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Southern Maine Chapter Newsletter

  April 2009

Vol 25  No. 2



Index (Scroll down through the newsletter or click on a section to go directly there.)
President's Message
Feb Speaker, Joe Cupo, WCHS TV
May Speaker, Thomas Kinley, CEO, NNE AAA
New Members Drive
Welcome Aboard
TRICARE and Martin's Point News
Annual Dues Update




Update on Legislative Bills

Online Newsletter and Web Site
BNAS Commissary Update
ROTC/JROTC Awards Program Update
In Memoriam
Reservations Form

Request Automatic Electronic Version of Newsletter

A Message from Your President

Question:  Why Attend Quarterly Meetings?

I think everyone who attended the last few meetings will agree they have been educational, interesting and a social opportunity.  Quarterly meetings give old friends a good chance to spend time together and the food at the Woodlands Club, whether lunch or breakfast, is always delicious, well prepared, and professionally served.

At our November meeting, the guest speaker was Marjorie Dawson.  She is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Portland Montreal Pipeline.  The Pipeline was established in 1941 with a single 6-inch pipe.  Presently there is one 19-inch and one 24-inch pipe.  The oil is pumped 236 miles by eleven pumping stations.  It takes 66 hour for a barrel of oil to move through the 24-inch pipeline from South Portland to Montreal

Occasionally, a “Smart Pig” is placed in the pipeline and sent from South Portland to Montreal.  The “Smart Pig” is loaded with electronic equipment that examines the pipelines, detecting evidence of defects. 

Since the 70’s fuel types have increased from 10-20 products to more than 100 grades of gasoline today.  Those products might be the flow sequence in a petroleum products pipeline.  That does not include other products, such as home heating oil. 

Our February Speaker, Weatherman Joe Cupo Charms Southern Maine Chapter


The weather outside the Woodlands Club might have been windy and cold, but inside, it was a warm and sunny session thanks to Channel 6 weatherman, Joe Cupo, our February guest speaker.  Joe was introduced by 2nd Vice President Jim Vollkommer, an old friend from Jim’s weather reporting career days.  Joe was born in Brooklyn, NY and moved at an early age to Long Island to the little town of Uniondale where he grew up.  He graduated with a degree in geology from Hoffstra University but quickly became interested in meteorology.  He earned his Masters Degree in Meteorology from New York State University at Albany in 1978 and moved to Portland, ME, to take a position working for Channel 6.  He recently celebrated 20 years with WCSH-TV and now is the senior meteorologist with the station.    

 Joe explained how the field of meteorology is rapidly changing today.  In the early days when Portland had only three TV channels, all weathermen used field reports to map the changing weather scene, linking low and high pressure gradients, noting precipitation and wind directions, etc., all manually.  It was a slow and often inaccurate process.  Today, there are many more TV stations in the area, plus radio forecasters, not to mention web forecasting sites.  With so much information coming in from so many sources, it can be difficult for anyone to follow what is happening in the meteorology business.  If you don’t like the forecast on one station or channel, just switch to another and you’ll probably get a different prediction! 

Joe noted that meteorology is based on math, complex calculus, differential equations and computer models.  Meteorology is also based on scientific laws that are explained using math.  Every day, all over the country, weather balloons are released by weather personnel that rise up into the atmosphere to measure conditions hundreds of feet in the air.  Using the data gained from instruments



Our May Speaker, Thomas D. Kinley, CEO, NNE AAA, To Speak


The weather is slowly moderating, spring flowers are in bloom and the grass is showing signs of life.  I guess that means that it will soon be time for our spring quarterly meeting at the Woodlands Club!  So mark your calendars for Saturday, May 9th and fill out the reservation form that can be found on page 7 of this issue.  Our featured speaker this quarter will be Major General Thomas D. Kinley, U.S. Army (Ret.), a Chapter member, who is currently serving as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Northern New England AAA.  Many of you are probably long-time members of AAA and will welcome the opportunity of hearing more about your local AAA chapter and opportunities offered through the club.  Tom is an excellent speaker so you won’t want to miss this one!  See you at the Woodlands!

Please fill out the Reservations Form to make your reservations for the luncheon.


Welcome Aboard To Our Newest Members

As mentioned elsewhere in this newsletter, we recently sent out a mailing to potential members for the Chapter.  Through this and other initiatives we have already received over 25 positive responses.  The Chapter wishes to extend a very sincere welcome to the following new members and thanks all of them for their interest and support:

LTC Edward J. and Linda Baehr, USA, Gardner
CDR Larry R. and Susan Berberich, USN, Brunswick
CDR John P. and Shannon Coray, USN, Brunswick
CAPT David A. and Patricia Crump, USN,West Bath
CDR Dan L. and Edith Davidson, USN, Cape Elizabeth
CAPT Paul H. and Maureen (Rene) Fenton, USN, Bath
LCDR George C. and Shelia Hamilton, USN, Augusta
COL Philip E. and Martha Holman, USA, Winthrop
CWO4 Alexander J & Dawn Jasinski, USCG, Wiscasset
LCDR James D. and Jean Jessen, USN, West Gardiner
CDR Robert H. and Emy Kanewske, USN, Waldoboro


TRICARE and Martin’s Point Military Advisory Council
   
The Martin’s Point Military Advisory Council met on March 10, 2009.  Dan Wasneechak announced the retirement of MGEN Granger as the Deputy Director of the TRICARE Management Activity.  His replacement is Rear Admiral Christine S. Hunter, a native of Worcester, Massachusetts.

The pharmacy turnaround time is currently only a few days as a result of recently made internal changes.  The pharmacy turnaround time goal remains 10-14 days.  The blood glucose testing meter swapout is progressing well with excellent training being conducted on the new meters.

The White House had convened a Health Care Reform Summit where every aspect of health care will be looked at.  The Presidential focus is on quality, cost and access of health care.  Martin’s Point officials will be watching this process very carefully.

Member Services is polling members to ascertain what health care services members need but don’t have. You may e-mail your ideas to:

krista.mora@martinspoint.org. 

(Col Doug Scott, Medical Issues Committee)


Online Newsletter and Web Site

In case you were not aware, it is possible to get the quarterly newsletter electronically.  We post a copy on our web site.  And, I automatically send an electronic copy to folks that have asked for it.  It is easy for me to do and I would be happy to add you to my mailing list.  Just let me know.

[It helps cut down on publishing and mailing costs too. Ed.]

(Col Rob McAleer, Membership Chair)

Update on BNAS Commissary/Exchange Closures

MG Bill Libby, our Immediate Past President, contributed this update regarding the fate of the commissary and exchange at Brunswick Naval Air Station (BNAS).

In a message date February 5, 2009, Subject:  “Delegation advocates to retain commissary,” from the Times Record, by Rachel Ganong. 

BRUNSWICK – Efforts to keep commissary and exchange services in Brunswick after the 2011 closure of Brunswick Naval Air Station received a boost today from Maine’s entire congressional delegation.

Maine Sens. Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins and Reps. Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud sent a letter today to the Department of Defense lobbying to keep the military grocery and department stores for the 8,500 retired and 1,600 active duty military members around Brunswick after base closure.

Wednesday’s letter to Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Michael Dominquez is the first united effort by Maine’s delegation to keep the services.  The letter follows a new DoD regulation that was introduced last fall providing for a continued commissary and exchange presence at military bases undergoing the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, according to Pingree’s spokesman, Will Ritch.

MG John Libby, adjutant general for Maine’s Army National Guard, said
Brunswick meets the criteria established by the new guidance and has no reason



(President's msg cont.)

U.S. military uses roughly $3.6 Billion worth of fuel each year.  As you can imagine, there were many provocative questions generated by Mrs. Dawson’s  lecture.

At our last meeting in February, there were 96 members and guests in attendance who listened as Channel 6 Meteorologist Joe Cupo explain how he gathers the information that becomes his weather report.  His knowledge of the subject and his sense of humor made his presentation very interesting.  When he finished his talk, he passed out tow computer analysis sheets of that day’s expected weather.  They each had a different solution.  For the next few moments we were all weather persons attempting to forecast that day’s weather.  It was an interesting and challenging exercise.

The Board of Directors will continue to attempt to invite guest speakers that have varied and intriguing backgrounds.  We hope you will plan to attend the next Quarterly Membership Meeting on May 9th as we hear about the activities of the Northern New England Automobile Association from Tom Kinsley, a Chapter member.  If you have heard an interesting speaker at one of your own meetings and you believe that the MOAA membership would also enjoy the speaker, please get in touch with Col Jim Vollkommer, the Program Chairperson.

Robert B. Wood, Captain, USA
President


(February speaker cont.)


carried by the balloons, the numbers are entered into math equations that define what the conditions represent.  That essentially explains how weather forecasting is done.  All weather personnel have to do is interpret the data and predict how the data will affect the weather in the days to come.  Simple, right?  Not so, according to Joe. 


He reports to Channel 6 by 2 p.m. to prepare for the 5 p.m. news and weather.  “In the old days we didn’t hype thunderstorms or snowstorms three days out.”   Now, however, “so many people are looking at the data and long-range forecasting.”  It’s easy, he says, to look at the data and come to different conclusions, hence, the reason forecasts can vary so much in the area.  All meteorologists rely on powerful computer programming models to digest and crunch the fast-changing data that streams into the area.  Computer programs, however, often don’t agree either.

He handed out a printout showing two different computer forecasts for the Portland area for February 12th.  His job is to review the computer models, the raw data, and use his experience to predict what he thinks will be happening in the hours and days ahead.  This is what he calls “the art of forecasting.”  Many local “weather reporters” without much experience just use the computer models and forego the wisdom gleaned from years of doing this type of job.

Joe went on to comment on global warming and whether man has been influencing the noted rise in temperatures of late.  He stated that temperatures have been rising and falling for millions of years, long before man started burning a lot of carbon fuels.  He added that many feel we actually may be entering a long-term cooling trend.  Only time will tell.  He deftly answered a number of questions from the audience and was warmly received by all.


New Members Drive

A couple of weekends ago, a group gathered to put together well over 500 letters inviting current National MOAA members in the area to join our local Chapter.  We did this about five years ago and had very positive results.  Hopefully, we will experience the same kind of growth in the Chapter again.  I would just like to say thanks to our President, Bob Wood, for his leadership and thanks to Beverly Hancock, Scott Berry and Bill Hall, his able bodied workforce, for giving up their Saturday to help out the cause.  If you have the opportunity to meet any of our new members at future meetings, please spend some time getting to know them.  Like all of you, they have fantastic stories to tell.  And, we are indeed fortunate to have them in our ranks.

(Col Rob McAleer, Membership Chair)

********

LTC Frederick and Anne Kennedy, USA, Scarborough
CAPT Dean M. and Estella Krestos, USN, Brunswick
CAPT Daniel L. & Barbara Wasneechak, USN, Gorham
LCDR Joseph L. and Lois Welsh, USN, Arrowsic
LTCOL Aubrey C. Thomas & Mary Matheson-Thomas, USMC, Yarmouth
COL Francis J. and Elizabeth Amoroso, USA, Limerick
COL Bruce A. Martin, USMC, York
MAJ Robin P. Shepard, USA, Brunswick
MG Thomas D. and Anne Tinley, ANG, Cape Elizabeth
CWO3 Roger and Barbara Hooper, USN, Lyman
Mrs. Meg Carroll, Falmouth Foreside
CDR Edward and Beth Larlick, USN, South Portland
LtCol James Sanders, USAF, Falmouth
LCDR Michael and Dana Silevinac, USN, Bath
CDR Richard and Sherry Thacker, USN, Brunswick
CAPT William and Mary Truesdell, USN, Bath

To all of our newest members, a hearty Welcome Aboard and hope to see you at the next Quarterly Meeting where we can welcome you in person!

(Col Rob McAleer, Membership Chair)


Annual Dues Update

As many of you know, we sent out our annual dues letter in January asking that folks return their payment in February.  To date we have received a large number of returns.  And, even in these hard economic times, many of you have been able to make additional contributions.  We even have a number of Auxiliary Members who have been providing us support.  To all of you, on behalf of all the Board of Directors, I say thank you very much.  Your support is absolutely vital to the continued vitality of our Chapter.

We also realize that folks sometimes misplace our dues letter, or that things simply fall through the cracks.  If you have not yet paid your dues, please try to do that as soon as possible.  We do send out reminder letters, but it will save us a lot of work if we can reduce the number of letters we send out.  Certainly, if you are not sure about your status, please contact me and I can quickly check our records.  (H) (207) 833-5574  Email: mcaleer1@gwi.net.


Update on Legislative Bills of Interest to Retired Maine Service Personnel

LCDR Mark Patrick, Military Coalition, has been following Legislative efforts related to Bills that might affect retired Maine service personnel, provided the following summary of Bills currently before the Maine Legislature:

LD 851  This bill exempts from Maine income tax, including the alternative minimum tax, income earned by an individual who is a resident of the State, a veteran and at least 75 years of age and whose income is less than $30,000 a year.

LD 71  This bill increases the property tax exemption for post-World War I veterans and their eligible survivors from $6,000 to $7,000 to match the exemption given to veterans of World War I and earlier wars.

LD 87  This bill extends homestead and veterans' property tax exemptions to persons who occupy their property under a life lease.

LD 243  This resolve directs the DOT to establish and designate with appropriate signs and notices a memorial park off Route 196 in the Town of Topsham to honor the memory of those who have served in the military and lost their lives in Iraq or Afghanistan.

(LCDR Mark Patrick, Military Coalition)

(Commissary/Exchange update cont.)

to expect the Department of Defense will deny the congressional delegation’s request.

“I think people have come to the realization through this round of BRAC that it is not uncommon for Navy people to retire close to the installations they served because they like the area and because they are entitled to commissary and exchange privileges,” he said.

Libby has been working with Maine’s congressional delegation to secure the continued presence of a commissary and exchange in Brunswick on behalf of Maine National Guard members and area retirees.  In concert, the Navy’s Supervisor of Shipbuilding at Bath Iron Works has also written several letters through his chain of command to retain commissary and exchange access for the several hundred sailors who will continue to work on Bath’s pre-commissioned ships after the bases closes.


ROTC/JROTC Report


Here is a reminder to our members of our long-standing support to the Junior and Senior ROTC programs throughout the state of Maine.  There are a total of eight Junior Programs and three Senior Programs.  These Programs are listed them below, broken down by the supporting Military Branch.  At press time we did not have firm dates for all the awards presentations.  However, for the awards programs that we have do have dates for, here is what we have currently on the list:

Junior ROTC
ARMY
Bangor High School (April 4, 2009)
Hermon High School (April 11, 2009)
Nokomis Regional H.S. (April 17, 2009)
Old Town High School (March 21, 2009)
Sacopee Valley H.S. (May 18, 2009)
NAVY
Massabesic High School (May 5, 2009)

Air Force
Brewer High School (June 2009, date TBA)
Lewiston High School (May 8, 2009)
Senior ROTC
ARMY
University of Maine, Orono (May 1, 2009)
NAVY
University of Maine, Orono (April 22, 2009)
Maine Maritime Acad, Castine (April 22, 2009)


Presently, deserving cadets receive MOAA certificates and ROTC medals as well as quality compasses.  The Chapter is also working on developing a scholarship
program for the Senior ROTC Detachments.  Questions or want to volunteer to present one of our Chapter awards at an awards ceremony?  Contact Frank Toderico, our ROTC Chair at 799-8999 or ftoderico@juno.com. 


In Memoriam


Lieutenant Colonel Robert S. Blackwood, USA

South Portland, Maine

April 2, 2009   
**********


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