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The Bi-Monthly Newsletter of the
Hampton Roads Chapter 
Military Officers Association of America
A MOAA Five Star Level of Excellence Chapter Since 2004
A Runner-Up Web Site For 2009
A Runner Up Printed Newsletter 2009
Winner E Newsletter 2009
Serving Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach since 1959
Email/Website:
hrmoaa@cox.net
www.hrcmoaa.org

Address:
HRCMOAA
P.O. Box 4612
Virginia Beach, VA
23454-0612

VOL 35-NO 2
ONE POWERFUL VOICE
MARCH 2011

In This Issue
March Luncheon
April Luncheon
President's Message
HRCMOAA Officer Directory
MOAA Legislative Update
From the Editor
Princess Anne HS Awards
ID Card Notification Program
Ft Monroe Brunch
Community Affairs Events
Transition (TOPS) System
MOAA Scholarship Fund
Vets House
Virginia Wounded Warrior
Chapter Schedule
Notice for Pilots
January Luncheon
Give Me Ten Recruiting
HRCMOAA New Members
Join Our Chapter
In Memorium
The Tribute
In honor of those who have sacrificed
to keep our country free.
Arlington National Cemetary
Courtesy of the Arlington National Cemetery Website Images 

25 March Luncheon
The luncheon will be held at the Atlantic Shores Community , Magnolia Room.  The guest speaker will be CW4 Phillip M. Brashear, son of MC Carl Brashear. Philip is a CH-47D helicopter pilot attached to the 5-159th Aviation Regiment at Fort Eustis, VA.  He is shown with the current Joint Chief of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen in Al Anbar Province, Iraq in 2006.  He is also the President of the Carl Brashear Foundation, and will discuss the Legacy of Carl Brashear and the proposed Foundation.   (Photo  from Foundation files)
US Air Force
US Army
US Navy
US Marine Corps
US Coast Guard
Visit  our website at www.hrcmoaa.org, read the Electronic Newsletter, access MOAA national, Service Departments, Health and Benefit  locations, U. S. Senators and Representatives and many others.  If you do not have the Members Only “Password” please contact any of our Officers. 
29 April Luncheon
The Luncheon will be held at the Founders Inn on Indian River Road in Virginia Beach.   HRCMOAA Community Affairs with multiple speakers from organizations we contribute to and support ( e.g. Vets House, Equi Vets, JNROTC, Wounded Warrior, Honor Flight.) The speakers will be announced.
President’s Message

Fellow Officers and Spouses:

As most of you are aware the Virginia Assembly is in session for the next couple of months. On Monday, 24 January 2011, the Virginia Council of Chapters (VCOC) of MOAA and the 22 other veteran organizations that make up Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations (JLC) “Stormed the Hill." This is a day set aside for the members of the 18 Virginia chapters of MOAA to meet with our state senators and delegates to push our agenda for the state of Virginia. (We will do the same sort of thing later in the year in conjunction with National headquarters to push our national agenda.) The six state legislative objectives we lobbied for are as follows: 

  1. Alternate dedicated revenue sources for veterans programs. 
  2. Restore staffing DVS Benefit Services Program. 
  3. Provide additional funding for state veterans cemeteries to bring them up to national shrine standards. 
  4. Special judicial procedures for veterans and military service members. 
  5. Provide additional funding for the Virginia War Memorial. 
  6. In-state tuition for veterans. 
In these legislative affairs, our chapter has been very ably represented by two of our members, Capt. Jim Jones, USN (Ret) and Col. Jack Hilgers. Capt. Jones is our VCOC representative who, at his own expense, goes to the quarterly VCOC meeting and any ad hoc events called by VCOC. There he helps draft the goals for state wide MOAA chapters and JLC.  Col. Hilgers is our Legislative Affairs representative and will spend the next couple of months in Richmond, helping to protect veterans programs as well as lobbing for the six afore mentioned goals. Jack is well known to our local representative having a long association with most of them and is highly respected by them for his "straight shooting." 

These are "interesting times." So hang in there and keep the faith. As a MOAA member you are helping preserve this country's freedom just as you did on active duty. 

God bless,

Holly

HRCMOAA Directory

Officers

Directors

Committees

President
CAPT Paul Hollandsworth
USN Ret
496-9248
hollynav@aol.com
1st Vice President
LCDR Aaron Zielinski
628-8938
zielinski_aaron@cox.net
2nd Vice President
CDR Bert Ortiz
USN Ret
482-1995
bertortiz@cox.net
Recording Secretary
CAPT Loren Heckelman
USN Ret
963-7979
loren.heckelman@cox.net
Treasurer
COL James G. Edge
USA Ret.
417-6394
jedge13@cox.net
MAJ Norm Crews
USA Ret.
363-1094
ncrews1@cox.net
LtCol James M. Dellaripa Sr.
USAF Ret.
640-0947
jdellaripa@aol.com
COL James A Smith
USA Ret. 
425-5934
eaglenest6@juno.com
CAPT John G. Colgan
USN Ret 
496-9524
john.colgan@verizon.net
Mrs Jo Carter
Auxiliary Member
462-4744
jo.carter@navy.mil
COL David C. Wade III
USA Ret
549-2123
dcwade@cox.net
LCDR Dale Hendren
USN Ret
463-0557
edhbeach1@verizon.net
Programs
CDR Bert Ortiz
USN Ret
482-1995
bertortiz@cox.net
VCOC Representative
CAPT Jim Jones
USN Ret.
777-5972
jimvjones@yahoo.com
Legislative Affairs
Col Jack W. Hilgers
USMC Ret.
481-4164
jackhilgers@earthlink.net
Personal Affairs
MAJ Norm Crews
USA Ret.
363-1094
ncrews1@cox.net
Membership
CAPT John G. Colgan
USN Ret
496-9524
john.colgan@verizon.net
Publicity
CDR John E. Vermillion
USN Ret.
382-9843
vermillj@cox.net
Community Affairs
COL David C. Wade III
USA Ret
549-2123
dcwade@cox.net
Information Systems
Maj Clifton G. Furedy
USAF Ret.
490-5792
thrcmoaa@cox.net
Webmaster
Maj Clifton G. Furedy
USAF Ret.
490-5792
thrcmoaa@cox.net
Editor
CDR John E. Vermillion
USN Ret.
382-9843
vermillj@cox.net
(TOPS) Liaison
CAPT Loren Heckelman
USN Ret
963-7979
loren.heckelman@cox.net
MOAA Legislative Update (Weekly Issue)

Help Protect TRICARE and TFL
The February Military Officer magazine contains four tear-out letters addressed to the leaders of the House and Senate Budget committees, who will soon begin crafting the FY2012 Budget Resolution. 

The letters ask these four key leaders to resist incorporating deficit commission proposals in the budget resolution that would add thousands of dollars a year in extra costs for TRICARE and TRICARE For Life beneficiaries. 

If you haven't done so already, please sign, stamp, and mail these four letters today. If you no longer have your magazine you can print the letters at our website. (Add extra punch to your letters with a hand-written "p.s.")

2011 Defense Spending Bill - Finally?
Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned Congress that failure to move on this year's defense spending package threatens the military's readiness to fight. "I have a crisis on my doorstep," he said bluntly.  The current temporary spending bill -- the fourth in a series of short-term funding bills since FY2011 began last October 1st -- expires in early March. 

Meanwhile, defense appropriators have been working behind closed doors to firm up a separate FY2011 Defense Appropriations Bill that will fund defense programs for the remainder of the fiscal year.   According to several sources, the proposed bill is a near copy of last year's bipartisan omnibus legislation the lame duck Congress couldn't agree to pass in December. 

The new bill would prorate the remaining 7-8 months of the fiscal year and may reflect some of the Pentagon's proposed changes in the 2012 budget.  In addition, the bill will be without earmarks (also known as "pork"), reflecting Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye's (D-HI) announcement that the Senate Appropriations Committee will implement a two-year moratorium on earmarks for the FY2011 and 2012 spending bills.

Why Did My Tax Withholding Go Up?
Many MOAA members have called to ask why federal income tax withholding on their military retired pay increased this year. It's not that there was some nefarious new tax hike, or that you fell through some crack in the recent tax cut extension. 

It's because the two-year Making Work Pay (MWP) tax relief program enacted in 2009 expired at the end of 2010.  MWP cut tax withholding rates from checks in 2009 and 2010. The program wasn't extended to 2011 so the tax tables reverted back to the old higher levels.  The MWP program was designed to act as a special stimulus payment to help kick-start the country out of recession by putting some extra money in citizens' hands right away. Technically, the MWP provision was intended only to apply to qualifying taxpayers still earning wages. However since DFAS uses the same tax tables and pay systems for retired pay as it does for active duty pay, the system didn't discriminate between retired pay and wages.  This doesn't mean that you owe more or are paying higher taxes—it's just that DFAS has returned to withholding the pre-stimulus amount from each deposit. If this results in too much money being withheld, you will receive any overpaid amount via a tax refund.  If the change causes you some problem, you can submit an IRS form W-4 to DFAS or your pay agency to change your withholding amount. 

Changes can also be made to DFAS using the on-line 'My Pay' system. Just remember that changing your withholding won't change your actual 2011 tax liability. If you have too little withheld, you'll have to pony up the rest (and any applicable penalty, if you under-withheld too much) when you file your 2011 federal income taxes.

From The Editor

CDR John E. Vermillion, USN, Ret

Should you get a new military ID card at age 65 or not?
MOAA recommend yes. Technically, it’s not required but it may save you some grief down the line.  ID cards for retired military members have an “indefinite” expiration date on the front of the card. On the back of the card is an expiration date for medical benefits that expires the month prior to you turning age 65. While your entitlement and access to medical benefits do not end after the expiration date, it could cause problems if you don’t update your card.

We recently received an email from a member who told us of his trip to the base pharmacy. He still used his original retired ID card with an expired medical date on the back. His card was confiscated by the pharmacy. Turns out, the base hospital implemented a local policy to confiscate cards in an effort to get cards updated for those over 65 years old.  In this fast paced, ever changing world, military ID cards have undergone several updates over the years, photos get old, and some service providers won’t understand the date on the back doesn’t render the card expired. People aren’t ID card experts. An expired date means one thing to most; game over. Save yourself the potential grief and get a new card.

The plan to remove Social Security Numbers from military ID cards continues.  The plan is in three stages.  Stage One was implemented as of 2008; the removal of SSN from DEPENDENT ID cards.  As dependents update their cards on normal expiration dates, their new cards will not have SSNs.  Stage Two is under way; the replacement of SSN on military member’s ID Card with a new DOD ID number.  Stage Three is replacing the SSN in ID card bar coding systems.  Total completion date is 2012. 

See this DOD memo for the details: http://www.cac.mil/assets/pdfs/SSN%20Memo%20Signed.pdf

Each base is proceeding at different speeds so we don’t know the implementation status at each base.  Expect differences.  Want to find out the status at your base?  Search for your nearest ID card office and phone number on this site and call the ID card office for details;  http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl/owa/home
(Published by Shane Ostrom, CFP® at 12:45 pm under Military Pay and Benefits)

Princess Anne High School Awards
Each year your Chapter presents the JNROTC awards at the annual Drill Off, held at the Little Creek Gymnasium.  Thirteen Area High Schools participated  this year.  The top picture shows your President CAPT Holly Hollandsworth presenting the Top Individual Academic Award to Cadet Davis from Kecoughtan High School.  In the bottom picture, Holly presents the Top Team Academic Award to the First Colonial H.S. representative.
Military ID Card Notification Program
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.

 
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.
 
CLICK HERE FOR
Military ID Card Notification
Program Form
Champagne Brunch Sundays at Ft. Monroe 
Would you like to enjoy that fellowship and atmosphere more often? There is a Champagne Brunch most Sundays at Ft. Monroe—from 11 am to 2 pm. at the Bay Breeze Community Center. The food includes a buffet with both breakfast and dinner choices, including a salad bar and an omelet and waffle station. There is always a nice assortment of desserts and the price includes beverages: champagne, juices, milk, coffee and tea. There is music and dancing by Roberto, El Romantico. His music is very pleasant and easy to dance to. John and I go every Sunday that we can and always thoroughly enjoy ourselves. The cost is $12.99 and is open to all. Each person should have a picture ID and cars without a military sticker will need to stop at the gate for a day pass.  Reservations are recommended. You may do so by calling Bay Breeze or by emailing Roberto.  Call Bay Breeze Community Center: (757) 788-2406.  E-mail Roberto: robertoinc@aol.com

Due to the BRAC closure of Ft. Monroe, May 29 will be the last brunch. 

HRCMOAA Planned Community Affairs Events – 2011 
Presentation of MOAA Leadership Award and Gold Bars and Membership to Hampton Roads NROTC Battalion Ensign commissioning to be held at NSU on Sat. 23 April. 
Presentation of MOAA Leadership Award to ODU Army ROTC outstanding cadet to be held at ODU on Thurs. 21 April.
Honor Flight Departure Ceremony to be held at the Park & Ride I-64E Indian River Road (Exit 286A) on Sat. 30 April. 
Presentation of MOAA Gold Bars and Membership to ODU Army ROTC 2nd LT commissionings at ODU on Fri. 6 May. 
Presentation of MOAA Leadership Award to NSU Army ROTC outstanding cadet at NSU on Fri. 6 May. 
Presentation of MOAA Gold Bars and Membership to NSU Army ROTC 2nd LT commissionings at  NSU on Fri. 6 May. 
Presentation of MOAA Leadership Award to First Colonial High School Navy JROTC outstanding cadet at First Colonial High School in May.
Presentation of MOAA Leadership Award to Green Run High School Navy JROTC outstanding cadet at Green Run High School in May. 
Presentation of MOAA Leadership Award to Landstown High School Navy JROTC outstanding cadet at Landstown High School in May. 
Presentation of MOAA Leadership Award to Princess Ann High School Navy JROTC outstanding cadet at Princess Ann High School in May. 
Presentation of MOAA Leadership Award to Salem High School Navy JROTC outstanding cadet  at Salem High School in May.
Memorial Day Ceremony – Virginia Beach at the War Memorial located near the Convention Center, on Tues. 30 May. 
Memorial Day Ceremony – Chesapeake at  City Hall in Chesapeake, on Tues. 30 May. 
Presentation of MOAA Leadership Award to Norfolk High Schools Navy JROTC outstanding cadet, TBD in June. 
Veterans Day Parade and luncheon – Virginia Beach War Memorial on Fri. 11 Nov, parade starts on Atlantic Ave and proceeds down 19th St. to the reviewing stand.  Lunch is at the Double Tree Hotel. 
Veterans Day Ceremony – Chesapeake City Hall, located in Great Bridge, Chesapeake on Fri. 11 Nov. 
YMCA Military Family Recognition Luncheon – Date and place, TBD in Nov. 
Toys for Tots and Business Meeting – Date and place, TBD in Nov. 

Please contact David Wade if you can help with the Honor Flight Departure on Sat. 30 Apr. 2011.   549-2123.  or dcwade@cox.net

Transition Officer Placement System 
The HRCMOAA (TOPS) Liaison is Captain Loren V. Heckelman, U. S. Navy (Ret.). Loren can be reached at email address;  Loren.Heckelman@cox.net. Check out our Networking and Jobs page on the chapter website at www.hrcmoaa.org. Click on the “Networking and Jobs” link on the left hand side of the home page.
MOAA Scholarship Fund 
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. 
Vets House 
Your Chapter President, Holly Hollandsworth and Community Affairs Chair, David Wade visited the Vetshouse, Inc. to provide the Executive Director with a check for $200.  Director Willard Smith is shown above accepting the check from Holly.  Vets House serves homeless veterans in this area.  The address is 200 North Oceana Blvd. near Va Beach/Laskin exit off I264.  Vetshouse, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c(3) organization that provides housing, food, clothing, counseling and other assistance to homeless veterans of the US Armed Forces in order to facilitate their return to gainful, independent, responsible and productive lifestyles.  Visit the website at www.vetshouseinc.org.  The website provides information on how to donate. 
Virginia Wounded Warrior Program
How can I help?
Virginia has provided a limited amount of funding for the Wounded Warrior Program. The Commonwealth anticipates that its citizens will want to help. The Virginia Veterans Services Foundation is available to receive contributions to support the Program.  The Foundation is an agency of the state and is eligible to receive tax deductible contributions under Internal Revenue Service Section 170 (c) and Code of Virginia Section 2.2-2719.  Donations are placed in the Veterans Services Fund and cannot revert to the Commonwealth’s General Fund. In this case, they only can be used for the Wounded Warrior Program.  Donations to the Foundation are audited annually by the Commonwealth’s Auditor of Public Accounts. This assures that the maximum amount of citizens donations will go to our veterans and not to administrative overhead.  Information about contributing is provided on the following page.

Contribution/Pledge of Support
Yes! You can count on my support to assist Virginia’s veterans, members of the Virginia National Guard, Virginia residents of the Armed Forces Reserves not on active federal service, and their family members, who are dealing with the effects of traumatic brain disorders, combat stress, and post-traumatic stress disorders resulting from their combat service and sacrifice in the U.S. Armed Forces.

I am enclosing/pledging my most generous contribution in the amount of:
__ $1,000   __ $500   __ $250   __ $100   __ $50   __ Other $________

Please make checks payable to:

Virginia Veterans Services Foundation
For: VWWP: 900 East Main Street, Ground Floor
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Your contribution is tax exempt under Internal Revenue Service Section 170 (c) and Code of Virginia Section 2.2.2719. Donations are placed in the Veterans Services Fund and cannot revert to the Commonwealth’s General Fund.  Please complete the following five lines for contributions of checks or cash, or when making a pledge.

Name(s)  ______________________________________________________
Address _______________________________________________________
Phone _______________________ 
Email_______________________________________
HRCMOAA Member   Yes ___    No ___

Chapter Schedule

For the most current and up-to-date schedule of chapter events, 
click on Calendar of Events

Board Meetings; normally held the first Saturday of each month. 
 
March 25th - Luncheon at Atlantic Shores.  Speaker is CW4 Brashear, 5-159th Av Reg Ft Eustis and son of MC Carl Brashear, Navy Master Diver. 
April 29th - Luncheon at Founders Inn. HRCMOAA Community Affairs with multiple speakers from organizations we contribute to and support ( e.g. Vets House, Honor Flight, Wounded Warrior).
May 27th - Luncheon at Atlantic Shores.  Disaster preparedness and planning/Red Cross (Hurricane season prep).
June/July – BREAK  (other social event/activity)
August 26th - Luncheon at Aberdeen Barn.  Congressman Scott Rigell as Legislative guest.
September 23rd - Luncheon at Atlantic Shores.  National MOAA representative (ADM Ryan/Travel Benefits Advisor/or available representative).
October 21st - Luncheon at Westin Town Center.  Financial Planning Panel with an attorney, CPA, and two planners.  Aaron Zielinski will moderate the panel.
November 18th – Luncheon at Seal Heritage Center, Little Creek.  Speaker - CAPT Tim Szymanski, USN.  Museum tours will also be available.  Planning for ROTC participation/invite to this event.  Toys for Tots support also at this event.
 
VCOC Schedule
6 Ap r – Charlottesville, Central Virginia Chapter.
3 May – Congressional Luncheon, Cannon Caucus Room, Capitol Hill, Washington D.C.
7 July – Richmond,  Virginia War Memorial.
13 October – Biennial Country Club of Petersburg.
Contact Jim Jones, 777-5872 for details and transportation.  Dates may change.
“NOTICE”
Any Chapter Member who flew the B-58, B-47, or the B-36, please contact LCOL Edward “Buck” Cummings, USMC Ret.  His email is terriermac@cox.net.
Also info CDR John Vermillion, USN Ret. at vermillj@cox.net.
21 January Luncheon 
Shown above is Holly Hollandsworth, Chapter President, presenting the Jefferson Cup to Admiral Arthur  “Blackjack” Johnson, Commander of the Naval Safety Center.  The Admiral discussed our Navy today, Forces, Operational Capabilities, and Control of the waterways.  He indicated that 40% of our compliment is at sea or on deployment at all times.  The Naval Winter Safety Campaign was successful with   2010 being the safest year for Naval Aviation.
Working Together
On Friday, January 28th and Saturday, January 29th , the Hampton Roads Chapter and the Virginia Peninsula Chapter manned a Give Me Ten Recruiting table at the USAR 80th Training Command Conference held at the Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. 

Shown above on the left,, left to right, is Col Don Klovstad, USAF-Ret., and VIPMOAA Membership, Col Jim Pauls, USAF –Ret. VIPMOAA Past President, CAPT Jack Colgan, USN-Ret. HRCMOAA Membership, and CAPT Paul Hollandsworth, USN-Ret., HRCMOAA President.  “Friday Team”

Shown above on the right, left to right, CDR Bert Ortiz, USN-Ret. HRCMOAA Second Vice President, Maj Frank Ducket, USAF-Ret., VIPMOAA President, COL Jim Edge, USA-Ret. HRCMOAA Treasurer, and COL Jim Smith, USA-Ret., HRCMOAA Board Member.   “Saturday Team”
Shown on the left is CAPT Jack Colgan, USN-Ret, HRCMOAA Membership Chairman handing a MOAA handout to COL Greg Wyman, USA and Brigade commander 800th LSB, 80TH Tng Cmd  Oklahoma City, OK, On the right is CAPT Paul Hollandsworth, Chapter President.  The HRCMOAA signed up twenty new members on Friday and Saturday. 
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

To protect member privacy,
New Members, Renewals and Directory Changes
are only available through the Members Access page.
Click Here for Member Access


Directory Changes and Email Corrections should be sent to
HRCMOAA
P.O. Box 4612
Virginia Beach, VA  23454-0612
Attention Clif Furedy
You may call Clif at 490-5792 after 1830 or email thrcmoaa@cox.net
Click Here for Membership Information
and Renewal Form
IN MEMORIUM


 

There are no Chapter deaths to report this period.
Let us take the opportunity to remember all of our members
who passed away during the past year.

 

All information contained in this web site is the exclusive property of Hampton Roads Chapter MOAA (HRCMOAA) © 2011
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