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 Rufus Hoefer, LTC, U.S. Army (Ret.) rands@comcast.net 1st Vice President Merl Gorton, COL, U.S. Army (Ret.) mdgorton@aol.com 2nd Vice President, Mbrship. Chair & Newsletter Coordinator Clif Collier, LtCol, USAF (Ret.) clifcoll@msn.com Secretary Dave Melges, LCDR, USN (Ret.) (509) mail@melges.net Treasurer & Website Coordinator Alan Davis, LCDR, USN (Ret.) rota_al@yahoo.com Auxiliary Liaison, Widows & Wives Beth Ann Daigre bethanndaigre@comcast.net IPP & Social Chair Ralph Shrigley, LTC, U.S. Army (Ret.) rshrigley@earthlink.net Director, Chief Recruiter, Newsletter Editor Marilyn Hunt, CDR, USN (Ret.) cinc@frontier.com Director & Travel Point of Contact Richard H. Oates, LTC, USMC (Ret.) rhoates@roadrunner.com Director & Support the Troops Robert Imle, LtCol, USAF (Ret.) robertmargaretimle@gmail.com Director & Recruiting Committee Kurt Mogensen, LTC, USMC (Ret.) Director, Chaplain & Social Comm. Betty Krafft, LCDR, USN (Ret.) bkrafft@spocom.com Director & Social Committee Barbara Thornbrugh, AUX bjthornbrugh@comcast.net Personal Affairs Chairman Kay White kaywhite4@comcast.net Volume XXIV Number 5 Bring Something to the 26 OCT Social for SUPPORT THE TROOPS 2014 Chapter Social Dates 16 Mar Northern Quest Casino 27 Apr Mukogawa Ft. Wright 8 Jun Longhorn BBQ 21 Sep Highlands Golf Course Grill & Tap, Post Falls 26 Oct Coeur d Alene Resort 7 Dec Mukogawa Ft. Wright 5 Star Chapter President s Message By Rufus Hoefer 2014 Wives & Widows Club Meeting Dates Oct 2014 What a great social we had at the Highlands Golf Course Grill and Tap House! For the 14% of the chapter who attended you already know this, but for the 86% who didn t, let me tell you we were blessed with wonderful weather, a great location, good food and a fabulous speaker. It was so rewarding to sit and watch young mothers and fathers teach their children to hit a golf ball! Teresa Hart, founder of a Newby-ginnings in Coeur d Alene, gave an impassioned tale and explained how Newby-ginnings was started in honor of her son, SPC Nick Newby, who was killed in action on 7 July 2011 in Baghdad. Newby-ginnings is a non-profit, 501c(3) charitable organization that provides veterans, active military and Gold Star families with clothing, furniture, appliances, kitchen ware and other household items free of charge and without proof of need. The week after our social, she outfitted ten homeless veterans with all the items they needed to furnish their new apartments. She now needs pots, pans and silverware. Contact her at (208) I stress the 14% attendance, as I would like to encourage each of you to consider joining us at our upcoming social at the Coeur d Alene Resort on 26 October. We will be honored by the presence of Alfie Alvarado, Director, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, who will be our guest speaker! (See other details on p. 3 of this newsletter). In addition to that, we will have an oft-requested change in venue: a cash bar in our room! Lastly, like many of you, I watch/listen to the news and regularly read the papers. As such, I cannot fathom why, with all that is going on in the world, we continue forward with the 2011 Budget Control Act (Sequestration)! Please know our voices and letters are important, and any communication you might have with our elected officials needs to stress this unwise and ill-advised act. Now is the time to pass legislation with no sequestration and directly address the threats to our way of life which we see/hear happening seemingly every day. Lastly, I trust that you all got my letter asking for three members to volunteer for chapter President, 1st Vice-President and Website Coordinator. Contact me ASAP! 7 Jan Toro Sushi Bar & Grill 4 Feb Davenport Hotel Tower Safari Rm 4 Mar Twigs North 1 Apr Grill from Ipanema 6 May May Tea at the Silver Spoon 3 Jun Dockside Coeur d Alene Resort 1 Jul Twigs Bistro & Martini Bar 5 Aug Beachouse Bar & Grill CdA 2 Sep Corbin Park picnic 7 Oct MAX Mirabeau Park Hotel 4 Nov P.F. Chang s China Bistro 2 Dec Anthony s Restaurant

2 Welcome New Members Now Hear This! Spokane Chapter, MOAA MAJ Jason Mayne, USAF and wife Rose, Fairchild AFB Taps MAJ John Dempsey, USAF, CHC (Ret.) (9/18/14) June Potter, AUX (9/20/14) Betty Jo Stein, wife of COL Henry Stein, Jr., U.S. Army (Ret.) (9/21/14) Member Recruiters Clif Collier 1 Chapter 2014 MOAA 2014 Marilyn Hunt 3 7 Bob Imle 7 Dave Melges 3 Dick Oates 3 Chuck Young 1 Gary Young Officers are needed to fill the chapter positions listed on page 6. Term of office is for one year. On 1 Jan 2015, Rufus will become the Immediate Past President (IPP). Merl Gorton has indicated he will not again seek the position of 1st VP after serving over 40 years in several chapter leadership positions. What a blessing he has been for us! And Alan Davis would like someone else to take over as Website Manager. Call Rufus if you can serve. Our Hat Is Off To: 1 (self-recruited) TOTALS First Prize Winner Best Legislative Coverage for Website Sixth Consecutive Year! & 2013 Website 1st Runner-Up! WIDOWS & WIVES CLUB By Beth Ann Daigre After our 7 October lunch at the MAX Restaurant in the Mirabeau Park Hotel in the Valley, we ll hold our planning meeting for next year. Anyone who wants to be a part of the planning committee should stay. We ll be meeting in the Dahlia Room. Pat Tolley says the greatest need for the Homeless Veterans Program right now is white tube socks. Bring them to the 26 Oct social or a W&W Club luncheon. Elaine Anderson asks that you bring plastic hangers, crayons and coloring books to the Oct social for the Spokane Veterans Home, along with a couple of Thinking of You or Thank You cards to give them on Veterans Day. Write a nice thought or thank you for your service and sign with just your first name. If you want to add something about your branch of service, places you were stationed, etc., feel free. It s time to place orders for Wreaths Across America which will be placed at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery on Saturday, December 13, 2014 at noon (placing of the wreaths will be done by those of us attending the short service). Orders must be received before Thanksgiving. The cemetery needs over 800 wreaths just for the headstones this year. To order wreaths that will be sent to this cemetery, do one of the following: CHAPTER SCOREBOARD 2014 JROTC Scholarship Funds on hand as of 8/17/14: $171. Legislative Letters, Postcards & s: 1204 as of 1 OCT Raffle Donations: MAR $180 COL Spady Koyama JROTC Scholarships; APR $352 Widows & Wives (for Wreaths Across America); JUN $145 Fisher House; SEP $155 MOAA Scholarship Fund; OCT Spokane Veterans Home, DEC ROTC/JROTC Unit Support.. Total 2014 raffle donations: $ 832 Widows & Wives: Spokane Food Bank $230 & 53 lbs. food. Spokane Veterans Home: 643 items total: stationery, puzzles, magazines, calendars, gloves, cards, socks, hangers, squeeze balls, yarn, Homeless Veterans: 786 items total: socks, hand warmers, shower curtains, soap bars, razors, shampoo, body wash, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, toothpaste/brushes/floss, toilet paper, Kleenex, pens. Wreaths Across America: 40 wreaths Go to our chapter website ( and click on Wreaths Across America in the Links box. Print off the form, fill it in, attach a check and mail. If you use this form and buy two wreaths for $15 each, they will send a third one for free. To order a wreath directly online, go to When it asks for the location, type in WAWSVC (cemetery). When it asks for Fundraising sponsor, type in WA0016. That is our code, so our chapter will get credit for all the wreaths ordered. Page 2/Oct 2014

3 Now Hear This! Lourdes E. Alfie Alvarado-Ramos Guest Speaker Coeur d Alene Resort 26 October We will have a very special guest speaker at our social at the Coeur d Alene Resort on 26 October. a retired Army Command Sargeant Major! Please come and join your fellow members in welcoming Alfie Alvarado, Director of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. The Department serves as the statewide advocate for the benefits and services veterans and their families earned. Alfie was born in Puerto Rico and served 22 years on active duty, retiring in August 1993 as Command Sergeant Major of Madigan Army Medical Center and Troop Command, Joint Base Lewis McChord. During her military career, her awards and decorations includedthe Legion of Merit, Order of Military Medical Merit, Expert Field Medical Badge and Meritorious Service Medals. Her experience and education center in the management of medical service delivery and human resources. She is an alumni of the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Program, the University of Washington Executive Management Program, and she holds a Bachelor s Degree from the University of the State of New York Regent s Program. Alfie Alvarado serves on the boards of directors of the Patrick Madigan Foundation, National Association of State Veterans Homes, National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs and the Association of Washington Generals. She has received local, state and national awards including the Governor s Distinguished Management Leadership Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award for women in the military from the Young Women s Christian Association (YWCA) and the VA Secretary s Leadership Award MOAA Scholarship & Loan Recipients How exciting! We recently received a list of students in our area who have been the lucky recipients of this year s, MOAA interest free loans and scholarships. All of them are children of MOAA members. We know that some are related to chapter members, but if you know the parent of someone on this list who is not a chapter member, please invite them to join us. They might even want to try us out by coming to the October social. To do that, make a copy of the reservation coupon (on p. 5), fill it out with their names, attach a check and send it to the chapter P.O. box so that we receive it by Monday, 20 October. Please make a note on the reservation form that they are not chapter members. However, if someone wants to join the chapter and you need a chapter application form, call Marilyn Hunt at (208) , or go online to the chapter website Print it off, attach a check and mail it to the chapter. Chapter dues for Regular members are $40 for three years or $15 for one. Auxiliary dues are $9 for one year or $25 for three. Student Name Hannah R. Comi Grace O. Dibble Tanner R. Johnson Joshu F. Loiseau Madeline R. Secor Rachel A. Secor John I. Shannon Victoria B. Sosa Emily M. Walzer David R. Yake Assistance Received $5000 Interest Free Loan $5000 Interest Free Loan $5000 Interest Free Loan 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 2014

4 Now Hear This! To the Husbands of our Chapter Spouses By Beth Ann Daigre and Marilyn Hunt Husbands, you can be a big help to your wives if you offer to let them read our chapter newsletter and the Military Officer magazine. If you predecease your wife, she will not only become an Auxiliary member, but she will also be well acquainted with our newsletter and the Military Officer magazine. (We re addressing this article to husbands because, statistically, they predecease their wives. But it applies equally to any female officer who would happen to predecease her husband. Please note: MOAA Life memberships automatically accrue to the surviving spouse and they pay no more dues to national after your passing. But they would pay chapter dues). Now, back to the subject at hand. So far as we know, MOAA is the only veterans group whose Auxiliary is composed solely of surviving spouses of their members or of someone who was eligible to join MOAA. In other veteran group auxiliaries, one can usually qualify for membership by being a current spouse or family member of a regular member. So being a MOAA Auxiliary member is unique. Beth Ann has spent much time this past year talking with current surviving spouses, especially recently widowed wives. The knowledge she has gained goes back to things she previously learned from Chapter Auxiliary Liaisons in other chapters, which is this: many of the spouses do not really feel a part of MOAA or their chapter. Too many have said they never read the Military Officers magazine while their husband was alive, and they don t read it now. Some even stop the subscription when they become an Auxiliary member. Husbands, if you read your magazine, do you share any of the information you glean from the wonderful articles and stories? Are you, the current member, signed up with MOAA to receive the action alerts via ? Do you receive the letters written by MOAA for you to sign and send on to Congress via ? Is your wife signed up to receive and send the same letters? Numbers count. That is how we keep fighting for the benefits that were promised when you signed up. Auxiliary members used to be rather ancillary until 2001 when MOAA formed the Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee (AMAC). Then this August, the Auxiliary members got to vote, along with regular members, for the Board of Directors and for the resolutions proposed by the MOAA Board. They also voted for an Auxiliary member to sit on the Board as a full member and not just as a member of AMAC. How exciting for those who for years had paid national dues but never got to vote! What we re getting at is this: spouses have spent many years in the cocoon of military life. When they become MOAA Auxiliary members, they are still in that cocoon. When you are gone, will your wife still feel welcome? Will she know that MOAA is still looking out for her benefits? Will she know that our chapter really does care and is here for her? Will she know that our Widows and Wives Club exists and that she could have joined iwhile you were still alive? Invite her to start participating now. And let her read our chapter newsletter to find out what the Widows and Wives Club is doing. They would love to have her join. Contact Beth Ann Daigre at (509) 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 243 Coeur d Alene ID Fax Page 4/Oct 2014

5 Spokane Chapter, MOAA P.O. Box 466 Veradale WA Now Hear This! Sunday, 26 October 2014, Coeur d Alene Resort 115 S. Second Street, Coeur d Alene 1230 Social, 1315 Meeting, 1330 Meal Service This will be a SERVED MEAL, not a buffet, with a cash bar in our luncheon room (Casco Bay). Guest Speaker: Alfie Alvarado, Director, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Mail your reservation early; we must receive it by Monday, 20 October. No late reservations or walk-ins. To cancel a reservation, contact Ralph Shrigley (360) or Barbara Thornbrugh (509) NLT 20 October for refund. No refund after food is ordered. Menu: SERVED MEAL consisting of salad, fresh seasonal vegetables, hot buttered bead sticks, dessert & choice of 1) Oven Roasted Beef Pot Roast, Mashed Potatoes w/rich Pan Gravy & creamy horseradish sauce on the side, or 2) Chicken Scaloppini Marsala w/mushrooms and Pappardelle noodles, There will also be a cash bar in our luncheon room. Cost is $30.00 per person. Please reserve places for the Sunday, 26 October 2014 luncheon at Coeur d Alene Resort. My check in the amount of $ is enclosed ($30.00 X no. of reservations). Make check payable 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, 26 October 2014, - 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 as you drive out of the parking garage. Questions? Call Barb Thornbrugh We will sign legislative letters. Please bring: 3 stamps and 6 address labels per person Something for Support the Troops or Homeless Veterans Something for the raffle 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 2014

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 Call to Serve You should have received a letter in the mail from Chapter President, Rufus Hoefer, asking for volunteers to fill the positions of Chapter President, 1 st Vice President and Website Coordinator effective 1 JAN Here s the salient points. President s Major Functions 1) Preside over monthly board meetings and the six chapter socials. Board meetings are at the Valley Hospital at 0900, normally on the first Saturday of each month (no meeting in August). Monitor/oversee the functions of all chapter positions. 2) Draft a President s Piece for each newsletter (Marilyn Hunt will help). 3) Send a welcome letter to each new chapter member. 4) Maintain liaison with the Washington State Council of Chapters and MOAA national officers. 1 st Vice President 1) Represent the President as required. 2) Chair board meetings & socials in the absence of the President. 3) Assist the President in all assigned functions. 4) Work with the President in establishing goals of the Chapter. Rufus is to present a slate of officers/directors for approval at our 26 OCT social, Can you serve? If the answer is yes, contact Rufus at Home , Cell or 1rands@comcast.net. Casualty Assistance Officer: Bernie Fritz is the casualty assistance officer for Fairchild AFB and surrounding area. He is in Bldg. 240 at 7 W. Arnold St., If you leave a message, he will call you back. Page 6/Oct 2014 FAFB Retiree Activities Office Bldg. 240, 7 W. Arnold St., The Retired Affairs Office needs volunteers. Serving at the RAO is a perfect excuse to travel out to the base and visit the exchange/commissary at the same time. Call them!