President’s Message
Some members of my Board of Directors have said that these messages
should be positive.
I have attempted to follow this advice even with the lack of interest
demonstrated by the 617 members of the HRCMOAA.
Thirty-four (34) members attended the Toys-for-Tots and Annual meeting
in November. Forty (40) attended the October social. These figures equate
to about seven (7) percent of the membership.
Our arrangements chair has kept the meal cost below $20.00.
He has also attempted to obtain desirable times and locations.
What do you want?
Should the chapter cancel social meetings?
My second complaint is that the board has lacked a recording secretary
for several months.
The Board of Directors usually meets at 0830 on the first Saturday of
the month at the Little Creek Golf Club snack bar.
Folks! The ball is in your court.
Let’s become a team.
My phone number is 757 640-0947 and my E-Mail is jdellaripa@aol.com.
As always,
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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President: 640-0947
LtCol James M. Dellaripa Sr,
USAF-Ret.
hrmoaa@cox.net
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1st Vice President: 363-1094
MAJ Norman Crews,
USA-Ret.
ncrews1@cox.net
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2nd Vice President: 496-9248
CAPT Paul Hollandsworth, USN Ret hollynav@aol.com
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Recording Secretary:
Volunteer Needed
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Treasurer: 518-0265
LCDR Walter Wesolowski, USN-Ret.
waltwes1@cox.net
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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:
363-1094
MAJ Norm Crews,
USA-Ret.
ncrews1@cox.net
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Membership: 496-9524
CAPT John G. Colgan,
USN-Ret
john.colgan@verizon.net
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Publicity: 382-9843
CDR John E. Vermillion,
USN Ret.
vermillj@cox.net
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Community Affairs:
426-5392
CAPT Bill Lehr,
USCG-Ret.
bblehr@cox.net
CAPT Pat McFadden,
USN-Ret.
senchova@aol.com
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Information Systems:
490-5792
Maj Clifton G. Furedy,
USAF-Ret.
thrcmoaa@cox.net
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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 Webmaster 
Federal do-not-call registry
There are two simple ways to place your phone number on the Federal
do-not-call registry. Call 1-888-382-1222 or visit the website
ftc.gov/donotcall.
If you visit the website, you can register up to three phone numbers at
once.
You may place your personal cell phone number on the National Do Not
Call Registry. The registry has accepted cell phone numbers since it opened
for registrations in June 2003. There is no deadline to register a home
or cell phone number on the Registry.
You may have received an email telling you that your cell phone is about
to be assaulted by telemarketing calls as a result of a new cell phone
number database; however, that is not the case. Federal Communications
Commission regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers
to call cell phone numbers.
Your registration will not expire. The Federal Trade Commission will
not drop any telephone numbers from the National Do Not Call Registry based
on a five-year expiration period pending final Congressional or agency
action on whether to make registration permanent. Read more about it. www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/10/dnctestimony.shtm
Don't Miss Chapter Email
Periodically your chapter uses email to advise you of upcoming events,
publication of the newsletter or urgent items the require your attention.
However, some members use spam filters to block unsolicited junk email.
If you use spam blocking on your PC, make sure you've added HRCMOAA to
your list of allowed email. Here's the address we use to send you
email: thrcmoaa@cox.net.
If you have any questions, send an email to the Webmaster, Clif Furedy,
at thrcmoaa@cox.net. By adding
the chapter to your allowed list, you won't miss out on anything we send.
These messages from your Webmaster.
Clif Furedy
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Urgent, Your Help is Needed!
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| The Retired Activities Office located at the Norfolk Naval Base is
in need of volunteers to man the help desk.
Two Hampton Roads RAO branches include the Norfolk Naval Station office
and the Naval Amphibious Base office. To get more information, please contact
Gene
Crabtree at 322-9113. |
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| Our Chapter is also in need of a Secretary. This is not a
difficult job and it will keep your mind active while doing a job that
will help your fellow members. |
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| MOAA Legislative Update |
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| Senate Hears Disability Commission
Concerns |
The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
heard testimony from LTG James Terry Scott (USA-Ret.), Chairman of the
Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission, and several veterans’ service
organization representatives as the committee continues to review veterans'
disability compensation and benefits. Scott's testimony honed in
on nine of the 113 recommendations outlined in the Commission's October
3, 2007 report (PDF):
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The impact of disability on quality of life.
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The VA rating schedule (VASRD).
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Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
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Individual unemployability.
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Presumptive conditions.
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Transition from active duty to veteran status.
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Concurrent receipt.
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Compatible electronic information systems.
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Disability claims processing.
The majority of the testimony and questioning
by Committee Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and ranking member Richard Burr
(R-NC) focused on three specific issue areas: compensation for loss of
quality of life; modernizing ratings under the VASRD; and the signature
injuries of the current conflict - PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
General Scott's responses did not stray far from the VDBC recommendations
MOAA reported in our October 2007 legislative updates.
In his opening statement, Senator Burr
provided insight on a bill "in the works" that would revamp the disability
systems for both DoD and VA. He said, "The intent of that bill would be
to get DoD out of the business of assigning disability ratings; to require
that the entire [outdated] rating schedule be replaced by a modern schedule;
and to compensate veterans for loss of quality of life."
His draft bill would also authorize a "transition"
payment and help cover family living expenses as disabled service members
adjust to civilian life. The legislative proposal "will not distinguish
between combat and non-combat injuries and would be open to veterans of
any generation."
MOAA's government relations team will
be offering the association's perspective on any legislative proposals
that address the major findings and recommendations of the VDBC. |
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| Military Widows Argue Their Case |
| Three SBP annuitants are suing the federal
government to restore their annuities and avoid the harsh offset by the
VA’s Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). They had their day in
the US Court of Claims on January 30 (Sharp v. The United States).
A 2004 law (PL 108-183) restores DIC payments
to veterans’ surviving spouses who remarry after their 57th birthday. Before
the law change, survivors lost DIC regardless of the age they remarried.
The plaintiffs in the case contend that if a survivor is also drawing an
SBP annuity, PL 108-183 should be interpreted as protecting those survivors
from the reduction in SBP annuities by the amount they receive in DIC.
Defense Department lawyers countered that
the widows are wrong. They say a 2004 DoD legal review of the law change
in question determined that it didn’t, in fact, repeal the SBP offset provision.
So, DoD lawyers contend, the Defense Department has no choice and it must
continue to deduct DIC payments from SBP annuities.
It’s interesting to note that the DoD lawyer
citing the legislative history of SBP stated that Congress has attempted
to repeal the “onerous” DIC offset provision for years and has now established
a Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance “to ameliorate” the offset (passed
in the new FY2008 Defense Authorization Act). The judge in the case said
he would take the widows’ and Defense Department arguments under advisement
and render a decision “in the near future.”
MOAA hopes for a favorable settlement and
commends these determined survivors for their tenacity in seeking equitable
relief. We’ll keep you posted on any further updates in the case. |
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| Defense Bill Becomes Law |
| President Bush signed the FY2008 Defense
Authorization Act (Public Law 110-181) on January 28. Among other things,
it authorizes a 3.5% military pay raise (retroactive to Jan. 1), bars any
TRICARE fee increases for FY2008, and extends full concurrent receipt to
"unemployable" disabled retirees and those forced into early retirement
by combat-related disabilities. |
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| TRICARE Conference Addresses Big Issues |
| The Military Health System (MHS) Conference
in Washington, DC addressed the full range of military health care programs,
accomplishments, and needs. MOAA leaders participated in two particularly
interesting panel discussions.
MOAA President VADM Norb Ryan, Jr., USN
(Ret), was one of five distinguished panelists asked to address "the future
of military health care." Ryan emphasized the need to make the budget fit
requirements rather than vice-versa, expressing MOAA's support for a Defense
Budget at least equal to 4% of GDP. He made the case that there's too much
discussion about how much military health care costs the government, and
not enough into the level of benefit that career military people earn through
lengthy and arduous service.
"We need to put some principles in law
such as those expressed in Sen. Frank Lautenberg's (D-NJ) Military Health
Care Protection Act," (S. 604) Ryan asserted. "We need to specify in law
that military retirement and health benefits are the primary offset to
the adverse conditions of service; that those decades of sacrifice constitute
a hefty, in-kind pre-payment of premiums; and that the percentage increase
in military health fees in any given year shouldn't exceed the percentage
increase in military compensation."
Ryan closed by saying that Congress and
the American public understand and appreciate the sacrifices made by military
people. He said it is up to leadership to ensure that the budget matches
their needs.
CDR John Class, USN (Ret), MOAA Deputy
Director of Government Relations, joined a group of industry experts in
a panel discussion concerning needs for an electronic health record. Class
emphasized three main issues. One focus of the system should be to improve
the physician-patient encounter. The system should give physicians the
information they need quickly and easily to facilitate diagnosis and treatment
decisions. Another requirement is to improve information flow, not only
between DoD and VA but also between military hospitals, network civilian
providers, and non-network physicians. Finally, he emphasized
that beneficiaries should have web-based access to their health information
to check test results, access medical history information needed for insurance
and long-term care applications, and provide immunization and other information
for children’s school and sports activities, etc. Patients shouldn't have
to visit their medical facility to get this information. |
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| Tax Rebate Covers Retirees, Disabled |
| After the Senate missed passing its version
of the economic stimulus package by a single vote, congressional leaders
did some-last minute horse trading and approved a revised package of tax
rebates on February 7. The Senate wanted to dramatically expand the
House-passed package by increasing maximum eligible incomes and including
disabled retirees and some military widows who have no taxable income.
They didn't succeed on including people with higher incomes, but won inclusion
of those without taxable incomes at a reduced rebate level, as follows:People
with taxable wages, investment income, or retirement income in 2007 will
receive rebates of up to $600 for individuals ($1,200 for couples) Those
with only nontaxable income of at least $3,000 will receive $300 ($600
for couples) Anyone qualifying for a check will receive an additional $300
for each dependent child under age 17. Full payments will go only
to single people with less than $75,000 in adjusted gross income ($150,000
for couples). Rebates will be gradually reduced for those with higher incomes,
and people making over $87,000 ($174,000 for couples) won't get any rebate.
But don't expect any check until at least
May, since the IRS will have to process the 2007 tax returns before it
can determine who qualifies for what rebate amount. |
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Joint Leadership Council
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| The following are the Legislative Priorities of Virginia’s Joint Leadership
Council of Veterans Services Organizations for 2008. The voice of
Virginia veterans is comprised of 23 separate organizations.
Fully fund Department of Veterans Services.
Support Virginia National Guard.
Establish Wounded Warrior Mental Health Care Program.
Fund Virginia War Memorial Education Wing.
Provide tax relief for 100% Disabled Veterans.
Provide tax relief for Citizen Soldiers called to
Active Duty.
Permit Virginia Service Members to freeze credit files. |
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Military ID Card Notification Program
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| This program is designed to help Chapter members and their dependent’s
to renew their 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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MOAA Tells Congress FY09 Priorities
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| Invited to a March 28 meeting by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
(D-NV) and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to discuss veterans' needs, leaders
from MOAA and other military associations were pleased to hear a total
of 17 Democratic senators in attendance say they're giving this top priority.
Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI), Veterans Affairs
Committee Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and a host of others highlighted
the billions of dollars added to the VA budget for FY2007 and FY2008 to
address health care and other needs.
"The Nation and the Congress may be divided on the war," said Levin,
"but we're united on supporting our troops and supporting our veterans."
An hour of dialogue between the association leaders and senators addressed
pressing needs in a wide range of areas, including:
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More accurate budget planning
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Cutting red tape for wounded members and families trying to navigate military
and VA health and disability systems
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Faster and more sensitive processing of VA and military disability evaluations
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Correction of disadvantages experienced by returning Guard and Reserve
members
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Long-term planning for trauma-related needs of wounded members and families
Immediately following the meeting, MOAA President VADM Norb Ryan, Jr.,
USN (Ret) had an extended discussion with Armed Services Committee Chairman
Levin, highlighting additional needs for an improved pay raise for overstressed
troops, MOAA's suggestion to establish a Joint DoD/VA Seamless Transition
Office responsible for improving coordination of the two departments' health
and disability systems, and the urgent need for additional progress in
resolving concurrent receipt and Survivor Benefit Plan inequities. |
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2008 JROTC and ROTC Program
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| Please contact Bill Lehr, our Community Affairs Chair and volunteer
to present an award at one of our local High Schools as they hold their
annual JROTC awards ceremonies. I can attest that it is a very
rewarding experience.
Each year the Princess Anne High School NJROTC unit, host a Drill Competition
which is normally attended by at least 16 other High School Units, some
from out of the local area. This year the event was be held at the
Little Creek Amphibious Base in the gymnasium. The Hampton Roads
Chapter Military Officers Association of America, each year, provides a
check to help purchase the trophies for the winning units. This year,
the Chapter provided a check for $600 to support this effort. Shown
below left to right are: CAPT Bill Lehr, USCG (Ret), Chapter Community
Affairs Chairman; C/PO1 Debbie Lowenthal; C/SA Taquisha Keeling;
C/SN
David Martinez; LtCol Jim Dellaripa, USAF (Ret), Chapter President;
C/LCDR
Roneshia Owens, Unit Commanding Officer; C/SN Damien Graham;
C/PO3
Nickia Simmons; C/SA Teresa Arnette; and LCDR Walt Wesolowski,
USN (Ret), Chapter Treasurer. Not shown is CW03 Danny H. Miller,
USN (Ret), Senior Naval Science Instructor at Princess Anne HS. |
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| The Drill competition was held on the 2nd of February 08 at the Little
Creek Gym. Shown below is the Green Run High School NJROTC Unarmed
Drill Team. Green Run was the overall winner at the competition.
See below for future award schedule. |
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2008 ROTC/JROTC AWARD SCHEDULES
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School
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Date
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Time
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Location
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| ROTC Units: |
| ODU AROTC |
April 24 |
1000 |
ODU |
| NROTC Hampton Roads |
April 19 |
1330 |
NSU |
| NSU AROTC |
April 02 |
TBD |
NSU |
| Virginia Beach NJROTC Units: |
| Princess Anne HS |
May 2 |
1900 |
Princess Anne |
| Salem HS |
May 19 |
1900 |
Salem |
| First Colonial HS |
May 7 |
1830 |
First Colonial |
| Landstown HS |
May 10 |
1900 |
TBD |
| Green Run HS |
Mid to late May |
TBD |
TBD |
| Norfolk NJROTC Units: |
(Combined Ceremony)
Booker T. Washington HS, Granby HS, Lake Taylor HS, Maury HS, and Norview
HS. |
June 3 |
TBD |
NOB |
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VCOC Fund Raising Campaign for the Virginia War
Memorial Education Center
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| The Education Center of the Virginia War Memorial will require both
government and private funding. The Virginia War Memorial Education
Foundation (VWMEF) is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt foundation - gifts are tax deductible.
If there are enough people donating money (indicating "Virginia MOAA" on
the naming contribution form), then we could earn a chance to "name"
a room in the new education center for the Virginia Chapters of the Military
Officers Association of America. The Veterans Research Library requires
$50,000 of donations. A conference room requires $25,000. If
most MOAA members in Virginia give a little, we could easily reach one
of the naming opportunities. The VWMEF website is www.vawarmemorial.org.
Telephone number is (804)786-2060. In the designation block enter;
Hampton Roads Chapter, “Virginia MOAA.” The HRCMOAA contributed $1,000
to this effort. We encourage all members to consider donating
to this cause. A form is provided for your convenience. Complete
and send to Virginia War Memorial Educational Foundation, 621 S. Belvidere
St., Richmond, VA 23220-6504. |
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Virginia War Memorial Educational Center Contribution
Form
Yes, I wish to honor our heroes and help to educate the public on the
significant contributions made by Virginians to preserve and protect our
country’s freedoms.
$25____ $50____ $100____ $_________
Name:
Street:
City:
State:
Zip code:
Check payable to the VWMEF is enclosed. Or,
Charge my gift to:
Master card___ Visa___ AmExp___, Discover___
Card#_______________________________
Exp.Date_______ Signature___________________
Credit: Hampton Roads Chapter, Virginia MOAA. |
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VCOC Storming of the Hill in Richmond
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| The HRCMOAA representatives are shown below with Delegate Terrie
Suit from the 81st District in Virginia Beach. From left
to right are LtCol James Dellaripa, USAF Ret., Delegate Terrie Suit,
LCDR
Walter Wesolowski, USN Ret., and CDR John Vermillion, USN Ret.
We provided Delegate Suit with a copy of the Veterans Joint Legislative
Councils Legislative Priorities for 2008 and she discussed the Veterans
bills that she has written. |
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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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| Feb 2008: CAPT Ron Johnson, USNR Ret. and retired
Professor of Oceanography at ODU. Luncheon held at Atlantic Shores.
Apr 2008: Friday, 25th, Program, Luncheon at Atlantic
Shores
Jun 2008: Friday, 27th, Program, Dinner at Aberdeen Barn
Aug 2008: TBD. |
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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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Note to Movers
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If you move please let the Chapter know by
following the directions above.
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HRCMOAA Membership
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| Regular |
518
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| Auxiliary |
94
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| Honorary |
3
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| Total |
615
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Invalid Email Addresses
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If you change your email address please let the Chapter know via
email to
Clif Furedy at thrcmoaa@cox.net
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ALFRED R. FRIEDMAN,
redskinrod@cox.net
MICHAEL L IHRIG
mihrig@cox.net
RONALD E. OLFIELD,
rkoldfield@earthlink.net
MARK R. LICHTENSTEIN
mrlichtenstein@earthlink.net
JACK E. GOVE,
atlshores@msn.com
HENRY F. BERCK JR
berck@series2000.com
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IN MEMORIUM
CDR Gnilka, Charles W., USN Ret.
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