Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Chapter ...moaaportland.org/graphics/2013-5 Nwsltr.pdfRESUME OF OUR MAY DINNER GUEST SPEAKER Colonel Richard W. Wedan is the Wing Commander

PRESIDENT’S FORUM (continued)

Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)

Brass Bulletin Newsletter “One Powerful Voice”

Portland, Oregon Chapter

-- P.O. Box 68959

Portland, OR 97268

Volume XXIX, Number 8 www.MOAAPortland.org May 2013 2005200 The President’s Forum by Col Mary J. Mayer, USAF (Ret) Chapter Board of Directors member, Richard Lightfoot, asked that I mention that the Portland VA Medical Center is hosting Research Day on Friday, 3 May 2013 from 1000 to 1130 hours in the Auditorium. Five research projects will be highlighted, and the new Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs Director, Cameron Smith, will make some remarks. All chapter members are invited to attend. To reserve a spot, please call Richard at 503-220-8262 x 57813 or on his cell phone at: 503-476-4891.

Also, just a reminder that MOAA Columbia River Chapter in Vancouver, WA is celebrating 40 years as a chapter this year by putting on a memorable anniversary dinner—with the President of MOAA, VADM Norbert R. Ryan, Jr., as the guest speaker. Here are the particulars: Date: Saturday, 18 May 2013 Social: 1800 Dinner: 1900 Location: Heathman Lodge 7801 NE Greenwood Drive Vancouver, WA 98662 Phone: (360) 254-3100

RSVP: If you would like to attend the dinner, please contact John Donnelly at [email protected] or 360-904-8966. Please provide your name(s), mailing address, and phone number so he can mail you an invitation. Cost is $30 a person. Dinner tickets will be by advance reservation and payment as no tickets will be sold at the door.

And, on 12 May, a Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers!

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, 7 May 2013 Social: 1700, Dinner: 1830 The Monarch Hotel 12566 SE 93rd Avenue Clackamas, OR 97015-9760 Phone: 503-652-1515 PROGRAM: Colonel Richard W. Wedan, ORANG, Commander, 142nd Fighter Wing, Portland Air National Guard Base, will speak on “The Three Unique Missions of the 142nd Fighter Wing”

MENU: Chicken Monarch Rice Pilaf and Seasonal Vegetables Signature Salad Oregon Marionberry Cheesecake Rolls and Butter Coffee and Tea COST: $26.00 per person (includes 21% gratuity) Please make checks payable to PDX-MOAA. RESERVATIONS: To make your reservations, please contact Lt Col Boyd C. Yaden, USAF (Ret) at 503-650-9506 or [email protected] or online at our chapter website NLT 1100 on Thursday, 2 May 2013. No late reservations, and please call if you must cancel as we have to pay for no-shows. (Note: Please indicate if you have any dietary restrictions.)

Reminder: Chapter Board of Directors’ Meeting

will be on Friday, 10 May 2013

at 0930 hours at the Colwood National Golf Course!

MOAA PORTLAND OREGON CHAPTER BRASS BULLETIN NEWSLETTER 2

RESUME OF OUR MAY DINNER GUEST SPEAKER Colonel Richard W. Wedan is the Wing Commander for the 142d Fighter Wing in Portland, Oregon. As Commander, he leads over 1,000 personnel in the execution of the F-15 Aerospace Control Alert mission--defending the Pacific Northwest, worldwide deployments supporting national objectives, and domestic operations activities as directed by the Governor.

Colonel Wedan received his bachelor’s degree in Business Management in 1987. He enlisted in the Minnesota Air National Guard in 1988 as a Command Post Controller with the 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth. He earned his commission in 1989 from the Academy of Military Science, attended undergraduate pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, and received his initial F-16 training at Kingsley Field, Oregon in 1991. He returned to Minnesota where he served as a drill status guardsman for four years prior to taking a position as a Flying Training Instructor in 1995. In 1997, Colonel Wedan returned to Oregon as an Instructor Pilot with the 173rd Fighter Wing. He served 12 years there prior to being assigned to Oregon’s Joint Force Headquarters for three years as the Director of Operations. Although now assigned as the 142d Fighter Wing Commander, he has been a Vice Wing Commander, Operations Group Commander, Fighter Squadron Commander, Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Commander, Fighter Squadron Director of Operations, Chief of Standardization and Evaluations, Chief of Academics, Chief of Operations Training, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, Chief of Operations Scheduling, Airspace Manager, and Wing Strategic Initiatives Officer.

Col Wedan is a command pilot with over 3400 flying hours in the F-15, F-16, T-38, and T-37 aircraft and has received numerous awards and decorations throughout his career. He has been married to his wife, Liz, for 25 years, and they have two children: Steven, who graduates from the Air Force Academy in May and will attend Pilot Training this fall - and Autumn, a junior on a volleyball scholarship at the University of Portland majoring in biology. MINUTES FROM THE APRIL DINNER MEETING by Col Mary J. Mayer, USAF (Ret)

On 2 April, there were 41 members and guests who came out for dinner at the Gray Gables Estate in Milwaukie, OR. During the social hour, raffle tickets were sold for various items; the proceeds were for the MOAA Portland Chapter Scholarship Fund. After the social time, Chapter President—Col Mary Mayer USAF (Ret)—called the meeting to order at 1830. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, the National Anthem was sung, and Chaplain (LTC) Grant McAllister, USA (Ret) gave the invocation. President Mayer indicated that on 30 March we celebrated “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans’ Day”—commemorating the day in 1973 when all U.S. troops withdrew from Vietnam following the peace accord. Governor John Kitzhaber signed Senate Bill 74 into law to create the official day of recognition honoring Vietnam veterans, and it is part of the national effort to acknowledge the men and women of the Vietnam War who were denied this recognition and welcome upon returning home. Today there are nearly 120,000 Vietnam veterans living in Oregon. Oregon was one of the first states to draft and pass its own bill; the U.S. Senate passed a resolution mirroring those passed by the state.

Before dinner was served, the following reports were made: Chapter President’s Comments: (1) On 9 April, we celebrate the National Former POW/MIA Recognition Day; (2) On 17 April 2013, MOAA Oregon State Council of Chapters President BG Dennis Merrill, USA (Ret) will represent Oregon in “Storming the Hill”—talking to Oregon Senators and Representatives about “Concurrent Receipt, SBP-DIC Offset, and Guard/Reserve Retirement.” Point papers can be found on the MOAA website (www.moaa.org) under “Take Action.” (3) The next MOAA Portland Chapter Board of Directors Meeting will be on Friday, 10 May 2013 at 0930 at the Colwood Golf Course. (4)


Members were asked to provide Programs Chair CAPT Larry Roberts, USNR (Ret) with the names of any suggested guest speakers for the 2013-2014 Program Year. (5) Annual dues of $25 for each regular member may be paid to the Secretary/Treasurer CAPT Jim Main, USNR (Ret). (6) The MOAA Columbia River Chapter is celebrating its 40th Anniversary on 18 May 2013; it is hoped various chapter members will attend. (7) Significant dates: 5 June – ODVA Advisory Committee Meeting in Salem, OR; 14 June – MOAA Oregon State Council of Chapters Meeting in The Dalles, OR; 13 April – UVGO Meeting in Salem, OR; 18 May – MOAA Columbia River Chapter 40th Anniversary Dinner in Vancouver, WA; 4-6 October – MOAA Oregon State Council of Chapters Biennial Convention in Bend, OR; and 14-17 November – MOAA Annual Meeting in Colorado Springs, CO. Mrs. Edie Rieken will receive her 2012 Auxiliary Liaison Excellence Award.

Membership Committee Chair, Lt Col Boyd Yaden, USAF (Ret), introduced new members and guests. He also introduced our newest MOAA member, 6-month-old Anwyn Joy Vallee—the daughter of board member CAPT Sabrina Vasquez, ORARNG and her husband MAJ Geoffrey G. Vallee, ORARNG. Finally, he asked chapter members to talk to those officers they know and those they meet at the places they frequent—and invite them to join MOAA and our chapter! Boyd encouraged all to bring potential members to brunches or dinners to introduce them to the chapter.

Scholarship Committee Chair, CAPT Larry Roberts, USNR (Ret), announced that we were getting close to the $20,000 mark—but he had asked MOAA National for a full accounting which he hoped to have by the May dinner meeting. He thanked all those who had made contributions during the year—and

encouraged all to buy raffle tickets for the wine and tie.

After dinner, President Mayer welcomed our guest speaker, COL Mark S. Parrish, ORARNG (Ret)—husband of Oregon State Representative Julie Parrish, Vice Chair of the House Committee on veterans’ affairs—who spoke on “House Joint Resolution 29.” State Representative Julie Parrish and Clackamas County Commissioner Martha Schrader have teamed up to create the “Keeping Our Promise Campaign.” As part of the effort, Representative Parrish has introduced this resolution, which seeks to pass a measure that would be put on the 2014 ballot for approval by the citizens. The proposal calls for directing 5% of the net proceeds from the Oregon Lottery to Veterans’ Services. The measure currently has 41 sponsors from the House and 19 from the Senate, but this is not a slam dunk. To get through the House and Senate and then approved by the voters is going to require lobbying, advertising, hard work, and a clear message. This campaign is just getting into gear, and chapter members can help. Mark encouraged all to sign the petitions listing which will help get this measure on the ballot. President Mayer then presented him with a bottle of wine.

Chapter President Col Mary J. Mayer, USAF (Ret) welcomes guest speaker COL Mark S. Parrish, ORARNG (Ret)

Committee reports then continued: Special Events Committee Chair, MAJ John Sampson, USA (Ret), presented the Veterans of Oregon Honorable Service Medal to: Lt Col James Warnock, USAF (Ret) and Lt Col John Reeves, USAF (Ret). (See picture.)


John encouraged members to apply for the medal; all members have to do is give John some basic information. The rest of John’s report is found on page 7. Nominating Committee Report: LTC Gary Brink, USA (Ret) reported that the current officers were in the second year of their two-year terms; however, he indicated that Secretary/Treasurer CAPT Jim Main, USNR (Ret) could use some help with secretarial duties and asked that someone step forward to be the Secretary. Legislative Committee Report: CAPT Larry Roberts, USNR (Ret) said that chapter members should mail in the four postcards to Congress found in the latest issue of the Military Officer Magazine. Communications Committee: LTC Bill Kroger, USAR (Ret) stated that the website had been completely updated. Auxiliary Committee Report: Mrs. Edie Rieken reminded all that the next MOAA Auxiliary Luncheon would be on Tuesday, 23 April 2013 at 1300 at Albertina’s. Auxiliary members and wives are cordially invited to attend! She asked that the chapter members keep donating diapers and wipes to Operation Homefront and old cell phones to the “Cell Phones for Soldiers” Program. Personal Affairs Committee Report: In the absence of CWO4 Al Drenkhahn, USAF (Ret), President Mayer announced the deaths of Mrs. Joan Zerzan (Auxiliary Member) and LTC Victor A. Spurgeon, USAR (Ret).

In the “For the Good of the Order” portion of the meeting, CAPT Larry Roberts, USNR (Ret) selected the winners for two raffle items; Lt Col Boyd Yaden, USAF (Ret) selected the winner for the “Membership Appreciation Drawing” for a free dinner; and Lt Col Bill Kroger, USAR (Ret) told a joke.

President Mayer then thanked the guest speaker, COL Mark Parrish, ORARNG (Ret); all those in attendance; and the staff of the Gray Gables Estate for the wonderful meal and service. She also announced that the next meeting will be on Tuesday, 7 May 2013 at the Monarch Hotel. The guest speaker will be Col Richard W. Wedan, ORANG, Commander of the 142nd Fighter Wing at the Portland Air National Guard Base will speak to us on “The Three Unique Missions of the 142nd Fighter Wing.” Reservations must be made by 1200 noon on Thursday, 2 May 2013 to Lt Col Boyd Yaden, USAF (Ret). NOTE: Any dietary issues must be reported to Lt Col Yaden when making reservations. Inputs for the May 2013 newsletter are due by midnight on Saturday, 6 April 2013; chapter members will receive their newsletters o/a 11 or 12 April. In closing, President Mayer asked those in attendance to remember their brothers and sisters who were in harm’s way, asked the members to drive home safely, and adjourned the meeting at 2030.

AUXILIARY CORNER by Mrs. Edie Rieken, Liaison to the Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee After recently attending the MOAA Oregon State Council of Chapters Meeting in Eugene, I realize how fortunate we are to have a faithful group of Auxiliary members who come out for luncheons and support our efforts to help local soldiers’ families. Eugene’s “Emerald Empire Chapter” is struggling to get more of their Auxiliary members involved. Salem’s “Willamette Chapter” does have a few Auxiliary members who get together only occasionally, but, along with several members’ wives, they participate in Salem’s Military Women’s League which collectively does accomplish a lot. The other five MOAA chapters in Oregon have no Auxiliary “Chair” or active group. So to those of you who venture out five times a year for an enjoyable luncheon, pat yourselves on the back! If you haven’t made your reservation yet for our 23 April luncheon, please call Jean Hillman at 503-692-5571 right away.(I’ll be out of town the week before).


As usual, we’ll be meeting at Albertina’s with seating at 1:00 p.m. Do remember: Diapers (or dollars!) for Operation Homefront and old cell phones for soldiers’ phone home time. Mark your calendars: I plan to host our Fifth Annual Auxiliary “home cooked” Luncheon at my home on 18 June as a benefit for the Chapter Scholarship Fund. Our (national) Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee (AMAC) is gearing up to join many MOAA Chapter representatives in “Storming The Hill” in Washington, D.C. in July. Their goal, again, is to educate current Congressmen, Senators, and their Legislative and Military Assistants on the SBP/DIC offset issue. Watch for more information. MEMBERSHIP CORNER by Lt Col Boyd C. Yaden, USAF (Ret) The life blood of any chapter is its membership, and our MOAA Portland Chapter needs to reach out and encourage others to join our ranks! If you can get some NEW MEMBER PROSPECTS and send their names and addresses to me, I will then CONTACT those individuals and invite them to join MOAA and our chapter. With devastating budgets cuts to Defense, MOAA’s ONE POWERFUL VOICE is fighting for us all! Even those of you who are retired face changes--especially in Military Health and TRICARE programs. With the new MOAA Membership Program, new members can sign up ON LINE! SOOOOO…..All you need to do is talk to friends and those officers you meet at stores and restaurants! Meet them, shake their hands, and ask if they are MOAA members. If not, invite them to one of our meetings. And, remember: MOAA BASIC NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP is FREE.

And, our chapter dues only cost 6 CENTS A DAY! The bottom line: MOAA’s voice is vital in keeping the benefits we veterans and our current military members have earned! And numbers make a huge difference in the lobbying effort! If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me at 503-702-3812 or [email protected] LEGISLATIVE UPDATE By CAPT Larry Roberts, USNR (Ret)

The Chinese Water Torture of “Green Investing:” The failures continue to pile up. Half a billion dollars here, a quarter billion dollars there, with more to come. After Solyndra, there was A123. Now, in the continuing saga of venture investing by a clueless political class, Fisker Automotive appears to be on its last legs. The company has not produced a vehicle since July 2012; its dealer network has dwindled, and there do not appear to be any financial saviors in sight, despite desperate searching by a variety of investment bankers. Of course, the primary problem is a lack of consumer demand for a $100,000 vehicle with limited range. Update: Fisker has laid off some 75% of its employees, which sounds like a death knell! And this will not be the last waste of your tax dollars in the chimera of advanced automotive technology. At the same time, the Administration proposes to double down on the commitment with another billion dollars or so. Implementation of the ACA is Coming, Maybe: Health Care Exchanges, established in law by the Affordable Care Act, are supposed to be up and running October of this year. These new entities enable individuals and families not currently covered by health insurance to select a qualifying insurance plan. Only 18 of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, have signed up to create such exchanges (Oregon is one of those that is proceeding forward, and a recent Oregonian article voiced cautious optimism that it would be operational on time). This means that the Federal government is tasked with creating 32 separate and DIFFERENT exchanges in the next 6 months. They are different because each state has different systems and laws that need to be followed within the ACA structure. Given the government’s superior track record in implementing complex computer systems, the likelihood of this turning out well and on time is dubious.


More on ACA: Even some of those who voted against it are now asking that both certain provisions be rescinded and HHS implementation be reversed. First, as part of the Senate Budget Bill, an amendment seeking recision of the 2.3% tax on medical devices was adopted by a veto-proof 79 - 20 plurality. This is more a sense of the Senate amendment, since the Budget adopts a broad outline of spending priorities and levels, and is not an appropriations bill, which would have the force of law. However, this an uprising among Senate Democrats of unprecedented import, and may presage an actual recision bill. Remember, this onerous tax is levied on SALES OR REVENUES, not profits. Thus, if a company reported a 10% profit on $100 million of sales, the tax would reduce profits by 23%, not 2.3% This is unprecedented and clearly will be passed on to buyers of medical devices, whether they are individuals, doctors, hospitals, Medicare or Medicaid, even TRICARE and TRICARE for Life. In essence, it is a tax on individuals, who will ultimately pay it directly or indirectly through higher premiums. Second, 139 (updated figure is 161, nearly 1/3 of Congress, and growing) members of the Senate and House objected to recently and unexpectedly deep cuts proposed for the Medicare Advantage by HHS. Signers of the the 16 letters included 26 Democrat Congressmen and 13 Democrat Senators. There are indications that the White House will get involved in this controversy. We shall see. Some 42% of Oregon Medicare recipients in Oregon utilize Medicare Advantage, which includes services not available in basic Medicare. Both Senators Merkley and Wyden signed such letters. I am not aware of participation by our Representatives, but will endeavor to find out. In essence, the wheels propelling ACA continue to come off one by one. It is unclear what the ultimate outcome will be. Update: Over the Easter weekend,

the Administration considered the uprising within its ranks, and on Monday after the close of the market HHS without comment as to why reversed its prior proposal and reduced the payment cuts by 2.2 per cent, in accordance with the law after HHS had flouted the law. It remains to be seen whether this will still entail death of Medicare Advantage by a thousand cuts. It was reported that the reversal resulted from insurance company lobbying, pressure from Congress and a grass-roots effort recruiting 50,000 or so seniors to contact members of Congress. See, our MOAA mailings and emails can have an impact! The Julie Parrish Veterans’ Services Funding Proposal: Chapter member and Retired Army National Guard Colonel Mark Parrish briefed the members on his wife’s initiative to earmark 5% of Oregon Net Lottery profits for Veterans Benefits Services. This would, if passed by the electorate, result in a change to the Oregon Constitution that would provide approximately $26 million in much needed funds starting is fiscal 2015, a figure which should grow over the years. Julie is an Oregon State Representative, ranking member of the Veterans Committee and is in her second term in the House, representing the West Linn and surrounding area. I have asked Mark to keep us updated on progress on this initiative and will report to the membership on a regular basis. If members who were not at the April Chapter meeting would like more information, let me know, and we will either publish it or put it on our web site. Sequestration, Learning to Love Spending Cuts: A month ago the papers and the media in general were hyping the incredible 4% (really 2 % and spread out over more than a year) cut in federal spending mandated by the Sequestration Bill proposed by the White House, passed by both houses of Congress, and then disavowed by the White House in an interesting exhibition of historic revisionism. However, the sequestration occurred, but the Defense Department has already cut the planned number of furlough days by 1/3, the airlines are flying, and, of great note and impact, the White House has summarily cancelled White House tours, which is especially hard on children visiting Washington during the spring break. At the same time, the President and his family continued their Vacation a Month Plan, where likely each vacation cost more than the savings from shuttering the White House to visitors. Initially, there were 9 days in Oahu, not including the days spent before the President joined them on January


6th. That vacation, not even including the 5 rounds of golf, alone pays for the White House visiting program. Then Michelle and the girls were off to Aspen for the February President’s Day weekend. Simultaneously, the President journeyed to Florida for more golf and golf lessons. Just think of two sets of Secret Service Agents, two or more planes, et al. And in March, it was off to the Bahamas for Michelle and the girls. For now, after all the campaign-like speeches, Sequestration has been codified as the law of the land through the Continuing Resolution funding the government through the remainder of the fiscal year. It was signed by the President with virtually no fanfare. Next up in the crisis lineup is the Debt Ceiling Limit this summer. See you there. If you have any questions, please call me at any time at 503-722-1897, or email me at [email protected]. SPECIAL EVENTS REPORT By MAJ John Sampson, USA (Ret) Veterans of Oregon Honorable Service Medal Presentation: At the MOAA Portland Chapter dinner meeting, I presented the Veterans of Oregon Honorable Service Medal to the following individuals: Lt Col John T. Reeves, USAF (Ret) and Lt Col James L. Warnock, USAF (Ret). My congratulations to these two veterans--and my thanks to CAPT Larry Roberts, USNR (Ret); LTC Gary Brink, USA (Ret), and former LT Peter Yazzolino, USA for their participation in the presentation ceremony. ROTC Highlights: The ROTC at the University of Portland will have a total of 59 commissioning cadets (36 Army and 23 Air Force). Col Mayer will present the MOAA Award (as well as a $500 chapter scholarship) to a selected AFROTC cadet,

and 23 AFROTC cadets will receive second lieutenant’s Gold Bars. I will do the same for the 36 AROTC cadets (along with a MOAA medal and a $500 check) to their selected cadet. Upcoming Events: I would like to invite our membership to consider participating in some of the upcoming events such as: Memorial Day Activities in May and Massing of the Colors in October. If you would like to receive a medal or participate in some upcoming events, please contact MAJ John Sampson at 503-430-0360 or [email protected]

Portland Chapter Officers President Col Mary J. Mayer, USAF (Ret): 1-310-897-1902 First Vice President Lt Col Boyd C. Yaden, USAF (Ret): 503-702-3812 Second Vice President CAPT Lawrence Roberts, USNR (Ret): 503-722-1897 Secretary/Treasurer CAPT James H. Main, SC, USNR (Ret): 503-793-8499 Immediate Past President LTC Gary S. Brink, USA (Ret): 503-659-3347 __________________________________ NOTE: The Portland Chapter Board of Directors and Chapter Committee Chairs are found on the chapter website at www.moaaportland.org

IN MEMORIAM: May They Rest in Peace! Mrs. Joan Zerzan–Auxiliary Member LTC Victor A. Spurgeon, USAR (Ret)

RETURN ADDRESS: PORTLAND CHAPTER MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (MOAA) P.O. BOX 68959 PORTLAND, OR 97268 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

FIRST CLASS

POSTAGE REQUIRED

MOAA PORTLAND CHAPTER UPCOMING EVENTS Mark your calendars!

May 10, 2013 Board of Directors Meeting May 18, 2013 MOAA Columbia River Chapter 40th Anniversary Dinner (Location: Heathman Lodge, Vancouver, WA) (Guest Speaker: VADM Norbert R. Ryan, Jr., President of MOAA) (For reservations, contact: John Donnelly at [email protected] or 360-904-8966) June 4, 2013 Dinner Meeting with Guest Speaker and Installation of Officers (Location: Gray Gables Estate) July & August 2013 No Meetings Scheduled August 2, 2013 Board of Directors Meeting September 3, 2013 Dinner Meeting with Guest Speaker (Location: The Monarch Hotel) ___________________________________________________________________________________________ NOTE 1: All monthly chapter meetings are held at the locations indicated. NOTE 2: All Board of Directors Meetings are held at 0930—usually at the Colwood Bar & Grill at the Colwood National Golf Course--and are open to all members! Alternate locations will be indicated. NOTE 3: All articles for the June 2013 Brass Bulletin Newsletter must be submitted to the editor, Col Mary J. Mayer, USAF (Ret), at [email protected] by 11 May 2013.

Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Chapter ...moaaportland.org/graphics/2013-5 Nwsltr.pdfRESUME OF OUR MAY DINNER GUEST SPEAKER Colonel Richard W. Wedan is the Wing Commander

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