Vol SHOW YOUR SUPPORT - WRITE YOUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS NOW and OFTEN!!!

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1 NGAT NEWS NUGGETS Vol Jun Crawford Ave Austin, Texas SHOW YOUR SUPPORT - WRITE YOUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS NOW and OFTEN!!! Here are just some of the issues that need your attention right now Early Retirement Retroactivity to Sep 11, 2001 TRICARE for Gray Area Retirees Reducing the Age to Collect Retirement Pay for Members of the Reserve Component TRICARE for Life Failure of the Post 9/11 GI Bill to Provide Educational Benefits Arising From Title 32 Active Duty Service Extension of Employment Protection for Title 32 Orders No TRICARE Fee Increases Raise Rates For Montgomery GI Bill As you can see by the NGAUS Write To Congress poll chart Texas currently ranks 4th in the Nation on letters to congressional leaders. This time last year Texas was only at 949 letters, so we have made some improvement from last year, but us TEXANS can do so much more. Pick a day of the week and vow to send 3 to 5 letter each week. Even if it s the same letter each week it makes your voice be heard on Capital Hill. We need your support, We need you to write these letters. If every NGAT member even sent just one letter to our congressional leaders we would blow the socks off everyone else. Lets show them that Texas means business when it comes to benefits for our military service members. Letters are prewritten - all you have to do is fill in the blanks. Send your letter today!!!! 12-Jun Georgia -6, Tennessee - 6, Mississippi - 3, Texas - 2, Massachusetts -1, Missouri - 1, California -1, Oklahoma - 1, Alabama -1, Pennsylvania -1,302

2 NGAUS CONFERENCE Join us for the 131 st NGAUS General Conference Sep 09 (Including travel days) Nashville, TN For more information and registration forms visit our web site at Conference registration is $165. This covers ground transportation to and from airport and admission to all business sessions, the exhibition, coffee breaks, the opening reception in the exhibition hall, the Company Grade/Warrant Officer Mixer, brunch in the exhibit hall Sept. 12, the Governor s Reception, lunch in exhibit hall Sept. 13, the States Dinner and the Grand Ole Opry performance following the dinner. Most other activities are extra. The States Dinner will be Cowboy Casual. Diamond Gusset Jeans of Tennessee is offering a special discount on their jeans. For more information see the NGAT web site. Registration forms are due to the NGAT office no later than 13 July Everyone will be staying at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center Western wear and Cowboy hats are the suggested attire for most social events. Company Grade Mixer at the Wildhorse Saloon Everyone attending NGAUS will be staying at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, 2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN Rooms are $ per night, plus tax. See a Show at the Grand Ole Opry NGAUS IS COMING TO TEXAS! August 2010 Interested in volunteering to work NGAUS membership@ngat.org to get your name on the list. Page 2 NGAT News Nuggets

3 EANGUS CONFERENCE Join Us for the 2009 EANGUS Conference to be held in Rochester, Minnesota 8-13 Aug 2009 (including travel days) Registration fees are $ and go up to $ after 1 July Register for the conference at Once registered for the conference, complete the hotel reservation form at the same site listed above and reserve your hotel room. NGAT will be staying at the following hotel La Quinta Inns & Suites 1625 South Broadway, Rochester, MN Watch the website for updates on the conference. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!! 101 Ways To Support Our Troops Together We Can Change The World, Inc is proud to provide a free booklet titled 101 Ways To Support Our Troops. To download a copy of the booklet go to Transition Assistance Seminars The National Guard, Department of Labor, Texas Veterans Commission, and your Transition Assistance Advisors are working together to provide you a day and half seminar free of charge. Attend in lieu of drill, IDT credit with Commander s approval, retirees welcome. Spouses also invited to attend this FREE seminar. The seminar will cover resume support, know your benefits, career enhancing support and filing VA claims. The next class will be held Saturday, July 11-12, 2009, 9:00-3:00 pm and Sunday 9:00-12:30 pm at the National Guard Armory located at 1775 California Crossing, Dallas, TX Please contact Harvey King at (512) or king.harvey@dol.gov or Jacinda Johnson at (512) or jacinda.johnson@ng.army.mil to reserve your spot. "Thank You, Hero" Cards Hope4Heroes.org is offering a way for everyone to thank Servicemembers for their sacrifices for defending our nation s freedom. Send a Thank You card to Any Hero to Hope4Heroes and your card will be sent to a deployed Servicemember. Visit for more information on how to participate. Page 3 NGAT News Nuggets

4 THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is a proud supporter of the Department of Defense s "America Supports You" Program, an ongoing initiative that communicates America s support to men and women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. As a long-time supporter of America's military community, Ringling Bros. appreciates the sacrifices made by our U.S. Armed Forces and their families. As our way of saying thanks, we are pleased to provide special events and promotions for military families in each city our tours visit. Purchase America Supports You Special Offer tickets through Military ITT/ITR offices (in select markets), at the arena box office with valid Military ID (Active, Reserve, National Guard, Retired) or online using Code "ASY" (excludes Circus Celebrity, Front Row and VIP seating). For more information go to Alamodome San Antonio Jul 1-5 American Bank Center Corpus Christi Jul 8-12 Reliant Stadium Houston Jul American Airline Center Dallas Jul 29-Aug 9 Ft Worth Convention Center Ft Worth Aug Texas Bill Would Waive Tuition for Vets Under a new bill, legal immigrants who served in the U.S. Military would be exempt from paying tuition and fees at public universities. The Hazlewood Act, which required that veterans be U.S. citizens at the time of registration, excluded legal permanent residents. The amendment to the Hazlewood Act would remove requirements that a veteran must have lived in Texas one year and be declared as a Texas citizen at the time of entitlement. The changes would also extend benefits to the Texas State National Guard, spouses of military veterans and extend unused benefits to children. Read the article at Happy Birthday to the United States Army June 2009 Page 4 NGAT News Nuggets

5 PEETEY ZUNIGA FREE Cat Day in Houston Spay-Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) kicks off summer with a special cat-only spay neuter day. Have your cat spayed or neutered for Free on Monday, June 22, 2009 at the SNAP Houston Spay- Neuter Clinic at 1603 Shepherd Dr. This event is open to the public. No qualification is required. If your cat has a current rabies vaccination, please bring the vaccination certificate. If you cannot provide proof of vaccination, your cat will be vaccinated for free. Please bring your cat in a carrier. No feral cats will be spayed during this event. No food for your adult cat after 10 p.m. the night before surgery. This event does not require RSVP. San Antonio Spay Neuter Assistance Program SNAP San Antonio is pulling out all the stops during the month of June to give those of you in San Antonio every possible opportunity to get your dogs and cats sterilized on the cheap or even for free if you play your cards right. It s all spelled out on the SNAP Events Calendar, but a quick review of these events will make it clear just how easy and inexpensive it could be to do the right thing. MISSY HINOJOSA The reduced-cost events at the Spay-Neuter and Animal Wellness Clinic (SWSA) in the Ingram Square shopping center. Wednesday, June 17, is our monthly Sadie Dog Day. Dogs are spayed or neutered for just $30 on Sadie Dog Days. On Wednesday, June 24, comes the first of our Summer Cat Days. Cats will be spayed or neutered for just $20 on these days as well. Rabies vaccinations are included at no additional charge on each of these four days. Looking at the San Antonio mobile clinic, we find a veritable flood of free days coming up in the month of June. The Roger and Phyllis Sherman Foundation is funding a FREE day (on Monday, June 29) with rabies vaccinations included at no additional cost if needed. San Antonio Animal Care Services (ACS) is funding mobile clinic days during June. These take place on consecutive Thursdays (June 18, and June 25) and provide FREE surgery for any dog or cat. Rabies vaccinations will be administered for an additional $10 if needed. ACS is also funding a Free Male Mondays (June 22), which again offer FREE surgeries, but for male dogs and cats only. Rabies vaccinations are again $10 if needed. If all this weren t enough, the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation is also funding two FREE surgery days on the mobile clinic (Wednesday, June 24). The Kronkosky-funded days include rabies vaccinations at no additional cost. That s a lot to take in, so check the mobile clinic calendar for details and locations on the mobile clinic days and our events calendar for details on the events at the SWSA. All mobile clinic days are first-come, first-served; and all SWSA days are by appointment only. Rabies vaccinations are required by law in all cases unless you present a current vaccination certificate for your animal. Keep Your Pet Cool In The Texas Heat COOLDANNA Cooling Doggie Mats are designed to provide instant cooling relief in hot environments for all dogs and cats that spend a lot of time outdoors. Simply soak the mat in water and allow your pet to sleep on it. The super absorbent crystals in the interior of the mat will absorb over 1,000 times their own weight in water and provide cooling relief for days. Page 5 NGAT News Nuggets

6 Edwards Ministerial Association, Inc. (EMA) invites your support of the First Annual Image Award Scholarship Banquet Connecting People and Enriching Lives Together they will assist disabled veterans, disadvantaged/underprivileged students and seminary students (military /civilian) in their educational pursuits. Saturday, August 29, 2009 at 7:30 P.M. The Omni Austin Hotel at South Park 4140 Governor s Row Austin, Texas We are pleased to announce that the Edwards Ministerial Association, Inc. (EMA) will host its 1 st Annual Image Award Scholarship Banquet on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., August 29, 2009, at the Omni Austin Hotel at South Park, 4140 Governor s Row in Austin, Texas. We cordially invite you to participate in this educational fundraising effort of connecting people and enriching lives. Their goal for the 1 st Image Award Scholarship Banquet is to raise $25, To achieve this monetary objective they are reaching out to you for your support in this effort. Proceeds from this banquet will provide scholarships for disabled veterans, economically underprivileged students and seminary students. Your personal investment to EMA will be needed to help us reach our financial goal. Please make a tax-deductible donation, no matter how small, to this worthy endeavor of assisting deserving students. Edwards Ministerial Association, Incorporated is a charitable, tax-exempt 501 (c) 3, a non-profit corporation which is dedicated to providing ministerial services, spiritual support and educational scholarships to men and women representing over thirty associations in four major areas: Ministry to Veterans Service Organizations - Ministry to Educational Institutions Ministry to Civic Organizations - Ministry to Law Enforcement Institutions. In partnership with public and private organizations and institutions, it is the MISSION of EMA to serve God by being: A beacon of light, a bridge of understanding, a tower of integrity & a castle of realized dreams. Our VISION is to provide spiritual leadership in connecting people and enriching lives. Your participation will be greatly appreciated. We look forward to your positive response and attendance at the Omni Austin Hotel at South Park 4140 Governor s Row in Austin, Texas on Saturday, August 29, Your valuable investment to the future of many veterans and students will assist them as they fulfill their deep desire to receive an education and be productive citizens of our great nation. Sincerely, Dr. Charles W. Edwards, Jr., Chief Executive Officer/Founder Chaplain (Brigadier General) TXARNG Retired Phone: (210) and cwedwards07@hotmail.com Page 6 NGAT News Nuggets

7 Edwards Ministerial Association, Inc. (EMA) First Annual Scholarship Banquet benefiting Students at Fifteen Colleges/Universities/Seminaries The Omni Austin Hotel at South Park Austin, Texas Dinner and Program: (Saturday, August 29, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.) Tickets: (Ticket deadline date is Friday, August 14, 2009) (Tickets will be available on Monday, May 11, 2009) The cost is $60.00 per ticket and/or $ per table for ten people. Ads: (Ads deadline date is Friday, July 17, 2009) (Full page $100.00; Half page $50.00; Fourth of a page $25.00; and/or Patron List $10.00 per person) Please send copy of your ad for publication to: cwedwards07@hotmail.com Sponsorships: (Sponsorship deadline date is Friday, July 17, 2009) Business & Church Sponsors: Foundation Sponsors: Bronze Gift Sponsor $ 1, Patrons Club $ 100, Silver Gift Sponsor 2, Partners Club 200, Gold Gift Sponsor 5, Builders Club 300, Diamond Gift Sponsor 7, Benefactors Club 400, Platinum Gift Sponsor 10, Founders Club 500, Organizational Sponsors: Individual Advisory Council Sponsors: Participating Sponsor $ 1, Silver Level Sponsor $ Patron Sponsor 2, Gold Level Sponsor Supporting Sponsor 3, Ambassador Level Sponsor Sustaining Sponsor 4, President Level Sponsor Benefactor Sponsor 5, Chairman Level Sponsor 1, Contact Information: Name Phone Number: Name of Business, Church, Foundation, or Organization: Address: City: State: Zip Code: Address: Fax Number: No, I cannot attend, but I would like to contribute: $ Please circle your donation: tickets, ads, and sponsorships. Total Amount Enclosed: $ Please Return by July 17, 2009: Your contribution is tax deductible. Thank you for your generous support. Make checks payable to: Edwards Ministerial Association, Inc. P.O. Box Austin, Texas Vol 09-5 Page 7

8 Have a great summer and save some money at the same time. The following Information, Ticketing and Registration Offices have discount tickets to most major attractions throughout Texas. They also offer discount tickets to major theme parks in Florida and California. Contact the ITT or MWR for prices and details. A military ID is required to make a purchase (active duty, guard/reserve/retired or their dependents with a military ID). Fort Hood Fort Sam Houston Information, Ticketing & Registration Office Sam Houston Club , Killeen, TX Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX forthooditr@hood.army.mil Lackland A.F.B. N.A.S. Corpus Christi Information, Ticket & Travel Office Morale, Welfare & Recreation Office , Corpus Christi, TX San Antonio, TX N.A.S. Fort Worth Randolph A.F.B Morale, Welfare & Recreation Office Information, Tickets & Travel Office Randolph A.F.B., San Antonio, TX Fort Worth, TX Sheppard A.F.B. Ft Bliss Information, Ticket & Tour Office Morale, Welfare & Recreation Office Sheppard A.F.B., TX El Paso, TX BASS PRO SHOP SAN ANTONIO 15th -22nd of each month is Armed Forces Discount Days Active Military (Guard also) on the 15th-22nd of every month receive a 10% discount at Bass Pro Shops. *Offer good on regular priced merchandise only. May not be used for purchase of Mercury motors, boats, reels, ATVs, Fine Gun Room merchandise, firearms, black powder guns, ammo, reloading equipment, scopes, optics, safes, bows, arrows, taxidermy, electronics, store restaurant food or drinks, gift cards, and fishing and hunting licenses. Valid Military ID required. See in-store signs or web site for complete details and restrictions. Page 8 NGAT News Nuggets

9 Salute To The Troops On Sunday This season Schlitterbahn has dedicated Sundays to soldiers. Military Appreciation Days at Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort in New Braunfels are scheduled for every Sunday of the summer season. Military Appreciation Days tickets sell for $23.99 and are available at most active-duty military installations in the southwest region. They are not available for purchase at Schlitterbahn or NGAT. Check with the installations for ticket outlets, hours of operation and ticket availability. For those who don't live near an installation, the Ft. Hood/ITR office will ship tickets with proper documentation. Please contact them for details. Sea World Adventure Parks Special Shamu Club has two new exciting online offers during the month of June: Adults at Kid Prices, Plus a Second Visit Free - Adults can be kids again. That is, adults will receive child admission rates and be able to come back for a second visit on us. Fun Card - Pay for a day and come back all year. Purchase your 2009 Fun Card for the price of a single day admission ticket and come back all year! NGAT members can take advantage of these two great offers available at SeaWorld San Antonio, just visit Once on the site, select GO under TICKETS & VACA- TIONS to initiate your ticket purchase. Through this Web site you can obtain admission tickets and unique dining experiences like Dine with Shamu. ACTIVE / DRILLING GUARDSMEN: Free Tickets to Sea World for you and as many as 3 direct dependents are available at Contact NGAT to have discount coupons mailed to you for Six Flags and Fiesta Texas GEICO MILITARY PROGRAM The Military Program has been an important part of GEICO since it began in 1936, and those serving our country remain an important part of GEICO today. GEICO understands the unique needs of the military and provides a staff dedicated solely to working on behalf of our military members and their families. See what we can do for you. Page 9 NGAT News Nuggets