President’s Message
If you didn't attend the March 19th luncheon at Atlantic Shores, you
missed a great meeting with Congressman Randy Forbes. He began his
presentation by thanking us for our service to our country. He then
discussed the economic and military status of China and the possible impact
it might have on our nation unless our government generates more interest
and becomes more involved. There were 70 persons in attendance.
I'm concerned about the declining membership in our chapter. It
has dropped from over 800 members in 2005 to 742 in December 2006 to our
current level of 519. What's happening? What do I and my staff
need to do to get members to renew their membership? Our Chapter
represents our rights and interests at both national and state level.
It produces a bimonthly newsletter to keep members informed. It supports
local ROTC and Junior ROTC leadership programs. It also supports
other programs such as, "Toys for Tots." These are some but not all
of the activities in which HRCMOAA is involved.
Our most recent Chapter luncheon was April 20th at Atlantic Shores.
Our Speaker was Attorney Frances H. Hampton who provided excellent
insight and information on Estate Planning. Our next Chapter function
is a luncheon on Monday, May 14th at Atlantic Shores. Congresswoman
Thelma Drake will be our featured Speaker.
Incidentally, did you know that you may be able to fly space available
from Norfolk NAS to Lajes, Sigonella, Italy, Bahrain and Naples?
I'm proud to be a member of the HRCMOAA. Are you?
God Bless America.
Jim Dellaripa
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HRCMOAA Directory
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Officers
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Directors
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Committees
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Program: 363-1094
MAJ Norm Crews,
USA Ret.
ncrews1@cox.net
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VCOC Representative:
382-9843
CDR John E. Vermillion,
USN-Ret.
vermillj@cox.net
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Legislative Affairs:
490-8383
Col Jack W. Hilgers,
USMC-Ret.
jackhilgers@earthlink.net
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Personal Affairs:
486-7639
MAJ Norm Crews,
USA-Ret.
ncrews1@cox.net
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Membership: 486-3318
LtCol Jesse Sandlin, USAF-Ret
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Publicity: 382-9843
CDR John E. Vermillion,
USN Ret.
vermillj@cox.net
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Community Affairs:
836-1646
CAPT Bill Lehr,
USCG-Ret.
bblehr@cox.net
CAPT Pat McFadden,
USN-Ret.
senchova@aol.com
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Information Systems:
481-0694
Col Richard A. Vogel,
USAF-Ret.
vogelra1@msn.com
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Webmaster: 490-5792
Maj Clifton G. Furedy,
USAF-Ret.
thrcmoaa@cox.net
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Editor: 382-9843
CDR John E. Vermillion,
USN-Ret.
Vermillj@cox.net
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From the Editor
America’s 400th Anniversary
This celebration will commemorate the founding of Jamestown and
the United States of America. Shown below is Mary Sherwood Holt
the guest speaker at the February 22 VIPMOAA luncheon held at the Langley
AFB Officers Club. |
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| Mary Sherwood Holt is the Chairperson of the Newport News/Jamestown
2007 Commission. She covered plans to help celebrate the 400th anniversary
of the founding of Jamestown and the United States of America. |
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| The luncheon was attended by our Chapter President and Newsletter Editor,
shown above from left to right are LtCol James Dellaripa, USAF-Ret.,
COL
Ernest Hinojosa, Jr. USA-Ret. (VIPMOAA President), and CDR John
Vermillion, USN-Ret. All enjoyed the presentation by Mary Sherwood
Holt.
John
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Important Notice
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| If your Newsletter Mailing label reads 2006 after your name this means
that your membership has expired. Please use the renewal application
form on page 11 of the printed Newsletter to renew for 3 years, or click
here to use the Website. Remember to ask a friend, co-worker,
or fellow church member, who may not be a Chapter member, to consider joining. |
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| MOAA Legislative Update |
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| TRICARE Benefits - Health Care Cost-Shifting
to Military Beneficiaries |
Issue: The FY07 Defense budget
would triple health fees for military retirees under age 65:
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Raising $230 single/$460 family TRICARE Prime
enrollment fee as high as $700/$1,400
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Raising annual $150 single/$300 family TRICARE
Standard fees as high as $560/$1,120
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Prime and Standard fees would be increased
annually by medical inflation, starting in 2008
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Retail pharmacy copays would be raised 67%
for all beneficiaries.
Background: DoD claims rising health
costs impinge on weapons programs. The Joint Chiefs endorse the fee hikes
because their leaders tell them that's the only way they'll get weapons
funding. Defense budgeteers assume the changes will save money by causing
hundreds of thousands of retirees to stop using their earned military benefits.
Defense leaders say fees should bring military closer to civilian practices.
Comparing TRICARE with corporate practices
is inappropriate. Exceptional military medical and retirement benefits
are the primary offsets for enduring decades of extraordinarily arduous
service conditions. Military retirees pay huge "up front" health premiums
through 20 years of service and sacrifice. Recruiting problems show few
Americans are willing to pay that heavy premium for that benefit.
The DoD proposed increases are grossly
out of line with benefits enacted by Congress. Proposed increases would
far outstrip annual retired pay increases and greatly erode retired compensation
value. Congress knew enacting TRICARE For Life wouldn't be cheap. Don't
penalize retirees for Congress' action. Penalizing those who serve
arduous 20- to 30-year military careers would be inconsistent with past
congressional action. For the last two years, Congress refused to accept
VA health fee increases for nondisabled veterans who had served as few
as two years. Tripling and quadrupling fees for those who served 20-30
years in uniform would be even more inappropriate.
The Nation's obligation to military retirees
exceeds corporate obligations. The government has a moral and practical
reciprocal obligation to provide benefits commensurate with the extraordinary
commitments it requires from career servicemembers. Mid-career military
losses can't be replaced like civilians can. Eroding benefits for career
service can only undermine long-term retention/readiness. Today's troops
are very conscious of Congress' actions concerning their future benefits.
MOAA surveys show 95% of active members oppose the DoD plan. Reducing military
retirement benefits would be penny-wise and pound-foolish when recruiting
is already a problem and an overstressed force is at increasing retention
risk.
TRICARE has ongoing problems. Doctors say
TRICARE is one of the lowest-paying plans in the country and imposes far
more administrative hassles than other plans. Beneficiaries at many locations
have difficulty finding providers willing to take them. The country
can afford to pay for both weapons and military health care. Today's defense
budget (in wartime) is only 4% of GDP, one-third lower than the peacetime-year
average since WWII. If we can afford hundreds of billions in pork and tax
cuts, we don't need to make military retirees pay for weapons. |
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HRCMOAA Hosts a Luncheon at the
Atlantic Shores Retirement Community
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| The guest speaker at the March 19th luncheon was our 4th District Representative,
Congressman
Randy Forbes. Randy has focused his efforts in Congress on protecting
the security and sovereignty of our nation, preserving the moral and historical
roots of our country. |
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He spoke on the buildup of the Chinese Navy, including new warships,
submarines, and a carrier. He also stressed the importance of getting
our Government Departments talking with each other. He is a member
of the Congressional China Caucus which takes a critical look at:
I) Military/Shipbuilding, II) Economy/Trade, III) Intellectual
Property, IV) Energy/Resources, and V) Human Rights/Religious Freedoms.
Shown below is President Jim Dellaripa presenting Congressman
Forbes with an engraved cup. |
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HRCMOAA MAY 2007 LUNCHEON
| WHEN: |
Monday, May 14, 2007 |
| WHERE: |
Atlantic Shores Retirement Community
Dam Neck Rd, Virginia Beach, Virginia |
| TIME: |
Social: 1100 Hours
Lunch: 1200 Hours |
| MENU: |
Salmon stuffed with Crabmeat
OR
Mascarpone Chicken Breast
Spinach with Strawberry Salad, Roasted Sweet & Red
Potato Medley, Steamed Asparagus,
Desert is Key Lime Pie. |
| PRICE: |
$17.00 per person |
| PROGRAM: |
Congresswoman Thelma Drake, our Second District Representative. (See
more info below) |
| RESERVATIONS: |
Reservations by 1900 hours, May 10, 2007.
Call Norm Crews, 363-1094, or Jim Dellaripa, 640-0947.
Give name, Phone Number, Menu selection and Number attending. |
| A RESERVATION MADE IS A RESERVATION PAID |
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Please print, fill-in
and mail the pre-paid Reservation Form.
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May Function
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| Representative Thelma Drake represents Virginia's Second Congressional
District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Second District includes
all of the City of Virginia Beach, parts of the cities of Norfolk and Hampton,
and Accomack and Northampton Counties on Virginia's Eastern Shore.
In the 110th Congress, Thelma Drake has been appointed to serve on the
House Armed Services Committee and House Transportation & Infrastructure
Committee. Representative Drake will be a member of the House Republican
Policy Committee, which plays an integral role in shaping the House Republican
position on major policy initiatives.
Representative Drake’s position on the House Armed Services Committee
is of tremendous importance to the significant military presence in Virginia’s
Second District. As a member of the Personnel Subcommittee, she is a strong
advocate for military personnel and their families, and for military retirees. |
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CHAPTER SCHEDULE
For the most current and up-to-date schedule of chapter events, click
on Calendar of Events
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May 2007: Monday 14th. Congresswoman Thelma Drake.
June 2007: Friday 15th, TBD.
July 2007: No Scheduled Meeting.
Aug 2007: Friday 17th, TBD.
Sep 2007: Friday 21st, TBD.
Board meetings every month on the 1st Saturday at the Little Creek Golf
Club. Starts at 0830. |
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| The HRCMOAA has introduced a Military ID Card Notification Program
to help chapter members remember to renew their ID cards and their dependent's
ID cards in a timely fashion. Once you and your dependents are enrolled,
you will be notified of your impending ID card expiration date in sufficient
time for renewal prior to the expiration date. Note: Over
age 75 members, who are eligible uniform family members and survivors of
deceased personnel are now eligible for Permanent Identification Cards.
Apply within 90 days of expiration of current ID card. |
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| To enroll in this voluntary program, fill in the form at the link below
for each dependent and Send by Email or Print and Mail to: Military ID
Card Notification Program, HRCMOAA, P.O. Box 4612, Virginia Beach, VA 23454-0612. |
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Junior Achievement Wants You!
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| Are you interested in impacting the youth of our community? Junior
Achievement of Greater Hampton Roads is looking for volunteers who
want to inspire and prepare young people for the future. Through
training provided by the JA staff, volunteers become mentors to students
in Kindergarten-12th grade by preparing them for a financially stable future
through lessons on topics such as, free enterprise, financial literacy,
ethical business practices and work force readiness. JA provides
user friendly materials at no cost to the volunteer, teacher or school.
Last year Junior Achievement of Greater Hampton Roads reached 15,080 students
with the help of nearly 500 volunteers. All funding for this non-profit
organization is provided by local businesses, grants, and individual donors
from our community with all financial support staying in local schools.
It’s territory extends from Williamsburg down to Elizabeth City.
If you would like to impact the future and share your life experiences
contact April Hile today at (757)455-9500 for more information.
Also contact CAPT Bill Lehr or CDR John Vermillion. |
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The Virginia Council of Chapters
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| Last month seven of our Chapter members attended the Twenty Second
Annual VCOC Congressional Appreciation Luncheon, honoring the 13 member
Virginia Congressional Delegation for their efforts in support of
Active Forces, Veterans and Retired Military and their families.
The luncheon was held in the Cannon Caucus Room in the Cannon House Office
Building. Senator John Warner was presented the VCOC’s Legislative
Award in gratitude for lifetime support of our uniformed services. |
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| Shown above, left to right, is COL Bill Flanagan, USA-Ret and
VCOC President, The Honorable John Warner, Senior Senator from Virginia,
and LTC Pat Green, USA-Ret and VCOC Vice President.
Senator Warner is holding the VCOC Legislative Award. The award is
a unique plaque, with postage stamps of milestones during the Senator’s
past 60 years of service to the nation. Senator Warner has always
been there for the men and women in the unformed services, for this the
VCOC of Military Officers Association of America is thankful for
his life-long service to the nation. |
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| Annually, the VCOC recognizes a member or group from National MOAA
Headquarters for their outstanding support of Virginia Chapter members.
The Awardee is given a replica of the Minute Man and retains the statue
for one year. The award was established in 1988. The award
was presented this year to COL Chris Giaimo, USA-Ret. and past Director,
Council and Chapter Affairs, who is shown above. Chris has
recently retired from this position. |
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HRCMOAA ROTC/JROTC Program
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| The Hampton Roads Chapter’s 1st Vice President, MAJ Norm Crews,
USA Ret., recently participated in the Old Dominion University’s 32nd Annual
Presidents’s Review and Awards Ceremony for their U.S. Army ROTC Monarch
Battalion of the University. After forming the troops, University
President Dr. Roseann Runte trooped the line with Lieutenant
Colonel Barry Hendricks, Professor of Military Science. Shown
below is MAJ Norm Crews, USA-Ret presenting the MOAA Outstanding Leadership
Award to Dominic E. DiGiovanni. |
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| Shown below is President, Dr. Roseann Runte as she troops the line
with Lieutenant Colonel Barry Hendricks. It was a beautiful day for
the awards ceremony and the troops were looking sharp. A total of
33 awards were given out to the Cadets. |
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VCOC Scheduled Functions
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| The next VCOC Quarterly meeting, on 13 July, 2007, will be held
at Lexington, Virginia. The October meeting will be held on the 12th
and is scheduled to be held at Ft. Monroe. This is our Bi-Annual
meeting, where we recognize the Chapter members who have died during the
past 2 years. The October meeting is being held in this area to recognize
the 400th Anniversary of Jamestown Celebration. |
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MOAA Storms Hill for
Troops, Survivors, Retirees
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| MOAA Council and Chapter Presidents from the 50 states and Puerto Rico,
accompanied by members of the national Board of Directors and headquarters
staff, swarmed Capitol Hill on April 18 to visit representatives' and senators'
offices on key MOAA legislative initiatives.
This year, the "Hill stormers" focused on three main issues, supporting
efforts to:
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Oppose disproportional TRICARE fee increases proposed by Defense leaders;
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Fix Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) inequities for survivors of members who
died of service-connected causes and "Greatest Generation" retirees;
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Authorize a larger pay raise for the troops than the 3% proposed in the
President's budget.
MOAA representatives carried a wealth of information supporting those goals,
including information brochures outlining the problems and the needed fixes.
Hill-stormers received very positive feedback from most legislators, and
we've already seen a jump in the number of cosponsors for MOAA-supported
bills on these topics. Check your representatives' and senators'
co-sponsorship status for these bills: H.R. 579 and S. 604
- Protect against disproportionate health fee increases; H.R. 1589
and S. 935 - Repeal the SBP-DIC offset; H.R. 784 and S.
935 - Accelerate paid up coverage for SBP to October 1, 2007. |
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Personal Affairs
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National MOAA has enhanced their planning documents to improve Personal
Affairs. The Personal Affairs Work Book is now available in
the form of interactive, computer based worksheets that can be completed
on line and saved to a file. The forms are PDF and easy to download
and print. They can then be retained with your records and shared
with family members. This is a new offering to MOAA members.
To reach the interactive forms on the MOAA Website please follow these
instructions:
1. Log on to MOAA’s Website at www.moaa.org
2. Select Books and Guides from the Publications drop-down menu.
3. Choose “Help
your survivors now, a guide to planning ahead”
4. Select the links on that page to download the forms in which
you are interested.
You may also call 1-800-234-6622 to have a printed copy mailed to you.
Life members please call special access number to receive priority order
status. |
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MOAA Scholarship Fund
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| Memorial contributions may be made to the MOAA Scholarship Fund, for
deceased members of our Chapter, at Dept 889, Alexandria, VA 22334-0889.
Contributions may also be made at www.moaa.org.
Or you may call 800-234-6622. |
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
To protect member privacy,
New Members and Directory Changes
are only available through the Members Access page.
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Directory Changes and Email Corrections should be sent to
HRCMOAA
P.O. Box 4612
Virginia Beach, VA 23454-0612
Attention Dick Vogel
You may call Dick at 481-0694 or email vogelra1@msn.com
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IN MEMORIUM
This month we will honor the military men and women
who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our country free.
Let us also remember the families who are left behind.
We will also pray for all of the students, and faculty killed
in the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech and please remember their family
members.
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