Memorandum Date December 3, 2014 From Subject To Recorder, Cincinnati Branch of the COA Minutes of the December 2014 COA Branch Meeting All Commissioned Officers, Cincinnati, OH Next Meeting: The next meeting is on January 7, 2015 at 1130 in the Hamilton Building Conference Room B. I. Call to Order The Cincinnati Branch of the COA met on December 3, 2014 in the NIOSH Hamilton Building Conference Room B. The meeting was called to order at 1135 by President, LCDR Kenny Fent. Board members present were: LCDR Kenny Fent (President) CAPT (ret) Bill Heitbrink Other members present were: CAPT Greg Lotz (phone) CAPT Chuck Kardous (phone) CAPT Gregory Kinnes (phone) CAPT John McKernan (phone) CAPT David Byrne LT Kerton Victory LT Melissa Seaton CDR Sara Luckhaupt CAPT Alan Echt CAPT Ken Mead II. Presentations LCDR Fent introduced Karl Feldmann who is expected to attend the Basic Officer Course and be commissioned in February. III. Treasury Report LT Dunn has requested the local dues from National COA. From the period of November 1, 2014 to November 30, 2014: SUMMARY Savings balance $1102.69 Checking balance $731.68 Cash $172.12 Total $2006.49
SAVINGS ACTIVITY Starting balance $1102.69 Dividend Ending balance $1102.69 CHECKING ACTIVITY Starting balance $731.68 Ending balance $731.68 CASH Starting balance $153.24 Pizza for 11/5 meeting (42.12) Contribution from membership 16.00 Deposit Athletic shirt sales 45.00 Ending balance $153.24 Uniform Updates PHS devices that are unauthorized should be disposed of by 12/31/2014. LT Dunn will have authorized devices and soft shoulder boards which are available for purchase. There are still a few USPHS athletic shirts of varying sizes to available to purchase, the cost is $15. IV. Old Business November meeting minutes were approved. V. New Business Ebola Update Officers deployed to W. Africa (or in the pipeline) include: LT Victory, CAPT Bernard, CDR Luckhaupt, CAPT Whelan, CAPT Gibbins, CAPT DeBord, CAPT Methner, CAPT Calvert, LT Beaucham, CAPT Hales, LCDR Fent Officers deployed domestically include: CDR West, LCDR De Perio, CAPT Mead, CAPT Seitz, CAPT Methner, CDR L. McKernan, LT Dunn, LT Dahm, LT Beaucham, LT Seaton, CAPT Hall, CAPT Echt, CDR Hammond.
The Cincinnati COA Officer/Family Support Workgroup is reaching out to deployed officers and their families. This workgroup is also looking into sending care packages to the officers on PHS deployment (60 day deployment). This workgroup includes: LCDR De Perio, LT Catherine Beaucham, CAPT Kardous, and CAPT Lotz. If interested in helping, please contact CAPT Kardous. National COA Recruiting Drive/Award No updates Surgeon General Roll Call Two recently completely successful events included: Matthew Ministries 5K on November 8 th organized by CAPT MacDonald The Cincinnati Thanksgiving Day 10K Run at Paul Brown Stadium Thanksgiving morning (November 27 th ) organized by LT Dahm CAPT McDonald is planning to lead a PHS team for the Morgan s Little Miami Triathlon scheduled for Sunday June 7, 2015. Contact her if you are interested. Legislative Items Senate could confirm Vivek Murthy as the Surgeon General as soon as this month (December). BAH information CDR Hammond reported that the new BAH rates will be released on December 15 th. There has been a change in the way that BAH data has been collected that makes it less onerous on CDR Hammond to enter and review the data. CDR Hammond is happy to continue being the point of contact and review the BAH data. Recent passing of CAPT (ret) David Conover CAPT Murphy, CAPT Davis, CAPT Kardous, CAPT Lotz, and LCDR Fent participated in the honor guard at CAPT Conover s funeral with help from MA1 John Rudisell (US Navy). It was a beautiful ceremony and his family was very appreciative. CAPT Lotz is in the process of helping Mrs. Conover take care of some survivor paperwork and other responsibilities. CAPT Lotz and others plan to look into the support programs that are available for PHS survivors and determine where more information/guidance is needed. We plan to recognize MA1 Rudisell with a Surgeon General s certificate at the next All Hands Assembly at the Naval Operational Support Center in Cincinnati. CAPT Lotz has offered to present the certificate. MA1 Rudisell offered to provide some training to us on Honor Guard protocol and flag folding tips. We will work with MA1 Rudisell to set this up. LCDR Eisenberg suggested that we record the training for future reference. LT Beaucham said that her husband (a former US Navy service member) could also provide some support if needed. VI. Committee and Other Reports
Charity Cincinnati COA helped collect nearly 100 toys for Toys for Tots this year. We also coordinated with the AFGE on the holiday food drive. This was also a successful campaign. Courtesy Reminder: ODU deadline is December 2014. Woodland BDUs will no longer be authorized. One suggested tailor is Widmer s Cleaners by the Kenwood Mall (8153 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, Ohio, phone number 513-794-9750, store hours M,W,F 10AM to 5PM). Reminder: Change old devices to the approved military specification devices by January 1, 2015. LT Dunn has approved devices for purchase. Reminder: submit eopf materials by end of year. TSP contribution limit has been raised to $18,000. Fitness and Readiness Fitness: There is new information that the President s Challenge will be phased out at some point in the future. The timing is uncertain. Since the APFT is a condition of our commissions, please make sure you will be able to comply with Basic Readiness standards. If any officer needs to complete their APFT, please contact CAPT Bill Murphy (WMurphy@cdc.gov) or CAPT Mark Methner (MMethner@cdc.gov). Historian Mentoring Social Volunteer Opportunities VII. Open Mike LCDR Eisenberg mentioned that if anyone is interested in attending the USPHS symposium in Atlanta this May that the rooms block at the Sheraton is quickly running low.
VIII. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 1230 by LCDR Kenny Fent (President). The next meeting will be on January 7, 2014 at 1130 in the Hamilton Building Conference Room C. Respectfully submitted by LT Matthew Dahm