LTC William Johnson to Provide an Information Brief Of The Army’s “Soldier For Life” Program On 21 January at the O’Club In This Issue 2 The Prez Sez 3 Officers/Directors 3 Pentagon Trim Proposals 4 Secretary’s Notes 5 Woodworking Trio 8 Legislative 9 War Stories 11 Financial Scams Volume 42 Number 1 January 2015 ieutenant Colonel William (Will) T. Johnson serves as the North East United States and European Director on the Army Chief of Staff’s Soldier for Life (SFL) Program. In this role he connects Army, governmental, and community efforts to facilitate the successful reintegration of Soldiers, Veterans, Retired Soldiers, and their Families with the purpose of keeping them Army Strong, instilling their values, ethos, and leadership within their local communities. SFL was established in July 2012 to maintain trust with our Army Family during and after service. On 9 Oct. 2014, Army Chief of Staff General Raymond T. Odierno emphasized that through SFL, we are synchronizing the efforts of more than 46,000 organizations, allowing Soldiers to “Start Strong, Serve Strong, Reintegrate Strong and Remain Strong.” The endstate of the SFL campaign are Soldiers, Veterans, and Families who leave military service “career ready” and find an established network of enablers connecting them with the employment, education, and health resources required to successfully reintegrate into civilian society. General George Washington said it best in 1781, “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” Trained as an Artillery Officer, LTC Johnson has served in a series of strategic and operational assignments supporting operations in the Middle East, South West Asia, and Central Asia. His combat tours include two deployments to Iraq in 2003 (ground invasion) and 2007; he most recently returned from Afghanistan in August 2013 where he served as a Battalion Commander. LTC Johnson served as a Department of Defense Legislative Fellow to Congress, serving two years on Capitol Hill in the U.S. House of Representatives. LTC Johnson has two Masters Degrees, one in Criminal Justice from Armstrong University (Savannah, Ga.) and Legislative Affairs from The George Washington University (Washington D.C.). He was recently selected for attendance to Senior Staff College and promotion to Colonel. Johnson is married to Jessica Johnson who has stood by him for over 10 years, and together they have a wonderful son, Davis, age 7. As he says, “I could not do what I do without their love, support, and understanding. “ L Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier ... A Soldier for Life! Page 2 January 2015 The Prez Sez A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL In this article, the first of nearly a dozen, I will attempt to keep you apprised of the happenings of your chapter during the time I am President. I would like to have the opportunity of meeting each of you and exchanging ideas on how the chapter can best be run. Perhaps you could make it a point to join us at one of our dinner meetings, at the Fort Belvoir Officers Club or the Fairfax Retirement Community. One of the best meetings is the Scholarship Award dinner, at Ft. Belvoir in May, when we award some outstanding young Junior ROTC people from local high schools what we consider to be an initial required amount to enter one of the schools of higher learning of their choice. We do have other very good meetings at which we are joined by members of the community; politicians, military members, and presenters of interesting tales of persons of interest. You really should make an attempt to join us for one of these dinners – I am sure one time would instill within you the desire to continue meeting with your fellow chapter members and enjoying the presentations. In the company of our chapter President, LCDR Bill Broome, I had the privilege of laying the MOAA wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veteran’s day. This was the second year that I have had this honor and just being present in the company of all those veterans and dignitaries, in itself, was a great honor. This year’s program was under the leadership of the Disabled American Veterans and next year MOAA will have the responsibility for the program. I anticipate the possibility of our chapter being requested to participate in the many facets of the program and will be calling upon many of you to assist me in fulfilling the requirements (requests) of the national office. I promise that you will find any involvement in this production to be very fulfilling and you will be able to walk away from the event knowing that you have been involved in one of our nations great programs for its veterans. The December 2014 issue of the Military Officer magazine has several good articles among its many good features, however, I found one article of exceptional interest. It was the reference to navigating your VA claim which I thought was not only well presented, but hit upon the many facets of the claim that many of us don’t even consider. I thought this article was exceptional in that it referred to the support one of MOAA’s Veteran Support Specialists had provided to an enlisted man. I thought this was especially good as I had always thought our Veteran Support Office (VSO) was for members of the Association and, being a former enlisted man, I found the support offered this individual to be outstanding. The interface provided between the VSO and the Veterans Administration showed the effect our organization has in supporting members of the military. Additionally, the article about the return of a WWII veteran to the beaches and European locations of his early life should not be missed. This issue is must reading! If you were not able to be present at the annual business meeting and installation of Officers, you missed an outstanding presentation by VADM Norb Ryan, your MOAA President. He also installed the officers of the chapter for the coming year. Subsequent to his talk, I had requested of our chapter President, LCDR Bill Broome, the opportunity to say a few words to the assembled group. I really did keep my talk to only a few words, but they were ones which I consider very important to the Let me conclude this month’s diatribe with a growth of our chapter. I related the fact that it was not very long ago that the membership of the chapter was over six hundred request – please, please, join me and you fellow veterans at members and that I would like to see the chapter get back to one of our monthly dinner meetings – AND - help me that strength in the coming year or so. We can do this if each increase our chapter’s membership. one of us will get one new member. That new member will be asked to get another new member and before long we are back Provide a fellow officer the following at or above the six hundred mark. I admit to having brought link to join our chapter: several new members into the chapter in the past few years and will continue my search for active duty, retired and former http://www.mvmoaa.com/membership.html Officers to join us as chapter members. I really want to make this chapter grow and will only be able to accomplish this with your help, so (as I said at my installation), help me! Page 3 January 2015 Chapter Officers President: CDR Rex Maddox, USN 1st VP: CDR George Wallace, USN 2ndVP: Lt Col Earl Henderson, USAF Secretary: LCDR William Broome, USCG Treasurer: LT Mark Cohen, USN Past President: LCDR William Broome, USCG Standing Committees (2015) 703-765-8819 703-354-4647 850-819-3193 703-395-4317 703-847-8900 703-395-4317 Directors (2014-2015) COL Russ Henderson, USA LTC Cerie Kimball, USA Mrs. Joyce Davis Aux 703-780-1068 703-310-4605 703-360-0748 Directors (2015-2016) COL Bob Patrick, USA LCDR Marty Schaller, USN LT James Ivey, USN 703-690-9336 703-323-7339 571-499-7738 Other Duties MOAA Liaison: COL Robert Patrick, USA Chaplain: COL Arnie Porter, USAF Fairfax Liaison: Mrs. Joyce Davis 703-690-9336 703-780-4310 703-372-2564 Arrangements: LCDR Marty Schaller, USN Auxiliary: Mrs Joyce Davis Despatch Editor: LT James Ivey, USN JROTC Awards: COL Arnie Porter, USAF Legislative: COL Stuart Williams, USA Membership: Lt Col Earl Henderson, USAF Personal Affairs: MAJ Nick Sottler, USMC Program Admin: Vacant Program Speakers: LTC Cerie Kimball, USA Public Relations: CDR George Wallace, USN Scholarship Fund: LCDR Marty Schaller, USN TOPS Liaison: Vacant VCOC: COL Robert Patrick, USA Veterans Affairs: Vacant Webmaster: LT James Ivey, USN 703-323-7339 703-372-2564 571-499-7738 703-780-4310 703-644-4126 850-819-3193 703-360-9295 703-310-4605 703-765-8819 703-323-7339 703-690-9336 571-499-7738 Pentagon Trim Proposals to Continue Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work, a retired Marine colonel and former Navy undersecretary, said 30 SEP that the Pentagon will continue pressing to trim military pay, pensions, and housing allowances despite rejections by Congress. The Pentagon will also try again to reform the Tricare health care system and kill the A-10 attack aircraft despite nearly universal opposition from veterans service organizations, Work said at a Council on Foreign Relations forum. "This whole idea of compensation is absolutely critical. Compensation (reform) is a really big deal" in DoD's efforts to maintain readiness, fight wars in Afghanistan and the Mideast and re-balance forces to the Pacific while working under the budgetary restrictions of the Congressional sequester process, Work said. Matters will come to a head in February when DoD presents its next budget and the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission presents its long-awaited reform recommendations. He said he expected that Congress will still be working under a continuing resolution on DoD's budget in February. "This is truly the last chance for us to make any moves in this space" on pay, pensions and other costcutting measures, said Work. Without the proposed cuts, the Pentagon will be left with a $70 billion hole in its budget, Work said, but Congress has opposed "what we consider to be reasonable approaches. It's been no, no, no, no, no, no, no" to nearly every suggestion. "This is la-la land," Work said. The Military Officers Association of America and other veterans groups were bracing for the upcoming fight with DoD on pay and benefits. "I don't expect that the Department is going to ease off on any of these next year," said retired Col. Mike Hayden, MOAA's director of government relations. He said that DoD was "looking at any way to try to offset readiness costs by shifting them onto service members and their families and retirees." Over the Labor Day weekend, President Obama sent notice to Congress limiting pay increases for the military and federal civilian workers to one percent. [Source: Military Times | Richard Sisk | Sept. 30, 2014 ++] Page 4 January 2015 Secretary’s Notes Reminder ..... Members of MVC/MOAA Board of Directors.... A meeting of the Board of Directors is scheduled for every first Tuesday of the month (except July), at 7:00 P.M. at the South County Government Center 8350 Richmond Hwy. Alexandria, VA (Room 217 or 219). If you are unable to attend, please call Rex Maddox at (703) 765-8819 Email: [email protected] All members are welcome to attend. Welcome New Members COL William Huff, USA Spouse: Michelle COL Murray Rupert, USA-Ret Spouse: Adriana Col Peter Sartori, USAF Spouse: Diane COL William Nelson, USAF-Ret Spouse: Janice LtCol Matt Howard, USMC Spouse: Darcy LTC Angela Ewing, USA-Ret Spouse: N/A LTC Rogers Stinson, USA Spouse: Christine Major Jessica Ryu , USMC Spouse: N/A Address Change Phyllis J. Wilson Old: 3939 Brickert Pl Woodbridge, VA New: 6392 Stagg Ct. Springfield, VA 22150 Constitutional Amendment Passes Congratulations! The Virginia Constitutional Amendment providing real estate tax relief to spouses of military members who are killed in action passed with 87% of voters saying yes on 4 November. Page 5 January 2015 Senior woodworking trio keeping both their saws and skills sharp As a kid growing up in Massachusetts, Doug Borden, 83, worked on wooden boats with his grandfather — a U.S. Navy veteran of the Spanish-American War. the community woodshop. Today, he is the shop’s foreman. Last year, Joe Fleig, 78, of Reston moved to Westminster from Reston, adding his own set of woodworking power tools to the shop. “My grandfather lived in the Black Forest in Germany making cuckoo clocks,” he said. “My father was a great carpenter and built our house in upstate New York. Back then men knew how to do things like that.” That experience steered his life toward two things: a 25-year career in the U.S. Navy, and a passion for woodworking. Fleig said his father taught him many woodworking skills, and Fleig later made wooden Christmas gifts for his friends and family. “Every year I’d make 50 of something, like trivets or ornaments or other decorative items, and give them out,” he said. Those wooden boats constantly needed work, and I guess working on them with my grandfather at an early age did in fact have an impact on the rest of my life,” he said. Today, Borden, Fleig and Pearthree are known in their retirement community as the “Westminster Woodworkers.” In 1969 Borden moved to Franconia, where he built a shed and a workbench to go in it. When he recently realized it was time to move to a retirement community, he chose Westminster at Lake Ridge in Occoquan, which offered a community woodshop and some kindred woodworking spirits. As a child in the 1930s, Edward Pearthree, 86, of Chantilly played in his grandfather’s cabinetmaking shop. During his 25-year stint in the Army, Pearthree spent his off-duty hours on a variety of woodworking projects, including renovating a home in Alaska. “I took off the roof and added a second floor,” he said. Everywhere the Army transferred Pearthree, his extensive collection of woodworking hand tools would also go. When he moved to Westminster from Chantilly four years ago, his tools moved in with him, and he joined Using the community woodshop and each other’s contributed tools, the trio pools their time and skills to repair chairs, cabinets, end tables and many other family treasures and heirlooms; preserving important memories for their nearly 300 neighbors. They stay busy with a waiting list of projects. When they get a call, they visit a resident’s apartment to assess whether or not the furniture is repairable. On one such visit, they found a large antique chest of drawers missing three legs and sitting precariously on a stack of books. “Often furniture gets damaged in a move. We got the legs put back on, and got the broken dresser back to usefulness again,” said Pearthree. “In many cases these are pieces of furniture that residents have had for decades and they have deep sentimental attachments to them.” The volunteer woodworkers work independently as their individual schedules permit, and gather together on Tuesday afternoons to work on their assigned projects, joking and enjoying each other’s company. “Doug’s specialty is fixing chairs, so we call him the ‘chairman’,” jokes Fleig. Woodworking continued on page 11 Page 6 January 2015 www.optidfour.com www.militaryresearchassociates.com The Mount Vernon Chapter thanks its sponsors for their support by supporting them? Please identify yourself as a chapter member when you contact them. www.aalaw.com www.IndianRiverColonyClub.com/usmilitary www.George-Wallace.com Page 7 January 2015 Mail to: [email protected] mail to: [email protected] www.thefairfaxretirement.com www.merchantcircle.com/business/Fort.Hunt.Service.Center.Inc.703-799-7320 Page 8 January 2015 Budget Amendments for Virginia 2015 General Assembly Four of the JLC/BVS recommendations for the 2015 General Assembly (GA) require amendments to 2016 portion of the 2015-2016 Biennial Budget passed by the 2014 GA and signed by the Governor. These include additional amounts over what has already been approved of $1,750,201 for Claims Agents, $387,273 for the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program, $160,965 for additional staffing at the Virginia War Memorial, and $1,180,000 to eliminate veteran homelessness. Due to sequestration and reduction in Defense spending in the state, Virginia is experiencing a revenue shortfall that will make these increases problematical. The Governor will release his proposed budget/legislative program on 17 December. The JLC will meet on 18 December to review the proposals and to make appropriate adjustments if deemed necessary. National FY 2015 Defense Authorizations and Appropriations The FY2015 National Defense Authorizations Act (NDAA) (HR3979) was passed and sent to the President on 12 December. The following day the defense appropriations (HR83) was also passed and sent to the President. As this is written on 15 December there is an ongoing analysis of the content of these acts and the outcome affecting the lives of all military – active, retired national guard, and reserve. Some examples: Pay raise limited to 1% rather than the 1.8% matching private sector pay growth Modest increase in TRICARE pharmacy fees Minor reduction in Basic Housing Allowance (BAH) $10 million reduction in Defense Commissary Agency funding and, On base tobacco prices to be raised to match competitive local prices In rejecting almost every Defense Department proposal this year to hold down personnel costs, lawmakers said time after time that these changes should await the final report of the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission, due in February. 2015 and the FY2016 budgeting process should prove to be very complex. VCOC 2015 National Objectives The VCOC Legislative Committee met on 10 December in Richmond and adopted three measures to recommend to the VCOC Board for approval. These will be used to advocate in the 1st Session of the 114th Congress and focus on the FY2016 budget deliberations. The measures include Remove Sequestration, Return to Regular Order, and Reorganize/Restructure the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Each chapter’s legislative rep has a copy of the position papers of each issue. MOAA Commentary 2015 marks a second year of pay caps below private sector wage growth. The last two pay raises are tied for the lowest raises in 50 years. With four additional years of pay caps included in the president’s 2014 budget submission, this isn’t a statistical anomaly, it’s the emergence of a disturbing trend. Even though Congress limited changes in commissary funding, housing allowances, and pharmacy copays to one year, this could easily be perceived as support for chipping away at these benefits. In two obscured sections of a joint explanatory statement of the defense bill, House and Senate Armed Services Committee members stated that they have not yet rejected DoD plans to further erode housing allowances or increase TRICARE pharmacy fees, and will again “commit to consider” these proposals next year. But if sequestration returns, an even uglier scenario will be on the horizon. The joint statement goes on to say that if sequestration returns, “ DoD will need to make painful cuts and achieve substantial savings across its entire budget in order to avoid an unacceptable reduction in readiness.” Unacceptable readiness can be the result of a variety of shortfalls in either inadequate training or equipment. But we must not lose sight that the erosion of pay and benefits in the past led to poor recruiting and retention, resulting in unacceptable readiness issues. It appears we are heading down that path again. The bottom line: To ensure we don’t go from good, to bad, to ugly, MOAA’s mission in 2015 will be to remind Congress that erosions to pay and benefits led to significant readiness problems in the past. [Source: MOAA Bottom Line, Dec. 10, 2014] MOAA Storms Continued on page 10 Page 9 January 2015 War Stories By CDR Rex Maddox, USN, Ret On to Further Training After dropping the family off in a housing project for what I anticipated would be a prelude to moving on base once I reported for duty in VW-13(Airborne Early Warning Squadron 13) at Patuxent River, Maryland, I continued on to the Naval Air Station at Glynco, Georgia and reported to the school’s duty Officer. I was to receive training there as an Airborne Combat Information Center and Electronic Warfare Officer – WHOOPEE! Back to basics for training in the field in which I was originally trained, in 1945, at the Combat Information Center School for radarman in San Diego, California. AND, I had taught myself to operate Electronic Warfare and counter-measures equipment while serving on the USS Newman K. Perry, DDR-883 in our west pacific deployment, as a radarman. However, this schooling was to lead to my receiving a set of Navy wings of gold as a Naval Flight Officer (NFO)! If I couldn’t be a Naval Aviator, this would be the next best thing. After reporting to the school’s Duty Officer for duty, I was greeted by an old friend from the days of our duty in Japan, Joe Shelby, a first class Air Traffic Controlman , in those days, who worked in the control tower at NAS Atsugi and whose wife and children had come over to Japan on the same Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) ship as my family. Joe was now the Leading Chief of the CIC school, a Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8). As it turned out, there were several petty officers on the school staff whom I had known from previous duty stations. After checking in at the school, I reported to the base housing office and received an assignment to a room in the Bachelor Officers Quarters, my home for the next four months. The class to which I had been assigned was a mixed group with several Naval Aviators, myself and nearly a dozen Ensigns who had received their NFO wings at NAS Pensacola, Florida. Our class leader turned out to be an aviator Lieutenant who was receiving training prior to reporting to the USS Enterprise as the CIC Officer. He was a nice guy and we got along well until he was called into the school Training Officer’s office one day with a complaint that members of his class were sleeping during various classes (now I wonder who that might have been). On another occasion, I had actually been reported to the Leading Chief by a second class radarman who was teaching a plotting course, for sleeping in his class. When I went in to talk with the Leading Chief, my friend Joe, he offered me a cup of coffee and said I really should try to stay awake during classes. Of course, my retort to this was that I could probably teach the course much better than the Petty Officer who was standing at the chalk board. Joe was very good about this and we had a good time talking about our tour in Japan before I reported back to my classes. Our class leader was pretty sure it was me that was the reason for his being called “on the carpet” by the school’s training officer, so he let me know “he was keeping an eye on me”! I agreed to try and stay awake during class and was successful at this effort until one day when a young petty officer was teaching us about the operation of a particular piece of electronic countermeasures equipment. I admitted to dozing off and when the young Petty Officer reported me, I had another meeting with my friend the Leading Chief. Of course, I was chastised by the class leader and received a warning from him of a possible trip to the school’s Training Officer’s office. Most of the young Officers in our class were receiving training to become Radar Intercept Officers (the radar operator who is known as a “back seater” in jet fighter aircraft, or RIO). One of our class trainees had reported to sick bay one day and, rather than cancel a training flight which affected numerous people, our class was asked to provide a substitute to make the training flight. I had previously received altitude and ejection seat training at NAS Corpus Christi so, after a quick checkout on the equipment in the aircraft and the mission, it was determined I was qualified to sit in the seat as an airborne radar operator. At the completion of the flight, during the debrief, the pilot reported that the RIO on the flight had made three effective intercepts and put the aircraft in a position for positive “kills”. As a result of this mission, the school training Officer contacted me and asked if I would like to change my curriculum to become an RIO. I declined his offer as I really didn’t want to set myself up for a possible jet Continued on page 10 Page 10 January 2015 Continued from page 9 squadron tour when my family was already in Patuxent River and I had orders to VW-13. One incident which did not help with my personal standing in the class and relationship with the class leader was my selection to be the Officers in Training platoon Officer during an inspection by the Chief of Naval Air Training. Each of the officers above the rank of Ensign had been interviewed regarding their past involvement in inspections and their familiarity with the manual for swords as this was to be a formal inspection. I had been required to purchase a sword while on duty in Corpus Christi and had brought my sword with me to Glynco so when time for selection came, I was chosen because I had a sword in my possession while none of the other Officers in my class had one. When the Admiral came to our platoon, I reported the presence of the class and that all members were present, which was normal. The Admiral stopped in front of me and said he had noticed my good conduct ribbon and how did I like being a “mustang”. I knew former enlisted persons who had been selected to become an Officer were often referred to as “Mustangs” but I was not prepared for a question from the inspecting Officer about my personal background. My response was evidently satisfactory with the Admiral as he said he had noted there were several officers in the platoon who were of senior rank to me and I should be proud to be their platoon Officer. I thanked him and he moved on. Later I was called into the school Training Officer’s office where I received the congratulations of the Officer in Charge for my actions during the inspection. Upon completion of the required twelve week curriculum, graduation from the course was at hand. I had been in contact with my parents who lived in San Diego and had asked them if they could possibly travel to Maryland and stay with our children while Pat came to Glynco to pin on my wings. Seeing as they had not seen their grandchildren for some time, they were willing to make the trip and spend a week in Patuxent River, so Pat was able to come down to Georgia and pin on my wings as a Naval Flight Officer. Following the ceremony and graduation party held by the members of the class, we drove to Patuxent River and joined the other members of our little family. I reported to VW-13 and was assigned to a crew for duty flying in the super constellation known as a WV-2 (Willy Victor Duece). The duty in the squadron became very interesting almost immediately and those tales will be the subject of another article. Continued from page 8 Virginia Council of MOAA storms General Assembly on 26 January 2015 All 18 chapters of the Virginia Council of Chapters – MOAA will be in Richmond on Monday, January 26, 2015 to visit delegates and senators of their chapter membership. Purpose is to promote the objectives of the Joint Leadership Council (JLC) to adequately fund operations of the Virginia Department of Veteran Services to serve all 850,000 veterans in Virginia. For the Mt. Vernon Chapter that includes some eleven delegates and five senators. In between visits there will be the opportunity to listen to various elected officials who have been invited to share their thoughts with us. If you wish to participate please contact our legislative chair Stu Williams at either 703-644-4126 or [email protected]. He will fill you in with all the details. Position papers on each issue are available on the VCOC website at: http://www.virginiamoaa.com/legislativestatelevel/2015ob jectives.html Page 11 January 2015 Woodworking continued from page 5 In addition to fixing broken furniture, the trio also builds some new items. “The woodworkers built the original benches embedded in the community landscape, machined plaques for our craft fair projects and designed attractive individual wooden mailboxes for our residents’ doors. Over the years, they have given so much to the community,” said Susan Lasher, director of life enrichment for Westminster. “We stay busy,” said Borden. “We only charge $5 per repair, and that is only to keep us in wood glue, sandpaper and other things that we use a lot and that need to be frequently replaced.” Financial Scams Anyone can be the victim of a financial scam. Older adults are especially vulnerable because they tend to be trusting and polite, they could be lonely and socially isolated, they might be vulnerable due to grief, and they will have income and some assets. Examples of financial scams are identity theft, lottery and sweepstakes scams, email and Internet scams, telemarketing scams, mail offers, or door-to-door salespeople. Many older adults will not report financial scams because they feel ashamed or embarrassed, they don’t know where and how to report a financial problem, or they fear retaliation from someone. To minimize the risk of being scammed, you (whether elderly or not): (1) should be aware of anyone who offers to help handle your finances; (2) should secure your financial documents, including checks, financial statements, and credit cards; and (3) should not let others use your credit or debit cards. If you are invited to consider something that is a “good deal” or “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” say, “I never make a decision without consulting my advisor.” Have this sentence on the tip of your tongue, and give this response if you think you might be the target of a scam, even if the offer is from a family member, friend, or caregiver. While all community residents are permitted to use the shop, most residents send things to the team of woodworking volunteers. “Our neighbors are very Scammers often introduce themselves using a grateful for our services,” said Fleig. “designation” to imply they are experts. Also, they might say, The trio says it is also grateful for the opportunity to be productive and appreciated. “This shop was one of the reasons I chose to live here,” said Pearthree. “I have a job and friends and a shop with better equipment than I ever had before. What could be better than that?” by Gregg MacDonald Staff writer Fairfax Times.com [email protected] “The president of your organization (or someone who could be considered knowledgeable) wants you to be included before it is too late.” Remember, you need to say, “I never make a decision without consulting my advisor.” Also, you could plan to meet regularly with a trusted advisor to discuss your financial matters, whether it is in regard to your investments, taxes, or estate plans. Your advisor will appreciate your willingness to stay on top of things, and you will sleep better. To check on an investment, call the Security and Exchange Commission at (800) 732-0330. To check on an investment advisor, call the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) at FINRA Broker Check at (800) 289-9999. To call a state regulator, use (202) 737-0900. You can contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to obtain a copy of Money Smart for Older Adults at: www.consumerfinance.gov. By Sharon A DeVaney, member, Auxiliary Advisory Committee REMINDER - - 2015 DUES Members, except for those who have already paid dues for 2015 and our new first year dues-free members since July 2014, received a notice in the December Despatch that membership dues for 2015 were due by January 1, 2015. The December Despatch included a mail-in form on page 11 (to help update our records). Dues are: Regular Members = $25.00, Auxiliary Members = $10.00 Please provide your National MOAA membership number & class of membership. Also, please indicate if you wish to receive The Despatch by print (mail) or electronically in an email with a PDF link (this helps us save money!) Or, save time and money, renew online: https://chapterdues.moaa.org/Membership.aspx While you have your checkbook out, please consider a tax-deductible donation to our Chapter Scholarship Fund. Please write a separate check payable to MVC Scholarship Fund. Lastly, we ask that you DO NOT combine your dues payment with a payment for a monthly dinner meeting or Scholarship Fund donation. These all go to separate places and accounts. Please use separate checks. Any questions? Call Bill Broome (703-395-4317) or email [email protected]