzaskoma COL James Orr Mrs. Jody Williams Mrs. Anna Oerdeyn Mrs. Cherry Witt Any January Birthday that was missed can be added by Driver License birth date on Wednesday evening. SORRY-you have to be present to win the Present. No substitutes.

THE BULLETIN BOARD     DINNER MEETING -   Wednesday, 19 January 2005     BAE Systems Dining Hall         6500 Tracor Lane (Highway 183, South of Webberville Overpass, Just off Ed Bluestein Blvd)                       1830 hours          Attire: Men: Business Suit, Uniform always appropriate                     Ladies: Business dress or Pant Suit or Uniform                             Charge: $18.00 per person  [check payable to AMOAA ] Note: Reservations may be made with your assigned caller or with your service representative by calling before 2100 hours on the Sunday before the Wednesday dinner. Cancellations should also be made by the aforementioned time. Individuals who do not honor reservations will be billed.

-------COME AND JOIN YOUR FELLOW MEMBERS - SUPPORT MOAA!  If you don't participate in the activities, you have no standing to complain if you are unhappy. This is the first meeting of 2005- let's give the year a good sendoff and resolve to attend the meetings. Try it-1 guarantee you will like it. (Not a money back guarantee, though]

PROGRAM --- The OVATION! Barbershop Quartet, a part of the CHORD RANGERS CHORUS--According to Stephen Montignani, a Chord Ranger, it is estimated that at any one point in its 40 years history, at least one half of the Chorus have been former military men. They love to sing comedic tunes, love songs and ballads, but their favorites are the patriotic songs such as "God Bless America," "Battle Hymn of the Republic," and the service hymns of the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. I am sure they will invite us to join in singing the service hymns with them. COME OUT AND JOIN THE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!'!!!!! -Please Note: If you are not being called each month concerning the dinner meeting on the third Wednesday, please call your service representative (listed elsewhere in the Bulletin) and ask that he/she add your name to the calling lists. Your Service Rep may have changed, and your caller may have, also.  lf you have not been called by Sunday Evening and wish to attend the dinner, and cannot reach your own Service Rep, please call one of the others. They will be glad to accommodate you and turn in your reservation. MOAA Name tags available-Members who wish permanent name tags should contact COL Ben A. Meharg at 280-2569. E-mail bmeharg@austin.rr.com. The cost is 3.00, but they will last a lifetime-unless you lose them.

ORDER OF THE EVENING SEATING CHARTS WILL BE PLACED ON TABLES AT 1830 HOURS 1830-1900: -Social Period - Bar Open--  Pay for Dinner, Check in with Service Representative, Select Seats (sign form at end of table)  1900-1910 : Invocation Pledge of Allegiance National Anthem  1910-2000: Dinner and Door Prizes 2000: Barbershop Quartet MENU Oriental Field Greens                with Rice Wine Sesame Vinaigrette     Apple Ginger Pork Loin         Jasmine Rice            Oriental Vegetable Mix    White Rolls-Butter         Key Lime Pie            Coffee-Tea-Iced Tea ATTENTION SINGLES     We try to sit together at MOAA dinners. Look for the sign-SINGLES- and sign your name if you want to sit with us.    We are not guaranteeing a singles spot-You do not have to sit there.

CHAPTER OFFICERS 2004-2005 President Col. Maurice Quigley USA 327-0285 email Duties First VP Major Stanley Bullard USAF 926-8438 email Duties Second VP Col. Ben A. Meharg USMC 280-2569 email Duties Third VP LtC. Hal Hampton USAF 327-2378 email Duties Secretary Mrs. Patricia O. Eagan FMS 894-4036 email Duties Treasurer LtC. Rogerio Rabago USAF 345-8193 email Duties USA Representative Col. Bill Del Vecchio USA 244-3248 email Duties USAF Representative LtC. J. R. Howard USAF 996-4142 email Duties USN/USMC/USCG/USPHS/USNOAA LCdr. Joyce Hoover USN 452-9786 email Duties

Appointed Board Members
Chaplain	LtC. Ernest S. Dean	USAF	477-5390	email	Duties
Assistant Chaplain	Col. Leon Holland	USA	335-1224	email	Duties
Personal Affairs Officer	Capt. William K. Brown	USN	345-5420	email	Duties
Austin Military Coalition Representative	Col. Bruce Conover	USAF	282-1844	email	Duties
Legislative Affairs Officer	LtC. Carlos W. Higgins	USAF	258-3564	email	Duties
ROTC Awards Coordinator	Col. Bill Del Vecchio	USA	244-3248	email	Duties
Newsletter Editor	LtC. Mary Kelso	USA	346-7140	email	Duties
Webmaster	LtC. J. R. Howard	USAF	255-2206	email	Duties

 

RETIRED OFFICERS WIVES CLUB LUNCHEON-Friday, 28 January-Austin Woman's Club       Program-The Texas Silver Haired Legislature           presented by its Chairman, LTC Carlos Higgins                 You will be encouraged to ask questions.  Social time----10:45a.m.      Luncheon---11:30  Reservations: Martha Kirby 259-0423 or Jo Jean Gillespie 345-3069          No later than the Tuesday before the meeting.   Club Dues are Due-($13.00) to insure you are correctly listed in the 2005-06 Roster. Luncheon----      First Monday of each Month -1300 hours-that is 1:00 PM           Caring and sharing Widows Group-                 LUBY'S CAFETERIA ON STECK AVE (OFF MESA OR MOPAC)                         Contact Genevieve Bruce (453-0871) BRIDGE Second Friday of each Month- 0915 hours Bridge - Cafeteria in the Headquarters building of CAMP MABRY Contact-Shirley Bone (1-246-9829) or Eva Costello (458-9064) TAPS Our esteemed and honored Immediate Past President-  Harry L. Smith, COL, USAF, (Ret) 15 December, 2004 Eternal rest grant unto him, oh Lord, and may the perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace, Amen

 

 

EXCERPTS FROM  THE  AFFILIATE-LEGISLATIVE SPOTLIGHT -JAN.,2005  Boy Scouts Not Barred From Military Facilities-      The Pentagon has recently clarified some misunderstandings concerning the implications of an ACLU lawsuit regarding the Boy Scouts' relationship with the military. The lawsuit contended that the military should not sponsor the Scouts because the organization requires members to believe in God. Some have worried that the lawsuit might result in the Boy Scouts being barred from military installations.      DoD has issued clarifying information that the Scouts will cont inure to be allowed to use military facilities on the same basis as other organizations. Although military units may not sponsor troops [or other voluntary organizations) in an official capacity, service members are free  to do so as private citizens. In addition, Sec Def Donald Rumsfeld has written congressional leaders to clarify DoD's intent to continue support for scouting Jamborees. (Edit note-The objective of the ACLU is obviously destructive, not constructive].      MOAA and the military community had another banner year in 2004. The FY 2005 Defense Authorization Act provided a number of long-sought improvements in pay, benefits and health care, including: Elimination of the Survivor Benefit Plan [SBP] military "widows tax" over a relatively short 3-1/2 year period for survivors age 62 and older; Restoration of full longevity-based retired pay as of January 2005 for all 100% disabled retirees with at least 200 qualifying years of service; Permanent military identification cards for spouses and survivors age 75 and older, so they don't have to deal with ID Card renewal hassles or risk interruptions of their health coverage because their ID Card expired: Fee-based TRICARE Standard coverage for members of the Selected Reserve who have been mobilized for at least 90 days since Sept. 11, 2001. They'll be eligible for one year of coverage for themselves and their families for each 90 days on active duty. When not on active duty, they will pay a premium equal to 28% of the government's cost: [edit note-I trust that these conditions are really made clear to the people involved-otherwise nothing is accomplished]. More manpower for the Army and Marine Corps to help ease deployment burdens on troops and families. The Army will see a 20,000 increase in FY2005, plus another 10,000 at the Secretary of. Defense's discretion. The Marine Corps will see an extra 3,000, with discretionary authority for an additional 6,000, and a 3.5 % pay raise for all uniformed service members-one-half percentage point above the average American's pay raise-plus an overall 7 percent housing allowance increase to cover 100% of the median housing cost for each grade and locality.      All MOA members (and especially chapter members] deserve credit for these victories. Our actions on Capitol Hill wouldn't have much impact if they weren't backed up by thousands of letters, e-mails and phone calls from constituents. ................................................

Despite these significant gains, much remains to be done.  Priorities for 2005 include:   Repeal of the law that makes survivors of members who died of service-connected causes give up a dollar of their SBP annuities for each dollar they receive from the VA: Accelerating the 2008 implementation date for 30- year paid-up SBP coverage: Full elimination of the "disabled retiree tax" that continues to deny most disabled retirees their full earned retired pay, including acceleration of the phase-in schedule for "unemployables" and others with less than 100% disability ratings; Expanded health coverage and more appropriate retirement terms for Guard and Reserve members who are absorbing far more of the operational mission than was envisioned when the Reserve system was built 50 years ago; Additional manpower increases as necessary to match the vastly increased deployment requirements that are wearing out our active duty and Guard and Reserve forces and threatening a retention and readiness crisis if not reliever: and Family support increases to better serve active duty and Guard and Reserve families, particularly those left behind during contingency operations who do not have access to an-base support facilities. .............................. It's extremely important that all members of the military and veterans' community lend mutual support to each others' issues. If we only support those that affect us personally, we fragment our base of support and reduce the chance of success on every issue...................... Look for a more complete list of MOAA's  '05 goals in the January Military Officer magazine. Also, members who don't receive the weekly Legislative Update, please check out page 29 of the Januray magazine to learn how to subscribe, stay informed and participate in our calls to action. ARMY EXPECTS TO ELIMINATE "CRSC" BACKLOG BY FEBRUARY---In Qctober......we reported that the Air Force and Navy had eliminated most of their applications backlogs. The Army still reported a backlog of about 8.000 cases......................The Army now is rendering decisions based on the documents the retiree provides with the application......................The Army CRSC staff thinks most members would rather get immediate action and feedback rather than waiting months for a decision that still might require more legwork. -----------END OF EXCERPTS---------- PLEASE NOTE-Dependents and Survivors-lf you are 75 years or older-don't play false pride-go to the ID section and apply for your Permanent ID Card. This was a victory won and it should be made use of.

DUES FORM Please fill in the form below, detach it, and mail it with your check (payable to AMOAA) to: Military Officers Association of America P.O. Box 1071 Austin TX 78767-1071 o New Member          o  Returning Member     o  Current Active Member Dues for 1 Jan thru 31 Dec            are $ 15 for Officers and $ 10 for Widows and Widowers   Name, Rank, Service ___________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________ City ___________________________________________ State _______________Email________________________ Telephone no. _______________ Fax________________________