Renew your dues – please see page 5!

General Membership MeetingSpeaker: John Clancy, President & CEO, Tristate Veterans Community Alliance

WHERE: Manor House Restaurant600 Maple Trace Dr., Springdale, OH (Gathering Room)

WHEN: Friday, 8 Jun 2018TIME: 12:00 PM – Social Time

12:30 PM – Lunch ……… Program follows DinnerSeveral years ago the Greater Cincinnati region realized that we needed to take a bigger role in reaching our

veterans and helping them access the many resources available and to bring aboard employers and other no-profits in those efforts. Thus the Tristate Veterans Community Alliance (TVCA) was founded in 2014. It is anindependent, veteran-led nonprofit organization dedicated to serving veterans and their families within the 16-county, Greater Cincinnati region as they transition from military to civilian life. TVCA partners with more than150 local service providers, corporations, academic institutions and government organizations to increaseawareness and access to services in the areas of employment, education, health, wellness and family support.They also offer numerous workshops and assistance in the areas of employment, benefits, transitioning from themilitary to civilian and one-to-one support. In the four short years they have been in business, TVCA has becomethe leading information and referral source for veterans in the Tristate. They are the go to organization forveterans.

Leading the charge is John Clancy as TVCA’s President and CEO. Prior to his current position John was theDirector of Veteran Services with Easter Seals, Greater Cincinnati. He has nearly 25 years of experience in theCincinnati area in both the nonprofit and wealth management arenas. John has served on the Advisory Board forthe Spirit of Cincinnatus and as Director of Wealth Management for BB&T. John served nine years in the U.S.Air Force as a Special Agent in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. He earned a Bachelor of Sciencedegree in International Affairs from the United States Air Force Academy and a Masters degree in BusinessAdministration from the University of West Florida. In January of this year he testified before the HouseVeterans’ Affairs subcommittee on Capital Hill on veteran homelessness.

You do not want to miss this program. We encourage you to bring other veterans and family members to learnabout the many services and assistance TVCA provides to our veterans and their families.

VOL 45 No. 3May 2018

GREATER CINCINNATI CHAPTER MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

Lunch RESERVATION: Friday, 8 June 2018—Manor House Restaurant—Springdale, OH.

Name: __________________________ Rank & Service: _______________ Spouse/Guests: _______Email: ____________________________ Phone #: _______________________

(ARE YOU A NEW MEMBER, OR FIRST TIME OUT? _____ )

Entrée choices:Lunch BUFFET $16.00

Total Reservations _________ = Total $________

Make Checks payable to GREATER CINCINNATI CHAPTER/MOAA and mail to LTC PAUL FELLINGER, 5493Delhi Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45238-5139, (Phone (513) 451-9881) or email: pwf5493@aol.com. Please make reserva-tions NLT than 6 June. No cancellations after that date.

2018 CHAPTER OFFICERS AND BOARD(phone #’s are area code 513 unless noted)

Executive CommitteePresident CAPT Steve Drefahl, USN 752-4097Immed PP LTC Al Brauer, USA 677-83201st VP CAPT Mike Glaser, USN 280-62562nd VP CAPT Rex Settlemoir, USN 598-9549Secretary CAPT Alan Echt, PHS 573-0315Treasurer LTC Paul Fellinger, USAR 451-9881Chaplain Rev Joseph L Boone, USA 853-2051Legislative Ofc BG Tom O’Brien, USA 421-0118Natl BdPast Natl Bd RADM Larry Hereth, USCG 812 537-2968Spouse/ Diane Lochocki, Surviving Sp. 560-0540

Surviving Spouse Liaison

State CouncilDelegate CAPT Alan Echt, PHS 573-0315Alt Delegate Vacant

CommitteesPrograms VacantMembership CAPT Mike Glaser, USN 280-6256

R.O.T.C. LTC Al Brauer, USA 677-8320Reserve/NG CAPT Steve Drefahl, USN 752-4097

Historian LCOL Dick Probst, USAF 703-0754Sympathy/ CAPT Roger Argalas, USCG 759-6267

Personal AffairsTOPS LtCol Brad Hamant, USAF 439-3140CinMoaaNews/ CWO3 Kym Mader, USN 759-0852

Public Affairs

Service RepresentativesArmy COL Robert Greene, USA 859 689-4321Navy CAPT Rex Settlemoir, USN 598-9549Coast Guard CAPT Roger Argalas, USCG 759-6267USPHS CAPT Alan Echt, PHS 573-0315Air Force Lt Col Brad Hamant, USAF 439-3140Marine Corps CAPT Rex Settlemoir, USN 598-9549

2018 MEETINGS - Mark your Calendars NOW! Watch www.cincymoaa.org for updates.

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PURPOSES OF THE GREATER CINCINNATIMOAA CHAPTER

The purposes of Military Officers Association of America asstated by national are printed on the outside of eachNewsletter. The corresponding purposes of our Chapteras stated in our BYLAWS, Article II are:

(a) To promote the purposes and objectives of theMilitary Officers Association of America

(b) To foster fraternal relations among retired, activeand former officers of the uniformed services.

(c) To protect the rights and interests of personnel of theuniformed services and their dependents and survivors.

(d) To provide useful services for members and theirdependents and survivors.

(e) To serve the community and the nation.

Your officers and Board members welcome your commentsand suggestions on steps that may be taken to strengthenour Chapter and its benefits to all members.

This newsletter is published by the Greater Cincinnati Chapter,which is an affiliate of the Military Officers Association ofAmerica (MOAA). MOAA and it’s affiliated chapters and coun-cils are non-partisan. Articles in this newsletter are the opin-ions solely of the individual authors and do not necessarilyexpress the policy or opinions of the newsletters editor or pub-lisher and do not reflect an endorsement by the Chapter or theNational organization of MOAA, unless so indicated. Adver-tisements that appear in this publication also do not reflect anendorsement by MOAA or this affiliate.

TAPS

If you know a member of MOAA who has passed away, please let usknow so we may pass it on.

Board Meetings2nd Friday of each month, 1200 - American Red

Cross Building*2111 Dana Ave., Cincinnati, OH

Conference Call in is available. Contact a boardmember for more details.

Spouses and guests are welcome at all meetings.(* Board meetings falling on the date of a member

meeting are held after the member meeting)

Membership Meetings / 3rd Annual Dining Out

- Membership Meeting - Friday, Mar 9, Noon,Manor House Restaurant, ROTC Recognition

- Membership Meeting - Friday, June 8, Noon,Manor House Restaurant, John Clancy

- Membership Meeting - Friday, Sept 14, 1800,Manor House Restaurant

- Dining Out - Saturday, November 10, 1800,Highland Country Club, Ft. Thomas KY

- Membership Meeting - Friday, December 7,Noon Manor House Restaurant

For MOAA National information, Click on the linksbelow:

General InformationLegislative Updates

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In our previous newsletter we broke the news about amajor change to your TRICARE Dental Insurance policy.As additional information becomes available, we will passit on. The following article and links should answer manyof your questions.

FEDVIP Brings Vision Coverage to TRI-CARE Beneficiaries

Eye exams can help keep your vision strong, diagnosepotential issues early, and prevent diseases that may leadto vision loss or blindness. Beginning with the 2018 Fed-eral Benefits Open Season (Nov. 12 to Dec 10, 2018),beneficiaries enrolled in a TRICARE health plan will beeligible to enroll in the Federal Employees Dental andVision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). Coverage will startJan. 1, 2019.

Read the full article here.

Sign up for TRICARE email updates at www.tricare.mil/subscriptions.

Connect with TRICARE on Facebook and Twitter atwww.facebook.com/tricare and www.twitter.com/tricare.

Recognizing Our Young & UpcomingMilitary Students

From left to right, Little Miami Air Force JROTC,Miami University Navy ROTC, and Western Brown Ar-my JROTC.

6 Military Deals You Might be Missing Outon

Custom Banners - Are you looking for the perfectway to welcome home your loved one? Build ASign offers free, 100-percent-customizable banners forfamilies celebrating the homecoming of their deployedservicemember. This is the perfect way to show yourloved one how much you have missed them.

Amusement Parks - Many amusement parks acrossthe country offer discounts for military families. Placeslike Busch Gardens, Sea World, and SesamePlace provide military members one free admission ayear. Learn more at wavesofhonor.com. Find additionalattractions and vacation ideas for your family — all withmilitary discounts — in “Kid-Friendly Vacations.”

Cellphone Discounts - Most major cellphone provid-ers — including AT&T, Boost Mobile, Sprint, U.S. Cellu-lar, and Verizon — offer military discounts on wirelessplans to current and former servicemembers. To find thebest deal for your family, do some shopping and focus onthe plan that is right for you.

Athletic Apparel and Shoes - Nike offers a 10-percent discount to servicemembers. Registration is quickand easy. All you need is a valid military ID card. To findhow you can get your discount, visit nike.com.

Wedding Dresses - Brides Across America is a non-profit that is committed to gifting weddings and weddinggowns to military and first-responder brides. Founded in2008, the organization has gifted over 20,000 dresses.Their “Operation Wedding Gown Event” is held twice ayear: in July (around Independence Day) and in Novem-ber (around Veterans Day). Check out more deals for yourbig day in “Discounts on Wedding Packages.”

Event Tickets - The Veteran Tickets Founda-tion offers free tickets to currently serving military mem-bers of all branches of service and veterans. The founda-tion’s goal is to support troops by providing positive fami-ly and life experiences. Tickets are provided for events,concerts, performing arts, and educational and family ac-tivities across the nation. To receive your free tickets, signup at vettix.org.

Visit the websites listed above to ensure eligibility.Plenty of other organizations and companies offer dis-counts for members of the military, so be sure to alwaysinquire about deals at the time of purchase.

Monument Honors Female VeteransA new monument at Veterans Memorial Park in Las

Cruces, N.M., places a much-deserved spotlight on thenation's female veterans.

Architect Patricia Grumet Decker designed the monu-ment, which was dedicated March 10 and features six life-size bronze statues representing Army, Marine Corps,Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Army National Guardfemale recruits in detailed uniforms from World War I,World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, and currenteras. The statues were created from detailed maquettessculpted by artist Matt Glenn.

The nonprofit United Military Women of the South-West (UMWSW) initiated the project and received fund-ing from the state for its construction. The original esti-mated cost was $306,200, but the legislature ended upproviding $406,200, notes former Marine Corps Capt.Carol Gaines, past president of the UMWSW.

Gaines pushed for the monument because she felt allwomen who have served deserve to be recognized, wheth-er they served in uniform or helped the war effort by as-suming jobs traditionally held by men. “Women took of-fice jobs, they took welding jobs - they did whateverneeded to be done,” Gaines says.

Christine Sautter, USAR (Ret), a member of MOAAand of the Women Veterans of New Mexico, says themonument is important because it gives a voice to thewomen who went unrecognized for their military serviceupon returning home.

“I know many nurses who served in Vietnam, camehome, and quietly went about their lives,” Sautter says.“No one really recognized them. It was the same forwomen who served in World War I and World War II.This monument speaks to our dedication to our nation andto our service. It's important that women are now beingheard, and that they receive recognition for a job welldone.”

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SURVIVING SPOUSE CORNERSuicide Prevention

(MOAA article By Anne Hartline, Surviving Spouse AdvisoryCommittee member)

Suicide affects all Americans—all gender, races, eth-nicities, and socioeconomic statuses. The Centers for Dis-ease Control and Prevention reported that from 1999through 2014, there was a 24-percent increase in suiciderates in the general population for both males and fe-males. In 2014, an average of 20 veterans a day died fromsuicide. Of veterans who killed themselves, 65 percentwere age 50 and older. VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkinhas stated suicide is a national health crisis and has madesuicide prevention his top clinical priority.

Knowing warning signs, asking a person directly aboutsuicidal thoughts and plans, and telling someone who istrained to help are crucial to suicide prevention. Immedi-ate help is needed for someone talking about killing him-self/herself and has a plan to use a gun, pills, or othermeans. Another critical warning is someone talking orwriting about death, dying or suicide. Other warningssigns include expressing feelings or hopelessness andworthlessness, exhibiting dramatic mood changes, in-creasing use of alcohol and other drugs, and expressinghaving no reason for living.

Perhaps the biggest myth about suicide is that talkingabout it makes people more likely to kill themselves. Inreality, asking people directly about suicide can brings itinto the open and allow opportunity for intervention.

Suicide is not a secret to keep. Seek help from a li-censed mental health professional. If the threat is critical,call 911 or take the person to a hospital emergency room.Help is available for veterans by calling the VA CrisisLine: (800) 273-8255, press 1. Chat online atwww.veteranscrisisline.net or send a text message to8382555 to receive confidential support 24/7, 365 days ayear. Coaching Into Care is a VA national telephone ser-vice available to family and friends of veterans that pro-vides mental health professionals to assist callers withdetermining the best way to get help for a veteran andhow to navigate the VA system. Coaching also involveshelping callers determine how to begin the conversationto motivate the veteran to seek treatment. Call (888) 823-7458, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.

New Medicare cards on the way(by CAPT Roger Argalas, Sympathy/Personal Affairs Committee)

For those 65 and older members, you will be interestedin knowing that a new Medicare identification card is be-ing issued to you. Between April 2018 and April 2019 allMedicare enrollees will receive the new card with an 11digit beneficiary identifier in place of your social securitynumber. This is for fraud prevention and enhanced securi-ty. Once the new card arrives, you should begin using itimmediately and promptly shred the old card. Safeguardthe new card as you did the old one, and don’t disclose thenumber except to health care providers and insurers.

Scams are already starting with criminals trying tolearn your new identifier. So guard your card!Additional information is available at go.medicare.gov/newcard

Veterans National and State CemeteriesNear Cincinnati

(by CAPT Roger Argalas, Sympathy/Personal Affairs Committee)

In our winter issue of the newsletter I wrote about yourincome taxes. Fortunately that chore is behind us. Inkeeping with Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote, today wewill discuss the other certainty in life. There are severalveterans cemeteries in our vicinity. The closest one inOhio is the Dayton National Cemetery, just west of thatcity. (For our Kentucky members, there is the KentuckyVeterans Cemetery North in Williamstown between Cin-cinnati and Lexington. For Indiana folks, consider theIndiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Madison betweenCincinnati and Louisville.)

Nearly all MOAA chapter members are eligible forburial in the national cemeteries. That also includes yourspouse, minor dependent children, and certain unmarriedadult children with disabilities. Eligible family memberswho predecease you may still be buried in a national cem-etery.

Dayton National Cemetery has space for either casket-ed remains (in ground burial) or cremated remains (both inground and above ground columbarium).

I suggest you consider a visit to the cemetery. Theyhave a staff of very helpful folks and are happy to explaintheir services. The beautiful grounds are open dawn todusk and the office hours are Monday-Friday 7:30-4:00.You may want to visit during one of their special events:Memorial Day ceremony, Veterans Day ceremony orWreaths Across America ceremony in December. Theirphone number is 937-268-2221. They also have a VAwebsite.

There isn’t space here to discuss all the details of theNational Cemetery program. MOAA has a helpful publi-cation titled “Your Guide to Military Burials” available attheir website. Our chapter library also has a copy to re-view. However one item you should take care of now islocating and sharing your discharge papers with your fam-ily members since that is a cemetery requirement.

And finally, a little humor from Mark Twain: “Let usendeavor so to live so that when we come to die even theundertaker will be sorry.” Amen to that!

Legislative Update(by BG O’Brien)

Be sure to check the suggested messages in the MOAAMagazine.

On the Ohio Legislative front, SB-116 (trailing spouse)has passed both houses and should go to the Governor forsignature. HB-351 (exempting PHS and NOAA frommunicipal income tax to join armed services exemption)passed the house and was referred to Senate Way andMeans Committee. Contact your Ohio State Senator.

Slideshow: MOAA Members Share Big Mo-ments from Storming 2018

Here’s a look at some of the highlights, as provided byMOAA members who come to Washington. See it Now

2018 CHAPTER DUES ARE DUE! Please pay now- IF you haven't done so.To determine whether your dues are paid, please check your address sticker on the other side of thisform. The year is shown for the latest year for which your dues are paid. (Life members show LIFE). Ifyour number is (2017) or lower, please return this form (with your name sticker on reverse) along witha check for your dues to bring you up to current year. Please mark your selection of dues (one year, multi-year or life). If you are moving out of state and don’t want to continue your chapter membership or have anyother status change, please let us know. Also please indicate on your check the year(s) your dues are for.NEW - You can now renew your membership online. Go to http://www.moaa.org/Content/Chapters-and-Councils/Chapters-and-Councils.aspx#Chapter-Dues There is no membership dues for Surviving Spouses.

Chapter Membership Renewal

Name: _____________________ Rank: ____________Your email address please:_______________________

Member ___$28 for three years ___$19 for two years ___$10.00 for one yearSurviving Spouse (surviving spouse of a deceased officer) _____ No Cost

Please renew as a LIFE member. ____ (Please circle amount in fee schedule.)

Make check payable to: Greater Cincinnati Chapter / MOAAMail Renewal form and check to:

LTC Paul Fellinger, 5493 Delhi Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45238-5139

-------------------------- cut here ---——--------- Dues Form ---------------------cut here----------------------------

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERSMaj John Poplis, USAF, Ret

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MEMBER LIFE MEMBERSHIP FEES(Chapter Only)

(Fee is based on your age, nearest birthday)

Age up to 55 $161.25Age 56 to 70 $127.50Age 71 to 89 $ 93.75Age 90 and over Waive

Nominations Sought for Ohio VeteransHall of Fame

The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame is accepting nomina-tions to recognize those who served in the U.S. ArmedForces and continue to contribute to our communities,state and nation through exceptional acts of volunteerism,advocy, professional distinction, public service or philan-thropy.

The program sets the standard for recognizing Ohio’sveterans for accomplishments beyond their military ser-vice. In addition, it is a fitting way to say “thank you foryour service to our nation and thank you for your contin-ued service to our communities.”

Nomination deadline is June 1, 2018. Guidelines, asample nomination and more information are availableon the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame website.

From the PresidentI think spring has finally arrived and we can start to

enjoy warmer weather. But the past weather did not hin-der our chapter being out and about during the last sever-al months. We had a very active first quarter 2018. Hereare some highlights.- Our partnership with the Vietnam Veterans Com-

memoration program continues to recognize thoseveterans who served during the Vietnam War era.The Chapter presented 29 lapel pins to Vietnam Warveterans and three spouse pins to surviving spousesof Vietnam veterans, on 13 February. BG (Ret) TomO'Brien, CAPT (Ret) Rex Settlemoir, and LTC (Ret)

Paul Fellinger presented the pins, assisted by Anne-Marie O'Brien and Patti Fellinger, at the monthlymeeting of the Delhi Township Veterans Associa-tion. If you know an organization that would likeus to thank and honor Vietnam veterans please con-tact me or LTC Al Brauer so we can arrange a time.

- Our 9 March 2018 Membership meeting was ourannual recognition luncheon for ROTC/JROTCunits. Two JROTC units and one ROTC unit andtheir cadets and midshipmen were recognized. Theygave excellent presentations on their units and theirreasons for participation in ROTC/JROTC. Thanksfor those who attended.

- We have ten JROTC and five ROTC units in ourchapter’s jurisdiction and have or will be attendingeach of their award ceremonies to recognize andaward their outstanding cadets and midshipmenwith a MOAA award.

I want to thank each of you who contacted your StateSenator and urged their support for Senate Bill 116,which would provide unemployment compensation ofmilitary spouses who must quit their job when the mili-tary member is reassigned. When we act as one for thistype of legislation it makes an impact. That is most evi-dent during tax season. For ten years our military re-tired pay has been exempt from Ohio income tax.MOAA had a major role in getting this tax exempt leg-islation passed.I hope to see each of you at our June 8 Membershipmeeting/luncheon. We’ve got a terrific presentation onthe Tristate Veterans Community Alliance by theirPresident and CEO, John Clancy.

Greater Cincinnati ChapterMILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OFAMERICA8099 Pepper PikeWest Chester, OH 45069-2842

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDCINCINNATI, OHPERMIT NO 4403

Postmaster: Dated material, Please Expedite

PURPOSES OF

MILITARY OFFICERS

ASSOCIATION

OF AMERICA

TO inculcate and stimulate love of country and flag;

TO defend the honor, integrity, and supremacy of our National Government

and the Constitution of the United States;

TO advocate military forces adequate to the defense of our country;

TO foster fraternal relations between all branches of the various services from

which our members are drawn;

TO further the education of children of service personnel;

TO aid active and retired personnel of the various services from which our

members are drawn and their dependents and survivors, in every proper

and legitimate manner;

TO present their rights and interests when service matters are under

consideration; and

TO foster the integrity and prestige of uniformed service.

—from the Preamble to the Association’s Bylaws

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED