Mo VFW CDR and Mo VFW Ladies Auxiliary Sr-Vice President and Others Travel

Posted on February 21, 2012 by VFW MO

Saturday, February 18, 2012 found several State Officers and Ladies Auxiliary Officers on the road traveling south to the County of Wright to visit the District 18 Meeting that was being held just outside of Mountain Grove, Missouri at Post 3770. The District 18 business meetings start promptly at 10:00 a.m. and that required the visitors to be on the road early.

Attending the District 18 meeting was Dept Commander Olin Parks, Ladies Auxiliary Sr-Vice President Rebecca Strauss, VFW Dept Chaplain Nancy Cowan, Ladies Auxiliary Chaplain Gigi Gill, Past Dept Commander Dave Morgan, and three comrades that are seeking the office of Department Surgeon for the 2012 – 2013 year.

Post 3770 CDr Proctor, Mo VFW CDR Parks and D18 CDR Johnston

Post 3770 Commander Lyman “Pete” Proctor, Dept of Mo CDR Olin Parks and District 18 CDR Chris Johnston.

Mo Ladies Auxiliary Sr-Vice President Rebecca Strauss

Mo VFW Ladies Auxiliary Sr-Vice President Rebecca Strauss and Post 3770 Ladies Auxiliary President Nancy Smith.

Mo VFW Chaplain Nancy Cowan. She is seeking a second term as Dept Chaplain.

These three were campaigning for the position of Department Surgeon for 2012 – 2013. left to right – Chris Bell, Levi Wood and Jim Gill.

Past Dept CDR Morgan and D18 VSIO Hawley

Past Dept CDR Dave Morgan presents National Assistant Chief-of-Staff cover to D18 VSIO Ed Hawley

The afternoon joint meeting saw the District 18 Teachers of the Year, Patriots Pen and Voice of Democracy winners introduced.

For more story and a slideshow with 84 different photos from the event go to District 18

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Districts Ranked by Membership 2-21-2012

Posted on February 21, 2012 by VFW MO

1^st: District 1 102.95%

2^nd: District 12 102.81%

3^rd: District 15 95.86%

4^th: District 14 95.78%

5^th: District 9 94.51%

6^th: District 18 94.38%

7^th: District 5 93.81%

8^th: District 8 93.65%

9^th: District 6 92.62%

10^th: District 2 91.05%

11^th: District 7 90.04%

12^th: District 17 89.17%

13^th: District 3 83.66%

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Vietnam Veterans and the VFW

Posted on February 21, 2012 by VFW MO

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VSO Donations Ranking by District 2-20-2012

Posted on February 20, 2012 by VFW MO

District 12 $3.94/member

District 5 $3.27/member

District 8 $2.79/member
District 1 $2.41/member
District 18 $2.13/member
State Average $2.13/member
District 9 $2.12/member
District 15 $2.12/member
District 7 $2.08/member
District 3 $2.03/member
District 2 $1.76/member
District 17 $1.68/member
District 6 $1.40/member
District 14 $1.21/member

Remind everyone that our VSOs are a very important part of our mission and deserve to be supported !! Please review the DPRs if you wish to know what posts have not contributed….from what I understand updated DPRs will be coming out again soon…please use the old ones and make some phone calls……Many thanks for your support of our veterans and OUR VFW!!

Olin Parks,

MO VFW CDR

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Veterans Helping Veterans – Successful Post Service Officer Event

Posted on February 20, 2012 by VFW MO

How many years have I been saying the VFW exists for one reason and one reason only and that is to help Veterans and their families? How many times have I told you that every VFW Post can have a Post Service Officer Event? How many times have I told you how easy it is to help Veterans? How many times have I or Ed Hawley or Jim Rippy offered to assist you in having an event or a fair? Countless!

VFW Post 2610 in Windsor, Missouri is one of those Posts that just never had an event for one reason or another. Finally they asked me to assist them in having an event. Saturday February 18th we did it, we had a Post Service Officer Event in Windsor, MO in a little VFW Post and oh how we helped Veterans. We opened six claims, accomplished 5 new referrals, signed 11 new Veterans for medical benefits and signed up six new members for the VFW. Now that’s not bad for four hours work.

We helped Veterans! We did it right! Thank you to Post 2610. Thank you to the volunteers from the Kansas City VA and the Warrensbug VA Clinic, Thank you to the Henry County Hospice and to Scott who made some great signs for the event and for Representative Scott Largent who stopped by to make sure his area Veterans were getting the help they need.

A team effort to help Veterans. It just doesn’t get any better than that! Is your Post ready to help Veterans? It’s easy, it’s fun and it is so very rewarding. Call Jim Rippy or your District VSIO or me and let’s get an event scheduled at your Post. Let’s help Veterans!

Bob Wonnell

Past State Commander

Current Public Relations Chairman

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VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY, February 17, 2012

Posted on February 18, 2012 by VFW MO

In This Issue

1. VA Budget Released

2. VFW Testifies on VA Budget

3. DOD Budget Breaks Faith With Troops

4. VFW Discusses G.I. Bill with State Approving Agencies

5. Pay & Benefits Top Troop Concerns

6. VA Adds Texting Feature to Crisis Line

7. New Effort Aids Military Spouse Employment

8. Korean War MIA Identified

1. VA Budget Released: The President on Monday released his $140.3 billion FY 2013 budget proposal for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The total amount includes mandatory funding for programs such as disability compensation and pension, as well as discretionary funding for VA medical care, to include advanced appropriations. The amount represents a 4.5-percent increase over FY 2012 funding, but falls more than $4 billion short of what is recommended by The Independent Budget, which the VFW co-authors with AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America. The VA budget request includes:

· $6.2 billion to expand inpatient, residential and outpatient mental health programs.

· $3.3 billion for returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans’ programs.

· $2.1 billion to improve the benefits claims process.

· $1.3 billion for veterans’ homelessness programs.

· $403 million for women veteran programs.

· $258 million for national cemeteries.

VFW has concerns about the low recommendation for major construction and the slight increase for medical and prosthetic research. VFW National Commander Richard DeNoyer said a record 240 troops lost one or more limbs in Afghanistan last year will require a lifetime of care, and that “it shouldn’t be in VA medical facilities that average more than 60 years old.” Read the VFW press release at http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Articles/2012-Articles/VFW-Calls-VA-Budget-Proposal-a-Good-Start/.

2. VFW Testifies on VA Budget: On Wednesday, VFW testified before the House VA Committee as part of an Independent Budget (IB) panel on the FY 2013 VA budget. The IB, now in its 26th year, captures the full picture of what VA needs to care for veterans. VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the IB, and our testimony centered on major and minor construction project funding. We voiced our concerns about the woefully underfunded construction accounts, noting that Congress projected some $2.8 billion for projects, while the Administration this year only asked for $725 million, which is well over $2 billion short of what is needed. Safety and accessibility are concerns when construction accounts remain unfunded or underfunded for years. VFW asked Congress to increase funding so VA can complete numerous projects under way, as well as those being planned. To read VFW testimony, go to http://www.vfw.org/VFW-in-DC/Congressional-Testimony/. To learn more about the hearing and to view a recorded webcast, visit http://www.vfwonthehill.org/2012/02/watch-live-vfw-shinseki-to-testify-on.html. Read the Independent Budget at http://www.independentbudget.org/.

3. DOD Budget Breaks Faith With Troops: Also released Monday was the requested FY 2013 budget for the Department of Defense, which the VFW believes contains negative military pay and benefits proposals that will become “deal breakers” with the troops. One proposal recommends 1.7-percent military pay increases for 2013 and 2014, and a mere half percent in 2015. Tied to pay changes is DOD’s concurrence to create a Military Retirement Modernization Commission, which some in Congress already said should also examine the non-taxed status of military allowances, such as separate rations, housing and combat pay. The second proposal would force military dependents and retirees to pay more for their Tricare health programs. DOD recommended a three-tiered annual enrollment fee for Tricare Prime—based on the amount of retirement pay received—which over the next five years would quadruple existing fees for some working age military retirees. DOD also proposed instituting a one-tier annual enrollment fee and increased deductibles for Tricare Standard and Extra programs, a three-tiered fee for Tricare for Life coverage, and new pharmaceutical copays for everyone except uniformed service members. “Defeating these negative Quality of Life proposals are top VFW legislative priorities,” said VFW National Commander Richard DeNoyer. Read more about VFW’s position at http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Articles/2012-Articles/DEFENSE-BUDGET-BREAKS-FAITH-WITH-TROOPS/. Help VFW defeat these negative proposals by writing your members of Congress here: http://capwiz.com/vfw/issues/alert/?alertid=61005316. To learn more, visit http://www.vfwonthehill.org/2012/02/pentagon-unveiled-its-budget-proposal.html.

4. VFW Discusses G.I. Bill with State Approving Agencies: This week the VFW joined the National Association of State Approving Agencies, or NASAA, for the organization’s annual conference in Arlington, Va. State Approving Agencies serve as the “boots on the ground” for certifying G.I. Bill-eligible programs across the country, which is why VFW was honored to join a distinguished panel of veterans’ advocates to discuss challenges and opportunities for student-veterans who seek to use their Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits. To learn more about the panel and the VFW’s ongoing efforts to ensure student-veteran success visit: www.vfwonthehill.org.

5. Pay & Benefits Top Troop Concerns: In testimony this week before the House Appropriations Committee’s subcommittee on military construction and veterans affairs, the senior enlisted advisors of the four military services also said pay and benefits were the top concerns of their troops. “The last thing we want to have is for some soldier, sailor, airman or Marine deployed in harm’s way, being concerned about whether or not they are going to be paid. That’s something we don’t need these young people to be concerned about,” said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond Chandler. Service members also are concerned about their retirements, even though the senior enlisted advisors said retirement is not something that should be on the minds of a young people in uniform. “That is the No. 1 thing I hear from airmen and from families, said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy. “It is a distractor. I need young airmen focused on mission.” Read more at http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=67234.

6. VA Adds Texting Feature to Crisis Line: Since its launch in 2007, the VA’s Veterans Crisis Line has answered more than 500,000 confidential calls, and trained responders have made more than 18,000 rescues. In 2009, an anonymous online chat service was added, which has already helped more than 28,000 people. Now VA has added a third option for veterans, service members and family members who would rather text than call or go online: a free text messaging service at 838255. The confidential Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255, Press 1), online chat (www.VeteransCrisisLine.net), and text messaging service (838255) are monitored 24/7 by trained crisis responders. Learn more about VA’s overall crisis prevention program at www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention.

7. New Effort Aids Military Spouse Employment: Moving is tough enough on military families, but it’s even tougher on the one-third of working spouses who are in professions that require licenses or certifications. Twenty-four states are currently making an effort to ease the portability of licenses and certifications without lowering any standards. First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden are now working to get this initiative out of the other 26 governors’ inboxes. “We understand the unique challenges that you face, and we are going to do everything that we can to make sure that you can pursue your careers and provide for your families,” said Mrs. Obama at the Pentagon on Wednesday. Read more at http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=67211.

8. Korean War MIA Identified: The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office recently announced the identification of remains belonging to Army Cpl. William R. Sluss, 21, of Nickelsville, Va. In late November 1950, Sluss and elements of the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division were attacked by Chinese forces near Kunu-ri, North Korea. On Nov. 30, 1950, Sluss was listed as missing in action as a result of that heavy fighting. In 1953, returning Americans who had been held as prisoners of war reported that Sluss had been captured by the Chinese and died in the spring of 1951 as a result of malnutrition. Read more at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/news/news_releases/2012/release_sluss.pdf.

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Another Mo VFW Service Officer Success Story

Posted on February 15, 2012 by VFW MO

A few months ago a claim was filed for a Vietnam Veteran that had never asked for or filed for any benefits. It turns out he was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. His records showed a bullet came through the bottom of his Huey and went through his thigh. His helicopter crash landed and the veteran was knocked unconscious as a result. Since this incident the veteran has had dental problems as well as back problems and possible traumatic brain injury. He is now within weeks of receiving his 100% service connection.

Jason Blakemore, VFW Assistant Service Officer

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VFW Legislative Alert – Defense Budget Harms Military

Posted on February 15, 2012 by VFW MO

Background:

All military retirees and active duty service members will see increases in their health care costs under the proposed Department of Defense (DOD) FY 2013 budget.

All existing fees and copays will drastically increase over the next five years. Fees and copays will nearly double for lower retirement pay earners; however, because the budget proposals include tiers which tie future increases based on retired pay, many will pay more than four times the current amount within five years. In addition to increasing existing fees and copays (starting Oct 1, 2012), the budget proposal would also institute entirely new and costly enrollment fees for TRICARE Standard and TRICARE for Life (TFL).

For example, a TFL beneficiary making less than $22,589 would pay $150 per individual by FY 2016, and the fee would be indexed to civilian medical inflation thereafter.

Active-duty service members and their families would also feel the pinch as copays for brand name drugs would double in 2013 for all pharmacy beneficiaries and would continue to rise each year.

We cannot stand by and allow the Defense budget to harm the military and its personnel. VFW opposes any increases in healthcare costs for all military retirees and our service members.

Congress must support a budget that does not include fee increases which passes budget savings on to our service members and retirees.

Action Needed:

Contact your Legislators today and urge them to block DOD’s authority to increase any TRICARE fees as part of the Defense Authorization bill. Those who have fought for our country deserve no less. Congress should insist that DOD find efficiencies in other areas and leave those who have fought and continue to fight for our country out of any budget savings!

Let them know we expect any fee increases to be dead on arrival!

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