Middle Tennessee Chapter News Letter May 2008 Editors: Paul & Bob MOAA Middle Tennessee Chapter Meeting The next Middle Tennessee Chapter meeting of MOAA will be held on May 27, 2008 Tuesday, 11:30 AM  The Hermitage 4580 Rachel's Lane Nashville, TN 37076 Tour The Hermitage Home of President Andrew Jackson   We have a road trip scheduled at  The Hermitage for a backstage tour of the home of Andrew Jackson, our seventh President.  We will meet at the Hermitage at 1130 Hours, enjoy a box lunch and then proceed with the tour until appreosimately 1500 Hours. The box lunch and entrance to the Hermitage will be at each member's expense.  The entrance cost is estimated at $12.00 for our group. Please call John Ohlinger if ou planto attend the Hermitage Tour and luncheon.  His number is 615-595-7628 or send him an email at: Johlinger@att.net. Directions The Hermitage is located on 4580 Rachel's Lane in Nashville.  Turn north on Briley Parkway to Lebanon Pike then turn east on Lebanon Pike  (Highway 70) until you reach Rachel's Lane.  When you arrive ample free parking is available in the lot adjacent to the Andrew Jackson Visitor Center, with a separate lot for buses, motor coaches, and RVs. All tours of The Hermitage begin at the Andrew Jackson Visitor Center. Be sure to allow at least two hours to enjoy the full tour. May 24, 2008 Saturday, 10:00 AM Memorial Day Ceremony Middle Tennessee Veteran's Cemetery The annual Middle Tennessee Chapter Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at the McCrory Lane Veteran's Cemetery at 1000 hours.  The ceremony will be conducted at the main large flag pole this year due to construction activities at the chapel.  A tent will be provided with seats for the observers.  All chapter members are urged to attend and wearing of uniforms is authorized and encouraged. Williamson County WWII Honor Flight An organization has been established in Williamson County, TN, called Honor Flight Volunteers, for the purpose of fulfilling the Mission Statement of Honor Flight Network, which is as follows: “The purpose of the Honor Flight Network is to transport America’s Veterans to Washington, DC, to visit those memorials dedicated to honor their sacrifices,” The Honor Flight Volunteers will fly Williamson County World War II veterans at no cost on a round-trip flight with meals. They will be seated and flown upon a “first-come, first-serve basis.” “First-come” is based upon the arrival of the veterans application at Honor Flight Volunteers headquarters located: 111 Valley Ridge Road, Franklin, TN 37064-5261. We need a significant amount of help in funding and locating individuals who will agree to serve as guardians on the trip and pay for their ticket cost. The first estimate for transporting 105 veterans, 35 Guardians, an MD, EMT, and other assistance personnel on a US Airways charter, is $60,000.00. Twenty percent must be paid by June 2nd and the balance 30 days before the flight, Wednesday, September 24, 2008. You are urged to support this project with a contribution. Please mail your check to: Honor Flight, Veterans Of Foreign Wars, Post Number 4893, 101 Eddy Lane, Franklin, TN 37064-2936. Please mail any questions to:Honor Flight Volunteers, 111 Valley Ridge Road, Franklin, TN 37064-5261. Paul Fleenor, COL, USANG Retired NEW MEMBERS A hearty welcome to the following new member of the Middle Tennessee Chapter of MOAA. Commander Matthew Grahl, USN     MOAA’s Eight Purposes Inculcate and stimulate love of our country and the flag. Defend the honor, integrity, and supremacy of our national government and constitution. Advocate military forces adequate to the defense of the United States. Foster the integrity and prestige of the uniformed services. Foster fraternal relations among all service branches. Further the education of children of service personnel. Aid service members and their families and survivors. Present their rights and interests when service matters are under consideration. MTC Board Meeting Notes Our Monthly Board Meeting was held on May 6th at the National Guard Association of Tennessee. Our membership sits at 304 members as of May 1, 2008.  If you know of an Officer that would like to test the waters with our free 1st year membership, bring them to a meeting!   As of May 1st, we have 258 members who have renewed their membership for 2008 including  initial free memberships.  Your newsletter mailing label will indicate the year 2008 if you have not paid your dues.   Our April speaker, Ron Howse did an excellent job of showing how the weather has changed in Nashville, and what it is like to be a weatherman in this market.  An entertaining speaker, beautiful weather and a very good crowd made the April meeting a big success! Following the May Tour & Meeting, we have the following schedule of Chapter meetings to look forward to: June 24 - MG Jim Bassham, USAF retired and current Director of TEMA will speak to us on state planning for a potential earthquake along the New Madrid Fault.  July 22 - No regular meeting is scheduled. The TN Council of Chapters is currently planning a State MOAA Conference, to be held at Arnold AFB in Tullahoma, TN on 10-12 October 2008.  The close proximity of the conference should generate a good turnout. Your Board has determined that it is time to publish a new MTC Member Directory.  We plan to prepare the roster for the printer this month.  Email or mail any last minute changes to Doug Minton (mintond@comcast.net). We have a new location for the monthly MTC Board Meeting. It is at the National Guard Association of Tennessee (NGAT) Office, 4332 Kenilwood Drive, Nashville, TN 37204.  If you would like to join us and would like additional directions please feel free to call Doug Minton at 415-6816. The next MTC Board meeting will be Tuesday, 1 April 2008 at 0700 hours. Doug Minton Col, AUS, Retired Chairman, Middle Tennessee Chapter, MOAA Middle Tennessee Chapter of MOAA By-Laws The link below displays a current copy of the January 2008 By-Laws as adopted by the Chapter.  Current Middle Tennessee Chapter By-Laws 2008 Chapter Annual Dues Your Chapter dues for 2008 are now due. Regular members are $15.00 and Auxiliary members are $5.00. If you are a new member who joined after September 2007 your 2008 dues are free.   Send your check made out to: Secretary Middle TN Chapter, MOAA P. O. Box 50252 Nashville, TN 37205-0252   Note: If your newsletter label indicates dues paid thru 01/01/2009 then your dues are paid for 2008.   Regular members are: retired officers, active duty officers, and former officers who were separated under conditions acceptable to the Board of Directors. Auxiliary members are: widows and widowers of any deceased individuals, who would be eligible for membership. MTC MOAA Scholarship Update Middle Tennessee Chapter Scholarship Fund Drive of 2008 This year’s Scholarship Fund Drive has started! Look for a letter in your mail very soon with information about the current status of the Middle Tennessee Chapter Scholarship program. Your support of this program has been great and our first graduate, Lt. Leigh Overby, USAF Surgical Nurse is now on active duty at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. This important program is helping to educate our service children and prepare them to take their place among our country’s leaders of tomorrow. Your continued support is very important. BG Jerry Brophy, USA and COL Hap Macintire, USA   If you're not familiar with the application process for your respective service, there are a large number of former ROTC CO's in our chapter who would be happy to get you the appropriate information. Your encouragement to a family member or neighbor might be just the influence needed to have someone consider a scholarship application so take advantage of the local expertise and ask!   Designated Scholarship Program Middle Tennessee Chapter 2003-2008 First Designated Scholarship   2007 Leigh Overby (First Graduate)   2008 Mark Young Second Designated Scholarship    2008 Robin Overby LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Capt Bob Jenkins May 2008 Two topics of concern that congress is looking for agreement on in this legislative update. The Senate Armed Services Committee approved its version of the FY2009 Defense Authorization Act on April 30. Among many initiatives, the committee’s bill would: Reject the proposed TRICARE fee increases recommended by the Pentagon. Increase Army and Marine Corps manpower levels by 7,000 and 5,000, respectively, while reducing Air Force strength by about 13,000 and the Navy by about 4,000. MOAA is grateful to the Committee, especially for its actions on TRICARE fees, the pay raise, the Army and USMC manpower increases, and the Reserve and spousal initiatives. We’re disappointed at the continued cuts in Air Force and Navy personnel, which are driven by budget considerations rather than actual requirements. MOAA believes it’s important to establish principles in law on this topic. Every year, Congress approves a supplemental appropriations bill that provides “make-up money” for unforeseen needs. The Administration has chosen to fund the war through these supplemental appropriations bills, which Congress doesn’t like.   In addition, the supplemental appropriations bills have become a way to get around the “pay-as-you-go” (or PAYGO) rules that require Congress to pay for increased spending programs” (such as Medicare, Social Security, military and federal retired pay and survivor benefits, TFL, and the GI Bill) with offsetting reductions in other mandatory spending programs. MOAA is concerned about the badly-needed GI Bill improvements in this process. If we can afford all those other waivers, year after year, America can afford to provide fair education benefits to the troops who have laid their lives on the line for their country, year after year. Archived Newsletters MTC Newsletter - April 2007 MTC Newsletter - May 2007 MTC Newsletter - June 2007 MTC Newsletter - July 2007 MTC Newsletter August 2007 MTC Newsletter - September 2007 MTC Newsletter - October 2007 MTC Newsletter - November 2007 MTC Newsletter - December 2007 MTC Newsletter - January 2008 MTC Newsletter - February 2008 MTC Newsletter - March 2008 MTC Newsletter April 2008