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THUNDERBIRD NEWSHeadlines:

Holiday Gift Wrapping 1 Awards 2 Health Care Professions 3 Membership 4 Executive Council 5 6 Urgent Care Alert 7 CAPWIZ 8 Membership Application 9 Why Join AFSA 10 Professional Airmen's Conference 10 Airmen Activities 12 President's Comments 13

Join us Next Month

We meet in the Tinker Club on the 2nd Thursday of the

month 1130 hrs

As many of you know, the Chapter 985 Annual Gift Wrapping Fundraiser takes place between Thanksgiving and Christmas at the Tinker AFB Exchange. All proceeds go to supporting Airmen, Families and the Tinker Community!

We need many volunteers to fill 3-hour time slots everyday starting Friday, November 23rd through Saturday, December 24th. A spreadsheet will be sent via our list server and posted on our website www.afsa985.org to volunteer for available times that are open. When selecting a time slot, please keep in mind that uniforms, including PT gear, are not allowed while wrapping gifts. We will send out updates as the slots fill up; reply early to get the time slot you want!!

Please contact Terry Turner at president@afsa985.org, cell phone (405) 420-5286 to volunteer; provide a cell/duty phone number if possible. Active duty, please include your supervisor and commander's information so we can recognize you accordingly.

Volunteers must be in civilian attire and the booth is located directly in front of the BX entrance adjacent to the food court. Without the volunteer efforts of chapter members and supporters we would be unable to sponsor so many programs throughout the year. Some actual events supported by us that affects all ranks; Chief Induction, Awards Program, Education Grant, Dorm Events, Food Pantry, etc.

We got into the gift wrapping over 22 years ago as a mutual benefit to us and the BX. We needed a means to fund our efforts to be a help to our military community and of course the community in which we all live. Then the BX Customer Service was in the gift wrapping business year round. Our help freed them up during the peak holiday season so they could concentrate on lay-a-ways, returns, etc. If you can spare some time to help us with this most important event, we would welcome your volunteering!

Issue # 4, May August 2012

Holiday Gift Wrapping

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AFSA Chapter 985 Award Winning Chapter

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Health Professions Recruiting Article by Derick Heflin, MSgt AETC 369 RCG, Health Professions Representative

Most people think of Air Force Recruiter and envision their own experience in the recruiting office. They were the first face you saw when you showed interest in joining. Have you ever thought of how your Air Force Doctor or Dentist joined the Air Force? The Health Professions Recruiting office in Del City Oklahoma is the office that makes this happen. They are part of the 369th Recruiting Group out of Lackland AFB TX. The six man office recruits professionals in the specialties of doctor, dentist, allied health, nurse, and medical administration.

These professional recruiters cover a large area encompassing the states of Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. The actual recruiters themselves are experienced Active Duty Air Force members who all are on their second assignment in Air Force Recruiting Service. This is a very unique and challenging job because we are directly competing with civilian healthcare industries for professionals in their training and in the private practice.

To the outsiders would seem very challenging and unique;; the common reasons for joining are fairly similar to the high schooler enlisting into the Air Force. The ability to have school paid for, serving your country, and the ability to see the world are some of the most common reasons that applicants call their office. Three of the members of the office are active members of the Air Force Sergeants Association. If you know of anyone that may be interested in more information about Health

Profession opportunities the Air Force offers please contact their office at

405-­672-­ 1262.

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Share afsa Recruit one today MEMBERSHIP:

57 New Members

200 New Members to date

1,710 Total Members

Membership

We meet in the Tinker Club on the 2nd

Thursday of each month at 1130hrs

Also, many of our members have a low level of interest in our association. They know just enough to know AFSA is good for them, but have little care to tell someone else. These folks are not armed with enough information to know all the fronts that AFSA is fighting on, and do not care to spend exhaustive hours getting spun up.

Natural human selfishness also plays into the problem. We covet things that are good and deny others those things when we have a good experience with it. Although many people will freely argue they do not do this, it happens nonetheless.

What does all of this amount to? Only 5% of 1% of all AFSA members does any recruiting. These barriers to success are just too much for most of us to overcome. However, if we can look at each of these barriers and decide we can get past them, we can grow our association. I challenge everyone to tell ONE PERSON to see me

should talk to Michael Mo -­days, and would love to speak to anyone about our vital voice on Capitol Hill.

Article by Vice President Michael Mooney, MSgt

could

International President bellowed out these words. Then if you think about it, it is true. Why can we not do it? Actually, there are several reasons.

Several of our chapters are the remnants of long since

there to recruit for those members. On the same token, many other bases are also downsizing and have members leaving their chapters.

Another point is that humans want to be denied by even our closest friends. In fact, almost every human being has suffered from fear of rejection at some point in their lives. This makes it hard for folks to even ask someone to do the right thing.

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President, Terry Turner (Ret) MSgt 405-­420-­5286 / president@afsa985.org

1st Trustee, Lowell Doug Bynum (Ret) SMSgt 405-­305-­5439 / dougbynum67@gmail.com

3rd Trustee, MSgt Michael Bartels 405-­206-­4321 / Michael.Bartels@tinker.af.mil

5th Trustee, TSgt Bruce Reno 907-­854-­8127 / Bruce.Reno@tinker.af.mil

7th Trustee TSgt LaTonya Reno 907-­433-­9994 / Latonya.Reno@tinker.af.mil

VP & Membership MSgt Michael Mooney 405-­229-­6596 Michael.Mooney@tinker.af.mil 2nd TrusteeVACANT 4th TrusteeVACANT 6th TrusteeVACANT

Airman Activities Coordinator A1C Cody Fondahn 571-­438-­3673 Cody.Fondahn@tinker.af.mil

SecretarySSgt Rachel Long 405-­659-­9848 /Rachel.Long@tinker.af.mil

Treasurer TSgt Mary Rokitka 405-­642-­2446 Mary.Rokitka@tinker.af.mil

2012 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

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Chaplain Don Sullivan (Ret) SMSgt 405-­740-­5429 /ddsullivan@cox.net

Senior Advisor & HistorianTimothy Ossinger (Ret) CMSgt 405-­923-­9351 Timothy.Ossinger@tinker.af.mil

Webmaster Lisa Muth (Vet) TSgt 405-­831-­9563 /lisaAFdefender@yahoo.com

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Retro Authorization for Network Care is Not a TRICARE Benefit

Effective 1 December 2012, referrals for off-­base (network) care received without prior authorization will no longer be written by the 72d Medical Group (72d MDG). Therefore, your visit will NOT be paid for if care is obtained without prior authorization and you will be responsible for the civilian medical care costs. This change is in compliance with Chapter 1, Section

(PCM) referral when one is required will result in the service being paid under Point of Service procedures with a deductible for outpatient services and cost-­Additionally, an Active Duty (AD) claim can be denied for no prior referral or authorization and the AD member will be responsible for the denied claim costs.

There is one exception to this policy. AD members and non-­active duty beneficiaries who seek emergency room (ER) care for an emergency medical condition, does not require a referral/authorization, however any follow-­up specialty care needed after an ER visit does require a referral/authorization from their PCM.

If you seek urgent care in the local area, you must be directed by the 72 MDG and obtain care from an -­2778 to ensure you have the

appropriate authorization prior to receiving the urgent care. Approved urgent care referral/authorizations will be for one visit only.

For out-­of-­you must first call the TRICARE South Region Call Center 1-­800-­444-­5445, available 24/7, to obtain an out-­of-­area urgent care referral/authorization. Also, the call center can assist you in locating a network urgent care facility.

If you are directed to specialty care from an emergency room or urgent care facility, you must obtain a referral and authorization before care is rendered. This can be accomplished by contacting your PCM team by calling the 72d MDG at (405) 734-­2778. If you have a valid referral/authorization already for specialty care and you need to extend the expiration date and/or add more visits, you may contact the Referral Management Center at (405) 734-­2778, option 3, option 1. Referral/authorizations are valid for only one year, so any specialty care needed past one year will require a follow-­up appointment with your PCM.

If you feel extenuating circumstances exist and are seeking retro authorization, this request should be submitted in writing and forwarded to our Chief of Medical Staff (SGH) through the Utilization Management Department at the 72d Medical Group, 7050 Air Depot Blvd, Bldg 1094, Tinker AFB, OK, 73145.

Questions regarding TRICARE eligible covered benefits can be directed to the TRICARE Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinator (BCAC) at (405) 582-­6339.

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CAPWIZ, Your direct connection to Congress

What is CAPWIZ.

AFSA recently added the CAPWIZ application to its website. CAPWIZ is designed as an easy to use tool for contacting your elected officials but it is more than just that. CAPWIZ is also an excellent research tool so you can find out what is happening on Capitol Hill and most importantly, find out if your elected officials are looking out for your best interests.

How to access CAPWIZ. CAPWIZ can be accessed through this link: http://www.capwiz.com/hqafsa/home/ What can I do on CAPWIZ? Send an email to your elected officials about an

issue that is important to you Research candidates for public office at the state

and federal level Research federal government agencies Research all legislation currently before congress Sign up to receive voting records for your elected

officials Learn basic etiquette for contacting Congress Follow political races for each state and the

federal government Register to Vote Contact local media outlets to let inform the public

on matters concerning the enlisted Airman Why is all this important? If our organization is going to be successful in our lobbying efforts, our membership must be proactive and contact their elected officials. If we do not actively engage our politicians, we run the risk of losing key benefits won during the last 40 years.

Go to the main CAPWIZ Page at: http://www.capwiz.com/hqafsa/home/

Click on the Issues link in the main menu Click on Current Legislation Click on one of the bills that you want to contact

your elected officials about Enter your ZIP Code and press GO, CAPWIZ

will load your elected officials Edit the letter as you desire or send the

preformatted text Enter your personal information Click on Send Message

In just a few minutes, you have helped AFSA to protect your earned benefits.

How to contact your elected official using CAPWIZ

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985

Michael Mooney 758393

AFSA Chapter 985

www.afsa985.org

CAPWIZ website: www.capwiz.com and www.congress.org.

Other Helpful Legislative Websites: Legislative Information from the Library of Congress: http://www.thomas.gov U.S. Senate: http://www.senate.gov U.S. House of Representatives: http://www.house.gov Chapter 985 website: www.afsa985.org Division 89 website: http://www.afsadiv89.org/ AFSA Headquarters: https://www.hqafsa.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home

http://www.hqafsa.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=AFSA_Newsletter&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=8067

HELPFUL LINKS

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2012 Professional Airmen's Conference Article by President MSgt (Ret) Terry Turner

The flagship event for the Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) is its annual Professional T

Conference convened in Jacksonville, Florida, at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville, 225 East Coastline Drive, Jacksonville, Florida, 32202.

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During the PAC the AFSA conducts its general membership business. The AFSA delegates, general membership, and International Committees share invaluable information, discuss, and ratify, such

for the coming year and other goals and objectives.

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Conferences. These conferences convene simultaneously with the AFSA to discuss Air Force-specific business. However, these separate conferences come together during professional development hours.

Theses forums consist of keynote addresses from senior congressional decision makers, Department of Defense and Air Force senior leadership, war historians, and other professional

present and its future. Moreover, these forums continue to build on the strong solid foundation of our professional Total Air Force enlisted corps.

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Never Forget

AAAIIIRRRMMMAAANNN AAACCCTTTIIIVVVIIITTTIIIEEESSS Chapter 985, thank you for making this such a great chapter. In just over three months, we have supported great events and supported the Tinker Community.

One event I would like to highlight is the Conducted a Quarterly General Membership Meeting at the Santé Fe Cattle Co. at 5:00PM.

The purpose of a quarterly general membership (GM) meeting is to attract members that are unable to attend our monthly meetings, yet want to engage in/meet other members for possible future involvement. The meeting lasted about an hour and are filled with great information and full of fun.

We have recruited many volunteers from this event. The next quarterly Membership Meeting is scheduled for 13 December 2012, at the Santa Fe Cattle Co. at 5:00PM. Hope to see some more new volunteers there.

985

Volunteer Events May 2012

47 Volunteers for May, 172 Total Hours of Community Service

June 2012

18 Volunteers for June, 39 Total Hours of Community Service

July 2012 14 Volunteers for July, 33.5 Total Hours of Community Service

August 2012 38 Volunteers for August, 98 Total Hours of Community Service

Upcoming Event 23 Nov - 24 Dec, AFSA

Annual gift-wrapping fund-raiser

1 December 2012, 8th Annual Spring Dance Road

Show

14 December 2012, AFJROTC Morale Event at Heyday Entertainment in Norman

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President's Comments

AFSA Family: I would like to thank your Executive Council, they are working hard on your behalf to support Tinker Community. We have started a Airmen Activities Committee to sponsor events to support "Airmen".

The committee will set up morale events to support dorm residents. They have started setting up a base wide dorm barbeque with fun events to take place for over 300 residents. This event is in the planning stages but will take place in late September 2012.

Have you heard of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award? We have been selected to be a certifying organization for community service performed by our volunteers. It's simple, register and the chapter does the rest. Upon reaching 100 hours, you will reach first level of achievement. You will receive a lapel pin, letter from the President and letter of congratulations.

Our volunteers need to register at http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov and use Record of Service Key BHH-51436 to track volunteer activities.

Also, don't forget AFSA is on Capitol Hill fighting for your benefits. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at president@afsa985.org with any issue.

Keep your eyes out for our annual gift wrapping booth at the BX from 23 Nov - 24 Dec 2012. All proceeds go to general fund that support over 25 programs locally.

Thanks for your support and see you at the next Quarterly General Membership Meeting, 13 Dec 2012, 5PM at Santé Fe on 29th Street.

-:) President Terry Turner

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Fold Here Stamp Here AFSA Chapter 985 P.O. Box 45649 Tinker AFB, OK 73145

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