Spring 2014 - Texas Air Force Association

Spring 2014
Official Newsletter of Air Force Association Texas
President:
Gary Copsey
Exec VP: Bob Gehbauer
Exec. Sec.: Joan Lopez
Treasurer: Mike Winslow
VP Communications: Norm King
SPRING ISSUE
MARCH 2013
Spring Texas State Meeting
Held in Greenville
Be Aware of Possible Medicare Issue
This was on NBC News for those who may be on
Medicare. Do not let a hospital admit you with the
words, "Under Observation." Insist on
The Spring Texas State AFA meeting was
held in Greenville. The meeting was hosted by
the North East Chapter. The lunch speaker
was LTC James Spencer 645th ASA Commander. He spoke on the history and current
operations of the Squadron. The dinner speaker was Col Edward Topps, 645th Aeronautical
System Group Commander. He spoke on the
current operations of the Systems Group.
"In-Patient" designation.
Otherwise, you will be responsible for the hospital
expenses. It might be wise to inform family members too.
http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightlynews/54026469/#54026469
Future Meetings
Summer 2014—Abilene 1-3 August
Fall 2014—Alamo
Spring 2015—San Jacinto
Summer 2015—Seidal
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News From National
AFA Remains Tax-Exempt Organization
It has come to our attention that AFA does not appear as an Exempt Organization on the IRS’s Exempt Organization Master File, complicating attempts to donate. This issue is due to a system failure at the IRS, but rest assured, AFA remains an income tax-exempt entity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).
For more information go to www.afa.org or contact Larry Dilworth at [email protected]
TRICARE for Life Pharmacy Pilot
A TRICARE For Life Pharmacy Pilot will start mid-February 2014. This pilot requires TRICARE For Life beneficiaries who fill prescriptions for select maintenance drugs at a retail network pharmacy to switch to either home
delivery or a military pharmacy. View the list of these drugs. You’ll get a letter from Express Scripts in midFebruary if you have to participate in the pilot. You may not be required to participate if you are an active duty
family member, have a personal need or hardship, use generic drugs, or have other prescription drug coverage.
For more information, visit the TRICARE website.
AFA TRICARE Supplement Now Has Electronic Claims Processing
AFA’s TRICARE Supplement is now administered by Mercer Consumer (formerly Marsh). One of the benefits of
this change is an electronic filing process for AFA members' TRICARE Supplement claims. Most eligible claims
will be processed quicker and the new process will reduce the need for insureds to complete claim forms and
submit them with their TRICARE EOBs. Mercer works directly with the intermediaries that process TRICARE
claims so AFA members do not have to complete supplemental claim paperwork or submit an EOB form after
they access most of their eligible TRICARE benefits. It’s important to note that not all claims can be processed
electronically. AFA’s TRICARE Supplement Insureds will receive more information soon. You can learn
more about AFA’s TRICARE Supplement at www.afainsure.com.
AFA Launches New Membership Option – the e-Member
The Air Force Association is proud to announce its newest member initiative. In an effort to expand AFA’s outreach to influence the public through digital content, AFA now introduces the e-Member.
As of today, AFA has made available the e-Member option that will be identical to the traditional membership
in every way except e-Members will not receive the print copy of Air Force Magazine. Instead, they will receive access to an online version of the Magazine. They will receive all other current member benefits and
are eligible to hold office, vote, and in every way enjoy the benefits of an AFA membership. For now, eMemberships will be available as one-year memberships only and will cost $30.
This will coincide with the upcoming launch of a new Air Force Magazine website that reflects today’s digital
age and will include a members-only area – a system that will prevent internet users from accessing certain
online content without a paid membership. Additionally, the electronic version of the Magazine will also be migrating from its current PDF format to a new format which will present the entire magazine in a digital format
identical to the print magazine. All members, both current members and new e-Members, will have full access
to all of the content. With these steps, AFA is entering a new and exciting period! Greater emphasis is being
placed on digital communications to further engage those who share in AFA’s mission. Each month, for the
next four months, AFA will make an announcement as it advances toward the full implementation of the eMember category. Encourage those interested to JOIN today!
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You should all be aware that AFA recently unveiled a new one-year eMember category of AFA membership. It's another tool for you to use in recruiting and retaining members. The only difference between an eMember and a traditional AFA member is that the eMember will not receive the printed
magazine, they will instead get an online version of Air Force Magazine. A one year eMembership is
$30. In the first week we've recruited 70 new eMembers.
Some frequently asked questions about the new eMemberships include:
1. Will traditional members who get the print magazine also have access to the online magazine?
Ans: Yes, as well as access to all online content on the Air Force Magazine website.
2. Are we concerned about this impacting production of the printed magazine, making it more expensive to produce?
Ans: Yes, and we will be monitoring that closely. But, more advertisers accept the fact that
online advertising and print advertising are both valuable to them. The online magazine will
contain the same ads as the printed version.
3. Will there be a reduced cost eMembership category for Community Partners and Cadets?
Ans: No, not at this time. Later this summer, some of the free content currently available on
the Air Force Magazine website will be restricted to AFA members only and no longer available
to the general public unless they join. At each milestone in this process we will keep you in
formed about the coming changes so you will be able to pass the word to your members. We
hope this will attract a new segment of the population to become AFA members. Chapter
recruitment is, and will remain, vital to the health of our association.
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AFA Wounded Airman Program
Our Wounded Airman Program was brought forward in 2011, as General Phil Breedlove,
then Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, was visiting an Airman at Walter Reed. The Airman was rooming with warriors from the other Services and the General recognized our
Airman was not receiving the same level of support from our Air Force as the other warriors were receiving from their Service. AFA was asked to take the lead in raising awareness and support within the Air Force community, and took the task to a national level. Today we are supporting the work of the Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) office at each
of the adaptive sports camps, as well as directly helping Airmen financially, with adapted
equipment, and lifestyle items. Since officially announcing our agreement with the Air
Force in October, 2013, we look forward to having a larger and more public impact with
the program. With over 3,000 Airmen on record as wounded*, we need your support! Using our network of chapters and members, and our resources through restricted fundraising, we are able to fulfill needs for equipment, care, and quality of life items for Wounded
Airmen, under the expanded definition of seriously ill, wounded, or injured.
Editors Note: Unlike many “wounded warrior” type programs, the AFA Wounded Airman
program gives 100% of its donations to the wounded veterans. Other costs are borne
by the AFA staff.
To Donate go to https://secure.afa.org/joinafa/donate.aspx
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National Visitors— David Dietsch – Central Area Director, Riq Baldwin - Texoma Region
President.
State President– Gary Copsey stated AFA National web page has new leader training modules. His top priorities are chapter rejuvenation and awards. We should support Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings units in our areas due to significant budget cuts.
Region President— Riq Baldwin indicated the new Wingman Magazine will be published by
AFA National three times per year and will include local chapter activities. 23 chapters nationally are inactive down from 29 last year. The KC-10s, A-10s and U-2s are slated to be eliminated
by the proposed budget. This is to fund the future F-35 and KC-46.
National Reports— Dave Dietsch indicated the AFA Mitchell Institute has been reactivated.
He is also now on the National Executive Committee. Bill Croom stated the USAF STEM office
has been closed. AFA Membership is now below the 100,000 mark.
Secretary– Joan Lopez stated that chapter officer rosters should be updated anytime there are
changes in addition to the once per year requirement. Also be sure to use the current form
when preparing Quarterly Reports.
New Business– We should propose to national that a standard newsletter format be developed
for chapters to use.
State VP Reports– State Teacher of the Year nominations are due by 23 April. State award
nominations are due by 30 March. When sending a new or renewed Community Partner check
to National, just send the amount due National not the entire amount. Earl North Parker Award
winners are Abilene 1st place and North East 2nd place. Ric Hamer and Norm King were approved as new Texas Aerospace Education Foundation Board Directors.
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CyberPatriot VI State Award Winners and Regional Recognition
Round Qualifiers: All Service Division
Regional Recognition
Round Qualifier Corpus Christi W.B. Ray High School Navy JROTC
1st Place Awardee Corpus Christi Flour Bluff NJROTC Navy JROTC
2nd Place Awardee Cedar Park Vista Ridge High School Navy JROTC
3rd Place Awardee Castroville COE-SAT/Medina Valley High School Air Force JROTC
CyberPatriot VI Regional Recognition Round Qualifiers: Open Division
Texas San Antonio COE-SAT/Southwest High School
CyberPatriot VI Finalists
Open Division
COE-SAT/Alamo Academies 6 Sandi Boyd New Braunfels TX
Middle School Division
Marine Military Academy - Middle School William Beckman Harlingen TX
All Service Division
Marine Corps JROTC Marine Military Academy Harlingen TX
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Ft Worth Chapter
This quarter had a minimum of activity, consisting of donations to the VA
Fort Worth Outpatient Clinic, participating in the TCU Army and Air Force
ROTC Veterans Day program and luncheon and maintaining communica-
Exec VP Col. Tim Malone at the TCU ROTC wreath laying ceremony 8 Nov.
Upcoming events include selecting a winner in the Earle North Parker essay contest and supporting the 301 FW Awards banquet.
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Abilene Chapter 283
Chapter to Host 2014 State Convention
The 2014 AFA – Texas annual convention will be held here on 11-13 July at the Hilton Garden Inn. We
are in the initial planning stages and are seeking chapter members willing to assist. The committee
chair is our Vice President, Kelly Jones, 325-280-6059, [email protected]. Please contact him is
you can assist.
Message form the President
Greetings and Happy New Year from West Texas, Abilene/Dyess Air Force Base. Our local
AFA Chapter has much in store for 2014 with Essay contests, Veterans Day parade planning,
Airshow partnerships, and meetings with congressional members to further AFA and boost
support of the Nation’s Airmen. Your local chapter will spend a large part of our time this
year fostering relationships that further AFA and tell the story of the airmen and what they
are doing for our country. Our nation is truly blessed that we have the Air Force Association continuing to EDUCATE the public on the critical need for unmatched aerospace power
and a technically superior workforce to ensure U.S. national security, ADVOCATE for aerospace power and STEM education and SUPPORT the total Air Force family,
Finally, there are numerous appointed positions in the chapter which we would like
to fill. If you have a few hours a month to spend in support of the AFA Mission,
please let us know.
Gray Bridwell, President, Abilene Chapter 283
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AGGIELAND CHAPTER AFA
c/o Henry Hill
POBOX 10356
College Station, TX 77842-0356
NATIONAL
US Hosts Security Talks with Vietnam
Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Tom Kelly hosted a delegation of Vietnamese government officials led by Vice Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc for security talks in Washington D.C. The Oct. 1 meeting, the sixth US-Vietnam political security and defense dialogue, was the
first such get-together since President Barack Obama and Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang
announced a new comprehensive partnership between the two countries in July. In a joint statement
released after the meeting, the two parties noted the progress they have made in negotiating a civil
nuclear agreement. They pledged to advance nonproliferation issues and strengthen cooperation in
cyber defense, disaster response, and search and rescue. The two countries also promised to continue cooperation in resolving legacies of the Vietnam War, such as POW/MIA accounting, dioxin and
Agent Orange contamination, and unexploded ordnance.
An Advocate for the F-35
Deborah James, said the F-35 strike fighter has been an "enormously expensive program," but is integral to the United States maintaining air superiority. Addressing the Senate Armed Services Committee at her Sept. 19 confirmation hearing, James said she would continue to advocate for the F-35, if
the Senate approves her nomination, and would press the point that "the threats out there are real and
that we need this program to help us counter those threats.".
STATE
AFA Texas Spring Executive Committee meeting will be hosted by Northeast Texas Chapter,
Feb 28-Mar 2, 2014. Call Henry Hill 979-693-4351 if you are interested in attending.
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AIM HIGH!
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