Gerry Berger AVHOFS President Class of 2016

Dear Patriots,

2020 is here and wishing you the Happiest, Healthiest and most Prosperous New Year from all of us on the Society Board!  We look forward to serving you in 2020.

The 8th of January Membership Meeting is nearly upon us and we have a full agenda for that morning.  We meet at 10 am at the Veterans Home, 4141 N. Herrara Way, Phoenix, in Liberty Hall on the 2d floor.  Refreshments will be available.  I look forward to welcoming all of you.

Sadly, our Chaplain, Vincente Sanchez, Sr., resigned recently so there is a vacancy on the Board now.  Please let me know if you are interested in being our Chaplain for the Society.  In addition, our Secretary, Rachel Gutierrez, has asked she be replaced so there is another vacancy.  If you are interested in being our Secretary, please contact me directly at my email: bergergerry@hotmail.com.
I’m interested in knowing when you are unable to get into our avhof.org website so please email me if you have had any difficulties locating items or even logging in so we can attend to those concerns promptly.

Thank you for all you do for veterans. 

Gerry Berger

Aspire to Inspire before you Expire

Jerry Wojtas AVHOFS Treasurer Class of 2011

Did you ever ask yourself this question, “If the Century Club has failed each year reaching its goal, where does the money come from to permit us giving out $10,000 in scholarships each year”?

Well, the answer is that fortunately we have some members who besides contributing to the Century Club, they also donate directly to our Scholarship Fund.  Plus, there are several veterans’ organizations that also donate directly to our scholarship fund.

When the Century Club started several years ago, it took 3 years of contributions to reach our $10,000 goal.  We finally had to reduce our goal to $5,000 to be realistic of what our contributions would be.  And we still didn’t reach our goal of $5,000!

But this past year has been different!  Our membership has stepped forward and donated like never before!  We ended the year at a record level of $6,960.  As treasurer, I want to thank each contributor personally for making this past year so successful.  Please talk it up with other Society friends so that in 2020 we surpass the total we reached this past year.

And remember, consider donating $105 and thereby getting your name in bigger type and in color!  Donate early in the year and get your name listed in the annual Patriotic Awards Luncheon program.

Our total for 2019 stands at $6,960.

 GREEN - $101-$199   BLUE - $200-$299   RED - $300 and above

Lee Lange AVHOFS Director Class of 2018

The 54th Arizona state legislature, second session, will convene January 13, 2020.  The Unified Arizona Veterans (UAV) coalition and the Veterans Caucus in the state legislature have agreed to several priorities.  The top veteran priority is again more Veterans Benefits Counselors (VBCs).  Last year the Arizona Department of Veteran’s Services asked for funding for 12 more VBCs.  These are positions already authorized but cut during The Great Recession 2007 – 2009.  Despite a roaring economy, those positions have never been restored.  Another priority is a state legislative effort to bring more focus to the problem of sexual assault/trauma in the military.  The state effort would be to get our federal delegation to take action in Congress to work this problem.  The state tax exemption issue is also in play.  Representative Gail Griffin will introduce a bill in the next session to increase the state tax exemption for military retired pay which is $3500 right now.  No word yet if the Senate will have a companion bill on this issue.

Arizona Fair Lending Ballot Initiative

The Arizona Fair Lending Act ballot measure for 2020 continues to move forward.  A committee called Arizonans for Fair Lending is leading this effort.  The committee has hired a campaign manager, a law firm for legal matters and a lobbying firm to represent the group in the state legislature.  A legal challenge is pending with the state that would facilitate the ballot initiative.  The coalition of veteran’s groups, local charities and faith-based organizations include the Center for Responsible Lending, a national group, St Vincent DePaul, the Southwest Veterans Chamber of Commerce and the Military Officers Association of America state council.  Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society members can help the effort by identifying veterans they may know who have used title loans and ended up with more problems than they started with.  The Committee is looking for stories of actual loan experiences that can help the ballot initiative.  If any Society members know of someone who might be willing to speak on his/her experience, contact Lee Lange at (703) 232-3609 or lflange48@gmail.com. He will work personally with the individual to ensure proper privacy and how best they can help the ballot effort with their story.  

The Country Store is currently closed.  It is normally open two times a year – in the spring (usually 15 March to the end of April) and in the fall (usually mid-September to mid-October).  Feel free to browse the store items anytime at www.avhof.org.

Roy McClymonds
AVHOFS Quartermaster
Class of 2017

Reggie Yates Immediate Past Chair Unified Arizona Veterans Class of 2018 Class of 2016

A non–profit organization founded in 1990, Fisher House Foundation has grown to 86 facilities where military members, Veterans and their families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment, often from traumatic injuries.  These homes are located at major military and VAMCs nationwide and in Europe, close to the hospital or medical center it serves.  Please visit the Fisher House website at fisherhouse.org to access information on the Foundation history, mission and current locations.  Fisher House Tucson opened in February of 2016, on the campus of the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System and continues to serve the needs of the region as well as receiving nationwide referrals.

There are several factors which contribute to the necessity for a Fisher House Phoenix.

Arizona and the Phoenix VA Health Care System have experienced one of the nation's greatest growth in the veteran population.  A substantial number of veteran winter visitors increase the VAMC Phoenix workload each year by 20%.  And, lastly, projections based on increasing numbers of returning veterans from the country’s longest war contributes to the ever-increasing demands for increased quality and convenience in the delivery of veterans' health care.

These factors have not only created an unmet demand but also elevated the urgent need for a Phoenix Fisher House.

The Fisher House Foundation application process is well established and there are a number of important requirements and milestones that are required by the Foundation, which will be outlined in this space going forward.

A working group was convened over the summer to focus efforts on developing a comprehensive plan and glide path to establishing a Fisher House Phoenix.  Pat Little–Upah  (Class of 2014) , David Lucier (Class of 2009) and VAMC Associate Director , Michael Welsh and Annie Remsberg are part of the core group involved in this effort.

Currently, there is a need, for seed money ($8,000 estimated by 30 June 2020) to establish vital outreach, coordination and communications programs.  Unified Arizona Veterans (UAV) has been asked to assist in accepting individual and group donations using a similar system which launched in 2017 to successfully organize and fund refurbishment of the Arizona World War I Memorial.  This seed money funding element is expected to be in place by January 15, 2020. There is also a need for two (2) volunteers to assist as recorders for working group activities.

Those individuals who wish to serve as Working Group Recorders are asked to contact Reggie Yates (Class of 2013) at ry173abn@cox.net by January 10, 2020.

Thanks for your consideration and we look forward to hearing from you.

Reggie Yates
(602.373.0703)
Immediate Past Chair
Unified Arizona Veterans

WARRIOR HEALING CENTER

Sierra Vista celebrated Veterans Day with a parade followed with a ceremony in Veterans Memorial Park (the city’s largest).  MG Laura Potter (CG, USA Intelligence Center of Excellence and Fort Huachuca), Glenn Hohman (Grand Marshal, Veteran of the Year and AVHOF Class of 2018) and Mayor Rick Mueller cut the ceremonial cake (provided by the Coronado Chapter of MOAA) at the conclusion of the event.  The sword is provided every year by Leo Pimple (Class of 2011).

Tom Hessler
President
Cochise County Chapter, AVHOFS
Class of 2007

Request you let us know as soon as you know of an inductee’s passing.  If available, we would like to know the inductee’s name, date of passing, funeral and memorial service details, and a copy of the obituary.  Send notices to me at bergergerry@hotmail.com.

Known members that have passed so far this year are:

Arden Rowley (Class of 2004) passed 14 June
James Seidl (Class of 2006) passed 16 June
Joseph Schneider (Class of 2009) passed 17 June
Aloysius F. Radlinski (Class of 2010) passed 5 September
Larry D. Mitchell (Class of 2010) passed 3 November
Lionel Sanchez (Class of 2012) passed 27 December

Many of our Society members are very active in their communities.  You are invited to send me articles with pictures of our “members in action”.  Be sure to identify the members in the pictures.  We will select a few of the best for publication.  Please send to me (tom Hessler) at tjhessler@cox.net.

I am planning to end my career as editor effective the end of 2020.  If anyone is interested in taking on the editor position, please email me or call (520) 227-0545 so we can discuss the position.  There is no travel involved.  I have done this out of my home in Sierra Vista.