VOL 45 No. 4 July 2018 GREATER CINCINNATI CHAPTER MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA Renew your dues please see page 5! General Membership Meeting Keynote Speaker: MG John C. Harris Jr., Asst. Adjutant General, Ohio National Guard and Commander, Ohio Army National Guard WHERE: Manor House Restaurant 600 Maple Trace Dr., Springdale, OH (Gathering Room) WHEN: Friday, 14 Sept 2018 TIME: 18:00 1825PM Social Time (Cash Bar) 18:30 2030PM Dinner and Program Come and hear first hand about the changes that are occurring in our National Guard as they are called upon to do more each and every day. General Harris assumed his current duties on January 11, 2011 and is responsible for establishing policies, priorities, and oversight for the readiness of approximately 11,400 Soldiers. General Harris began his military career in 1981 when he enlisted in the Ohio Army National Guard. He received a commission in 1984 through Officer Candidate School. He has commanded at the platoon, detachment, company, and squadron levels while serving in staff assignments at the battalion, squadron, state area command, and joint force headquarters level. Recent assignments include Chief of Staff (Joint Force Headquarters), Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (Joint Force Headquarters), and Commander of Task Force Lancer in Kosovo. He is a Senior Army Aviator with over 1200 flight hours flying AH-1, UH-1 and OH-58. General Harris has a Bachelor s Degree in Sociology from the University of the State of New York and is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College with a MA in Strategic Studies. He has received numerous awards and decorations including the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. We will be inviting Ohio National Guard Units to attend and expect to fill to capacity so get your reservation in early. Reservations will not be accepted once we reach capacity. Dinner RESERVATION: Friday, 14 September 2018 Manor House Restaurant Springdale, OH. Name: Rank & Service: Spouse/Guests: Email: Phone #: (ARE YOU A NEW MEMBER, OR FIRST TIME OUT? ) Entrée choices: Dinner BUFFET @ $25.00 Would you like to sponsor a ROTC/JROTC Cadet or Midshipman? @ $25.00 (Circle if you have a preference) Total Reservations = Total $ Make Checks payable to GREATER CINCINNATI CHAPTER/MOAA and mail to LTC PAUL FELLINGER, 5493 Delhi Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45238-5139, (Phone (513) 451-9881) or email: pwf5493@aol.com. Please make reservations NLT than 12 September. No cancellations after that date.
2018 CHAPTER OFFICERS AND BOARD (phone # s are area code 513 unless noted) Executive Committee President CAPT Steve Drefahl, USN 752-4097 Immed PP LTC Al Brauer, USA 677-8320 1st VP CAPT Mike Glaser, USN 280-6256 2nd VP CAPT Rex Settlemoir, USN 598-9549 Secretary CAPT Alan Echt, PHS 573-0315 Treasurer LTC Paul Fellinger, USAR 451-9881 Chaplain Rev Joseph L Boone, USA 853-2051 Legislative Ofc BG Tom O Brien, USA 421-0118 Natl Bd Past Natl Bd RADM Larry Hereth, USCG 812 537-2968 Spouse/ Diane Lochocki, Surviving Sp. 560-0540 Surviving Spouse Liaison State Council Delegate CAPT Alan Echt, PHS 573-0315 Alt Delegate Vacant Committees Programs Vacant Membership CAPT Mike Glaser, USN 280-6256 R.O.T.C. LTC Al Brauer, USA 677-8320 Reserve/NG CAPT Steve Drefahl, USN 752-4097 Historian LCOL Dick Probst, USAF 703-0754 Sympathy/ CAPT Roger Argalas, USCG 759-6267 Personal Affairs TOPS LtCol Brad Hamant, USAF 439-3140 CinMoaaNews/ CWO3 Kym Mader, USN 759-0852 Public Affairs Service Representatives Army COL Robert Greene, USA 859 689-4321 Navy CAPT Rex Settlemoir, USN 598-9549 Coast Guard CAPT Roger Argalas, USCG 759-6267 USPHS CAPT Alan Echt, PHS 573-0315 Air Force Lt Col Brad Hamant, USAF 439-3140 Marine Corps CAPT Rex Settlemoir, USN 598-9549 PURPOSES OF THE GREATER CINCINNATI MOAA CHAPTER The purposes of Military Officers Association of America as stated by national are printed on the outside of each Newsletter. The corresponding purposes of our Chapter as stated in our BYLAWS, Article II are: (a) To promote the purposes and objectives of the Military Officers Association of America (b) To foster fraternal relations among retired, active and former officers of the uniformed services. (c) To protect the rights and interests of personnel of the uniformed services and their dependents and survivors. (d) To provide useful services for members and their dependents and survivors. (e) To serve the community and the nation. Your officers and Board members welcome your comments and suggestions on steps that may be taken to strengthen our Chapter and its benefits to all members. This newsletter is published by the Greater Cincinnati Chapter, which is an affiliate of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). MOAA and it s affiliated chapters and councils are non-partisan. Articles in this newsletter are the opinions solely of the individual authors and do not necessarily express the policy or opinions of the newsletters editor or publisher and do not reflect an endorsement by the Chapter or the National organization of MOAA, unless so indicated. Advertisements that appear in this publication also do not reflect an endorsement by MOAA or this affiliate. TAPS If you know a member of MOAA who has passed away, please let us know so we may pass it on. Margaret Coberly - Surviving Spouse Mabel Roberts - Surviving Spouse 2018 MEETINGS - Mark your Calendars NOW! Watch www.cincymoaa.org for updates. Board Meetings 2nd Friday of each month, 1200 - American Red Cross Building* 2111 Dana Ave., Cincinnati, OH Conference Call in is available. Contact a board member for more details. Spouses and guests are welcome at all meetings. (* Board meetings falling on the date of a member meeting are held after the member meeting) Membership Meetings / 3rd Annual Dining Out - Membership Meeting - Friday, Sept 14, 1800, Manor House Restaurant - Dining Out - Saturday, November 10, 1800, Highland Country Club, Ft. Thomas KY - Membership Meeting - Friday, December 7, Noon Manor House Restaurant September 20-22, 2019. Ohio Council of Chapters Biannual Convention, hosted by the Greater Cincinnati Chapter will be held at the Quality Hotel in Blue Ash. We hope to see you all there. More details to come. For MOAA National information, Click on the links below: General Information Legislative Updates 2
Legislative Report (by BG O Brien) On 4 and 5 May, three chapter officers attended the Leaders Workshop for MOAA s north central region. With presenters from the National MOAA the workshop was an intensive program covering a number of issues facing state councils and chapters. The emphasis was on membership and legislative action. In so far as legislative action is concerned, key issues are to have a chapter influence in each congressional district, be informed, tear out cards and letters from the magazine and mail them, invite state and federal legislators to chapter events and visit legislators when they are in town. On recruiting and retention, what works: chapters have a mission, visable in the community, viable recruiting, invitation letter, personal touch and follow up to close the deal. As to retention, develop and mentor new chapter leaders, have a line of succession, active awards/ recognition program. There is little doubt that recruiting/ retention is a key issue for our chapter. New Established Veteran s Creed Rolled out on Flag Day, June 14, 2018 (Excerpts from ROA ReserveVoice Newsletter) Over the past few months, a group of veterans and military service organization leaders have discussed the need for a Veteran s Creed. Retired Army Chief of Staff, General George W. Casey, Dr. Joel Kupersmith, professor of medicine and director of Georgetown University s Veterans Initiatives, and a group of respected national military and veteran leaders led the charge to develop the creed. The Veteran s Creed is a set of principles for veterans to encourage pride in being a veteran, continue service, leadship, honor and sense of mission in society. Each element is rooted in shared military tenets, the missions of participating veteran service organizations, and in the altruistic ethos of veterans themselves. It is also meant to remind Americans that the principles and values veterans learned in the military integrity, leadership, teamwork, selfless service can greatly benefit our country. The creed is meant to inspire veterans to continue to serve and lead in their communities and our country, and to continue to make a difference in our world. The Veteran s Creed states: I am an American Veteran. I proudly served my country. I live the values I learned in the military. I continue to serve my community, my country and my fellow veterans. I maintain my physical mental discipline. I continue to lead and improve. I make a difference. I honor and remember my fallen comrades. Award Presentations at Diamond Oaks & Little Miami Left: LTC Paul Fellinger at Diamond Oaks Right: LTC Al Brauer at Little Miami HS MOAA Leadership Supports Bill to Benefit Disabled Veterans (by Mike Barron, Dir of Currently Serving and Retired Affairs, Government Relations) MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Dana T. Atkins, USAF (Ret), and I recently met with Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) to discuss concurrent receipt and the Chapter 61 issue and the potential way ahead in Congress. Bishop is the sponsor of the most comprehensive concurrent receipt legislation currently introduced in Congress - H.R. 333, the Disabled Veterans Tax Act. The legislation seeks to change current law and would allow all eligible servicemembers to receive both retirement and disability compensation - a longstanding MOAA goal. The legislation also would seek to remedy the Chapter 61 inequity as a must solve subset of this wider goal. Currently, Chapter 61 retirees cannot have their retirement and disability pays computed equal to those who retire with 20 more years of service, regardless of the disability rating, MOAA highlighted H.R. 333 during Storming the Hill in April, which helped to raise the profile of the legislation in Congress and what it s trying to accomplish for military retirees, leading to an increase in co-signers for support. For H.R. 333 to move forward and be passed, the legislation needs more cosponsors in the House of Representatives. This will give the bill the needed political momentum to help get it approved in House Armed Services Committee s Personnel Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the legislation. This achievement has alluded the legislation thus far but is the critical first step in order for the legislation to be debated by the full Armed Services Committee and then, if passed by the full committee, be brought to the House for consideration and debate. In MOAA s efforts to gain congressional support for the wider concurrent receipt issue, we have worked with other legislators in both the House and Senate, and two other bills - not as comprehensive as H.R. 33 - have been introduced to try and remedy the concurrent receipt issue. Those bills are H.R. 303, the Retired Pay Restoration Act, introduced by Rep Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), and S. 66, Retired Pay Restoration Act, introduced by Sen Dean Heller (R-Nev.) In addition, Heller plans to introduce an amendment in the upcoming floor debate on the Senate s version of the FY 2019 Defense Authorization Bill (S. 2987), which would seek to remedy the Chapter 61 issue through a phase in over a six-year period. MOAA has worked closely with Heller on this amendment and recently sent out an alert message to members to contact their senators to support the amendment. 3
SURVIVING SPOUSE CORNER New Virtual MOAA Chapter (5 June 2018) On June 5th, at 8:00pm, Gail Joyce called the meeting to order. 25 members on the newly formed Surviving Spouses Chapter attended their first Virtual meeting. This group started with 13 surviving spouses and as of the meeting date there were 41 signed members. All branches of service were represented from 14 of 50 states and one member from overseas. Gail stated, The purpose is to provide a forum for surviving spouses across the United States to come together. We want to find solutions to problems we might be having. One of the top goals is to connect with younger spouses. Since the group meets virtually, it make it convenient for spouses, with children or a job, to participate without leaving home. By being a virtual group, we can reach spouses in remote areas and areas where there isn t a local MOAA chapter. The group plans to hold hour-long virtual meetings every quarter. Next meeting will be in September. If you would like to join us please send an email to mssvc02@gmail.com. You can find this full article at MOAA.org, go to News Articles and look for Surviving Spouses. If you are interested in a copy of the minutes from the meeting, email me at djlochocki@aol.com or phone e at 513-560-0540. Diane Lochocki, Surviving Spouse Liaison GCC/MOAA Spouses and Surviving Spouses of the GCC/MOAA The men have asked us to furnish a BASKET OF CHEER for their December Meeting. I really need your help this year. The basket was a hit at last years meeting and with your help we can even do better. This year a Red, White and Blue basket would be great. The items that generally go into the basket are Wine, Cheese, crackers, nuts, cookies, etc., gift cards, such as Kroger or Movie Theater or restaurants, or anything you choose say dish towels. I already have several items in red, white and blue. You can either donate items yourself or ask a place of business for a donation. If you receive donations be sure to get the persons full name and address so that we may acknowledge them for tax purposes. We are a not-for-profit organization. All proceeds will go directly to the VA Hospital to be used for the veterans. For delivery of items you can bring them to the September Members Meeting, mail them to me or I can pick up after Oct 27. I hope we have enough for two baskets wouldn t that be great. Please call me with any questions you may have. Thank you for your support. Diane Lochocki, Spouse/SS Liaison Ph. 513-560-0540 5305 Crossbridge Drive, West Chester, OH 45069 Take this Quiz: Name all the Services (by CAPT Roger Argalas, Sympathy/Personal Affairs Committee) Recently President Trump announced the creation of a new service the Space Force. It will be some time before the Space Force is operational. But for the purposed of this quiz, just how man services (including the Space Force) are there? 5? 6? 7? This is actually a trick question as many readers have already guessed. If we limit our answer to the military services, there are or rather will be six, (in alphabetical order, the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force). But if we consider all of the uniformed services, we include the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, a grand total of eight. Membership in MOAA is open to all of the uniformed services. And the Cincinnati Chapter welcomes any individual who is serving or who has served in any service, including the Space Force! Veterans Cemeteries Update (by CAPT Roger Argalas, Sympathy/Personal Affairs Committee) In our last issue of the newsletter I wrote about our veterans cemeteries. Now an update. If you were unable to participate in the MOAA webinar of June 7, there was an excellent presentation by the National Cemeteries Administration. The speaker mentioned one important change: the introduction of the Pre-Need Eligibility Program. Effective December 8, 2016 it is now possible to complete most of the required application paperwork ahead of time as well as to indicate your desire VA National Cemetery. The program is applicable to any national cemetery. It is designed to relieve grieving family members of some of the administrative burden at a stressful time. To participate in the Pre-Need Eligibility Program, print and complete VA Form 40-10007, available at the VA web site (va.gov). Send the form along with proof of military service (such as a copy of your DD-214). Mail to: National Cemetery Scheduling Office, PO Box 510543, St. Louis, MO 63151, or fax to 855-840-8299. (At this time it is not possible to email the form.) The VA will store the information and send you a folder with documents to confirm your eligibility. Both military member and spouse should complete separate forms. Change In How You Receive Your Newsletter Is Coming In an effort to reduce the cost of mailing out the newsletters by postal mail and with the ease and convenience of using the internet, we are reviewing how we can reach everyone electronically. We are looking at sending out our newsletter as an email notice that the newsletter is posted on our website for you to read with a link to the newsletter. We desire to go primarily all electronic by the first of the year. So please if you haven t provided us your email address, do it now. We will use it only for Chapter purposes to keep you informed. We prefer personal emails as some businesses and institutions may block the email. As we go through this transitions we will be sure to keep you informed. 4
2018 CHAPTER DUES ARE DUE! Please pay now- IF you haven't done so. To determine whether your dues are paid, please check your address sticker on the other side of this form. The year is shown for the latest year for which your dues are paid. (Life members show LIFE). If your number is (2017) or lower, please return this form (with your name sticker on reverse) along with a check for your dues to bring you up to current year. Please mark your selection of dues (one year, multiyear or life). If you are moving out of state and don t want to continue your chapter membership or have any other status change, please let us know. Also please indicate on your check the year(s) your dues are for. NEW - You can now renew your membership online. Go to http://www.moaa.org/content/chapters-and- Councils/Chapters-and-Councils.aspx#Chapter-Dues There is no membership dues for Surviving Spouses. Chapter Membership Renewal Name: Rank: Your email address please: MEMBER LIFE MEMBERSHIP FEES (Chapter Only) (Fee is based on your age, nearest birthday) Member $28 for three years $19 for two years $10.00 for one year Surviving Spouse (surviving spouse of a deceased officer) No Cost Please renew as a LIFE member. (Please circle amount in fee schedule.) Make check payable to: Greater Cincinnati Chapter / MOAA Mail Renewal form and check to: LTC Paul Fellinger, 5493 Delhi Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45238-5139 -------------------------- cut here --- --------- Dues Form ---------------------cut here---------------------------- WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS LTC Thomas Miller, USAR, Ret November 10, 2018 Dining Out - Save the Date Last year we had a terrific dining out and this year will be no different, so save the date and join us for our third annual Dining Out Location, Highland Country Club, Ft. Thomas, KY No Host Social Hour: 1800 Mess Call: 1850 Cost: Same as last year - $37 which includes port and a glass of wine with the meal. Age up to 55 $161.25 Age 56 to 70 $127.50 Age 71 to 89 $ 93.75 Age 90 and over Waive MOAA NAMETAGS We plan to place another order for personal nametags. Let us know if you want one. They are in 1.5 x 3-inch format historically worn by Cincinnati chapter. The "standard" fastener is magnetic. The military clutch - as on service ribbons - is available at same price. Tags will be delivered at next membership meeting. (example below) To order, email your info to pwf5493@aol.com before August 1 and MAIL check to Paul Fellinger, 5493 Delhi Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45238. Cost: $6.25 if delivered at next membership meeting; $7.00 if mailed to you. Questions? Call Paul Fellinger: 451-9881. 2017 Several Dining out attendees including Keynote Speaker Brad Wenstrup, Congressman, COL, USA Reserve, Iraqi War Veteran (center) Save the Date September 20-22, 2019. Ohio Council of Chapters Biannual Convention, hosted by the Greater Cincinnati Chapter will be held at the Quality Hotel in Blue Ash. We hope to see you all there. More details to come. 5 Example (2 lines, max. 20 spaces per line): _ PAUL FELLINGER name LTC USA RET rank service GREATER CINCINNATI CHAPTER YOUR NAME Rank Branch
Greater Cincinnati Chapter MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA 8099 Pepper Pike West Chester, OH 45069-2842 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID CINCINNATI, OH PERMIT NO 4403 Postmaster: Dated material, Please Expedite ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED PURPOSES OF MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA TO inculcate and stimulate love of country and flag; TO defend the honor, integrity, and supremacy of our National Government and the Constitution of the United States; TO advocate military forces adequate to the defense of our country; TO foster fraternal relations between all branches of the various services from which our members are drawn; TO further the education of children of service personnel; TO aid active and retired personnel of the various services from which our members are drawn and their dependents and survivors, in every proper and legitimate manner; TO present their rights and interests when service matters are under consideration; and TO foster the integrity and prestige of uniformed service. from the Preamble to the Association s Bylaws