SEPTEMBER 2008 TO SEPTEMBER 2009
"Serving Those who Served"
The 2008 convention was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The following were elected or appointed to the Board of Directors:
President - Charlie Flowers |
Auxiliary Board of Directors |
1st VP - Thomas "Butch" Liebaert |
President Sandra Milner |
2nd VP - Al Ballock |
Vice President Sandy Ott |
3rd VP - Larry Hund |
Treasurer Sherry Eller |
Treasurer - Marvin Stout |
Director Laverne Bates |
Director - Art Cooper |
Director/Chaplain Sheila Bustamante |
Director - Tom Caldwell |
Director Gloria Criss |
Director - John Adams |
Secretary Kay Claman |
Director - C.D. Rice, Jr. |
APNP Greta Master |
Memorial Foundation - Bill DeBoer |
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TSCL Chair - Dan O'Connell |
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VSO - C.D. Rice, Jr. |
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Chaplain - Jesse Whitfield |
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Past National President - LeRoy Riddell/Dave Washington (PNP Riddell died Oct 2008) |
PNP LeRoy Riddell died Oct 27, 2008, after a long illness. He was a member of Chapter 96. PNP Dave Washington stepped in to finish the term as Immediate Past National President.
The elections of 2008 brought a new President and Commander in Chief, Barrack Obama. The federal COLA for Retirees was 5.8%. The offset for military retirees who were rated Combat Related disabled and 100% IU, finally went into effect. This was another baby step in the Concurrent Receipt bills. Congress approved a $50 special allowance toward the SBP/DIC offset. Again, baby steps! Also, the SBP paid up provision, finally went into effect. If a retiree had been paying in for 30 years, and reached age 70, they no longer had to pay into SBP. TREA was also on the front lines in the fight to stop Tricare increases and fees. This seems to be a fight every year.
The VA Healthcare budget for 2009 will be $47.6 billion. The includes money to reopen Priority 8 veterans and high claims processors. The Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Benefit was a huge success for active duty, as well as Guard and Reserve. It includes a provision that a career military member can transfer their eligibility to a family member. A 20% increase in the Montgomery GI Bill also went into effect.
TREA Memorial Foundation awarded 61 scholarships.
The VA created a new department, the Office of Survivor Assistance. There was also a stipulation that that allows widows to continue a pending disability claim, without having to start the process over.
General Eric Shinseki was tapped as the Secretary for Veterans Affairs.
The year started with the Federal Stimulus package, as well as the bank and mortgage crisis. All of the bills affecting our members had to be reintroduced.
The TREA Membership Committee implemented an incentive program for recruiting new members; a golf shirt for 5 new members, and a soft side brief case for 10 new members. The new members had to sign up for 3 or more years.
President Charlie Flowers testified before the Joint House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees.
Ground was broken for a new Veterans Affairs Hospital in Denver, Colorado. The hospital will be built on the grounds of the former Fitzsimmons Air Force Base.
Minutes: