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

March is here already and time to prepare for our 2003 activities. The Chapter will participate and help sponsor the "Reading of the Names" on May 25th and the Memorial Day Parade on May 26th. For those members unable to walk the Memorial Day Parade route, we will have a float built upon a flatbed trailer and hope those of you will participate with Diana Titus's USO girlfriends also on board. I can't wait!
We've been invited to participate with another VVA Chapter's picnic, and look forward to participating in the National VVA's Thrift Store program. Also remember, October's Get-A-Way will be better than last year's. AND, that was GREAT!
Elections are coming again. Anyone interested in an Officer or Board Member position, be sure to contact Election Committee Chair, Dino Gomez by pager at: 916-981-6637, or e-mail him at lrdino@aol.com or call Mary Lou at the office at 916-481-6020 or e-mail at vva500@gosaccity.com .
Hope to see you at the next board or general meeting.
Your President, Doc Dennis

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
EVERYONE LOVES A PARADE, BE A PART OF IT

The Veterans Affiliated Council which consists of approximately 40 veteran organizations in the Sacramento Valley area, will be sponsoring and producing the Memorial Day Parade this year on May 26. Invitations are going out to some 300 organizations to participate in the parade. Chapter 500 is a member of the VAC and will be participating in the parade. The VAC parade committee is working hard at covering all of the many details needed for this type of event. A request is made for volunteers for the day of the parade. There are many bodies needed to help control the flow of the parade, traffic control, parade participant direction and many miscellaneous duties. If you want to help, please call parade co-chairs Jack Harrington at 916-391-5357 or John Canfield at 916-483-1576. You do not have to be a member of VVA or VAC in order to help. Also, if you know of an organization that might want to participate in the parade, have them call Jack or John.

Current News and Announcements

Due to too many unresolved problem with our Internet Service Provider, the Chapter e-mail address has been changed to: vva500@gosaccity.com . Please be sure to change your address books.

SURVEY FOR MEMBERS

Chapter 500 members are receiving member surveys in with their newsletters this month. Members, now is your chance to have a say in the direction you want Chapter 500 to go. We've provided you with a stamped, addressed form. All you have to do is fill it out and get it in the mail. The officers and board will use these surveys to set Chapter goals and provide members with preferred activities and services. Please complete and send in your survey as soon as possible.

GENERAL MEETING

As already announced, VVA 500 is a partner with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. We received some good news last month. California State University Sacramento will be partnering with us in collecting veterans stories. Many departments of CSUS will be taking on this project as part of their curriculum. It will be an excellent way for young students to meet with and learn from veterans. The CSUS ROTC unit will be trained to conduct the veteran interviews.
Sheila Macias, Program Development Specialist from the Office of Community Collaboration will join us at our General Meeting to explain the role CSUS will take in the project. Please plan to attend this meeting to welcome Sheila and thank her for her interest in veterans and this important project.

MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS

NOMINATIONS Page 2
NATIONAL THRIFT STORE PROGRAM Page 2
THANK YOU'S Page 2
VVA MEMBER CALLED TO SERVE Page 3

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BENEFITS
VA HEALTH CARE ENROLLMENT PRIORITY GROUPS

Last month, we explained what Priority Group 8 meant in regard to medical care at the VA. This month we will explain the other priority groups. If you have never enrolled in the VA Medical System, check out the criteria of these groups and see if you qualify. If you do, it would be wise to enroll now. Some veterans may not realize that they are eligible or even that they may be eligible for a service connected disability rating. Start by getting all of your service related papers together. In some cases, these will indicate whether you had a service connected medical problem or incident.

Enrollment Priority 1 - Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 50% or more disabling.
Enrollment Priority 2 - Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 30& or 40% disabling.
Enrollment Priority 3 - 1. Veterans who are former POW's
2. Veterans awarded the Purple Heart
3. Veterans whose discharge was for a disability that was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
4. Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 10% or 20% disabling.
5. Veterans awarded special eligibility classification under Title 38, U.S.D., Section 1151, "benefits for individuals disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation".
Enrollment Priority 4 - 1. Veterans who are receiving aid and attendance or housebound benefits.
2. Veterans who have been determined by VA to be catastrophically disabled.
Enrollment Priority 5 - 1. Nonservice-connected veterans and noncompensable service-connected veterans rated 0% disabled whose annual income and net worth are below the established VA Means Test thresholds.
2. Veterans receiving VA pension benefits.
3. Veterans eligible for Medicaid benefits.
Enrollment Priority 6 - 1. World War I veterans.
2. Mexican Border War veterans
3. Veterans solely seeking care for disorders associated with: A. Exposure to herbicides while serving in Vietnam; or
B. Exposure to ionizing radiation during atmospheric testing or during the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; or C. For disorders associated with service in the Gulf War; D. For any illness associated with service in combat in a war after the Gulf War or during a period of hostility after November 11, 1998; or E. Compensable 0% service-connected veterans.
Enrollment Priority 7 - Veterans who agree to pay specified copayments with income and/or net worth above the VA Means Test threshold and income below the HUD geographic index. Subpriority A: Noncompensable 0% service-connected veterans who were enrolled in the VA Health Care System on a specified date and who have remained enrolled since that date. Subpriority C: Nonservice-connected veterans who were enrolled in the VA Health Care System on a specified date and who have remained enrolled since that date. Subpriority E: Noncompensable 0% service-connected veterans not included in Subpriority A above. Subpriority G: Nonservice-connected veterans not included in Subpriority C above.

LEGISLATION and GOVERNMENT ISSUES

US SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
HEARINGS IN MARCH 2003

March 6 - 10:00AM -Hearing to receive the 2003 legislative priorities of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Paralyzed Veterans of American, Jewish War Veterans, Blinded Veterans Association and Non Commissioned Officers Association
March 12 - 10:00AM - Hearing to receive the 2003 legislative priorities of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
March 13 - 10:00AM - Hearing to receive the 2003 legislative priorities of The Retired Enlisted Association, Gold Star Wives, Fleet Reserve Association and Air Force Sergeants Association
March 20 - 10:00AM - Hearing to receive the 2003 legislative priorities of AMVETS, American Ex-Prisoners of War, VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA, Military Officers Association of America and the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs

NOMINATIONS

Last month nominations for Chapter 500 Officers and Board Members were called for. The nominating period will end officially on March 17, 2003 (30 days before election meeting on April 15). Participation by members is essential to the success of any organization. If everyone gives a little, a few people won't have to give so much. Offices open are President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Two Board Members and an AVVA Representative. One nomination has been received so far, Dino Gomez for Board Member. Nominate someone or yourself. See President's Message on page 1 for how to nominate.

NATIONAL THRIFT STORE PROGRAM

As of March 1, 2003, VVA Chapter 500 has joined the National VVA Thrift Store Program. We are looking forward to a better return for our chapter fund raising agenda through this program. Funds received not only come to our Chapter, but also to National VVA and the California State Council to help support their programs. The number to call for pick-ups is: 916-388-5900. The Chapter office will also continue to refer calls over if the office is called.

THANK YOU'S

A special thanks goes out to member Joe Cavanagh who has donated a video cam to aid the chapter in the collection of Veterans' Stories for the Veterans' History Project.
Thank you to Robert Washington from CDVA, who came to speak to us regarding Cal-Vet loans. Robert explained the many benefits of using Cal-Vet to finance home loans. The interest rates are very competitive and vary as to a veteran's status. Loan limits have also been raised. Cal-Vet also finances construction loans.

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