1 The Red Tail Report News about the Air Force Association Volume 7, Number 3 Red Tail Memorial Chapter 136 Ocala, Florida September 2017 President s Message We have completed our third quarter activities for the year. Vice President Ben Langer and his wife Zee and myself and my wife Lucy attended the Air Force Association State Convention at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa on July 14th and 15th. Ben Langer was elected State Secretary for the next two years and Anthony Arnold was chosen as our Chapter Member of the Year. Congratulations to Ben and Anthony. One of the main topics that was discussed was the changes to the membership that will take effect starting in January including new pricing. Newly elected U.S. Congressman Daniel Webster came to our August meeting. Approximately 35 people came to meet and hear his comments on August 17th. A special thanks goes to our Vice President of Government Affairs Anthony Arnold who worked with the Congressman s staff to arrange his visit. Congressman Webster is now an honorary member of our chapter. Our September meeting was cancelled because of Hurricane Irma. There was too much destruction of our area and some of our members had damage and no power. I hope everyone affected by the storm are in good health. We will celebrate the Air Force's 70th birthday with a cake at our October 19th meeting. All members are welcome to attend. Howard Burke UPCOMING EVENTS October 7 Quarterly Memorial Ceremony, Marion County Veterans Park, 1000 October 19 Chapter 136 monthly meeting, Ocala Airport (Sheltair Bldg), 1900 November 10 Veterans Day Celebration (MCPS), Marion County Veterans Park, 1100 November 18 Don Harrison Foundation 5km and 10 km runs, Marion County Veterans Park, 0730 December 16 Wreaths Across America, Highland Memorial Park, 1200
2017 FLORIDA STATE AFA CONVENTION MacDill AFB, FL, July 14-15 2 Brig Gen Robert Armfield, Vice Director, Strategy, Plans, and Policy, USCENTCOM, addresses the attendees at the convention. Howard and Lucy (left) listen to a briefing at the Cyber Command Center on Saturday. Zee, Ben, Lucy, and Howard (l - r) listen to presentations at the business meeting.
CHAPTER 136 AUGUST MEETING 3 Congressman Daniel Webster speaks at the Ocala Airport to members and guests of AFA Chapter 136. Congressman Webster presents a U.S. flag flown over the U.S. Capitol for Chapter 136. Congressman Webster thanks Anthony Arnold before leaving. Flag certificate presented to Chapter 136.
4 Marion County Veterans Council, Sep 21, 2017 September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Joshua Lewis wanted to be in the military but was diagnosed with Leukemia. Family friend Cookie (AF veteran) made a proposal to the Veterans Council on his behalf. Honorary presentation by members of the Marion County Veterans Council to cancer victim Joshua Lewis. (standing l r) Cookie, Joshua s mother, Joshua Lewis, Commissioner David Lewis. A video was made by WCJB-TV and can be found at http://www.wcjb.com/content/news/leukemia-survivor-honored-by-veterans-in-marion- County--446592673.html. Howard congratulated Chapter Member of the Year Anthony Arnold at the July monthly meeting.
AIR SPACE AND CYBER CONFERENCE 5 The AFA Air Space and Cyber Conference was just held in National Harbor, MD from September 19-21, 2017. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis was the keynote speaker. Audio and video recordings of all presentations can be found at https://www.afa.org/airspacecyber/conference2017/recordings.
FLORIDA NUMBER ONE! As reported in the Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Times, and Florida Trend (according to personal-finance site WalletHub), Florida is the most friendly state for retired veterans. WalletHub s analysis in May of 2017 compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia using 22 key indicators of retirement-friendliness toward veterans. WalletHub used three main categories: economic environment, quality of life and healthcare. Best States for Military Retirees 6 Overall Rank State Total Score Economic Environment Rank Quality of Life Rank Health Care Rank 1 Florida 63.74 8 2 4 2 Montana 62.12 24 7 1 3 New Hampshire 59.83 2 3 29 4 Wyoming 59.40 27 5 3 5 South Carolina 57.93 10 1 27 6 Alaska 57.18 3 12 32 7 Maine 57.06 5 6 33 8 Texas 55.76 7 43 8 9 Arizona 55.20 12 18 17 10 Virginia 55.12 6 8 43 AFA's #70for70 Social Media Campaign In celebration of the Air Force s 70th Birthday, AFA has been highlighting individuals who have made significant contributions to the Air Force and aerospace industry through our #70for70 social media campaign, generously sponsored by Harris Corp...Read More.
Red Tail Memorial Chapter 136 Officers PRESIDENT Howard Burke 12550 SW 43rd St Road Ocala FL 34481 352-861-0886 Hstoneyb24@embarqmail.com EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Ben Langer 4005 N Hatchet Cir Beverly Hills FL 34465 352-527-2729 BenALanger@aol.com SECRETARY-TREASURER Jerry Deese 6185 NE 25th Ave Ocala FL 34479 352-622-2961 jdeese04@gmail.com Appointed Officers Vice President, Aerospace Education Michael Hare 8681 SW 89th Lane Gainesville FL 32608 352-870-5867 michaelhare@cox.net Communication Ben Langer 4005 N Hatchet Cir Beverly Hills FL 34465 352-527-2729 BenALanger@aol.com Civil Air Patrol Paul Blystone 4451 NW 130th Ave Ocala FL 34482 352-401-1825 pblystone@embarqmail.com Membership Howard Burke 12550 SW 43rd St Road Ocala FL 34481 352-861-0886 hstoneyb24@embarqmail.com 7 Veterans Affairs Steve Spires 5800 SW 89th Pl Ocala FL 34476 352-873-6159 sspires1@cox.net Photo by SSgt Staci Miller. Government Affairs Anthony Arnold 35130 Baker Blvd Webster FL 33597 352-593-8512 usafvietnam@juno.com
8 President: Executive VP: Secretary: Treasurer: AFA State Officers William (Bill) Yucuis 2225 Nottingham Drive Sun City, FL 33573 yucuisb@yahoo.com C 407-256-4089 Sharon Branch 7927 Westminister Abbey Blvd Orlando, FL 32835-5957 jsbranch@cfl.rr.com H 407-432-8504 Susan Ault-Davis 3153 Club Drive Miramar Beach, FL 32550 suzan11111@cox.net R 850-424-6600 C 850 865-7474 Gary Lehmann 1451 Twin Leaf Lane Oviedo, FL 32765 glehmann5@hotmail.com C 701-340-9655 Immediate Past President Dann Mattiza Ft Walton Beach, FL FLAFA-dann@cox.net The Air Force Association Mission 1. Educate the public about the critical role of aerospace power in the defense of our nation. 1. Advocate aerospace power and a strong national defense. 2. Support the United States Air Force, the Air Force family, and aerospace education. It s a Fact: Red Tail Memorial Chapter 136 draws members from eight counties: Citrus, Alachua, Marion, Sumter, Dixie, Levy and parts of Lake and Putnam. It is not necessary to be an Air Force veteran. Tell your friends to contact Howard Burke, 352-861-0886 for information about joining. The Red Tail Report is a quarterly newsletter published by Red Tail Memorial Chapter 136 of the Air Force Association, Howard L. Burke, 12550 SW 43rd St Road, Ocala FL 34481, 352-861-0886, president; Stephen Spires, 5800 SW 89 th Pl. Ocala, FL 34476, 352-873-6159, editor. The Red Tail Report is distributed electronically and upon request on paper via USPS. Power Points Next Membership Meeting. 7 p.m. Thursday, October 19; Ocala/Sheltair Airport Building conference room. Members are urged to attend. Guests are welcome. Membership. As of July 18, the Red Tail Memorial Chapter 136 had 470 members. Howard Burke, 352-861-0886, is the chapter s membership director.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS Red Tail Memorial Chapter 136 salutes its Community Partners. The Air Force Association enjoys a warm relationship with the following businesses through its Community Partners program. Please support these community partner businesses. 9 Scott Cameron Insurance (State Farm) 5355 SW College Road Ocala, 34474 WIN Limited, Inc. 352-476-3417 Rob s Hobby World 8602 SW Highway 200 Ocala FL 34481 352-854-2799 Mail Marketing Pros 2324 NE 8th Rd, Ocala, FL 34470 (352) 229-2500 http://www.mailmarketingpros.com DeLuca Toyota 1719 SW College Rd Ocala, FL 352-732-0770 Ocala Oncology Center Florida Cancer Affiliates 433 SW 10th St, Ocala, FL 34471 (855) 858-7885 Chiropractic USA of Jasmine Square Dr. Renny Edelson Dr. Christopher Pell 7668 SW 60th Ave #500, Ocala, FL (352) 346-2523 Dr. Anwar Khan Alliance Medical Associates Board Certified Internal Medicine Phone: (352) 622-7268 1800 SE 17th St, Bldg 800 10969 SE 175th Place Ocala, FL Suite 200, Summerfield FL Would you like to become an Air Force Association member or community partner? You will be supporting an association that supports airpower, the U.S. Air Force, its mission and personnel worldwide. If you or your business would like to become a member of the AFA or community partner, contact Howard Burke, 352-861-0886.
Red Tail Memorial Chapter 136 Air Force Association 12550 SW 43rd St Road Ocala, FL 34481 U.S. postage required 10