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
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(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.
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Military Officers Association of America 
