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GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING & DINNER

FEBRUARY 22nd —1800 HOURS

AT THE LANDING

Come join us at our next MOAA Dinner and

bring a friend.

Inside this issue:

Presidents Message 1, 2

Legislative Report 2, 5

Membership Report 3

ROWA Report 3

Treasurer’s Report, MOAA

Calendar, Guest Speaker 4

Pharmacy Copay, VA

Update, Statins Study 5

December Dinner

Pictures 6

Sponsors’ Ads 7

Membership Form 8

The MOAA Airways is the bimonthly newsletter of the Fort Rucker Chapter, MOAA which is an Affiliate of the Military

Officers Association of America (MOAA). MOAA and its Affiliates are nonpartisan.

Ft. Rucker Chapter MOAA Website: http://www.fortruckermoaa.org

P.O. Box 620075 Email: moaa@fortruckermoaa.org

Fort Rucker, Alabama 36322

2019-2020 Officers & Directors

PRESIDENT—Lisa Bailey,

334-406-9475,

l_wmurray@juno.com

VP For PROGRAMS—Ron Kaita,

334-677-6734,

ronald.b.kaita.civ@mail.mil

SECRETARY—Carolyn Wooley,

334-443-0984,

ckwooley@troycable.net

TREASURER—Loel Ewart, 334-

774-0328, lewart@troycable.net

MEMBERSHIP—Othan Gilbert,

334-432-3433,

ogilbert@troycable.net

BANQUETS & ROWA REP

Mary Rutkowski, 334-347-4966

PUBLIC AFFAIRS—Othan

Gilbert, 334-432-3433,

ogilbert@troycable.net

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

Charlie Wigglesworth

cwigglesworth@troycable.net

CHAPLAIN/WEBMASTER

Dennis Newton, 334-465-5079

drnewton@fortruckermoaa.org

SURVIVING SPOUSE AFFAIRS

Faye Swinehart, 334-774-8817

jswinehart712@troycable.net

ROTC/JROTC—Ron Kaita,

334-677-6734,

ronald.b.kaita.civ@mail.mil

NEWSLETTER EDITOR

Frank Estes, 334-797-9196

estesf@troycable.net

RETIREE AFFAIRS

Ray Collins, 334-774-2101

crc.dustoff51@centurytel.net

AGENDA & MENU

Social: 1800 Invocation/Pledge of Allegiance: 1845 Dinner: 1900 > Tomato/cucumber salad > Spiced Rubbed Roasted Pork Loin w/maple horseradish glace > Broccoli/Cauliflower blend > Mashed potatoes (no garlic) > Rolls & Butter > Unsweet tea, water, coffee Cost: $22 per person

Please make your

Reservations by noon

Wednesday, Feb 19th

to Mary Rutkowski at

(334) 347-

4966.

Cash or personal checks only!

Persons not canceling their

reservation by noon on the

Friday prior to the Dinner

Meeting will be responsible

to our Chapter Treasurer for

full payment of the meals.

Feb-Mar 2020

It has been a productive quarter for our chapter. In the month of October, Mr. Edwin Cox of Magnolia Wealth Management and Mr. Reginald Rhodes of the Alabama Elder Law Center made a presentation at our bi-monthly dinner meeting. They provided information relevant to military personnel of wealth management and estate planning and

preservation. They provided updates to VA entitlements as well. The meeting was well attended and ran over time due to the interest in the subjects.

Our chapter received the MOAA 5 Star Levels of Excellence at the Alabama Council of Chapters quarterly meeting in October. This prestigious award is a direct result of the efforts of our local chapter members and leadership.

In November, our chapter Vice President, CW5 (Ret) Ron Kaita travelled to Washington DC for the rededication ceremony of the MOAA national headquarters and briefings on all of the work that the organization does for service members by constantly monitoring the legislative activities that affect all of us and by helping to keep Congress informed of our priorities.

During December we planned and participated in the laying of wreaths on the graves of local veterans at Meadowlawn Cemetery in Enterprise. The annual Wreaths Across America activities are growing in the number of facilities (continued on page 2)

President’s Message by Lisa Bailey

GUEST

SPEAKER

Ms. Terri Francis

Director of Community

Resources at Southern Alabama Regional Council On Aging (SARCOA)

(See page 4 for

additional information)

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The New Year has arrived! I pray that all the MOAA members had a safe and wonderful holiday season! As I have reviewed the issues that MOAA is working, I f ind some interest ing information to pass on. Some of the issues call for us to send letters to our elected off icials. I encourage all MOAA members to read the MOAA magazine or go online to f ind more information. Other info I have included may be of interest to you or pass on to our fellow veterans.

National Park Passes https://store.usgs.gov/faq#Access-Pass Veterans, with a service-connected disability rating, are entering Federal recreation lands and national parks for free with an America the Beautiful-the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands lifetime Access Pass.

The Veterans Health ID Card for Base Access https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/68479/veterans-need-vhic-for-in-person-commissary-military-exchange-and-mwr-access/ The Defense Department announced expanded Commissary, Military Service Exchange and MW access as of Jan. 1, 2020. Veterans who are eligible and want to take advantage of in-person benefits must have a Veterans Health Identification Card, or VHIC.

Space A Flights https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/60642/eligibility-disabled-veterans-space-available-flights/ The Space-A Program fills surplus capacity and seating on DOD aircraft. A popular perk among retirees, eligible disabled Veterans can also take advantage of the program and fly for free. To be eligible for Space-A flights, Veterans must have a permanent and total service-connected disability rating.

Amtrak Veteran Discounts https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/66963/amtrak-offers-veteran-military-member-discounts/ Veterans receive a 10% discount on the lowest available rail fare on most Amtrak trains. Use the Fare Finder at the beginning of your search and select ‘Military Veteran’ for each passenger as appropriate to receive the discount. Active-duty U.S. military members, their spouses and dependents are also eligible to receive a 10% discount on the lowest available rail fare.

Be sure to follow what MOAA is doing on the below issues. Follow the progress on the MOAA Homepage.

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(Presidents Message continued from page 1) and participants. Our chapter donation, combined with other local groups, to include the Above the Best Silver Wings Chapter of the US Army Warrant Officer Association, the DAV, the VFW and VFW Auxiliary, the American Legion, Team Red White and Blue and other civic and local government organizations came together on the 14th of December to lay 750 wreaths. It was especially heartening to see members of the local school JROTC organizations, as well as the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts helping in all aspects of the honoring of our veterans on that day.

Later that evening we had our annual meeting, which included a Christmas sing-along led by our chaplain, COL (Ret) Dennis Newton and his wife Kathleen. During the evening we had a silent auction, organized and conducted by COL (Ret) Frank Estes, with numerous items donated by our chapter members, that raised enough to be able to provide $1500 to the national MOAA Scholarship Fund.

Prior to the end of the year, we also donated $500 to Fort Rucker Emergency Relief to help those in need.

Note: MOAA is a non-partisan organization and meetings with members of the government and their staff members does not constitute endorsement of any political party.

I had the opportunity, provided by Mrs. Anne Hartline of the Alabama Council of Chapters, to meet Senator Doug Jones at a press conference in Ozark on the 13th. The Senator was a primary sponsor of the legislation that is now signed into law, which rights the wrong of the offset the payouts of the two military survivor benefits: The Dependency and Indemnity Compensation program and The Survivor Benefit Plan. After the press conference in Ozark I spoke with some of his staffers, who were very appreciative of the efforts of MOAA in Washington, DC, as well as locally. One said that when Lt. Gen (Ret) Atkins calls, everyone listens.

We continue our presentation of MOAA awards to the honor graduates for both the Warrant Officer class graduations as well as the Initial Entry Rotary Wing Aviator class graduations at Fort Rucker. Our VP, CW5 (Ret) Ron Kaita, prepares the awards and members of the chapter are on hand for the presentations numerous times during each quarter.

If you would like to become more active in the chapter, please don’t hesitate to attend one of our board meetings and see what needs doing. There is a great need for fresh ideas and for help in all our activities. Our meetings are held at the Silver Wings Golf Course Regimental Room and are usually on the second Monday of each month at noon. Join us for lunch at the Divots Lounge at 11 prior to the meeting. Next meetings are 13 January, 10 February and 9 March. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me or any other board member.

I strongly encourage all of our members to stay informed of all the work on our behalf and benefits provided us by our membership at www.moaa.org.

Legislative Report by Charlie Wigglesworth

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Happy New Year! Our journey from Christmas, the high light of the year, has brought us, into the New Year, completing Alabama’s 200th Birthday and offering a new decade of unfolding opportunities. With the number 20, symbolic of completion, harmony, and energy, appropriately 2020 envelopes a leap year, the 20th year of the 3rd millennium, and the 20th year of the 21st Century. ROWA members, celebrating Christmas and New Year enjoyed luncheons at The Landing with ornament exchanges, Christmas sweaters, lovely door prizes, and some Alabama history about special holiday dinners. The essential holiday cakes of course are fresh Coconut and the Alabama State Cake, the Lane Cake. Another highlight was the beautiful Ft. Rucker Holiday Band Concert which included two special elves (by the name of Chasteen and Nix!) telling Santa’s Christmas Story. Our January luncheon gave us a guest speaker, ROWA member Karyn Kaempfer, who emphasized the importance of healthy food and shared the benefits of wellness. ROWA also gave donations to the Wounded Warrior lake cabin, the Spouses Club Scholarship Fund for Military family students, and the Senior Citizens Sweetheart Bingo outreach. January the first month of the year has a silent beauty amid the often-winter sky, sometimes snow, and cold winds. Yet, within, there is a period of dormancy for rest and renewal necessary, to prepare for new life and new beginnings, a time to contemplate, to discern, to determine plans, select projects, and refresh ourselves. May your New Year be blessed with joy and peace. As the author Kalidasa says: Tomorrow is only a vision; but today, well lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Retired Officer Wives Association (ROWA)

by Mary Jane Collins I regret to report the death of long-time member MAJ Alvin Sneckenbereger who died 11 November 2019. He was living in

Tuscaloosa, AL. Invoices for chapter dues for 2020 were mailed on 31 October to those whose membership expired on 31 December 2019. Thanks to all who paid them promptly. To remind everyone about an upcoming chapter bi-monthly dinner, I send out a recorded message to all members using a calling service company, Calling Post. After recording a message (less than 50 seconds), I generally send it out about a week before the dinner and a few days before the deadline to make a reservation. I try to time the outgoing call about midday, the Saturday before the dinner. So, if you get a call identified as Calling Post, it is a call from us. Our chapter membership total at the time of this writing is 155. The national MOAA website is moaa.org and our chapter website is fortruckermoaa.org. Please check the chapter website from time-to-time as photos from our dinners, minutes from our board meetings, and chapter finance reports are posted there. The phone number for MOAA National is 800-234-6622.

Membership Report by Othan Gilbert

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Monday, January 13, 2020 Net Worth of the Fort Rucker Chapter of MOAA as of 01/13/2020 is,$30,255.86. These funds are in accounts with the AllIn Federal Credit Union.

Activities Since Last Report: (12/09/19) Starting balance of; $30,894.76

DEPOSITS ACTION 12/10/19 Ron K. (Donation $1400/$36 dues for 2020) $1436.00 12/17/19 MOAA Dinner Receipts (Meals $575/Auction $488/ 1309.00 Sch Fnd $72/WOA Sponsor $150/dues $24) 12/26/19 2020 dues for 2 24.00 12/30/19 Money Market interest (Dec..) 11.31 01/06/20 Dues for 2020 ( one) 12.00 Deposits Total $2,792.31

CHECKS: EXPENDITURES: 1866 12/09/19 MOAA National Council of Chapters (Dues) $82.00 1867 12/09/19 Ron Kaita (MOAA Chapter Meeting cost) 509.51 1868 12/14/19 Mary Rutkowski (Xmas decorations/tickets) 245.70 1869 12/18/19 MOAA Dec. Dinner Cost 530.00 1870 12/20/19 US Treasury Army Gift Fund (Rucker Food Bank) 500.00 1871 12/29/19 MOAA National Scholarship Fund 1500.00 1872 01/06/20 Postmaster (box rent) 64.00 Expenditures Total $3,431.21 Net Decrease $638.90 (1/13 /20) Current Total Balance of; $30,255.86 All In checking $6,021.45 All In Savings $5.41 All In Money Market $24,229.00 Reserve Total: (Minus Reserve); -$24,229.00 Life Membership $9,900.00 MOAA reserve, $14,329.00 Minus Savings: $5.41 -$5.41 ****Usable Funds as January 13, 2020 (Minus reserve/savings) $6,021.45 Other News *No outstanding bills. Scholarship Fund = $00.00 Maj Sneckenberger deceased, $100 moved to Reserve, from membership.

Important Dates for MOAA - Fort Rucker Chapter,

Calendar Year 2019-2020

TREASURER’S REPORT by Loel Ewart

Board of Directors’ Meeting

Newsletter Input

Suspense

Bi-Monthly Din-ner

Meeting 10 Feb 2020 22 Feb 2020

9 Mar 2020 18 Mar 2020 13 Apr 2020 18 Apr 2020 11 May 2020 20 May 2020 8 Jun 2020 20 Jun 2020 13 Jul 2020 15 Jul 2020 10 Aug 2020 15 Aug 2020 14 Sep 2020 16 Sep 2020 12 Oct 2020 17 Oct 2020 9 Nov 2020 18 Nov 2020 14 Dec 2020 19 Dec 2020

GUEST SPEAKER

Terri Frances is a graduate of Huntingdon College, Alumni Board member, and past member of the board of trustees. She has served on Bishops Task Force for Older Adults in Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. Terri has been involved with the aging community for 39 years. She has worked as an activities director and with social services in nursing homes and retirement centers in Alabama. She served as the Director of Older Adult Ministries at First United Methodist Church in Dothan for 15 years. Terri has been with SARCOA for the last 6 years, and her passion is working with older adults to make their later years as happy and stress free as possible. Her job at SARCOA is finding and coordinating resources to make this happen.

The Fort Rucker Chapter of the Military Officers

Association of America (MOAA) recently donated

$500 to the Fort Rucker Emergency Relief Program

to benefit the Fort Rucker community. Pictured at

left are LTC Loel Ewart, representing the Chapter,

Ms. Beth Gunter, who is the Fort Rucker Army

Emergency Relief Officer, and Kent Thompson,

Chief, Army Community Services at Fort Rucker.

NOTICE-NOTICE-NOTICE

Our February MOAA Dinner

will be on FEBRUARY 22nd due to the weekend of February 15-17 being a

holiday-weekend.

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(Legislative Report continued from page 2) MOAA Remains Cautiously Optimistic on Commissary-Exchange Merger. TRICARE Expands List of Drugs It Won't Cover VA Suicide Prevention Strategy: Talk to Vets 3

Times in First Year Out of Uniform President Signs NDAA: What the Law Includes,

and What's Next Topics covered in the e-newsletter include:

Advocacy – Stay posted on MOAA’s legislative efforts and congressional votes affecting you and your benefits.

Health Care & Earned Benefits – Keep up to date on TRICARE and VA changes, along with other health care and military benefit issues and updates.

Transition & Career – Get information and resources from MOAA experts to help you transition through every stage of life and career: active service, military retirement, civilian career, and full retirement.

Finance – MOAA’s financial insiders and experts offer unbiased financial, investment, and retirement news, advice, and guidance. We’ll also alert you to military discounts on travel packages, for Veterans Day, etc.

Recommended Reads – Military-themed must-reads, including interviews, book reviews, history, policy and operational news, and more.

Spouse & Family – Hear from MOAA military spouses about challenges and solutions affecting your life and career on the home front.

Use this as a recruiting tool to encourage our officers to join MOAA. Until we meet again, be safe and enjoy.

Mindfulness Program Could Curb Suicide Among Veterans From www.va.gov 01/16/2020 . Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy shows promise for reducing suicide among Veterans, found a VA New Jersey study. Researchers evaluated 140 Veterans at high risk for suicide. Veterans received either Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy adapted for Suicide (MBCT-S) or VA treatment as usual. MBCT-S combines mindfulness therapy with suicide safety planning. Patients receiving MBCT-S along with usual treatment made fewer suicide attempts within 100 days of treatment. Five of the MBCT-S group attempted suicide, compared with 13 from the control group. MBCT-S patients also showed greater distress tolerance over time. MBCT-S was especially effective in participants who also received VA residential care. No participants receiving both MBCT-S and residential care attempted suicide during the study period. Patients receiving both also had significantly greater improvement on depression, hopelessness, distress tolerance, and suicide-related coping, compared with controls. MBCT-S could be a useful intervention for patients at-risk for suicide, according to the researchers. It can be integrated within existing VA programs, they say. (International Academy of Suicide Research, Oct. 29, 2019)

STATINS MAY HELP SLOW BRAIN DECLINE

from AARP Bulletin January/February 2020

Statins, taken by more than 30 million Americans to

reduce levels of “bad” cholesterol, may slow cognitive

decline in certain people, researchers have found. An

Australian study followed more than 1,000 people 70

and older—some of whom were taking statins—over six

years. At the end of the study, the researchers found no

overall difference in the rate of memory decline or

cognitive ability between those who used statins and

those who did not. However, they did see a slower

decline in brain function among statin users with heart

disease and diabetes, compared to nonusers of statins.

The results were published in the Journal of the

American College of Cardiology.

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PICTURES FROM DECEMBER 14th MOAA MEETING & DINNER

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C O M P L E T E D

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MOAA, Ft. Rucker Chapter

P.O. Box 620075

Ft. Rucker, AL 36362-0075

Return Service Requested

MOAA Membership Application Fort Rucker Chapter

Fort Rucker Chapter

Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)

PO Box 620075

Fort Rucker, AL 36362-0075

Enclosed is my check, in accordance with the schedule below, for membership in the Fort Rucker Chapter of the Military Officers

Association of America (MOAA).

Individual joining: 1 Dec – 28 Feb $12.00; 1 Mar – 31 May $9.00; 1 Jun – 31 August $6.00; Membership1 Sep – 30 Nov $3.00.

NAME: RANK: BRANCH OF SERVICE: ADDRESS: CITY: ZIP: DATE OF BIRTH: PHONE:

NAME: E-MAIL ADDRESS: NATIONAL MOAA MEMBERSHIP # National Life Member?

Membership in the National MOAA is required for membership in our local Chapter. If you are a member of National and do not know your membership number so indicate and we will obtain it from National. Make checks payable to Fort Rucker Chapter MOAA Thank you for your support! Web address: www.FortRuckerMOAA.org