CAPTAIN S CALL. CAPT Thomas T. Holme Jr. USN Ret

THE BUGLER Januar y 2016 Military Officers Association of America, Citrus County Post Office Box 637, Inverness, Florida 34460-0637 CAPTAIN S CALL CAPT Thomas T. Holme Jr. USN Ret Happy New Year to all. It s impossible to begin the New Year without recalling all that has happened in the past 12 months. 2015 was definitely a five star year and we will be submitting our entry for another such recognition in the next six weeks. Topping the list of achievements was 11 new members joining the Chapter. While, as is the case with many Chapters in Florida, we continue to age, our new members bring with them energy, new ideas and the youth we need to continue to make a difference in the community. This year we were able to contribute financially to organizations that make a positive difference in the lives of many in the community. K9 Partners for Patriots, The United Way and the Veterans Foundation come immediately to mind. In addition of course is the continued ability of the Bud Wise Scholarship to make a difference in the future of a JROTC Cadet. Again, Veterans in the Classroom was an extremely successful endeavor. Nearly 200 classrooms were visited not just by MOAA veterans but also by veterans from almost all the local organizations. If you haven t been a part of this yet, be sure to join us in 2016. It s really a very rewarding experience to meet with the students, especially the younger ones. As it is every year, the activities of Veterans Appreciation Week(s) are always a hit. Preparation begins in March each year as representatives of all the local Organizations meet once a month to plan for more than a dozen separate activities culminating in the Veterans Day parade and memorial ceremony that features a significant presence of our Chapter members. It s not all work, of course, and this past year included Summertime Blues at the Homosassa River Resort, the Annual Fall Picnic at RADM McLeod s house, the annual Florida Convention in St Augustine and the National Meeting in Orlando. In addition, this year s fun activities included a five day cruise to Belize City and Cozumel onboard Royal Caribbean s Independence of the Seas. 2016 promises to be just as great if not even better! Your Vice President, Merrill Schlegel, has lined up some really terrific speakers for our monthly meetings beginning with Kimberlee Tennille the Park Manager of the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park who will join us on January 14 th. Be sure to check our web site on a regular basis to stay abreast of all that is planned. And, remember that we are still looking for a web master to maintain the site. That individual can be the spouse of a member. As we begin the New Year make a resolution to build upon what has already been achieved. Join with Merrill to continue to seek out additional great programs for our monthly meetings. Join with J.J. to interview deserving candidates and make the always difficult decision as to whom the Bud Wise Scholarship will be awarded. Participate in Veterans in the Classroom both as a presenter and as a Committee Member fulfilling the requests from teachers. Tim

MOAA of Citrus County Operating Officers President: CAPT Thomas T. Holme Jr. USN (Ret) (352) 597-3884 / tholme@tampabay.rr.com V. President: LCDR Merrill Schlegel USN (Ret) (484) 354-1039 Merrill.Schlegel@1967.USNA.com Secretary: Vacant Treas: COL Thomas E. Green USA (Ret) (352) 489-7304 / gtapgreen@aol.com Legislative Officer: 1 st LT Ronald Lundberg. USA (Ret) 352-746-9502 / rjlundberg@embargmail.com Membership:Col. Mark Bodenheim. USA (RET) (352) 513-4197. / markboden@hotmail.com Chaplain: The Rev. Frederick C. Ohsiek II, Capt. USAR (352) 746-7131 / fohsiek@yahoo.com Auxiliary Liaison and MOAA Ladies President: Ms. Louise Maroc Hogberg, Auxiliary Member: (352) 637-5898 aussie90@tampabay.rr.com Newsletter Editor: Col Dianne Tiano, USAFR (Ret) (352) 201-4971/ dtiano1@tampabay.rr.com Web Master: Vacant Immediate Past President LTC Norm Cooney USA (Ret) (352) 746-1768 / Norm66@tampabay.rr.com The Members of the Board of Directors are: RADM Mac McLeod, USN (RET) CDR Gary Runyon, USN (RET) CPT Jim Eklund, USAF, ( RET) LTC Marge Blunk USA (Ret) Mrs. Barbara Lincoln LTC Benny Edney USA (Ret) CW4.Kenneth Sumners Jr. USA (Ret) MOAA, Citrus County Chapter, Inc. is affiliated with Military Officers Assoc. of America whose offices are located in Alexandria, Virginia. Florida. MOAA, Citrus County Chapter, Inc. is also a member of MOAA Florida Council of Chapters. MOAA of Citrus County is a 501 (C) 3 Not for Pofit Corporation registered in the State of Florida Our Website: INSIDE THIS ISSUE Captain s Call 1 Officers 2 Financial Report 2 Installation of Officers 3 Surviving Spouses 4-5 Membership 6-9 US Army Warrior of the Year. 10 NOVEMBER FINANCIAL REPORT General Fund Submitted By, Thomas Green, COL, USA, Ret OPENING BALANCE $ 7590.61 Receipts 494.98 Disbursements 200 Closing Balance (1) 7845.59 Community Sevice Fund Balance (2) $ 1245.72 Petty Cash Fund 1 Oct $ 19.35 No Activity WISE CD s & Interest Balance (3) $ 2469.53 ( $5209.11) Grand Total $ 11, 580.19 (1) Includes $ 2739.58 of WISE Funds (2) CSF owes General Fund $197.82 (3) Number in parentheses istotal value of Wise Fund 2

3 On December 3, 2015, the Citrus County Chapter of MOAA held its annual Installation of Officers at the Citrus Hills Golf and Country Club. Major Steven Skip Hartnett, USMC, RET, the West Central Area Vice President of the Florida Council of Chapters, conducted the swearing in Ceremony. Chapter Officers swearing in Ceremony. McLeod received Admiral $12,000 from a golf tournament sponsored by the Veterans Foundation which supports veterans of all ranks throughout the county. Both Admiral McLeod and LTC Norm Cooney are officers of this organization. Major Steven Skip Hartnett and Captain Tim Holme RADM McLeod addressing Chapter Members

4 SURVIVING SPOUSES OF MOAA The Heart Behind One Powerful Voice 2015 in Review by Kathy Prout, Surviving Spouse Advisory Committee Chair Once again, 2015 was a very busy year. Last April during the annual Council Presidents Seminar, members of the Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee (AMAC) voted to change our name to the Surviving Spouse Advisory Committee (SSAC). We believe the name change will bring a better understanding of who we are within MOAA. During the seminar, SSAC members also participated in Storming the Hill and advocated on issues that impact active duty and retired servicemembers and their survivors and families. Our advocacy efforts focused on: 1. Active duty military compensation 2. TRICARE increases 3. Concurent receipt of military retired pay and VA disability compensation; and The Survivor Benefit Plan/Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (SBP/DIC) offset In October 2015, during MOAA s 2015 annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., the committee s name change became official. The AMAC is now the SSAC. Council and chapter leaders should note that their auxiliary members now should be classified and identified as surviving spouses. The Levels of Excellence Award dinner also was held during the 2015 annual meeting. The awards dinner started with the presentation of the 2015 Auxiliary Liaison/Surviving Spouse Excellence Award to Joan Perry, Surviving Spouse Liaison (SSL) for the Grand Strand (S.C.) Chapter, who was recognized for her outstanding efforts to support surviving spouses and her volunteer work. She beat out seven other outstanding nominees. Last year, SSAC members worked to increase the number of SSLs in MOAA s councils and chapters. Forty-one new SSLs were added, with the goal to have surviving spouse representation in every council and chapter. On the legislative front, SSAC members again focused on eliminating the SBP/DIC offset. At press time, bills to eliminate the SBP/DIC offset, H.R.1594 with 170 cosponsors and S.979 with 12 cosponsors, were stalled in the House and Senate Armed Services committees. On Dec. 11, 2015, MOAA s Director of Government Relations Col. Steve Strobridge, USAF (Ret), testified before the House Armed Services military personnel subcommittee on the SBP/DIC offset. (Read, MOAA to Congress: Repeal Widows Tax. ) To drum up additional support, SSAC Chair Kathy Prout started a petition on Change.org to increase public awareness and support for eliminating the SBP/DIC offset. The petition is titled, Stop denying earned survivor benefits to military surviving spouses. Many MOAA council and chapter presidents and our SSLs already have signed and shared the petition, which contains nearly 75,000 signatures and will be sent to every member of Congress. If you haven t done so already, please sign and share the petition with your family, friends, and fellow council and chapter members. SSAC members also developed a resource list of organizations that support military surviving spouses, surviving children, and caregivers. If you know of an organization that s not included on the resource list, please email that information to auxcom@moaa.org.

5 ANNOUNCEMENTS WOMEN of MOAA 1. The Women of MOAA will host their annual joint Potluck luncheon- 11:30 Thursday,January 28, 2016 at the Women s Club, 1715 Forest Drive, Inverness. Please bring a potluck to share and BYOB. Our guest speaker will be Kim Menster, from Citrus County Veterans Service Office. We will need help setting up Wednesday, 27 at 10:00 am at the Women s Club. Please contact Agnes Kearns wkearns@tampabay.rr.com 352-344-8368 RSVP Louise Aussie90@tampabay.rr.com 2. Formerly MOAA defined auxiliary members as the survivors of former national MOAA members who are deceased or who are the survivors of deceased individuals who would, if living, be eligible for membership. These members now will be classified as Surviving Spouses. Affiliate leaders should incorporate this change in their publications, websites and officer rosters. *Please note the new star logo, which was chosen by the Surviving Spouse Advisory Committee as the new Survivor Logo. This change accompanies the name change from auxiliary to surviving spouse. ** The selection criteria and nomination form for the Surviving Spouse Advisory Committee is now up on the Website. For those interested, the nomination form is due no later than January 29, 2016.

6 MOAA Membership Corner MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN SECTION Mark Bodenheim, COL, USA I hope all of our members had a blessed holiday season. I will continue to have new biographies from our new 2015 members for future Bugler issues. With our thoughts turned to the New Year, I wanted to start with some facts that were given to us from the late October MOAA National Convention in Orlando, FL. In our Council and Chapter system we now have: 1. Over 390,000 members 2. 31 Councils 3. 411 Chapters 4. 16 Satellite Chapters 5. 25,000 new email addresses gained over three years 6. 2000 new chapter members recruited in 2015 7. 164 Levels of Excellence Award winners for 2014. Thank you all for being a part of the Citrus County Chapter in 2015. Here are 2015 facts for our chapter: 1. 11 new members 2. Received Five Star Level of Excellence Award for 2014 3. New chapter website hosted on the Florida Council of Chapters website. 4. Retention of at least 95% of previous year s membership (MOAA national rules exempt member deaths or member moves against the retention numbers).

7 LOCAL CHAPTER DUES FOR 2016 It is that time of year for paying chapter dues. From 1 January through 15 April, you are required to pay your chapter dues to retain your local chapter membership. In addition to the national MOAA organization which represents our members in Washington DC, your local chapter membership supports the following: 1. Local and state political representation for Citrus County veterans of all ranks. 2. JR ROTC Scholarships 3. Comradery If you did not pay 2016 dues in 2015, you will receive an email in early January from me stating that you are required to pay 2016 dues. If you do not receive an email from me, your 2016 dues have been paid. Many members pay their dues for multiple years in advance and you are encouraged to do so if that method fits your needs. In 2016, our chapter members will be able to pay their dues online the same way your purchase goods from Amazon online using a credit or debit card. National MOAA has created an enhanced version of the online chapter dues payment system which also includes the ability to pay for scholarship programs at the same time. This program was supposed to be online in mid-december but we have learned it will not be online until an unknown date in January. If you would like to pay your dues and scholarship funds online, receive an email notification of your payment, and eliminate using stamps/envelopes, then wait until I notify the membership that this dues option is available online. That is all I have for now. Mark Bodenheim MOAA Citrus County Membership Chairman. Never Stop Serving

8 DUES PAYMENT COUPON Dues are $15.00 per year for regular members and $6.00 per year for auxiliary members. The dues are to be paid during the month of January each year. If you have a national MOAA local chapter dues voucher, this must be mailed to the chapter in order to receive credit for the dues. Dues are delinquent on April 1 st of each year. Late dues reminders will be sent by email in February and also in March of each year. Mail dues to: MOAA Citrus County Chapter PO Box 637 Lecanto, FL 34460-0637 Please consider supporting the Bud Wise Scholarship fund as well as the Community Service Fund at the same time you pay your annual dues. Clearly mark on your check and dues payment coupon how much you want for each dues and contribution item. Dues X( number of years) X ($15.00 or $6.00)... Contribution to the Bud Wise Scholarship. Contribution to the Community Service Fund Total

9 MOAA CITRUS COUNTY CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION NATIONAL MOAA MEMBERSHIP NUMBER: LIFE MEMBER? YES NO LAST NAME FIRST NAME PREFERRED NICKNAME IF ANY: ADDRESS CITY: STATE: ZIP CODE: - EMAIL ADDRESS: @ TELEPHONE: ( ) - DATE OF BIRTH: (MM/DD/YYYY) / / STATUS (CHECK ONE): AUXILIARY ACTIVE FORMER RETIRED SERVICE (CHECK ONE): NOAA U.S. ARMY U.S. AIR FORCE U.S. COAST GUARD USPHS U.S. NAVY U.S. MARINES SERVICE COMPONENT : ACTIVE RESERVE NATIONAL GUARD RANK: MOAA MEMBER SPOUSE NAME (IF ANY) FIRST LAST PREFERRED SPOUSE NICKNAME IF ANY: PLEASE CHECK TYPE OF MOAA CITRUS COUNTY MEMBERSHIP YOUR ARE APPLYING FOR (CHECK ONE ONLY): REGULAR MEMBERSHIP(Retired, Former or Active Duty Officer, Warrant Officer or Limited Duty Officer of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, NOAA or Public Health Service) AUXILIARY MEMBERSHIP(Surviving spouse of eligible officer) MOAA CITRUS COUNTY CHAPTER ANNUAL DUES*: Regular Membership: $15/Auxiliary Membership: $6

10 US ARMY S BEST WARRIOR Staff Sgt Andrew Fink, a local from Lecanto, has been named the U.S Army s Best Warrior. For the fourth time in nine years, a U.S. Army Reserve Soldier has been named the U.S. Army s Best Warrior. Staff Sgt. Andrew Fink, a healthcare specialist with the 409th Area Support Medical Company, 807th Medical Command (Deployment Support), was named the U.S. Army Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, on Oct. 12, 2015, after competing in the week long Best Warrior competition held at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. Staff Sgt Fink is the second U.S. Army Reserve NCO to claim the title in the last three years. Originally from Minnesota, His parents have lived in Lecanto for 10 years. Staff Sgt Fink earned his spot at the Armylevel competition after winning the U.S. Army Reserve Best Warrior competition at Fort Bragg, N.C., in May, 2015. Staff SGT Fink and fellow U.S. Army Reserve Soldier, Spc. Bryce Parker, with the U.S. Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations (Airborne), competed with 24 other Warriors, representing 13 Army commands at the competition. He said this year s competition had a few surprises: We did a prone, unsupported zero with our M4 rifles, Fink said. Typically, every soldier is used to zeroing in the prone, supported position so that was a little surprising. In another lane we had to crawl through a tunnel system, gather some intelligence the commander wanted, then they called, Gas! Gas! Gas! so we had to put on our protective mask and then file our report on what we had observed. He said the scenarios they encountered throughout the competition were incredible and he praised the AWG (Asymmetric Warfare Group) for testing and training us. Before coming to the U.S. Army Reserve, Staff Sgt Fink deployed to Afghanistan as a combat medic with the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, serving in a reconnaissance platoon. Being a Ranger and serving in the Ranger Battalion has prepared me to be a Soldier and a leader, Staff Sgt Fink said. He also commended Maj. Lisa Jaster, the first U.S. Army Reserve female Ranger who graduated from the Ranger school. Those lessons learned through all that tough, realistic training that you get in Ranger school really enables you to be a leader in a complex world, Staff Sgt Fink said. I know she ll feel the same way. Now serving as an Active Guard and Reserve Soldier, Staff Sgt Fink said competing in Best Warrior was a way to set an example for others in his unit. I wanted to show my young Soldiers that if you make a plan, train hard, set goals, and focus on your mission, you can accomplish anything, Fink said. Staff Sgt Fink s military service is a continuation of his family s history of military service. His father, Thomas, served as an infantryman with the D Troop, 1st Aviation Brigade, 17th Cavalry Division in Vietnam in 1972. Thomas grandfather served in World War I and he had three uncles serve in World War II, including one who was captured by the Germans in Anzio, Italy and was able to escape. With both of us combat veterans, it s a special bond we can share, Staff Sgt Fink said. I m extremely proud that I m able to carry on that tradition. His mother, Karen, said Andrew is naturally smart, really quick and dedicated. He keeps himself physically fit at all times. His father, Thomas, said. He has a lot of heart and is very determined. When he wants something, he just goes for it. He s very focused and really gives it his all. We are so very proud of him.