Military Officer - June 2006 - (Page 43)

chapteractivities (R) and Tim Johnson (D), and Dave Munson, mayor of Sioux Falls, S.D. The ceremony marked the culmination of a two-year effort to start a new chapter to serve national MOAA members living in the southeastern part of the state. Lt. Col. Don Liebsch, USAR-Ret., who chairs the membership committee, led the charge to establish the chapter along Georgia MOAA Inc. President Lt. with Lt. Col. Art Wilbur, USA-Ret.; Col. Mel Wilkerson, USA-Ret. (left), Col. Russ Fleming, USA-Ret.; Lt. Col. is joined by members of NARFE as Bill Wright, USA-Ret.; and Col. Robthey visit the capitol in Atlanta. ert Black, USAF-Ret., who now is the residents age 65 and older and those chapter’s president. Black thinks the chapter will contotally disabled (regardless of age) tinue to add more members in the from state income tax, coming months, including guardmem■ providing adequate funding for bers from the Army National Guard home- and community-based health facility in Sioux Falls. services, In fact, the chapter ■ increasing the annual picked up four new homestead exemption “I think we members at the charfor residents 65 and get a little tering ceremony, raisolder from $25,000 bit better ing the total to 134. to $50,000, While Ryan was in ■ enacting stronger every year.” Sioux Falls, a TV news laws to prevent elder — Col. Frank Valentine, reporter from KSFY, a abuse, and USA-Ret. local ABC afﬁliate, in■ obtaining funding terviewed him. Footfor an adult day care age from the interview program. ran in two nightly news segments, “I think it went very well,” says which generated some publicity for GMOAA President Col. Frank Valthe chapter. Ryan said during the inentine, USA-Ret. “This is only the terview that frequent volunteer actisecond year we’ve been doing this, vations, including the one for South and I think we get a little bit better Dakota’s 147th Field Artillery at the every year.” beginning of March 2006, show there’s a need for family and troop Great Plains (S.D.) support from organizations such Chapter Chartered as MOAA. “What we need to do is get on a ore than 50 people steadier tempo,” Ryan said, “so these turned out March 16 to see men and women aren’t going away MOAA President Vice Adm. so frequently, so they have some time Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret., charter the with their families before they have Great Plains (S.D.) Chapter. Among to go back over.” Ryan added that the those in attendance were key staff Great Plains Chapter couldn’t have members for U.S. Sens. John Thune formed at a better time, because of the stress that South Dakota’s Guard and Reserve members and their families are facing. Liebsch agrees. In fact, one of the chapter’s ﬁrst major projects involves helping the surviving spouses of military members who live in the area. “We’ve already provided assistance to four or ﬁve families,” says Liebsch. Great Plains Chapter President Col. Robert Black, USAF-Ret., left, accepts the charter from MOAA President Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret. Although the Great Plains Chapter is centered in the Sioux Falls, S.D., area, members plan to hold meetings around the region. The new chapter is one of two MOAA chapters in South Dakota, with the Black Hills Chapter serving members who live in the Rapid City area. Greater St. Louis Chapter Revitalizes A M state representative, a U.S. representative, and a member of national MOAA’s board of directors addressed members from the Greater St. Louis Chapter and the Military Order of the World Wars during a joint meeting March 18. State Rep. Jack Jackson (R) briefed the group about several veterans’ affairs issues pending in the statehouse, while JUNE 2006 MILITARY OFFICER 43

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - June 2006

Military Officer - June 2006 Contents From the Editor President’s Page Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities MOAA Member Services Living Well 5 Foods for Life The Kindest Cut Winning the Battle Cover Story: Choppers Pages of History Information Exchange Advertising Index MOAA Scholarship Donors Member Books MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps Encore

Military Officer - June 2006

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.