President Rufus Hoefer, LTC, U.S. Army (Ret.) 509-443-6822 1rands@comcast.net 1st Vice President Merl Gorton, COL, U.S. Army (Ret.) 509-467-6138 mdgorton@aol.com 2nd Vice President, Mbrship. Chair & Email Newsletter Coordinator Clif Collier, LtCol, USAF (Ret.) 509-443-6490 clifcoll@msn.com Secretary & Treasurer Eddylou “Fred” Donovan, LtCol, USAF (Ret.) 509-922-4982 fredonovan@sisna. Auxiliary Liaison, Widows & Wives Beth Ann Daigre 509-921-9581 bethanndaigre@comcast.net IPP & Social Chair Ralph Shrigley, LTC, U.S. Army (Ret.) 208-623-2671 rshrigley@earthlink.net Director, Chief Recruiter, Newsletter Editor Marilyn Hunt, CDR, USN (Ret.) 208-773-1074 cinc@frontier.com Director & Travel Point of Contact Richard H. Oates, LTC, USMC (Ret.)

208-777-2671 rhoates@roadrunner.com Director & Support the Troops Robert Imle, LtCol, USAF (Ret.) 509-701-3342 robertmargaretimle@gmail.com Director & Web Page Coordinator Alan Davis, LCDR, USN (Ret.) 208-215-5607 rota_al@yahoo.com Director, Chaplain, Program Comm. Betty Krafft, LCDR, USN (Ret.) 509-768-3138 bkrafft@spocom.com Director, Program Committee Barbara Thornbrugh, AUX 509-466-2108 bjthornbrugh@comcast.net Personal Affairs Chairman Kay White 509-464-2774 kaywhite4@comcast.net Public Affairs Officer Charlie Rohr, MAJ, ANG (Ret.) 509-991-3667

November 2013

N O W H E A R T H I S ! S P O K A N E C H A P T E R

M I L I T A R Y O F F I C E R S A S S O C I A T I O N O F A M E R I C A

Volume XXIII Number 6

2014 Wives & Widows

Club Meeting Dates

7 Jan Toro Sushi Bar & Grill 4 Feb Davenport Hotel Tower Safari Rm 4 Mar Twigs North 1 Apr Grill from Ipanema 6 May May Tea at the Silver Spoon 3 Jun Dockside—Coeur d’Alene Resort 1 Jul Ambrosia 5 Aug Beachouse Bar & Grill—CdA 2 Sep Christ’s Kitchen 7 Oct Luna’s Restaurant 4 Nov P.F. Chang’s China Bistro 2 Dec Anthony’s Restaurant

Bring Something to

the 8 DEC Social

for

SUPPORT THE TROOPS

2014 Chapter Social Dates

16 Mar Northern Quest Casino 27 Apr Mukogawa Ft. Wright 8 Jun TBD 21 Sep TBD 26 Oct Coeur d’Alene Resort 7 Dec Mukogawa Ft. Wright

5 Star Chapter President’s Message

By Rufus Hoefer Thanks to Ralph Shrigley and his wife Trudy and the Coeur d’Alene Resort for the great social last month. If you missed it, our guest speaker was LTC Dave Bingham, Professor of Military Science at Gonzaga University. He did a super job and his lovely wife, Crystal, also graced us with her presence. In another “if you missed it” category, retirees will be receiving a 1.1% COLA. Don’t spend it all at one time! I will be traveling to Colorado Springs for MOAA’s 2013 Annual Meeting which will be held there from 14 – 16 November. I am going primarily to personally receive our eighth con-secutive 5 Star Chapter Award. This is a real honor because it means we’ve achieved the highest levels of excellence in Legislative Affairs, ROTC/JROTC support and scholarships, Recruiting and Retention, Community Involvement, Support the Troops, Auxiliary/Wives and Widows Club, and local parade participation. Also, for the fifth consecutive year, our chapter website earned First Place in Legislative Coverage.

MOAA national recently provided 254 names of na-tional MOAA members (including Auxiliary) in our area who are not Spokane Chapter members. As a Board, we agreed to offer a special reduced price for any of them who elect to attend our Christmas social. We are hoping to attract a percentage of these folks, so at the 8 December social please introduce yourself and give a warm welcome to anyone who looks unfa-miliar. Hopefully, they’ll become chapter members.

If we maintain our chapter membership at 90% of our 2013 numbers, MOAA will send us $500. So if your name is on page 3, please send a dues renewal check right away. We’re the largest chapter in Washington and Idaho and we want to stay that way.

Page 2/Nov 2013

Now Hear This!

We are a 5 Star Chapter proudly serving northeast Washington and north Idaho for 39 years!

Spokane Chapter, MOAA

2012 First Prize Winner

Best Legislative Coverage for

Website

Fifth Consecutive Year!

Website: 1st Runner UP

Welcome New Members

COL Ray Crownhart, USAFR (Ret.) and wife Rudy, Greenacres LCDR Gregg Leibert, USCG (Ret.), Chewelah CAPT Charles Peterson, USN (Ret.), Colbert

LTC Gregory Peterson, U.S. Army (Ret.), Spokane Capt Marvelu Peterson, USAF, Colbert

Member Recruiters

Chapter 2013 MOAA 2013

Merl Gorton 2

Marilyn Hunt 2 9

Rufus Hoefer 1

Bob Imle 10

Betty Krafft 3

Dick Oates 1

Ralph Shrigley 2

Candace Smallfoot 2

Barbara Thornbrugh 3

TOTALS 12 23

Our Hat Is Off To:

WIDOWS & WIVES CLUB

By Beth Ann Daigre

Our Widows and Wives members are a cut above. Elaine

Anderson is doing a wonderful job of finding out what folks need

at the Spokane Veterans Home and then collecting and delivering

those items.Thank you, Elaine, for your faithful service!

Our busy bee Pat Tolley, who collects items for the Homeless

Veterans program, usually leaves our luncheons with a trunk and

back seat full of items for the homeless, e.g., coffee mugs, clock

radios, kitchen linens, bathroom items, step stools, sofa pillows,

curtain rods, curtains, valances, bowls, glasses, plates, colan-

ders, wooden spoons and tongs. Please bring any new or gently

used items to the 8 December social. Homeless veterans also

need thick white tube socks and thermal gloves. They may have

a warm place to sleep at night, but they’re out in the cold during

the day. Thank you Pat for all you do for all of us!

Jan Munson reminds all of you that orders for

wreaths for the Washington State Veterans

Cemetery at Medical Lake must be received by

Wreaths Across America by November 15th.

You can print a form from our website

www.spokanemoaa.org. If you order two wreaths using our

form, they give us a third one for free. Our Widows &Wives club

is buying at least 10 wreaths which will get us 15 altogether.

Wreath laying ceremonies at the cemetery will be held at 12:00

noon on Saturday, 14 December. Please contact the Medical

Lake staff at (509) 299-6280 if you would like to help place

wreaths. The world’s longest veterans parade begins on 4 De-

cember in Maine and extends to participating locations across

America. On Monday 5 December, wreath laying ceremonies will

be held at State Houses in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

December 3rd we Widows and Wives will have lunch at Beverly’s

(in CdA) where the food is always very good. We put a High Tea

on next year’s list, so keep your eyes open for that one.

CHAPTER SCOREBOARD 2013

JROTC Scholarship Funds on hand: $561.00 Legislative Letters, Postcards & Emails: 1220 as of 10 Nov 2013 Raffle Donations: MAR $180 JROTC Scholarships. APR $175 Ladies & Gent. of the WA State Cemetery; SEP $146 MOAA Scholarship Fund; OCT $170 Spokane Veterans Home, DEC ROTC/JROTC Unit Support. Total 2013 donations: $671. Support the Troops (STT): FEB: 2 boxes 10M, 5W Djibouti (USMC); 4 boxes 170M, 40W Afghanistan (USMC);2 boxes 15M, 5W Afghanistan (Army), 2 boxes 20M, 6W Afghanistan (USN). MAY-all Afghanistan: 2 boxes 5M (Army); 3 boxes 30M, 5W (USAF); 2 boxes 10M, 5W (USMC); 6 boxes 75M (USMC), 2 boxes 24M (USMC). 2013 STT Total: 25 boxes, 242# to 359M, 66W in Djibouti & Afghan. Widows & Wives: $92 & 55 lbs. food to Spokane Food Bank. $121 for 16 pr. wheelchair gloves. Sewing supplies, hygiene/cosmetic items, socks, bird houses, board games, puzzles, Xmas decorations, painting supplies, towels, blankets, kitchen items, & writing/coloring materials to Spokane Veterans Home. $150 to Cowgirls & Women Warriors Group.

Now Hear This!

Page 3/Nov 2013

NOW HEAR THIS! Is published at least 6 times per year by the Spokane Chapter, Military Officers Association of Amer-ica, P O Box 466, Veradale WA 99037. Editor: Marilyn Hunt cinc@frontier.com 208-773-1074. Advertising limited to members/spouses only. No subject matter that would preclude non-profit mailing.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL NOTICE

Following are members whose chapter dues expire 31 December. We’re publishing your names here to reduce the cost of mailing individual notices. You can help by renewing by 10 December. Chapter dues are separate from national. Only MOAA national has Life memberships. Please note there are separate lists below for Regular and Auxiliary mem-bers. Please HELP keep our chapter strong by sending your renewal check to: Spokane Chapter MOAA, Attn: Membership, PO Box 466, Veradale WA 99037.

Regular members - dues $40 for 3 years, or $15 for 1 year:

Adams, Wally Fliger, Manley Kavanaugh, John Moss, Stephen Schiemann, Heinz

Aguirre, Vincent Fullington, Douglas Kelly, Richard Murphy Jr., Daniel Smallfoot, Candace/Landry

Atkins,. Gary Gaynos, Nick Klise, James Neary, Thomas Souza, Mark/Kerry

Bennett Charles Gilmore, Paul Kovacich, Vincent O'Leary, Michael Tate, Harlan

Brennan, Philip Goldsworthy, Robert Kowzan, John Olson, Isaac Templin, Robert

Bublitz, Robert Grangnelli, Joseph Krafft, Betty Olson, Oscar Thie, Dean

Carmer, Kenneth Gresham, Cliff Kratt, Jacob Phill, Charles Van Wert, Marc

Colliton, Jeffry Griswold, Edson Lacy, Thomas Pruitt, Bill VanDeLeest, Dean

Comstock, Larry Haden, Donald Lee, John Purdy, Robert Walker, Robert

Cothern, B. R. Hand, Charles Leisle, Jacob Reichert, Debbie/Wm Wallick, Marie

Cresswell, Douglas Hargitt, Gerald Looker Jr., Edward Reish, Robert Warn, John

Cunningham, Darcy Harris, Marmaduke Lund III, Charles Rekow, George Weinman, Arnold

Cvancara, James Hausmann, Louanne Maehl, Michael Renz, Robert White, Frank

Daly, Joseph Hedges, Eugene Malzahn, Thomas Reynaud, Albert Williams, Wilho

Daniels, Alston Heehn, Richard Mangan, James Ringley, Howard Wilson, William

Davis, Chester Hice, Larry McDevitt, James Romanick, Charles Wilson Jr., William

Demars, Ted Hire, Claude McMonigle, Dennis Roth, Gregory Winskie, John

Duble, Carl Hobbs, Fred Mielbrecht, Robert Sarat, Bart Wood, Orval

Eller, Henry Humphreys, Kenneth Minkler, John Shaw, Dennis Zee, Jerry

Eminger, Paul Jackson, Daniel Mogensen, Einar/Nan Skarka, Harry Zodrow, John

Ferrez, Chris Jakubowski, Walter Morisette, William Sassman, Gregory

Auxiliary members - dues $25 for 3 years, or $9 for 1 year:

Anderson, Elaine Chandler, Mary Ann Holmberg, Anna Potter, June Trotter, Helen

Archibald, Ann Cowley, Sue Joyal, Carla Schuppe, Lavonne Vose, Linda

Beaman, Ann Dingle, Margaret King, Rosalie Selberg, Bernice Warden, Virginia

Black, Helen Finnegan, Miriam Koch, Jean Starkey, Esther Watts, Jeanne

Champion, Metra Hogue, Bettilu McBride, Rusty Thornbrugh, Barbara Williams, Irene

We are a 5 Star Chapter proudly serving northeast Washington and north Idaho for 39 years!

IF WE MAINTAIN OUR CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP AT 90% of OUR 2013 NUMBERS, MOAA WILL SEND US $500. This is part of the MOAA 2013 Chapter Membership program.

If your name is listed below, we need you to renew your dues soon so we can qualify.

You know, ASAP. Yesterday. Before the sun goes over the yardarm.

Page 4/Nov 2013

Now Hear This!

Legislative Contacts President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington DC 20500

Washington Senator Patty Murray United States Senate 10 North Post St, Suite 600 Spokane WA 99201 509-624-9515 Fax 509-624-9561 Senator Maria Cantwell United States Senate 920 W. Riverside, Suite 697 Spokane WA 99201 509-353-2507 Fax 509-353-2547 Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers United States House of Representatives 10 N. Post St, 6th floor Spokane WA 99201 509-353-2374 Fax 509-352-2412

Idaho Senator Mike Crapo United States Senate 610 W. Hubbard Suite 209 Coeur d’Alene ID 83814 208-664-5490 Fax 208-664-0889 Senator Jim Risch United States Senate 610 W. Hubbard, Suite 213 Coeur d’Alene ID 83814 208-667-6130 Fax 208-765-1743 Representative Raul Labrador, United States House of Representatives 1250 Ironwood Dr. Suite 243 Coeur d’Alene ID 83814 208-667-0127 Fax 208-667-0310

.

Auxiliary Corner

By Kathy Prout, MOAA Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee (AMAC)

There’s a lot to figure out before remarrying after the

death of a military spouse. It starts with making wise

decisions as to what the financial consequences would

be as a result of the new marriage.

If you receive the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity,

remarrying before age 55 will result in the loss of SBP,

TRICARE, your military ID card, military exchange and

commissary benefits, and Morale, Welfare, and Readi-

ness (MWR) benefits. If that subsequent marriage ends in

divorce or death, you may apply to be reinstated for only

exchange privileges. You lose TRICARE permanently.

If you remarry after age 57, unless you marry another service member, you would retain

SBP but lose your military ID card, exchange privileges, and TRICARE.

If your spouse’s death was service-connected and you receive SBP and Dependency and

Indemnity Compensation (DIC), SBP is reduced by DIC. With remarriage after age 55 and

before age 57, you would retain DIC but lose SBP, as well as your military ID card, ex-

change privileges, and TRICARE. If you remarry after age

57, you would retain SBP and receive DIC with no offset, but

you would lose your military ID card, exchange privileges,

and TRICARE. You would be eligible for health care under

the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA. If your

new spouse is a service member, you would become his or

her dependent and receive a new ID card, TRICARE, ex-

change privileges, and MWR benefits.

For former spouses, the benefits you receive are subject to

what is in their divorce decree. However, they also must meet the gov-

ernment requirements. For a former spouse to receive SBP, he or she

must have been married for 10 years or more and the service member

must have accrued 10 years of service creditable toward military retire-

ment. Military retired pay is considered property. The limit for a direct

disbursement of military retirement pay is 50 percent of the gross military

retirement amount. Under certain circumstances, called the 20/20/20, a

former spouse may receive medical care, a military ID card, and ex-

change privileges. This is a lifelong benefit as long as the service mem-

ber is living. Retired pay ceases the day the service member dies. If the

service member dies and SBP has been provided by court order or vol-

untarily, the former spouse may receive SBP. However, with remarriage before age 55,

SBP would be terminated. For more information, check out the publication Former Spouse

Benefits, available for download at www.moaa.org/infoexchange.

We are a 5 Star Chapter proudly serving northeast Washington and north Idaho for 39 years!

Spokane Chapter, MOAA Sunday, 8 December 2013 Chapter Christmas Social

P.O. Box 466 Mukogawa Ft. Wright Institute Commons Building

Veradale WA 99037 12:30 Social, 1:00 Meeting, 1:15 Buffet begins

You’re invited to wear your Class A, Service Dress or Mess Dress uniform, or just wear your ribbons on your civilian clothing.

Entertainment by Eastern Washington University Choral Group, directed by Dr. Randy Wagner

Mail early so we receive it by Friday, 29 November. Please, no late reservations or walk-ins. If you need to cancel a reservation,

contact Barbara Thornbrugh, (509) 466-2108 or Ralph Shrigley (208) 623-2671 NLT Friday, 29 November for a refund.

MENU: Roast Turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans almandine, green salad, cranberry sauce, fruit medley, rolls & butter, cheese cake/cherry topping. Free beer & wine. Please reserve ____ places for the Sunday 8 December 2013 luncheon at Mukogawa Fort Wright. Cost is $26.00 per person (includes 18% gratuity). My check in the amount of $________ is enclosed ($26 X ___ no. of reservations). Make check payable to “Spokane Chapter MOAA” and mail to chapter mailbox above. Name: _______________________member/guest (circle one) Name: ______________________member/guest (circle one)

Name: _______________________member/guest (circle one) Name: ______________________member/guest (circle one)

Now Hear This!

Page 5/Nov 2013

Directions: SUNDAY 8 December 2013 – 12:30 p.m. Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute, 4000 West Randolph Rd, Spokane. From I-90, Maple St. exit North, turn left on 4

th Ave, then left on Sunset Blvd. Stay in the right-hand

lane. After the bridge, turn right onto Government Way, and right onto Fort George Wright Drive, go only .1 mile, turn left onto Randolph Road and continue to the roundabout at the end. Wear your uniform if it hasn’t shrunk! Questions? Call Barbara Thornbrugh (509) 466-2108 or Ralph Shrigley (360) 951-2660.

We will sign legislative letters and have a raffle in support of our ROTC/JROTC Units. Please bring: 3 stamps and 6 address labels per person Something for the raffle Something for Support the Troops, or socks and gloves for homeless veterans. The troops especially like

hand & foot warmers, small bottles of shampoo/ conditioner/ lotion, shaving cream, beef jerky, cookies, peanuts, crackers w/small cans of tuna & chicken. Cash donations help pay for additional items and postage.

Membership Chair/Committee EMAIL REQUEST, CHANGE OF ADDRESS or PHONE, or Spokane Chapter, MOAA TEMPORARILY AWAY: P.O. Box 466 Clip and complete this form and send it to the Veradale WA 99037 address on the left so we can update our database. Thank you. NOTE: We do not send junk email or spam. Also, we do not give away, sell or trade your email address. Member name: ________________________________________________________________________ (Please print clearly) [ ] I would like to be added to the chapter email list. I specifically request to (check all that apply): [ ] Receive the chapter newsletter by email [ ] Receive important information in a timely manner. [ ] My email address is ________________________________________________________________ (Please print clearly) [ ] My mailing address, email address, and/or phone number has changed to: ________________________________________________________________________________________

[ ] I will be temporarily away starting ___________ and returning _____________. I do / do not (circle one)

wish to receive the newsletter while I’m away. If “do” please send it to: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Signed: ______________________________

We are a 5 Star Chapter proudly serving northeast Washington and north Idaho for 39 years!

Spokane Chapter

Military Officers Association of America

P.O. BOX 466

Veradale WA 99037

WE’RE ON THE WEB! WWW.SPOKANEMOAA.ORG

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 1221 Spokane WA

Casualty Assistance Officer: Bernie Fritz is the casualty

assistance officer for Fairchild AFB and surrounding area.

He is in Bldg. 240 at 7 W. Arnold St., 509-247-4488. If

you leave a message, he will call you back.

FAFB Retiree Activities Office

Bldg. 240, 7 W. Arnold St.,509-247-4029

The Retired Affairs Office needs volunteers. Serving at the

RAO is a perfect excuse to travel out to the base and visit

the exchange/commissary at the same time. Call them!

Page 6/Nov 2013

Need a Ride to a Chapter Social? Call Anyone Listed Below

WASHINGTON IDAHO

Clif Collier 509-443-6490 Richard Oates 208-777-2671

Floyd Geiger 509-328-4483 Ralph Shrigley 208-623-2671

These folks came in uni-

form to the 2012 Christ-

mas social. All members

are welcome to do it

again this year on Sunday

8 December when we

gather at the Mukogawa

Ft. Wright Institute. If

your uniform has shrunk,

wear your ribbons on

your civilian attire.

Change Service Requested