Remember In Memory of Bill Wolf

CAPITOL CITY
VETERAN

Newsletter for Sacramento Valley's Chapter 500 of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Note: Last newsletter, we promised a biography each month of the heroes we are honoring by awarding scholarships in their name in April. My message this month is the biography of my friend, Bill Wolf. "Doc" Kauffman

Just a little bit about William "Bill" or "Billy" Wolf. I met Bill at Hiram Johnson Sr. High School in 1961. We started in Frosh Football together. He was a fast little end with a decent pair of hands. He fine tuned those hands and fingers to draw and paint in the Arts Department. We didn't pal around much; but we shared many friends and acquaintances through the Block J Society and football. I remember he was into electronics as my Homeroom Teacher was the faculty sponsor for the Electronics Club. He lived in Rosemont and went to City College after graduation. I was there three semesters too; but got my draft notice and enlisted in the Naval Hospital Corps by the next January. Bill had joined the Army months earlier (I think) with another friend Tony Rose. Bill went to Ranger School and Jump School and became a "Green Beret" or Special Forces member. He pulled duty with them and later in his Army career pulled some independent duty at remote secret radio installations, not in Nam, probably Laos, Cambodia, and maybe even North Vietnam, as well as South American countries like Nicaragua, Panama, etc.
He was Chapter 500's and CSC's State Secretary and Chapter 500 Treasurer when he saw me on the sidewalk watching a Memorial Day Parade. Yes, he pulled me in big time. He was a talker and a doer. He died doing the things he loved, helping his brother Chapter buddies. He was preparing for our Chapter Get-A-Way and finishing his work at home. He struggled with diabetes, probably straining his system getting a trailer hooked up by himself, and loaded. No one knows for certain. But he was found at home, slumped over after his heart attack on October 7, 1999, dressed in uniform for the Get-A-Way. He has always been with us at those Get-A-Ways...as everyone there!

Current News and Announcements

Thinking of refinancing? Consider the benefits of Cal-Vet Home Loans. Our speaker for the General Meeting, February 18, 2003 will be Michael F. Slater, longtime representative of CA Department of Veterans Affairs for Veterans Services and member of many veteran organizations. Michael will discuss updates and current information on Cal-Vet Home loans. Find out how you can take advantage of this excellent program for California Veterans for homes, refinance, and construction.

CHAPTER ELECTIONS

Dino Gomez, Chair of the Nominations Committee tells us that it's that time of the year again. Election of Chapter 500 officers and board members are to be held at the April General Meeting.
It's time to step up to the plate and give the current officers and board members a break. Committee Chair Dino Gomez will be accepting nominations this month for President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, as well as two Board Members. One additional non-voting Board Member as AVVA liaison is also to be seated on the Board after recommendation from the local members of AVVA. The nominations will be announced in the March newsletter and the vote will be held at the April General Meeting.
The criteria is as follows: the nominee must be a member in good standing (dues are paid per National VVA records), and be able to produce a DD214 if the Chapter does not already have one on file. You must be able to attend Board Meetings. (If three Board Meetings are missed without excusable cause, the Board Member shall be deemed to have resigned from the Board). Officers are also Board Members. A member may nominate any other member for any position and a member may also nominate him or herself. Continued on Page two - ELECTIONS

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BENEFITS
UPDATES FROM THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Those of you who missed the January General Meeting missed a great presentation by Michael J. Struski, Associate Director of the Sacramento Valley Division and benefits expert Ed Bennett. Michael provides corporate leadership, planning, direction, oversight and evaluation for the VA facility's administrative support functions. He currently serves as a Logistics Officer with the 91st Division (Training Support) in the U.S. Army Reserve. He served on active duty from 1970-72, with a tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam.
The current question on many minds was the decision of VA to suspend enrollment of Priority Group 8 in the VA Medical System. What exactly does that mean for the Veteran? The Enrollment Priority Group categories really are not related to the disability rating or whether a service-connected disability exists or not. Previous to last month, all veterans could enroll and receive care through the VA Medical System. At the time of enrollment, a Veteran would be placed in a particular Enrollment Priority Group. These are Groups 1 through 8. The Veteran after enrolled could then receive health care through the VA. The Enrollment Group number determined the amount of payment if any, insurance reimbursement, if any, etc. A means test (income levels) is also performed to determine the Group number. As of January 17, 2003, a veteran who applies for enrollment, and is assigned to Priority Group 8, will not be accepted for enrollment. However, no Veteran already enrolled will be affected. Priority Group 8 basically consists of non-service connected disabilities, non-compensable 0% service-connected Veterans and those with income and/or net worth above the VA Means Test threshold. The income level is also geographically applied. So for the California level, it would be PLEASE NOTE: THIS NEW RULING ONLY EFFECTS THOSE VETERANS IN PRIORITY GROUP 8. ALL OTHER VETERANS MEETING THE SPECIFIED CRITERIA FOR GROUPS 1-7 WILL BE STILL ACCEPTED FOR ENROLLMENT.
The Priority Groups and the Disability Ratings are no doubt a confusing maze to wander through. We will try to address each of the groups in future newsletters and the guidelines for the disability ratings. Also by next month, we'll have the entire list of the Priority Groups Criteria up on the website.

AGENT ORANGE STRIKES AGAIN

January 23, 2003 - Due to evidence produced by the scientific community, Secretary of Veteran Affairs, Anthony J. Principi has decided to extend benefits to Vietnam veterans with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The ruling means that veterans with CLL who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War don't have to prove that illness is related to their military service to qualify for Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation.

LEGISLATION and GOVERNMENT ISSUES

NEW SECRETARY IS WORKING

Word is that Senator Maurice Johannessen is working as our new Secretary of the California Department of Veteran Affairs, but no hearings have been scheduled yet on his confirmation.

From the VNIS Military Retired Digest - Here are a few of the bills introduced on the federal level concerning veterans:
1. Senator Daschle, The Democratic Leader from South Dakota introduced S19 - Veterans and Military Personnel Fairness Act of 2003. This legislation includes full concurrent receipt, mandatory spending for VA health care and the provisions of the Tax Fairness Act for military personnel who sell their homes.
2. Representative Bilirakis of Florida has reintroduced HR303, same number and the same provisions - full concurrent receipt for all disabled military retirees. This bill would include those who retired for disability (Chapter 61) with 20 or more years of service; those who retired from the reserve component at age 60 and those who retired under The Early Retirement Authority with 15-19 years, but not 20 years.
3. Senator Johnson of South Dakota introduced S50 that would provide for a guaranteed adequate level of funding for veterans health care and S56, a bill to restore health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services.

Continued from Page one - ELECTIONS

To make a nomination, you may page Dino at 916-981-6637 and he will call you back, or you may e-mail him at lrdino@aol.com . Or, you may call Mary Lou at the office at 916-481-6020 or e-mail vva@accessbee.com . If you have any questions, also use the above contacts.
There are also several committees members may wish to serve on. Only one committee's members are to be elected by the membership and that is the Nominating Committee. This committee will need three members elected at the April meeting. One of those elected will serve as Chair of the Committee. So, we will also need nominations for the Nominating Committee. The new President appoints chairs for the balance of the standing committees. All of the descriptions of the committees will be published in the March newsletter. You will want to review these committees and see where you would like to serve. The committees while are not elected positions should be filled in April also so the Chapter can begin it's work for the new fiscal year.

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