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THE BULLETIN BOARD |
I believe it was Mark Twain who quoted the fellow being ridden out of town on a rail after being tarred and feathered, "Were it not for the honor I would probably have passed on this occasion." Well, being a "retread" president of this fine chapter, I am, nonetheless, honored and privileged to serve once again as President of the Austin Chapter of MOAA. I am and will always be proud of any connection I have had with the military of the United States. I am proud to be associated with each of you who have diligently and honorably served our country. Of course, the "high pay and glory" of the office, -mentioned by Col. Jim Orr in making his Nominating Committee report, certainly helps to pad the rail. Here we are at the beginning of another year, and I promise you that with help of the fine board members and appointees with which we are blessed, we will try to make it another interesting and enjoyable year. Major Stan Bullard stepped forward to take the First VP [Programs] position, and, knowing Stan as I do, I know that he has already begun lining up many interesting, informative and entertaining programs. To those of you who are WWII veterans we extend heartfelt thanks and congratulations on finally receiving the recognition you deserve through the dedication of the great monument on Memorial Day. Those of us who served in other times and other places share your pride in service and thank you for the example you have set, not just for us, but for generations to follow. I would be remiss if I did not again thank Col. Harry Smith and those who served with him on the 2003-04 Board for an outstanding year. Don't stray too far away. We will not be bashful about calling on you for advice. To those who so willingly chose to remain with us in various positions of leadership and service, we are deeply grateful. While we are at the beginning of a new administrative year, it is never too early to remind everyone that, in order to continue to have the kind of organization in which we can all take pride, new leadership must be willing to step forward. Surely, in this organization of leaders, there are those with the energy, talent, and desire to keep this chapter on course. Think about it now, so that when a new Nominating Committee comes to talk with you at the end of this year you will be ready to step forward. Otherwise, this chapter just might cease to exist, and I can't believe any of us want that to happen. I look forward to seeing each of you on the 16th. Maurice Quigley, Col., USA, Ret. |
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------------------------------------- SSGT Guzman is the recipient of the Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal with one bronze star.
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THE BULLETIN BOARD DINNER MEETING-16 June, 2004 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 will be the last meeting until September--It is daylight quite late---- COME OUT AND BE COUNTED!""""! |
| ROTC-JROTC
The Austin MOAA appreciates the voluntary efforts of those Officers who participated in the ROTC/JROTC Awards program this year. The Schools and Cadets are also very thankful for your unselfish contribution. Col. William P. DelVecchio HELP OUR TROOPS CALL HOME EXCERPT FROM THE AFFILIATE JUNE, 2004 DoD has authorized the Armed Services Exchanges to sell prepaid calling cards to any individual or organization that wants to purchase cards for deployed troops. The program is designed to help service members call home from overseas while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom of Operation Enduring Freedom. If you want to donate a prepaid calling card to a military member, call [800] 527-2345 or log on to any of the following Web sites: *Army and Air Force Exchange Service www.aafes.com | Once you are on the Web site, click the "Help our Troops Call
Home" link. From there, you can purchase a prepaid calling card for an
individual at his or her deployed address. You also can select "any service member" to have a card sent to a soldier who is deployed or
hospitalized. The Exchanges will distribute cards donated in this way through
the American Red Cross, Air Force Aid Society and the Fisher House Foundation.
.........The Exchanges operate telephone call centers in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan
and other countries, and aboard ships-anywhere service members are
deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi
Freedom...........The cards offer the best value for calls made from the call
centers, never expire and have no added charges or connection fees. .
...........................also can show their support to deployed troops and their families with the following gift certificates: * The Gift of Groceries program allows people to purchase commissary gift certificates at www.commissaries.com or by calling (B77]770-GIFT [4438]. *Exchanges offer the Gift From The Home front gift certificate for merchandise at these exchange Web sites; www.aafes.com and www.navy-nex.com or by calling (877) 770-GIFT (4438). Gift certificates can be purchased to be mailed to service members and their family members or to be distributed to any service member. Only authorized commissary and exchange patrons may redeem the gift certificates at military commissaries and exchanges, including those stores supporting deployed personnel around the world. |
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DOD RELEASES NEW CRSC GUIDANCE-
Excerpt from "The Affiliate-June 2004 In late April, DoD finally issued the long-awaited new rules for the
processing of Combat-Related Special Compensation [CRSC) applications. The
major change is expansion of eligibility to include all combat-related
disabilities and inclusion of dependent compensation. | Some days you tame the tiger. And some days the tiger has you for lunch. Tug McGraw. Professional baseball player --------SCHOLARSHIP FUND REPORT------- A call to Cindy Amos this morning reveals that we have made progress in the contribution competition for the 75th anniversary Scholarship Fund. We now have 18 members who have contributed. We are still a long way from the 10% they were hoping for. We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make, which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee. Bits and Pieces
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PROGRAM SPEAKER-S/SGT LOUIE GUZMAN-Just in time for summer travel, S/Sgt Guzman will tell us about Space A travel opportunities. As you all should know, spouses can now travel in the continental United States with their sponsors. It may not be quite as comfortable as some commercial flights, but the price is certainly right, and the security couldn't be better. AND reservations can be made in advance -you do not have to go to the base terminal and wonder if you will get on a flight. If you have been wanting to take a trip and weren't sure you could afford it, NOW IS THE TIME to learn about Space A. And think about utilizing guest housing at your destination. SEE YOU THERE-at least one of our members already has reservations. | ORDER OF THE EVENING SEATING CHARTS WILL BE PLACED ON TABLES AT 1830 HOURS 1830-1900 hours- Social Period 2000: Speaker |
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MOAA Name tags available-Members who wish permanent name tags should contact Col. Ben A. Meharg at 280-2569. The cost is $ 3.00, but they will last a lifetime-unless you lose them. -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.
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MENU ATTENTION SINGLES Questions or Info-call |
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CHAPTER OFFICERS 2003-2004
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THE SILVER-HAIRED LEGISLATURE In May, 2004, Carlos Higgins was elected to a third term in THE Texas Silver -Haired Legislature. May 30th 3004, HELLO ALL: The voting turn-out in this election was fairly small, but more than 80 percent of the votes cast were for me, so that was encouraging. I very much appreciate your interest, your votes, and the extra efforts of many of you who helped get out the vote for me. As a reminder, the Texas Legislature set up the Texas Silver - Haired Legislature [TSHL], in 1985 to be advocates on behalf of senior citizens. Members from all over Texas meet in the Texas House Chamber at the Capitol, prior to the regular session of the Texas Legislature to formulate positions on various issues. We then present our recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature for their consideration. The TSHL members regularly meet with members of the Texas Legislature and frequently testify before the various legislative committees. I have been elected to represent District 1, which is composed of all of Williamson County and the northern half of Travis County (north of the Colorado River). If you have a strong interest in some issue- affecting seniors- that you believe should be brought to the attention of our Legislature, please let me know about it. It may be an issue that the TSHL would want to develop and pursue. During the next legislative session, if you would like to be informed of " senior issues" being tracked by the TSHL, lat me know and I will attempt to provide relevant information, via e-mail. Respectfully, Carlos Higgins CarlosTX@att.net |
EXCERPTS FROM LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 05-21 Final House Defense Bill included SBP Fix- Senate action delayed. The House completed action on its version of the 2005 National Defense Authorization Bill on 2O May. It included, for the first time, a provision to end the age-62 reduction in the Survivor Benefit Plan annuity. This is the provision............ calling for an end to the age-62 "widows' tax" in 3 1/2 years. The Senate suspended work on its version of the Defense Bill f or the Memorial Day Holiday recess. SBP champion. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA], had not yet offered her planned SBP Amendment on the floor, but plans to do so when the Senate returns. Her planned amendment is similar to the House provision. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT MOAA MEMBERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS CONTINUE TO BUILD PRESSURE ON THE SENATE TO ACT IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE HOUSE ON THIS CRITICAL ISSUE. THIS WILL HELP ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF SEN. lANDRIEU'S EXPECTED FLOOR ACTION AFTER THE BREAK. Contact your Senators and tell them that you want them to vote FOR Sen. Landrieu's amendment. Use our Action Alert at http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues or our toll- free Capitol Hill Hotline (877) 762-8762. to urge support of military widows. (EDITOR note-Don't forget that other Federal employees are not penalized in this manner and that our legislators have made certain that their survivors have no such penalties.) |
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SPECIAL NOTE TO ALL MEMBERS
Future Newsletters may be sent electronically to any and all members with
e-mail addresses. This will provide a more economical and faster method of
transmission. Printed copies will be sent to any one wishing a hard copy. Our
chapter is posted at http://www.main.org/moaaaustin
It is hosted free by The Metropolitan Austin Interactive Network (MAIN),
a non-profit organization whose mission is to operate a community-access
computer network. Our Web site has an application, a list of chapter officers
with contact information, 185 of my favorite jokes, a list of other chapters
that have a Website, and recent newsletters. You will be able to find the
information for the next meeting on our website. There is a link to the Air
Force Band, which has many service and patriotic music files. The site is a
work-in-progress. Check in monthly to review our progress. Common sense is not so common. Voltaire [Bits & Pieces] Safe, for a child, is his father's hand, holding him tight.. Marion C Garrett [Bits & Pieces} | Reserve Health Care Implementation Scheduled. DoD finally has announced
plans to implement a provision in last year's Defense Authorization Act that
permits uninsured or unemployed members of the National Guard and Reserve to
join TRICARE on a cost-share basis........................At a meeting with
NMO and other association representatives this week, TRICARE officials
announced the start of a Congressionally directed pilot to offer cost-share
access to TRICARE benefits to uninsured NG and Reserve service members.
Previously, officials had announced extended coverage for families before
and after mobilization periods. The pilot program would permit enrollment
for citizen-soldiers when they are not on active duty. TRICARE eligibility for the pilot opens in each region at varied times, depending on the Region.
IMPORTANT DATES IN JUNE- FLY YOUR FLAG 6 JUNE-D Day 14 JUNE-Flag Day-especially important -FLY FLAG 20 JUNE-FATHERS' DAY One father is more than a hundred school masters. George Herbert 1593-1633 Poet |
| RETIRED OFFICERS WIVES CLUB 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 |
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DUES FORM Please fill in the form below, detach it, and mail it with your check
(payable to AMOAA) to: 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
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