THE SHARK’S TOOTH NEWSLETTER VENICE AREA CHAPTER OF MOAA An Affiliate of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and The Florida Council of Chapters (FCOC) 2009, 2010 & 2011 Recipient of the MOAA 4-Star Chapter Award

OUR MISSION With nearly 400,000 members the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is a strong voice in Washington that includes active duty, Reserve National Guard, retired and former officers from the seven uniformed services. When combined with other military organizations in the Military Coalition we are "one powerful voice". By joining together at the local level with other members of the Sarasota Veterans Council, we can be sure our concerns will be heard by our local, state and national leaders .

JANUARY 2013 Issue MEMBERSHIP TO MOAA MOAA membership is open to all retired, former and active duty commissioned and warrant officers be they active duty, reserve or National Guard. This includes Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Public Health Service and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Also eligible are the widows or widowers of former or retired officers. For more information and a membership application, please click on our web site. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – Lt.Col. Mike Healey USMC (Ret.) We had a good turnout at our Christmas dinner. I hope you all had a good time and will be enjoying the holiday season with friends and family. We have elected our officers who will serve until January of 2014, but we must look to filling chapter officer vacancies before then. Serving as a chapter officer is a rewarding experience where you can directly benefit our chapter. Our chapter by-laws allow regular, auxiliary, and associate members to hold office. A letter requesting donations to our scholarship fund has been emailed to all members. Your donations are crucial to the success of the scholarship program. If you did not receive a letter, please contact me and I’ll make sure you get one. Denise Kirkeeng is the point person for our chapter’s participation in the Florida Council of Chapters convention in June which will be hosted by the Sarasota Chapter. She will be meeting with Sarasota Chapter members in January to discuss the convention, as well as our role in this event. Convention information will be promulgated at the meetings and in the Shark’s Tooth. 1|Page SHARK’S TOOTH NEWSLETTER

Lt.Col Mike Healey, President, (941) 493-3965

You’ve heard this refrain before about recruiting being a year round effort, but always keep your eye out for new members. Kudos to Liz Jensen for recruiting Joe Duffy in October, Marjorie Healey for recruiting Bob Reed in November and Kathy Matheny for recruiting Patricia Comeau in December.

Lt.Col Dallas L. Jensen, VP (941) 493-1420

May the New Year bring you all contentment and joy.

2013 Officers

Mrs. Marjorie Loria Healey, Secretary, Treasurer, Newsletter Editor, Web Master (941) 493-3965 2013 Directors Col. Norman MacLellan, Past President (941) 493-1726 LCDR Alf Kirkeeng, Past President (941) 468-7753 Lt.Col Cris Cristofori (941) 423-9675 Col. Vince Surwilo (941) 496-9282 Capt. Denny Matheney (941) 244-2333 Lt.Col Gerald Kelly (941) 412-0252 HONORARY CHAPLAIN Pastor Liz Jensen (941) 493-1420 CHAPLAIN EMERITUS CDR Ira E. Ramsey (941) 408-0313 SCHOLARSHIP CHAIR Capt. Denny Matheney (941) 244-2333 SOCIAL CHAIR Mrs. Denise Kirkeeng (941) 468-6668 MEMBERSHIP CHAIR Mrs. Jean F. White (941) 497-5906

MEMBER/CHAPTER INFORMATION MEETING DATES & LOCATIONS Chapter meetings are held on the THIRD Tuesday of each month (September to May) at 11:30 a.m. We gather at the American Legion Post #159, Venice Avenue and Auburn Road in Venice, Florida. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. All members and Associates are invited and encouraged to attend. Lunch may be ordered from the menu with members responsible for their own tab. Tim Foster will be our guest speaker. JANUARY INSTALLATION SOCIAL Lunch or dinner socials are held once a month (September to May) and are announced on the last page of our newsletter. These events are held at various locations within the Venice/Englewood areas. Our next social will be the Installation Dinner of the 2013 Board of Directors on Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. at the Boca Royale Country Club in Venice. Attending the dinner to install the new Board will be FCOC President Jim Connor and his wife Dottie. The Venice High School Marine JROTC will present colors at the ceremony. Officers are encouraged to wear their uniforms. Menu information and reservation form are included in this newsletter. DEPARTING BOARD MEMBERS Win Orben and Ellen MacLellan will be stepping down from the Board of Directors and we wish to thank them for their service throughout the years. Gerald Kelly will be stepping down as Treasurer, but will remain on the Board. We thank him also for his fine service.

WEBSITE: www.venicemoaa.com MOAA: www.moaa.org FCOC: www.moaafl.org

FUTURE SOCIAL EVENTS  February 15, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. at American Legion  March 17, 2013 3:00 p.m. North Port Symphony; 5:30 dinner at Olde World Restaurant  May 18, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. at the home of Dallas & Liz Jensen.

More information on these events will be in forthcoming newsletters. 2|Page SHARK’S TOOTH NEWSLETTER

FCOC WINTER PRESIDENT’S BOARD MEETING President Mike Healey and Vice President Dallas Jensen will be attending the President’s Board Meeting in Sarasota on January 26, 2013. They will report on the pertinent items at our February meeting. FCOC CONVENTION MEETING The first meeting to discuss the June convention is scheduled for January 24, 2013. Denise Kirkeeng will be attending the meeting chaired by convention co-chairs, Troy Scott and Linda Gould. If you have any questions you may want Denise to ask at the meeting, please let her know. I will be installing an item entitled “Convention Notes” in the upcoming newsletters to keep the membership apprised as to how we can all assist. Remember, we have been asked to host the Saturday morning breakfast so your help will be vital! NEW MEMBERS We wish to welcome LTC Patricia Comeau (USAR/AGR) who served 23 years as a combat support nurse. Pat is originally from Massachusetts and she has recently settled into a second home in Venice. She travels with her orange cat “Garfield” to and from Massachusetts during the year. Pat was recruited by Kathy Matheney who was unavailable for the attached picture. Welcome Pat!! LEGISLATIVE ALERTS Current National Issues [Col. Steve Strobridge, USAF (Ret) – MOAA Alert 12/21/2012] For decades, MOAA has sought to rationalize compensation and benefits policy by establishing statutory principles for setting and adjusting the various elements. We won standards in law for setting pay raises, adjusting retired pay and survivor benefits and most other compensation issues. But many TRICARE adjustment authorities have been left to the discretion of the secretary of defense. For years, there was no issue with that, because multiple secretaries didn’t propose any significant changes. That all changed when more recent defense secretaries proposed dramatic increases in various TRICARE fees. After rejecting those efforts several years in a row, Congress finally agreed last year with MOAA’s proposal to establish in law the percentage increase in TRICARE Prime enrollment fees for any year shouldn’t exceed that year’s percentage increase in retired pay. This year, after the secretary of defense followed up last year’s $2 to $3 increase in TRICARE pharmacy copayments with a proposal to jump them an additional $22 to $31 per prescription, Congress finally agreed it’s time to take that authority out of the Pentagon’s hands. The clincher was leaving pharmacy copayment hikes up to the secretary of defense put Congress in a serious budget box. Under Congress’ budget rules, if they failed to allow DoD-proposed copayment hikes, they had to make up the lost revenue by imposing other cuts in retirement, survivor, or TRICARE For Life (TFL) benefits. But if the copayment adjustment formula were set in law, Congress would be able to reject any future Pentagon-proposed hikes without being forced into alternative benefit cuts. That’s why they came up with the one-time offset of requiring TFL-eligibles to try (for one year) either

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mail-order or military pharmacy refills of maintenance medications – to offset the cost of capping future copayment hikes at the annual COLA percentage. In effect, Congress told the Pentagon, “You’ve repeatedly abused the adjustment authority we gave you and show no signs of changing that behavior, so we’re taking your authority away. Instead, we’re putting a formula in law that will ensure future adjustments are more appropriate and predictable.” That’s a little lesson in leadership that’s been long overdue.

Current State Issues

[The Florida Current, Bruce Ritchey 12/12/2012]

Task force recommends agency actions, legislation to protect Florida's military bases A task force is suggesting state agency actions and legislation to carry out recommendations issued last month to prevent military installations in Florida from being closed. The Florida Defense Support Task Force is suggesting that agencies develop plans to improve roads leading to military installations and prevent nearby development that may interfere with military operations. The task force also wants state officials to develop an energy plan to encourage utilities to make renewable energy available to military installations. Florida's 20 military installations provide a $60-billion annual economic impact and contribute 686,000 jobs to Florida's economy. On Wednesday, Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll was in Washington meeting with members of Florida's congressional delegation on a trip that included discussions about issues affecting military installations. The Florida Defense Support Task Force was created in 2011 and received a $5 million appropriation to promote and develop Florida's military installations. "Our bases are in good shape," Rep. Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne and task force chairman, told the Current on Wednesday. "I want to make them even better." For state agencies, the panel recommended that the Department of Economic Opportunity develop a plan for acquiring possible development sites around Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville and MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. Additional conservation agreements are recommended with landowners around the Avon Park bombing range and at training airfields around Naval Air Station Whiting Field near Milton. The task force also recommended that the state Department of Transportation develop a transportation plan to improve access to military installations including Hurlburt Field, Naval Station Mayport and MacDill Air Force Base. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which includes the state Office of Energy, are being asked to help make renewable energy available to military installations. That will help those installations meet U.S. Department of Defense energy goals and be self-sufficient during natural disasters. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and DACS also were asked to help with legislation to provide utility companies with tax incentives to reduce energy costs at military installations. A consultant noted that Florida did not pass a renewable energy requirement for

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utilities and is one of the few states that does not provide military installations with energy efficiency incentives. The Florida Defense Support Task Force also requested legislation to prevent privatized military housing from being subject to property taxes. The Monroe County property appraiser last June asked Naval Air Station Key West for an inventory of property owned by non-military entities so that a tax bill could be prepared, according to Keynews.com. Last month, two credit unions announced plans to build a 152-room Holiday Inn Resort on leased U.S. Air Force land in Okaloosa County. Florida's efforts to protect its military bases were highlighted during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The Cabinet approved a conservation land-buying plan with 21 projects. Military base buffering was a priority, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the Avon Park bombing project was on the purchase list. Also Tuesday, DEP announced an agreement with military officials to use state parks and other DEP lands for non-hazardous military training exercises as part of the Gulf Regional Airspace Strategic Initiative. On Friday, DEP announced that $10-million from a settlement involving the 2010 Gulf oil spill will be used for environmental projects that benefit Eglin Air Force Base, including $5 million for land and conservation agreements at Escribano Point. MEMBER INTERESTS Let’s Help Each Other It is not easy to think about, but it is a sad truth that we will all inevitably lose our spouse. I, personally, have a hard time wrapping my brain around that fact. What we can do to help each other is to assist your widow(er) while he/she is still your spouse. There are circumstances where one spouse holds the information for various day-to-day activities such as bank accounts, unpaid bills, medical plans, computer passwords, etc. To help us understand what we can do now, I have asked American Legion member Tim Foster to be the guest speaker at our January meeting. I am told that Mr. Foster is very well versed in these matters and will also present a checklist so we can visualize what we need to consider. Some us can only imagine how horrible it is to lose a loved one so what we can do to ease the suffering is to make this information easier to find and have it at hand. I hope you will attend our January meeting and bring along any questions you may have! Funerals for Indigent Military Personnel During the month of January, 2013, we have once again volunteered to attend the funerals of military personnel who have no one to accept the flag for them. If you have never been to one of these services, you are truly missing a very moving and honorable gathering. They are held at the Sarasota National Cemetery and if you would like to attend a service, please advise Marjorie Healey as soon as possible and she will put your name on the list of possible attendees. Thank you to Jean White who at the last minute attended a ceremony in November.

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Returning War Vets Need Good Homes The United States Marine Corps has around 400 IED (Improvised Explosive Device) sniffing dogs that are being decommissioned and need forever homes. Most of the dogs are breeds such as: Labradors, Belgian Malinois, Border Collies, German Shepherds & Rottweilers. These dogs are all incredibly well-trained. Many of them have served in war zones and are responsible for saving countless American, NATO and foreign lives. The dogs are based in the District of Columbia (D.C.). Adoptive families must be able to travel to D.C. to pick up the dogs or arrange transport at their own expense. Please help these war heroes get the lives they deserve. If you can’t adopt one of these dogs, perhaps someone you know can. The contact for interested adoptive families is: Brian D. Miller PM IED Detector Dog Program Marine Corps Systems Command 910-652-3645 Ext-321 [email protected] Important Tax Documents Coming The Defense Finance and Accounting Service announced that military retirees and annuitants can expect their 2012 tax statements starting mid-Dec. 2012 through Jan. 2013. MyPay account holders will receive the statements (1099s) at least a week earlier than those relying on mail service. Annual Retiree Account Statements showing the new payment (including the cost-of-living allowance adjustment for 2013) are now available through myPay, and will be mailed between Dec. 19 and Jan. 10. Form 1099-R tax statements for retirees will be available on myPay Dec. 13, and will be mailed out between Dec. 19 and Jan. 10. Annuitant Account Statements and their 1099-R tax statements will be available through myPay on Dec. 15 and will be mailed between Dec. 19 and Jan. 10. For more information about myPay accounts, 1099-R requests, and logging in to myPay, visit the DFAS website. Retirees and annuitants without an online account can contact DFAS toll-free at 800-321-1080. Venice Symphony Concert The 2013 Venice Symphony Season includes a concert entitled “Days of Glory, WWII”. The Symphony will be honoring veterans at the presentations scheduled for January 17th, 18th and 19th. Symphony Director, Doug Kerr, has advised Denise Kirkeeng that the Saturday, January 19th matinee has been sold out and the Symphony would like to encourage MOAA members to attend the Thursday, January 17th concert. The Thursday performance will have a very special recognition for MOAA members and it will be our opportunity to recruit new members. The program brochure for that evening will include a blurb on what MOAA is, who can apply for membership and our web site address for an application form. We have been asked to display the MOAA banner. The venue for the symphony is the

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Church of the Nazarene, 1535 East Venice Avenue, Venice. The ticket order form is attached to this Newsletter. Many of us will be attending and we hope that includes you!!! Army and Navy Club Membership The Army and Navy Club in Washington, D.C. will waive the initiation fee for existing MOAA Life Members as well as new MOAA Life Members. To obtain an application, contact the Membership Office of the Army and Navy Club at 202628-8400 or [email protected]. Be sure to include your MOAA Life Member number. Submit your application with the applicable first dues payment to the Army and Navy Club, 901 17th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20006. A resident member (one who lives or works within 30 miles of the Club) pays monthly dues based upon their military duty status and age: 1) prior service officers over age 30 pay $120.00 per month; 2) officers on active duty under age 30 pay $28.00 per month; officers on active duty over age 30 pay $47.00 per month. There is also a $100.00 quarterly minimum on food and beverages for resident members. A nonresident member (one who does not live or work within 30 miles of the Club) pays reduced monthly dues also based on their military duty status and age: 1) prior service (including retired) and active duty commissioned officers under age 30 pay $28.00 per month; 2) prior service and active duty officers over age 30 pay $42.00 per month. January Milestones Birthdays: Donna Francisco – 01/05; Win Orben – 01/05; Elsie Eldon – 01/06; Barbara Moore – 01/11; Robert Graf – 01/14; Gloria Mitchell – 01/14; Jim Keitchen – 01/18; Tom Montgomery – 01/23; Anniversaries: None to report Observances in January 01/01 – New Year’s Day 01/21 – Martin Luther King’s Birthday (Observed) INTERNATIONAL OBSERVANCES OF NEW YEAR’S Hogmanay (Scotland) The birthplace of "Auld Lang Syne" is also the home of Hogmanay (hog-mah-NAY), the rousing Scottish New Year's celebration (the origins of the name are obscure). One of the traditions is "first-footing." Shortly after midnight on New Year's eve, neighbors pay visits to each other and impart New Year's wishes. Traditionally, First foots used to bring along a gift of coal for the fire, or shortbread. It is considered especially lucky if a tall, dark, and handsome man is the first to enter your house after the new year is rung in. The Edinburgh Hogmanay celebration is the largest in the country, and consists of an all-night street party (visit their Hagmanay website here). Oshogatsu (Japan) The new year is the most important holiday in Japan, and is a symbol of renewal. In December, various Bonenkai or "forget-the-year parties" are held to bid farewell to the problems and concerns of the past year and prepare for a new beginning. Misunderstandings and grudges are forgiven and houses are scrubbed. At midnight on Dec. 31, Buddhist temples strike their gongs 108 times, in an effort to expel 108 types of human weakness. New Year's day itself is a day of joy and no work is to be done. Children receive otoshidamas, small gifts with money inside. 7|Page SHARK’S TOOTH NEWSLETTER

Sending New Year's cards is a popular tradition—if postmarked by a certain date, the Japanese post office guarantees delivery of all New Year's cards on Jan. 1. Spain The Spanish ritual on New Year's eve is to eat twelve grapes at midnight. The tradition is meant to secure twelve happy months in the coming year. The Netherlands The Dutch burn bonfires of Christmas trees on the street and launch fireworks. The fires are meant to purge the old and welcome the new. Greece In Greece, New Year's day is also the Festival of St. Basil, one of the founders of the Greek Orthodox Church. One of the traditional foods served is Vassilopitta, or St Basil's cake. A silver or gold coin is baked inside the cake. Whoever finds the coin in their piece of cake will be especially lucky during the coming year. United States Probably the most famous tradition in the United States is the dropping of the New Year ball in Times Square, New York City, at 11:59 P.M. Thousands gather to watch the ball make its oneminute descent, arriving exactly at midnight. The tradition first began in 1907. The original ball was made of iron and wood; the current ball is made of Waterford Crystal, weighs 1,070 pounds, and is six feet in diameter. A traditional southern New Year's dish is Hoppin' John—black eyed peas and ham hocks. An old saying goes, "Eat peas on New Year's day to have plenty of everything the rest of the year." Another American tradition is the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Tournament of Roses parade that precedes the football game on New Year's day is made up of elaborate and inventive floats. The first parade was held in 1886.

NO MATTER HOW YOU OBSERVE THE NEW YEAR, WE TRULY HOPE IT IS HAPPY, HEALTHY AND FUN!!!

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Venice Symphony Orchestra “Days of Glory, WW II” Concert III Ticket Order Form for MOAA Members MOAA members will be recognized as distinguished veterans during the concert Name ____________________________________________________________ Telephone __________________ Address ______________________________________________________________________________________ E-Mail ____________________________________________________ Branch of Service and Rank (for recognition) _________________________________________________________ CONCERT III TICKETS: (Please designate the number of tickets purchased and which concert you wish to attend) Number of tickets

Jan 17- 8pm

Jan. 18 – 8 pm

Jan 19 – 4 pm

Jan 19 – 8 pm

_____________

_________

___________

___________

__________

# tickets _______________ x $25.00 MOAA discount = $_________________________ total PAYMENT ____________check enclosed __________VISA ______________MC ______________Discover # ______________________________________________________ Expiration Date __________________ CID*_________________ (*last 3 digits on back of credit card) Signature ____________________________________________________________ Please send check or charge information, order form, and a business-size self-addressed stamped envelope to: Venice Symphony P.O. Box 1561 Venice, FL 34284-1561 Symphony Performance venue is: The Church of the Nazarene, 1535 East Venice Avenue, Venice CHRISTMAS SOCIAL PICTURES

To see more pictures, go to our website at www.venicemoaa.com and check out the Photo Gallery.

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JANUARY DINNER SOCIAL INSTALLATION OF 2013 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Thursday, January 10, 2013 5:30 Social Hour (CASH BAR) 6:30 Dinner Boca Royale Country Club State Road 776, Englewood Reservation Form Must Be Received by January 7, 2013 Florida Council of Chapters President Lt.Col Jim Connor will be in attendance with his wife, Dottie. Col. Connor will preside over the Installation of 2013 Officers and Directors The Color Guard will be from the Venice High School Marine JROTC Choice of Entrée:  Prime Rib w/red potatoes and vegetables  Chicken Marsalla w/red potatoes and vegetables  Salmon w/dill sauce rice and vegetables Above served with rolls, ice tea and coffee Dessert: Ice Cream Sundae Cost: $28.00/person (tax & gratuity included) Please make your checks payable to: “Venice Area MOAA” and mail to Denise Kirkeeng, 1260 Covey Court, Venice FL 34293. Denise’s contact number is (941)468-6668. Please let her know if you have any dietary restrictions. Members with names starting with A to M are asked to bring a wrapped gift for our scholarship raffle. Thank you. Dress Code: Gentlemen – Dress Uniform, tuxedo or business suit Ladies – Formal Dinner or Cocktail evening dress ********************************************************************************************************************* Reservation Request for January 10, 2013 Dinner Social Prime Rib ____________ Chicken _____________ Salmon _______________ Member: _________________________

Guest: __________________________

Number: __________ attending @ $28.00/person In addition to my reservation, I would like to donate $_______ to the Scholarship Fund. I am unavailable to attend this function but would like to donate $ _______ to the Scholarship Fund. TOTAL ENCLOSED: $__________

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