Military Officer - September 2006 - (Page 44) chapteractivities All About You T his is to all MOAA members — chapter and non-chapter members alike — and to those who are eligible for membership but for whatever reason have not joined. It is time to wake up. You won’t get the benefits you’ve earned just because you’re nice. You’re going to have to fight for them. But for years you’ve let others do the fighting for you. You’ve watched as others fought to reform health care, concurrent receipt, and the Survivor Benefit Plan. Thankfully, there were always enough members to get the message across to legislators about what was earned and deserved, and your nonparticipation was merely a speed bump on the way to success. Well, “times they are a changin’.” It should come as no surprise that the “greatest generation” is dying at an ever-increasing rate. The very people you have relied on to get the mission accomplished are disappearing. So, what are you going to do about it? You, the MOAA member in name only; the nonmember who considers one of the lowest annual membership 44 MILITARY OFFICER SEPTEMBER 2006 R “Although the $5,000 deduction is not what was sought, it is the first time in more than 50 years that the Maryland General Assembly has provided any financial relief or recognition for veterans and is therefore a quantum fees of any military-affiliated organileap forward,” says Kreiner. zation to be too high. Who is going The deduction applies to both ofto fend off those who think that the ficers and enlisted servicemembers military is overpaid or that military and National Guard retirees have outlived and Reserve members their usefulness and are who receive retired pay simply a drain on the You won’t from one of the seven defense budget? get the ben- uniformed services. The answer is efits you’ve The legislation contains simple. You know what MOAA has acearned just no age restrictions, references to length of complished. Talk to because your eligible friends or you’re nice. service for eligibility, or means-testing. widows and urge them Kreiner, who once to join — not just the worked as a lobbyist in national organization, Maryland’s general assembly, helped but a chapter, too. Those disappearing greatest generation members did their form the MRVTF that united veterans and military groups throughout fighting through MOAA’s chapter systhe state, including members of tem because they knew the value of a MOAA’s Maryland Council of Chapcombined and concentrated effort. ters. MOAA council members, many Now, it’s all up to you. — Col. Chris Giaimo, USAF-Ret. of whom hold memberships in other Director, Council and Chapter Affairs military and veterans’ organizations, helped solidify the MRVTF, and several testified in favor of the tax exemption in the state legislature, including MOAA’s former Director of Government Relations Col. Paul Maryland Retirees Arcari, USAF-Ret.; Col. Nick Sloan, Win Tax Victory USAR-Ret.; Lt. Col. Bruce Kahl, USA-Ret.; and Col. Harvey Kaplan, etired servicemembers USA-Ret. Other MOAA members, inwho live in Maryland will cluding former Maryland Council of be able to deduct $5,000 of Chapters President Col. Frank Akitheir military retired pay from their yama, USA-Ret., and chapter mem2006 state income tax, thanks to ber Col. Bert Rice, USA-Ret., helped the efforts of the Maryland Retired drum up grassroots support. Veterans Task Force (MRVTF). The Task force members conducted force began lobbying for this change a study that proved exempting sermore than four years ago, according vicemembers’ retired pay from state to MRVTF Chair Lt. Edward Kreiner income tax would benefit Maryland. Sr., USN-Ret., who also is a member The study took six months to compile of MOAA’s Susquehanna Chapter. Field Reports PHOTO: RHODA BAER
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