N O W H E A R T H I S! S P O K A N E C H A P T E R M I L I T A R Y O F F I C E R S A S S O C I A T I O N O F A M E R I C A

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1 N O W H E A R T H I S! S P O K A N E C H A P T E R M I L I T A R Y O F F I C E R S A S S O C I A T I O N O F A M E R I C A President Dave Melges, LCDR, USN (Ret.) mail@melges.net 1st Vice President Vacant 2nd Vice President, Mbrship. Chair & Newsletter Coordinator Clif Collier, LtCol, USAF (Ret.) clifcoll@msn.com Secretary Greg Sassman, LTC, USA (Ret.) gsassman@centurylink.net Treasurer Alan Davis, LCDR, USN (Ret.) rota_al@yahoo.com Surviving Spouse Liaison, Widows & Wives Vacant IPP & Social Chair Rufus Hoefer, LTC, U.S. Army (Ret.) rands@comcast.net Director, Chief Recruiter, Newsletter Editor Marilyn Hunt, CDR, USN (Ret.) cinc@frontier.com Director & Veterans Home Chair Cindy Kelley, Surviving Spouse missuscindy@aol.com Director, ROTC, Homeless Veterans Robert Imle, LtCol, USAF (Ret.) robertmargaretimle@gmail.com Director, Chaplain & Social Comm. Betty Krafft, LCDR, USN (Ret.) bkrafft@spocom. com Director & Social Committee Barbara Thornbrugh, Surviving Spouse bjthornbrugh@comcast.net Director & Website Coordinator Greg Sassman, LTC, USA (Ret.) gsassman@centurylink.net Personal Affairs Chairman Kay White kaywhite4@comcast.net Volume XXVI Number Widows & Wives Club Meeting Dates October Star Chapter President s Message By Dave Melges Robert Bob Hunt, QMC, USN (Ret.), DAV Veterans Service Officer, will motivate us to file VA Disability Claims at our 23 Oct social at the Coeur d Alene Resort. For those who served in Vietnam, this could be especially enlightening, and for their wives it could give you the ammunition to get your husbands to do it. For more details, see article on page 3. Fall brings a renewed need to recruit new members for MOAA and our Spokane chapter. Since 2005, our chapter membership has dwindled from over 500 to about 275. The biggest portion of the decline can be attributed to the laws of nature, as none of us is getting any younger. However, we ve been luckier than some chapters the Palouse Chapter is disbanding because of fewer members at events and less new members in general. But we ve been a 5 Star chapter for 11 consecutive years! Since becoming chapter president in 2014, I ve joined Marilyn Hunt, our head recruiter, monthly at Fairchild AFB to actively seek out new MOAA national and chapter members at the Right Start orientation. This past month set a record: five new members for MOAA and three joined the chapter! We gladly welcome Capt. Jeremy Buyer, 1Lt Glenn Hill and MAJ Whitney Hasbrouck! MOAA now offers three types of membership: Basic (free electronic), Premium (annual) and Life. Our board agreed to offer free chapter membership through 12/31/17 to officers who are MOAA members and have never been Spokane chapter members in hopes they will stay with us after attending our socials. We want young blood to help us keep in touch with the active duty troops. I urge you to ask friends or acquaintances who served as military officers to try us out. See p. 3 & 6. Questions? Contact Marilyn or me. Bring Something to the 23 OCT Social for the Raffle 2016 Chapter Social Dates 13 Mar Northern Quest Casino 24 Apr Anthony s, Spokane Falls 11 Jun NARD Bayview ID 18 Sep Darcy s, Spokane Valley 23 Oct Coeur d Alene Resort 4 Dec Center Place, Spokane Valley 5 Jan Thai Bamboo 2 Feb Twigs Bistro & Martini Bar 1 Mar Beverly s CDA Resort 5 Apr Anthony s Restaurant 3 May Sargents Restaurant & Lounge 7 Jun Dalia MAX Mirabeau Hotel 5 Jul Ripples on the River Red Lion 2 Aug Dockside, Coeur d Alene Resort 6 Sep Corbin Park picnic 4 Oct Le Peep Restaurant, CDA 1 Nov Brambleberry Cottage & Tea Shop 6 Dec Peacock Room, Davenport Hotel

2 Now Hear This! Welcome New Members LTC David Bingham, U.S. Army (Ret.) and wife Crystal, Spokane Capt. Jeremy Buyer, USAF, and wife Lauren, Fairchild AFB 1Lt Glenn Hill, USAF, and wife Jasmine, Spokane MAJ Whitney Hasbrouck, USAF, and husband Jared, Fairchild AFB Taps Elaine Zemler, wife of LtCol Edwin Zemler (USAF Ret.) (9/3/16) Our Hat Is Off To: Member Recruiters Chapter MOAA Marilyn Hunt 4 6 Bob Imle 1 4 Jason Mayne 1 1 Dave Melges 2 3 William Nesbitt (self) 1 Mathias Velasco (self) 1 Richard Wright (self) 1 Total CHAPTER SCOREBOARD 2016 JROTC Scholarship Funds 8/12/16: $2122 JROTC Support Funds 8/12/16: $218 Legislative Letters, Postcards, s as of 9/13/16: Raffle Donations: MAR: $140 Shriners Hospital; APR: $160 MOAA Scholarship; JUN: $160 Union Gospel; SEP: $200 Widows & Wives Wreaths Across America; OCT: Spokane Veterans Home; DEC: COL Spady Koyama JROTC Scholarships. Total to date: $660 Widows & Wives. Second Harvest food bank $98.00, Homeless Vets $ & 1133 items, Spokane Veterans Home $80.50, 826 items, 100 Thank You for your Service cards. 7 afghans tagged & delivered. MOAA Website and Membership: MOAA website: MOAA Take Action : MOAA Legislative: -Center Spokane Chapter website: Membership in Spokane Chapter and MOAA national is open to present and former commissioned officers and warrant officers (including retirees) with honorable service in any of the United States seven uniformed services (including National Guard and Reserves) of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, U.S. Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. MOAA and Spokane Chapter, MOAA are nonpartisan. BOARD VACANCY! The transfer of MAJ (LtCol Sel.) Jason Mayne to Key West, Florida, resulted in a Board vacancy in the 1st Vice President position. If interested, please contact Dave Melges at (509) or mail@melges.net Widows & Wives Club Upcoming Events DATE LOCATION 4 OCT La Peep Restaurant (208) Bellerive Lane Coeur d Alene 1 NOV Brambleberry Cottage & Tea Shop; (509) E. Pacific, Spokane 6 DEC Peacock Room, Davenport Hotel. (509) S. Post Street, Spokane CALL Pat Connell (208) Pat Tolley (509) Pat Tolley (509) Page 2/Oct 2016

3 Now Hear This! Robert Hunt, DAV Veterans Service Officer Guest Speaker 23 OCT - CDA Resort. Robert is a Vietnam veteran who serves as a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) in a volunteer capacity for DAV Ft. Sherman Chapter 9 in Coeur d Alene. He served on SWIFT boats and River Patrol Boats. He advises veterans on whether they should file for VA disability and how to do it. He comes with a wealth of experience and will provide information that will motivate some veterans to file for VA disability (for example: the possibility of a wife receiving monthly $1245 DIC tax free payments for the rest of her life, should her husband die from a service connected disability). Vietnam Veterans: Bob will provide an extremely informative talk on Vietnam presumptive conditions (conditions presumed to be service connected due to service in Vietnam), such as ischemic heart disease, Parkinson s disease, Hairy B Cell leukemia, Adult Onset Type II diabetes, prostate cancer and Agent Orange exposure. He will also explain that more recent veterans can file for ten blood borne diseases from the Gulf wars (malaria being the most common) and will address such issues as burn pits, depleted uranium rounds and the Gulf War syndrome. Robert is a retired Navy Chief Quartermaster (QMC) and the current Adjutant and Immediate Past Commander of DAV Ft. Sherman Chapter 9 in Coeur d Alene, and a Past Idaho State DAV Commander. Spokane Chapter Free Membership Application Form til 12/31/17 See Article p. 6 Many doctors & dentists have prior military service. Since we all have so many, there s no end of opportunities! You could ask them to join! Our socials are exactly that social so they wouldn t be "doing meetings." When they attend, they ll meet old friends and make new ones. Fill out and Mail to: Spokane Chapter Free Chapter membership for new members through 31 DEC 2017 Military Officers Association of America Spokane Chapter Website: P.O. Box 466, Veradale WA MOAA national Website: Please Print or Type: NAME RANK SERVICE STATUS (Circle one): Active, Retired, Former, Surviving Spouse ADDRESS ZIP PHONE NAME OF SPOUSE MOAA NAT L NO. I do/ do not (circle one) wish to receive my chapter newsletter by . Date of retirement or separation (if applicable) CIVILIAN OCCUPATION To join Spokane Chapter, MOAA, membership is required in MOAA national. I am / am not (circle one ) a current member of MOAA national. Membership in the Spokane Chapter and MOAA national is open to present and former commissioned officers and warrant officers (including retirees) with honorable service in any of the United States seven uniformed services (including National Guard and Reserves) of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, U.S. Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. SIGNATURE DATE RECRUITER NOTICE! Walla Walla Veterans Home is scheduled for completion Winter 2016, first residents to be admitted by 1 FEB There will be eight (8) residential buildings with 10 residents in each one. Each resident will have a separate room. Each building will include a large great room, dining room and kitchen. SPOKANE CHAPTER IS NOW ON FACEBOOK! LIKE US AT MOAA SIGN UP TODAY! NOW HEAR THIS! Is published at least 6 times per year by the Spokane Chapter, Military Officers Association of America, P O Box 466, Veradale WA Editor: Marilyn Hunt cinc@frontier.com Advertising limited to members/spouses only. No subject matter that would preclude non-profit mailing. Page 3/Oct 2016

4 Now Hear This! Notes from Washington Governor s Veterans Affairs Advisory Council (VAAC) Report Provided by Merl Gorton The eighth community Town Hall meeting in Eastern Washington was held in Chelan on 21 July. Almost 40 people attended. Chelan was selected because it is central to many small communities in that region. The new veterans home in Walla Walla will provide ten cottages and each will have eight residents. The Choice program is supposedly designed to provide local medical care for veterans who live more than 40 miles from a VA facility. A call to the VA to authorize a Choice visit will be answered within 72 hours. In case of an emergency, it will be answered within 20 minutes. There have been so many Choice calls that some of them have been rerouted from Spokane to Walla Walla. As a result of Choice, a VA contract clinic was closed in Colville. The Spokane Vet Center covers a wide geographical area including western Montana. The supervisor of the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake encouraged early registration to avoid a last minute decision by survivors. The cemetery: Accepts applications from applicants in Washington, north Idaho and western Montana. Is managed to the same standards as national cemeteries. Spouses are also eligible for internment. Is currently waiting for federal funding for expansion. They already have the land, but need funds to develop it. There was also discussion about the possibility of adding an additional cemetery in eastern Washington in the vicinity of the Tri-Cities, but the state must obtain the land before the federal government will provide funding. Editor s Notes: Spokane Vet Center is located at Mirabeau Parkway (NW of the Valley Mall, off of Indiana). WA State Veterans Cemetery: Registering to be interred there does NOT obligate you to be buried there. It only establishes your eligibility and makes things much easier for your family when you pass on. If you are pre-registered, they only have to set a time and date for your ceremony. The fact that you are eligible to be buried there has already been confirmed. There is a new requirement to provide ALL of your discharge certificates when you register, not just the most recent. This ensures that all periods of conflict during which you served can be engraved on your headstone, not just the most recent one. U.S. Air Force Legal Assistance Fairchild AFB Wing Headquarters (509) Legal Assistance Tuesday and Thursday Notary and Power of Attorney hours Monday Friday Call to find out if they can help with your legal needs Legislative Contacts President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington DC Washington Senator Patty Murray 10 North Post St, Suite 600 Spokane WA Fax Senator Maria Cantwell 920 W. Riverside, Suite 697 Spokane WA Fax Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers United States House of Representatives 10 N. Post St, 6th floor Spokane WA Fax Idaho Senator Mike Crapo 610 W. Hubbard Suite 209 Coeur d Alene ID Fax Senator Jim Risch 610 W. Hubbard, Suite 213 Coeur d Alene ID Fax Representative Raul Labrador, United States House of Representatives 1250 Ironwood Dr. Suite 241 Coeur d Alene ID Fax Page 4/Oct 2016

5 Spokane Chapter, MOAA P.O. Box 466 Veradale WA Now Hear This! SUNDAY 23 October 2016, Coeur d Alene Resort 115 S. 2nd Street, Coeur d Alene 12:30 social time, 1:15 Meeting, 1:30 SERVED MEAL Speaker: Robert Hunt, DAV Veterans Service Officer Filing VA Disability Claims Mail early as reservations MUST be received in the chapter mailbox NLT Monday, 17 October No late reservations or walk-ins, as each meal must be ordered in advance. No cancellations after food is ordered. If you need to cancel a reservation, contact Barbara Thornbrugh (509) NLT Monday, 17 October for refund. MENU: SERVED MEAL consisting of salad, rolls & butter, dessert, coffee/tea, no-host bar in room & choice of: 1) English Roast Beef atop fried buttermilk onion rings, plus mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables OR 2) Parmesan Crusted Chicken finished with Parmesan Reggiano cream, buttered red potatoes and fresh vegetables. Cost is $31 per person. Please reserve places for the Sunday, 23 October 2016 social at the Coeur d Alene Resort. My check in the amount of $ is enclosed ($31 x number of reservations). Make check to Spokane Chapter MOAA and mail to chapter mailbox above. Name: member/guest (circle one). BEEF or CHICKEN (circle one) Name: member/guest (circle one). BEEF or CHICKEN (circle one) Sunday, 23 October 2016, - 12:30 p.m. Coeur d'alene Resort, 115 S. 2nd Street. DIRECTIONS: From I-90 eastbound, take Exit 11, turn right on Northwest Blvd toward City Center. Go about 2 miles to the Coeur d'alene Resort, which will be on your right. You may park in the parking garage unless you have a tall vehicle. As you leave the luncheon, take your parking ticket to the front desk near the elevator and the attendant will validate your ticket. Insert the ticket in the machine. We will sign legislative letters & have a raffle. Please bring: 3 postage stamps & 6 return address labels per person Something for the raffle which will benefit Spokane Veterans Home Canned meat (chicken, tuna, other protein) or cash donations to purchase items for homeless veterans would be welcome Membership Chair/Committee REQUEST, CHANGE OF ADDRESS or PHONE, or Spokane Chapter, MOAA TEMPORARILY AWAY: P.O. Box 466 Clip and complete this form and send it to the Veradale WA address on the left so we can update our database. Thank you. NOTE: We do not send junk or spam. Also, we do not give away, sell or trade your address. Member name: (Please print clearly) [ ] I would like to be added to the chapter list. I specifically request to (check all that apply): [ ] Receive the chapter newsletter by [ ] Receive important information in a timely manner. [ ] My address is (Please print clearly) [ ] My mailing address, address, and/or phone number has changed to: [ ] I will be temporarily away starting and returning. I do / do not (circle one) wish to receive the newsletter while I m away. If do please send it to: Signed: Page 5/Oct 2016

6 WE RE ON THE WEB! Spokane Chapter Military Officers Association of America P.O. BOX 466 Veradale WA Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Permit No Spokane WA WASHINGTON Need a Ride to a Chapter Social? Call Anyone Listed Below IDAHO Clif Collier Ralph Shrigley Floyd Geiger Repetition Makes Recruiting - Free Spokane Chapter Membership To New Members Through 31 December 2017 The Communists used to say repetition makes truth. However, Marilyn Hunt says repetition makes recruiting. Because it s so important to recruit more chapter members, we said it in August and we ll say it again: We re offering a free chapter membership to new members and their surviving spouses. This chapter membership will be good through 31 December To join our chapter, one must also be a member of MOAA national. If someone is not a current MOAA member, they may qualify for their free Basic electronic membership as follows: 35 years of age and under free Basic membership through age 35 Over 35 and have never belonged to MOAA free three-year Basic membership. Officers over 35 who have previously belonged to MOAA may purchase a Premium (annual) membership for $40 per year at New chapter members can fill out the application form on p. 3 and send it to Spokane Chapter MOAA, P.O. Box 466, Veradale WA Need help? Contact Marilyn Hunt or Dave Melges - phone numbers & addresses on page 1. Casualty Assistance Officer: Karen Van Pelt is the casualty assistance officer for Fairchild AFB and surrounding area. She s in Bldg. 240 at 7 W. Arnold St., If you leave a message, she will call you back. Page 6/Oct 2016 FAFB Retiree Activities Office (RAO) SGM Jim R. Smith, USA (Ret.), Director Bldg. 240, 7 W. Arnold St., Ste. 109, Hours: They need volunteers to work four hours per month.