THE CABLE
The bimonthly newsletter for:
** January 2009
The San Francisco Chapter, MOAA HAPPY NEW YEAR and please make sure you read all the way to the end of this newsletter to read a message from our new Chapter President!!!
Next luncheon meeting: Saturday, January 17, 2009, United Irish Cultural Center, 2700 - 45th Avenue, San Francisco 94116 (across the street from the San Francisco Zoo). Call (650) 355-3298 if you have questions or need a ride. Schedule: Doors open 11:30AM; lunch 12noon; speaker program 1PM. Menu: Chicken Jerusalem or Yankee Pot Roast. Reservations: please make checks payable to SF Chapter, MOAA and mail to P. O. Box 406, Pacifica, CA 94044. Cost $25.00 per person. Reservations received after 12noon on 01/14/09 will be charged $5.00 per person add-on, payable at the door. Call Ed Meshinsky, 650-355-3298, for late reservations. Your guests, military or civilian, are always welcome! Meeting Program: Our speaker for this month is Chris Edwards, a National Park Ranger from the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, which has one of the country’s most unique collection of historic ships. Mr. Edwards has worked as a Park Ranger at the Boston National Historical Park on board the WWII Fletcher-class destroyer, USS Cassin Young, at the Charleston, South Carolina Navy Yard, and at the Battle of Bunker Hill Monument. He has also served as a docent on several museum ships, including the heavy cruiser, USS Salem, the San Francisco-based submarine, USS Pampanito, and the aircraft carrier, USS Hornet, moored at the former Naval Air Station in Alameda. Mr. Edwards is also a researcher and writer of naval history and last year had an article published in the Naval History Magazine, with more to come. Ranger Edwards’ talk will be an audio/visual presentation entitled The Ocean: A Highway or a Barrier? He will focus principally on the collection of historic ships in the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and how these vessels have impacted on the West Coast of America and enriched this area’s maritime story and the diverse cultures that found their way to this region. Mr. Edwards recently made this presentation to a reunion of the Navy Nuclear Weapons Association. 2009 schedule of meetings: Please put in your day-planners, or whatever electronic calendars you carry, the following dates for our 2009 regular luncheon meetings: all Saturdays; January 17, March 21, May 9, July 18, September 19 and November 21. Board meetings are normally held the third Wednesday of the intervening months. Hawaii State Chapter of MOAA to hold Golden Anniversary Celebration: The Hawaii State Chapter is inviting all MOAA members and their guests to join them at their 50th Anniversary at the Hale Koa R&R Hotel in Waikiki on July 23, 2009. There will be a big dinner party on the 23rd, with the President of MOAA, Admiral Norb Ryan, USN (Ret), being the guest speaker, along with a dance band, champagne toasting and lots more Hawaiian-fun. Additional optional events include a golf tournament on July 24th, a 4-day excursion to Kilauea volcano and military camp and a cruise around the islands on Norwegian Cruise Lines. You should contact Jack Miller at either (808) 261-4100 or jackmiller@hawaii.rr.com, if you are interested. Might be an inexpensive way to see the Islands and to have fun with other military folks. Speaking of anniversary dates: MOAA records state that the San Francisco Chapter’s charter date is August 5, 1969, which would put our 40th anniversary in August of this year. If anyone has
documented evidence that our Chapter pre-dates August 1969, please contact one of the Board officers with your proof. Please note that MOAA national is celebrating its 80 th birth date in 2009, which is shown in their special logo at the top of this newsletter. Medicare annual deductible reminder: Medicare-eligible beneficiaries’ first medial service of the calendar year must be both a Medicare- and TRIARE- covered benefit in order for TRICARE For Life (TFL) to pay the annual Medicare deductible of $135 for 2009. This can be confusing because Medicare’s deductible is based on the calendar year and TFL’s in based on the fiscal year. For example, if your receive chiropractic care (a TFL non-covered benefit, but can be covered by Medicare), as the first service of the calendar year, you would be responsible to pay the $135 Medicare deductible. Medicare-aged patients normally do not pay a TRICARE deductible. To avoid the Medicare deductible, be sure both Medicare and TREICARE-For-Life cover your first health care service in 2009.
Letter from our 2009 Chapter President: A YEAR OF CHALLENGE First, on behalf of the Chapter Officers, I want to thank you for your vote of confidence. This year will be a year of challenges, uncertainties and opportunities. We have seen the challenges posed by being unable to develop chapter leadership and succession nearly leading to the dissolution of the chapter. In the coming year we must develop programs to attract and motivate members to a higher level of participation. We must then identify the best and groom them to be the future chapter leadership. Uncertainties we have always faced both on active duty and in retirement. The Chapter future is uncertain. This year we could not find a candidate for president for 2009. The Chapter leaders have served the chapter well but need successors and deserve a “Stand Down”. Who will be the leaders for 2010? The uncertainty of the national and state economies can greatly impact on the retired community as well as this chapter. Will we have the resources to actively pursue Chapter and MOAA objectives? What activities should receive priority? Will we be able to continue support of area ROTC programs? Is the membership’s legislative voice being effectively communicated to the San Francisco Board of Education? One of the opportunities may result through MOAA’s “Year of the Chapter Program”. MOAA has and will continue to directly encourage its members join, or at least investigate what we have to offer new members such as active legislative, personal affairs or community service programs. We are blessed by the talent and experience we have in the chapter. The chapter is sound! Our opportunities are only limited by the willingness of the membership to participate in chapter activities at the working level. Without your participation, the chapter will not have the programs or community visibility that will attract new members and potential leaders that will be the life’s blood of the chapter. In short, all we need is greater participation by the membership in the planning and conduct of chapter activities. Only with the help of the chapter membership will the future of the San Francisco Chapter of MOAA be assured. Finally, I want to thank you for your vote of confidence and I promise to work with you in turning our challenges and uncertainties into opportunities for future growth of the San Francisco Chapter of MOAA. Your input is needed. Please write me at 2475 Melbrook Way, Santa Rosa, CA 95405 or call me at 707-578-4464 Leigh Royston, CDR, USNR (Ret)
SF Chapter, MOAA @ (650) 355-3298 or sfchaptermoaa@sbcglobal.net “Holding the Fort in San Francisco”