Lt. Colonel Jesse O. Sandlin
President, Hampton Roads Chapter
The Retired Officers Association
2809 Pine Ridge Lane
Virginia Beach, VA  23452

Dear Colonel Sandlin,

     I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Hampton Roads Chapter, Retired Officers Association for its generous support of the Princess Anne NJROTC Cavalier Drill Meet.  For seventeen years TROA has allowed us to host a meet that is financially within reach of every NJROTC unit.

     The March 2nd meet will be held in Rockwell Hall at Little Creek Amphibious Base and as of this time we have entries from twelve schools from Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.  Please convey to the memebers of the chapter how much we appreciate their generous support to our unit.

                                                                  Sincerely,
                                                                  RICHARD E. CONAWAY
                                                                  LCDR          USN(RET)

     Changes are in the wind for TROA. As I reported in the October, 2001 edition of this TROA Bulletin, National TROA Board of Directors were looking for a new name for TROA because we were not attracting recently retired officers into our organization. Plus what we do encompasses more than just the retired community. The name provided by the contracted consulting firm was "Military Officers Association of America".

     I'm sure that there was and is compelling reason for the Board to take this step. How you vote on this issue is up to you.. Ballots should be forth-coming in the TROA magazine soon. I would like you to keep in mind some of the following things associated with this proposal; TROA is known nation and world wide and its mission well known, the present logo is recognized and respected, and members of the legislature are familiar with us. I could go on and on about this but we have to address this as one of necessity and/or feasibility. Look for the ballot and vote as you deem best.

     TROA's "Personal Affairs Department" has been changed to "Benefits Information Department". Same people same mission. Why change? To make the title more accurate, reduce confusion, and make it easier for members to find the information they seek. Good change.

     Said before and needs to be said again. If you know of any Medicare eligible family members and survivors age 65 and over who want to use TRICARE for LIFE and do not possess a valid ID card will need to obtain from their local Realtime Automated Personnel Identification System ID card facility. For questions contact the Defense Manpower Data Center at 1-800-538-9552.

     "Retired, disabled veterans close in on benefits boost". So said an article in the local paper last week. It looks like the bill to correct this inequity may be finally resolved. It is a sad commentary on our government that military retirees have to pay for their own disabilities. As our local U.S. Rep. Ed Schrock said " This is long, long, overdue ".

     Continuing efforts are in the works to eliminate the SBP off set that penalizes Social Security beneficiaries once they become eligible for these benefits.

     To subscribe to TROA's legislative update, send a request to legis-update@troa.org (Provide your TROA membership number).

For the past 53 years, TROA's Scholarship Fund has helped over 6,000 students from military families attend college. This year 1,500 students will receive $3,500 interest-free loans while a limited number will receive $3,000 grants. Additionally, 300 loan recipients will receive a $500 Designated Scholarship grant.

Typically, members have made contributions directly to the Fund with cash and/or securities. Many members include the Fund in their wills with a bequest to continue their support of military children.

TROA has available the recommended language for anyone considering a bequest for the Fund. If you have questions, call Cindy Amos, Development Director, at (800) 245-8762, ext. 169 or cindy@troa.org.

The Virginia Council of Chapters/TROA, consisting of 16 chapters, will again this year host an Annual Congressional Luncheon on 25 April 2002 at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, DC. The cost for this event is $35.00 each.

Plans are to carpool from the Sears parking lot (next to the bank at the corner of Virginia Beach and Independence Blvds.) departing at 0615 hours on 25 April for a one day round trip to DC.

Advance reservations and payment are required. Contact Gil Gilbert at 467-6435 or fngretired@earthlink.net by 10 April 2002.

Please mark your calendar in advance for THRCOTROA's 2-hour Luncheon Cruise on the Spirit of Norfolk for Sunday, 23 June 2002. The cost will be $24.00 per person, including gratuity. The program includes a cash bar, a delectable buffet with dessert, coffee, tea, and water. Also musical entertainment and a narrated waterfront tour. Details will be provided in our meeting notice card, to be mailed out early, approximately 55 days in advance so that required reservations can be scheduled.

ROWS has requested that our chapter solicit favorite recipes for their cookbook project that is scheduled for printing by December 15, 2002. Besides recipes from wives/auxiliaries, they would like recipes from men!
If you have a favorite recipe(s) cooked indoors or outdoors, please copy and submit it to:

The City of Virginia Beach, Waste Management Division has been awarded a grant to collect used computers and other electronic equipment for recycling. Here is a great opportunity to dispose of unwanted used 
equipment!!

TROA's legislative agenda and member services have always included active duty and second career officers. (They also pursue earned benefits for both officer and enlisted personnel.)

The chapter's membership committee has set a goal of 1,000 local members as a minimum. We need your help to recruit members, especially active duty and second career officers. TROA National has said many times that the strength of TROA comes from the grass roots strength of its local chapters. It's through the local chapters that many legislative issues are initiated and on both the local and national levels. (United we stand!)

We ask you to contact a retired officer friend or an officer on active duty and recruit them as a member of our local chapter, as well as for TROA National, if they don't already belong. Let's make our chapter even stronger by, "Every member get a new member!" 

The House Budget Committee made history on March 13 by including over half a billion dollars in its draft of the FY 2003 Budget Resolution as an initial down payment toward eventually ending the dollar-for-dollar offset of military retired pay for VA disability compensation. This is the first time that either the House or Senate Budget Committee has ever allocated a single dollar for this purpose, and it almost guarantees at least some real legislative and funding progress on this issue in FY 2003... Rep. Ed Schrock (R-VA) said the budget resolution "keeps the promise made to our veterans," and he highlighted that the committee is working to keep the promise of the "concurrent receipt benefit" for disabled retirees.... (Stay tuned for more information when available.)