Fall 2002

Note: This is a prepublished version of the Fall 2002 Newsletter. A formal version will be posted here once the newsletter is done.

New Membership Rates

If your membership is due to expire soon, you may want to renew before the rates increase. The following rates will be effective 1 January 2003 for AFSA membership.

Year	Old Rate	New Rate
Airman (E-1-E4)	$15.00/18 Mths	$18.00/18 Mths
Annual	$21.00	$25.00
2 Year	$36.00	$44.00
5 Year	$52.00	$64.00
Life	$300.00	$350.00
Life (Installments)	$350.00	$400.00

The following rates will be effective 1 January 2003 for AFSA auxiliary membership.

 

Year	Old Rate	New Rate
Annual	$14.00	$16.00
2 Year	$26.00	$30.00
5 Year	$37.00	$43.00
Life	$175.00	$200.00
Life (Installments)	$200.00	$225.00

AFSA Awards Dinner

The Air Force Sergeants Association and the Air Force Association will host a Joint Annual Awards Dinner on November 2, 2002 at the Thunderbird Hotel, Bloomington, Minnesota. The program will begin at 6:00 pm. General John Handy will be the Keynote Speaker and The Heartland of America Band will perform a musical salute to the awardees. Attire for the evening will be business suit for civilians, and service dress uniform for the military. The cost for the event is $25.00 per person for AFSA or AFA members and their guests, and $35.00 for non-AFSA or AFA members. The cost for the event will be split between AFA and AFSA, based on the number of guests from each organization, so if you plan to attend, please order your tickets using the form below.

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- Order tickets by 25 Oct 02

- Name: _______________________

- Number of guests: ______________

- Dinner choice: Chicken _____ Pork ____

- Make checks payable to: General E.W. Rawlings Chapter

- Mail check to: Doug Altrichter

- 2840 Northern Valley Dr NE #1

- Rochester, MN 55906

- Cost: $25.00 for members and guests

- $35.00 for non-members

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Congratulations to Our Division 8 Award Winners

CMSgt Tom Foss was named Volunteer Service Person and thanks to SMSgt Dave Hammer, our Chapter Webmaster, our website was named Web Site of the Year Runner Up.

Next Chapter Membership Meeting

Our next membership meeting will be Saturday, 5 Oct 02, at 1700, at the 934th Airlift Wing NCO Club. Refreshments will be provided.

New Officers

Patty Boettner is our Treasurer, Sherrill Beecher is our Secretary and Richard Grewe is our Reserve Legislative Trustee.

AFSA, Chapter 858, Dome Night

Our new secretary has already been busy planning our first fundraiser. We will be selling hotdogs at the dome while the Twins play the Cleveland Indians on Thursday, September 26th from 4:30 to 10::00. We hope to have between 20 and 25 people. If you are available to help, please contact Vicky Kuntz at (612) 330-7193 ASAP.

Upcoming Events

September 20th - Annual POW/MIA Ceremony at the Court of Honor, Minnesota State Capitol Grounds

September 26th - Dome Night

October 1st - Employers Appreciation Breakfast at the 133 AW

October 19th - Oktoberfest at the 133 AW

November 2nd - Annual Awards Dinner

Legislative Update

H.R. 3831 & S 2250 Guard and Reserve Retirement Age

The effort to lower the earliest retirement age from 60 to 55 continues to progress. There are now 143 co-sponsors for H.R. 3831, introduced by Representative Jim Saxton, R-NJ. The Senate companion bill, S. 2250, by Sen. Jon Corzine, D-NJ, has eight co-sponsors. Both bills would "amend title 10, United States Code, to reduce the age for receipt of military retired pay for non-regular service from 60 to 55." This would allow (not mandate) the receipt of military retired pay as early as age 55. Despite rumors, the bill would not reduce the retirement annuity nor change any service retirement point calculations.

H.R. 2-2- Montgomery GI Bill (VEAP)

This legislation would provide an enrollment opportunity for thousands of military members who entered service during the VEAP era but declined to enroll. This legislation will correct a problem and provide educational benefits for so many otherwise ineligible members and veterans.

Active Duty Military Pay Raise

Effective January 1, 2003, a minimum across-the-board enlisted pay raise of 4.1 percent, with targeted increases of up to 6.5 percent for E-5 to E-9 and some junior officers.

Chapter 858 Directory of Officers President - Vicky Kuntz
Vice President - Doug Altrichter
Secretary - Sherrill Beecher
Treasurer - Patty Boettner Trustees
934th Legislative Trustee - Richard Grewe
ANG Affairs Trustee - Dave Himmer
Boy Scout Trustee and Webmaster - Dave Hammer
Membership Trustee - Mark Davidson
Senior Advisor - Lin Davidson
Veterans Trustee - Tom Foss
Trustee - Clayton Pyle
Trustee - Thomas O'Keefe

Auxiliary Chapter Officers President - Becky Borgardus
Vice President - Rose Hill
Secretary/Treasurer - Fern Schneider

Page last updated: 1 Jan 03