‘

The first news that I can report is that the renovations at Crystal River Golf Club are

completed and our meetings will resume there in October. I have not seen the results yet but a phone call from the club reports

that they are “beautiful”. See you all there on the 8th!

Our special guest this month will be Amy Meek, President and CEO, of the Citrus County United Way.

Although our emphasis will still be military support, it is my intention that we get more involved in

community activities and I hope you agree. Last month was K-9 Partners for Patriots, Mary Peter and

Shasta, and we recently supported the Veterans’ Foundation golf tournament fund raiser. There will be

opportunities in the future to do more.

As I write this, I am finishing up my annual two weeks doing volunteer work for Vote Smart at

their facility high in the Montana mountains. This is the ninth year that I have done this and it remains very satisfying. If you

haven’t done so yet, go to www.votesmart.org and check out “Vote Easy”. This award winning program has just gone active

(Sep 14th) with the leading Presidential candidates from all the political parties for 2016. It will update regularly as the polls dictate

who should examined and, following the primaries, House and Senate candidates will be examined as well. It is actually a lot of fun

to use so give it a shot and you may be surprised who turns out to be your “soul mate” based on your answers to questions and

extensive factual date collected by Vote Smart about the candidates.

On Wednesday, September 30th, we will have the first of our meetings of the Veterans in the Classroom Committee at Radm

McLeod’s house beginning at 1300. We will meet weekly until Veterans Day to sort through requests for veterans and our list of

volunteers. Join us please. It is not particularly difficult or time consuming and the task is completed quickly if we have a group to

help.

Do not forget our annual fall picnic at Radm McLeod’s house on Sunday October 18th beginning at 1300. It is always great

fun. Bring a folding chair and a side dish or desert to share and $8 per person. The $8 covers all the burgers and dogs as well as

the beer and soft drinks. $2 of it goes to the Bud Wise scholarship fund so it’s really a bargain.

Please remember that we are still looking for a Webmaster and a Secretary. Check out our website and you will see immediately

that its really not very fancy. I have been doing it since July so that should be proof that anyone can do it.

Also, if you are planning to attend the Annual Meeting in Orlando on 30/31 October, please let me know so we can coordinate

seating at the two dinners. I want you to participate with me in the receipt of the 5 star streamer that we earned.

Tim

Military Officers Association of America, Citrus County

Post Office Box 637, Inverness, Florida 34460-0637

THE BUGLER

GLER

OCTOBER 2015

CAPTAIN’S CALL CAPT Thomas T. Holme Jr. USN Ret

2 Inside This Issue

Captain’s Call 1

Officers 2

Financial Report 2

Upcoming Events 3

Surviving Spouses 4

Tricare Fuinding 5

Membership Report 6-8

TREASURER’S REPORT

August Financial Report General Fund Opening Balance $ 8067.58 Receipts 275.00 Disbursements 125.00 Closing Balance (1) $8217.58 Community Service Fund Balance (2) 1245.20 Petty Cash Fund Balance 19.35 WISE CD’s & Interest Balance (3) 2466.73 (4864.31)

Grand Total $ 11,949.07

(1) Includes 2397.58 of WISE Funds (2) CSF owes General Fund $197.82 (3) Number in parentheses is Total value of Fund

Submitted By, Thomas Green, COL, USA, Ret

MOAA of Citrus County Operating Officers

President: CAPT Thomas T. Holme Jr. USN (Ret) (352) 597-3884 / tholme@tampabay.rr.com V. President: LCDR Merrill Schelgel USN (Ret) (352) 354-1039 Merrill.Schelgel@1967.USNA.com Secretary: Vacant

Treas: COL Thomas E. Green USA (Ret) (352) 489-7304 / gtapgreen@aol.com Legislative Officer: 1

stLT Ronald Lundberg. USA (Ret)

352-746-9502 / rjlundberg@embargmail.com Membership:Col. Mark Bodenheim. USA (RET) (352) 513-4197. / markboden@hotmail.com

Chaplain: The Rev. Frederick C. Ohsiek II, Capt. USAR (352) 746-7131 / fohsiek@yahoo.com

Auxiliary Liaison and MOAA Ladies President: Ms. Louise MarocHogberg, Auxiliary Member: (352) 637-5898 aussie90@tampabay.rr.com Newsletter Editor: Col Dianne Tiano, USAFR (Ret) (352) 201-4971/ dtiano1@tampabay.rr.com

Web Master: Vacant Immediate Past President LTC Norm Cooney USA (Ret) (352) 746-1768 / Norm66@tampabay.rr.com

The Members of the Board of Directors are: COL Robert B Crawford USMC (Ret) LTC Marge Blunk USA (Ret) Mrs. Barbara Lincoln LTC Chester Tricca USMC (Ret) LTC Benny Edney USA (Ret) CW4.Kenneth Sumners Jr. USA (Ret) MOAA, Citrus County Chapter, Inc. is affiliated with Military Officers Assoc. of America whose offices are located in Alexandria, Virginia.

Florida. MOAA, Citrus County Chapter, Inc. is also a member of MOAA Florida Council of Chapters. MOAA of Citrus County is a 501 (C) 3 Not for Pofit Corporation registered in the State of Florida

Our Website: http://moaafl.org/Chapters/CitrusCounty/

3

Vets in the Classroom Sept 30th Radm McLeod’s House 1300 Monthly MOCC Meeting Oct. 8th Crystal River Golf C lub 1130 Annual Fall Picnic Oct 18th Radm McLeod’s House 1300 MOAA Annual Meeting – Orlando Oct 30-31 HAPPENINGS AROUND THE COUNTY… Citrus County Veterans’ Cooalition Yd Sale Sept- May Our Lady of Fatima Church 7 am-1pm ` Rt 44 Inverness

Veteran’s Appreciation Concert Oct 31-Nov1st Veteran’s Fair- Crystal River Mall Nov 7 Massing of the Colors Nov 8 Women’s Veterans; Luncheon Nov 9 ( 746-2396) Veterans Day Parade-Inverness Nov 11 Veterans Day Motorcycle Run (after parade) Nov 11 Veterans Memorial Sevice Nov 11

Have an event? Post it here. Traveling? Share pics with us. Need help? We are here.

4

“

“The Heart Behind One Powerful Voice”

‘AGENT ORANGE” By Sharon DeVaney, Vice Chair Surviving Spouse Advisory Committee

After my husband died unexpectantly from a heart attack and the shock wore off, I began to learn about Agent Orange and the part it might have played in my husband’s death. Like many veterans his age, he served in Vietnam and I thought he might have been exposed to Agent Orange. He was a Forward Air Controller and flew small planes over combat areas from 1967-1968. After he returned from Vietnam, he was assigned to Strategic Air Command as a B-52 pilot. During 1970-1971, his temporary duty assignments took him from Minot AFB in North Dakota to Thailand where he flew bombing runs over the war zone.

We had a speaker from the VA at one of our monthlly MOAA luncheons. He talked about Dependency and Indemity Compensation (DIC). He wasn’t specific about who was eligible, but it seemed my husband’s death might qualify me for DIC. I already had met with personnel at the VA soon after my husband’s death so I would understand my benefits. I was disappointed with the reception and the information I received. I was reluctant to return to the VA to learn more about DIC. Then I met someone who was actively encouraging widows and widowers to attempt to find out about the benefits their spouses had earned through their service.

I used the Internet to learn more about Agent Orange and found a list of “presumtive diseases” on the VA website. I realized the cause of death on my husband’s death certificate was on the Va’s presumtive conditions, which includes ischemic heart disease, hairy cell and other B-cell leukemia, Parkinson’s disease, prostrate cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, Non- Hodgkin’s Lymphoma or multiple myeloma.

I made another appointment with the local VA. Fortunately, my appointment was with someone who was very understanding. I was asked to bring all my paperwork that showed my husband had been stationed in Vietnam sometime between Jan. 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975. I brought a stack of papers, including a copy of the Red Cross telegram notifying my husband of our son’s birth in May 1968. The VA rejpresentative reviewed my paperwork and prepared an application. A few months later, I was awarded DIC.

If your spouse or a family member served in Vietnam and he or she has been diagnosed with one of the presumptive diseases, be sure to learn about possible benefits. For more in-depth information regarding DIC eligibility and th application process, visit the DIC section of the VA’s website. If you believe you are eligible for DIC after reading through the information, we suggenst you contact a local accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO) to assist you in filing a claim.

SURVIVING SPOUSES OF MOAA

5

MOAA UPDATE

September 25,2015

“TRICARE Funding at Risk”

Move Over VA.

Weeks after the VA asked Congress for a bailout, DoD has come forward with its own $2 billion budget crisis. Without help, DoD could run out of health care funding for outside treatment.

However, unlike the VA, DoD is not only looking at Congress to bail them out, but for beneficiaries to take on even more costs.

DoD was forced to request additional funding to cover a budget shortfall due to the rising costs of compound medications. DoD revised its compound medication policy in May to curb costs, but the budget shortfall remains.

In its request, DoD says that it is trying to control costs, pointing to its payment reform initiatives. Missing from the narrative, however, are the beneficiary initiatives that have resulted in significant cost savings.

Over the last several years, TRICARE beneficiaries have been forced to accept several health care fee increases and policy changes. Specifically, annual pharmacy co pay increases and mandated use of the mail-order pharmacy system for maintenance medications are two initiatives beneficiaries shoulder.

By using the home delivery program and paying more for prescriptions, TRICARE for Life beneficiaries have significantly contributed to 80 percent of the cost savings that the Defense Health Agency has claimed this past year.

Coincidentally, DoD's request comes as Congress once again wrestles with raising TRICARE co pays.

The request only serves to embolden those in Congress who want to shift costs onto service members, retirees, and their families.

Earlier this year, the Pentagon proposed tripling pharmacy co pays in its FY16 budget request. House lawmakers rejected the proposal, but the Senate continues to push for the fee increases.

“DoD is long overdue for a serious look at its internal structure and needs to get its budget in control before asking beneficiaries to bail them out,” said MOAA's Deputy Director of Government Relations, Capt. Kathy Beasley, USN (Ret).

- See more at: http://www.moaa.org/Content/Take-Action/Top-Issues/Currently-Serving/TRICARE-Funding-at-Risk.aspx#sthash.OOgTbjT8.dpuf

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NEW MEMBER Mark Bodenheim

During the month of September, our chapter gained one new member. We welcome CAPT (Ret)

Terri Harrison, USNR, a native of Washington D.C. She graduated from Frostburg State University in

Maryland with a BS degree before being commissioned in 1982 as a graduate of the Officer Candidate

School, Newport, RI as a General Unrestricted Line Officer Ensign. She served four tours

of active duty from 1982-1993 to include the U.S. Naval Communication Station at San

Miguel, Philippines; the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron FOUR (VX-4) at Point Mugu,

CA; the Commander, Fleet Air Mediterranean in Naples, Italy and the Shore

Intermediate Maintenance Actvity, Naval Reserve Maintenance Facility, Naval Station

located in Long Beach, CA. Her duties included a number of human resource and

leadership positions. In February 1993, Terri affiliated with the Naval Reserve in a drilling

status. She served as a Human Resource Officer in several units including the Navy

Reserve Det (NR) Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Japan 110 in Los Angeles, CA; the

Harbor Defense Command 208 in Gulfport MS, the Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare

Unit (MIUW) 208, Miami, FL; the NR Navy Personnel Command NPC 4 in Millington, TN and the U.S. Special

Operations Command, Det 108 in Tampa, FL. During her Navy Reserve career, CAPT Harrison was recalled

to active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, serving with Joint Task Force 160 in

Guantanamo, Cuba, twice at Navy Personnel Command and at U.S. Central Command, Tampa, FL. from

which she retired in November 2011. She has resided in Homosassa, FL since 2007. Again, we welcome Terri

to our chapter.

Does Your Chapter Membership Make A Difference?

At our September 10th chapter meeting, our speaker Mary Peter, president of K9 Partners for Patriots, told us

the stories of how veterans using her partner dogs were not being allowed access to some VA medical and dental

facilities treatment rooms. I have friends who were top administrators of VA dental operations in Florida, but once

they retired from those positions, they now have little to no leverage over current

operations. I directed Mary to contact FloridaVets.org, the website for the State of Florida

Department of Veterans Affairs (we have a chapter member who is the executive

director). Our chapter leaders stated we would take these concerns to our national

congressional representative at a future meeting. We hope Mary can solve these issues

through the regular channels of the VA system but if not, we have people who will listen to our concerns because

we represent a local state MOAA chapter. This story represents one of the main purposes of your membership-

supporting veterans of all ranks who need organizations to speak up for their unmet needs.

Until we meet again,

Mark Bodenheim, COL (Ret) USAR

Membership Chairman

MOAA Citrus County Chapter

MOAA Membership

Corner

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DUES PAYMENT COUPON

Dues are $15.00 per year for regular members and $6.00 per year for auxiliary members. The dues are to be

paid during the month of January each year. If you have a national MOAA local chapter dues voucher, this must

be mailed to the chapter in order to receive credit for the dues. Dues are delinquent on April 1st of each year. Late

dues reminders will be sent by email in February and also in March of each year. Mail dues to:

MOAA Citrus County Chapter

PO Box 637

Lecanto, FL 34460-0637

Please consider supporting the Bud Wise Scholarship fund as well as the Community Service Fund at the same

time you pay your annual dues. Clearly mark on your check and dues payment coupon how much you want for

each dues and contribution item.

Dues X( number of years) X ($15.00 or $6.00)...…………………______________

Contribution to the Bud Wise Scholarship ………………………. _____________

Contribution to the Community Service Fund…………………… _____________

Total…………………… _____________

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MOAA CITRUS COUNTY CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

NATIONAL MOAA MEMBERSHIP NUMBER: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___LIFE MEMBER? ___YES___NO LAST NAME __________________________________________ FIRST NAME_______________________ PREFERRED NICKNAME IF ANY: _____________________________________ ADDRESS _________________________________________________________________________________ CITY: ____________________________ STATE: _______ ZIP CODE: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ _ EMAIL ADDRESS: ________________________________________@________________________________ TELEPHONE: (___ ___ ___ ) ___ ___ ___- ___ ___ ___ ___ DATE OF BIRTH: (MM/DD/YYYY) ___ ___ / ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___ STATUS (CHECK ONE): ___ AUXILIARY ___ ACTIVE ___FORMER ___RETIRED SERVICE (CHECK ONE): ___ NOAA ___ U.S. ARMY ___ U.S. AIR FORCE ___ U.S. COAST GUARD ___ USPHS ___U.S. NAVY ___ U.S. MARINES SERVICE COMPONENT : ___ACTIVE ___RESERVE ___NATIONAL GUARD RANK:________________ MOAA MEMBER SPOUSE NAME (IF ANY) FIRST__________________ LAST ______________________ PREFERRED SPOUSE NICKNAME IF ANY: ________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________ PLEASE CHECK TYPE OF MOAA CITRUS COUNTY MEMBERSHIP YOUR ARE APPLYING FOR (CHECK ONE ONLY): ____ REGULAR MEMBERSHIP(Retired, Former or Active Duty Officer, Warrant Officer or Limited Duty Officer of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, NOAA or Public Health Service) ____AUXILIARY MEMBERSHIP(Surviving spouse of eligible officer)

MOAA CITRUS COUNTY CHAPTER ANNUAL DUES*: Regular Membership: $15/Auxiliary Membership: $6

*You must be a current National MOAA member in order to be a member of the MOAA Citrus County Chapter. For information on National

MOAA dues, visit online at: http://www.moaa.org/join/.

Send completed form and dues check (payable to MOAA of Citrus County) to:

MOAA Citrus County Chapter PO Box 637 Lecanto, FL 34460-0637 For questions, please contact the membership chairman, Mark Bodenheim, COL (Ret) USAR Email: markboden@hotmail.com, PH: 352-513-4197