Military Order of the World Wars Bradenton/Sarasota Chapter

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1 MARCH, 2010 Military Order of the World Wars Bradenton/Sarasota Chapter We re on the web! Editor - Ed Parks (eparks@tampabay.rr.com) Photos by Marcella Kissick (photos.marcella@gmail.com Upcoming Events St. Patrick s Day Easter Sunday The luncheon was held at the Renaissance Restaurant on 10 March with 23 guests and companions attending. Commander Discussion Chapter March Luncheon City of Bradenton since The teams Spring Training home field is McKechnie Field. Inside this issue: Chapter Luncheon 1 MOWW Polo Shirts 1 Staff Meeting Review 1 Massing of the Colors 1 50/50 Raffle 1 Guest Speaker 1 Newsletter Articles 2 Officer Nominations 2 MOWW Polo Shirts Last chance to get your name on the list for the shirt order! Staff Meeting Review CDR Brad Smith, USN (Ret) and Col Fred Graves, USAF (Ret) reviewed the results of this month s staff meeting. The minutes of the meeting are attached to this newsletter. Massing of the Colors Col and Mrs. Graves from the Bradenton/ Sarasota Chapter and CWO4 and Mrs. Courtney representing Region VI attended the event sponsored by the Clearwater MOWW Chapter on 7 March. Each member had their respective flags. 50/50 Raffle LTCOL John DeForge, USA (Ret) won the drawing, worth $23. McKechnie Field, Bradenton The Pirate s minor league training facility, Pirate City, is located in East Bradenton. It currently provides room and board for approximately 200 players ranging in age from 16 to 25. Retiree Dental Cover Available 2 Crosstalk 2 March Staff Meeting Minutes 3 Pirate City There are 7 practice fields and the facility is used up to 11 months a year. Guest Speaker Trevor Gooby, Senior Director of Florida Operations for the Pittsburgh Pirates, was our guest speaker for the March luncheon. A review of the history of the team showed that they have been associated with the Two of the players are from India and were trained in the use of the Javelin. They can throw a baseball at over 90 miles per hour. Disney has bought the rites to their stories and may make a movie of their entry into baseball. (Continued on Page 2)

2 Pittsburgh Pirates (Continued from Page 1) The Pirates organization provides a college campus environment for these players that goes beyond baseball. Classes are provided to enhance their education, up to and including college-level courses. This Academy can provide other types of training for young players in the event that they do not qualify for professional baseball. The Pirates recently moved their High A minor league team to Bradenton. (Up to 7 levels of minor league play can be used before making it into the Majors.) The Marauders will play a 140 game season, with 70 games being played at McKechnie Stadium between April and September. Newsletter Articles The Newsletter is a monthly publication for Bradenton/ Sarasota Chapter members. If you have an article or photos that you would like to see published, please them to eparks@tampabay.rr.com. Officer Nominations We are looking for nominees for potential positions as Chapter Officers. The election will be in April and installation in June. Contact Brad Smith (bradkir1234@verizon.net), Don Courtney (dcourtn3@msn.com), or Fred Graves (frednormagraves@verizon.net) to volunteer to serve your Chapter. Retiree Dental Coverage Available (Fall Church AFRNS) Good oral health is an important part of maintaining overall health, and a military retiree s access to dental coverage does not end when they hang up their uniform. With the Tricare Retiree Dental Program, retired service members can purchase affordable dental coverage for themselves and their eligible family members, say officials. The dental program is available worldwide to retired service members who receive retirement pay, gray area retired National Guard and Reserve members who are entitled to -- but not yet receiving -- retirement pay, and Medal of Honor recipients. Children up to age 21, or 23 if they are full-time students, and the spouses of these retirees are also eligible for the retiree dental program. Participants in this voluntary plan can get dental care from any licensed dentist within the program s designated service area; however, visiting an out-of-network dentist may require participants to pay higher out-of-pocket expenses and file their own claims. The dental program is a premium-based plan administered by Delta Dental and it has cost shares for certain services after beneficiaries reach their $50 per-person deductible. Most preventive, diagnostic and emergency dental services are covered or available for cost-sharing immediately after enrollment, but some services including orthodontics, dentures and crowns are available with a cost-share only after 12 months of continuous enrollment. Those interested may enroll online, by telephone or by mail. Visit and click Prospective Enrollees for more information on rates and benefits. Cross Talk (Articles from other Chapters) (Star Valley Officer Review, Roanoke Chapter Region IV) What is the Massing of the Colors? The Massing of the Colors is a patriotic ceremony and is a living and moving tribute to the deceased of all previous wars. It combines procession of the colors and color guards of local military, veteran, civic and patriotic organizations to the front of the facility, an opening song, a band and bag pipes, a memorial address, a pledge of allegiance, a blessing of the flags, the National Anthem, and a recognition of the Flag. The purpose of the Massing is to rededicate our faith in the Colors of the United States and to show our support of those Colors and the Servicemen and Servicewomen those Colors represent. THE PREAMBLE Serves as our mission statement To cherish the memories and associations of the World Wars waged for humanity To inculcate and stimulate love of our country and the flag To promote and further patriotic education in our nation Ever to maintain law and order, and to defend the honor, integrity, and supremacy of our national government and Constitution of the United States To foster fraternal relations among all branches of the Armed Forces To promote the cultivation of military, naval, and air science, and the adoption of a consistent and suitable policy of national security for the United States of America To acquire and preserve records of individual services To encourage and assist in the holding of commemorations and the establishment of memorials of the World Wars And to transmit all these ideals to posterity; under God and for our country April Chapter Functions Staff Meeting 6 April Luncheon 14 April PAGE 2

3 Military Order of the World Wars Bradenton/Sarasota Chapter Executive Committee Minutes March 2, 2010 (The meetings are held monthly except for July and August at the American Legion Post 24 on 75 th Street in Bradenton starting at 1030 hours. All are welcome.) Pledge The meeting was called to order by Commander Brad Smith at 10:30 AM, followed by the Pledge Allegiance to the Flag. Treasurer s Report Norma Graves provided the financial statement for the period of February The report is attached. Under Income: Perpetual membership dividend distribution funds are to be divided between the Bradenton/Sarasota and Southwest Chapters. The Southwest Chapter membership 2008 rolls will be used as agreed upon during their transition to our Chapter. Regional Affairs The Region VI Convention will be held in Jacksonville on 14 May. The meeting will begin about 1400 and adjourn about 1200 on 15 May. The Chapter will pay for one room for a member to attend. National Affairs No items for review at this time. Upcoming Events The Massing of the Colors will be held in Clearwater on Sunday, March 7. COL and Mrs. Graves will represent the Chapter and CWO4 and Mrs. Courtney will represent Region VI. The Chapter flags will be presented. The JROTC Marine Group will carry the flags. Other Items: 1) Status of SW Chapter YLC payment? Discussed under Treasurer s Report. 2) Withdrawal of CD interest was put into general treasury (completed). 3) Shirts. 18 shirts have been tentatively ordered. Brad will make one last effort at the next luncheon. At that time we will place order. 4) Jim Kissick was interviewed by the Central Florida WWII Museum in Tampa. 5) The Flag brochures have been received and will be distributed at the luncheon. 6) Tax Status? Final paperwork has been submitted to the State. Expect documents to be returned within one month. 7) YLC for July at Melbourne. New forms are required for this year s submission. 8) Charlie Fitt recommended we try to get previous YLC members to be guest speakers at out luncheons to discuss their YLC experiences. 9) New flags were approved by the executive committee, both the MOWW and American Flags. They are the smaller flags that can be more easily carried at parades, etc. The large American Flag will be donated to the Boy Scout troop sponsored by Legion Post 24 in Bradenton. 10) Officer elections. Need volunteers for positions! 11) Ed Parks provided information pertaining to website access (accessions by PAGE 3

4 page): Page Jan/Mar a. Homepage 1342/1433 b. Membership 774/799 c. Who We Are 58/66 d. Minutes 102/179 e. Vet Benefits 40/57 PAGE 4

5 MOWW BRADENTON/SARASOTA CHAPTER FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR FEB 2010 BALANCE BROUGHT FORWARD: $2, INCOME PARTIAL INT ON C/D(2/4) 2, REIMB FM S/W CHAPTER FOR 2 YLC STUDENTS(2/4) FEB LUNCHEON (2/ld) /50 RAFFLE TICKETS (2/10) REMAINING BAL OF C/D INT (2/23) 2, PERPETUAL MBRSHP DIVIDEND DISTRIB (2/23) 1,582.19* TOTAL:$6, , EXPENSES: l /2 PERPETUAL MBRSHP (HAROLD SKIPPER) (2/2) RENAISSANCE ON 9 LNCHN, (2/10)(21 GUESTS MINUS JAN TAX CHGD) NORMA J. GRAVES (REIMB FOR VALENTINF'S DAY ROSES)(2/10) TOTAL: $ BALANCE AS OF 02/28/10: $8, *PART OF THIS IS OWED S/W CHAPTER FOR THEIR PERPETUAL MBRSHP; NO EXACT COUNT AS OF THIS DATE. PAGE 5