Tennessee Council of Chapters Military Officers Association of America

Transcription

1 Tennessee Council of Chapters Military Officers Association of America Minutes of the Meeting 20 July 2016 Tennessee Council of Chapters, MOAA met 20 July 2016 at the Ward Agriculture Center, Building C in Lebanon, TN with 14 members present as follows: Chattanooga: Ray Adkins, Billy Hewitt, Grady Rhoden East Tennessee: No Representative Ft. Campbell: Ivan Adames, Warren Evans, Howard French, Eddie Sumbler, Bill Summers General Andrew Jackson: John Lloyd, Memphis: Jim Thomasson Middle TN: Doug Minton, Patricia Bergquist Mountain Empire: No Representative Stones River: No Representative Sumner County: Steve Petersen Upper Cumberland: Russ Schubert IMPORTANT! OCTOBER MEETING DATE LOCATION IN THE MINUTES! We were delighted to have the following ladies from the Ft. Campbell Chapter as our guests at this meeting: Mrs. Nancy Evans, Chapter Auxiliary Liaison and spouse of Warren Evans, and Mrs. Eunice Sumbler, spouse of Eddie Sumbler. COL Doug Minton called the meeting to order at 11:10am. He welcomed everyone and reported that LCDR Kathy Desjarlais, TN CoC President, sends her regards as she is attending the Military Women s National Convention. He stated that COL Barry Wright from MOAA Councils and Chapters visited two chapters in the last month. Doug led the pledge to the flag and Chaplain Eddie Sumbler delivered our opening prayer. Minutes of the 27 April 2016 minutes were accepted as submitted. Despite the fact that the 27 January 2016 TN Council Meeting Minutes were redistributed after the last meeting, several still have not received them. Acceptance of those minutes was held in abeyance until the October meeting. A copy of those minutes will be redistributed with minutes of today s meeting. Jim Thomasson, Treasurer, reported that we received $50 from the MOAA travel company and expended $14.35 for coffee and cups. $6, is our current balance. Patricia Bergquist, Surviving Spouse Liaison, reported that the SBP/DIC Offset Repeal (H.R and S. 979) continues to be a big issue. H.R has 206 co-sponsors and S.979 has 31. The current Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) is scheduled to sunset in October H.R.4519 would provide a 5-year extension of Page 1 of 6

2 the sunset giving Congress more time to find the funds to fully eliminate the offset. We need to continue efforts to obtain co-sponsors for the bills to fully repeal the offset. If the full offset repeal is not possible, then Congress needs to support and fund H.R to extend the SSIA for the five-year period. Tennessee Congressmen who have not co-sponsored H.R are: Phil Roe, John Duncan, Chuck Fleischmann, and Stephen Fincher. If one of these is your Congressman, please contact him and ask for his co-sponsorship and support for the House bills. Full repeal of the offset is the ultimate goal at MOAA National. However, extension of the SSIA must occur if funds cannot be identified to accomplish the full offset. Otherwise 15 years of work will be wasted! COL Steve Strobridge and COL Phil Odom met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid s staff recently, to try and garner support for an increase in the SSIA. Since it is difficult for Armed Services Committee to identify the right kind of funding offsets to raise the SSIA (without raising Rx copays), they asked the top leaders to find non-hasc/sasc offsets to allocate the SSIA. General Atkins says that it is a long shot, but MOAA feels obligated to try. Patricia reported on a teleconference initiated by members of Hillary Clinton s National Security Campaign staff with several surviving spouses along with others well versed on the SBP/DIC Offset issue. Trumps campaign staff was offered the same opportunity, but to date they have not responded. Bill Summers, Legislative Liaison, reported that they are gearing up for the 2 nd consolidated Veterans Legislative Day at the Tennessee Capitol Hill on February 8, Everyone needs to think of points they would like to see considered. They want to present only two points. Currently, the two items for consideration are 1) increase the property value exclusion to $175,000 for handicapped, 100% disabled veterans; and 2) preference for hiring veterans by private industry. They are in the process of contacting other veteran organizations in the State, and they are looking for a consensus among the veterans groups on the two points. This should occur within the next three weeks and then it will be socialized among the groups. The TN Department of Veterans Services has secured the War Memorial Building for the event. Senator Green and others have offered to donate funds for lunch. Leaders are working on how to improve the process as opposed to last year. Veterans prefer the personal one on one meeting. An emergency team will be needed this year to follow all the committee meetings. It is election time and a good time to ask County Trustees who are running for office where they stood on bills impacting the 100% disabled, handicapped veterans group. There was discussion about veterans no longer getting veterans preference for jobs at the federal level. Page 2 of 6

3 Doug stated that we had been relying on Pete for food at our meetings for a long time and that a thank you would be appropriate. CW4 Pete Norman was presented the MOAA Certificate of Appreciation. Doug requested that the Chapters find a way to get everyone to sign-up for MOAA Legislative Updates and click on the Take Action button to send to their Congressmen and Senators. This along with phone calls and letters is monitored in the legislative offices in Washington. We need to push within our chapters for members to sign-up. During Barry Wright s recent visit, he reported that MOAA has 34 councils and 409 active chapters and 390 of them have a Legislative Liaison. Further, program reviews are ongoing indefinitely. General Atkins looks at ROI and some programs do not bring a return on investment to MOAA National such as the Gold Bar Program. Chapters can continue to do these programs, but the burden will be on the chapters. On future symposiums, MOAA will fund the MOAA member, but not the spouse. The duration has been shortened to 1 ½ days training. They are working on how to cover more chapters with less cost to MOAA National. Doug provided a handout on the MOAA Membership Incentives Model to everyone in attendance. A copy of the document is attached to these minutes. Highlights are as follows: Every chapter should be signed-up for the EFT. Legislative Affairs Officers must be identified in order to receive any of the MOAA National rebates back to the chapter. Chapter Rosters must be submitted annually. 95% retention rate on the roster offers chapters a $250 incentive. Use the MOAA website link to report every new member. The chapter voucher program works when MOAA voucher is brought to the chapter for submission to MOAA National for the appropriate rebate. It is complex. Howard French suggested the voucher program is worthy of a newsletter note so members understand what it is and how it works. Page 3 of 6

4 USAA sponsorship funds are available for community service projects. Remember that once allocated funds are expended no further requests are honored. So, requests should be made early (last quarter of year for the following year). Online dues payments have been simplified and now allows contribution to MOAA scholarship fund with credit to chapter. MOAA Connect and Chapter Crossfeed was inactivated effective June 1, Be sure to read the Council and Chapter Affairs Updates and other information sent out by Barry Wright to keep up to date on changes at MOAA. John Lloyd reported that a lot is going on at the James E. Ward Agriculture Center with a contract between them and a major hotel, a by-pass to be developed, etc. A new Veterans Center which will house a VSO and staff with a meeting place along with a Veterans Museum, and a nice, but small Veterans Park is being built in Lebanon. There is a good chance for us to meet there if things do not work out at the J. E. Ward Agriculture Center (space available is part of the agreement). John predicts our October Meeting will be here and the January 2017 meeting at the new Veterans Center at the Courthouse. Updated information will be given in the future. Warren Evans reported that the Ft. Campbell Chapter distributes a directory every two years, and they are getting ready to put out the directory. Two years ago, the Council bought an ad and he hopes the Council will again. There was conversation about the Council supporting activities of individual chapters. Jim Thomasson made a motion that the TN CoC not fund ongoing activities at the chapter level. Motion seconded by Russ Schubert. Vote by each Chapter President: 6 yes and 1 abstained. Motion approved. Ray Adkins reported that Hamilton County authorized a Veteran Service Officer. Also, a State Representative is working toward funding a Veterans Court for Hamilton County. He and several others have been mentoring a veterans court. Veterans Courts are running in the following counties: Davidson, Montgomery, Rutherford, and Shelby. Doug requested that those who are mentoring put together a paper on lessons learned and how it is working. Ray stated that there is a lady in Nashville who trains and certifies mentors, and he will get her information to Doug. As is the tradition of the TN Council, each Chapter President or representative shared an update of their Chapter recent activities as follows: Chattanooga - Billy Hewitt reported that they have 180 members. Over the years they have funded $30,000 in scholarships. This year they had 140 in attendance with 30 Page 4 of 6

5 people sponsoring ROTC Cadets at the event. Ray Atkins has been working on the Veterans Court and they hope it will be successful. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann will speak at their August meeting on military issues and what is going on in Congress. Ray Atkins added that Chattanooga is working on a monument for the cemetery. Governor Haslam will be their speaker in October. Billy reported on their connection with the Southeast Veterans Coalition. Ft. Campbell - Ivan Adames, Chapter President, reported they have 220 members and on several speakers they have had recently. The breakfast with the former Mayor of Clarksville had 60 veterans in attendance. Their August meeting will be held at the TN Veterans Home, Clarksville. The Welcome Home Parade is scheduled for September 15 th. Retiree Appreciation Day is September 24 th. State Representative, Joe Pitts, is speaking in October. General Andrew Jackson - John Lloyd, Chapter President, reported they have 30 members. They are working to raise funds to support a ROTC Program in Wilson County (Watertown). The chapter has met at McKendree Towers since day one with no problem. The Towers changed hands and there were some issues. They had an option to move their meetings to The Hermitage. McKendree management heard about it and made them an offer they could not refuse. Memphis - Jim Thomasson reported that they have 140 but only 20% of those attend monthly meetings. They are conducting a survey of the members to ascertain what they want (breakfast meetings, lunch, alternate locations, etc.) to try and address the problem. Military Retiree Day is September 17 th. A joint dinner meeting with two other organizations is planned for November 10 th at Crescent Center with Brigadier General Dan Cherry as speaker. Land for the West TN Veterans Home has been provided in Arlington. August 12 th a Gala will be held to raise $25,000 at the Great Hall in Germantown. Middle TN Chapter - Doug Minton reported that the chapter has 274 members. This month LTG Keith Huber, USA (Ret) and will speak on Nashville Serving Veterans Community Board. New chapter member, John McDevitt, will speak in August about Life at a US Embassy. In September, COL John Krenson, Executive Officer, OSDTN will be the speaker. Chapter has paid off three national scholarships, and has a $1,000 scholarship at both Belmont and Lipscomb to aid a veteran student. Scholarships are funded by our chapter members with each member being asked to contribute $25. Sumner County - Steve Petersen, Chapter President, reported they have 67 active members. Richard Smith, a long time member, died Saturday. They are working with Sumner County Veterans Council. They meet every other month at the VFW and ask for donations of canned goods to be brought to the meeting. However, the VFW can get them cheaper. So, they ask members to bring a check. Page 5 of 6

6 Upper Cumberland Chapter - Russ Schubert, Chapter President, reported they have 65 members. Barry Wright attended their luncheon meeting. They have participated with other veteran organizations for the last six months toward a 9/11 Memorial, and they raised a little over $10,000. The bronze memorial is being constructed now. A little more was donated by individuals than corporations. Those in the Veterans Court go into a 2 year program at the facility. The Chapter donates coats, purchases boots, etc. as the veterans work while they are in the program. Doug gave everyone background on OSDTN and explained their services, events, etc. Patricia offered that there is an opportunity for area chapters to donate clothing, underwear, socks, coffee, sugar, or creamer for the events held in the Spring and Fall. The MOAA Coin was brought up again. Doug stated that Kathy floated the idea at the last meeting. If anyone is interested, let Kathy know. It is an issue of return on the value of the coin. Clarksville has the coin and they sell them for $10 but their investment is $6. Upper Cumberland has them too and gives them to speakers. Ivan Adames reminded everyone about the flyers on each table: 1) 101 st Airborne Division Pathfinder Inactivation proposed for August 1 and 2 in Clarksville, and 2) Welcome Home Stars and Stripes in Bloomfield, MO. Our next meeting is scheduled for 19 October 2016 at 11:00am, the Ward Agriculture Center, Building C, in Lebanon (Note: If building location changes, you will be notified). Meeting adjourned at 1:45pm. Minutes prepared by Patricia Bergquist, Secretary and Council Auxiliary Liaison Respectfully Submitted by Doug Minton, 1 st VP, TN Council of Chapters Page 6 of 6