Call to Order.
    Meeting called to order at 1830 hours by Chapter President Terhune.  After the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, President Terhune welcomed everyone to the first “summer” meeting and thanked them for being here.  He also welcomed Jeff Olson, bakemaster extraordinaire, who is here to discuss the clambake.
Recording Secretary’s Report/Minutes of Previous Meeting.
    Secretary Pat Graham received the following report after the minutes had been sent out.  Insert the following into the Recruiting Coordinator paragraph:  “Bob Jaffin briefly reviewed the 2010 "Give Me 10" program. He pointed out the 3 key elements.
        Active duty and reserve component officers are eligible for a free one-year membership, every new national member we recruit earns the chapter $10.
        All others who are eligible may receive an introductory two year membership for $28. Payment must be enclosed with the application the chapter would forward. The chapter earned $20 each one of these new memberships, Bob has a limited number of those forms.
        Third, the program requires very specific forms to be submitted in a very specific manner in order for the chapter to benefit. The easiest way to make sure the chapter gets credit and to help us keep track is to forward all forms to Bob for consolidation and submission. As of April 30 the chapter has NO  Give Me 10 applications for 2010. Copies of the free membership form, for active-duty and reserve component officers, can be downloaded from:
http://www.moaa.org/siteobjects/published/B40B0C69836F0E9D9744C384897CE90C/9F05E7AD00029584E6D3FC6DD46BCBDF/file/Free_MOAACard.pdf
Bob suggested that every reserve component officer in the state of New Hampshire who has never been a member of MOA should be signed up before the end of the year and we should all make an effort to capture those officers.”.  Minutes approved as amended.
Secretary’s Report.
    Pat Graham reported that there was a quorum tonight.
Treasurer’s Report.
    The balance in the Chapter’s checking account as of 31 May 2010 is $6,990.38.
    The amount in the bulk mail account at the Dover Post Office is $465.83; the amount in the postage due account is $66.41.
    We did receive a reimbursement check from the VFW for the AV equipment we purchased for the Veterans Home.  Treasurer Joan Huber bought three years worth of ROTC/JROTC award plaques, which cost $1795.20.  In response to a question, the last time we bought plaques, the cost was $1200.  We moved money from one life member fund to another, but the total remains the same.  Treasurer’s report approved.
Trustees of the Trust Funds.
    Life Member Fund:    30 Apr 10:  $26,892.28    31 May 10: $25,965.59
    Scholarship Fund:    30 Apr 10:  $78,581.31    31 May 10: $75,508.32
 Gary reported that the dollar cost averaging system is in place and will go for six months total. Values are down for the month.  Peter Burdett added that May 2010 was the worst performing month in quite a long time.  Report approved.

STANDING COMMITTEES:

National Legislative.
    Russ Ober.  MOAA supports the 1.9% military pay raise endorsed by the House.  When the country is asking our troops and their families for the greatest sacrifices in more than a half-century, a 1.4% raise (the smallest in nearly 50 years) sends the wrong message.  Senate recommends targeting some raises in certain pay grades.
    Other important initiatives from the Senate Armed Forces Services Committee:
        - Repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy
        - Continued TRICARE coverage for sons and daughters of military beneficiaries until age 26 if they have no employer coverage
        - A monthly stipend for caregivers of wounded warriors still on active duty, to match the stipend authorized by the VA for caregivers of disabled veterans
        - Prohibition of administrative separation based on medical conditions deemed by an evaluation board as not rendering the member unfit for duty
        - Authority for expedited security clearance background investigations for wounded warriors and spouses seeking employment with DoD or DoD contractors
        - $45 million in aid to civilian schools serving significant numbers of military children
        - Travel and transportations allowances for servicemembers and up to three designees per member to attend Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program events
        - Authority to commission WO-1s (the only officers currently ineligible for commissions)
        - Prohibition of any inpatient TRICARE copay increase through FY2011
        - Requirements for improved and consistent pre- and post-deployment cognitive assessments and a DoD report on cognitive rehabilitation therapy for troops suffering from traumatic brain injury
        - Requirement for a DoD plan to “enhance quality, efficiency, and savings within the military health care system”
        - Requirements for an advisory panel on community support for military families with special-needs children and a report on DoD programs and child care for such children
        - Temporary authority to permit voluntary retirements of prior-enlisted officers with 8 years of officer service (vs. the normal 10)
        - Authority for services to pay replacement value for goods damaged during PCS moves if reimbursement isn’t available from the carrier
        - Requirement for report on servicemembers’ out-of-pocket PCS expenses, including overseas shipments of personal vehicles
        - Requirement for a GAO review of DoD housing surveys and housing allowance standards
State Legislative.
    John Graham not in attendance, but sent the following report.  One section of the budget adjustment bill passed on 9 June affects the NH Veterans Home.  As a result of the VA increasing the per diem rate for residents at the home, the NH legislature reduced the budget for the Home.  This despite the fact that the home has lost money in recent months due to executive orders and have had to lay off staff members.
Update on bills reported on at the May meeting:

HB 1387:  establishing a committee to study the need for supportive housing for homeless veterans.  Awaiting governor’s signature
HB 1568:  relative to the definition of wars and conflicts for the purpose of determining eligibility for public assistance payments for burial expenses of veterans.  Signed by the governor on 19 May
HB 1592:  relative to the exemption from the charge for a municipal permit to register a motor vehicle for amputee and other disabled veterans.  This bill expands eligibility for the exemption from the charge for a municipal permit to register a motor vehicle for amputees and other disabled veterans to all such disabled veterans who served in a qualifying war or armed conflict.  Signed by the governor on 18 May
HB1625:  relative to eligibility for the New Hampshire Veterans’ Home.  Expands eligibility to NH residents who served in the reserve components, and deletes the requirement for active service of at least 90 days.  Awaiting governor’s signature.
SB 508:  establishing the state Office of Veterans’ Services.  This bill establishes the state Office of Veterans’ Services, which assumes the primary duties and responsibilities of the state Veterans’ Council.  The state Veterans’ Council retains oversight authority for the Office of Veterans’ Services.  Awaiting governor’s signature
SB 509:  establishing the New Hampshire Medal of Honor fund and repealing the New Hampshire service award.  This bill repeals the NH service award and transfers funds remaining in the NH service award account to the NH Medal of Honor fund.  Awaiting governor’s signature
SB 517:  establishing a veterans’ legal aid advocacy project.  Awaiting governor’s signature
HR 20:  supporting the Cornyn-McCarthy Military Voting Protection Act.  Passed the House and sent to Congress for action
SR 1:  urging Congress to fund the construction of full-service veterans’ hospital in New Hampshire.   Approved by both the House and Senate, and copies sent to members of Congress

SPECIAL COMMITTEES:

Awards.
    No report.
Budget/Chapter Finances.
    Vacant
Newsletter.
    The next issue should be going to the post office 11 June.  There was discussion about publishing our “hero’s wall” in a future newsletter.
Board/Officer Nominations.
    Michael McLean said he thinks he’s all set for board nominations.  We still have some time before we have to think about officers.
PAO.
    George Arvanetaki not in attendance.

LIAISON ACTIVITIES:

Martin’s Point.
    Glen Crowell not in attendance, but no meetings were scheduled.
Veterans Home.
    Steve Waterman not in attendance.  Jim Lefebvre will be attending the volunteer appreciation event at the NHVH on 10 July to represent the chapter.
PSNY.
    Paul Lessard.  No report received.
State Veterans Advisory Committee (SVAC).
    Peter Burdett.  There was a meeting of the committee June 1.  They will take the summer off; next meeting is 22 September.  They wrapped up review of session results, covered under State Legislative and reviewed and approved minutes of their previous meeting.  Nominations and elections for chair and secretary were held.  Peter Burdett is new chair (congratulations!), John Simonton is secretary, and former chairman Griff Dalianis is chair emeritus.  The by-laws were changed to reflect a chair emeritus position.  The vice chair is open, but nominations have to be for 30 days.  Mary Moran’s office will get a name change to better reflect what her office does. There will be a ceremony for the opening of Dalianis House on 18 June at 1000 hours at 59 Factory Street in Nashua (see below).
Events:
    -- 18 June – Opening ceremony for Dalianis House, 1000 hours – Nashua (speakers Tammy Duckworth, VA Assistant. Secretary and Gov. Lynch)
    -- 19 June – Korean War Ceremony at the Veteran’s Cemetery at 1100
    -- 31 July – Retiree Appreciation day – NG aviation facility in Concord
    -- 19 August – Fisher Cats Military Appreciation Day – We need to support this event
    -- 28/29 August – Blue Angels Air Show at Pease
    -- 11 September – largest mobilization of NH troops will be held at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester
TOPS.
    Jim Lefebvre.  No new action.  House and Senate are interested in how well TAPS program is working.  Jim will try to get more info.
VAMC.
    Tom Kyle.  Tom attended the VAMC Volunteer Services quarterly meeting on 9 June .  Dr. Andrew Breuder, VAMC Chief of Staff, spoke about a number of key developments at VAMC.  These included:

-- Construction began on 1 June for 80 new parking spaces at VAMC, mostly in front of the Medical Center.  Work should be completed in about two months.
-- Funding has been approved for construction of a new 17,000 sq. ft. primary care and mental health facility adjacent to the existing medical center.  Construction should be completed in 18 to 24 months.  There will be 15 rooms for primary care and 15 rooms for mental health care.
-- The Concord Hospital contract continues on track very well.  On average, there are between 5 and 12 VAMC patients who receive acute care at Concord Hospital on any given day.  The contract will be re-bid sometime between late this year and early next year.
-- A nationwide systems redesign effort is underway for medical facilities with the Veterans Administration fully involved.  The goal is to streamline as many processes as possible in medical facilities, making the processes more efficient and cost effective.  VAMC has 12 different teams looking into this.  One example of such streamlining is to reduce the time required to hire new staff members.

OLD BUSINES:

    Level of Excellence Award Submission.  Submitted electronically to national on 28 May.  National did acknowledge receipt.

    Tax Return.  Submitted electronically on 14 May.

    Military Night at Fisher Cats Ball Park.  19 August Peter Burdett thinks we should buy 100 $6 tickets utilizing our promotion code, so we would get $4 back for each ticket.  Fisher Cats will match, so that would be 200 tickets for soldiers deploying in September.  TAG, Governor, mayor of Manchester as well as other dignitaries should be there.  Peter made a motion to buy 100 tickets, which was seconded. The treasurer said that it’s not in the budget, but we could move money around.  In response to a question, the treasurer said we have already spent all the money budgeted for recruiting in 2010.  It was suggested that we make a pitch at the clambake.  Motion passed to purchase 100 tickets.

NEW BUSINESS:

    Clambake. Jeff Olson said at this point the only hole we had last year was servers on the line.  Next month we’ll work on logistics.  Jeff will work with Glen Crowell to get the keys, etc..  The flyer is ready.  Jeff hasn’t talked to Cal Hosmer yet about equipment needed.  The plan is to buy a few new metal cans each year so we continually have enough.

    Honorary Member Approval.  The board officially approved Charles Cove, Cpl, USMC, co-founder of the Pease Greeters, as an honorary member.  He was recognized at our 5 June luncheon.

    Election Year “Congressional Updates” to Chapter.  Several people talked to President Gary Terhune about letting Susan Mayer talk at the 5 June meeting.  He explained his reasons.  Discussion centered around the fact that perhaps it was her presentation style that made members uncomfortable about the ‘politicking’.

Gary was interviewed today by Veterans history person from Carol Shea-Porter’s office about his military career.

Peter Burdett spoke about Easter Seals and Veterans Count.  Serious money involved, but can’t give government money to soldiers to fill up gas tank, etc.  Looking at signing up service providers such as mechanics, handymen, etc.  Families can always call 211.