Flagler County Military Officers Association of America P.O. Box 352495, Palm Coast, FL 32135-2495 Officer s Call Chapter FL41 One Nation Under God February 2014 OFFICERS President COL Gary DeKay, USAR 386-447-8889 1st Vice President Maj Neal McCoppin, USMC 386 693-3129 2nd Vice President COL Bill McKinnon, USAR Secretary 386-445-0925 Maj Deidre Wright, USAF Treasurer Karla Key, CPA 386-586-2915 386 447-8889 DIRECTORS LtCol Ed Waller, USAF COL Aaron Wilkins, USA CW3 Richard Oexmann, USA Mrs. Ruth Rehme STAFF Chaplain LTC Harry Gilman, USA Legislative Affairs & Survivor Asst Vacant Sunshine Mrs. Glenn Wood - 446-9788 Auxiliary New Beginnings Mrs. Ruth Rehme 446-2393 Flagler County Veterans Services Sal Rutigliano, CVSO 386-313-4014 Editor: CDR Helen Delaney, USN hdelaney@cfl.rr.com 386 439-2997 President s Comments-COL Gary DeKay USAR (R) Brrrr! Kind of a cold (non-florida like) end to January. Nevertheless it was heart warming to see so many at our January meeting. We continue to miss many of our members who are not attending the meetings and enjoying the camaraderie that those that do attend are able to share each month. If you haven t attended a meeting recently, make a bold move, a command decision, if you will, to get out and join your friends and comrades for a lunch or dinner and a great program. If you are a regular attendee, take a few moments to contact someone who hasn t been in a while and encourage them to join us. For those of our members who are World War II Vets, Marineland will be honoring you with a special recognition event on February 16th at the Marineland Auditorium beginning at 1700 hours. If you would like to attend, call or email me not later than February 10th so I can be sure that you will be properly recognized during this event. Please provide your rank and branch of service. I would also like to take this opportunity to give special recognition to Billy Jones who was recently honored by the Flagler County School Board for his work for many years in supporting the Veterans in the Classroom program throughout the county school system. I am also chairing a special project (non chapter related), Flagler County Veteran s Appreciation Day, a festival to be held next November. If anyone is interested in assisting on the committee, please call or send me an email. Lastly, if you have not sent in your 2014 Chapter Dues, please include them on the reservation form in this newsletter. As a reminder there will be a RED dot on your email or hard copy newsletter. FEBRUARY SPEAKER: Colonel Stephen Luxion is the Commander and Professor of Aerospace Studies for the Air Force ROTC program at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He has extensive experience with two topics very much in the news today, drones and cyber warfare. An Air Force Academy graduate with over 2500 hours of flying time including 700 hours of combat in operations over Iraq, Bosnia and Afghanistan, he has a wealth of knowledge to share with us. His vast experience also flying the Predator Drone and commanding the 17th Reconnaissance Squadron promises a very entertaining as well as informative luncheon. Support our MOAA chapter and get your reservations in early. Flagler County Military Officers Association of America is an independent, non-profit, politically nonpartisan organization
Page 2 Feb 2014 Legislative and Veteran s Affairs Comments COLA Vote Coming as Support Grows Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) indicated he plans to bring a bill to the Senate floor as soon as possible that includes a full repeal of the military retired pay COLA cuts established in the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) of 2013. The bill (S. 1950) combines Senate omnibus veterans benefits bills with a full repeal of the COLA cuts. An offset to pay for the fix has not yet been identified. The House and Senate have returned to Washington. Many members on both sides of the aisle are lining up to support COLA cut repeal legislation. Since the enactment of the BBA in late December more than 250 legislators have signed on to cosponsor repeal legislation. Half of all senators (50) and more than 200 representatives have announced support. Support in the Senate is evenly distributed with 24 Republicans, 24 Democrats, and 2 Independents. In the House, 76 Democrats and 126 Republicans support repeal proposals. However, there is little consensus on how, or whether, to pay for repeal. All the proposals fully repeal the COLA cuts, but examples of how to pay for it range from closing tax loop holes for certain corporations to cutting foreign aid to Egypt and Pakistan. Other plans simply add to the deficit. MOAA is calling on legislators to work together to find a bipartisan solution to the funding dilemma, and immediately repeal the COLA cuts. Our 6th Congressional District representative, Ron DeSantis fully supports the repeal of this COLA. 6th Congressional District Veteran s Advisory Board I (your President) have been honored by being asked to be a member of Congressman Ron DeSantis Veteran s Advisory Board. The purpose of this Board is to provide a venue for direct meeting with, and input to Congressman DeSantis on issues important to veterans. As legislative issue arise that impact veterans, the Board will discuss them and provide recommendations to the Congressman. Please contact me if you have any questions or issues you would like brought to the Board. Just one caveat please do so in writing, either email or snail mail. That way I will be sure to collate various inputs and ensure that your questions and issues are not forgotten in a senior moment. Chaplain s Comments Chaplain Harry Gilman, LTC, USA, Ret February brings with it a time for us to consider the things that are really important in life. The special people who grace our lives are the best gifts that a loving God brings our way. As a nation this is the time when we use to honor both presidents Washington and Lincoln. They preceded our time, and yet their lives and service laid the foundation for the freedoms and values that have truly blessed each of us. When you and I reminisce about growing up, building a family, military service and simply life s journey; it is the people, names, and faces that come to mind. Life s greatest gifts are the people within the happenings. Earlier in January, I had to return to New Jersey to officiate at my younger brother s funeral. As I write this morning, I am at the BOQ at Fort Belvoir, in a few hours I ll be doing the funeral for my 92 year old friend LEW (veteran of WWII, Korea, Vietnam). Lew s outlook on life was Everyday is Christmas. Surviving three wars, EVERY DAY IS A GIFT. It is good to have a perspective and intent to invest in the relationships that are still available to us. Waiting until some day is not a good plan for those of us with snow on the roof (white hair). Today, treasure your special people; actively build new and more memories.
Page 3 Feb 2014 Happy Birthdays 2. Larry Doege 3. John Sowell 3. Dale Bell 5. David Joy 7. Jim McClanahan 15. Vivian Jones 16. James McMahon 20. Neal McCoppin 23. Judy Hanzel 27. Mary Ann MAgnell 29. Linda Martindell Happy Anniversaries 1. James & Barbara Knight 14. Ed & Christina Cohen 15. John & Therese Schwartz 19. Lee & Marjorie Marshall 27. Earl & Lee Tatum Interested in what other MOAA Chapters are doing in Florida. Just visit the Florida Council of Chapters website at: http://www.moaafl.org/ and click on Chapters to find a chapter s website. Need to a new or renew ID Cards? Call 904-823-0488, the Florida National Guard DEERS office in St Augustine for an appointment. New ID cards will no longer include Social Security numbers. General Meeting Reservation/Charitable Donations/Dues Halifax Plantation Golf Club Name: Thursday, February 27, 2014 Social Hour : 11:30 A M Lunch: 12:00 P M # Desired Total Beef Stir Fry over Rice $20.00 Chicken Picatta $20.00 Marinated Portabella Mushrooms $20.00 2014 Chapter Membership Dues $15.00 Scholarship Fund Grand Total Mail Check to: MOAA, P.O. Box 352495, Palm Coast, FL 32135-2495 Return checks and reservations by Friday January 17, 2014 Do you have a new address or telephone no.? Let us know!
Page 4 Feb 2014 Dates to Remember Board Meetings PNC Bank 3;30 PM February 6 March 6 April 3 General Membership Meetings February 27,2014 11:30 a m Halifax Golf Club March 27, 2014 5:30 PM Palm Coast Yacht Club New Beginnings Meetings Noon February 18,2014 Flagler Breeze 2444 S Oceanshore Blvd Flagler Beach Special Events World War II Veteran Recognition Day February 16, 2014 1700 Hours Marineland Auditorium Flagler County Chapter Website Visit our new website at http://www.moaafl.org/chapters/ flagler/. Be sure to check the website regularly for event updates and copies of newsletters. Email questions, comments, or suggestions to: fcmoaa41@yahoo.com. Flagler County Chapter Military Officers Association of America P.O. Box 352495 Palm Coast, FL 32135-2495