Austin, Texas Chapter
The Association for all Military Officers
Companion Bulletin - December 2004
At our November meeting, we had a full house to hear Captain Eric Sims
give us his perspective of conditions in Iraq after a year of duty there.
The description of the high caliber soldiers, which comprise our forces,
was candid and reinforced the pride we all hold for our great country. How
appropriate for Veteran's Day! We welcomed several members and/or their
spouses who have been absent recently, notably Norma Jean Anderson, Micky
Burrell and Colonel Chase Jones. It was great to socialize with them
again! Everyone greeted our newest member. Colonel Wesley Lokken, U.S.
Marine Corps (Ret). Companion Szendrey distributed the recently compiled
Chapter roster, complete with telephone numbers and spouse's names, where
appropriate. We have needed such a document for a long time. Additionally,
Colonel Szendrey has negotiated excellent pricing of the meal selections
for our December meeting at the Austin Club. Companion Tom Anderson has
arranged for live music entertainment for this gala event on Thursday, 9
December. The guest speaker that evening will be Miss Kelly Cordova who
will be awarded the Bronze Patrick Henry Medal for her outstanding service
as a Counselor at the 2004 Youth Leadership Conference at Texas A&M
University. I hope to see all of you at this very special meeting. COL Andrew McVeigh
Meeting, 9 December 2003 |
Schedule: Chaplain's Selection ROTC Awards Legislation |
* A Federal law, the "Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act" will sharply reduce check "float" times, i.e. the lag between the date that someone writes a check and when the funds are deducted from their account. Beginning October 28, financial institutions must be able to accept and process "substitute checks" derived from electronic transmission of check data. These requirements, spelled out by this new law known as "Check 21," are part of a broader effort to cut the cost of handling paper and limit bank losses from check fraud. As financial institutions adopt the provisions of Check 21, checks may clear faster, so it is more important than ever to have the funds in your account to cover a check. By some estimates, the amount of time for a check to clear-the "float"-will shrink from as long as five days to a day or two as more banks adopt electronic transmission of check data. Chapter Officers
| Items of Interest * Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are already beginning to organize. One group, called Operation Truth, was launched Aug. 24. This group has four main concerns: imminent danger & family separation pay, adequate equipment for front-line troops, length of deployments for "citizen-soldiers" and the stop- loss policy of keeping personnel in uniform beyond their enlistment dates. Operation Truth, identified as an advocacy and educational organization, also is concerned about counseling for those wounded both physically and psychologically * As of November 1, the conversion to the three new TRICARE regions and contractors has been completed. On that date, beneficiaries in the remaining portion of the new South Region transitioned to their new regional contractor, Humana Military Healthcare Services Inc.
Profile, Myth & Judgment |
| As early as 1959, as Palestinian exiles in Kuwait were forming Fatah, Arafat was only playing lip service to the idea of collective leadership. Two years later his contemporaries noticed how he "exercised total control over the Fatah war chest and how he bribed people to join him". But to his credit, he did more than anyone else to put the Palestinians' cause on the world agenda. Led by Arafat, the PLO took up arms themselves, hijacking airliners and committing other acts of violence. As a military leader, Arafat often led the way into action against the Israelis. His goal has always been independence for the Palestinians, with himself as president. To these ends he has used threats and intimidation as to ensure that he alone should hold the reins of power. But Arafat made one critical mistake for which he paid dearly. By supporting Saddam Hussein after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, he lost vital funding from the Gulf oil states. When Iraq lost the Gulf war, the PLO found itself penniless and friendless. Arafat had no choice but to make peace with Israel from a position of weakness. Exactly how weak the Palestinian position was became clear when Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by an Israeli student opposed to handing over West Bank land to the Palestinians for peace. The right-wing Likud bloc came to power in elections the following year determined to "lower the expectations" of the Palestinians. There was little Arafat could do but accept whatever he was offered. Arafat was a brilliant leader but a hopeless organizer and negotiator. - Middle East Economic Survey (MEES) | Quote to Ponder
Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live. - Oscar Wilde Trivia December 23, 1783 -George Washington returned to Mount Vemon, after the disbanding of his army following the Revolutionary War. His first words upon returning home, "Hey, Martha - what's for dinner?" And, in a very deed voice, she replied, "BEEF!" Austin Chapter Website Staff Meeting The next staff meeting will be at the call of the Commander. |