How big should our KOS footprint be?

Transcription

1 Vol. XXXIX No. 5 September/October 2014 How big should our KOS footprint be? Scholars hip FMMA Stuff the Bus Ritz veterans village Lt Col Sharon Murry, USAF (Ret.), President, , Kingdom of the Sun Chapter, MOAA Vets Helping Vets Science Fair Vets Council T HE SIZE OF THE KOS FOOTPRINT SAYS WHO WE ARE. In a busy, successful spring, KOS grew our footprint. We added members, participated in Veterans activities, raised and donated more money than ever before. Our major event, the LUAU, received local and national publicity. We worked hard. Too hard? Is our small chapter able to sustain the activities that earn a large community footprint? We donated so much money in spring that KOS now needs to raise money to give accustomed donations to charities we normally support. KOS s footprint is our value as perceived by the public. The size of the KOS footprint is determined by how many we are, by what we do for others, by what we donate to others, and by what others know we do. We increase our footprint by doing more for Marion County, by donating more, by adding members, by publicizing our activities. We decrease our footprint by decreasing membership, decreasing activity, decreasing donations, or choosing not to publicize our activities. This fall, the Board of Trustees will consider how large our community footprint should be. Can or should we recruit many new members? Do we want to be a small professional social organization or an activist organization? Will you President s Letter (Continued on page 2) Schedule of Events SEPTEMBER 4 KOS Luncheon at Ocala Elks 12:00 P.M., Cocktails 12:30 P.M., Lunch Jack Hanson will be speaking on Residential Fire Safety for Senior Citizens. 9 KOS Board Meeting 12:30 P.M., at Ocala Elks OCTOBER 2 KOS Dinner/Dance at Ocala Elks 6:00 P.M., Cocktails 6:30 P.M., Dinner Halloween Party Theme and Dance with Masks and Costumes. 14 KOS Board Meeting 12:30 P.M., at Ocala Elks NOVEMBER 6 KOS Dinner and Annual Meeting/Memorial Service at Ocala Elks 6:00 P.M., Cocktails 6:30 P.M., Dinner 11 KOS Board Meeting 12:30 P.M., at Ocala Elks Visit our website at:

2 SUNBEAMS PAGE 2 September/October 2014 Kingdom of the Sun Chapter, MOAA PO Box 114, Ocala, Florida SUNBEAMS is published bimonthly for the information of the members of Kingdom of the Sun (KOS) Chapter, an affiliate of The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of either organization. SUNBEAMS is printed by the Concord Press of Ocala, Florida. KOS is a nonprofit organization, incorporated under the laws of the State of Florida on 13 April It is not associated with the Department of Defense. It is mailed as Third Class bulk mail at the U.S. Post Office, Ocala, Florida under Permit #122. Editor: COL Tilford Smith (Army), Legislation & Assistant Editor: LTC Philip Johnson (Army), Publisher: Kingdom of the Sun Chapter of MOAA Chapter Officers: PRESIDENT: Lt Col Sharon Murry, (Air Force) st V.P.: COL James L. Bud Smith (Army) nd V.P.: LTC Arlo Janssen, (Army) SECRETARY: Mrs. Betty Hayes, Auxiliary TREASURER: Mrs. Linda Byrd, Auxiliary Directors: COL Robert Schlegel (Army), LTC Philip Johnson (Army), CDR Thomas W. Dann (USCGR), Lt Col Carol C. Walker (Air Force), CWO3 Ralph Spiller Jr. (Navy), Mrs. Bonnie Morris, Auxiliary, Immediate Past President CPT John Rose, (Army), Distaff Representative Mrs. Marilou Truitt, Auxiliary Meetings: The Kingdom of the Sun Chapter (MOAA), meets monthly on the first Thursday of the month. Dates, times and occasions are announced in advance in the SUNBEAMS. Members are encouraged to attend and guests are always welcome. Meetings are usually suspended during the summer months of July and August. The KOS Board currently meets monthly on the second Tuesday of each month at 12:30 P.M. at the Ocala Elks Club. Officers and Board Members are required to attend. Visit our website at: President s Letter (Continued from page 1) support fund raising initiatives? Everyone supported the Stuff the Bus LUAU. Can we do a major fund raising event like this every year? Tell any Board member what you think. I ll talk about the direction the Board chooses in the State of the Chapter address in November. THE WELCOME BACK RECRUITING INITIATIVE CONTINUES. New members and new social affiliates are helping with activities and bringing enthusiasm to KOS events. Keep looking for friends and acquaintances to share our comradery. Our successful Welcome Back recruiting initiative from last fall continues. By the way, welcome back to a full fall calendar. We re glad to see you and to share your summer stories. Bring your friends to meetings. We want to see them, as well. If they aren t eligible for membership, recruit them as social affiliates. THE HALLOWEEN PARTY WILL REPLENISH OUR CHARITY COFFERS. The October 2 evening Halloween Party will have a band, optional costumes, and a parade. It will also feature a program book, a raffle, and a silent auction to raise money to support KOS charitable giving. All our parties are fun. Friends are invited. I told some non-member friends they may come only if they promise to bid on the silent auction! Elinor Graham agreed to chair the auction. Contact Elinor or me if you have something to donate. We are already assured of Lt. Col. Carol Walker s pies and Bonnie Morris s cookies that sold well at the LUAU auction. KUDOS to LTC Frank Rasbury for chairing the Nominating Committee for the 2015 Officers and Board of Trustees. He provided a slate of nominees so fast that I didn t have time to appoint more members to his committee! Frank said his objective as Nominating Chairperson was to provide stability of leadership for KOS. His slate of nominees achieved that objective. KUDOS to the nine ladies who showed up for a luncheon to discuss raising money at the Halloween party. I have seen communication from MOAA urging chapters to establish programs to facilitate the assimilation of auxiliary members into the chapters. Our lunch group comprised four auxiliary members --- Linda Byrd, Betty Hayes, Bonnie Morris, and Blanche Oglesby; two spouses --- Elinor Graham and Suzanne Smith; two officers --- Lt. Col. Carol Walker and myself; and a social affiliate ---- Peggy Sayat. In our dealings in KOS, we don t worry about what kind of a member someone is. Five of our lunch group are officers or members of the Board of Trustees. KUDOS to KOS for fully assimilating all its distaff members. Finally, KUDOS to CPT John Rose, CDR Jim and Kay Chandler, and Lt. Col. Carol Walker for faithfully showing up to Stuff the Bus(es) in big box parking lots all during the HOT summer. KUDOS

3 SUNBEAMS PAGE 3 September/October 2014 THE SLATE OF OFFICERS AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBERS FOR 2015 This constitutes your official notification of nominees for the election to be held at the membership meeting at the Ocala Elks Club on November 6. Nominations from the floor will be accepted. The following are nominated to fill officer positions as indicated: PRESIDENT: COL James L. Smith, USA 1st VICE PRESIDENT: LTC Arlo D. Janssen, USA 2nd VICE PRESIDENT: COL Robert Schlegel, USAR SECRETARY: Lt Col Carol C. Walker, USAF TREASURER: Mrs. Linda Byrd, Auxiliary IMMED. PAST PRES.: Lt Col Sharon M. Murry, USAF The following are nominated to fill director positions for the terms ending as indicated: 2015 (Unexpired terms): Mrs. Betty Hayes, Auxiliary CPT John Rose, USA Terms Expiring 2016: LTC Phillip Johnson, USA Mrs. Bonnie Morris, Auxiliary CWO3 Ralph Spiller, USN The above named nominees have agreed to serve in the offices and for terms indicated, if elected. Respectfully submitted: LTC Frank M. Rasbury, USA, Chair AS THIS ISSUE WAS GOING TO PRESS, MOAA INFORMED KOS THAT WE RECEIVED THE FOUR STARS OF EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR More about the award in the next issue. FMMA RETAINS ITS CHARTER, initiates new program Thanks in part to generous donations from KOS and from the KOS Treasurer Linda Byrd, Francis Marion Military Academy (FMMA) has retained its charter. The military public high school had been in danger of losing its charter on June 30, 2014, due to insufficient reserve funds. This school year FMMA inaugurates a NASA Explorer Schools Aerospace Technologies program, using educational materials developed by NASA.

4 SUNBEAMS PAGE 4 September/October 2014 CHAPLAIN S CORNER Rev. Ralph H. Spiller, Jr., PhD Chaplain, KOS-MOAA Greetings in the name of our God and Savior; It is my prayer that everyone is experiencing a great summer, in spite of the frequent thunderstorms. Our God is our Provider and Protector, and it is my thought at this time of the year that He remains so as we near the peak of the hurricane season. It was 10 years ago that this area of Florida was struck by 3 hurricanes in a 6 week period in 2004, and twice in two weeks in Since then we (Central FL) have enjoyed relatively quiet seasons; however, we must guard against developing a lackadaisical attitude concerning the reappearance of another hurricane. Are you ready if a hurricane should threaten this year? I am enclosing website references for preparation in the event such a threat should present itself. It is not too late now, but will be if such a storm should become a reality; that is, when the shelves empty when trying to find supplies and make secure protection. Yes, our God is our Provider and Protector, but we must participate in His provision and protection just as Noah participated in providing safety and provision for his family before the Great Flood. Look at these websites for more information to check your preparedness: Be safe through the remainder of this hurricane season. May God guard you and your families. KOS MEMBERS BRING DONATIONS TO EVERY MEETING TO SUPPORT LOCAL CHARITIES At its August meeting, the KOS Board of Trustees voted to support the following charities at our monthly membership meetings. Please bring toiletries, laundry products, and non-perishable food to meetings to donate to these charities: October: Treats for Stuff the Bus homeless children. November: Non-perishable foods for Vets Helping Vets. January: To be announced. February: To be announced. March: To be announced. April: To be announced. May: To be announced. The individuals these charities support have a year-round need for the items KOS donates. THE DISTAFF SIDE by Marilou Truitt The Distaff Side has survived the summer months (the heat ugh, the cooling rain ahh). It is hoped that all members of the KOS/MOAA Chapter survived and are ready for the fall activities. The fall schedule has lots of interesting items on the agenda, the monthly luncheon and dinner meetings, and of course, the special October HALLOWEEN DINNER/ DANCE PARTY in Costume!! It sounds like a special fun night for the chapter so mark your calendars and we ll see you there.

5 SUNBEAMS PAGE 5 September/October 2014 LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS (Excerpts from MOAA s updates, Copyright Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) or from other sources as cited). Pink Slip July 25, 2014 Earlier this week, Army officials provided greater clarity behind its ongoing involuntary drawdown efforts with MOAA and other major veteran and military service organizations. The teleconference followed swift negative reaction by the press and legislators when various pink slip news stories surfaced regarding the way the Army handled the notification of nearly 1,200 officers involuntarily selected to separate; some while deployed combat zones. During the teleconference, Army officials emphasized that leaders were involved in the notification process. The 87 deployed captains (O-3), once notified, immediately received change of mission orders and will be out of country within 30 days. They were given the choice to either return to home duty station or to a transition location of choice and given 10 months to separate. These separations are just one method the Army is undertaking to bring their active duty force down from 570,000 members to 490,000 by Enlisted drawdown efforts will largely be adjusted by reducing the accession pipeline but more officers can expect pink slips early next month when the involuntary separation board results are released for majors (O-4). The Army is in a difficult predicament. Sequestration and other budget cuts have led to significant end strength reductions that hit the Army and Marine Corps hardest. The Army s Soldier for Life Transition program is working with MOAA and other Military and Veterans Service Organizations to assist in providing transition services for these service members. STUMPKNOCKERS Restaurant Featuring Our Famous ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT Catfish Casual Dining on the Scenic Withlacoochee Fresh Grouper, Snapper, Shrimp, Scallops, Oysters, Crab Legs, Frog Legs, New York Strip, Ribeye, Grilled Chicken Breast Full Liquor Bar Highway 200, at the Withlacoochee River in Dunnellon Phone Senior leaders explain Army s drawdown plan WASHINGTON (Army News Service, July 24, 2014) The drawdown, particularly involuntary separations, is a huge issue for the Army, officials said, especially since the strength of the Army is its people and the trust they have in each other. Currently, about 1,100 captains have been identified for involuntary separation, and about 550 majors will be notified during the first week in August. Already notified were 103 colonels and 136 lieutenant colonels. No commander is happy when notified that a Soldier from his or her command has been identified to leave. It s never a good story, said senior Visit our website at:

6 SUNBEAMS PAGE 6 September/October 2014 leaders, speaking on background during a blogger s roundtable at the Pentagon, today. Once a commander has been told that a Soldier will be asked to separate, he or she will personally notify that Soldier, explain the process and give a range of options for transitioning. The notification is done on a personal basis because it s about putting a premium on the chain of command. It s about caring. One of the big tools the Army uses for transitioning is the Soldier For Life Transition Assistance Program. The program connects transitioning Soldiers with the communities they plan to live in, they can start to build relationships early with local businesses and organizations so their reintegration into civilian life is successful. In return, those communities are gaining highly motivated Soldiers, leaders and experts in their occupational specialties. As the title of the program suggests, the Army wants them to be Soldiers for life. Another possible option for some leaving the service is the Reserve Component. Enlisted who are separated involuntarily get 12 months to prepare and officers nine. By law, officers who were involuntarily separated receive seven months from notice to leaving the service but a two-month waiver was granted. It s hard to find much good news about the drawdown, but if there is any, it s that only about one percent of the total force is being looked at for involuntary separations. But the numbers could climb, officials said, without action from Congress to restore funding that would balance readiness and modernization with current force structure. The active Army is going from 513,800 Soldiers to about 510,000 this year. Next year, it will drop to 490,000, and should nothing change legislation-wise, the active force will be anywhere from 440,000 to 450,000 by The drawdown has to take place because without it, there would be no money for training and equipment costs and Soldiers put in harm s way would be at greater risk, officials said. Also, the separations primarily affect non-commissioned officers and officers because without that, there would be no incentive for people coming into REMINDER TO VOTE Please remember to vote this November! the Army because promotions would stagnate. Given a choice, the Army prefers drawing down through natural attrition such as retirements and voluntary separations which occur in any given year. The Army has already lowered the number of people being recruited to help get the numbers down. Should involuntary separations be needed -- and they increasingly will be, due to the sheer size of the drawdown -- the Army will pay an early retirement annuity, separation pay or early retirement beginning at 15 years, to as many who are eligible. Separation for a captain with about eight years of service might be in the $50,000 to $60,000 range, for instance. The NCO separations are less predictable than those for officers, and will fluctuate from year to year and be based a lot on military occupational specialty needs, officials said. For instance, if specific military occupational specialty is over-strength, more separations will occur there than from one that s balanced or understrength. Selection boards will then look at the records and evaluations of Soldiers to determine who stays and who goes, based on performance and potential for future service. Derogatory actions, such as an Article 15 or driving under the influence, are just two of many variables that the board would weigh. Each year, the Selective Early Retirement Boards will continue to meet and the process will continue until 2019, absent new legislation. It s a big challenge for the Army and especially for the Soldiers and family members who are and will be affected, but officials said the service is trying to go about the process in the most humane way possible. (For more ARNEWS stories, visit mil/arnews, or Facebook at ArmyNewsService) IN MEMORIAM It is with deep regret that we advise of the deaths of MAJ Kathleen Long, USA, wife of LTC Tim Long, USA, (Both Longs were new KOS members) and Mrs. Ruth Lemr, widow of COL Fred C. Lemr, Jr., AUS. COL Lemr was the first President of KOS.

7 SUNBEAMS PAGE 7 September/October 2014 September KOS Luncheon Ocala Elks Club (702 NE 25th Avenue, Ocala) Thursday, September 4, 2014 Cocktails (Cash Bar), 12:00 P.M. Lunch, 12:30 P.M. Menu Lasagna Cole Slaw Rice Pilaf Carrots Rolls and Butter Iced Tea and Hot Coffee Dessert Reservations Required $14.00 per person -Tip included- PROGRAM Jack Hanson will be speaking on Residential Fire Safety for Senior Citizens and will provide updated information on fire escape plans, fire drills and emergency escape procedures. The program is dedicated to the express purpose of generating an awareness of the principles of residential fire safety. October KOS Halloween Party, Dinner Dance Ocala Elks Club (702 NE 25th Avenue, Ocala) Thursday, October 2, 2014 Cocktails (Cash Bar), 6:00 P.M. Dinner, 6:30 P.M. Menu Turkey and Dressing Tossed Salad Candied Yams Peas and Carrots Rolls and Butter Iced Tea and Hot Coffee Dessert Reservations Required $16.00 per person -Tip included- PROGRAM A Halloween Theme Party with the wearing of Masks and special Costumed dress is encouraged. Prizes for the best outfits for Men and Women. Dance music with Retro Express from 7:00 to 10:00 PM in the Party Room with a cash bar. A number of Silent Auction items will be on display and sold for this KOS event. PLEASE NOTE: At the KOS November 2011 meeting of the Board of Directors (BOD) the price for the Luncheon menu was increased to $14.00, and the Dinner menu was increased to $16.00 to cover overall costs to the KOS Chapter. There will be a large table available for single members for the September 4, 2014 Luncheon meeting. RESERVATION POLICY: Reservations must be made no later than Monday, September 1, 2014 for the September 4th Luncheon and by Monday September 29, 2014 for the October 2 Halloween Dinner Dance by calling LTC Arlo Janssen at (352) or by sending an to LTC Janssen at adjanssen@aol.com. Please call for reservations and remember payment for your reservation is expected whether or not you attend. COL Tilford Smith will be unable to continue as our Sunbeams Editor/Website Manager as of January 1, We are therefore looking for volunteers to fill the following positions: Sunbeams Designer/Editor KOS Website Webmaster Publisher of the KOS Directory This is a great opportunity to use your creative talents and help KOS retain its excellent rating. For further details on these positions please contact our President: Lt Col Sharon

8 Return Service Requested