VOL 39 No. 6 Nov 2012 GREATER CINCINNATI CHAPTER MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA AN AFFILIATE OF THE MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA WHERE: Renew your dues please see page 5! Past President Recognition and Chapter Board Elections Manor House Restaurant 600 Maple Trace Dr., Springdale, OH (Gathering Room) WHEN: Sunday, 2 December 2012 TIME: 11:30 AM Social Time 12:00 PM Brunch Program follows Luncheon This is the time to come recognize past presidents and vote and see who will be leading our Chapter in the upcoming year. We want to hear from you. Give us your ideas and thoughts and even a little of your time to support your chapter. We also want to give you information of what National MOAA is doing and planning. Past Presidents COL Ned Ackner (D) COL Charlie Stander (D) LCDR Bill Malone COL Richard Dooley (D) MAJ Diana Bloemer COL Robert Greene MAJ Frank Kreger (D) MAJ Parker Lillie CAPT Clyde Middleton COL Irv Zimov (D) LTC Tom Grimes 1LT John Erby (D) MAJ Ike Mincy LTC Jim Hoeh LT Chuck Kenny COL Fred Zumsteg (D) CAPT Jack Meyer CWO3 Kym Mader BRUNCH RESERVATION: Sunday, 2 Dec 2012 Manor House Restaurant Springdale, OH. Name: Rank & Service: Spouse/Guests: (ARE YOU A NEW MEMBER, OR FIRST TIME OUT? ) Entrée choices: Brunch BUFFET $20.00 (Eggs Benedict, Omelettes to order, waffles, chicken a la Manor, carved prime rib, bacon, quiche, French toast plus many sides, juices and desserts. ) 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: paulf@shriverco.com. Please make reservations NLT than 28 Nov. No cancellations after that date.
2012 CHAPTER OFFICERS AND BOARD (phone # s are area code 513 unless noted) Executive Committee President MAJ Ed Knox, USAF 674-7755 Immed PP LTC Tom Grimes, USA 681-8295 1st VP CWO3 Kym Mader, USN 759-0852 2nd VP LTC James Hoeh, USAR 481-4045 Secretary MAJ Ed Knox, USAF 674-7755 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 RADM Larry Hereth, USCG 812 537-2968 Past Natl Bd MAJ Isaac Mincy, USAF 542-6145 Aux Liaison MAJ Diana Bloemer, USAF 729-2960 State Council Delegate CAPT Jack Meyer, USN 489-7361 Alt Delegate LTC James Hoeh, USAR 481-4045 Committees Program Vacant Membership LTC Tom Grimes, USA 681-8295 Personal Affairs LTC Tom Grimes, USA 681-8295 Historian LCOL Dick Probst, USAF 703-0754 Public Affairs Vacant Sympathy/ LTC Phil Tilley Welfare TOPS LTC Bob Knueven, USA 875-2299 R.O.T.C. LTC Al Brauer, USA 677-8320 CinMoaaNews CWO3 Kym Mader, USN 759-0852 Service Representatives Army COL Robert Greene, USA (859) 689-4321 Navy/CG CAPT Jack Meyer, USN 489-7361 USPHS CAPT Alan Echt, PHS 573-0315 Air Force MAJ Ed Knox, USAF 674-7755 Marine Corps MAJ Parker Lillie, USMC 281-5807 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. LOCAL Chapter: CinMoaa News is published to arrive at your home 10 days before each meeting. Articles and corrections for the News must be in the hands of editor 4 weeks before each meeting date. Mail to CinMoaa News, 8099 Pepper Pike, West Chester, OH 45069. Or E-mail chmader@fuse.net. For MOAA National information: Visit the MOAA Web Site - INTERNET ADDRESS HTTP://www.moaa.org TAPS If you know a member of MOAA who has past away, please let us know so we may pass it on. LTC James Soupene, USA, Ret. 8 Nov 2012 MEETINGS - Mark your Calendars NOW! Watch www.cincymoaa.org for updates. BOARD MEETINGS Dec 7th, 1300 - Xavier University Armory Spouses and guests are welcome at all meetings. MEMBER MEETINGS Next Member Meeting TBD 2
Ohio Department of Veterans Services FOR GENERAL RELEASE For Immediate Release November 2, 2012 Ohio Veterans Bonus Pays More than 60,000; Deadlines Loom COLUMBUS A total of 60,593 Ohio veterans and family members have received payments from the Ohio Veterans Bonus totaling $50,893,704 and other eligible veterans are urged to take advantage of this special thank-you for their service from Ohio voters. Action is particularly critical for two groups of veterans those from the Persian Gulf War and Iraq War eras. The deadline to apply for Persian Gulf veterans is December 31, 2013. Iraq War veterans face a deadline of December 31, 2014 to apply. The citizens of Ohio overwhelmingly approved the Ohio Veterans Bonus in November 2009 for veterans of the Persian Gulf War, Iraq War and Afghanistan War eras. The law implementing the Bonus set a deadline for Persian Gulf War veterans to apply of December 31, 2013. The same law set the deadline for Iraq War veterans as the third year following a date determined by the President as the end of the conflict. Tentatively, this date is the termination date of the Iraq Campaign Medal, which was December 31, 2011, making the deadline for Bonus application for service in Iraq December 31, 2014. No deadline has yet been announced for the Afghanistan War. Every veteran who s served during our recent wars is eligible for the Bonus, Ohio Department of Veterans Services Director Tom Moe said. We re very pleased with the response we ve had to this point, but we re not going to rest in getting out the word. We particularly want to be sure that we reach all of our Gulf War and Iraq veterans. I m also calling on our entire Ohio veterans community to be sure that our veterans of today know about the Bonus, and take the time to apply for it, Director Moe continued. It s a simple process that can be started with a phone call or some time online, or at a county veterans service office, and then followed up by mailing in the appropriate documents. Every veteran and their family deserves our thanks, and no eligible veteran should miss out. The Ohio Veterans Bonus is open to veterans of the Persian Gulf War era as well as the eras of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, regardless of where they served, as well as the next of kin of those who were killed in action or died of disease as a result of in-theater service. The Bonus is not subject to federal or state taxes, and can be used for any purpose. Specific criteria for award of the Ohio Veterans Bonus is service in the Armed Forces of more than 90 days active duty, not for training, during the periods of the Persian Gulf War and the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. For the Persian Gulf, the eligible period is from August 2, 1990 through March 3, 1991; for Afghanistan, from October 7, 2001 through a date to be determined by the President, and for Iraq, from March 19, 2003 through December 31, 2011. Eligible veterans must have been Ohio residents at the time of their entry into the service, and must be Ohio residents currently. The bonus pays $100 a month to veterans who served in the Persian Gulf theater, or in the countries of Afghanistan or Iraq, up to a maximum of $1,000. For veterans who served elsewhere, the payment is $50 a month up to a $500 maximum. Veterans medically discharged due to injuries sustained in combat can receive $1,000, plus up to $500 for months of service elsewhere. Family members of those killed in action or who died from disease as a result of their in-theater service can receive a bonus of $5,000 plus whatever the service member was eligible for, up to a total of $6,500. Veterans needing more information or who want to apply can call toll-free to 1-877-OHIO VET (1-877-644-6838) option 2, visit www.veteransbonus.ohio.gov, or visit any county veterans service office (see www.dvs.ohio.gov for an interactive map of the county offices). The department also provides information about the bonus through its social media and at veterans events, and has advertised the program in print and broadcast media. The Ohio Veterans Bonus continues a tradition of bonuses to reward Ohio veterans that dates back to the Civil War; however, these other war bonuses are now closed. 3
AUXILIARY CORNER TRICARE Home Delivery Patricia Bergquist, Vice Chair, Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee The TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery, serviced by Express Scripts, is a cost-saver for TRICARE. For the beneficiary, it is convenient, efficient, and cost-saving and offers peace of mind that medications will arrive on time. But the program is used by less than 10 percent of TRICARE beneficiaries, making it an underused health care benefit. MOAA surveyed 7,700 Legislative Update subscribers representing a cross-section of military beneficiaries. The sample showed a far higher participation in the home delivery program than the TRICARE beneficiary population as a whole. Of the survey participants, 64 percent had tried the program, 45 percent used it for maintenance medications, and 69 percent were very satisfied. What did they like about the service? They liked the convenience of home delivery, easy prescription management by phone or online, copayment savings of 67 percent versus retail pharmacies, automatic refill notifications, and ease of having TRICARE call their doctors for prescription renewals. Sixty-eight percent found nothing to dislike about the program Enrollment is easy. Call (877) 363-1303, or visit www.express-scripts.com/tricare. You must send Express Scripts written prescriptions from your physician to begin enrollment. Currently, a 30-day supply of a brand-name medication at a local pharmacy includes a $12 copayment. But that same medication, in a 90-day supply, can be ordered through home delivery for a $9 copayment. Most generic medications have no copayments for a 90-day supply. And through home delivery, non-formulary medications have a $25 copayment for a 90-day supply. You will be notified by phone or email when your prescriptions will ship. There are no shipping charges, and if you re traveling, TRICARE can arrange to have your prescriptions shipped to a temporary address. Medications requiring refrigeration, though shipped in cold packs, cannot be left in the heat for long periods. If you will not be home, arrange for a friend or neighbor to pick them up for you. Beneficiaries can set up automatic renewals every 90 days for all medications except controlled substances. When a prescription needs an annual renewal, you can mail the new prescription to Express Scripts or have them contact your physician. In the case of a military treatment facility (MTF), you must take in the prescription. Problems like ordering too early, out-of-stock medications, holiday facility closures, or changes in hours of operation that can happen with an MTF are eliminated by using home delivery. Give it a try. I think you ll really like it. TRICARE Retiree Dental Program The TRICARE Retiree Dental Program is available to all military retirees (including gray area retirees) and their eligible family members, unremarried surviving spouses and their eligible children, as well as MOH recipients and their eligible immediate family members and survivors. The program covers cleanings, exams, fillings, root canals, gum surgery, oral surgery and dental accidents on the first day that coverage becomes effective; after 12 months of being in the program, it then covers crowns, bridges, partials, braces and dental implants. The Enhanced TRDP provides every enrollee an annual maximum of $1,200 per person ($1,000 for Basic Program enrollees), a $1000 annual maximum for dental accidents and a $1500 lifetime maximum for orthodontics. It is important to note that the money that the TRDP pays out for preventive and diagnostic services doesn t count against the annual maximum those benefits are in addition to the $1200. Retirees can find more information on the program, as well as enroll 24/7/365, online at trdp.org. TRDP enrollees realize the maximum program savings (an average of 22%) when seeing a network provider. To find a network provider, as well as utilize the Consumer Toolkit to print ID cards, view annual maximum information, see if claims have been paid and sign up for e-mail updates, please visit trdp.org. You can contact Lynn Jamroz at 630-587-6397 or ljamroz@delta.org for more details on the TRDP. 4
2012 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 (2010) 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, multi-year or life). For those of you who receive your newsletter by email, your dues date is located in the TO line of your email after your name. 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. Membership Renewal. Regular Member Your email address please: $28 for three years $19 for two years $10.00 for one year Auxiliary Member (as the surviving spouse of a deceased officer) $14 for three years $9.50 for two years $5.00 for one year 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: MAJ Ed Knox, 881 Yorkhaven Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45240-1254 -------------------------- cut here --- --------- Dues Form ---------------------cut here---------------------------- WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS 2LT Ryan Martinez, USMC 2LT Bryan Hayes, USA MAJ Michael Thomas, USAF COL Jeffrey Earley, USA EMAIL ADDRESS UPDATES LIFE MEMBERSHIP FEES (Fee is based on your age, nearest birthday) Regular Auxiliary Age up to 55 $161.25 $80.00 Age 56 to 70 $127.50 $63.75 Age 71 to 89 $ 93.75 $46.90 Age 90 and over Waived Waived In the past months many notices and newsletters sent by email have been returned due to incorrect or outdated email addresses. The advantages of email gives you important updates, notices and newsletter quicker and is more cost effective to the chapter. We only send out notices that we think are relevant to you regarding military issues and do not give your email addresses out to anyone. All emails are sent blind copy to keep others from seeing your email address. If you want to get your notices and newsletters by email, please update your email address. Please send your updates to chmader@fuse.net. CHAPTER MEMBERS RECOGNIZED In October chapter member Captain Alan Echt was awarded the Public Health Services Brutsche Award for 2012. Annually that award honors a PHS officer for exceptional service to the Commissioned Officers Association (COA) of the United States Public Health Service (PHS). He was honored for his achievements as a longtime member of COA s Legislation and Benefits Committee. Captain Echt was cited as a key figure in COA s hard-fought legislative campaign to convince Congress to authorize GI Bill transferability for PHS officers. More recently, Captain Echt was the first to suggest that the Military Whistleblower Protection Act might be extended to cover PHS officers. The resulting amendment to FDA reform legislation was signed into law in July, 2012. On November 9, chapter member Major Diana Bloemer, USAF (Retired) was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Celebrating Women Veterans Health Care Appreciation Luncheon. Major Bloemer was cited for several of her continuing works such as being president of the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of MOAA, with the Jewish Hospital and her extensive work with the City Gospel Mission. 5
Greater Cincinnati Chapter MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA 8099 Pepper Pike West Chester, OH 45069-2842 Postmaster: Dated material, Please Expedite NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID CINCINNATI, OH PERMIT NO 6122 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