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March Luncheon
Wednesday, March 14 Meat Lasagna/Garlic Bread
11:30 PM, $15/person Eisenhower Rec Center
Officers’ Call
Newsletter of the Lake & Sumter Counties Chapter Military Officers Association of America
March 2018
President’s Message CAPT Paul Hauser, USN (Ret)
Officers
President CAPT Paul Hauser, USN (Ret)
Past President Lt Col Wayne Brown, USAF (Ret) First VP LTC Don Hansen, USA (Ret) Second VP Maj. Russ Masters, USAF (Ret) Treasurer
CWO4 Pete Rector, USN (Ret) Secretary
LTC Steve Rule, USAR (Ret) Chaplain
LTC Herbert Siegel, USA (Ret) Legislative Liaison Lt Col Bob Bienvenue, USAF (Ret) Personal Affairs (Acting) Lt Col Wayne Brown, USAF (Ret) Community Affairs
LTC William Gearing, USA (Ret) Surviving Spouse Liaison
Susan Carlsson
Newsletter Marty Brown
Web Site: www.lakesumtermoaa.org
Information: [email protected]
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Mailing Address: Lake & Sumter Counties Chapter – MOAA P O Box 666 Lady Lake, FL 32158-0666
For reservations, go to http://www.lakesumtermoaa.org/get_Calendar_details.cfm?Calendarid=20&sku=moaa_lake7 or contact Tim or Annette Balliett at [email protected] or 352-728-2945, by Noon Monday, March 12th.
I hope everyone’s winter is passing quickly. Warm up, cool down seems to be getting a little old. The weather people from Orlando seem to like this cold weather. I don’t know about you, but I moved to Florida to stay warm all year long. After a lifetime of putting on sweaters, I’ve had enough of them and would prefer the days in the 80’s. We have an interesting presentation this month given by MG Rita Broadway of our Chapter on the Army Reserves role in the National Defense Strategy. Their changing mission over the last few years has had a significant impact on all facets of the Reserve and she will be how they prepare for their mission. Should be interesting… I didn’t get any takers on helping with the golf tournament, but I’m not done asking…we really do need some more help so if you want to help us get ready for the only fund raiser of the year please email me at [email protected] It is also the time for getting the wine bottles for the wine baskets. Those baskets were very successful last year and I’m asking everyone to please donate a couple of bottles of wine for this year’s auction. Please bring them to the meeting this month so we can start putting the wine baskets together. One of the problems with having to move the Tournament to late August is we will not be meeting the three months before the Tournament. We need to collect all the items between now and the middle of May so please bring them to the meeting.
Lake & Sumter Counties Chapter MOAA March 2018 Page 2
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President’s Message, (Continued)
Editorial Policy
MOAA is the nation's largest and most influential association of military officers. It is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization. It is our Chapter responsibility to adhere to MOAA standards in all regards.
This newsletter is a publication of the Lake and Sumter Counties Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America. It is intended for wide distribution to all MOAA members in Lake, Sumter and Marion Counties, Florida. Opinions expressed by writers are their own, and may not express the positions of national MOAA.
Input for Officers’ Call, including text and pictures, can be emailed to the editor: Marty Brown [email protected].
Veterans’ Memorial Park The Villages, FL
Scheduled Events for 2018
29 March (Thursday) @ 10:00 AM
Vietnam Veterans Day
15 May (Tuesday) @ 10:00 AM
Peace Officers Memorial
19 May (Saturday) @ 10:00 AM
Armed Forces Day
28 May (Monday) @ 10:00 AM
Memorial Day
14 June (Thursday) @ 10:00 AM
Flag Day
4 July (Wednesday) @ 10:00 AM
Independence Day
27 July (Friday) @ 10:00 AM
Korean War Armistice
21 Sept (Friday) @ 10:00 AM
POW/MIA Recognition Day
11 Nov (Sunday) @ 2:00 PM
Veterans Day
7 Dec (Friday) @ 10:00 AM
Pearl Harbor Day
Last month I showed everyone in attendance one of the Remembrance sign’s. Last year we used Dick Colt’s father as our example at the meetings. This year we are using Capt. Stan Adams, USAF as our “Poster Poster”. If you are interested in Stan’s story ask Wayne Brown who is the sponsor, but my point in this is it is now time to order your signs (new or renew). We will have forms at the meeting if you want to purchase for this year’s tournament. I hope to have the ability to purchase through the website soon and will send out a link as soon as it is available.
Now is the time to make your reservation for our meeting this month. The meeting will be Wednesday March 14th starting at 11:30 in the Eisenhower Rec Center. The menu for the meal is Meat lasagna (fresh ground beef baked with layers of pasta, plenty of mozzarella and topped with a fresh provolone and served with garlic bread.) The vegetarian option will be vegetarian lasagna. As always you can make your reservation by calling or emailing Tim and Annette Balliett at (352) 728-2945 or [email protected] or by going to the website http://www.lakesumtermoaa.org/view-calendar and clicking on the link for the Lunch Meeting.
We are starting to have a number of “no shows” at our monthly meetings. Normally that would not be an issue but we are ordering food for everyone and it is costing us more than the $15.00 that we are charging for each meal. Last month we had 8 no shows which is an extra $150 and at the meeting there were more people asking for vegetarian meals than those who ordered them. If you are unable to attend the meeting we need to know 48 hours in advance in order to cancel the meals. We will be better in the future identifying those who want vegetarian meals to ensure that only those people get them so please be careful and order what you want.
I hope to see you at the meeting this month, Paul
Chapter Shirts & Name Tags
3451 Wedgewood Lane The Villages, Tel 352-750-1600
Lake & Sumter Counties Chapter MOAA March 2018 Page 3
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O GUARDIAN OF LIFE AND LIBERTY, MAY OUR NATION ALWAYS MERIT YOUR PROTECTION.
TEACH US TO GIVE THANKS FOR WHAT WE HAVE BY SHARING IT WITH THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED.
KEEP OUR EYES OPEN TO THE WONDERS OF CREATION, AND ALERT TO THE CARE OF THE EARTH.
MAY WE NEVER BE LAZY IN THE WORK OF PEACE; MAY WE HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN DEFENSE OF OUR IDEALS.
GRANT OUR LEADERS WISDOM AND FORBEARANCE.
MAY THEY GOVERN WITH JUSTICE AND COMPASSION.
HELP US ALL TO APPRECIATE ONE ANOTHER, AND TO RESPECT THE MANY WAYS THAT WE MAY SERVE YOU.
MAY OUR HOMES BE SAFE FROM AFFLICTION AND STRIFE, AND OUR COUNTRY BE SOUND IN BODY AND SPIRIT.
AMEN.
Chaplain’s Prayer LTC Herbert Siegel, USA (Ret)
2018-2019 Chapter Board Takes the Oath at the February Luncheon
Elected in November 2017, the Lake & Sumter Counties Board of Directors was sworn in at the February 2018 meeting. Officiating at the ceremony was chapter member, Lt. Col. Wayne Brown, USAF (Ret), Mid-Central Area Vice President for the Florida Council of Chapters. (Far right) Left to right: Secretary
LTC Steve Rule, USAR (Ret) Second VP Maj. Russ Masters, USAF (Ret) First VP LTC Don Hansen, USA (Ret) President CAPT Paul Hauser, USN (Ret) (Not in Photo) Treasurer
CWO4 Pete Rector, USN (Ret)
Click above to see what’s going on in the state!
Lake & Sumter Counties Chapter MOAA March 2018 Page 4
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Last Chance to Renew Membership Lt Col Wayne G Brown, USAF (Ret), Membership Chairman, Immediate Past President
Community Affairs LTC William Gearing, USA (Ret), Community Affairs Liaison
Habitat for Humanity of Lake – Sumter is seeking qualifying veterans for its last two homes in the Veterans Village community in Umatilla. The two-bedroom, two-bath and three-bedroom, two-bath homes both have beautiful views of Lake Enola and access to multiple veteran-based services that have partnered with Habitat and the community. To qualify, applicants must be a resident of or be employed in either Lake or Sumter County for at least six months, have a qualifying income and be willing to interact and volunteer with Habitat employees and volunteers. For details go to habitatls.org/programs/home-ownership or call Samantha at 352-483-0434.
Additionally, Habitat is having a Hard Hat Happy Hour on Friday, March 2, 2018 from 5:00 – 6:30 pm at the Veterans Village in Umatilla. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails with project donors, Habitat board members, and Veterans Village homeowners. The address is 112 Turtle Run, Umatilla. Attire is business casual. For reservations call Shari at 352-483-0434 ext 118.
A WWII Commemorative Weekend will take place at Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, 7200 County Road 603 in Bushnell on 3 and 4 March from 10 am to 5 pm. With reenactments, authentic camps, equipment, military vehicles, weapons demonstrations and food vendors. Cost is $3/person and all WWII veterans free. Call 352-793-4781.
The Ocklawaha Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will host local history buff Benjamin Mack-Jackson as the guest speaker and honor 96-year-old WWII veteran Priscilla Getchell with a Quilt of Valor at the group’s April 14 meeting. Getchell is a WWII WAVES veteran who trained Navy pilots during the war using the military’s earliest flight instrument trainer. The meeting will be at 10 am at St. Edwards Episcopal Church, 460 Grandview St. in Mount Dora. For details, call June Perry at 352-589-5855 or email [email protected].
PLEASE READ -- Last Chance to Renew Membership for 2018
As of the first of March our chapter has 228 registered members, which is great. The bad news is, 44 of these members have yet to renew their membership for 2018. March 31 is the cutoff date when members not renewed will be removed from our roster. PLEASE DON’T BE ONE OF THEM!
We have been very successful in recruiting new members, being the top chapter in our size category in the country four years in a row. I would like to see the same success in retaining members year after year. I would hope that our chapter activities and our newsletter make it worth the cost of annual chapter membership. A lot of effort goes into trying to keep you informed on issues that require our unified support.
Regular member dues are $20, a Surviving Spouse member dues are $10, and members who have achieved age 90 are Life Members without dues.
I will be sending a personal email to those who show not paid for 2018 on our roster. If you receive this message and think you have paid, or perhaps have met the age 90 milestone, please contact me by email or phone. Otherwise, I would greatly appreciate your renewal. Checks may be made payable to MOAA and mailed to MOAA, PO Box 666, Lady Lake, FL 32158. If you are not sure, call or email me.
And to those of you who are paid members for 2018, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!
I hope I can report in the April newsletter that we have a very high retention percentage.
[email protected] (336) 601-1317
Lake & Sumter Counties Chapter MOAA March 2018 Page 5
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Legislative Update Bob Bienvenue, Lt Col, USAF (Ret) Legislative Liaison, Lake & Sumter Counties Chapter – MOAA
MOAA Legislative Update: http://www.moaa.org/takeaction/?tab=Legislative-Action-Center#Legislative-Action-Center
On February 9th Congress passed a 6th Continuing Resolution that included fully funding Defense and established new spending levels for the remainder of FY 2018 and for FY 2019 thereby avoiding sequester caps for the next year and a half. However, appropriations bills for all the non-defense elements of the government must be addressed or a seventh CR will be necessary by March 23rd. Despite a successful vote taken on January 30th for the Defense Appropriations measure there were many congressmen and senators that voted against the budget agreement that included that spending. Those against passing that CR and the authority to spend the monies allocated in the Defense Appropriations act included the Congressman from District 11, here in Sumter, Citrus and Hernando counties … Daniel Webster. Here is his complete voting record on those 6 CRs:
Nat’l Defense Appropriation
Act Continuing Resolution Votes
Red Fill indicates changed/ inconsistent from previous votes
Jan 30th Sep 6th
Dec 7th
Dec 21st
Jan 18th
Jan 22nd Feb 9th
HR 695 Note 5
HR 601
Note 1
HJRes 123
HR 1370
Note 2
HR 195
Note 3
HR 195 as
Amended by
Senate
HR 1982
Note 4
Yea No
Vote Yea Yea Yea Yea No R Webster, Daniel FL 11th
NOTE 1: In an unusual turn of events, all 90 NAY votes on this Bill were from Republicans. Similarly, in the Senate all 17 NAYs were cast by Republicans. This vote was taken during Hurricane Irma resulting in 15 members of the Florida delegation Not Voting.
NOTE 2: This Bill extends the Continuing Resolution until January 19th. The provision in the initial version of this Bill to provide a full year of funding for Defense was pulled by House Leadership before the vote amid backlash from both defense hawks and conservatives.
NOTE 3: This Bill extends the Continuing Resolution until February 16, 2018, the fourth Continuing Resolution on FY 2018 spending. Early in the week of this vote, there was agreement between Republican and Democratic leadership and the President on Defense spending and DACA provisions, both of which were pulled from this Bill with promises by Speaker Ryan they will be taken up as separate Bills. It was amended by the Senate and re-voted on by the House on January 22nd which shortened the CR to February 8th.
NOTE 4: H.R. 1892: Further Extension of Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018; Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2018; SUSTAIN Care Act of 2018; and Honoring Hometown Heroes Act passed 240 to 186 with support from Democrats to offset the 119 Republicans voting against the party line. The bill includes a sixth version of a Continuing Resolution extending this temporary funding for non-defense spending until March 23rd.
NOTE 5: The House passed the National Defense Authorization Act, HR 1417, back in July. HR 695 provides a spending appropriation that fully funds the DoD at the level authorized in the NDAA. The Florida delegation vote was along strict party lines except for Rep. Murphy (D, FL-7), a member of the HASC. Legislative rules require a budget provision to eliminate the sequester before that level of spending can begin. See Note 4 above.
Lake & Sumter Counties Chapter MOAA March 2018 Page 6
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Legislative Affairs, (Continued)
He voted 5 times to keep the government OPEN and three times for the National Defense Appropriations Act but voted against the most recent Continuing Resolution as I described above. Here’s what he said in a recent Newsletter --
“the additional levels of spending in this deal, adds an annual trillion-dollar deficit to our already unsustainable $20 trillion debt. The massive growth in debt jeopardizes our national security …. I ran for office pledging to do my part to stop the spigot of spending and get our fiscal house in order,” [that is the fundamental reason he] “did not vote for the deal.”
I ask this question of him: Does he think that funding the government in weekly increments is a more fiscally responsible way to get the government’s fiscal house in order? He further went on in that same newsletter that he supported the military spending package in this Bill saying
“ensuring a strong, well equipped military is a fundamental responsibility of the Federal Government. I have voted multiple times to increase the Department of Defense’s budget and provide funding for the pay-raises our troops have long deserved.” But he did not vote for the deal that included that spending.
He did vote for the Tax reform measure in December which the CBO said would result in an immediate increase in the deficit as tax revenues in 2018 would be reduced as well as a projected 10 years of increases in the deficit beyond that. This tax reform significantly benefitted the ultra-rich – while the CR provides money for government operations that aide working class families, funding activities like cancer research, children’s programs, and infrastructure projects that provide blue collar jobs etc., and for national defense.
How is voting against that serving his constituents and the American people? On this vote he sided with the leader of the former Tea Party wing of the Republican House (now called the Freedom Party). Rep. Mark Meadows. The Freedom Party has been advocating for vouchers to privatize Social Security and Medicare programs, privatizing public schools by the euphemism called school choice, and much more. Several of those proposals are in the President’s FY 2019 Budget request which was sent to Congress on Feb 8th. Now some GOOD NEWS but NOT ALL Good News The newly released President’s budget directly supports several of MOAAs stated goals and objectives for FY 2019:
• a 2.6% military pay raise at ECI;
• includes no new compensation cost share reforms, such as increases in TRICARE fees;
• and increases end-strength for the force by 25,900 (24,100 in the active components and 1,800 in the reserve components) over the FY 2018 budget.
The budget for FY2019 also puts resources toward sustaining family support initiatives by investing over $8 billion in family readiness and related programs. This is indeed welcome news. Unfortunately, it will probably not all resonate positively for most Tricare beneficiaries, who discovered their TRICARE cost shares have in many cases, drastically increased since Jan. 1.
• This past fall, DoD unexpectedly implemented an across-the-board fixed-fee copayment schedule for the new TRICARE Select option. This change was to be cost-neutral to DoD. Some TRICARE Prime copayments also increased by as much as 150 percent.
Lake & Sumter Counties Chapter MOAA March 2018 Page 7
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Legislative Affairs, (Continued)
• Combine this TRICARE cost share inflation with the new increases in costs for prescriptions from TRICARE, and you can understand why military retirees, active duty servicemembers, and their families are starting to feel as if the government no longer considers military health care an earned benefit of their service.
MOAA believes those who are serving and have served should not be put in the position to fund the cost of readiness or their own benefits
The time to PUMP UP our Advocacy Mission is closely approaching We’ll be hearing from MOAA in the next few weeks with CALLS for ACTION in their weekly e- Newsletters to send messages to congress asking for their support to include provisions in the FY 2019 NDAA to address the continuing erosion of benefits and to stop the unfair treatment of DIC payments for widows and disabled retirees.
The March issue of Military Officer will include preaddressed letters to key congressional leaders asking them to take action on two important issues affecting military personnel. Send your letters today! Please sign, seal, stamp, and mail the blue-colored letters inserted in the March issue of Military Officer to the preaddressed key congressional leaders. If your spouse is listed in your MOAA record, an additional four letters are included from her or him to sign and mail. Be a part of MOAA’s “One Powerful Voice” to keep military pay increases comparable to private-sector wages and end the deduction of service-earned retired pay from VA disability compensation.
Military members and their families are facing heavy financial stresses, exacerbated by constant moving and a large amount of debt, according to a new survey focused on military family support.
The Military Family Advisory Network on March 1 released its 2017 survey of 5,650 respondents—mostly current service members and their families or veterans and their families. The survey found that 60 percent of respondents do not have enough savings to cover three months of expenses, and 15 percent have trouble providing food to their families. Almost 93 percent of these families are carrying debt. “Military life creates financial stress, and that stress has widespread implications,” the report states.
A large portion of this stress comes from orders that force families to move quickly, which in turns causes them to take on debt to cover moving expenses
coupled with an inability to find child care and difficulty moving forward on education, the report states. Despite these challenges, the report finds that 77 percent of respondents would recommend military service to someone they care about, while the civilian population is only 37 percent likely.
To address some issues in the survey, MFAN recommends the Defense Department recognize health care as a priority for those in service, prepare for an increase in early retirements, and consider that family satisfaction will impact retention rates. The Pentagon should explore the financial stresses that military families experience, and work with communities who can help, according to the survey.
Read details of the survey report here https://militaryfamilyadvisorynetwork.org/survey/
Survey Finds Military Families Suffer from Widespread Financial Stress Air Force Association e-news updates, March 5, 2018; Brian Everstine Submitted by: Bob Bienvenue, Lt Col, USAF (Ret)
Lake & Sumter Counties Chapter MOAA March 2018 Page 8
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You are cordially invited to attend the
Florida Council of Chapters
2018 Convention
Hosted by the Lee Coast Chapter
at the Sanibel Harbor Marriott Resort & Spa
June 1-3, 2018
More information and registration…Click Here…
