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Capitol Area Chapter Military Officers Association of America

Timely Topics Chapter Web site: www.cacmoaa.org

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(Vol 2016 – No.8)

2016-17 EXECUTIVE BOARD of

DIRECTORS President

CW5 Tom McBeath 1st Vice President LtCol Doug Couto

2nd Vice President (Interim) LTC Jim Sigmon 3rd Vice President

CW3 Tony Kruckeberg Secretary

Mrs. Dorothy Johnston Treasurer

Maj DeLee Dankenbring Director-at-Large

Brig Gen Richard Idzkowski Past President 15 LTC Jim Sigmon Past President 11

COL David Herring Past President 08

COL George Noirot Newsletter Editor

COL David Herring Website Administrator

COL George Noirot

www.moaa.org

October MOAA Dinner When: Thursday, 13 October, 2016

Where: Crown Plaza Hotel

925 South Creyts Road, Lansing, Michigan (at I-496)

SOCIAL HOUR: 6:00 PM

DINNER: 6:30 PM

PROGRAM: 7:30 PM

ADJOURN: 9:00 PM

Menu Selections:

#1 Chicken Cacciatore: Breast of chicken in a tomato vegetable sauce. Wild rice and asparagus

#2 Signature Steak: Topped with demi-glace. Whipped sweet potato and roasted broccoli

Make your reservations by SUNDAY, 9 October 2016 On line at www.cacmoaa.org

or contact CW3 Tony Kruckeberg, armyblkhawk@yahoo.com, or 517-575-9386

Include # of attendees. Cost is $25.00.

Make checks payable to ‘Capitol Area Chapter MOAA.’

October Program Enriching Lives and Strengthening the Arts in Everyday Life

The Cultural, Social, and Economic Impact of the Wharton Center

DIANE E. WILLCOX Director of Marketing and Communications, Wharton Center for the Performing Arts

Michigan State University’s Wharton Center for Performing Arts has a long history of presenting quality programs. Since opening its doors in 1982, the Center has generated state and national prominence for its success with touring megahits and sold-out sensations, making producers, performers and patrons turn their attention toward mid-Michigan. The Wharton Center is Michigan’s largest performing arts venue with four unique stages (the Cobb Great Hall, Pasant Theatre, MSU Concert Auditorium and Fairchild Theatre) and plenty of things to do and see all season. Today, the Wharton Center is about much more than the performances that grace its stages. Whether it’s the countless programs integrating the arts and academics or the engagement activities that take the Wharton Center into the community or unique programs like Seats 4 Kids, a scholarship fund providing tickets to economically-disadvantaged children, a key part of Wharton Center’s mission is to enrich lives and strengthen the value of the arts in everyday life. The Wharton Center is having a huge impact on the cultural, social, and economic landscape in mid-Michigan and beyond by improving the quality of life in the area through their many programs. Come learn more about them and gain some insight to the upcoming season. We have a great subject and a passionate speaker!!

September Picnic—Retiree Appreciation

Thanks to a grant from USAA, our Chapter was able to fund a very nice, informative and beneficial Retiree Appreciation Day at our September Picnic. Organizations represented were Operation: Military Resources, Fallen Heroes Memorial Foundation, Freedom Center, MI Attorney General Consumer Education, Military OneSource, Veterans Tribute Train and one of our loyal Chapter Sponsor, O’Connor Law Office, PLLC. The biggest hit of the night might have been our live music presented by Pretty Shaky String Band. The evening was a hit. The hope is that we will continue this format expanding the organizations attending. Check out the pictures!

Newsletter Sponsors Sponsors: Thank you for your generous support. Chapter Members: Please support our sponsors with your business.

Proud Sponsor of MOAA

We Proudly Sponsor MOAA

Proudly Sponsor MOAA Proud Sponsor of Capitol

Area Chapter MOAA

Sponsor of MOAA

Executive Board Meeting 2 October 2016, 1130 hours at Piazzano’s, 1825 N Grand River, Lansing, MI

Newsletter Questions, Comments, Contact your Newsletter Editor, COL Dave Herring, moaaeditor@gmail.com or 517-719-4579

Cell Phone Recycling Recycling cell phones has been and continues to be a fund raising activity for our Chapter Scholarship Fund. Please dig out your old discarded cell phones and bring them to our next Dinner. We get a refund for each phone. If you cannot attend, contact Dorothy Johnston at (517) 321-0035 to arrange a drop-off. Or call Dave Herring at 517-719-4579 to arrange pick-up. This will support our young people as well as ridding your desk of unneeded, no longer used cell phones. Thank you!!!

Presidential Candidates on MOAA Issues

The candidates answer MOAA's questions Democratic and Republican presidential candidates provide their views on issues of interest to the military and veterans' community. http://www.moaa.org/Content/Take-Action/Top-Issues/Currently-Serving/Clinton-vs--Trump--Part-One.aspx?utm_source=legis&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PresQ&A1

Capitol Area Chapter, MOAA Around Town: On September 22 Doug Couto and Marie Wicks the East Lansing City Clerk talked to the Air Force ROTC Cadet Corps about how and where to vote in the upcoming Presidential Election. They also asked for Election Workers and handed out 35 applications making a dent in the 75 workers still needed for the campus precincts. Jim Sigmon and Marie Wicks are scheduled to talk with the Army Cadets on October 6th. On September 28, Doug Couto represented the CAC at The Commanders' Group of Military Veterans Organization in Michigan. The MVAA provided an update of the operational improvements being made in the Michigan Veterans Home and plans to build new facilities in the near future to better serve Michigan Vets. The next meeting of the Group will be February 8th following a breakfast with the new Michigan legislators. Freedom Centers. The Lansing Freedom Center serving the recruits at the entrance processing center still needs volunteers. If you have time to work one shift each month your time will be most welcome. Jim Sigmon is one of several Chapter Members who volunteer. 2016 Freedom Center Fundraiser Gala is Thursday, October 20 from 1800 -2100 at the Defense Corridor Center for Collaboration and Synergy, 7205 Sterling Ponds Court, Sterling Heights, MI, 48312 (North of 14 Mile Road between Mound and Van Dyke). The special guest presentation is by Robert Miller, author of Veterans Voices: Remarkable Stories of Heroism, Sacrifice, and Honor. Cost is $50.00 per ticket. More details: www.mifreedomcenter.org

More September Picnic Photos

Guide to Space A Travel By Marc Acton

- See more at: http://www.moaa.org/Content/Publications-and-Media/Features-and-Columns/MOAA-Features/Guide-to-Space-A-Travel.aspx?utm_source=NEX&utm_medium=email&utm_content=05free&utm_campaign=spacea#sthash.gxnEIud6.dpuf

NORTHERN MICHIGAN CHAPTER CHARTERED

National MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Dana T. Atkins, USAF (Ret), presented a charter to members of the new Northern Michigan Chapter June 22 during a dinner at Black Star Farms in the Leelanau Peninsula wine country. The chapter, which currently has 25 members, has a growing membership, advocacy role, and community presence in the greater Traverse City area. The chapter will help further MOAA’s advocacy efforts in a congressional district previously uncovered by a MOAA affiliate.

If you're interested in joining the chapter, contact chapter President Capt. Robert “Bob” Kutulis, USAF (Ret), at kutulis@charter.net.

WHY DOES MOAA MEMBERSHIP MATTER? Military service isn't easy, and every military family pays a price. While sequestration takes a toll on military budgets, should it take a toll on yours, too? We don't think so, and that's why you should be a MOAA member. Summer is in full swing. Congressional and Presidential campaigns are, too. Everyone wants to share an opinion about what the future should look like. One thing we are sure of here at MOAA, is that the erosion of military benefits should not continue. We fought and won the battle to eliminate the COLA reductions of 2013 that would have penalized all currently serving and retired families. We fought and won years of battles to raise military pay and allowances to levels comparable with the civilian sector. Every day, the MOAA team is working hard to make sure stakeholders are informed about legislative and policy changes affecting your wallet, your well-being, and your long-term outlook, as well our future servicemembers' and their families'. MOAA can't do this alone. We need your membership; your voice. We need you to share the important work that MOAA is doing, and help guide our advocacy. Take a minute to reflect that generations of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam-era officers and families paid their MOAA dues and made life member commitments to provide MOAA the advocacy resources it took to win the battles that improved pay, allowances, retirement, disability and survivor benefits to the levels we have today. Now all those gains are being threatened by sequestration and budget reductions, and all we hear is that current generations "aren’t joiners." If that's true, we're all in trouble. Today's military family is likely to raise the servicemember of tomorrow. It's incumbent upon us all, to make sure they are cared for while they wear the uniform and long after — as generations before us have done through their MOAA membership. We live in uncertain times. One thing you can count on is MOAA's support in making sure our military families have the tools to thrive. Will you share our message? http://www.moaa.org/BAHcut/?utm_source=NEX&utm_medium=email&utm_content=video&utm_campaign=ErosionVideo&utm_source=Spouse%20E-