February 2005

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

February, the month we recognize our country's Presidents and say "Happy Valentine's Day". But this year don't stop at that one special someone. Send your son a card. It will make him laugh. Call your sister, you'll warm her heart. Give your mom a big hug. You might see a tear of happiness. And those kids..........love those kids. Remember it is not only is our joy to show our love for our loved ones. But, it is also our responsibility to those men and women whom did not come home alive. They will never send a card, make a call, give a hug or show their love again. But, we can and will, for them.
Your President, Gregory C. McNeill

Cost-Of-Living Raise Boosts
Veterans Benefits

Department of Veterans Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2005

WASHINGTON – Millions of veterans and eligible family members will see their disability compensation, pension and survivors' benefits increased. "We want all veterans with disabilities related to the defense of our country to receive the benefits they have earned," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. "With this increase, we ensure their payments keep pace with the cost of living."
     A recent law signed by President Bush provides a 2.7 percent increase in disability compensation and survivors' benefits.
     Eligible veterans and family members can expect to see this increase in their January checks.
Under the veterans disability compensation program, tax-free payments generally range from $108 to $2,299 per month depending on the degree of disability.   Special payments up to $6,576 per month apply to the most severely injured veterans.

CURRENT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Date: Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Time: 7PM
Place: Roseville Veterans Memorial Hall - 110 Park Dr.
Royer Park - Roseville (Directions are on Page 4)

     Tax time is coming up, learn how to keep more of your money and plan for your future. Our speaker will be:
     Jeffrey Lorenz, Vice President of Certified Senior Advocates, Inc. is a Certified Senior Advisor. His firm has affiliated professionals that assist baby-boomers and seniors with issues they face today, such as Taxes, Financial Planning for Retirement, and Government Entitlement Assistance. Jeff will speak about 2005 tax law changes and how they can affect retirees and those who will be retiring soon.
     Learn more about Certified Senior Advisors at www.society-csa.com.

CHAPTER 500 ELECTIONS COMING UP

We are calling for nominations for chapter offices for the 2005-2006 year. Nominations received in February will be published in the March newsletter. April is the month for elections and the Chapter's Annual Meeting. All of the current officers and board members have had their positions for two years, and have held other positions for longer than that. It's time for some new people to take on some of the positions and give these guys a break. See page 8 for a form to send in with your nominations. Nominations can also be made from the floor. You can nominate yourself or someone else you feel would be right for the job and is a paid up member of the Chapter. Don't be afraid to take on a position. You will have plenty of help from Past Officers, Board Members and your Executive Director. There are also several committees you may be interested in. These will be listed in the March newsletter. The committee chairs are appointed by the new president after the election.

ANNOUNCEMENT - We just learned that the National VVA President Tom Cory's mother, Margaret Cory passed away January 25. Our sincere condolences go to President Cory and his family.

VETERAN BENEFIT UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
BENEFITS FOR CALIFORNIA VETERANS

VETERANS PREFERENCE IN CALIFORNIA CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS

The Benefit - Additional points added to the final score of a civil service examination as follow:
a) Open Entrance Exams - 15 points for a disabled veteran and 10 points for other veterans and surviving spouses.
b) Open Non-promotional Entrance Exams - 10 points for disabled veterans and 5 points for other veterans.
Who May Be Eligible
a) Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated at 10% or greater.
b) "Wartime" veterans who have served with honor.
c) A veterans who served under honorable conditions for a period of at least 181 days.
d) Spouses of totally disabled service-connected veterans.
e) Unmarried, surviving spouses of a veteran who has died of service-connected causes.
Where To Apply
Please mail an application, discharge papers, and other documents to: State Personnel Board
                           Veterans Preference Coordinator
                            P.O. Box 944201
                            Sacramento, CA 94244-2010
See the website: www.spb.ca.gov. Call: 916-653-1502

BUSH ADMINISTRATION MAY BE LOOKING TO DECREASE VETERANS BENEFITS AGAIN!

     This NEWS FLASH was received from the National VVA Government Relations Department..............
VVA500 Note: This is not presented as a political opinion or an opinion on the current war but as information regarding Veterans benefits.
Subject: Veterans' Benefits "hurtful" to National Security, says Pentagon - by: Joel Wendland-Tuesday 25 January 05

     "In an interview with the Wall Street Journal (1-25-05), Pentagon official David Chu, in a mockery of the contribution of veterans, defended a new round of cuts by ironically describing funding for programs like veterans’ education and job training, health care, pensions, VA housing and the like as "hurtful" to national security."
     Despite Republican pretense that spending increases for the VA budget under the Bush administration have been large, new spending neither has matched inflation over the same period, nor does it keep pace with growing need.
     For example, as private sector health care costs skyrocket, veterans are more and more turning to the military’s health insurance program, Tricare. Retired service members account for half of the people covered by Tricare, whereas just five years ago they accounted for only 40 percent. The Bush administration wants to find ways to stem this tide – none of which have anything to do with keeping private sector insurance affordable.
                                           Continued next column ..............

LEGISLATIVE NEWS FOR VETERANS

NEW CONSULTANT HIRED FOR CALIFORNIA SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Senator Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside), Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, is pleased to announce the hiring of a new head consultant for the committee: Donald E. Wilson, current Senate staffer and veteran of the United States Navy.
     “I’m delighted to have Don join our team,” said Morrow, who served eight years on active duty as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. “He’s a strong advocate for veterans with considerable legislative experience. Competition for the position was fierce. There were several highly qualified applicants.”
     “I’m looking forward to continuing the Committee’s reputation for meeting the legislative needs of California’s veterans,” said Wilson.
     Wilson has worked for the Senate for several years in a variety of roles – most recently for the Senate Office of Research, overseeing Veterans and Base Realignment and Closure issues. Other legislative experience includes service as a floor analyst and in legislative communications. His varied private sector experience includes personnel management, directing customer service operations, and inventory management.
     Wilson holds an M.A. degree in Government with a specialization in Political Theory. His B.A. degree also is in Government. His academic awards include membership in the Golden Key Honor Society and the political science honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha.
     Wilson joins Committee Secretary Cindy Johnston. The vacancy he is filling was created by the recent retirement of longtime consultant David Grafft.
     The Committee consists of Morrow and four other senators: Vice-Chair Nell Soto (D-Ontario), Wes Chesbro (D-Arcata), Jeff Denham (R-Merced), and Joe Dunn (D-Garden Grove).
     The Committee may be contacted by phoning (916) 445-5798 or mailing Senate Veterans Committee, 1020 “N” St., Rm. 251, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Benefit cuts continued.................

      The slow rate of VA spending growth enforced by Bush and the congressional Republicans over the last four years won’t cover growing deferred benefits, such as education, housing, retirement, health care and so on, promised to current service members or that are supposed to be available for new enlistees.
     Slow spending growth isn’t even the biggest immediate problem for vets. In the last two years, Bush ordered the closing of several VA hospitals in different parts of the country, pushing waiting lists for medical services for veterans as high as six months for about 230,000 vets. These closings followed in the wake of the congressional Republican’s concerted drive in 2003 to cut $15 billion from VA spending over the next ten years.
     Continued on Page 6....................

THE CAPITOL VETERAN CALENDAR................FEBRUARY, 2005........Page 4

FEBRUARY, 2005

SUN	MON	TUES	WED	THURS	FRI	SAT
Jan 30th Elections in Iraq Pray for our Troops		1 VVA500 Board Meeting	2	3	4	5
6	7	8 Boy Scouts of America Founded 1910	9 VAC Meeting	10	11	12 Operation Homecoming Began 1973
13	14 Stand Down Board Meeting Happy Valentine's Day	15 VVA General Meeting	16	17	18	19 Military Order of the Purple Heart Meeting
20	21 Stand Down Meeting Marine Corps League Meeting President's Day	22 Operation Junction City Began 1967	23 Post-Tet Offensive Began 1969	24 Operation Desert Storm Ground Campaign Began 1991	25	26
27	28	SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2005 MARK YOU CALENDARS FOR THE "WELCOME HOME VIETNAM VETERANS" OPEN HOUSE HELD AT THE "BUNKER" (THE TORCH CLUB) Tell your Vietnam Veteran friends. Open to all Vietnam Veterans and families (over the age of 21). Look for details in the March Newsletter

DIRECTIONS to the Roseville Veterans Memorial Hall. From I-80. Take the Douglas West exit. Go to the third light which is Folsom Rd. Turn right, go to the second stop sign, which is Sutter, turn left, follow the curve, you will see a sign on the right and left that says "Royer Park", turn left there. You will immediately see the hall to the right and the parking lot. That's it. In the hall, from the main door, follow the VVA sign to the meeting room. When you leave, the street is one way, so you will go to the right. You will then come up to Douglas Blvd., left will go back to the freeway and whichever direction you need to go from there.

Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.
           Chapter 500
P.O. Box 255484
Sacramento, CA 95865
916-481-6020
vva500@sbcglobal.net