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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 2010, a Runner Up Printed Newsletter 2010, and Winner E Newsletter 2010. 
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 6
ONE POWERFUL VOICE
NOVEMBER 2011

In This Issue
November Luncheon
ROWS Annual Dinner Dance
President's Message
HRCMOAA Officer Directory
Legislative Update
From The Editor
Defense Panel Report
NROTC Gold Bars
ID Card Notification Program
September Luncheon
Transition (TOPS) System
MOAA Scholarship Fund
Retired Activities Office
Virginia Wounded Warrior
Chapter Schedule
August Luncheon
Communications Awards
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 

November 18th Luncheon
The Luncheon will be held at the Holiday Inn Executive  Center, 5655 Greenwich Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23462.
Our Speaker will be  CAPT Tim Szymanski, USN, Commander Naval Special Warfare Group TWO, located on the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base.  The NSWG-2 deploys Naval Special Warfare forces worldwide to meet training, exercise, contingency, and wartime requirements of the theater Commanders. 

We are Planning to invite ROTC Unit leaders to participate.  This will also be our Toys for Tots event, please bring an unwrapped toy for the Marine representatives.

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. 
ROWS Annual Dinner Dance
Each year in December the Chapter participates in the ROWS annual Dinner Dance to held at the Princess Anne Country Club.  The music and food are great.  The Chapter always has a good turnout. 

The function is to be held in the Virginia Ball Room at the Princess Anne Country Club, Friday, December 9, 2011.  6:00-7:00 p.m. - Cocktails; 7:00-10:00 p.m. - Dinner /Dancing with Music by the Walter Noona Band.  Call Nordee Crews at 363-1094.

President’s Message

Fellow Officers and Spouses:

As we approach the Veterans Day Holiday, I would like to honor a group of non- veterans that contribute so much to this nations security and get very little praise or acknowledgement for their action. They are the wives and husbands of our service men and women. As I look back on my 32 years of service, I now realize more than ever how difficult it was for the wives who were tied to the military as tight as their husbands. They moved on orders just like the husband did, many times with all the help they could get from two, three or more children, all under ten, sans husband who was on a six month or more deployment. When he finally returned to a new town or even a new country he found a house established, kids in school and all was right with the world. 

There were also the so called "worry periods" where the service member was putting his life on the line and all the spouse could do is sit home, with the two, three, or more kids, and sweat out the time periods. The threat of the of the black car pulling up to front door with the Chaplin and the base C.O. was ever present. 

Adult conversation was a treat usually occurring at sick bay or the commissary and the rare night out with the other wives in the squadron. And then it consisted of the car that had decided to take the rest of the cruise off, or the washing machine that contacted terminal rust, or braces for the kids, or "Did you get a letter?" Seems if pay records could also find a way to become screwed up. The "dead horse" had gotten paid again for the third time or some other glitch occurred. 

Through it all these wonderful people keep it to gather, raised the kids and paid the bills. I salute all of you for a job well done!! You are a strong and vibrate part of our military!!

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
Cell: 560-3671
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)

MOAA Fights Administration Proposals
MOAA has gone on the offensive against new Administration proposals to make military retirement and healthcare programsmore closely mirror plans for civilian workers .

In previous updates, we cited our initiatives to generate hundreds of thousands of messages and letters to Congress, and especially to the 12 members of the congressional "Super Committee" charged with coming up with a plan by Thanksgiving to reduce the deficit by $1.2 trillion. 

MOAA sent letters to every member of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, urging them as the congressional experts and institutional memory in this area to  remind the Super Committee that military retirement/healthcare programs are core career retention incentives and are essential
to sustain military readiness. 

MOAA sent similar letters to the 12 Super Committee members, expressing our grave concern that some in the Administration and Congress view these programs as simple sources for savings, without regard for the hard-learned lessons of the 1970s, '80s, and '90s about what happens to retention when core compensation incentives are eroded. 

MOAA is appalled that the Administration proposal explicitly states a goal of making military retirement and health care more like those available to civilians, apparently oblivious to their primary purpose of inducing top quality people to serve decades in uniform under arduous conditions civilians don't experience.

You Asked, We Answer
Here are answers to several of the most common questions asked of MOAA's Member Service Center this week. 

Q.  I haven't seen any alerts recently about the status of efforts to prevent a 30% cut in Medicare and TRICARE payments from happening on January 1, 2012.  Has that fallen off the radar screen? 

A.  Stopping that cut from happening remains a top MOAA priority, and we have an active alert on that topic you can use to send your legislators a MOAA-suggested message. 

The Super Committee and potential threats to the military retirement and healthcare systems have been in the news, so we've  focused on those for the last few weeks. 

But the Medicare/TRICARE payment cut is another huge issue Congress must deal with in the next few months, and we must keep pressing legislators on that score too. 

Q.  What's the status of concurrent receipt and SBP/DIC offset repeal legislation? 

A.  Both issues have high numbers of Hill cosponsors, and you can  see where your  legislators stand on these bills by checking out page 33 of your October MOAA  magazine. 

But with Congress focused on finding ways to cut hundreds of billions from the federal budget, prospects for progress is dwindling on any initiative to raise federal spending on anything in the short term, however meritorious. There is a provision in the House-passed defense authorization bill to modestly improve compensation for SBP/DIC widows, and we still hope to have amendments on both issues added to the defense bill in the Senate.  But we have to acknowledge the prospects of significant progress aren't good. 

That said, you never get anything fixed if you give up, so MOAA will continue to keep highlighting these continuing inequities. Members can send their legislators a MOAA-suggested message asking them to support these key issues. 

Q.  Will there be a COLA increase in 2012?  If so, how much will it be? 

A.  Barring some dramatic, unforeseen change, there should be a 2012 COLA of somewhere between 3.4% and 3.7% for Social Security, military retired pay, SBP, and VA disability compensation. 

We won't know what the final COLA number will be until the September Consumer Price Index figure is released on October 19.   Retirees should see the COLA in their January 2012 checks. 

Many members have asked if Congress might act to cut their COLA amount in 2012.  We think it's likely Congress will seek some kind of COLA changes at some point in the months and years ahead as part of ongoing deficit-reduction efforts. 

But at this time there's no legislation on the table that would affect the 2012 COLA, and any prospect of that happening before the December 1 COLA effective date seems remote.

From The Editor
Headstone Medallions are now available through the Department of Veterans Affairs.  This benefit is only applicable if the grave is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker.  Eligible veterans are entitled to either a traditional government furnished headstone or a flat ground marker or the new medallion, but not both.
The instructions to apply for a medallion can be found on NCA’s web site at www.cem.va.gov/hm_hm.asp
Defense Panel: Cuts Could "Hollow Out" Military
(Legislative Update)
The House Armed Services Committee is preparing an analysis on the impacts of deep defense cuts to submit to the so-called "Super Committee" tasked with reducing the national debt by more than a trillion dollars over the next 10 years.

Committee Chairman Howard "Buck" McKeon fears any super committee proposals for more defense cuts would lead to a "hollowing out" of the military.

The defense department is already on the hook for $350 billion in cuts over the next 10 years as part of the recent debt ceiling legislation.  The Super Committee, by law must come up with another $1.2 trillion in combined cuts or revenue increases by Thanksgiving.

If they fail in that effort, and if Congress fails to pass an alternative package to save an equal amount by the end of the year, the new deficit reduction law imposes an automatic trigger mechanism (sequestration) that will cut at least an additional $500 billion from the defense budget over the next ten years.

A House Armed Services Committee report asserts these cuts would degrade readiness and require force reductions of thousands of military personnel. 

MOAA agrees with the House Armed Service Committee.

NROTC Gold Bar Presentation
CAPT Jim Jones is shown presenting Gold Bars to ENS Candace Curry, USN along with a free one year membership to MOAA.
 

After Commissioning

Shown below is  the entire group from the NROTC Consortium, after receiving their Boards from parents or friends, and their Gold Bars from CAPT Jim Jones, USN-Ret.

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
September 23 Luncheon
Our Luncheon was held at the Atlantic Shores Retirement Community, where our guest speaker was Vice Admiral Norbert R. Ryan, Jr., USN-Ret.  VADM Ryan’s comments, focused on fighting the battles with the legislators to retain health and retirement benefits for our current and future warfighter.  Specifically: 

Our current service members are the Next Great Generation.

How they have earned the benefits they are entitled and how these benefits are now under public fire and scrutiny.

Educating the public of the service and sacrifice of our veterans and current service members.

Supporting the Wounded Warrior program. 

Engage younger prospective members to get them involved in the organization whether they be active duty or folks who transitioned from the service. 

He had some antidotal stories of his trip to Afghanistan to visit the men and women presently serving and the determination he saw in the faces of our young warriors.  One particular story was of a young soldier who although wounded severely, wanted to rejoin his unit and comrades as soon as possible.

Shown below is our 2nd VP CDR Bert Ortiz, USN-Ret., thanking ADM Ryan for his presentation to the HRCMOAA members.  Eighty Four members were in attendance.  ADM Ryan and his wife, Judy spent time before and after talking to our members.  Their visit was very much appreciated. 

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.
“Hello” MAJ Norm Crews has been the Chapters representative  to the Retired Activities Office, located at the Little Creek Amphibious Base. 

Their mission is to provide assistance to retirees, surviving spouses, active duty personnel contemplating retirement, and family members. They extend an offer of assistance to Navy/Marine Corps retirees and their families as well as those from all other branches of the military including retired reserves. 

Norm is looking to retire himself after many years in the chair.  Members who are interested please contact Norm at 757-363-1094 or ncrews1@cox.net

Virginia Wounded Warrior Program
How can I help?
The Virginia Veterans Services Foundation is available to receive contributions to support the Program. 

The program will 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. 

Please provide  the following; 
   Name(s)  ______________________________________________________
   Address _______________________________________________________
   Phone _______________________ 
   Email_______________________________________
   HRCMOAA Member   Yes ___    No ___

You may also donate on line by visiting the Virginia Veterans Services Foundation at;
www.vvsf.org

Chapter Schedule

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

 
November 18th – Luncheon at the Holiday Inn Executive Center, 5655 Greenwich Rd. Virginia Beach.  Speaker - CAPT Tim Szymanski, USN, a Seal Team Leader.   Planning for ROTC participation/invite to this event.  Toys for Tots support, also at this event.
December 9, 2011 – ROWS Annual Dinner Dance will be held at the Princess Anne Country Club. 6:00-7:00 PM. - Cocktails; 7:00-10:00 p.m. - Dinner. 
 
VCOC Schedule
Storming of the hill in Richmond; Tentative date is 23 January 2011. 
Contact Jim Jones, 777-5872 for details and transportation.
August 26th Luncheon
The luncheon, held at the Aberdeen Barn on North Hampton Blvd., featured our Congressman from the 2nd District here in Hampton Roads.   Shown above is Congressman Scott Rigell as he discussed the  many challenges during his first term in Washington.   The 70 members in attendance interrupted his talk twice with applause.  Shown on the below is 2nd VP Bert Ortiz presenting the Jefferson cup to Congressman Rigell after his presentation.
Communications Awards
MOAA’s Communications Awards for 2010 were presented by CDR Bert Ortiz to: Maj Clif Furedy for our chapter Web Site; and to CDR John Vermillion for our chapter  E-News Letter and Print News Letter.  This is the seventh year that the chapter has won these Communications Awards.
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


 

In memory of the many Military Members
who gave their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Keep their families in our prayers.

 

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