Military Officers Association of America Green Valley Chapter Desert Duster Newsletter October 2017 issue

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1 In this issue: President s Message Dues Are Due Now October Dinner Meeting Reservation Form Election: 2018 Officer & Board Member Candidates Brig Gen MacDonald to Speak at October Meeting Get to Know Your Members Toys for Tots Collection Special Donation Presentation in October Veterans Appreciation Week Closet Cleaning Time All About Homeless Veterans Tax Credit Can Benefit Schools and You 2017 Events Schedule 2017 Officers, Directors and Chairs Happy Birthday, Members Sponsors; Event Photos, Archived Newsletters From National MOAA 6 Easy Steps to Prevent Identity Theft Changes Coming to TRICARE/Express Scripts Mail-Order Pharmacy Program Living Socially in Retirement Communities President s Message I want to welcome everyone back to Green Valley, a beautiful place without hurricanes, floods, or tidal surges where everyone works for free (volunteers). I would also like to thank John McGee for his work with the Red Cross after Hurricane Harvey in Houston! First Things First: Your Board of Directors voted for a minor increase in the dues we collect by $5.00 a person to $25 for regular members and $15 for Aux members. The Board noted that we have not increased dues in the past ten years and that our costs have gone up substantially. Ninety-five percent or more of your dues pay for our basic administrative expenses, Post Office Box rental, Meet & Greet charges, Chamber of Commerce membership, and name tags for new members. You pay NO salaries, NO per diem, mileage or travel expenses. We have to pay Chapter dues to belong to MOAA National, and we have to pay for our website, dinners for our speakers, and our Arizona corporation filing fee. The new dues will be effective for the 2018 season which we will start collecting in October. See the website (greenvalleymoaa.org/membership-info) and in this newsletter for the annual dues collection form. We thank those early birds who mailed in their dues checks and donations right after the September 20 meeting. For those that have already paid annual dues in advance for 2018 we will honor your membership for (I think that there are only two that have paid in advance.) Our October 18 th dinner will be at Quail Creek at 5:00 6:30 p.m. and will feature voting for your Board of Directors for the 2018 year, and changes to our bylaws. The candidates are listed on the website (greenvalleymoaa.org/board-of-directors) and in this newsletter. The speaker in October will be Brig. General Andrew J. MacDonald, Commander, 162 nd Wing, Arizona Air National Guard. The General will inform our membership about the function of the 162 nd Wing. Dick Newman will present the General and Barbara Gavre with a check for $2,000 for food assistance for the 162 nd. While you may have already heard this, Green Valley Chapter won the LOE Award for 2017 which we will receive on November 4 th in Yuma at our Arizona State Council meeting. I want to thank Dick Newman for his efforts in this. During the October 18 th dinner, we will have our annual Toy for Tots collection. New, unwrapped toys are needed and they will also accept monetary donations. Make checks payable to Scholarship and Military Assistance Fund and we will forward one check from the Chapter to the Toys for Tots program. Anyone wishing a receipt for tax purposes may request one from Peggy McGee, our Treasurer. Also, we will be preparing for our Turkeys for the Troops donation, which will be made before Thanksgiving. The reason we are doing this at the October dinner is that we will not have a dinner meeting in November. We are looking for volunteers for the White Elephant parade this year. We have a fancy golf cart (no marching!), flags, a sign and an Honor Guard from Sahuarita High School NJROTC. We need someone to throw candy out. Please contact Dick Newman at (520) if you are interested. If you are looking to pay your annual dues via credit card, contact Peggy McGee. She has been working on that exact project. The procedure should be out shortly. Thanks Peggy! PAGE 1

2 One last thing, it has come to our attention that about 20 people have not paid their GV Chapter dues for If you know someone that hasn t paid, please get the word to them to please pay their dues. We cannot continue carrying them on our roster and had to drop them in April of 2017 but we can reinstate them easily. May you all have a very pleasant fall season! Jim Knox, LCDR USN (Ret) 2017 Chapter President Green Valley Chapter, MOAA Never Stop Serving! Dues Are Due Now After 10 years of holding the annual dues at $20 for the officers and $10 for Auxiliary members, and after in-depth discussion at the September Board meeting, the Board decided that it was necessary to increase the dues to $25 and $15 respectively. Just like expenses for everyone else, the Chapter expenses have increased too so in order to remain solvent, Board members felt it was prudent to increase the dues for 2018 and the years beyond. Members may pay their dues using the form below and mailing it to the address provided. Dues may also be turned in at the October meeting. Final deadline to pay dues to ensure we earn a bonus from MOAA HQ for on-time dues payment is December 31. Chapter Dues: (Regular-$25; Auxiliary-$15) Military Officers Association of America Green Valley, Arizona Chapter P.O. Box 769 Green Valley, AZ CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP DUES Membership Dues $ Make check payable to: Military Officers Association of Green Valley or GV MOAA. PLEASE PROVIDE THE INFORMATION BELOW: Name: New Renewal Rank: Branch of Service: National # Auxiliary Address: City, State, Zip DOB (Month/Day/Year) Phone: ( ) Scholarship & Military Assistance Fund $ Donation Make check payable to: Green Valley MOAA Scholarship and Military Assistance Fund or GV MOAA Scholarship or GV MOAA Military Assistance. Dues may be paid at any meeting or mailed to Military Officers Association of America, Green Valley, Arizona Chapter P.O. Box 769 Green Valley, AZ PAGE 2

3 October Dinner Meeting: Reservation Form Mail your check and this reservation form to the address below. OCTOBER 18, 2017 Social: 5:00pm Dinner: 5:30pm Quail Creek Madera Clubhouse Please make your reservations by October 11 th! Please reserve places for me for dinner. Cost: $ ($26 per person) Select Entrée choice: (#1) Poached Tilapia with diced tomato relish, rice pilaf, seasonal mixed vegetables (#2) Beef Stroganoff with noodles and a beef gravy sauce Meal includes mixed greens with assorted accompaniments and a choice of Ranch or Raspberry Vin dressing. Dessert: Pumpkin Pie with whipped cream. Check # Rank: Attn: Dinner Reservation Mail your check and this reservation form to: MOA of Green Valley, PO Box 769 Green Valley, AZ Name: (please print) I am bringing guest(s) whose name(s) is/are: Entrée choice (#) GUEST 1 GUEST 2 GUEST 3 GUEST 4 If you require a ride to the dinner, please check here: C U T HE R E If you cannot get your reservation and check mailed timely, or if you have made a reservation and find you cannot attend PLEASE CALL BARBARA BROWN. Your chapter is charged for all ordered meals even if they aren t served. Please bring a check or exact cash amount to the meeting. Thank you, Barbara Brown Hearing Aid Assist Device at Quail Creek If you are a member with Hearing Aids who still has difficulty hearing the speakers at the meal-plated meetings, Quail Creek does offer a Hearing Aid Assist Loop device. The Hearing Aid Assist is a loop system in the meeting room and can be turned on and individuals would wear a device around their neck which helps amplify the sound through their hearing aids. In order for this assist device to work the individual must have a Hearing Aid or Cochlear Implants with TeleCoil (T-Coil) capability. This device only works with hearing aids with this capability and will not work on individuals with no hearing aid at all. If you or a guest would like to utilize this service at Quail Creek for future meetings, I ask that you notify us in advance so we can have it available for you. You can notify us by writing your request on your meeting reservation form, or contact Barbara Brown or barbara.brown3@cox.net. PAGE 3

4 2018 Board Elections at October Meeting The 2018 Board elections will take place at the October meeting. Officers and Directors will be sworn in at the December meeting Officer and Board Member Candidates: President: First Vice-President and Membership: Second Vice-President: Secretary: Treasurer: Immediate Past-President, President, 501(c)(3): National MOAA Board Member, Past President, ESGR and Legislative Affairs: Director/Auxiliary Affairs: Director, Personal Affairs: Past President & Chaplain: Director/JROTC Liaison: Historian: Transition Liaison: Public Relations Officer: Webmaster, Newsletter Editor LCDR James Knox, USN (Ret) 1LT Joseph Longo USA (Fmr) CAPT Tom Contreras, USN (Ret) Mrs. Bettie Rundlett COL Peggy McGee, USA (Ret) 1LT Richard Newman, USAR (Fmr) CDR John Chernoski, USN, (Ret) (vacant) CWO3 James Rundlett, USCG (Ret) COL Eugene Friesen, USA (Ret) CAPT Tom Contreras, USN (Ret) (vacant) CPT Kelly Galvin, USA, (Ret) COL Peggy McGee, USA (Ret) Marianne Cobarrubias (by appointment) Brig Gen MacDonald to Speak at October Meeting The next Chapter dinner meeting will be on October 18 with cocktails being available at 5 p.m. and dinner being served at 5:30. The guest speaker will be Brigadier General Andrew J. MacDonald, Commander, 162 nd Fighter Wing, Arizona Air National Guard. He assumed the position on November 05, During his talk, the General will thank the members for their continuous support for the young troops in the unit and in particular for their record breaking donations collected at Quail Creek over the 4 th of July weekend. General MacDonald received his Bachelor of Science degree in computer science in 1987 from the State University of New York at Binghamton and was commissioned in 1988 through the Platoon Leaders Course with the Marine Corps at Quantico, Virginia. He attended primary flight school at Pensacola, Florida, then Advanced Jet training at Meridian Mississippi Naval Air Station where he earned Naval Aviator wings of gold. While in the Marine Corps he served in numerous training and operational assignments in the EA-6B Prowler and as a TA-4 Skyhawk advanced jet training instructor before joining the Arizona Air National Guard in He became a qualified F-16 PAGE 4

5 instructor pilot in June, General MacDonald commanded the 148th Fighter Squadron, 162 nd Operations Support Flight, and 162 nd Operations Group prior to assuming his present duties. He is a command pilot with more than 4,400 flying hours. After dinner, the Chapter will be presenting a donation for the unit s food locker to Barbara Gavre, Family Readiness Program Manager at the 162 nd. Deadline to sign up for the October 18 dinner is October 11. If you cannot mail your check in a timely manner, reservations may also be made by calling Barbara Brown at by the 11 th. Get to Know Your Members: Introducing Don & Rosalie Cassiday Col USAF (Ret) Don Cassiday was born and raised in Iowa and attended Grinnell College where he received his bachelor s degree and commission as a second lieutenant in the USAF. He entered active duty on 7 December Following flying training at Marana AB and Webb AFB, he was assigned to McConnell AFB where he transitioned into the B-47 and was assigned to the 40 th Bomb Wing (SAC) at Salina, Kansas. He flew the B-47 until medically grounded in He became a maintenance officer in the 40 th and later, the 55 th Strategic Recon Wing at Topeka. Don received a Master s Degree in Management from Colorado University in 1967 and was posted as Executive Officer to the Comptroller of Headquarters Command USAF at Bolling AFB, Washington DC. After attending the Royal Air Force Staff College near London in 1969, he became deputy chief of maintenance at Third Air Force Headquarters, South Ruislip, UK. Next, he was posted to HQ USAFE in Wiesbaden, Germany as Chief of Aircraft Maintenance Policies and Procedures. Graduating from the Air War College in 1973, he instructed there for two years. His subsequent assignment to Vietnam was abruptly cancelled when Saigon fell. Instead, he went to the Pentagon where he was Chief of Aircraft and Missile Programs for the Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics until his retirement in He later served as Dean, School of Business at Aurora University, Vice President of Merchants Bancorp, both in Aurora, and Director of the School of Business at North Park University, Chicago. Following retirement from academe, he was appointed by the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives as a Commissioner on the Veteran s Disability Benefits Commission which conducted the first total review of veterans disability benefits since General Omar Bradley s review in Now fully retired, he serves as a docent at the Pima Air and Space Museum. Don is married to the former Rosalie Jean Yeoman, a professional musician specializing in keyboard. She has two master s degrees, one in Organ, the other in Harpsichord. She served a variety of churches for over 40 years and played numerous concerts in the West Suburban Chicago area. She soloed as harpsichordist for the Fox Valley Symphony on many occasions. A member of the American Guild of Organists, she was Dean of the West Suburban Chapter and a board member for many years. She was recently recognized for founding a very popular series of summer organ concerts known as Bach to the Abbey which have been performed for more than 15 years at Marmion Abbey in Aurora, Illinois. Both Don and Rosalie have been deeply involved in their community and served on a variety of not for profit boards of directors over the years. This is their first experience to be in a MOAA Chapter having never been assigned nearby one. Married for 58 years they have three daughters (one deceased), four grandsons and a great granddaughter who is to make her appearance in December of PAGE 5

6 Toys for Tots Collection Even though the weather does not suggest that winter is right around the corner, we ask you to think a little ahead about the upcoming holidays. We will be having our annual of toy collection at our meeting on October 18th. Toys for Tots provides toys for infants and up to age 14. Some of the things that are on the children's wish list include bikes, dolls, any kind of wheeled toys, Lego sets, board and card games. Although we often think about toddlers, preschoolers and elementary school aged children at holiday time, please don't forget the young teens. Perhaps you could get a gift card for Walmart, Target or itunes or one of the fast food restaurants in the area. The teenage girls also like makeup, nail polish, lotions. You may place your donations at one of the tables in the ballroom and some of Santa's helpers will come and gather them and hold them until it is time to distribute your gifts to the needy children. Thanks for making a needy child s holiday a little brighter. Special Donation Presentation At the October meeting, Mrs. Barbara Gavre, Program Manager of the Family Readiness Program at the 162 nd Fighter Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard will accept a donation from the Green Valley Chapter in support of the nonperishable Food Bank maintained by her office. The $2,000 gift comes from a grant provided by the ASMBA STAR Foundation (dba Overwatch Alliance). This foundation has been a strong supporter of our Scholarships & Military Assistance efforts. In addition to this segment of the grant, the Foundation also provided funds for one scholarship this year. Veterans Appreciation Week Happenings November is the month to pay tribute to all our veterans for their service to our country and often times to their communities after they have left the military. There will be a series of events in the Green Valley/Sahuarita area culminating on November 11. Unless indicated otherwise, all events are free. November 9: The Continental School s ceremony will take place at 8:15 a.m. at the school's flagpole located just behind the district office at 1991 E. White House Canyon Rd. November 9: Sahuarita Intermediate School (SIS) will present a Tribute to Veterans at 9:00 a.m. in the SIS Gym, 350 W Sahuarita Rd. All U.S military personnel, veterans, and the local community are invited. November 9: Power Pack Attack Slam Dunk for SEEF basketball game at Walden Grove High School starting at 6 p.m. The whimsical competition will pit the students from Sahuarita and Walden Grove high schools against district administration and faculty members from both schools. Tickets are $3 for active and retired military and seniors over 65; $5 for those under 65; $20.00 for families. Food trucks will be available for your dining pleasure starting at 5 p.m. and during intermission. The half-time entertainment will feature a tribute to all veterans and active duty personnel who have served or are currently serving in our armed forces. In addition, Sahuarita High School s Do Something Club will have a Million Thanks table set up where everyone can write a message to our serving military. Funds raised during this event will help SEEF continue to offer teacher mini-grants, teacher assistance toward National Board Certification and summer enrichment activities for students. Tickets for the basketball game are available online at sites.google.com/a/sahuarita.net/seef/home. Tickets may also be purchased at the door. November 11: Wreath laying ceremony at 9:30 a.m. at the Green Valley Mortuary and Cemetery, S. La Canada Drive, Sahuarita. This is a great opportunity to pay tribute to all veterans, both living and deceased. However you spend Veterans Day, please pause to remember the sacrifices made by our military, both living and dead. PAGE 6

7 Closet Cleaning Time Mark your calendars for October 21. On that day, the annual Quail Creek household goods and clothing drive for homeless veterans will take place on the parking lot of the Creative Arts and Technology Center at 2045 Quail Crossing Blvd. Just look for the signs. Volunteers will be there to receive your donations between 9-11 a.m. The number one item on the homeless veterans wish list is backpacks but all articles of winter weight clothing are needed. Due to space limitations, the VA asks that we not collect shorts, tank tops or other hot weather clothing at this time. They are especially anxious to receive career type clothing in all sizes for men and women, as well as jeans, sweaters, jackets, hats, gloves and scarves. Everything must be clean and in good repair. They do require that socks and underwear be new but packages may be opened. Veterans who have been moved into housing need cookware, cups, plates, utensils, small appliances, lamps, towels, bedding in twin, double or queen size as well as brooms, dust pans, vacuum cleaners. Also needed are kitchen and bathroom sized trash cans, toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, cleaning and hygiene supplies. Toiletries can be in either travel or regular sizes. And don t forget Fido or Kitty just like us many of the veterans cherish their pets, perhaps the only one who gives them unconditional love. There will be forms available to request a receipt for tax purposes. Please ask for a MOAA form so that our Chapter will get credit for the donation. Questions about the clothing drive can be directed to our treasurer, Peggy McGee, who will be there that day collecting the hygiene items. She can be reached at pjmcgee@cox.net or (520) For those of you who have already down-sized but who want to help the veterans, you may write a check payable to VA Voluntary Services. All About the Homeless Veterans We had a last-minute switch of speakers when the scheduled presenter had to cancel for health reasons. A brief was sent out announcing the switch and WOW, what a response. Thank you so much to all who responded so generously to the last-minute plea to bring donations for the homeless veterans to the meeting on September 20th. You once again showed your caring for the less fortunate. Our speaker was Jodi Frederick, clinical director of the homeless programs at Southern Arizona VA Health Care System. She has been with the VA for 5 ½ years and works with community partners in the goal to end Veteran homelessness. She is a licensed clinical social worker and has worked in the field of mental health and substance abuse for 28 years. Ms. Frederick talked about the many services that the Tucson Medical Center provides to the homeless veterans. She related that the homeless veterans can come in, take a shower, get a haircut, a snack and shop at no cost for some clothing. They have a laundry facility where veterans can wash and dry their clothing. While their clothes are in the washer, they can make appointments for job search help, resume preparation. They even have a Veterans court for those who have broken the law. A peer group determines and recommends the appropriate punishment to authorities. There are several licensed social workers on the staff who work with each veteran and his/her family to help them get assimilated into life off the streets. Although the government provides most of the funding for these programs, it takes an army of generous donors, both individual and organized groups, to keep some of the programs going. Their generosity adds the extra touches of the snacks, fresh water, clothing and grooming supplies that make life a little bit easier for the homeless. About 10% of the homeless are female so the need for clothing for men is the greatest but new socks and underwear are needed for all. (L-R) Jodi Frederick is all smiles as Peggy McGee and Jim Knox present her a check to support the special programs for the homeless veterans. Photo: Betty Atwater PAGE 7

8 Tax Credit Can Benefit Schools and You 2017 is rapidly drawing to a close and it will be tax time again before you know it. One way you can reduce your tax liability is to make a contribution to one or more of the local school districts which can include schools in Sahuarita, Rio Rico, Nogales and Continental. If you choose a district with a high school, please consider earmarking your contribution to go to the JROTC program. After all, this program is training potential officers for our military services. Your donations create a win-win situation to help the schools and ease your tax burden. Single and head of household filers may get a credit for up to $200 while those filing jointly can get a dollar-for-dollar credit up to $400 towards their Arizona tax liability. This credit applies whether one itemizes or uses the standard deduction. The school contribution is in addition to any credits you might get for contributing to charities that support the Working Poor, e.g., the Food Bank, Valley Assistance Services, the Salvation Army. For federal taxes, donations to schools just count as a charitable contribution but do not qualify one for a credit and can be claimed only by those who itemize deductions. We will have the forms available for your use at the October dinner meeting. Thanks for considering our schools Events Schedule February 21 ::: Dinner meeting; Quail Creek Clubhouse. Registration 5-5:30pm. Dinner at 5:30pm. Program: Valor HospiceCare March 21 ::: 4:30pm-6:30pm Quail Creek Clubhouse. Mix & Mingle, Hors d oeuvres. No Host Bar. April 18 ::: Dinner meeting; Quail Creek Clubhouse. Registration 5-5:30pm. Program: JROTC Scholarship Dinner and Awards April 21 ::: Arizona Chapter MOAA Golf Tournament. May ::: No Meeting June ::: No Meeting July ::: No Meeting August ::: No Meeting September 20 ::: Dinner meeting; Quail Creek Clubhouse. Registration 5-5:30pm; Dinner at 5:30. Speaker: LtCol Dick Jonas, President, AZCo/MOAA. October 18 ::: Dinner meeting; Quail Creek Clubhouse. Registration 5-5:30pm. Speaker: Brig. General Andrew J. MacDonald, Commander, 162 nd Wing, Arizona Air National Guard. November ::: No Meeting December 6 ::: Dinner at Quail Creek Clubhouse. Registration 5-5:30pm. Christmas Dinner, no speaker, installation of officers. BOARD MEETING ::: Board of Directors meeting is the 1st Wednesday of each month 8:30-10:00 a.m. at the Friends in Deed Building, Green Valley. Members are welcomed to attend join us! 2017 Officers, Directors and Chairs President: LCDR James Knox, USN (Ret) First Vice-President and Membership: 1LT Joseph Longo USA (Fmr) Second Vice-President: CAPT Tom Contreras, USN (Ret) Secretary: Mrs. Bettie Rundlett Treasurer: COL Peggy McGee, USA (Ret) Immediate Past President, President, 501(c)(3): 1LT Richard Newman, USAR (Fmr) National MOAA Board Member, Past President, ESGR and Legislative Affairs: CDR John Chernoski, USN, (Ret) Director, Auxiliary Affairs: (position vacant) Director, Personal Affairs: CWO3 James Rundlett, USCG (Ret) Past President & Chaplain: COL Eugene Friesen, USA (Ret) Director/JROTC Liaison: CAPT Tom Contreras, USN (Ret) Historian: (position vacant) Transition Liaison: CPT Kelly Galvin, USA, (Ret) Public Relations Officer: COL Peggy McGee, USA (Ret) Webmaster/Newsletter Editor: Marianne Cobarrubias, Webmaster@womenqc.com PAGE 8

9 Happy Birthday! OCTOBER Judy Knox Col Richard Sharp Betty Eby-Deardorff Col Hayward Sumner COL Peggy McGee NOVEMBER LTC Fredric Roeming LTC Thelma Hendricks Col Vernon Harms 1LT John Bergstrom LTC Allan Ryden LtCol Howard Richey Margaret Pahoresky 2LT Raymond Stafford LTC Ronnie St. Clair Gloria Contreras Lt Col Richard Casey DECEMBER LtCol Richard Kosnick Jackie Dow Sponsors We appreciate our newsletter & website sponsors. Thank you! Event Photos Photos and video clips may be accessed via this link: greenvalleymoaa.org/photos-events. The link can also be found in the footer of each website page (greenvalleymoaa.org). Archived Newsletters Looking for back issues of the chapter s newsletter? Go to the News & Events page on the website: greenvalleymoaa.org/news-events. FROM NATIONAL MOAA 6 Easy Steps to Prevent Identity Theft Scary ads and articles trumpet the dangers of identity theft and other forms of hacking. The risk is real, but the good news is it s easy to protect yourself with these simple steps. 1. Set aside time as little as a couple of hours to assess your current situation. Gather account information for your financial institutions, medical providers, insurance companies, and organizations. Premium and Life members of MOAA have free access to two publications Family Matters ( Publications/Family-Matters-Detail.aspx) for active duty families and the Personal Affairs Guide ( for other families that can help you assemble all your personal information in one place. Tip: Need up-to-date account information but dread navigating the telephone maze? GetHuman.com ( can help you reach a real person. Remember to record the dates and outcomes of your calls and PAGE 9

10 the names of anyone with whom you spoke. 2. Establish best password practices. In Future Crimes (Doubleday, 2015), Mark Goodman advises changing passwords on a regular basis and not using the same password across multiple sites. Passwords should be long (20 digits or more) and contain upper- and lowercase letters as well as symbols and spaces, Goodman writes. If you have trouble remembering complex passwords, Eva Velasquez, president of the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) ( suggests writing down your passwords and keeping that written list in a secure location. She advises against keeping a password document on your computer. For more tips on passwords, read Choosing Passwords That Really Protect You. ( Really-Protect-You.aspx?list= &cat= ) Tip: Use a secret code or hint to help you remember a password. For example, write down or record Name# and age of best friend at summer camp instead of LaureenJohnson#14 (the actual password). 3. Store copies and originals of sensitive documents in separate, secure locations, such as both a bank lockbox and a hidden fireproof box at home, and remember to share your information with the person who will need it if you become incapacitated. 4. Protect personal information that could be valuable to a thief, such as your name, Social Security number, date of birth, address, driver s license, financial account numbers or cards, passwords, answers to security questions such as your mother s maiden name or your father s middle name, telephone numbers, and biometric data. Make purchases with a credit card rather than a debit card to keep your bank account safer, and keep an eye out for anyone who might be looking over your shoulder while keying in your debit card PIN at the checkout or ATM. You also might invest in a locking mailbox and a crosscut shredder to keep a would-be thief from accessing any unsolicited credit card offers. 5. Cybersecurity could be a column on its own (and it is see 5 Cybersecurity Tips to Keep Your Information Safe) ( Tips.aspx). As a start, turn your computer off when you aren t using it; put tape or a sticker over the built-in camera; and set your security software, operating system, and web browser to update automatically. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a good source of information about phishing, ( or fraud. 6. To keep up with current wisdom and get answers to questions as they arise, rely on respected sources like the FTC ( and the National Crime Prevention Council ( The Department of Justice has an identity theft quiz ( to test your security awareness, while Identity Theft Resource Center has a live chat feature and offers support especially for military families ( Changes are Coming to TRICARE/Express Scripts Mail-Order Pharmacy Program Beginning Sept. 1, 2017, Express Scripts will need consent from patients who want to receive automatic refills of their maintenance medications enrolled in TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery. Express Scripts will contact TRICARE beneficiaries before their prescription refills expire to determine whether they want their doctor to be contacted to renew PAGE 10

11 the prescription and if they would like to continue in the Automatic Refill program. If not, Express Scripts will not refill the prescription. When the last refill of a medication enrolled in the Automatic Refill program ships, Express Scripts will reach out to the beneficiary by telephone and/or (depending on the preference you indicated) and ask the following: Would you like Express Scripts to reach out to your doctor for a new prescription? Do you want to keep your medication enrolled in the Auto Refill program? Express Scripts will not re-enroll your medication unless they hear from the beneficiary. Ways to respond: Online at Express-Scripts.com/TRICARE ( Via the automated phone call from Express Scripts By calling an Express Scripts Patient Care Advocate (PCA) at If Express Scripts does not receive consent within 10 days of reaching out to the beneficiary, they will remove the medication from the Auto Refill program. See this Tricare site for more information ( ntext=%7b761e25c5-20a a0fe-08e633bed18d%7d). Living Socially in Retirement Communities When Lt. Col. Milo Myers, USAF (Ret), and his wife moved into a retirement community, his friends were shocked. At age 62? And in great health? Why? Dan Heuer, an Army veteran, now lives in the 55-plus section of a planned community in Florence, Ariz. He's on the go all the time. The community's facilities include a golf course, pickleball and tennis courts, a 48,000-square-foot community center with gym equipment, and an outdoor concert facility with free performances. Health issues and bereavement precipitate some people's moves into retirement communities. However, residents such as Myers and Heuer choose them for other compelling reasons. To be around people like themselves. Unlike many suburban areas where neighbors don't know each other s names, many specialized senior communities cater to peoples' desires to be with others who share their former professions, ethnic backgrounds, religious preferences, or hobbies (such as motorcycling or RVing). To broaden your cultural experiences. At Teischer's residence, New Mexico's mix of cultures is evident in a daily menu that includes Chile Rellenos (deep-fried green chiles and cheese) prepared by a chef from Mexico, Cinco de Mayo celebrations with authentic mariachi singers, and staff and residents from many cultures. To keep learning and cheering. About 100 retirement communities have direct ties with nearby universities, providing the intellectual stimulation, sports connections, and cultural opportunities that come with college life. To prepare for the unexpected. Most couples don't age - or become disabled - at the same time or at the same rate. When one partner requires a greater level of care, a CCRC permits a healthy partner to protect his or her own health with the help of 24-7 caregivers to watch after them both. I liked the assurance of knowing I had people around who would notice I wasn't around and check in on me, says Chief Warrant Officer Bill Hay, USMC (Ret), of his decision to move from a five-bedroom house to a retirement facility in Escondido, Calif. Because living smaller is trendy. Between 7 and 10 percent of people 75 and older live in senior housing, according to PAGE 11

12 Beth Burnham Mace, chief economist for the National Investment Center for Senior Housing and Care. She predicts the declining caregiver support ratio of adult children to their senior parents will boost that percentage greatly as the boomer population ages. For some, downsizing means giving up treasured possessions and familiar comforts. For others, living smaller and more simply is part of a wider trend encompassing tiny houses and the Marie Kondo method. Burnham Mace says people are growing more comfortable with the idea of senior community settings. When Col. Bart Allen, USAF (Ret), moved himself and his wife from their home into a cottage in a retirement community in Grand Junction, Colo., his next transition - after her death, to assisted living - was even simpler. But recently he hosted a party of 45 friends to celebrate my 87th birthday in the Garden Room, and he cites the varied menu and flexible meal times at his community as other reasons he is happy with his choice. To explore new opportunities. Gary Somerville, an Air Force veteran and retired sergeant with a California sheriff's department, lives in Dan Heuer's Arizona community and is grabbing what life has to offer. I'm living [the] high school years I [missed] because I was too busy getting my career going, Somerville says. Hay expresses the same level of satisfaction. His casita in his retirement community in Escondido has a spa that helps with old injuries he incurred, and since he lives near the ocean, he is able to serve as a docent on USS Midway (CV-41). These communities are not nursing homes, Hay says. These are luxury apartments with great restaurant-style dining, activities, and outings. It's like living on a cruise ship that never leaves the dock. CONTRIBUTORS Betty Atwater Barbara Brown Tom Contreras James Knox Peggy McGee Richard Newman EDITOR: Marianne Cobarrubias December submissions due: NOV. 15 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: greenvalleymoaa.org MEMBERSHIP: greenvalleymoaa.org/membership-info PHOTOS & VIDEOS: greenvalleymoaa.org/photos-events PAGE 12