Military Officer - August 2008 - (Page 41)

chaptersinaction SSA, the VA, insurance agencies, and other institutions about her husband’s death. “I really don’t know what I would have done without Jim,” says Davis. “Things sure have gone smoothly for me, and it’s all because of him.” Handbook. This handbook contains helpful checklists, form letters, information on SBP payments, and other valuable information. ON THE WEB ■ The 2008 Storming the Hill video now is available, featuring interviews with various MOAA representatives who headed to Capitol Hill to lobby for legislation that would benefit servicemembers. View the video at www.moaa.org/2008stormingthehill. Positioned to help Col. Steve dePyssler, USAF-Ret., heads the Ark-La-Tex Chapter’s perKeeping chapter sonal affairs program. As director of Barksdale AFB’s Retiree Activities members informed The Northeast Arkansas Chapter is Ofﬁce (RAO), dePyssler often asone of many MOAA chapters with sists surviving spouses following the a personal affairs program. Walker death of a servicemember — regardoversees his chapter’s less of whether they are program, which asMOAA members or not. sists surviving spouses receive The Ark-La- theSurvivors Affairs and the adult children Personal Tex chapof servicemembers Workbook and Survivor ter assists following a serviceGuide to Beneﬁts that member’s death. The was developed and writsurviving chapter also hosts a ten by dePyssler and spouses, yearly personal affellow RAO volunteer whether fairs seminar where Chief Master Sgt. Herthey are husbands and wives man Nock, USAF-Ret. can sit down together This comprehensive MOAA and plan for the future. source of information members Overwhelming at ﬁrst, can be downloaded from or not. the seminar helps these the chapter’s Web site couples gather impor(www.arklatexmoaa tant and necessary in.org). In addition, dePysformation and establish a plan that sler conducts an annual widows’ semenables a smoother transition upon inar that covers topics ranging from a spouse’s death. insurance to SBP. National MOAA offers a wide Local guidance variety of publications to help its members with this planning process, and support The Mount Vernon (Va.) Chapter including the Personal Affairs Workbook and Help Your Survivors Now: also has its own personal affairs A Guide to Planning Ahead. To order handbook, Emergency Planning, a copy, visit www.moaa.org or call which can be downloaded from the MOAA’s Member Service Center at chapter’s Web site (www.mvmoaa (800) 234-MOAA (6622). .com). When a servicemember’s However, Walker and other PAOs spouse dies, personal affairs assistant often develop their own publications Susie Davis mails them a sympathy that list important local and national card, along with a reminder that the resources. Every new member of the chapter is there to help. Northeast Arkansas Chapter receives According to personal affairs the chapter’s Survivor Information chair Capt. Gary Hall, USN-Ret., the chapter hosts a yearly personal affairs seminar, which features speakers who cover topics ranging from ﬁnancial planning to changes in veterans’ beneﬁts. The popular seminar helps chapter members learn much of what they need to know in only an hour. Assistance from auxiliary members Auxiliary members like Vivian Bennett often participate in their chapter’s personal affairs program. Recently, Bennett helped organize and distribute ﬂyers for the Southern Nevada Chapter’s veterans’ beneﬁts seminar at the retirement community where she lives in Henderson, Nev. More than 250 people attended the seminar, which featured speakers from the VA, Disabled American Veterans, and the Nevada State Veterans Home. Lt. Col. Roosevelt Harrelle, USMC-Ret., chairs the chapter’s personal affairs committee and is in the process of distributing copies of MOAA’s Personal Affairs Workbook to members. He also assists them with matters ranging from obtaining VA beneﬁts to getting new military ID cards. “Right now, we’re in the process of ﬁxing a mistake in a paralyzed member’s [DD Form 214] so he’ll receive credit for 23 years of service instead of 16,” says past president Lt. Col. Tommy Thompson, USA-Ret. “Once this gets ﬁxed … he’ll be eligible for TRICARE For Life.” AUGUST 2008 MILITARY OFFICER 41 http://www.moaa.org/2008stormingthehill http://www.arklatexmoaa.org http://www.arklatexmoaa.org http://www.moaa.org http://www.mvmoaa.com http://www.mvmoaa.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - August 2008

Military Officer - August 2008 Contents MOAA Online From the Editor From the President Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Chapters in Action Financial Forum Ask the Doctor MOAA Member Services Cover Story: A Stronger Voice Virtual Combat Mental Floss Steady as She Goes Pages of History Faces of MOAA Member Books Information Exchange Advertising Index MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps MOAA Scholarship Donors Encore

Military Officer - August 2008

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