Shipmate’s Report
FRA Branch 99 Newsletter
SERVING ACTIVE DUTY, FORMER ACTIVE DUTY AND RETIRED MEMBERS OF
THE UNITED STATES NAVY, MARINE CORPS AND COAST GUARD SINCE 1967
DAYTIME OFFICE PHONES: 499-6650/499-1155 BRANCH WEB SITE: www.fra99.org
Branch Officers: Corporation Officers:
President - Martin Wood Chairman- Daniel Kenney
(479-1812- (499-1155 –
Vice President – Edward Rainey Vice Chairman-C.R. Holmes
(499-1155- (499-1155 –
Secretary Edward Filipowski Secretary- Michael L.T. Quinn
(490-0618 (499-1155-
Treasurer- Venetta Charles Treasurer-Robert Meeker
(499-1155) (499-1155 –
Chaplain- Adrian Knight
439-2606 –
Newsletter Editor- Michael L.T. Quinn
376-8698
Website Mgr- Edward O. Rainey
373-3454
Volume 31 Issue No 3 May-June 2015
The Prez Sez:
Shipmates:
Branch 99 is holding elections at the branch home May 13, 2015 at 19:00.
All branch positions are open except for branch treasurer. We are in need of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and 8 directors. Please bring your membership cards to vote if you do not have one we can verify you thru the system but much easier for all with membership card.
Shipmates we must try to recruit and bring back past due and suspended shipmates to our branch. There is strength in numbers and lets be strong together.
Here are some of the highlights of the President Obama's budget taken from the March 2015 FRA magazine. Capping military pay increases at 1.3 percent for FY 2016. Creating an annual enrollment fee for new Tricare for Life beneficiaries. Merging Tricare Standard, Prime and Extra into one consolidated health care plan. Requiring all retirees to use home delivery or a Military Treatment Facility for maintenance drugs. Increasing Tricare annual fees and pharmacy co-pays for retirees under age 65. Creating a small co-pay ($10) for retirees using Military Treatment Facility. Requiring active duty family members to pay a co-pay for Tricare Services. Reducing Base Allowance for Housing payments by 6 percent. Cutting the commissary budget from $1.3 billion to $400 million in 3 years with only stateside commissaries being cut.
Shipmates as you can see there are no pay or benefits across the board retired, active duty or reserved members that are immune to the chopping block.
There will be an open house at our branch home 357 Edwin Drive on May 16, 2015 at 08:00 till whenever. Please mark this important date.
Shipmates we must remember what the government gives the government can take away.
Woody
Words of Wisdom from the Vice President
I encourage you all to get involved with your FRA, Elections are held in May. Volunteer or nominate someone who will help turn around the continuing losses of members that we’re seeing. If you have any ideas or suggestions to improve retention of current members please share them with me or the President.
We had our Annual Awards Ceremony for the FRA Americanism and Patriotism Contest. If you weren’t there you missed a good one including a moving speech by our Guest of Honor (Jim Campbell), NJROTC Group from Green Run High School, reading of the winning essays and of course an excellent meal. Awards presented:
· First Place $500 Cash
· Second Place $200 Cash
· Third Place $100 Cash
· The Overall Winner was Lana Casingal of St Matthews Catholic School who was presented an additional check $1000.
· Additional Note Lana also received 2nd Place from the East Coast Regional Contest. Well done!1
ED
Chaplains Corner
Shipmates,
Memorial Day is nearing when we remember our Fallen Warriors from past and present Wars. Take some time ponder the losses and think about what we can do for the families and survivors. Mother’s Day is also approaching, if your mother is still with you take time to thank God for all she has done for you and think of something special that you could do for her. Don’t forget your wives, get her some flowers or maybe take her out to dinner. Lastly, the School year is coming to an end the little ones will out and about so be a bit more cautious on the road
God Bless,
Rev Adrian
S/M Chaplain, Adrian Knight
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
- Membership
New Members:
A Warm Welcome to all new members of Branch 99. Come to the next Branch meeting on May 13th to meet your new Shipmates. Meetings are held at 1900 on the second Wednesday of each month. Please check your calendar. If you come you may win a free meal.
Samuel Cook, William Griffith, Tammy Vaughn and Quint Walker
S/M Vice President Ed Rainey reported there were 22 past due members, 4 newly joined, for a total of 898 active members in good standing.
- TAPS
None reported
- Hospital and Welfare
S/M Chaplain Knight asked that Shipmates learning of a fellow Shipmates illness or need of assistance to please contact him.
- BINGO
Bingo is doing well however, we’re always looking for volunteers to help. If you have time, stop by and give them a hand. Special Note- S/M Steve McCulloch has volunteered to be our new Bingo Manager, Please support him. This is our major source of income!!
- BUDGET and FINANCE
The Budget is balanced and the Branch is in Good Financial Shape.
- KEMPSVILLE BRANCH 99
A TWO BELL CEREMONY Was held, by S/M Chaplain Knight and S/M MAA Dave Moser, in Honor of those Shipmates who have joined the Staff of the Supreme Commander.
- GOOD OF THE ORDER.
Need a volunteer for Coffee Mess Manager- S/M Pete Pfotenhauer volunteered.
Still need a volunteer to replace S/M Lang as Rental Manager (he is retiring). This is a critical need and S/M Lang will provide all necessary training.
East Coast Regional Convention will be held in Fayetteville, NC in July 23-26. More info to follow
Awards presented:
S/M Ed Malana recved 20 Yr Continuous Service Pin
40 Year Continuous Service Pins were presented to
S/M Terry Fahey
S/M James Griffin
S/M George Roe
65 Year Pin and Certificate were mailed to S/M Royce L Costic.
Results of drawings:
One (1) year membership: S/M Ed Rainey
S/M Bob Overholt
Lifetime membership:
S/M- James S. Wilson Not present.
Congratulations to all!
- Coming Events:
05 May- Cinco De Mayo
10 May- Mother’s Day
13 May- Branch Meeting at 7:00PM at the Branch
Election of Officers
25 May- Memorial Day
31 May- Breakfast
10 Jun- Branch Meeting at 7:PM at the Branch
Installation of Officers
14 Jun- Flag Day
21 Jun- Father’s Day
First day of Summer
28 Jun- Breakfast
04 Jul- Independence Day Picnic
08 Jul- Branch Meeting at 7:00PM at the Branch
26 Jul- Breakfast
Local Restaurants Support FRA Branch 99
In a program initiated by our Past President, Charlie Baldwin, local Restaurants are providing donations of dinner meal gift certificates to encourage attendance at Branch General Membership meetings. These certify-cates are presented as prizes in drawings held at Branch meetings. The restaurants’ support of our non-profit veterans association is greatly appreciated. Those that are currently participating are:
Cheeseburger In Paradise
739 Lynnhaven Pkwy. Virginia Beach. NA0
We appreciate the support of these participating restaurants, so when you are dining out, patronize them. And if you go to one of them with a free meal coupon, remember to tip the waiter for the full value of the check, before the discount. (he/she is working hard for a living and is not the one donating the free meal.) Remember to thank the manager on your way out, on behalf of Kempsville Branch 99, FRA.
Other Merchants supporting this program are:
Freedom Ford, North Military Hwy, Norfolk, VA
Meet Your Shipmate
S/M Venetta Charles: QMC, USN Retired.
Was born and raised in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, attended school in Charlotte Amalie and Graduated from Charlotte Amalie High School.
Enlisted in the Navy in February 1989
Recruit Training- Orlando RTC
Quarter Master “A” School Naval Training Center, Orlando FL
USS Sierra AD-18, Charleston, SC
Submarine Training Command, Charleston, SC
USS Frank Cable, AS-40, Charleston, SC
Naval Support Activity, Bahrain
Substance Abuse Coordinator at Kings Bay, Ga
USS Oak Hill LSD 57 in Little Creek Amphibious Base, VA
Singapore CTF-73
USS New York, LPD 21, Little Creek Amphibious Base, VA
Fleet Readiness Command, NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA
Retired in February 2013
Has a Sister on Active Duty Kathleen Colter LCDR currently stationed at Bethesda, MD
Since Retirement she has been attending school, training as a Financial Advisor.
She has a BA in Social Studies from Troy University
Has been a Member of the FRA since 2013 and currently serves as the Treasurer of Branch 99
Greet her and give a warm welcome the next time you see her.
News of Interest to Veterans
·VA Expands Choice Program: VA has heard us loud and clear. You continually told us through surveys and direct inquires that measuring distance “as the crow flies” is not aligned with the realities of traveling to a VA medical center and asked that it be changed. Earlier this year, We told the President of the United States, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Congress and the American public that the Veterans Choice Program should calculate distance “as the crow drives” not “as the crow flies.” The concerns and advocacy of FRA members has led to a significant change, which will give nearly 300,000 veterans the opportunity to choose whether to receive their health care closer to home or travel to the nearest VA medical facility.
The VA has announced it will change the way distance is calculated for the Veterans Choice Program from straight-line distance to driving distance.The change is effective immediately. The nearly 300,000 veterans affected by this change will receive a letter informing them that they are now eligible. If you believe you are eligible or did not receive a Choice Card in the mail, you can contact 1-866-606-8198 for more information.
This is one of two changes to the 40-mile rule veterans seek. This change fails to address the travel burden faced by veterans who live within 40 miles (driving distance) of a VA medical facility, but are required to travel more than 40 miles to receive health care.In an opinion editorial to the Wall Street Journal, Commander Stroud wrote “It is absolutely unthinkable to expect any veteran to travel such distances for treatment, especially knowing that non-VA care is readily available much closer to home.” The FRA will continue to advocate for the second change to be made.
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Hearing on Health Bills: The House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health held a hearing to discuss legislation related to VA health care.The bills considered by the Subcommittee would improve research on service-related toxic wounds, expand the infertility treatment VA is authorized to offer severely injured veterans, streamline VA’s ability to purchase nursing home care, and expand other successful VA programs. To view the hearing and read the testimony, visit: http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/legislative-hearing-1.
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Hearing on Women Veterans: The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a hearing to evaluate the benefits and services VA provides women veterans. The Committee heard from women veterans who shared their experiences receiving VA health care and offered suggestions on how to improve the care and benefits VA provides women veterans.To view the hearing and read the testimony, visit:
http://www.veterans.senate.gov/hearings/fulfilling-the-promise-to-women-veterans04212015.
House Committee Holds Hearing on VA Misman--agement: On Wednesday, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a hearing investigating mismanagement allegations at the Philadelphia and Oakland VA Regional Offices. This was a heated hearing with whistleblowers describing their work conditions and alleged VA leadership wrongdoing, and VA officials describing what they are doing to fix the problems. To watch the hearing and read testimony, visit:
http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/philadelphia-and-oakland-systemic-failures-and-mismanagement.
New Bill Would Expand Caregiver Benefits: Recently, the FRA was onhand for a press conference announcing the introduction of the Military and Veterans Caregiver Services Improvement Act of 2015.Introduced simultaneously in both the Senate and the House by Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Representative Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), this legislation would greatly enhance the support provided to family caregivers of veterans who were severely disabled in service.Currently, VA provides financial assistance, medical training, health care and other services to caregivers of severely injured Post-9/11 veterans.The Military and Veterans Caregiver Services Improvement Act would greatly enhance this program by providing the same benefits to caregivers of severely disabled veterans of all eras, as well as by improving the current program in several ways. The FRA strongly supports the bill, believing that severely wounded veterans of all conflicts have made incredible sacrifices and that the family members who care for them are equally deserving of recognition and support.To learn more about the bill, visit Senator Murray’s website by going to this website:
http://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ID=60ae38cb-4368-4fd8-85a0-df335bcd25b1.
Purple Heart Benefits: Now that Congress changed the law to expand Purple Heart eligibility to those wounded or killed in attacks motivated by foreign terrorist organizations, the Army announced it will extend all possible benefits to the military victims of the 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, Texas and outside a recruiting station in Little Rock, Ark. Among the benefits is payment of hostile fire pay for those Purple Heart recipients "killed, injured or wounded" in the attack, as well as combat-related special compensation for retired soldiers whose disability is attributable to an injury for which they were awarded the medal.
V-E Day 70th Anniversary: A ceremony to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day will be held at the National World War II Memorial in Washington on May 8 at 10:30 a.m. All WWII veterans are invited to attend and be recognized for their service and sacrifice. Representatives from the U.S. and allied nations will be laying wreaths, followed by a multi-aircraft flyover of vintage warbirds. The WWII Memorial has very few disability parking spaces, and street parking will be extremely limited since it’s the tourist season and May 8 is a workday. Taxis to the memorial are plentiful and recommended, and the two closest Metro stations, Federal Triangle and Smithsonian, are both about a half-mile away. RSVP your attendance to the ceremony at: http://www.wwiimemorialfriends.org/v-e-day-70th-anniversary.