Our March meeting was very interesting and everyone enjoyed the dinner. The speaker was Mr. John Bright, Director of the VA Southern Nevada Health care System. In the past we have heard from Mr. Steve Stern who was responsible for hospital construction; and Aurora McGraw who spoke to us about the opening of the clinics. Mr. Bright spoke about the opening and operation of the New VA Hospital at North Pecos Road and the I-215. It is a large, beautiful structure that will house VA Administration and all Hospital Departments. It should be in full operation later this year.
AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM: You have all heard this before but what does this really mean? Doctor Mathew Spaulding of the Heritage Institute Kenneth Simon Center for Principles and Policies writes “America is an exceptional nation, but not because of what it has achieved or accomplished. America is exceptional because unlike any other nation, it is dedicated to the principles of human liberty, grounded on the truths that all men are created equal and endowed with equal rights.”
Assault on Retired Benefits: Past President and Treasurer Jake Kessel has searched the MOAA Legislative Web Site and found some new plans for drastic increases in health care fees for retirees. The Administration is intent on raising TriCare-For-Life fees to some very high levels over the next 5 years. Maybe its time to write your congressman and let him know you are not happy with the assault on retired benefits.
DUES AT DINNER: When paying dues at dinner, we sometimes make an error and count the dues as paying for the dinners. Then, when we call you to pay dues we are told that you paid at the dinner. Be sure to tell the person collecting dinner money that this $20 is for dues. The best way to pay dues at dinner is to write a separate check for $20, mark it for dues and turn it in at the sign-in table to assure that it will be recorded.
Deaths of Members: We lost a good friend and member: Major David Dooley, USAF (Ret). Please remember his wife Phyllis and the family in your prayers. We lost another good friend and member LTC Gilbert R. Tronier, USPHS who died last December 2011. Please remember his wife Madeline and the family in your prayers.
Our April Dinner meeting is on Thursday April 19 at the Palace Station. We will have two speakers. The first Speaker will be Doctor Annette Teijeiro, MD. She has agreed to speak about ObamaCare and the effect it will have on Doctors and Medicare. This will be a very interesting and informative talk and you might consider attending since ObamaCare affects all of us. The second speaker is Colonel Bill Olds who will update us and tell us the full story on a situation in Afghanistan. This will also be very interesting. Plan on a longer evening than usual, however you will enjoy every minute of it. The dinner choices will be Salmon or Chicken.