AMOAA CONNECTION NEVER STOP SERVING JANUARY 2017 www.atlmoaa.org Volume XXX, Issue 1 Happy New Year, AMOAA and congratulations to our new leadership team. Keith Walters is now our 1 st Vice President, Dr. Shirley Quarles is the 2 nd Vice President, Bob Certain is the Secretary and Tina Klein remains the Treasurer. Please welcome David Bockel as our Legislative Liaison, thank you to Dan Holtz (Chaplain), Tom Torbert (ROTC Director), and Brad Lord (Database Manager and Satellite Coordinator) who MAJ Bill Howerton, USA-Ret remain on the team through 2017. Priorities this year include the first annual AMOAA Fundraiser, Southside satellite growth, AMOAA growth, a mid-summer (July 2017) activity, and sustaining our ROTC program. The fundraiser, Casino Nite, will introduce the surrounding communities to our chapter and help in recruiting and retaining national MOAA members. We currently have 150 chapter members and we need to grow; there are approximately 5,000 officers in the greater Atlanta area and we have less than 10% in our chapter. Our Southside Satellite is celebrating their first year of existence. I extend my personal thanks to Mike Nelson- Palmer, Brad Lord, Hersh Webb and Paul Post for moving the Continued on p. 3 Chapter and Satellite Meetings... 2 Sponsors... 3 JROTC coordinators... 4 Commissary Sale... 4 Walgreens IN... 4 Membership Application and 2017 Dues Statement... 5 Officer Salute Form... 6 South Satellite... 7 Legislative Update... 7 Wednesday, 18 Jan @ 1130 USAA Wealth Management 3050 Peachtree Road NW, Suite 150 Atlanta, Georgia 30305 Please mail, pay online, or bring your $20, plus an additional amount for our ROTC scholarship fund, to the next meeting. Use the form on p. 7 to update your information. Surviving spouses over 70 years of age are now considered life members without further dues payments. Tell your story Let's tell our stories to each other (you know how veterans love to tell them). Use the form on p. 6 and submit as instructed. Stories and photos will be posted on our site.
AMOAA CONNECTION Vol. XXX, #1 When SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 11:30 AM 1:30 PM Where Colonnade Restaurant 1879 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30324 Menu Entree Choices Southern Fried Chicken (One Breast and a Drumstick) or Farm Raised Broiled Tilapia Both served with Caesar Salad Pole beans Baked Potato Rolls and Corn Muffins Coffee and Iced Tea Dessert Apple Cobbler Cost $29.00 per person* *Check or exact cash Spouses, guests, and prospective members are always welcome Reservations Please make reservation not later than Noon, Monday, January 16 with Rosalie Castleberry Phone: 770-393-4356 rosalienorthcastle@gmail.com Program Chapter President Howerton will discuss plans for 2017. Members with internet access can read timely news releases and legislative updates on our website (www.atlmoaa.org) by clicking on News at the top of the page. We encourage everyone to log on and keep your contact information updated. In case of illness or death of member or spouse, please advise Col. Dan Holtz: Phone: (648) 403-2693 Email laurohn@bellsouth.net Keep us updated If you change your contact information, please keep us informed so you will continue to receive the AMOAA Connection and other important notices. Database Manager LTC Brad Lord 770-632-6002 bradford.j.lord@gmail.com When: Tuesday, 10 January, 6:30-8:30 pm Where: Broadway Diner, 535 Glynn St, Fayetteville GA RSVP: Hershel Webb, 770.631.3078 Program: Kenneth Koon will give an overview of the Armed Forces Mission: Building Resilience, Restoring Hope Stay Informed Sign up to receive the MOAA Messages, the Council and Chapter Update, and the Legislative Update by visiting www.moaa.org/email or by calling MOAA s Member Service Center at 800-234-MOAA (6622). The Legislative Update informs you of time-sensitive legislative alerts weekly; the Council and Chapter Affairs Updates reaches you monthly. 2
Vol. XXX, #1 AMOAA CONNECTION Continued from p. 1 concept into action. Once again I look forward to working with you this year. In a change of pace for the summer, the team will host a July activity including a possible Braves game in the new Suntrust Ballpark or a Falcons pre-season game in the new Mercedes Stadium. The only activity we will not do is look for Santa Claus at the North Pole! If you have ideas, please let me know. Our JROTC/ROTC medal and commissioning support is one of our most recognized programs in the state and will continue to grow and sustain itself 2017. The board recently allocated $900 for medals, a USAA grant will provide $300 for high school program recognition, and two graduating seniors will receive $1,000 each in scholarship funds from the chapter. Tom Torbert works all these tasks alone. If you want to witness positive growth and results please contact Tom or me for further assistance. I will continue to monitor the Widows Tax (SBP/DIC) issue and the Georgia State PTSD/TBI Clinic funding. The US Senate needs to fulfill its 2008 commitment to address the Widows Tax that entails supporting 62,000 widows, costing $7 billion. The PTSD/TBI Clinic in Milledgeville received $3 million from the Georgia State Legislature, spearheaded by Senator Hill, Chairman of the GA Senate Appropriations Committee. We hope the remaining $3 million will pass the 2017 Legislature and that the VA will provide the matching $6 million in order to complete construction on the clinic. Once the clinic is operational, Georgia will have the first acute care unit for Veteran mental health in the United States. Digitalization of the chapter is a major priority of mine. In an attempt to open the social media portal to recruit new members and sustain the current chapter membership, I have asked Angel Carney to assist us with Facebook and Twitter accounts. Angel is a sophomore in high school, a social media expert, has a desire to attend the Citadel and ultimately serve in the military. Please help me welcome Angel to AMOAA as our social media intern! LIST YOUR SERVICES IN THE AMOAA CONNECTION and E-CONNECTION. You can have your company, books, or services listed in this newsletter and/or the electronic version and/or on our webpage, and be welcomed into the homes of more than 700 MOAA members and spouses. Contact Col. Robert Certain, (770) 649-1962 or via email amoaa@att.net. VetJobs is the leading military job board for transitioning military, veterans, DOD civilians and their family member. Get help and search openings at www.vetjobs.com CAPT Ted Daywalt, USN-Ret tdaywalt@vetjobs.com UNCHAINED EAGLE By Col. Robert Certain When combat troops come home from war, we have been profoundly changed. This book is the story of one warrior's journey from the prisons of North Vietnam to full freedom decades later. Available as a Kindle book at Amazon.com for $2.99 Parc at Duluth Independent and Assisted Living 3315 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Duluth, GA 30096 www.parcatduluth.com 770-622-6880 AMOAA NAME BADGES Order from Graphic Engraving 6061 Buford Hwy Atlanta, GA 30340 770-458-0253 minimum order of two badges Indicate logo preference with Services or without 3
AMOAA CONNECTION Vol. XXX, #1 On-Site Sale in Marietta Our next On-Site Sale in Marietta will be held January 19-21, 2017. Where: 1901 Terrell Mill Rd, Suite 200 Marietta, GA 30067. Hours: Thur-Fri - 9:00 AM-5:00 PM and Sat - 9:00 AM-4:00 PM. Directions: Take 1-75 North to Windy Hill Rd. Turn left onto Windy Hill Rd and go approximately 2 miles. Turn right onto Cobb Parkway and go approximately 1/4 mile. Turn right into the Marietta Plaza. We are located next door to Burlington Coat Factory. Walgreens in, CVS out Walgreens pharmacies joined the TRICARE retail pharmacy network on Dec. 1, 2016. CVS pharmacies, including those in Target stores, left the network on the same day. The revised network will have more than 57,000 locations, and still ensures timely access to retail pharmacies for TRICARE beneficiaries. Be sure to transfer any prescriptions held at CVS over to Walgreens. Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties. Helen Keller JROTC SUPPORT COORDINATORS NEEDED!! Make a positive difference and have fun doing it - become the AMOAA JROTC Support Coordinator in your community. There are 101 high school JROTC units within the 14 counties, 17 school districts and more than 8,000 square miles that constitute the Atlanta MOAA area of responsibility. Those who live near these school(s) can have a personal relationship with and a significant impact on the instructors and the cadets in the JROTC unit(s). Here's what you will do as a JROTC Support Coordinator: 1. Determine/Define your AMOAA Support Area with the AMOAA JROTC Liaison. 2. Establish and maintain a positive and supportive relationship with the JROTC instructors within your support area. 3. Identify and coordinate your JROTC unit(s) needs with AMOAA. 4. Annually, provide the MOAA JROTC award sets to the JROTC units within your area. (MOAA JROTC award sets will be provided to you.) 5. Annually, attend or arrange for other AMOAA members to attend the annual JROTC unit awards ceremonies and present the MOAA JROTC awards. Provide photo(s) of the awards presentation(s) to AMOAA. 6. Promote the submission of applications for the AMOAA JROTC Scholarship within your JROTC units. Thanks to our current JROTC Support Coordinators: Henry County MAJ Larry Spinks; Gwinnett County CDR Keith Walters; Paulding County LTC Bernie Booth It s a rewarding experience! For more information or to volunteer your services, contact Tom Torbert, AMOAA JROTC/ROTC Liaison, at 770-402-3715. 4
Vol. XXX, #1 AMOAA CONNECTION Military Officers Association of America If you are already a national member of MOAA, please enter your membership number on this application. Atlanta Chapter annual dues are $20.00. Surviving spouses of deceased MOAA or Atlanta Chapter members (or of any deceased individual who, if living, would be eligible for membership) are also eligible for Chapter membership. Annual dues for Surviving Spouses is $10.00. Surviving Spouses over the age of 70 are Life Members with no dues required. NAME RANK: BR/SVC STATUS oactive - oreserve - o Guard - oretired - oformer Officer osurviving Spouse osurviving Spouse over age 70 ADDRESS CITY: STATE: ZIP: HOME PHONE: OFFICE: CELL E-MAIL ADDRESS (FOR CHAPTER NEWS) DATE COMMISSIONED: SPOUSE S 1 ST NAME NATIONAL MEMBER? ono* oyes - MOAA MEMBER NUMBER: REFERRED BY: *************************************************************************************** JROTC SCHOLARSHIP AND AWARDS FUND Please help to support our chapter s annual JROTC Scholarship Fund and Achievement Awards to deserving cadets. Please enclose $5.00, $10.00, or $ *************************************************************************************** Mail this application/dues statement with your check payable to AMOAA to AMOAA PO BOX 468531 ATLANTA, GA 31146 *We strongly encourage all eligible applicants to become national members of MOAA 5
AMOAA CONNECTION Vol. XXX, #1 ATLANTA MOAA OFFICER SALUTE FORM Member Name Service Branch Service Dates to Highest Rank Attained: Conflict(s) Memorable Story (describe your most memorable military assignment, event, or crisis) Send completed form with Service Photo and Current Photo to amoaa@att.net Or Robert Certain, 3776 Loch Highland Pkwy NE, Roswell, GA 30075 Questions? Call or text Bob at 770-639-3313 6
Vol. XXX, #1 AMOAA CONNECTION The Satellite Group ended 2016 on a high note! Three chapter members (Paul Post, Hersh Webb, and Mike Nelson-Palmer) participated in the 105th Birthday Celebration for Lamar Wallace at Somerby Peachtree City on 28 November. Lamar is a WWII veteran and the oldest living Eagle Scout in the US. See photos of the event at the AMOAA website. AMOAA members had two major roles in the celebration. Hersh Webb read and Paul Post presented a Letter of Congratulations from Governor Nathan Deal and a Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GDVS) and Veterans Service Board Certificate of Appreciation from Commissioner Mike Roby to Lamar. Mike Nelson-Palmer presented Lamar with the Atlanta chapter of MOAA (AMOAA) challenge coin. There were other noteworthy attendees at the Celebration. Mike King, a Peachtree City councilman and Army retiree, and Venessa Fleisch, the Peachtree City mayor, presented a Peachtree City Proclamation in Lamar's honor. James Ruvalcaba, field representative for Representative Lynn Westmoreland and USMC retiree, presented Lamar with a flag flown over the Capital in Washington, DC and a letter from Congressman Westmoreland. Stony Lohr, Commander of VFW Post 9949 in Peachtree City and Army retiree, attended in direct support. A local Boy Scout Troop honored Lamar's Eagle Scout position with presentation of the colors and re-swearing of the Eagle Scout oath. Our first Satellite meeting will be on January 10th in Fayetteville (see page 2). We want to see you first thing in 2017! Then, right after you let Hersh Webb know that you are attending the meeting, renew your AMOAA membership by paying your 2017 dues! We want a complete and verified membership roster for 2017 to ensure that you are informed on Veteran issues and MOAA chapter programs of interest. Make a resolution this year to be active in our outstanding chapter and the South Satellite! The year ended with the 114 th Congress passing the National Defense Authorization Act and a Continuing Resolution to keep the government functioning until President-elect Trump takes charge later this month. The 115 th Congress convenes on January 3, 2017; and Donald Trump will become the 45 th President of the United States on January 20. As we went to press in mid-december, Mr. Trump was quickly naming his choices for Department Secretaries and other important Executive positions, including James Mattis (Defense), John Kelly (Homeland Security), and Georgia Congressman Tom Price (Health and Human Services), as well as naming Michael Flynn as his National Security Advisor. There were still many positions to fill, including the Departments of State and VA. Perhaps by now, those nominees will be available from other sources. As always, members of the Atlanta Chapter should keep up with legislation relating to military members, veterans and our families and engage with our Senators and Members of the House regularly to let our voices be heard. The best way to do that is through the websites of MOAA and AMOAA. 7
The AMOAA Connection is published by the Atlanta Chapter MOAA, an affiliate of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). The Connection is published monthly except for July and August. MOAA and its chapters are non-partisan and articles, opinions, and comments are solely those of the authors and do not express policy or opinion of MOAA. MOAA VISION STATEMENT Promote and protect a strong national defense and lead our Nation to honor its commitments to all who serve. MOAA MISSION STATEMENT To advocate for our community and connect it to the Nation we serve. WE NEVER STOP SERVING The Atlanta Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America is a non-profit veterans association dedicated to maintaining a strong national defense and to preserving the earned entitlements of members of the uniformed services and their families and survivors. Membership is open to anyone who holds, or has ever held, a commission or warrant in any component of the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Public Health Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and their surviving spouses. We strive to foster fraternal relations among active, reserve, National Guard, retired and former commissioned and warrant officers of the seven uniformed services. Our chapter adheres to the principles and goals of the Military Officers Association of America. The Atlanta Chapter of MOAA, Inc. P. O. Box 468531 Atlanta, GA31146 FIRST CLASS MAIL