Pensacola Chapter Newsletter - November 2017 - Military Officers Association of America

PMOAA Beacon The City of Five Flags-Pensacola Florida

4 Star Chapter Award – 2002 A 5 Star Chapter Since 2003

http://www.pmoaa.org

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

I want to thank the Chapter for all their hard work last year. It really paid off in that we have been honored again as a Five Star Chapter. It does take a lot of work and I am certainly thankful for all the contributions in time and money that many have made. It is truly a team effort especially in the volunteer hours and other areas we were way over the top. A special thanks to RADM Joan Engel for putting the package together and sending it to National.

I hate to say this and sound like an echo but no one has stepped up to the plate for either of the committees I mentioned last month except MAJ Molly Werner. She volunteered to serve on the Membership Outreach committee. She is on a whole lot of committees so I am not surprised. Last month I mentioned two committees for which we need volunteers. We are not talking about a lot of time here but we are talking about what is vital to the growth of our chapter. The Membership Outreach Committee needs volunteers and leadership. As I said before, recruiting new members is essential to our chapter’s survival. We drastically need new members. We have hundreds of MOAA Life Members in this area and more. We need some volunteers to assist in contacting them. Will you volunteer? Speak up, I can’t hear you. The other committee we need help with is the Surviving Spouse Committee. Surviving spouses are an important part of our chapter and we need them involved so we can do a better job taking care of them.

We have a cutoff time for dinner RSVP’s at the Pensacola Yacht Club. We must have the totals in Monday morning so the Manager knows how many meals to order for Thursday night. If you do not have your RSVP in by early Monday morning, you will more than likely eat CROW, oops, I mean chicken, at the same price unless it is a buffet. To avoid eating CROW, reservations should be in by Sunday night, if not, you don’t eat. If we are having a buffet you still need to RSVP but it is easier to work with since it is a buffet. We only have a few buffets a year since most people prefer to be served. We don’t want the PYC upset with us especially since the meals have been really tasty.

Our October speaker, John Weisman, was extremely entertaining to all. His subject was ‘fake news’ versus ‘real news’. He went through countless examples of fake news. He even brought into the discussion a fake news CIA reporter that was on one of the networks for about a decade (that’s not fake news). John’s discussions concerning his books, both

fiction and non-fiction amassed many awards. Ghost Warrior written about Felix Rodriguez who coauthored the book with John Weisman sounded especially intriguing.

Our guests at dinner included: Hazel Shackley, CIA, guest of Bill and Donna Clark; David Anderson former USA CPT; Charles Fendel, LTC USA (Ret) guest of Michele Nash; Dayre Lias, Col USAF (Ret); guest of Dean Kirschner; and Carol Alves, LtCol USAF (Ret) guest of Susan Morgan, Col USAF (Ret). Two new members that we have are Walter Costello, LtCol, USMC (Ret) and Walter Sawyer, COL USA (Ret). The winner of the $65.00 from the 50/50 was CAPT James Frazier, USN (Ret). He quickly gave it to his wife Christine, claiming she had a mean left hook.

Next month’s dinner program, November 16, will be a little different. Dana Cervantes, our speaker, is the director of USO Northwest Florida and will give a very brief update on our USO. She works closely with the community to share the mission of the USO. Dana became involved with the USO in 2007, 2008 and 2009 during “Operation Letters from Home.” As an embedded radio personality from a local radio station, she traveled to parts of Iraq and Kuwait to deliver hand-written letters from the community to active duty troops at various bases.

The reason that we don’t have much time for a speaker next month is because we will also have our election of Officers and Board Members and approval of amended PMOAA Bylaws. Pay close attention to the Beacon as you will find more information in the October and November issues. If you are not able to attend, you can vote absentee. The absentee ballot is in the October Beacon. Return your vote to RADM Engel no later than 14 November. Members eligible to vote at the meeting on 16 November are regular members and surviving spouses (auxiliary members) and no others. Ballots will be distributed at the check-in desk.

Just to mention again, our Christmas Party - it is coming up on the 7th of December. Holly Shelton will be the main attraction with her piano accompaniment and will provide the after-dinner entertainment. There will be no speaker. Please remember to bring a toy or toys for Toys for Tots (no guns) headed up by Rod Miller and his band of young and sharp Marines. You may or may not wear your dress uniform if you are still able to do so. Maybe it is a good time to lose a few pounds.

Our January meeting, January 18th, is a different type of meeting also. This meeting will be the installation of new officers. We are honored to have the President of the Florida Council of Chapters, LTC Marc Oliveri, USA (Ret). He will give us an update on MOAA. We most importantly will also have our annual Memorial Service honoring those who passed away this year. Please add these dates to your schedule because they are all so important.

Bill ClarkJohn Weisman Author and Guest Speaker

Pensacola Chapter Newsletter - November 2017 - Military Officers Association of America

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

TRICARE Publishes New Changes: Beneficiaries could see increased costs next year (Source: MOAA) October 5, 2017

Timing is everything- and we are now into the fall, and marching ever closer to the

Jan. 1, 2018, start date for anticipated changes to the TRICARE program. As part of this process, TRICARE late last week announced its formal requirements for implementing portions of last year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The Interim Final Rule (IFR) guides the implementation of TRICARE Select, the new preferred provider organization option, which combines the current TRICARE Standard and Extra plans. Other significant changes are forthcoming as well, many of which are addressed in the MOAA TRICARE questions and answers series you may have seen before:

Part 1: Who’s affected by the new TRICARE changes?Part 2: How will TRICARE’s new enrollment rules work?Part 3: Will TRICARE changes affect my access to care?

But shockingly, the story took an unanticipated twist.Along with implementation of the new TRICARE Select option, and without any prompting or open discussion, a new set of cost shares and fees unexpectedly appeared in the IFR. These new fees are targeted at existing beneficiaries who currently, by law, are grandfathered into the current TRICARE Standard/Extra program fee structure.

Recall that a key feature of last year’s package of sweeping TRICARE reforms was that all those currently serving, as well as those retiring prior to Jan. 1, 2018, would be grandfathered into the existing fee structures. New entrants into the services after Jan. 1, 2018, would be subject to newer, much higher fees. The whole goal of the grandfathering was to keep fees where they currently are, at what we believe to be a reasonable level, for beneficiaries in the service prior to Jan. 1, 2018. Now this commitment seems to be slipping away.

Many of these new TRICARE Select fees water down any benefit of grandfathering. In most cases, there will be higher fixed fees and cost shares for both retirees and active duty families who choose the new Select option.

In many instances, new entrants who join after Jan. 1, 2018, will be paying less than current beneficiaries, who should be grandfathered into the previous, lower fee structure.

To focus on a few of the most glaring TRICARE Select examples under the IFR guidance:

• A current, would-be grandfathered, active duty family member’s cost for a primary care visit will be $27 for a network provider. Contrast this with a new entrant family member after Jan. 1, 2018, who will pay $15.

• The same grandfathered member above would pay $34 for a specialty care visit, while a new entrant family member would pay $25.

• Grandfathered retirees under age 65 would pay $35 for an in-network primary care visit. Future retirees who entered after Jan. 1, 2018, would pay $25.

• Grandfathered retirees under age 65 will pay quite a bit more

for inpatient hospitalizations than future entrants - $250 a day, versus $175 per admission.

This new structure leaves us scratching our heads, with more questions than answers. How can it be that existing grandfathered beneficiaries will pay more for their health care than those newly entering the service? Are grandfathered beneficiaries being saddled with disproportional increases as to cover costs of other programs? Why would DoD unveil these new fees, couched as necessary to stabilize costs, before a defense bill is resolved and presented to the president?

Not to mention the Senate’s version of the pending defense bill, which has its own designs on increasing TRICARE pharmacy copayments. What led DoD and the Senate to change their level of support to currently serving and retired sevicemembers?

MOAA is concerned these changes will result in cost increases for many beneficiaries, increases which bypassed open dialogue among military service organizations.

As the Armed Services committees begin to take on their annual defense bill negotiations in conference committee, these fee changes muddy the waters, as noted above. Adding to the confusion, a provision in the FY18 NDAA would repeal the grandfathering clause from last year’s defense bill, subjecting all beneficiaries to the fee structure for new entrants. But according to the IFR, the fee structure for new entrants after Jan. 1, 2018 is marginally better than what would be put in place should grandfathering remain.

CRUNCH TIME FOR PAY, TRICARE, AND MORE (SOURCE: MOAA)October 6, 2017

It is crunch time for key issues like pay raises, health care fees, and survivor benefits. The top leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services committees met this week to outline the beginnings of a conference committee to smooth out differences in their respective versions of the FY 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The defense bill carries many of MOAA’s most pressing priorities every year, so this is likely the last chance to draw the line in the sand on these big issues until next year. As we continue to put the pressure on the conferees over a long list of issues, we remain steadfast in our positions on the following provisions.

Pay Raise: Support the House provision granting the 2.4 percent military pay increase. Military pay raises are appropriately tied to the civilian sector’s Employment Cost Index (ECI). Capping the military pay raise beneath ECI, even by one-third of a percent, results in significant financial losses to a servicemember over time and into retirement.

For example, the annual impact of the proposed pay raise cap for an E-6 with 14 years of service is $135 a year, which may seem inconsequential to some budgeters. But when you factor in pay caps going back to 2013, the cumulative impact is substantial, totaling more than $1,300 a year for the same individual.

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH): Oppose the Senate provision eliminating the with-dependent rate for dual-member couples with children. A Senate provision would eliminate the with-dependent housing allowance rate for military couples stationed together with children. This unfairly reduces earnings even as servicemembers continue to face the demands of repeated deployments and the recruiting environment worsens. BAH is part of the military compensation package, and eroding military compensation is the wrong move at the wrong time.

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Pensacola Chapter Newsletter - November 2017 - Military Officers Association of America

If the Senate proposal passes, an O-3 in a dual-military marriage with dependents stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, would stand to lose $2,628 annually. Couples should not be penalized for marrying another servicemember; no other employer levies a marriage penalty.

TRICARE Fees: Oppose the Senate provisions repealing the grandfathering clause for current beneficiaries and increasing pharmacy copayments. Congress made it clear military health care reform would be coming after revisions of the retirement system. The Senate’s latest proposals, however, go too far in raising fees without recognition of the impact on current beneficiaries.

Last year, currently serving and retired beneficiaries were explicitly exempted from new fee structures with TRICARE. Now, Congress may repeal that grandfathering provision, resulting in steep fee increases for all without any commensurate increase in health care access or quality.

Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA): At a minimum, and absent full repeal of the SBP-DIC offset this year, SSIA should be extended 10 years, with incremental increases to the monthly amount to assist affected survivors. In 2007, Congress recognized the unfairness of the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) offset and authorized the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) as a vehicle to repeal the offset gradually.

SSIA will expire in 2018 if nothing is done. The Senate has a proposal to address the issues, but MOAA has serious concerns: It extends the benefit at current levels, with increases indexed to COLA. This would remove any incentive for lawmakers to go back to fix the financial penalty 65,000 survivors face.

And the proposal is paid for by increasing pharmacy fees for everyone. MOAA has consistently said the offset must be completely eliminated by means other than increased fees for other benefits.

Singling out beneficiaries instead of cutting costs within DoD or other programs is wrong. There are other ways to save money before turning to beneficiaries’ wallets.

Hospice Services for Children: Support the Senate provision allowing hospice care coverage for children also receiving curative care. Children diagnosed with terminal illness on TRICARE are not currently eligible for hospice services while receiving curative healthcare treatments because Medicare laws prohibit it. Curative care can include important quality of life services like physical therapy for children who are still be mobile despite facing the end of life. Legislation is needed to allow DoD to provide the two essential services concurrently.

The messages you send your legislators make a difference in what will happen. Each time an office hears from you, the chance for a favorable outcome for servicemembers and their families’ increases.

Pentagon tightens rules for immigrant recruits (Source: Marine Corps Times) By: Tara CoppOctober 13, 2017

WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Friday that the Pentagon is taking steps to save its program enabling foreign-born recruits to earn an expedited path to U.S. citizenship.

“We are taking the steps obviously to save the program, if it can be

saved,” Mattis told reporters Friday. “If it can, you do due diligence for it to make sure what you are bringing in is what you think you are bringing in.”

In a memo dated Oct. 13, the Pentagon announced it was making two changes to the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest, or MAVNI, program, to include increased background checks and extended service requirements.

Since 2009, more than 10,000 recruits have entered the military through the MAVNI program. However, no new recruits have been brought in since 2016, when the Pentagon assessed it did not have proper safeguards in place against potential insider threats.

Supporters of the MAVNI program say it allows the military to recruit immigrants with vital skills such as foreign language proficiency or high-demand medical training. But critics have said the program did not adequately screen potential applicants and left the military vulnerable.

“We could not continue what we’d been doing without an espionage potential,” Mattis said of the previous weaknesses found in the program.

Under the changes, recruits to either Guard, reserve or active-duty forces would no longer be shipped to basic training before a full security background investigation is favorably completed. Previously, recruits could ship as long as the background investigation had been initiated.

A second change extends the length of time a recruit must serve before receiving a certificate of honorable service, which is one of the requirements for getting expedited citizenship. The change lengthens the time in service to 180 consecutive days of active duty or one year in the reserves. Previously eligibility for the certificate began after one day of service, DOD said in a statement accompanying the memo.

The Pentagon began increasing its security screening of potential recruits last year, and earlier this summer, the Pentagon cancelled contracts of recruits who were waiting for months for the department to greenlight them to go to basic training.

Thoughts to Ponder:

• Does the Constitution allow an employer to restrict Freedom of Speech?

• Are Constitutional rights suspended incident to employment?

• How about incident to military service?

• Given widespread “Fake News” is there be some way to control it that does not abridge the Constitution?

• Would you support Term Limits on Federal Elected Officials? If so, why? If not, why not?

Compiled and Edited by Colonel Bob Pappas, USMC (Ret)

TAPS

Mrs. Bobbye J. Coville, Surviving Spouse Member – October 2017

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LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS(Continued from Page 2)

Pensacola Chapter Newsletter - November 2017 - Military Officers Association of America

SINGLES GROUP

You are not going to have a meeting in November as it would interfere with the Thanksgiving holiday. But remember, our Christmas party will be early in December, most likely before you receive the December Beacon, so please mark your calendar now and you will not forget the party which will be on Wednesday, December 6th at 5 PM at my house.

Following please find the calendar for 2018 (January – October). Luncheons will be at 11 AM January-March and dinners at 5 PM.

Date Hostess Phone Restaurant TBA due

Thur 1/25 Mertie 934-9446 Olive Garden

Thur 2/22 Jeannette 494-1140 TBA 1/18/18

Thur 3/22 Karen TBA 2/18/18

Thur 4/26 Gisela 478-9292 My House, Pizza Party

Thur 5/24 Rhetta 457-2702 Global Grill

Thur 6/28 Molly 474-1291 Georges

Thur 7/28 Margaret 619-1059 TBA 6/21/18

Thur 8/23 Mary Frances 476-2559 TBA 7/19/18

Thur 9/27 Mertie 934.9446 TBA 8/16/18

Thur 10/25 Wanda 456-5973 Grand Marlin

Enjoy the cooler weather and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Gisela Vogentanz

RETIRED OFFICERS’ WIVES AND WIDOWS ASSOCIATION

The Retired Officers’ Wives and Widows Association (ROWWA) luncheon and meeting will be held on Thursday, November 9th at 11:00 AM at Franco’s, 523 Gregory Street, Pensacola.

Reservations are required to Mary Chase at 850-686-1160 no later than Monday, November 6th. Cost of the lunch is $20. Membership dues are $15.00 for the year. Checks are payable to ROWWA at the door or sent in advance to Mary’s address in your ROWWA directory.

For membership information, contact Molly Werner at: 850-474-1291. New members are welcome and guests are encouraged to attend.

Bunny Cummins

PMOAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING24 October 2017

President Clark called the meeting to order at 1700 hours with the following members present: CPT Clark, CPT Kirschner, MAJ Werner, RADM Engel, LCDR Brown, COL Cook, LTC Derr, LtCol MacDonald and LT Grace. Guest: Jean Booton. September Minutes: A motion was made by LT Grace, seconded by LTC Derr, to approve the September minutes. Motion carried.Treasurer Report: LCDR Brown presented the financial information from the NFCU statement covering 24 August to 23 September. All scholarship checks have cleared. A motion was made by LTC Derr, seconded by LT Grace, to approve the

treasurer report. Motion carried. A discussion ensued about the head count from the October dinner meeting resulting from late reservations. All reservations are to be made by the Sunday before the event by phone, email or website. If the reservation deadline has passed when an individual wants to attend, LCDR Brown will directly refer those individuals to Captain Kirschner. If approved, the default menu item will be chicken at the same price as the featured choices.

Special Report: Mrs. Jean Booton gave an excellent history on issues associated with the PMOAA website, especially trying to get the membership roster posted on-line and overcoming obstacles in going paperless with the Beacon. Issues have been brought to the attention of the FCOC and we are awaiting follow-up action. Jean has done an outstanding job in getting information on the website and updating the membership directory. She will send an updated directory to all board members. CPT Clark thanked Jean for all her hard work and will follow up with the FCOC.

Jean also mentioned she sent an inquiry to MOAA and the FCOC regarding their reporting requirements and format. She is reporting deaths to the Council and is awaiting information about MOAA’s end of the year reporting requirements.

COMMITTEE REPORTSRecruiting, Dues and Membership: Major Werner reported two new members have been recruited, LtCol Walter Costello, USMC and COL Walter Sawyer, USA. Welcome aboard.Membership Outreach Committee and Surviving Spouse Committee: CPT Clark said that no one has volunteered for two committees. MAJ Werner will contact people. The Surviving Spouse committee as defined in the strategic plan has a different purpose than the existing Surviving Spouse committee as chaired by CAPT Bill Mayer and LtCol MacDonald.

UNFINISHED BUSINESSRevised Recruiting Brochure: MAJ Werner said the new recruiting brochure will be available within a few days. A total of 500 copies have been ordered at a cost of $166.Christmas Banquet Update: The Christmas banquet will be held on 7 December at the Pensacola Yacht Club. Holly Shelton will provide the after dinner entertainment. CPT Kirschner is trying to work things out with the Gulf Coast Chorale Ensemble.November Voting: Officers and Board members, along with approval of revised PMOAA Bylaws voting will take place at the November 16th dinner meeting. Only regular members and surviving spouse (auxiliary) members are eligible to vote. Two candidates are running for the 1st Vice President office. The hand vote option will not be exercised this year. Ballots will be distributed to eligible members at the registration desk. Voting will be done at that time. If a member is not able to attend and would still like to vote, the absentee ballot is posted in the October Beacon. Deadline for submission of absentee ballots is 14 November.2018 Calendar of Events: CPT Kirschner is working on the 2018 calendar. It was recommended that luncheons during the non-daylight savings time be considered. Members find driving in the dark a hindrance to attending the meetings. Luncheons will be considered.Letter to NJROTC Pace High School: As recommended by the board at our last meeting, CPT Clark sent a letter to the school informing them the board did not approve their funding request.

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Pensacola Chapter Newsletter - November 2017 - Military Officers Association of America

The Unit was advised to submit a request if they had a specific JROTC training need.Status of Rescheduling Nathan Nelson or Contacting Congressman Gaetz: Action will be taken on this sometime after the November meeting.

NEW BUSINESSStatus of Absentee Ballots: To date, RADM Engel has received a total of 12 absentee ballots. Submission deadline is 14 November.Dinner RSVP Problems: A few problems developed at the last dinner meeting with late reservations. CPT Clark suggested that an email notification be sent out to the membership at least three days before the deadline date to avert these kinds of problems in the future. This action depends on when we will have the electronic capability to do this. Currently it is a work in progress.Feedback on Going Paperless: LCDR Brown reported that a savings of almost $3000 could be realized by going paperless. Status of the Budget: Finishing out the year is a little tenuous right now. Some of this might be alleviated by paying for the dinners with a check vice the debit card. Members suggested that the bill be placed on their card. RADM Engel, supported by LtCol Mac Donald, did not recommend co-mingling organizational and personal accounts. RADM Engel also recommended that in the future, if an item is not an approved budget item, it should not be funded.

The membership renewal form will be published in the November and December edition of the Beacon. Per PMOAA Bylaws, dues are delinquent 1 January. If members are looking for an end of the year tax deduction, forms for making donations to the scholarship fund will also be published in the upcoming editions of the Beacon.

Scholarship Changes: A review of the scholarship program is scheduled to occur in 2018. It was suggested that CPT Clark ask CDR Milheim to attend the January board meeting to discuss selection criteria, length of service on the scholarship committee, new members, repeat scholarship winners, more applicants, etc. The board is appreciative of the time the scholarship committee spends on this signature program. A letter has already been developed to solicit additional monies for the scholarship program. Recognition of donors as Gold members, etc. was discussed. FCOC Convention Ad: The FCOC convention will be held at the Marriott Hotel on Sanibel Island, Florida at $139/night. CPT Clark would like more people from PMOAA and NW Florida to attend these conventions. Would members be interested in renting a charter bus? MAJ Werner and RADM Engel will gather information to present at a later meeting. We need to support the convention with an ad. Cost is $175 for a half page ad and $295 for a full page ad. The ad is due 1 February. RADM Engel recommended a new ad be developed and submitted.Col Marvin J. Harris Communications Award contest: This award is for print and e-newsletters and websites and is due 1 February 2018. In reviewing the selection criteria, PMOAA does not meet all the criteria so no award will be submitted.Levels of Excellence Award: This award package is for 2017 and is due 1 March 2018. CPTs Clark and Kirschner will work on this package.Replacement for Col Pappas, Legislative Affairs: CPT Clark mentioned that CAPT Scott Abel was interested in this position.

Beacon input is due NLT COB Wednesday, 25 October. The next board meeting will take place on Tuesday, 21 November at 1700 hours at PYC. A motion was made by LCDR Brown, seconded by LtCol MacDonald, to adjourn at 1850. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted, Joan M. Engel, Secretary

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

This is one way to “Remember, Honor and Teach”, about military service. The ceremony will be held at Barrancas National Cemetery on Saturday, December 16, 2017. Volunteers are welcome. If you decide to sponsor a wreath, the cost is $15.00 per wreath. The order deadline is no later than Tuesday, November 28th.

To sponsor by US Mail:http://www.barrancaswreaths.com/files/123644626.pdf

To sponsor online:http://www.barrancaswreaths.com/online-submission-form.html

If you have questions or want more forms/information, contact PMOAA member Walt Viglienzone. He can be reached at: 850-206-3522 or vilie@aol.com

Make your check payable to: Big Lagoon Kiwanis Foundation, 13430 Gulf Beach Highway, PMB 19, Pensacola, FL 32507

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT CONGRESS & YOUR BENEFITS?

Here’s what one member plans to send to our three Federal representatives. ”I know not what course others may take, but as for me”’.... I will send something like this:

“I strongly disagree with disproportional Tricare fee increases, lack of full concurrent receipt for retirees, and the SBP-DIC offset. Similar to kneeling for our National Anthem, this lack of logical respect for military service & the promises made in prior law, to those who have served to protect and defend the Constitution, their widows, and their children, contradicts so many elected officials’ & media claims that they “Support the Troops.”

My observation is that illegal aliens, and convicts, are often treated with more resources and human dignity than military and their families.

Send to:Senator Bill Nelson by email https://www.billnelson.senate.gov/contact-bill Phone: (202) 224-5274

Senator Marco Rubio by emailhttps://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact Phone: (202)-224-3041

Congressman Matt Gaetz by emailhttps://gaetz.house.gov/contact Phone: (202) - 225-4136 or 226 S. Palafox Place, 6th Floor Pensacola, FL 32502 Phone: (850) 479-1183

A useful MOAA source for you is this link: http://takeaction.moaa.org/?30. It provides the bills that are on the table. Scroll down the page to the title “Key Bills” for the list and short descriptions.

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PMOAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING(Continued from Page 4)

Pensacola Chapter Newsletter - November 2017 - Military Officers Association of America

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We need people to call or email their elected reps and say: “I need your support for these bills (list the ones you support).” Any additional but concise personal inputs are fine and can help personalize the message.

CAPT Walt Viglienzone, USCG (Ret)

TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP DUES

It’s that time again. Your membership dues are payable on or before January 1, 2018 and are considered delinquent on March 1, 2018. Get ahead of the Christmas card rush and renew your membership now. Some important positions are coming available in 2018 especially an editor for the Beacon and a columnist for legislative affairs. Looking for volunteers; otherwise, these two positions will be vacant.

Joan M. Engel

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT CONGRESS & YOUR BENEFITS? (Continued from Page 5)

NOVEMBER ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING DINNER MENU

Thursday, 16 November 2017Pensacola Yacht Club1897 West Cypress Street, Pensacola, FL 32505Social Hour: 1730 Dinner: 1830

Dana Cervantes, Director of the NW Florida USO will give a brief update on USO activities and receive a donation from PMOAA.

Annual Business Meeting: Committee Reports, Voting for Officers and Board of Directors and Approval of Revised Bylaws

MENU

(1) Bone in Smoked Pork Chop topped with Apple Brandy Sauce

OR

(2) Chicken served with Goat Cheese and Dried Cranberries topped with a light broth

Both are served with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Asparagus with Tomatoes

Caesar Salad served with Croutons

Warm Dinner Rolls served with whipped butterDessert: Key Lime Pie and Chef’s Surprise

Coffee, Iced Tea and Water – Cash Bar available

Reservations must be received by Sunday, 12 November 2017 – NO EXCEPTIONS!Meals are ordered on the basis of accepted reservations. Phone/email/web site reservations are considered committed and are payable at the door. $27/person

RSVP to: LCDR Trumin Brown, USN (Ret) Phone: 850-932-0370 Email: trumin.brown@att.net or www.pmoaa.org

DO NOT MAIL YOUR RESERVATION. RESERVATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ONLY BY PHONE CALL, EMAIL OR WEB SITE. PLEASE COMPLY.

Now and Always We’ll be There.

1-800-247-2192 • www.moaainsurance.com

H

2018 PMOAA MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FORM(Please Print)

FULL NAME: (Last) (First) (Middle)

RANK/SERVICE: ________________________________Circle:Active Duty: Retired; Reserve; Guard; Former; Surviving Spouse

SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER:

ADDRESS:

PHONE NUMBER:

EMAIL ADDRESS: (For Official Chapter Communications/Use)

Circle one: I am OR I am not a member of National MOAA.My MOAA Number is: _____________________

Please check all PMOAA Activities in which you or your spouse can assist:

___ Membership Dues: $20.00/person/year___ Surviving Spouse (Auxiliary) Dues: $20.00/person/year ___ Social Membership: $10.00 if you wish to receive the Beacon

___ TAX-DEDUCTIBLE SCHOLARSHIP CONTRIBUTION

___ TOTAL ENCLOSED. Make check payable to: PMOAA and Mail to: Membership, PMOAA P.O. Box 17728 Pensacola, FL 32501-7728

___ Chapter Officer ___ Chapter Director___ Survivor Assistance Committee ___ Accounting/Finance___ ROTC/JROTC Liaison ___ Scholarship Committee___ Legislative Affairs

___ Website Administrator___ Membership Recruiting ___ Beacon Editor ___ Public Relations/ Advertising ___ Program/Event Coordinator___ Photographer

Pensacola Chapter Newsletter - November 2017 - Military Officers Association of America

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CAPT Ken Pyle, CApT Scot Abel and VADM Jerry Unruh

Col Susan Morgan and her guest LtCol Carol Alves

COL Walter Sawyer, new member, Joan and LCDR Dave Wilhite

LtCol Charles MacDonald, CAPT Scot Abel, Joanna Abel and CAPT Jim Frazier

John Weisman, author and guest speaker, and Hazel Shackley

LTC Charles Fandel and Michelle Nash

Courtesy of Christine Frazier

SCHOLARSHIP DONATION FORMPlease accept my/our gift of $______ to support the PMOAA Scholarship Fund. This gift is being made in honor of

Or, in memory of

Donor Information

Name

Address

Phone

Email

Please send an acknowledgment to:

Name

Address

Your gift is tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.

Mail your donation payable to:PMOAA, P.O. Box 17728 Pensacola, FL 32501

Thank you for your support!

LOOKING FOR AN END OF YEAR TAX DEDUCTION?

If you answered yes to this question, here is something you can do – make a donation to the PMOAA Scholarship Fund using the form below. If you don’t have a specific person in mind, you can use the form as a general donation. Thanks for your support.

Nonprofit Org U.S. Postage Paid

Permit No 326 Pensacola, FL

Pensacola Chapter, MOAA P.O. Box 17728

Pensacola, Florida 32501-7728

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pg 1 President's Cornerpg 2 Legislative Affairs pg 3 Legislative Affairs (Cont)pg 3 TAPSpg 4 Singles Grouppg 4 Retired Officers’ Wives & Widows Associationpg 4 PMOAA Board of Directors Meetingpg 5 PMOAA Board of Directors Meeting (Cont)

pg 5 Wreaths Across Americapg 5 Congress & Your Benefitspg 6 Congress & Your Benefits (Cont)pg 6 PMOAA Membership Renewal Formpg 6 November Annual Business Meeting Dinner Menupg 7 PMOAA Photos pg 7 Scholarship Donation Form

What’s Inside…

PMOAA Beacon is published byEvergreen Printing and Mailing

318 Beverly ParkwayPensacola, FL 32505

850.429.0700The Printing Company

PresidentCPT William Clark, USA (Ret)850-380-0762 sf44clark@bellsouth.net

1st Vice President CPT Dean Kirschner, USA (Former)850-458-7988 estdean@cox.net

2nd Vice President       MAJ Molly Werner, USA (Ret)850-474-1291 mc4werner@aol.com

Secretary RADM Joan M. Engel, USN (Ret)850-473-9899 joanengel221@aol.com

Treasurer LCDR Trumin Brown, USN (Ret)850-932-0370 trumin.brown@att.net

Chair, Survivor Assistance CommitteeCAPT Bill Mayer, USN (Ret)850-932-5999 pinskr1@aol.com

Alternate Chair, Survivor Assistance CommitteeLtCol Charles MacDonald, USAF (Ret)850-490-1259 brbrmcdnld@gmail.com

Immediate Past PresidentVacant

DIRECTORSCOL Michael Cook, USA (Ret)850-916-7338 candmcook@aol.com

LT Daniel Grace, USN (Former) 850-444-4947 1036dangrace@att.net

LtCol Charles MacDonald, USAF (Ret)850-490-1259 brbrmcdnld@gmail.com

LTC William Derr, USA (Ret) 850-457-1987 wrderr@aol.com