SUPPORT YOUR GREATER CLEVELAND MOAA CHAPTER

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1 GREATER CLEVELAND CHAPTER THE MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA ARMY NAVY AIR FORCE MARINES COAST GUARD NOAA -- PHS JULY 2014 NEWSLETTER AUBURNDALE DRIVE CHAGRIN FALLS, OH FIRST CLASS DATED MATERIAL Next Meeting: JULY 11 CLEVELAND INDIANS GAME GREATER CLEVELAND CHAPTER MOAA - BENEFITS AND PROGRAMS Supports our National Organization with Active Members. Provides an opportunity for Active, Reserve, National Guard, and Retired Personnel, and Spouses and Widows\Widowers to socialize and make common cause. Provides each year a $1,000 college scholarship to a deserving Junior ROTC senior. Provides an opportunity to hear speakers on topics of national and military interest. Provides a monthly newsletter with Chapter news and news of military interest to Chapter including those unable to attend meetings. Offers an opportunity for members to create programs to benefit local military personnel and their families and relatives. Offers an opportunity for members to exercise their leadership in support of active and retired military personnel and their families to meet their needs in competition with opponents of such programs. SUPPORT YOUR GREATER CLEVELAND MOAA CHAPTER

2 Greater Cleveland Chapter M.O.A.A. North Coast Military News July 2014 FROM THE PRESIDENT Memorial Day is past and July is upon us, watch out Labor Day is just around the corner. During June the JROTC cadets who participated in the Ropes course at LCCC had a wonderful time and learned some about teamwork and leadership. Out official photographer, Cary Weatherhead, was on hand to take photos and provide encouragement. Our chapter was recognized at the June 13 th Flay Day ceremony at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as I was on the agenda to do the welcome and introductions. For those who attended the Goodtime III on Saturday the 14 th, we had nice ride, great food, a nice day and great company. The bridges continue to be very interesting as one is coming down as another is being build. Our group tickets for the Indians game on July 11 th have been sold out, but do not despair, you can still get tickets on line and support the Fisher House (see last month s newsletter for details). I will be participating in Akron s chapter s golf outing on July 8 th, still not too late to sign-up. Please plan to attend the July 25 th formal rededication of the Cleveland War Memorial: Fountain of Eternal Life at the Veterans Memorial Plaza, noon to 1:00 p.m. The rededication will add 32 names of servicemen and women who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Please mark your calendar for our October 5 th picnic, hosted by Bill Keller at his Lakewood Park, details to follow. Our chapter treasurer has taken the initiative to reestablish our Ohio tax exempt status, so chapter purchases can now be state sales tax free; thank you Dick Reusch. Tom Jenks, President JULY 11, CLEVELAND INDIANS MILITARY DAY The next meeting of the Greater Cleveland Chapter will be Friday, July 11 at Progressive Field, Chicago White Sox vis the Cleveland Indians. Our seats are in Section162 (right behind the Indians dugout) in two rows including row EE (under the upper deck if the weather is damp). As of this writing, there may be one ticket from the package we purchased. However, someone may have needed to turn their ticket(s) back. Please call Dick Reusch, , to determine the current status of the tickets in our reserved block. NOTE YOU ARE STILL ENCOURAGED TO COME TO THE GAME. A PORTION OF THE TICKETS SOLD THROUGH THE WEB SITE WILL GO TO SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION OF A CLEVELAND FISHER HOUSE. See flyer in this newsletter for the web site and promotion code.

3 2014 CHAPTER LEADERSHIP Officers: President Maj. Tom Jenks st Vice-President: Col. Cary Weatherhead nd Vice-President: Capt. William Keller Treasurer: Recording Secretary: Ethelann Duncan Corresponding Sec: Capt. George Williams Directors: Maj. Heath Reinhardt Lt. Frank Bartkowicz Comdr. Lester Stone Col. Bart Stovicek Capt. Charlie Albert Maj. Frank DiMarco, Past President Committees: Legislative Maj. Frank DiMarco Programs Open Membership Capt. Charles Albert ROTC Liaison Maj. Thomas Jenks Appointments: Chaplain TOPS Representative State Council: Delegate Delegate Capt. Charles Albert LCDR. Richard Asbury Maj. Tom Jenks Col. Cary Weatherhead Newsletter Editor/Publisher: Col. W. Cary Weatherhead MOAAwxhd@windstream.net Auburndale Drive Chagrin Falls, Ohio UPCOMING CHAPTER MEETINGS Please note our varied schedule. We try to introduce variety into our meetings. Meetings are open to a spouse/friend and we encourage their participation. Always check dates, times and locations. Details of meetings will be published as soon as they are established. Jul.: July 11 Friday 7:05 PM Indians v Chicago Progressive Field Aug.: No meeting Sept. Oct. Sat. Oct 5 Picnic Details Forthcoming 2014 Annual Dues Annual dues for the 2014 calendar year are payable immediately. A 2014 form is included in this newsletter. Please provide all requested information. Care Concerns and Vital Statistics If you know of a member where a caring word or other help is in order, please call and let Chapter leadership know of the situation. Also the dues form asks for some vital statistics. We like to recognize individual birthdays (month). JULY BIRTHDAYS A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: Denis Hitch, Robert Titus Mary Bartkowicz and Maj. Heath Reinhardt CARE CONCERNS COL Ron A. Schwachenwald, USA (Ret.) NEW MEMBERS IN JUNE

4 ADDITIONAL GAME DAYS FOR FISHER HOUSE SUPPORT On the following additional days, a portion of each ticket sale will go to support the Cleveland Fisher House. Use the web address and special offer code shown on the above flyer. The dates and visiting teams are: August 1 Texas, August 15 Baltimore, August 23 Houston, September 5 Chicago, September 26 Tampa

5 GREATER CLEVELAND CHAPTER SUPPORTS CLEVELAND AREA JROTC On June 3, 2014 the sponsored 13 Junior ROTC cadets at the Lorain County (OH) Community College (LCCC) ROPES course. This sponsorship was in lieu of the chapter s historical donation of up to $100 to each of the 13 Junior ROTC units in Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties and was considered a more valuable alternative since sequestration eliminated funding for a week of field training usually conducted at local Boy Scout camps that have similar facilities. To support our efforts, we received a generous grant from USAA though MOAA national. The ROPES course is a series of activities which require the participants to solve problems, work with others as a team to accomplish a task, and to develop a sense of confidence in one s self and a level of trust in one s teammates. The activities include those requiring a level of physical fitness to complete the task as well as overcoming individual fears and anxieties. Two JROTC units participated in the event, one each from Cleveland s Collinwood and Lincoln West High Schools. The Collinwood cadets were Nautica Bates, Shyheim Felton, and Martell Thompson. The Lincoln West cadets were Nylerica Gonzalez, Gilines Colon, Natalia Cordero, Ghaida Hmeidan, Jorge Rodriguez, Jonathan Concepcion, Brandon Turley, Henry Lee, Elijah Scarbro, and Justin Alicea. Maj Tom Jenks was the Collinwood instructor and 1SG Edwin Rising the Lincoln West instructor. The LCCC Ropes instructor was Kerrie Riolo. Front row: Kerrie Riolo LCCC Instructor, Cadets: Nylerica Gonzalez, Gilines Colon, Nautica Bates, Martell Thompson,, Natalia Cordero, and Ghaida Hmeidan, Second row: Maj Tom Jenks, Cadets: Jorge Rodriguez, Jonathan Concepcion, Shyheim Felton, and Brandon Turley, 1SG Edwin Rising. Third row: Cadets: Henry Lee, Elijah Scarbro, and Justin Alicea. The LCCC ROPES program has a number of activities. The one day program sponsored by the Greater Cleveland Chapter did not include all the available activities and only a few of those are highlighted on the following pages.

6 GREATER CLEVELAND CHAPTER SUPPORTS CLEVELAND AREA JROTC, cont. The activity shown represents an obstacle crossing. Carpet samples are stones or protective shields which are laid ahead of the team by the lead individual. There are only enough carpet samples for most of the team and not enough to cross the entire obstacle by just laying down all carpet squares. Also if a team member steps off a stone, the team member is not lost, a stone is taken away reducing the available space on the remaining stones for the entire team. A sample of the process, the problems encountered and a solution are shown in the photo below.

7 GREATER CLEVELAND CHAPTER SUPPORTS CLEVELAND AREA JROTC, cont. Another obstacle crossing above involves a rope or vine hanging just out of reach from a river bank (the dark line). The team must capture the rope and get the team to the other side of the stream. The other bank however is a small point barely big enough for one person and just out of reach for an easy landing. The rope must be returned to (or captured by) the team members still needing to cross. Some issues and solutions are shown in the following photo.

8 GREATER CLEVELAND CHAPTER SUPPORTS CLEVELAND AREA JROTC, cont. And, of course, a rock climbing wall. It should be noted the female cadets conquered the rock wall. (Although some had to really hang on [below].) The bigger stronger? male cadets tended to be less nimble.

9 GREATER CLEVELAND CHAPTER SUPPORTS CLEVELAND AREA JROTC, cont. The High Ropes course is often the most challenging. Two events were run on the High Ropes, one crossing the horizontal pole seen at the top of the photo and the other, crossing a three rope Burma bridge, part of which is the small cross member (holds the handrails of the bridge) on the right pole holding the horizontal pole. Two people cross the horizontal pole starting at opposite ends and passing in the middle as shown in the lower photo.

10 GREATER CLEVELAND CHAPTER SUPPORTS CLEVELAND AREA JROTC, cont. Of course, there are some old retired officers who are just too macho and have to take on the rope bridge. And then there are some really sharp, enthusiastic young adult cadets (all 13) who made the day worthwhile.

11 GREATER CLEVELAND CHAPTER, MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA DUES/APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP/CHANGE OF ADDRESS 2014 Dues: Member -$20.00**; Auxiliary-$5.00 Dues use are payable in November for the next calendar year. Date Name: $. ** Last First Middle Aux. $. Last First Middle Will you help our Scholarship Fund with a Tax Deductible Donation? $. Will you help our Chapter with additional support? $. Address: City State Zip (+) Phone: Birth Date / / Rank Service Status: Active Retired Former Officer Widow(er) MOAA National Member? Y/N Nat. Member Number Spouse Name Biographic Summary (Military & Civilian) ** Jr. Officers (O 1-3, WO 1-3) and age 35 or younger may choose a no fee membership, personal address required. PLEASE MAIL TO: Maj. Richard G. Reusch, Bunker Hill Rd., Strongsville, OH /50 Raffle Purpose and rules: The 50/50 Raffle raises funds to support the local ROTC/JROTC units with certificates, medals, financial assistance, etc. and/or the Scholarship fund. There one senior (serving five colleges) and thirteen junior (high school) units. The raffle winner receives 50% of the amount collected and 50% goes to the ROTC fund. Drawings are conducted each meeting from tickets/receipts collected prior to or at the meeting. If there are only one or two donors at any particular meeting, tickets will be held and included in the next meeting s drawing. Send tickets and your check to: Maj. Richard G. Reusch, Bunker Hill Rd., Strongsville, OH April Drawing: No drawing in May The next drawing is planned for: June 14 Tickets are printed below. Tickets are $1.00 each or six for $5.00 PLEASE NOTE THE RAFFLE IS A SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT OF OUR JROTC/ROTC SUPPORT FUND