The United Veterans Committee of Colorado (UVC)

PO Box 440889 / Aurora, CO

http://www.unitedveteranscommittee.org/

https://www.facebook.com/UnitedVeteransCommitteeofColorado

January 2018 Newsletter Volume 2 Number 1

UVC’s mission is to activate and represent member organizations, speaking with one united voice in Colorado; work with public policy makers to ensure proper support for

veteran issues and concerns; and inform/educate Colorado about veteran needs.

On Your Mark, Set, Go!

Colorado’s 2018 Legislative Session (180 days) officially begins on Janu-ary 10th. Much of the preparation effort by legislators, lobbyists, and special interest groups has already been expended in finalizing bill spon-sors and text. The UVC is excited to have identified our number one leg-islative priority for the legislators, in the Retired Military Income Tax Ex-emption bill (see bill details on p.3). In the 2017 legislative session, the bill was thoroughly reviewed and quite well received resulting in giving us positive expectations of success this year. The UVC Legislative Com-mittee has worked closely with the preparation of the bill and are dili-gently working to secure veterans’ participation in the following: 1) at-tendance at the legislature’s Military Appreciation Day on Friday, January 26th (related article p.7);

2) contacting elected officials that rep-

resent the veterans voting district; and

3) attend, as possible, all legislative

hearings until a bill is passed on to the

governor for his signature.

(The UVC state legislative leadership in-

cludes Dick Young, Chairman, Legislative

Committee; Sophia Laster, Executive Legis-

lative Assistant; and Alexandra Garza, Sen-

ior Legislative Associate and Attorney with

Colorado Advocates.)

* * *

P1 Legislative P2 Legislative P2. Software P2. Membership P3. Priority Bill P4. Perlmutter

P5. National Cemetery P5. Denver metro RTD P6. Military Appreciation Day P7. Veterans Advisory

HOA Board Officers

President

James Craig

720-737-3686

1st Vice President

Dennis Orr

303-870-7953

2nd Vice President

Leanne Wheeler

303-995-8010

Recording Secretary

Lori Derby

303-347-1876

Treasurer

Bernie Rogoff

303-909-6369

Committee Chairs

State Legislative

Dick Young

303-388-6965

State Legislative Liaison

Alexandra Garza

720-377-0704

Federal Legislative

Steve Rylant

970-669-1832

Membership

Gary Force

303-818-0200

Annual Banquet

Bernie Rogoff

Karen Hone

303-332-3007

UVC Newsletter

Steve Bender

719-310-9930

UVCnewsletter@aol.com

46th Annual Awards Banquet United Veterans Council of Colorado

Sunday, April 8, 2018 Mark Your Calendar today!

DONATE TO THE SILENT AUCTION! Calling all members to get creative and donate an item for the silent

auction. For more information, call Lori Derby at 303-347-1876

Or Karen Hone at 303-332-3007.

In This Issue

UVC Executive Committee Selects New Membership Software By Karen Hone, UVC UVC’s Executive Committee has chosen to work with MemberClicks, a nationally recognized mem-bership software program. Some highlights:

Each member organization or individual

will have its own record that you can update yourself! When changes do oc-cur, i.e. the UVC rep, leadership, ad-dress, email, web page or phone num-ber, it will be easy to take a minute and bring the information up to date. Cur-rent updated information will be impor-tant for the UVC to have, especially at meetings requiring a vote by an author-ized representative.

Karen Hone, UVC

Re-design of the UVC web page will be part of the change, making it much easier to upload or download information. All existing documents will be transferred to the updated site. A master calendar will help folks plan ahead. Members will also be able to post special events they are hosting.

The ability for the UVC to accurately track and

sort member information will be greatly en-hanced.

We will keep you posted on the progress in the UVC Newsletter! Questions or comments? Email: karen.hone@comcast.net

* * *

UVC Membership Committee

Gary Force, Chairman

January 2018 United Veterans Committee of Colorado Page 2

As organizations change leadership information throughout the year, we need your organization to update us with your current information so we can update our database with these membership changes. I will have forms available at the Gen-eral Membership meetings for those in atten-dance or you can email your organization’s infor-mation to me at: 1gforce@prodigy.net.

Information should include: organization name, mailing address phone number and email ad-dress, the meeting representative’s name, title, phone number, address, email address and whether they are the representative or alternate.

At the December 12th General Membership Meet-ing we voted in the Helen K. Osmundson Ameri-can Legion Post 206 as an Affiliate member.

As a reminder for our general membership, accord-ing to the UVC by-laws ,a member organization that does not send representation for three consecutive general membership meetings will be put into an inactive status. I try to notify those members with a reminder but sometimes the email address of re-cord is no longer valid. If you intend to miss a meeting, please send me an email notification at the above email address so I can mark your organi-zation as excused.

See you at the January 9th meeting.

* * *

December 2018 United Veterans Committee of Colorado Page 2

January 2018 United Veterans Committee of Colorado Page 3

The UVC is pleased to announce that their top 2018 State legislative goal will be introduced on Day One of the upcoming Colorado General As-sembly session! Titled “Income Tax Deduction for Military Retirement Benefits,” the bill – if passed – will create a state income tax exemption for up to $20,000 in military retirement pay for recipients under the age of 55. Co-prime spon-sors of the bill are Speaker Pro Tempore Jessie Danielson and Representative Lois Landgraf in the House and Senator Ed Crowder in the Senate. The bill will be introduced in the House and we expect it to move quickly through the committee process.

We will post updated status information on the UVC website: ww.unitedveteranscommittee.org.

The top three reasons that this bill is important for the state of Colorado:

1. Colorado’s economy, tax base, and local gov-ernments benefit when newly retired military

and their families choose Colorado as their home.

· Average age of military personnel retiring

from active duty is 42.7 years. When they

retire, younger retirees start second careers

and make a conscious choice of what state to

call home – and state taxes play a big role.

· There will be an estimated NET TAX BENEFIT

of $5,307 per retiree to state and local taxes

for each new, younger military retiree

choosing Colorado as home.

· Retired military currently living in Colorado

must wait until age 55 to begin receiving any

state income tax relief on their retirement

pay.

· Colorado population of military retirees

younger than 55 dropped by 660 since 2015!

· Colorado is in competition with 27 states that

either do not have state income tax or exempt

100% of military retirement pay from state in-

come tax.

2. Colorado employers need and value retired military skills.

· Military retirees are highly educated, techni-

cally and globally savvy, and seek to turn their

military expertise into follow-on civilian ca-

reers. They have the skills Colorado employers

need and want.

· Military technical/professional expertise covers

a wide spectrum of high value professions, in-

cluding but not limited to: IT; data analysis;

finance/accounting; supply chain manage-

ment/logistics; medical/dental; energy tech-

nology; social work; legal services; vehicle/

aircraft maintenance; law enforcement; HR;

construction; education/training; public ad-

ministration; strategic planning.

· Retired military “soft skills” valued by employ-

ers: leadership; communication; management;

team building; planning; flexibility; integrity;

problem solving; time management.

3. Colorado values contributions of retired mili-tary and families.

Retired pay exemption is tangible evidence of Colorado’s goal to honor military service and sacri-fice.

Income Tax Deduction for Military Retirement Benefits

Shelly Kalkowski, Regional Representative

· 65% of retired military currently living in

Colorado are from the enlisted ranks. High

cost of Colorado housing is a deterrent,

mitigated by the proposed retired military

pay tax exemption.

· Retired military families have their own

DoD health insurance (TRICARE) that is ACA

compliant.

.. Military retired pay is “received” in Colo-rado but “earned” in service throughout the U.S. and world.

* * *

January 2018 United Veterans Committee of Colorado Page 4

Continued from page 3

DATE: December 21, 2017

U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) recently became a cosponsor of the Veteran Treatment

Court Coordination Act (H.R.4345), which tasks the Department of Justice to help state, local and tribal governments develop and maintain Veteran treat-ment courts.

Veterans Treatment Court allows a Veteran charged with a non-violent crime attributed to physical or mental issues tied to get the treatment they need rather than jail time. Sadly, only 25 percent of Veter-ans with mental health issues receive adequate treatment, and 20 percent of Veterans with PTSD struggle with substance abuse. This is a way to support Veterans in crisis by giving them the help they need and deserve and keeping them out of the criminal justice system.

In addition, Rep. Perlmutter’s office wants to share a recent announcement from the Department of Vet-erans Affairs (VA) about the new process for Veter-ans applying for the national Veterans Identification Card (VIC). Veterans with honorable service will be able to apply for the ID card which will provide proof of military service and can be shown at retail stores in lieu of a DD-214 to obtain discounts and other ser-vices offered to Veterans.

To request a VIC, Veterans must visit vets.gov, click on “Apply for Printed Veteran ID Card” on the bot-tom left of the page and sign in or create an account. Veterans who apply for a card should receive it within 60 days and can check delivery status of their cards at vets.gov.

* * *

Military Observances

January 2018

January 1 New Years Day

January 15 Martin Luther King Day

Do you have a story, an event, or ??? The UVC Newsletter welcomes submissions to be consid-ered for a future issue. Your article should be timely receipt no later than the 21st of the month, target 250 word count max, in Calibri #12

January 2018 United Veterans Committee of Colorado Page 5

Retirement and Reassignment at Fort Logan National Cemetery

Mat Williams has been selected to become the next Director of Ft Logan National Cemetery (and sat-ellites Ft Lyon NC and Yellowstone NC). Mat succeeds Joe Turnbach, who retired on Friday, December 29th, after serving over 11 years as Ft Logan’s Director, and over 32 years in the Fed-eral Government. Mat is scheduled to report to Ft Logan on February 20, 2018. Mat has served as the Director of Houston National Cemetery (HNC) since April 2012. HNC has consistently been one of the top performing cemeteries in the Continental District during his 5+ year tenure, most recently achieving the second highest score of 37 cemeteries that received an Or-ganizational Assessment and Improvement (OAI) site visit during FY 2017. Prior to his current appoint-ment, he served as the Director of Ft Bliss and Fort Bayard National Cemeteries. He also served as the Director of Wood National Cemetery, subsequent to his graduation from NCA’s Cemetery Director Intern Program, Class of 2009. His VA career began in June 1993 at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, first serving as a Medical Supply Technician, later promoted to Supervisor. His NCA career began when he joined Tahoma National Cemetery, in June 1997, as a Cemetery Technician, later promoted to Lead Office Representative. Mat is a U.S. Army Veteran. His six years of service included tours at Martin Army Hospital, Ft Benning, GA, and Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI. He graduated from Northern Arizona University in May 1985, with a bachelor’s degree in political sci-ence.

Active duty U.S. Military personnel continue to ride free on RTD services In 2018

DENVER (Dec. 14, 2017) – The Regional Transpor-tation District (RTD) Board of Directors have ap-proved extending the allowance for all active duty U.S. Military personnel to ride free on all RTD services through Dec. 31, 2018. The Regional Transportation District develops, operates and maintains a public transportation system that meets the transit needs of close to 3 million peo-ple within an eight-county service area in the Denver Metro region. The agency’s buses, rail lines, shuttles and additional services provide 100 million annual passenger trips. The idea was introduced in October 2006 by Bernie Rogoff, an advocate for active military members and veterans. All active members of the Air Force, Army, Ma-rines, Navy, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reserves are entitled to ride free on any RTD ser-vice including special services such as SkyRide and BroncosRide. To be eligible to ride for free, all active duty mili-tary personnel must either:

Be wearing the appropriate Class A or Class B uniforms, i.e. the Class A uniform which is worn with the dress uniform service jacket and with all decorations, a tie, and a rank insignia, or the Class B uniform which is less formal, without the dress uniform service jacket and is usually worn with an open shirt collar. OR

Present an active duty military ID card with the words “Geneva Convention Identification Card” on the bottom. NEWS RELEASE

NEEDED: VETERANS (and families) TO ATTEND THIS YEAR’S

COLORADO STATE LEGISLATURE’S

MILITARY AND VETERANS RECOGNITION DAY

WHEN: FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018

WHERE; COLORADO STATE CAPITOL, COLFAX AND SHERMAN, DENVER, CO.

TIME: 7:45 A.M, (coffee and time to meet and talk with Legislators)

Location: Capitol’s East Foyer, 1sr floor

9:00 A.M. convening of both Houses in the House Chamber (2nd floor)

to recognize and honor our some 450,000+ Colorado Veterans and our outstanding Military

WHY SHOULD I ATTEND?

To receive the recognition you deserve as serving in our Armed Forces, and to show by your at-tendance that you appreciate our State’s General Assembly and their recognition of the great value that Veterans bring to this State. This makes your attendance crucial to achieving this goal. Numbers matter.

HOW WILL THE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES KNOW I AM A VETERAN?

Please wear something (e.g. your Veteran’s ball cap, shirt, your Service’s ball cap, name tag, etc).

HOW DO I GET INTO THE STATE CAPITOL

There are two entrances. On the north side (facing Colfax Ave), you go up the outside stairs, enter the middle door, and go through Security (like at an airport). Rotunda is straight ahead, in the Capitol center

On the south side (14th Ave), you enter at the door which is in the west side of the steps going up, and go through Security. You are on the basement floor and you go to the center and there, either by elevators or the stairs, go to the First Floor where the Rotunda is.

WHERE CAN I PARK?

Street parking, but there spaces are limited and with meters which have time limitations. A close paid parking structure in the Museum Parking structure at the corner of 13th Ave. and Broadway (entrance is on 12th Ave between Broadway and Acoma. Come out of the structure on the north side, and you will be at 13th and Broadway. Two block east and one block north and you will be at the south entrance to the Capitol.

WHY IS MY ATTENDANCE SO IMPORTANT?

To show by numbers of Veterans personally attending that we have a vibrant and active Vet-

eran population that adds much to the Colorado economy and takes seriously their civic du-

ties. Invite others; carpool, bring spouses. family. Need a large group in the gallery so the Leg-

islators can see us.

January 2018 United Veterans Committee of Colorado Page 6

46th Annual Awards Banquet United Veterans Council of Colorado

Sunday, April 8, 2018 Mark Your Calendar today!

DONATE TO THE SILENT AUCTION!

Calling all members to get creative and donate

an item for the silent auction that begins at

3:30pm when the Reception gets underway.

For more information, call Lori Derby at 303-347-

1876 Or Karen Hone at 303-332-3007.

January 2018 United Veterans Committee of Colorado Page 7

Adams County to launch Veteran’s Advisory Commission in 2018

By Chip Deyerle, Air Force Association Mile High Chapter

VP for Communications, Aurora, CO

Faced with veterans’ issues like homelessness, hunger, suicides, and substance abuse, the Adams County Board of County Commissioners are look-ing to the Veteran population to find ways of im-proving communications county-wide about ways to deal with these critical community issues. Similar organizations currently exist in El Paso and Larimer Counties, Adams County‘s Veteran popu-lation is today over 29,000 and growing.

For Veterans living in El Paso and Larimer Coun-ties, community organizations in those counties have come together to form Veteran Advisory Councils. Such organizations have for years pro-vided a communications link to their respective Veteran communities. This includes news of inter-est about changes in benefits at the federal level and the state level, as well as building stronger relationships with Veterans and their families within the community.

Where Veterans might join an organization like the VFW, American Legion, or the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Veterans Advisory Council sponsors communications opportunities at public events, such as a Veteran’s University, or a Veterans Exposition. Thus, Veterans, along with their families, are en-couraged to attend and to ask questions about benefits, claims, jobs and opportunities available in their communities.

Members of a Veterans Advisory Council (VAC) are volunteers, with honorable military service, active duty or retired military, and wives or other family members, who need to know more about Veterans benefits and services available in their community. Improving communications with Veterans and their families is an urgent matter, particularly with the new Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center opening in the spring of 2018. Uniquely, the new VA Medical Center is located in Aurora, Colorado, and is part of Adams County. The VAC will lay the ground work in communicating the needs of the Veteran population and by working with the Adams County Board of County Commissioners on ways to improve delivery of county services as part of its responsibili-ties to the Adams County taxpayers.

* * *

Next UVC General Membership Meeting

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

8:30 am Networking 9:00 am Meeting

Verle Huffman VFW Post 9644

2680 W Hampden Avenue

Englewood, CO 80110