September 2009 Newsletter

 

Chattanooga Area Veterans Council

Serving veterans and their organizations of Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama

- Veterans Outreach Program - The Tennessee Department of Veteran Affairs and State Representative Tommy F. Brown are co-hosting a Veterans Outreach Program to assist veterans, dependents and survivors.  The program is set for Friday, September 25th, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Development Resource Center, 1250 Market Street, Chattanooga.

Free Service is offered in filing claims for the following:     

• Disability Compensation
• Healthcare Benefits Information
• Burial benefits
• Survivor benefits
• Non-Service Connected Pension
• Agent Orange
• Veterans exposed to radiation
• Gulf War veterans benefits
• Ex-POW benefits
• Many more

For more information contact one of the following individuals:  Dan Paupp, Veteran Affairs Representative, (423) 634-7125 or Don Samuels, Assistant Commissioner, (616) 741-2931.

- Chattanooga Airport Parking – If you are a disabled veteran and are accustomed to free parking at the Chattanooga Airport, be advised  that as  of July 1^st 2009 that privilege has been discontinued.

- Classic Rock Spectacular – KZ-106 will present Chattanooga Rocks For The Veterans, a concert to benefit veterans outreach programs, on Saturday, November 7^th.  The concert stars seminal 70’s classic rockers, Kansas, with special guest The Edgar Winter Band.  Also making a rare reunion appearance at the show will be Chattanooga legends Overland Express.

The concert will be held at First Tennessee Pavilion, across from Findley Stadium on Carter St., and will start at 7:00 pm.  Tickets are on sale at the UTC Arena box office and Compact Discovery on  Ringgold Rd.  Tickets can also be purchased on-line at www.tickettracks.com or by phone at 266-6627.  All tickets are $27.50 general admission in advance, and $30 on the day of the show.    http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_157630.asp

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Chattanooga Area Veteran’s Council and other Veteran’s outreach programs.

- U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors - The Jazz Ambassadors will be performing a concert at UTC on Tuesday, October 6 at 7:30 pm in the Roland Hayes Concert Hall.  The Jazz Ambassadors are a component of the U.S. Army Field Band located just outside of Washington, D.C. and are the U.S. Army's premier touring jazz orchestra.  This is a free concert but is ticketed.  Please call the UTC Fine Arts Center Box Office at 423-425-4269 to reserve your tickets.  Ticketholders should be seated by 7:15 pm.  Unclaimed tickets will be released to non-ticketholders at 7:20 pm.  If you have any questions about this event, please contact Erika Schafer, UTC Jazz Band Director, at 423-425-4641 or Erika-Schafer@utc.edu.  For directions to the Fine Arts Center, take the following link:
http://www.utc.edu/Administration/FineArtsCenter/

The UTC Music Department is also looking for financial assistance in the sponsoring of this concert.  We are currently still in need of $260.  If your organization is interested in and able to provide financial assistance and thus be a co-sponsor, please contact Erika Schafer (contact information above).

 

- Retroactive Stop-loss Pay - Did you serve under stop-loss orders between Sept. 10, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2008? If so, you are eligible for retroactive stop-loss pay. Next-of-kin may apply for a service member if the member died prior to the program’s implementation.

The new program, signed into law June 24, provides a $500 per month payment to service members held on active duty due to stop-loss orders. The pay is tax-free if in a combat zone and taxable if not. The service member must have been released from the service with better than an other-than-honorable conditions discharge.

The Pentagon has the next four months to implement the program, and the application window is short. You must apply for the pay within the year after implementation. No late claims will be accepted, so be sure to get your application in early.

The exact documentation and filing process is not yet known but get your paperwork together now. We assume stop-loss orders are a given. Stay tuned to MOAA's e-newsletters and the Financial Frontlines blog for updates.

- Military Self-Employment Expo - Explore the options and opportunities of self-employment in an educational environment.  Learn about how to start your own business, explore franchise opportunities either part-time or full-time.  This event takes place on Thursday, October 1st from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm at Chattanooga Theatre Center, 400 River Street, Chattanooga.  There is no entry cost.

Some of the resources that will be at the expo are:

·        Tennessee Small Business Development Center

·        Small Business Administration

·        Service Corps of Retired Executives

·        The Entrepreneur's Source

·        Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce

- POW/MIA Day -     National POW/MIA Recognition Day is traditionally observed on the third Friday of September and this year the day will be commemorated on 18 SEP. Since WWI more than 140,000 Americans have been captured and held as POWs and there are more than 88,000 warriors who are still unaccounted-for from past conflicts. Ceremonies are held throughout the U.S. and around the world at military installations, ships at sea, state capitols, schools, churches, and police and fire departments. The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office offers at no cost various size posters up to 11 x 17 inch that commemorates this day. POW/MIA Recognition Day posters highlighting this year’s observance are available for order online at www.dtic.mil/dpmo/Posterform.htm  or by phone at (703) 699-1131.  Past years’ posters are also available.  To order posters by mail, send a request to DPMO, Attn: Posters, 241 18th St. S., Suite 800, Arlington, VA 22202. Additional information that may be useful for event planners that wish to organize a POW/MIA Recognition Day event locally can be found at www.dtic.mil/dpmo/powday/index2009.htm . [Source:  NAUS Weekly Update 21 Aug 09 ++]

- TRICARE Preventive Health Program -    Tricare officials have cleared up some confusion about how beneficiaries should file for reimbursement for immunizations, mammograms and other preventive services, under a new benefit. Starting 1 SEP, certain beneficiaries will not have to pay out of pocket for certain preventive services — screenings for colorectal cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer and prostate cancer; immunizations; and certain physical exams, including well-child visits for children younger than 6. That means the patient has no co-payments or cost shares, even if their annual deductible has not been met. It does not apply to Medicare-eligible beneficiaries.  But this new benefit is retroactive to 14 OCT 08, when it was signed into law. So starting 1 SEP, here’s the procedure for reimbursement, according to Tricare spokesman Austin Camacho:

·        ¦ No claim form is required. Beneficiaries should contact the Tricare contractor that processed their claim (www.tricare.mil/regionaloffice.cfm) and request a reimbursement.

·        Beneficiaries can call or write; written requests should include the sponsor ’s Social Security number, full names and dates of birth of all dependents, and a current mailing address.

·        Beneficiaries will be reimbursed directly by the contractor.

[Source: Navy Times Karen Jowers article 14 Aug 09 ++]

- USO Dance - The annual USO dance will take place on November 14th, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, at American Legion Post 95 in East Ridge.  Bobby Bogart will be the DJ spinning the best of the present and the past.  Sandwiches and snacks will be served along with refreshments.  Adult beverages will be available from the Post 95 cash bar.  The USO Dance Committee promises to have some really good door prizes this year so come out for a great evening of dancing and fun.  Tickets are $8 and are available in advance or at the door.

CAVC Executive Board Phone List

Ronnie Williams, Chairman                               423-756-2507

Noah Long, Chairman-Elect                             423-886-3820

Dave Townsend, Vice-Chairman                      423-870-5150

Dan Lovin, Treasurer                                        423-238-5128

Bill Raines, Immediate Past Chairman    423-240-4210

Mark Parks, Secretary                                     423-326-0839

Calendar of Events

September 18^th             CAVC Quarterly Membership Meeting, 11:00 am, American Legion Post 95, East Ridge, TN

September 25^th             Veterans Outreach Program, 10:00 am, Development Resource Center

September 27^th Gold Star Mothers National Recognition Day

October 1^st                   Military Self-Employment Expo, 12:30 pm, Chattanooga Theatre Center

October 6^th                  U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors perform at UTC, 7:30 pm, Roland Hayes Concert Hall

November 7^th               Classic Rock Spectacular, 7:00 pm, First Tennessee Pavilion (Findley Stadium)

November 11^th             Veterans Day.  Services at Chattanooga National Cemetery, 11:00 am

November 14^th             UTC Military Appreciation Day

November 14^th             USO Dance, 6:30 pm, American Legion Post 95, East Ridge, TN

December 1^st                CAVC Executive Meeting, 11:30 am, Republic Center

December 11^th             CAVC Quarterly Membership Meeting, 11:00 am, American Legion Post 95, East Ridge, TN

December 12th             Wreaths Across America

February 26^th               CAVC Executive Meeting, 11:30 am, Republic Center

March 12^th                   CAVC Quarterly Membership Meeting, 11:00 am, American Legion Post 95, East Ridge, TN

March 26^th                   CAVC Annual Awards and Installation Banquet

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