Black tie or military uniform optional. 

Make a list of your guest and yourself, and indicate entrée for each.  All checks will be made payable to ROWS and mailed to Barbara Smith at 1201 Faulkner Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23454.  They should arrive NLT 28 November.  Barbara can be reached at 427-3475. 

MENU will be; Tossed Salad, (1) 8 oz. Filet with Cabernet Sauce-Medium Rare or (2) 8 oz. Honey Roasted Salmon or (3) Chicken Saltimbocca.  Twice Baked Potato with Cheddar and Sour Cream, Green Beans Almandine, Hot Rolls and Butter.  Coffee/Tea.  Desert is Applesauce Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese whipped icing. 

Price is $60.00 per person.

Fellow Officers and Spouses:

We are almost at the end of 2014. Our treasurer prepares a monthly report as to our financial health that is reviewed by your BOD each month and we are very diligent and thoughtful in managing your funds.  For example, through careful planning and plain hard work we have maintained the cost of our luncheons at $20.00 a person and we expect to be able to continue that good deal through 2016.  I do not know of any other Chapter that can boast of that.  However, all other costs continue to rise (just like in your home) and in order to continue our donations to worthy programs such as, “The Virginia Wounded Warrior Program” and yet maintain a sound financial base of your Chapter, the BOD, after much intense discussion, voted to raise our dues beginning 1 January 2015.  Effective 1 January 2015 Dues are $20.00 – 1 year, $35.00 – 2 years (savings of 12.5%), and $45.00 - 3 years (savings of 25%).  Or, renew by 31 December 2014 at the current rate of $15.00/$28.00/$39.00 for 1, 2 or 3 years respectively. Again, effective 1 January, the Auxiliary dues are $10.00 – 1 year, $17.00 – 2 years (savings of 15%) and $23.00 – 3 years (savings of 23%).  Or, renew by 31 December 2014 at the current rate of $8.00/$15.00/$21.00 for 1, 2, 3 years respectively. 

As a reminder when we lose one of our faithful members, his or her membership transfers to the surviving spouse for the remainder of the membership.  Upon expiration of the membership, we seek, encourage and welcome the surviving spouse to join the Chapter as an Auxiliary member.  As of 1 October 2014, we had 74 Auxiliary members. 

Your nominating committee worked diligently to develop a slate of officers for 2015 – 2016 and they will present a viable slate of dedicated members at the November Annual Meeting/Luncheon who are willing to serve the needs of our Chapter, our Members and to support National MOAA.  As I write this message, they are struggling to find a member willing to serve as the 1st Vice President, a very critical position.  In addition, we have been trying for well over a year to get a replacement for John Vermillion, our superb Tribute Editor.  John has been doing an incredible job for a very long time – he needs a break.  We also need a Personal Affairs officer.  Again, I urge and encourage all to step forward and help with the leadership of “Your Chapter”.

I want to thank all our members for allowing me to serve as your president for the past two years.  It has truly been an honor and pleasure.  Working with the Chapter Officers, Board of Directors, Committee Chairs and those behind the scenes was enormously satisfying.  Everyone had a positive can-do attitude. What a team – Bert & Suzanne Ortiz, Don Buzard, Loren Heckleman, Steve Hackney, Aaron Zielinski, Holly Hollandsworth, Jim Jones,  Jim Smith, Jim Daniels, Larry King “Live”, Dave Wade, Bill Lehr, Mike Barea “Breeze”, John Vermillion, Clif Furedy, Chris Vitadis, Rip Dellaripa, Jack Colgan, Jack Hilgers, Jerry Crick.  Bob Giovanelli, Ben Woodworth and our very special Jo Carter - thank you, thank you.  These are the dedicated troopers that make your Chapter an 11th consecutive year 5 Star Level of Excellence Chapter.  Most importantly, thanks to Evelyn who supported not only me every step of the way but all that the Chapter does for our entire military family.

Thank you,

Jim Edge

Our Legislative Representative, COL Jack Hilgers, USMC-Ret has reported that Commissioner Paul Galanti has decided to retire and his last day was 8 October.  The New Commissioner is Deputy Secretary for Veterans and Defense Affairs, John Newby, so there will be continuity.  Jack knows John and he will make an excellent Commissioner.  The Board of Veterans Services meeting was 7 October and the JLC was 15 October.   Jack attended both. 

Auxiliary Members, MOAA Update

MOAA’s auxiliary members are the survivors of deceased MOAA members or the survivors of deceased individuals who, if living, would be eligible for MOAA membership. As of a vote by MOAA members in August 2012, auxiliary members now have voting rights. This year, for the first time, an auxiliary member will hold an elected position on the MOAA board of directors for a six-year term of office. His or her job will be to act as a spokesperson for all auxiliary members and to represent the interests and issues of surviving spouses on the board. 

Auxiliary members also are eligible for leadership roles in councils and chapters. Some chapters already have begun using the talents of their auxiliary members on their boards, not just as auxiliary liaisons but also as chapter presidents, vice presidents, secretaries, newsletter editors, and more. 

Auxiliary members add value to chapters and councils. As military spouses, they have many experiences unique to the military lifestyle. They have left their hometowns and established new homes at every duty station, moved often and usually alone, and served the role of single parents during deployments before Skype and email existed. In addition, they have been chauffeurs, team parents, scout leaders, PTA officers and members, event planners, hosts, fundraisers for military officers’ spouses’ clubs and other organizations, and committee chairs — sometimes all while holding jobs of their own. Auxiliary members can be sources of untapped talent.

Auxiliary members should consider volunteering for leadership positions within local chapters, and chapter leaders should consider inviting their auxiliary members to participate in their chapters. Chapters with active auxiliary members tend to be more successful. Think about including your auxiliary members when considering new board positions. They will increase your official chapter membership while providing new ideas and leadership opportunities for your chapter or council. 

Please consider contributing this year!

Members may submit to the chapter treasurer, LT Stephen Hackney, USN-Ret at 1736 Rally Dr. Virginia Beach, VA 23454-1233 or in person at our luncheons.   The checks are consolidated and submitted to MOAA who sends receipts to the donors. 

Members who already donate to the national MOAA Scholarship may continue to do so. You just need to note on the check that it is for the Hampton Roads Chapter ROTC Scholarship Fund. MOAA will continue to send receipts to the donors.

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.

Chapter representatives presented  gold bars at two college commissioning ceremonies in August.  The NSU and ODU AROTC programs each had one each cadet commissioned. 

The Chapter ROTC Scholarship Fund remained on track to reach one-year and five-year goals.  As of 20 September, we reached 70% of our annual goal and 54% of our long range goal. 

Honor Flight 18 October 2014   Our Chapter coordinated the departure ceremonies for World War II veterans in South Hampton Roads to visit Washington, DC as part of the nationwide Honor Flight program. The Honor Flight provides the free trip for World War II and Korean veterans, and veterans of later wars who qualify, to see and tour the various war memorials in the city. The trip included free bus travel, attendants for the veterans, and meals for the day.  Uniformed cadets from Old Dominion (ODU) and Norfolk State Universities (NSU) Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and high school JROTC units in South Hampton Roads participated. 

Jim Edge 

TRICARE provided written policy for the Autism Care Demonstration (ACD) in late September, only one month before the program was scheduled to begin.  After an uproar from the military community, DoD officials announced this week that it would delay payment cuts until April 2015.  Despite assurances from  Defense Health Agency (DHA) officials that they would educate beneficiaries and providers to proposed changes, many are crying foul. The proposed payment cuts would have an immediate impact on military families.

According to a survey by Navigation Behavioral Consulting, a firm that works with children with autism, 95 percent of TRICARE providers would scale back services offered to autistic children. More troubling is that 22 percent said that they would stop treating military children altogether.  If the proposed payment cuts are enacted, almost 15 percent of military children with autism who received help in 2013, would be left without adequate coverage.  While MOAA is pleased to see a simplification of autism services into one program, we remain deeply concerned about proposed funding cuts.  MOAA is scheduled to participate in a review of the policy next week with DoD officials.  For additional information on the ACD program, please visit www.tricare.mil/ACD. 

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

Please make checks payable to and Mail contributions to: 

Virginia Wounded Warrior Program
c/o Veterans Services Foundation
900 East Main Street, 6th Floor, West Wing 
Richmond, VA 23219

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

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