Greetings; by the time this bulletin is on the streets, we may be at war with Iraq.  If we are, I invite all of our members to support the President of the United States and the U.S. Military as they once again put their lives on the line for our freedom.  Keep all of the troops and their families in your prayers as we pray for a swift end to this conflict. 

     As of March 1, 2003, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a regulation that will boost Medicare payment rates to physicians.  Under the rule, payments for physician services will increase an average of 1.6 percent beginning March 1.  This is the result of the recently enacted spending bill for fiscal year 2003 which allowed CMS to revise figures used in the statutory formula and increase the update for 2003 from a negative 4.4 percent to a positive 1.6 percent. 

     A one-year test starting April 1 will permit space available air travel within the continental United States by family members who accompany their military sponsors.  This will include dependents of active duty members and military retirees.  The test ends March 31, 2004.  Retirees may sign up 60 days in advance but not before the test begins April 1.  For more information on the space-A privilege, its rules, registration process, travel procedures, tips, and frequently asked questions, visit the following web site; http://amcpublic.scott.af.mil/SPACEA/spacea.htm. 

     As you know MOAA has campaigned to end the Survivor Benefit Plan annuity reductions imposed on military SBP survivor’s age 62 and older.  Representative Ed Schrock has taken it upon himself to champion an SBP fix in the Budget Committee.  To aid Rep. Schrock in his efforts, members of the MOAA staff and other representatives from The Military Coalition (TMC) have made personal visits to the offices of every House Budget Committee member.  If you would like to help in this effort send a MOAA prepared email message by visiting their web site at http://capwiz.com/moaa/home/.  The latest Military Officer magazine provided postcards with a blank return address that can be mailed in. 

Again we would like to encourage any member, who is interested in becoming actively involved in MOAA operations, to attend our Board meetings, normally held on the 1st Saturday of every month at the NS Little Creek Amphibious Base Golf Course clubhouse.  The meetings start at 0830.
                                                                                                We're Rolling,
                                                                                                John

NOTE: 144 members'  dues expired -- not included above.

     Please help us sell ads for our new Chapter Directory to help defray publication and mailing costs. If you are in business locally, or have friends who are, the 2003 issue of the Directory will be published in May and will have an initial distribution of nearly 900 copies to current chapter members, and thereafter to each new member. Subscriber advertisements will receive two years of member exposure until the next issue is printed.

     Ads for the 2003 - 2004 Chapter Directory shall be single color (black and white), camera-ready copy in the following sizes for the prices shown:

     Full page: 4 1/2"w x 6 1/2"h       $400.00
     Half page: 4 1/2"w x 3 1/2"h      $250.00

     Submission deadline is 1 May 2003. 

     Each spring the ROTC units from Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University; Booker T. Washington, Lake Taylor, Norview, Maury, and Granby High Schools of Norfolk hold their annual awards ceremony. The two universities hold their ceremonies at their respective schools. NSU has Naval ROTC and Old Dominion has Army ROTC. The Norfolk High Schools are all NJROTC and hold a joint awards ceremony, usually at Naval Base Norfolk. The four Virginia Beach High Schools, Princess Anne, Salem, First Colonial/Cox and Green Run also are all NJROTC and hold their awards ceremonies at their respective schools.

     The Hampton Roads Chapter MOAA has a representative at these ceremonies to present the MOAA medal and certificate to a selected outstanding Cadet from each school, "For Having Demonstrated Exceptional Potential for Military Leadership."

     Early each year, Princess Anne High School has hosted the NJROTC Cavalier Drill Meet. High Schools from Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia are invited to participate in this competition. Normally, about fifteen schools attend. The drills are usually held at Rockwell Hall at the Naval Amphibious Base, Norfolk. The competition consists of thirteen individual and Unit drills with rifles and swords. Marine Corps personnel  are the Judges for the event. There are 3 trophies for each of the thirteen events to be awarded. The Hampton Roads Chapter, MOAA for the past 18 years has supported this Drill Meet by donating $500 for trophies.

     Salem Middle School recently participated in the American Folklife Center's Veteran History Project. The students and teachers held a Veterans History Day on February 12, 2003. The students, who have become youth partners with the Veterans History Project, interviewed and recorded the histories of the World War I, World War II, Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf War Veterans. The participating veterans volunteered to share their stories, letters, diaries, photographs, and other documents to be donated to the National Veterans History Collection with the Library of Congress.

     "I cannot begin to express my gratitude for all the help provided by the local MOAA chapter members to get this project off the ground," said Mrs. Catherine Meechan, school coordinator of the project. Three Hampton Roads Chapter MOAA members gave first hand accounts of the wars that they were involved in to help broaden the students' understanding of our Nation's involvement in these wars. Meechan said, "My students keep talking about all the wonderful storied that have inspired them." My favorite remark from one of the students was, "I didn't take this project seriously until I actually met the veterans. I was extremely interested in what he had to say, but more surprised that he was interested in what I had to say. It is not every day that we are offered a chance to touch history." "I knew right then that I would put this project together again next year," Meechan said.

     HRCMOAA participants in the school history project include CDR John Vermillion, USN (Ret), LCOL Jesse Sandlin, USAF (Ret), and COL James Smith, USA (Ret).

     The Hampton Roads Chapter, Military Officers Association of America has once again sponsored the Cavalier Drill Meet, which is hosted annually by the Princess Anne High School's NJROTC  Unit. The Chapter has provided support for the event for 18 years. The HRCMOAA funded $500 for trophies for the program. Twelve schools participated in the Drill Meet held on February 15, 2003 at Rockwell Hall, NAB Little Creek, Norfolk, Virginia. The Princess Anne High School NJROTC won the event. 

     The Retired Officers Wives Society (ROWS) has recently contributed to our Chapter the sum of $400 from their sales of booklets of favorite recipes. The funds will be applied to the annual NJROTC Drill Competition. Thank you, Ladies, for your generous contribution!