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

     This letter was sent to Time Magazine to acknowledge them for making the American Soldier,  "Man of the Year".

     "When I heard that you chose the American Soldier as "Man of the Year", it brought pride to my soul.  Pride not only for our men and women serving, but pride in your magazine for finally recognizing the American Soldier for their part in America.  I am a Vietnam Veteran and though I'm sure you only had the current servicemen and women in mind, I, as well as all men and women who have served proudly in the military since the beginning of American history, take some of this respect personally.  It is with great pleasure I thank you for your choice.
                                     President, Gregory C. McNeill

GENERAL MEETING
February 17, 2004 - 7PM

     If you or any of your family or friends have visual, hearing, speech or mobility  problems that compromise your ability to use a telephone, you won't want to miss this meeting.  Vivian Terry from the California Telephone Access Program will make a presentation on telephone equipment that is free to you for the asking.
     The California Telephone Access Program (CTAP) provides free equipment and services for telephone accessibility.  CTAP has been known as the California Telephone Equipment Loan Program (CTELP) and California Relay Service (CRS).  The Program began providing adaptive telephone equipment to Californians in 1981 and relay services were added in 1986.  There are no age or income requirements, and one may participate in the program as long as needed.
     The equipment supplied by CTAP can help people with a wide range of difficulties using the phone, including problems with vision, hearing, speech, mobility and cognition. 
     Bring anyone you think this program might help to this meeting. 

        MORE CURRENT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

ALL ARE INVITED

A VALENTINE DANCE

     Chapter 500 will be holding a our first dance. 
DATE:  FEBRUARY 7, 2004
PLACE:  ROSEVILLE VETERANS MEMORIAL HALL
(same place as meetings)
TIME:  7PM-10PM
COST:  $7.00 PER PERSON, TICKETS AT THE DOOR

     No Host Bar
     Door Prize
     Great Raffle Prizes

     Dance to the tunes of the popular "Len Casey Combo"

Bring your Valentine and dance the night away.  The public is also welcome, tell your friends and family.

     Call the office if you need further information.  Some of the raffle prizes are exceptional.  See page 6 for some of the details of the prizes and how you can help.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

     ELECTIONS ANNOUNCEMENT - February is the month to call for nominations for Chapter 500 officers.  Elected positions are President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Nominating Committee.  Anyone wanting to run for any of these offices, please submit your name to the office 481-6020, at the Feb. meeting or by e-mail.  The nominations will be announced in March, elections will be held at the chapter annual meeting in April. 
     NOTE:  New e-mail address:  vva500@sbcglobal.net

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VETERAN BENEFIT UPDATES

     Sorry for all of the small print, but as usual, we are space challenged to get as much information to you as possible.

     While this is not a VA benefit, if you or someone you know is financially challenged you may want to take advantage of the special universal lifeline telephone service for qualifying customers.  To qualify for reduced rates there are annual gross income requirements:
     People     Monthly Gross Income  Annual Gross Income
      1-2              $1,633.                            $19,600.
       3                 1,933.                              23,200.
       4                 2,317                               27,800. (examples)
The household in which you are are applying for Lifeline is your primary residence.  Unless you are a qualified disabled person, you are allowed only one Universal Lifeline Service.  You are not claimed as a dependent on another person's income tax return.  Call SBC California Customer Service for more information at 1-800-310-2355.

     USS CARBONERO (SS-337) This message was passed on to us from CSC State President Dick Southern....

This ALERT was passed to me today. Please alert all submariners. Thank you.
     Our ASR/ARS Deep Sea Divers Secretary/Treasurer Chuck Micele sent this in his latest newsletter and I thought it might be pertinent to some of you or someone you know.
     If you were aboard the USS Carbonero (SS-337) during any of the following dates: May & June 1965 August & September 1966 or April & May 1968, you should contact the nearest VA Medical Center and request an evaluation from their Environmental Agents Group.
     This was the boat that was used for the SHAD testing to determine vulnerabilities to chemical and/or biological warfare.
     For more information contact Ted McAnly - his email address is thmjmac@netzero.net.
     If you have sub buddies out there somewhere, please pass this on to them and ask them to do the same to others they know. Chapter note:  (Benefits are being paid for SHAD victims with service related disabilities).

DISASTER PREPARATION

     This month we continue our series on Disaster Preparation.  The Basic Kit should contain:  Water, Food, Medications, and Special Items, Tools and Supplies, Sanitation, Clothing and Bedding, Emergency Car Kit, Important Family Documents, and a First Aid Kit. 
     We've covered food and water.  This month we are on to building a First Aid Kit.  You should have one kit for your home and one for each car.  Include the following items:
     20 adhesive bandages, various sizes
     1   5" x  9" sterile dressing
     1  conforming roller gauze bandage
     2  triangular bandages
     2  3" x 3" sterile gauze pads
     2  4" x 4" sterile gauze pads
     1  roll 3"  cohesive bandage
     2  germicidal hand wipes or waterless alcohol-based
               hand sanitizer
     6  antiseptic wipes
     2  pair large medical grade non-latex gloves
     Adhesive tape, 2" wide
     Antibacterial ointment
     Cold pack
     Scissors (small, personal)
     Tweezers
     CPR breathing barrier, such as a face shield
           Include in your kit, non-prescription drugs, Aspirin, or Nonaspirin pain reliever, Anti-diarrhea medication, Antacid (for stomach upset), Syrup of Ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center), Laxative, Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center).
 

LEGISLATION and GOVERNMENT ISSUES

     These bills have been passed and signed into law.

     AB 1179, Parra.  Public records.
   Existing law prohibits any public entity from charging any fee for recording, indexing, or issuing certified copies of specified documents related to service in the Armed Forces of the United States, including any public record required to apply for and receive benefits from the Veterans Administration or any other federal or state benefits.  Existing law further requires that recording, indexing, or issuing certified copies of these documents be rendered
on request of a United States official, a claimant or applicant, or the guardian, conservator, or attorney of the claimant or applicant, or any other person acting on behalf of the claimant or applicant.
   This bill would provide that a certified copy of a veteran's
records shall be made available only to the person who is the subject of the record upon presentation of proper photo identification, to a family member or legal representative of the person who is the subject of the record upon presentation of proper photo identification and certification of their relationship to the subject of the record, or to a county office that provides veteran's benefits services or a United States official upon written request.
   Under existing law, if the State Registrar of Vital Statistics, local registrar, or county recorder receives a written request for a certified copy of a birth or death record that is accompanied by a notarized statement sworn under penalty of perjury that the requester is an authorized person, as defined, that official may furnish a certified copy to the applicant.  Under existing law, an authorized
person for these purposes includes a funeral director.
   This bill would also apply that authorization to requests for certified military service records received by the State Registrar of Vital Statistics, local registrar, or county recorder, and would authorize the State Registrar of Vital Statistics, local registrar, or county recorder to issue the certified copy to an applicant pursuant to the receipt of an electronic facsimile copy of a notarized statement sworn under penalty of perjury, in accordance with specified requirements.  This bill would also specify that if a written request for a copy of a military service record is submitted
to the county recorder by electronic facsimile, the county recorder may furnish a certified copy of the military record to the applicant.
  This bill would change references to a funeral director, as
contained in the foregoing provisions, to instead refer to an agent or employee of a funeral establishment acting within the scope of employment.
   Existing law requires a county recorder to accept for recordation any instrument, paper, or notice that is authorized or required by statute or court order to be recorded, if specified requirements are met and the instrument, paper, or notice is photographically
reproducible.
   This bill would specify that a notary acknowledgment shall be deemed complete for recording purposes without a photographically reproducible official seal of the notary public if the official seal is present and legible, and specified information is typed or printed in a manner that is photographically reproducible below, or immediately adjacent to, the notary's signature in the acknowledgment.  The bill would also require, when a request for a certified copy of a birth or death record is received by mail, that a
notarized statement accompany the request stating that the requester is an authorized person.
   This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

AB 1036 - Mullin - Authorize the Cal-Vet Home Loan program to waive the down payment on loans guaranteed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.  Veterans eligible for the VA guarantee will be able to obtain 100% loans from Cal-Vet.  Low to moderate-income veterans can receive down payment assistance through a deferred-payment second loan program.  The bill also increases the maximum Cal-Vet loan for the purchase of a mobile home located within a mobile home park from $70,000 to $125,000 and increases the maximum allowable Cal-Vet loan for a farm to 150% of the maximum Cal-Vet home loan.
     Chapter Note:  Cal-Vet interest rates are great now.  They range from 4.5% to 4.99%, depending on the program.  Call 1-800-952-5626 for information.

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1

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VVA500

2
Roseville Veterans Hall Board Meeting 10AM

3
VVA500 Board Meeting 7PM

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5

6
American Legion Dance Roseville Hall
CSC Meeting Fresno

7

VVA500 Valentine Dance 7PM
CSC Meeting Fresno

8
CSC Meeting Fresno

9

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11
VAC Meeting 7PM
UVOR Meeting 7PM

12

Lincoln's Birthday

13

14

Valentine's Day

15

16

President's Birthday

         17
VVA500 General Meeting 7PM

18

19
US Marines landed on Iwo Jima in 1945

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Flag raised on Iwo Jima 1945
Post-Tet Offensive Began 1969

    24
Operation Desert Storm Ground Campaign 1991

25
Ash Wednesday Lent Begins

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Leap Year The gift of an Extra Day

MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Feb. 7 - Valentine Dance - held at the Roseville Veterans Hall - ALL WELCOME!
February - Nominations for Chapter Officers due.
March 2 - California Primary - Get out and VOTE!  (See page 6)
March Newsletter - Look for nominations for VVA500 offices
April 20 Meeting will be the Chapter Annual Meeting - Be there!

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