The Star Spangled Banner Chapter BALTIMORE JANUARY 2013 *** NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER MEETING HIGHLIGHTS Christopher Daniel Restaurant, Timonium, was the venue attended by 24 members and spouses on November 13. Our newly acquired flag was proudly on display after it had been flown over Fort McHenry on Veterans Day, November 11, 2012. (See photo on right above.) In that spirit the membership voted to change officially our chapter name to The Star Spangled Banner Chapter of MOAA. Nominating Committee Chair, CDR Wally Dann, announced a slate of officers and directors to serve for two year terms (2013-2014), which slate was duly elected. Officers President CAPT Michael J. DeHaemer, USN (Ret) First Vice Pres LtCol James M. Shelley USA Second Vice Pres COL William R. Everett USA(Ret) Directors At Large VADM James A. Sagerholm USN (Ret) Navy CDR Wallace Dann USN (Ret) 1
Secretary -- Maj Ernest W. Shultz, USAF (Ret) Treasurer CWO5 Richard F. Jordan USA (Ret) Air Force- LtCol Charles B. Meyer USAF(Ret) Army COL Thomas K. Seybold USA (Ret) USMC-- Maj William S. Shea USMC (Ret) USPHS CAPT Charles Wanner USPHS(Ret) Sergeant Goodson of the Maryland 5 th Militia of Fort McHenry in 1814 captivated the meeting with animated tales of the Battle of Baltimore, anecdotes of militia life, and challenging historic trivia. In real life the sergeant was our past Chapter Vice President, CWO2 Jeff Goodson USA (Ret), who appeared in authentic uniform black shako with a wide red band and plume, white trousers, and a red-trimmed, dark blue tunic with a sergeant s epaulet on the right shoulder. Jeff s enthusiasm for the subject delighted everyone, clearly showing his calling to teach, as he closes in on a history Ph.D. As appreciation from the chapter, Mike DeHaemer presented Jeff with an inscribed miniature bust of Francis Scott Key and best wishes as Jeff will soon take up a civilian assignment with the US Army in Germany. 2
2013 EVENTS **** Mark Your Calendars! FEBRUARY 12, 2013. Celebrate Lincoln s Birthday with your Valentine! Lunch and social meeting at Fort McHenry Visitors Center 11.30 am until 2.00 pm. ENTERTAINMENT AND LUNCH at fixed price of $29/per person. Come at 11.30 to enjoy a glass of wine. Lunch at noon, then THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER AND ALL ITS COUSINS By the New Old Theater of Baltimore. Followed by a brief ceremony for installation of officers and an optional behind the scenes tour of the Fort McHenry visitors center. RESERVATIONS: please send the form attached to the newsletter by February 5. Space is limited. INFORMATION: Mike DeHaemer, 443 695 4741. MARCH 24, 2013. SUNDAY BRUNCH at TOBY S DINNER THEATER. Enjoy the production of The Wiz. Details will be forthcoming. APRIL 16, 2013. Regular meeting at 6.00 pm, Christopher Daniel Restaurant. Special program by Baltimore author, Ramsey Flynn. Mr. Flynn will discuss his research and findings of the lost Russian submarine Kursk...and be pleased to sign copies of his book Cry from the Deep. His access to officials and the families of the lost sailors and his reconstruction of events are extraordinary. PRESIDENT S MESSAGE Heartiest best wishes to all Star Spangled Banner Chapter members and families for a happy and prosperous New Year! Any many thanks to all the folks who have kept the chapter going throughout the past year. We had our own cliff to get over this year, didn t we? Thank you, also, to the officers, directors, and other supporters who have stepped up to continue serving our chapter for 2013 and 2014. We now have some excellent meeting and social programs lined up for the coming year, and hope we can expand activities to support our communities, our veterans, and our national defense. We will celebrate the chapter s 50 th anniversary in 2014. As the U.S. military participation in Afghanistan diminishes and then ends in 2014 and with some draw down in military manpower across the board, our country will see more than 100,000 additional veterans entering the civilian job market. It will be important for all of us to help with this truly large transition. Let me know if you can help in some way resume editing, practice interviews,..especially hiring and providing job leads. 3
If you know someone in transition to civilian life, please advise them of this upcoming job fair in our area sponsored by the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). 2013 SAME TRANSITION WORKSHOP & JOB FAIR February 7-8, 2013 Embassy Suites BWI Airport Linthicum, Maryland Veterans: FREE; REGISTER at www.same.org/transition RESUMES to ntyson@same.org by January 25, 2013 Financially our chapter is in good condition, ending the year with $2735.71 in our bank account. We are very pleased to welcome the following eleven new members to our chapter. National MOAA has announced 2013 as the year to enlarge local chapter membership as the key to sustaining the levers of pressure at all levels to sustain the MOAA mission. E memberships for active duty and younger officers will be offered this year as well as programs to encourage more chapter participation. New Members since November 1, 2012 LTC Charles Blomquist USA COL Howard Bond USA COL Sheila R. Bowman USA CDR Daniel F. Demaso USN MAJ William Fox USA MAJ Brian Gallagher USAF LTC Wayne P. Hunt USA CDR Thomas A. MacLean USN(MC) MAJ Allen Glen Russell USA CPT Monique Smith USA CAPT Henry Spangler USN Notes and News from the Editor Not to dampen the holiday spirit, but to keep us fiscally sound, you will find a dues notice and return dues envelope addressed to our treasurer, Dick Jordan. Please, before this package is pigeon-holed in the today later file, fill in the information called for on the dues notice and mail it along with your check for $15.00. Since we need to straighten out a few errors in our records, please be sure and provide the updated address, email, and phone information. And if you make your check out for $20, we will send $5 along to the MOAA Scholarship Fund. It fills your editor s heart with gladness to know that members do read and appreciate the Newsletters. Major Leo Geleta s wife wrote this note on their Christmas card: Leo enjoys keeping up on the activities of the chapter by way of the newsletter. Wishful thinking that he could be there. 4
The State Department of Assessments and Taxation, Charter Division, has given us preliminarily right to change our name. The articles of amendment to accomplish this change have been filed. Officially we will be The Star Spangled Banner Chapter of MOAA. Our Chapter Website: for officer contact information, past newsletters, and announcements. http://www.mdmoaa.org/baltimore.htm Looking Forward to the February Meeting at Fort McHenry. Newsletter Production President CAPT Mike DeHaemer USN (Ret) Editor and Producer: CDR Wally Dann (Ret) Distribution: LtCol: Charles R. Meyer USAF (Ret) 5