September Is Here
The summer is drawing to a close, speed limits are in force in school
zones, and the Chapter is starting another season of meetings. Our new
president, Tom Kelley, has arranged speakers and a new location for
our kick-off meeting.
Our program will feature Bob and Donna Cash, speaking about volunteer
work in the community. They have lived in Richland since 1969 and have
been active volunteers in several organizations. They have served as
co-chairs of the Sausage Fest and the Allied Arts Sidewalk Show, and
other events. Donna is currently president of Allied Arts and Bob is
treasurer of Community Concerts of the Tri-Cities. Their talk will primarily
focus on the Allied Arts Association and experiences they have had as
event co-chairs.
Bob was a manager at Hanford before his retirement. They have four
children and three grandchildren.
The meeting will be at O'Callahan's, the restaurant in the Shilo Inn
in Richland, on Tuesday, September 18. Tom arranged quite a meal for
us, make your reservation now to hear an interesting presentation and
renew friendships.
In Memory
The Chapter lost two members over the summer. Jay Varvel died on June
12 at age 82. Gus Garcia, who was chapter president in 1994, died on
August 20 at age 71. These followed the death of Roy Carriker last May
From HQ
MOAA
Don't Build Combat-Unique Disability System
The Bush Administration has directed DOD to move out quickly and develop
a legislative proposal to change the military disability retirement
system. But the proposal would be strictly limited to people who are
disabled by combat-related wounds, as recommended by the Dole-Shalala
Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors.
We've talked to the Dole-Shalala commission members and staff, and
they say in no uncertain terms that they never intended to propose a
unique retirement system for combat-disabled members. They only looked
at combat-disabled members because that's who their charter covered,
so that's who's addressed in their report. But they'll tell anyone who
asks that they think the same retirement and compensation rules should
apply to all service-connected disabled members, not just those wounded
in combat.
That view is echoed strongly by the Veterans' Disability Benefits
Commission, a separate group that's been studying the military and VA
disability systems for two years and is due to report to Congress this
fall (see below). They recognize that, if military service causes a
disability, the impact on the service member is the same, whether it
was caused by a bullet, a building fire, or a military vehicle accident.
Let's keep in mind that one of the purposes of the Dole-Shalala commission
was to help find solutions to the maze of administrative roadblocks
that kept disabled members and families from understanding their options
and benefits. Proposing a new unique disability process that only applies
to a relatively small percentage of disabled members will hardly make
the system any easier to navigate, and will only create major new inequities.
As we try to expedite action on the recommendations of these important
commissions, we must make sure we listen to what they're actually saying
September Meeting
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Tuesday, September 18
O'Callahan's Restaurant
Shilo Inn
Columbia Point
Richland
Social hour at 6:30
Dinner at 7:00
$20 per person
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Reservations by
Sunday, September 16
Bob Allen
627-6226
boballen@charter.net
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Menu
Braised Tenderloin Beef Tips
Chicken Astoria
Rice Pilaf
Seasonal Sautéed Vegetables Sweet Biscuits & Honey
Butter
Mixed Greens & Dressings
Pasta Salad
Fresh Fruit Display
Assorted Chef Choice
Desserts
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