Buddy Poppy Fun at NC Mid-Winter Convention

Posted at 10:23 AM on Monday, February 8, 2010 by post9488

VFW Applauds VA, National Security Budget Requests

Posted at 09:50 AM on Monday, February 8, 2010 by post9488

WASHINGTON - The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is applauding President Obama for submitting a fiscal year 2011 budget that strengthens defense and national security, and boosts programs for veterans, servicemembers and their families.

Thomas J. Tradewell Sr., a combat-wounded Vietnam veteran from Sussex, Wis., said the president's vision tracks with key VFW legislative goals that advocate for a strong and secure America, and for ensuring that those who serve in uniform are properly cared for by a grateful nation.

White House Seeks $125 Billion for Veterans in 2011

Posted at 07:27 PM on Monday, February 1, 2010 by post9488

WASHINGTON – To expand health care to a record-number of Veterans, reduce the number of homeless Veterans and process a dramatically increased number of new disability compensation claims, the White House has announced a proposed $125 billion budget next year for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"Our budget proposal provides the resources necessary to continue our aggressive pursuit of President Obama's two over-arching goals for Veterans," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "First, the requested budget will help transform VA into a 21st century organization.  And second, it will ensure that we approach Veterans' care as a lifetime initiative, from the day they take their oaths until the day they are laid to rest."

The $125 billion budget request, which has to be approved by Congress, includes $60.3 billion for discretionary spending (mostly health care) and $64.7 billion in mandatory funding (mostly for disability compensation and pensions).

"VA's 2011 budget request covers many areas but focuses on three central issues that are of critical importance to our Veterans – easier access to benefits and services, faster disability claims decisions, and ending the downward spiral that results in Veterans' homelessness," Shinseki said.

Reducing Claims Backlog

The president's budget proposal includes an increase of $460 million and more than 4,000 additional claims processors for Veterans benefits.  This is a 27 percent funding increase over the 2010 level.

The 1,014,000 claims received in 2009 were a 75 percent increase over the 579,000 received in 2000.  Shinseki said the Department expects a 30 percent increase in claims – to 1,319,000 – in 2011 from 2009 levels.

One reason for the increase is VA's expansion of the number of Agent Orange-related illnesses that automatically qualify for disability benefits.  Veterans exposed to the Agent Orange herbicides during the Vietnam War are likely to file additional claims that will have a substantial impact upon the processing system for benefits, the secretary said.

"We project significantly increased claims inventories in the near term while we make fundamental improvements to the way we process disability compensation claims," Shinseki said.

Long-term reduction of the inventory will come from additional manpower, improved business practices, plus an infusion of $145 million in the proposed budget for development of a paperless claims processing system, which plays a significant role in the transformation of VA.

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Post 9488 February 2010 Newsletter

Posted at 04:54 PM on Monday, January 25, 2010 by post9488

February 2010 Newsletter

Website – www.vfwpost9488.org

 

VFW OFFICERS Commander – Jeff Friar        Trustee – Alvin Jones Sr. Vice - Terry Beaver        Trustee – Earl Sechler Jr. Vice – David Watts          Trustee – Jack Kerns Quartermaster – Leo Long     Chair. House – Ken Lee Chaplain – Jerry Overman   House – Jim Hopkins Judge Advocate – Dallas Hudson House –  Butch Langley Surgeon – Skip Hunt	LADIES AUXILIARY OFFICERS President –   Colleen Sakala     Guard –  Karene Sakala Sr. Vice –  Deanna Long    Trustee – Mary Ann Richardson Jr. Vice –  Betty Morris            Trustee –  Teri Thompkins Treasurer –  BJ Rape’              Trustee –  Debbie Fox Chaplain –  Christy Railey       Patriotic Inst. –  Erin Fox Conductress –                        Secretary –  Elaine Friar

Commanders Corner:

 

Thanks for the support from all the members who helped us help the food bank.  You can be proud of your support to our community.  There are still months of winter left and members of our community in need.  I challenge you to bring canned goods with you to place in the food barrel.
 
There are many events in February for you to come out and support your post.  The MOCA is hosting a Sweetheart Dance on 2/13, we have Karaoke on 2/19 and there is a variety show on 2/20 to benefit Cancer research.  Our Movie Night on 2/27 will be a February appropriate "When Harry Met Sally", come and join your comrades at one or more of these many events.
 
We are close to our paid membership goals.  I encourage you to renew now if you have not already.  Invite other eligible personnel to join us at the best post in North Carolina..

 

ONLINE SUPPLEMENT:  We are in the advance planning mode for our Military Ball on Armed Forces Day 15 May 2010.  Please plan to join us for a wonderful time as we celebrate all the services.  Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door (if any are left).
 

Jeff Friar, Commander

 

Quartermaster:

                             

The $30 dues for year 2010 have been payable since July 1, 2009 and deadline was December 31, 2009 all VFW and Men’s Auxiliary members were required to pay dues before that date.  To remain a member and gain entrance into the Post, dues must have been paid before January 1^st.   

 

If your door card is not working, just pay your dues plus the replacement card fee in order to gain entrance into the Post again. 

 

Leo Long, Quartermaster

 

House Committee:

 

Due to the increase in cost of goods involved, it is now necessary to charge for coffee.  The charge will be $1 per day.  Cups will be issued by the bartender upon payment.

 

Thanks to all our cooks and all the great members who helped out during December.

 

Ken Lee, Chairman

 

 

Ladies Auxiliaries:

 

Mark your calendar for February 5 – 7, 2010 which is the Department Council of Administration being held at the North Raleigh Hilton, Raleigh, NC.  Plan on attending and become familiar with projects under the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.

 

Colleen Sakala, President

 

Military Order of the Cootie:

 

Happy New Year!!!   I hope all of you are doing well.  We still need members at our scratches.  The only way we can survive is to increase and multiply.  Even though we are still struggling we have made some money by selling hams.  At our last meeting we decided to have our monthly scratch following the regular post meeting at the Saturday breakfast in February and March.  We are doing this in an effort to get some of our current members who attend the post meeting to stay and join our meeting as well as invite other post members to sit in and possibly join our MOC.  We can only survive by working together. 

 

The ladies of the MOCA have asked for our help at a fund raiser (Valentine Dance) on February 13^th and we need to do all we can to help.   Purchase your tickets from any MOC/MOCA member.  Let's work together and make it a success.  Thanks for all you do.

 

Jim Goins, Seam Squirrel

 

 

Military Order of the Cootie Auxiliary:

 

The C of A was held this past month in New Bern, NC.  We had a good meeting, but the weather was COLD, unlike the year before when we had snow.  Yours truly, won the Beautiful Basket, again this year. (I think they are planning on not letting me buy tickets next year.)

 

On February 13, 2010 the MOC/MOCA will host the Valentine Dance.  Bring your Sweetheart to a Romantic Evening of fun and dance. Have your pictures made under the Sweetheart Arbor. You can also buy your sweetheart a Special Valentine, for the romantic night.   Hors d'oeuvres will be at 7:00 PM and the Music and Dance will start at 8PM.  Tickets may be purchased from any MOC/MOCA member for only $10.00 per person.  Come and enjoy the fun filled night.

 

B J Rape’, MOCA President

 

VFW Washington Weekly - January 22, 2010

Posted at 02:24 PM on Friday, January 22, 2010 by post9488

In This Issue:

1. VFW Presents Legislative Goals

2. House VA Committee Hearings

3. Relief for GI Bill Payments Coming

4. Vets Employment Initiative Launched

 

1. VFW Presents Legislative Goals: The VFW presented its Top 5 legislative goals this week at a House Veterans Affairs Committee roundtable.  The issues we want Congress to highlight this year are the claims backlog, employment and training, oversight of VA health care, and military-to-veteran transition issues, to include education.  Committee members acknowledged that the VA claims backlog is among their top priorities, and they intend to hold oversight hearings on viable fixes to the critical problem.  The VFW's 2010 legislative priority goals can be viewed at http://www.vfw.org/PR/Legislative/2010PriorityGoals%20PROOF.pdf.

Click here to read more Washington Weekly

VFW Joins in Haiti Humanitarian Effort

Posted at 07:16 PM on Friday, January 15, 2010 by post9488

Kansas City, MO., Jan. 15, 2010 -The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is assisting in humanitarian efforts in Haiti by providing U.S. service members — with relatives currently located in Haiti — with the funds necessary to purchase airline tickets to the devastated island, so that they may locate, assist or make burial arrangements for relatives affected by the recent earthquake. Funds also may be used to help provide sustenance or other necessities to sustain life.

The veterans' organization donation will be used to assist U.S. service members currently on active duty, in the Reserves or in National Guard units.

VFW National Commander Tommy J. Tradewell Sr., has asked VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary members to come to the aid of victims of the recent natural disaster by individually donating what they can to the VFW National Military Services program (NMS), either online [Donate now online], text [text "VFW" to 90999 - standard text messaging rates apply], or mail directly to VFW National Military Services, 406 W. 34th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111.

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VFW CheckPoint Magazine Jan/Feb 2010

Posted at 01:07 PM on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 by post9488

VFW CheckPoint Magazine Jan/Feb 2010 -

60 Minutes Segment on VA Backlog

Posted at 08:14 AM on Monday, January 4, 2010 by post9488

(Airdate: January 3, 2010)

TRICARE Returns to Zero Copay on OTC Meds

Posted at 03:57 PM on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 by post9488

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - Positive feedback and cost savings means TRICARE's over-the-counter medication demonstration continues without copayments. The demonstration allows TRICARE beneficiaries to substitute over-the-counter versions for selected prescription drugs.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications available through the program include allergy medications cetirizine and loratadine, and heartburn medications (proton-pump inhibitors) Prilosec OTC and its generic form omeprazole.
 
The two-year OTC demonstration did not require a copay for covered OTC medications when it began at TRICARE retail pharmacies in October 2007. When the demonstration was extended in November 2009, it coincided with the start of a new pharmacy contract. A $3 copay was required until systems changes could be made and that work is now complete.
 
"This is a very positive program and we're excited to return to a zero copay," said Rear Adm. Thomas McGinnis, chief of the TRICARE Pharmaceutical Operations Directorate. "This is one way we are working hard to keep costs lower - for our beneficiaries and for the Department of Defense."
 
OTC medications are generally less expensive than their prescription versions, by as much as 400 percent in some cases.
          
To receive covered OTC medications with no out-of-pocket costs, beneficiaries still need a prescription from their health care provider specifically for the OTC drug. After submitting the prescription at any TRICARE retail network pharmacy or the TRICARE mail-order pharmacy, the prescription for the OTC medication is filled at no cost.

For more information about the TRICARE Pharmacy Program, go to http://www.tricare.mil/pharmacy.

VA To Survey Veteran Households

Posted at 11:12 AM on Friday, December 4, 2009 by post9488

WASHINGTON (Dec. 3, 2009) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched a national survey of Veterans, active duty service members, activated National Guard and reserve members, and family members and survivors to learn if they are aware of VA services.

"By hearing directly from Veterans and their family members, we gain valuable information to help us serve them better.  We hope those who receive the survey will respond to it," Secretary Shinseki said.

In addition to assessing awareness levels, the National Survey of Veterans will collect important health care, benefits, employment, and demographic information that VA will use to inform policy decisions and improve benefits.  Recognizing a broader client base than just Veterans, this is the first time VA has included others, such as Veteran family members, in its survey population.

VA is mailing out survey "screeners" to more than 130,000 households to identify potential survey participants.  The screener asks if anyone in the household is a member of one of the identified survey groups - Veterans, family members and survivors, active duty, Guard or Reserve members.  Eligible survey participants then may be requested to participate in a full-length survey.

Participants will be able to select a preferred survey method: through U.S. mail, telephone or a password-protected Internet address.  VA expects approximately 10,000 Veterans to complete the full-length survey.

This is the sixth VA National Survey of Veterans since 1978.  The information collected will help VA in its efforts to design and conduct outreach to Veterans.  In addition, it will provide a clearer picture of the Veteran population's characteristics to help evaluate existing programs and policies and measure their impact.

The data collection is expected to be finished by the end of February and the final report released by December 2010.

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