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    Military Officers Association of America   

Southern Maine Chapter Newsletter

  July 2011

Vol 27  No. 3



Index (Scroll down through the newsletter or click on a section to go directly there.)
President's Page
May Luncheon Speaker
August Breakfast Speaker
New Officers and Board of Directors
Membership News
5th Annual Military Scholarfship Golf Tournament


Welcome Aboard
Martin's Point Advisory Council
Maine Miltary Museum
Space A Travel
In Memoriam

Reservations Form

Request Automatic Electronic Version of Newsletter: mcaleer1@gwi.net

President's Page

President’s Page As our politicians deal with the priorities for federal spending and the deficit in our national account, those of us who serve or have served the nation are in for a challenging time.  One way or another, we will be directly affected by the decisions that will have to be made to balance the country’s expenditure with revenue – and meet our national security interests.  Pay and benefits for active-duty and retired service members will be part of the mix.  While we don’t mind doing our part, it’s good to know that we have a strong national MOAA representing our voice in Washington.  If you can attend the August 13 brunch, you’ll get to hear directly from MOAA on how things are going.  Col Jim O’Brien, USAF (ret), who is the Association’s chief financial officer, will be our speaker.  I’m sure he’ll give us an interesting, and first-hand perspective on these important national questions and the role that our organization is playing in the debates.

I will attend the annual Communications and Customer Service Conference for 



Our May Speaker, Chapter President Colonel Bill Hall

Looking to the Future of Military Health Care

The speaker at our May brunch was none other than our Chapter President, Bill Hall. Bill presented a summary of the 2010 health care reform legislation and also talked about the changes coming or being considered for TRICARE and Medicare.

Regarding the health care reform, Bill reported that the focus of the changes was on achieving universal coverage, that is, putting everyone into some type of health insurance.  That feature is called the “mandate” and triggers much of the political opposition.  To achieve universal coverage, Americans will have health insurance through work, through individual plans (such as for self-employed people), through plans available in the state “exchanges,” or through government plans, such as Medicaid and Medicare.  All plans will have to meet certain standards.  By 2014, plans will not be permitted to reject applicants because of medical history, require long waiting periods, rescind coverage when illness/injury occurs, etc.  TRICARE already meets these standards and, except for now extending coverage for children until age 26, is largely unaffected by reform.

The changes coming to Medicare include an increased emphasis on measures to improve the quality of health care, including payment incentives for good


August Meeting Speaker, Colonel James O'Brien, MOAA HQ

Have you been enjoying our fine Maine summer?  We hope so.  Summers are usually all too short so plan now to squeeze in our next Quarterly Chapter meeting at the Woodlands Club on Saturday, August 13th.  We will continue our earlier meeting formats and enjoy a fine Woodlands brunch, gathering at 9:00 AM.  Please note that our By-Laws have been changed to move up our annual election of new officers and Board members from November to August.  Accordingly, we will be electing a new slate at this meeting and installing them at our November Quarterly meeting this year.     

We are indeed honored that our speaker this quarter will be one of the Headquarters Staff from the Military Officers Association of America, Alexandria, Virginia.  Colonel James O’Brien is a graduate of Norwich University and holds a master's degree in Systems Management from the 


(President's page cont.)
   
TRICARE this month in California.  I will be speaking to the conference  about the “medical home” initiatives that the various US Family Health Plan programs, including Martin’s Point, have launched.  While I’m at the conference, I’m sure I will hear plenty of things about the impact of Defense Department budget decisions on health care for military beneficiaries.  I’ll summarize the key items in the next issue of our Chapter newsletter. 

I’m sorry to report that we have lost one of our recent Chapter Presidents – Gene Welenteichick, Lt Col, USAF (ret), passed away in April.  Gene was a steadfast member and leader of our Chapter and very active in the Maine American Legion as well.  Our condolences go to his wife, Mary Eva, and family.

Bill Hall
Colonel, USAF (Ret.)
President



May Speaker (cont.)


outcomes and financial penalties for care not meeting prescribed criteria.  Changes also include measures to restrain the rapid growth in the cost of health care for seniors and – through premium levels for medical/drug coverage tied to income – to raise the price of Medicare for certain beneficiaries.  Payment methods might shift away from the current fee-for-service model to models based on capitation (monthly rates paid to insurers or care organizations), patient experience, and other criteria.

TRICARE, like Medicare, will become more expensive for beneficiaries, as the Defense Department is pushing Congress to approve fee increases for retired military using TRICARE Prime.  The Department also proposes to limit enrollment eligibility for the US Family Health Plan.  (See the health care article in this newsletter for more detail.)

The biggest challenge for now and in the future lies in the rapidly growing cost of health care.  An aging population, the maturing of the large baby-boomer population, and more expensive medicine all put an enormous strain on the country’s resources.  The health care reform enacted so far, even assuming it is not overturned in our tumultuous political environment, is unlikely to be enough to answer this challenge.


August Speaker (cont.)


University of Southern California.  Additionally, he is a graduate of the Air War College and a senior executive fellow from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.  During his 25-year career he served in a variety of financial management positions at all levels of the U.S. Air Force, to include four command positions.   His final assignment was Comptroller for the Air Force Reserve, where he was responsible for nearly five billion dollars annually.  Col O’Brien has held several MOAA positions, including Chief Financial Officer and Director, Educational Assistance Program. Jim and his wife, Noriko, have two sons, James and Kenny.

Jim will be updating us on a variety of efforts MOAA is engaged in currently on our behalf.  There will be plenty of time for your questions at the end of his talk.  Do plan to attend. 
       Reservations Form
New Officers and Members of the Board of Directors

Our Chapter By-Laws require us to nominate a new slate of officers and members of the Board of Directors for consideration by our members in advance of the August meeting.  This year the Nominating Committee has proposed the following, which will be voted upon in August:


Proposed Officer Slate for 2012

President
Col James A. Vollkommer, USAF
1st Vice President
LTC John Ham, USA
2nd Vice President
COL Jim James, USA
Secretary
Col William E. Hall, USAF
Treasurer
LCDR Mark S. Patrick, USN
Immediate Past President
CPT Robert B. Wood, USA


Board of Directors for 2012-2014


COL Henry C. Adams, USA
Maj Reynold A. Moreau, USAF
Col Douglas J. Scott, USAFR/ANG
Maj M. Dorothy McGuirk, USAF          COL Frank Toderico, ARNG

Note:  Because there have been a number of changes to the whole Board, we are also including the Directors from each year group. 


Board of Directors for 2010-2012

1LT Jack Berman, USA
LTC Howard C. Hanning, USA
CDR Harry Kinsley, USN
LT(jg) Mary W. Kinsley, USNR          Col Frank J. Toderico, ARNG


Board of Directors for 2011-2013

LTC K. Scott Berry, USA
BG Frank Dillon, USA
LDCR Paul F. Loveless, USN
CDR Richard H. Tetrev, USN          CAPT Daniel A. Wasneechak, USN

Membership News

Our annual membership dues drive has gone well again this year.  Through your generosity, we have raised $3,435 for dues, $1,692 in extra contributions for the General
Fund and $1,765 in donations to the ROTC/JROTC Fund.  This year’s total of $6,892 already exceeds last year’s total of $6,865.

We still have a few folks that we have not heard from.  Members of the Board may be giving you a call with a gentle reminder.  As you may remember, the funds we raise help the Chapter support our charitable activities.

Also be on the lookout for the latest edition of the Chapter Directory, which is currently being prepared for mailing.  We try our best to update all your vital information as you give it to us but occasionally we make mistakes.  Contact Col Rob McAleer with any changes that need to be made.


Welcome Aboard

The Chapter would like to extend a sincere welcome to our newest member:

Colonel John Baker, USA and his wife Jean, from Portland

Thank you for your interest in our Chapter.  We look forward to meeting both of you at one of our future meetings.  (Col Rob McAleer, Membership Chair)

Martin’s Point Military Advisory Council

We should note two significant changes affecting TRICARE beneficiaries:
    (1)  The Department of Defense is likely to win, for the first time, a round in the fight to push more of the costs of military health care to beneficiaries.  The enrollment fee for TRICARE Prime for retired service members will go up on October 1 by $2.50 (individual) or $5.00 (family) a month.  The fee will rise annually thereafter by some index.  DoD wants that amount to be medical cost inflation, which would set future increases, on a relatively fast track.  The Congress is mandating using the consumer price index, which would put the increase in line with the annual cost-of-living adjustment for military retirees, ameliorating the impact.  DoD will also change co-payments for prescription medications to encourage use of the mail-order (home-delivery) system and generics.

    (2)  Of great concern to Martin’s Point, the Fiscal Year 2012 National


A Visit to the Maine Military Museum


You may have read (in the June 9th edition of the Portland Press Herald) about the Maine Military Museum and Learning Center that is being created by veteran Lee Humiston.

Lee Humiston, as members of our Chapter will recall, spoke at a Chapter meeting last year, describing his efforts to create a museum to reflect and honor Maine’s military tradition.  This work of representing that tradition is continuing.  As expressed in an informative brochure given to all visitors: “Museum exhibits cover aspect of Maine’s military service from 1861 to 2008.  The primary focus is on America’s Prisoners of War from our own Civil War to the Vietnam


Space-A Travel

Have you ever thought about traveling aboard a Space Available Flight?  I have used Space-A many times over the years, visiting Alaska, Spain, England and


5th Annual Military Scholarship Golf Tournament “Mr. T” Memorial

The Southern Maine Chapter, MOAA, and Martin’s Point Health Care are pleased to announce the 5th Annual Military Scholarship Golf Tournament (“Mr. T” Memorial) to be held at Sable Oaks Golf Club, South Portland, on September 15, 2011.  Sign-in and Tee Assignments begin at 7:45.  At 8:15 there will be shot-gun start; four player scramble format; and putting contest qualifier.  There will be a buffet lunch and tournament awards at 1:00. 

Cost:  $65 individual; $260 (foursome).  Registration fee includes:  greens fees with cart; golfer goody bag; lunch buffet, beverages (beer and wine extra); putting contest cash prize; hole-in-one prize; men’s closest to pin prize; ladies’ closest to pin prize; men’s longest drive prize; ladies’ longest drive prize; team first, second, and third prizes.  Sponsorship opportunities available:
 
Eagle sponsor ($460—company name on tee or green + four players)
Birdie sponsor ($330—company name on tee or green + 2 players)
Hole sponsor ($200—company name on tee or green, no players). 

Contact Col Doug Scott for details or to volunteer to assist with the tournament (222-2317).  Make checks payable to Southern Maine Chapter, MOAA and send to Doug Scott, 20 Cooper’s Way, Gorham, ME  04038.  Funds raised through the “Mr. T” Memorial are used to purchase textbooks and professional references for senior ROTC students at the University of Maine and the Maine Maritime Academy. (Col Douglas J. Scott, Tournament Project Officer)
 

Martin’s Point Military Advisory Council (cont.)

Defense Authorization Act will likely prohibit the US Family Health Plan from enrolling any new beneficiary who is 65 or older.  It will also require future members, who enroll in the plan after a certain date, to disenroll once they turn 65 and to use Medicare.  Current members will be grandfathered and may remain in the plan for life, if they choose.  This eligibility restriction will have a serious and negative impact on the US Family Health Plan.  It is distressing that members, who are likely to have an ever greater need for quality health care as they age, will have to disenroll from what DoD frankly admits is the model military health care plan.  DoD argues that the change will save money, although the saving will be small and most of the cost of caring for beneficiaries will simply shift from DoD to Health and Human Services (Medicare).  Maine’s congressional delegation has opposed this change, but their opposition so far has not been enough to block its move through Congress.  (Col Douglas J. Scott, Medical Affairs Committee)



A Visit to the Maine Military Museum (cont.)

conflict.”  Highlighting the Vietnam conflict is a recreation of a POW cage at the infamous “Hanoi Hilton,” which has been viewed by returned POWs, and pronounced startlingly realistic.

 The museum also features enemy and American uniforms and artifacts, and some small arms.  Many uniforms are displayed on mannequins to increase realism and visibility.  The museum is located at 50 Peary Terrace, South Portland.  Summer hours (May 30 –Sep 10), 11am-4pm, Tues-Sunday – closed Monday.  Donations are accepted.  For more information, call (207)650-8651.  (LTC Howard Hanning, Chaplain)


Space A Travel (cont.)

Germany.  It’s really easy.  You just have to be flexible.  Contact the Space-A desk at Pease AFB, NH:  (603) 430-3323 for details.  (Maj Dottie McGuirk, USAF) 



In Memoriam


LT (jg) Mason Britton, USNR

Southport, Maine

Augusta, 2011


LtCol Eugene Welenteichick, USAF

Mechanic Falls, Maine

April, 2011


"We are grateful for your loyal service to the Nation..."
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