FRA BRANCH 126 NEWS FOR JUNE 2012
PRESIDENT PRESIDENT WEST JAX
FRA BRANCH 126 FLEET RESERVE HALL INC
JAMES J. THOMAS ALVIN D. ROBY
Phone 291-1575 Phone 264-6270
VICE PRESIDENT UNIT 126 PRESIDENT
HERMAN ELROD VERALYN THOMAS
Phone 655-2211 Phone 291-1575
SECRETARY BRANCH CHAPLAIN
DONALD F. WALSH VON R. MITCHELL
Phone 282-4650 Phone 291-7885
TREASURER / EDITOR MEMBERHIP
WILLIAM T. KULIER EDWARD H. GRIBBIN
Phone 771-5237 Phone 269-3845
ADDRESS ALL MAIL TO: FLEET RESERVE HALL, 7673 BLANDING BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32244-5111
BRANCH HALL TELEPHONE (904) 771-2126 WEB SITE: http://westjaxfrabranch126.yolasite.com/
JUNE 2012 EDITION
NOTICE: The items or opinions published in the Branch 126 Newsletter are those of the contributor of that particular article, and not necessarily that of the Editor, FRA Branch 126 Inc., or the Fleet Reserve Association.
Branch 126 Salutes:
Shipmate William C.B. Gibbons of Tampa, Florida for achieving 60 YEARS of Continuous Membership in the Fleet Reserve Association!
Shipmate Joseph P. Fowler of Jacksonville, Florida for achieving 50 YEARS of Continuous Membership in the Fleet Reserve Association!
JUNE 2012
Saturday 02 Jun 0900 Installation of Branch/Unit Officers
Saturday 02 Jun 1130 Installation Dinner (see page 2)
Monday 04 Jun 1930 West Jax BOD meeting
Wednesday 06 Jun 1930 Branch 126 Board of Directors meeting
Thursday 14 Jun Flag Day! Fly your Flag!
Saturday 17 Jun All Day! Happy Fathers Day!
Thursday 21 Jun 2000 Branch Meeting
MU3 Benjamin Stewart, Navy Band Southeast, played “TAPS” following a Gun Salute by Navy Ceremonial Guard Shipmates AM1 John Rezaie, ABH3 Candice Singleton, AEAA Alex McIntire and RP3 Jacky Mendez during the Branch Memorial Day Observance at the Branch Hall on 27 May 2012.
July 2012
Mon 02 July 1930 West Jax BOD
Wed 04 July TBA Independence Day Parade (page 2)
Wed 11 July 1930 Branch 126 BOD
Thur 19 Jul 2000 Branch Meeting
Photo by Veralyn Thomas
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FRA BRANCH 126 NEWS FOR JUNE 2012
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FRA BRANCH 126 NEWS FOR JUNE 2012
THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER
JAMES J. THOMAS …….…291-1575
1. Welcome Aboard to our new Shipmates who transferred in from Membership at Large:
James A. Gold
Roy Trammel
2. Branch elections were held at the Branch meeting of 17 May 2012 with result as follows:
President: ………...………... James J. Thomas
Vice President: …………………...…. Jack Elrod
Secretary: ………………..…. …. Donald Walsh
Treasurer: ...…………………….…….. Bill Kulier
Board of Directors:
Clinton Attebery Edward Gribbin Albert Kehne Albert Peter David Pippin Al Roby Donald Rodely E. W. Sawley
The newly elected Officers will be installed at an Installation Ceremony in the Hall starting at 0900 on 2 June 2012.
3. The Shipmates of Branch 126 will host an Installation Luncheon in honor of the newly installed Branch and Unit Officers following the Installation Ceremony at the Olive Garden restaurant on Blanding Blvd in Orange Park, Florida.
This is a closed function for Branch & Unit 126 members and their significant other. Please remember that we have some Shipmates and Ladies who would like to attend our functions, but have driving issues. Give them a call and bring them along whenever possible.
4. We are tentatively scheduled to participate in the Independence Day Parade in Clay County, FL. We will have more information in the July newsletter.
To All Shipmates - Loyalty, Protection and Service. J. J. Thomas
We Thank Carmela T of Summerville, Florida for her generous donation to our news letter fund.
We appreciate you support!
THE EDITORS COLUMN
Bill Kulier ……………… (904) 771-5237
1. We have a Branch 126 Web Page located at http://westjaxfrabranch126.yolasite.com/. This site was developed and is maintained by former Branch 126 Shipmate John Higgins who now lives in the Pensacola, Florida area and is the VP of Branch 22. He is doing a great job for Branch 126. Check it out!
2. Do you need a new military or dependent ID Card? Then make an appointment on line at http://appointments.cac.navy.mil.
Note: You need to be within 30 days of expiration to renew an existing military retiree or dependent ID card.
3. FRA Life Membership rates are listed on the back of the Life Membership Form available in the Hall and on the Branch 126 Web Page. Life membership saves money as you pay a lump sum (in one or two year payments) and you are set for life. Moreover, this helps the Branch and the FRA as we spend a lot of money on the annual membership renewal process.
4. Your Life Membership entitles your spouse to receive FRA Today after you report to the Staff of the Supreme Commander.
5. TheNational Do Not Call Registry is open for business. The Federal government created the national registry to make it easier for you to stop getting telemarketing calls you don’t want. You can register online at WWW.DONOTCALL.GOV or call toll-free, 1-888-382-1222 from the number you wish to register. Registration is free.
You may place your personal cell phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. The registry has accepted cell phone numbers since it opened for registrations in June 2003. There is no deadline to register a home or cell phone number on the Registry. You may have received an email telling you that your cell phone is about to be assaulted by telemarketing calls as a result of a new cell phone number database; however, that is not the case. Federal Communications Commission regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers.
6. The Branch monthly newsletter is available online, by US Mail and on the internet at http://westjaxfrabranch126.yolasite.com/.
Bill Kulier
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FRA BRANCH 126 NEWS FOR JUNE 2012
BRANCH ACTIVITIES
AL Roby …………………264-6270 James J. Thomas …………... 291-1575
1. Tropical storm Beryl forced the Branch 126 annual Memorial Day Observance indoors on Sunday, 27 May 2012. The day started with Shipmate Elrod and his working party moving chairs, tables and assorted items to set up at Jacksonville Memory Gardens Cemetery. Then came the rain and everything was returned to the Hall. Branch President Thomas and Americanism Chairman Dave Pippin did some fast coordination to get the Firing Squad, Bugler, guest speaker and Times Union news team to the Hall.
The Ceremony started on time and everything went as planned. It was a beautiful ceremony well received by all who attended. Past Branch President Frederick “Pete” Petersen, now a resident of Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Ms., said it had been 35 years since we had been forced into the Hall for a Memorial Day Observance.
We had great newspaper coverage with colored photos of the ceremony on the front page of the Metro Section of the Times Union Newspaper on Memorial Day. Pictured (l-R) are Fleming Island High School NJROTC Color Guard Cadets Devin Summerhays, George Tribble, Brittany Cassidy and Russel Whitaker.
2. The Branch publishes a Memorial Booklet listing the names of the Shipmates and Ladies who passed between mid May of the past and current year on the inside front cover. These names were read as the Ship’s Bell was Tolled by Shipmate C. B. Stilwell. The names of all deceased Branch 126 Shipmates and Ladies are also listed in the booklet. Copies of the Program and booklet are available at the Hall.
Families of recently deceased Shipmates and Ladies who are unable to get to the Hall or live outside the Jacksonville area can contact the Editor to obtain a copy of the Memorial Day Booklet.
3. The FRA Southeast Regional Convention will be held from 22-26 August 2012 at the Radison Hotel, 5991 Rivers Ave, North Charleston, SC. The room rate is $89.00 plus 13.5 % tax. Reservations must be made directly to the Hotel at (843) 744-2501 by 24 July 2012 to receive the preferred group rate. Specify you are making a GROUP RESERVATION under the name of Fleet Reserve Southeast Regional Convention. Ask for the Atrium view to ensure locating with our group. All rooms have refrigerator, microwave, coffee pot, iron & ironing boards. Parking is FREE! Check in is 1500; check out is 1100. See the Branch Bulletin Board for additional information.
4. The FRA National Convention will be held at the Silver Legacy Hotel in Reno, NV from Wednesday, 17 Oct through Sunday 21 October 2012. Room rates are $65 Sunday thru Thursday and $95 Friday and Saturday, plus 13.5% tax. This comes to $87.40 per night for a 5 night stay or $83.51 per night for a 7 night stay Please call 800-687-8733 and give group code FLEET12 for reservations. Spa and internet access included. More info is available on the Branch Bulletin Board in the Hall.
DFAS Scam: Emails are being sent to military members & retirees displaying a dot mil address that is actually from a non-government email account. This is an example of what's called "spoofing." The emails indicate that individuals who are receiving disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may be able to obtain additional funds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The email states that such funds can be obtained by sending copies of your VA award letter, your income tax returns, your 1099-Rs, your RAS statements, and a copy of your DD 214, to a so-called retired Colonel at an address in Florida. These emails are not issued by DFAS and will likely result in a financial loss if you comply with the suggestions in the email.
Do NOT follow the suggestions in the email because you will be providing a significant amount of your personal information to a complete stranger, which could result in a financial loss to you. [Source: http://www.dfas.mil Latest News Apr 2012 ++]
2. Automated IRS System Helps College-Bound Students with Financial Aid Application Process: College-bound students and their parents typically want to make every dollar and every minute of the college experience count including money spent on tuition and time spent on the college financial aid application process. The IRS is helping minimize the time spent on the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form by automating access to federal tax returns with the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. This tool provides the opportunity for applicants to automatically transfer the required tax data onto the FAFSA form. Here are some tips on using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool:
· Eligibility Criteria Taxpayers who wish to use the tool to complete their 2012 FAFSA form must: have filed a 2011 tax return; possess a valid Social Security Number; have a Federal Student Aid PIN (individuals who don’t have a PIN, will be given the option to apply for one through the FAFSA application process); have not changed marital status since Dec. 31, 2011.
· Exceptions If any of the following conditions apply to the student or parents, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool can not be used for the 2012 FAFSA application: an amended tax return was filed for 2011; no federal tax return for 2011 has been filed ; the federal tax filing status on the 2011 return is married filing separately; a
Puerto Rican or other foreign tax return has been filed.
· Alternatives If the IRS Data Retrieval Tool can not be used it may be necessary to obtain an official transcript from the IRS. To order tax return or tax account transcripts, visit www.irs.gov and select Order a Transcript or call the Transcript toll-free line at 1-800-908-9946.
Important information regarding tax credits and deductions for qualifying tuition, materials and fees is available at the IRS Tax Benefits for Education: Information Center and in IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education both of which are available at www.IRS.gov.
The Bathtub Test
During a visit to my doctor, I asked him, "How do you determine whether or not an older person should be put in an old age home?"
"Well," he said, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the person and tell them to empty the bathtub."
"Oh, I understand," I said. "A normal person would use the bucket because it is bigger than the spoon or the teacup."
"No" he said. "A normal person would pull the plug…………….
Do you want a bed near the window?"
The Medical Equipment locker: We have many wheel chairs loaned out with a few available for check out at this time. These are high demand items so please be sure to bring them back as soon as you are done with them. We also have a good supply of canes, crutches, potty chairs & assorted equipment to loan out.
Contact Shipmate Johnny Johnson at 771-1736 to check out wheel chairs or other medical equipment.
The Ship’s Store
Al Peter ……………. (904) 777-0781
Branch 126 Apparel
Ball Hat ………..… $6.00
Polo Shirt (Blue) … $27.00, size S, M, L, XL
Bowling Shirt ……. $41.00, sizes, M thru 3XL
Fore n Aft Cap ….. $45.00 & Up (special order
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FRA BRANCH 126 NEWS FOR JUNE 2012
We Thank Joan N of Jacksonville, Florida for her generous donation to our news letter fund.
We appreciate you support!
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FRA BRANCH 126 NEWS FOR JUNE 2012
Branch 126 Membership Report
Edward Gribbin …….…….269-3845
Branch 126 Membership on 30 April 2012 is 492
New Members………………………....0
Reinstated Members…………………..0
Transferred Members………………...2
Terminated Members…………………2
Deceased Members………………....2
Non payment of dues……………….0
Members Past due…………………...... 5
Shipmates due to renew membership....25
Deceased Shipmates:
1. AMCS Theodore A. Niermann, USN, Retired
2. AK1 Von R. Mitchell, USN, Retired
Ed Gribbin
IN MEMORY OF OUR DEPARTED SHIPMATES
Shipmate YN1 Richard F. Smith, USNR, Retired, age 53, an FRA member since 2010, reported to the Staff of the Supreme Commander on 29 March 2012.
He retired after 20 years of active Naval Service.