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HOT
NEWS
MOAA Assisted Military
Recruiting
By CAPT William Knehans, USN (Ret)
President, Florida Council of Chapters, MOAA
In response to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Military
Officers Association of America and the Army Recruiting Command, the
Florida Council of Chapters held a mini-symposium during its recent
annual Fall Board of Directors meeting. The intention of the
mini-symposium was to identify ways that MOAA chapters and members can
assist in supporting the Memorandum of Understanding and recruiting in
all branches of our Armed Forces.
During the introduction to the symposium MOAA National Board member,
LtCol Fred Edwards, USMC (Ret), cited the following factors that may be
influencing decreased enlistments in the Military Services, especially
those Services experiencing recruiting shortfalls despite the summer
recruiting surge.
* As in any operation involving combat, reports of casualties from
Afganistan and Iraq can have a strong negative effect on potential
recruits.
* The robust job market is offering an employment alternative to the
young folks who might otherwise enlist in the military.
* As was brought out in the interview with Major General Rochelle that
appeared in the May 2005 issue of MILITARY OFFICER, a prevailing
negative attitude by young folks� closest influencers is significantly
hampering recruiting efforts.
The goals of the symposium were threefold: First was to find ways to
emphasize to the MOAA membership the recruiting problems that individual
Services -- the Army and somewhat the Marine Corps in particular -- are
having. Second was to develop methods of involving MOAA chapters and
clubs in active support of the Memorandum of Understanding. Third, and
considered most important, was to advance ideas of how to work
aggressively to reverse the influencers� negative attitudes toward
enlisting and serving in our country�s Armed Forces.
The Board members developed the following suggestions for
implementation:
* Increase the involvement and interaction between MOAA chapters and
clubs and local JROTC units. In addition to presenting MOAA medals,
certificates, and sometimes awards, to JROTC cadets, many chapters
invite JROTC color guards to present the colors at MOAA meetings. This
provides chapter members the opportunity to meet the cadets personally
and have conversations with them. In addition, MOAA chapters and clubs
could identify opportunities for creating additional JROTC units and
should encourage their formation.
* Take steps to ensure military recruiters have access to high school,
college, and university campuses. By local dialogue with the governing
bodies of these institutions, MOAA members, chapters and clubs in
coalition with other like-minded groups should take the initiative in
promoting access.
* Expand the Veterans in the Classroom programs in Florida as well as
other states in order to project a positive image of military service.
Florida Statutes require that all public schools present two class
sessions each year dedicated to promoting patriotism. This requirement
has led to a number of MOAA chapters developing a Veterans in the
Classroom program in which veterans share their military experiences
with the students in the classroom environment.
* Invite third and fourth year high school students, who are identified
as leaders by school officials such as Guidance Counselors or JROTC
instructors, to attend MOAA chapter meetings when scheduled programs
would be of interest to them. The students could be hosted by the
chapters or individual members and be exposed to the military
experiences of their hosts. This could motivate these student leaders to
take a favorable report of military service back to their classmates.
* Be watchful for community and patriotic activities where young people
are in attendance, so that MOAA members can identify themselves as
veterans and engage them in conversation. Wearing a uniform whenever
appropriate, should simplify such identification.
The symposium participants also advanced the following ideas that are
beyond the abilities of MOAA chapters to institute, but deserve
mentioning.
* Find ways for Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard members
returning from service in Iraq or Afganistan to be made available to go
into classrooms or attend chapter meetings where students are present.
* Accelerate citizenship for immigrants who serve an enlistment.
* Continue to press for pay comparability between military service and
the civilian job market.
As President of the Florida Council of Chapters, I am forwarding the
results of this symposium for consideration by other councils, as well
as chapters, individuals, and cognizant members of the national
headquarters. I believe the results can help us not only carry out our
responsibilities in MOAA's Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S.
Army Recruiting Command, but also assist recruiting in all branches of
the Armed Forces.
Info - you can now
access your DD-214 on-line.
Please pass
this information on to retired military
personnel you may know.
Pass to Every Vet - MILITARY RECORDS
The National Personnel Records Center has provided the following
website for veterans to access their DD-214 online:
<<<https://vetrecs.archives.gov>>>>
<<<https://vetrecs.archives.gov>>>>.
This may be particularly he lpful when a veteran needs a copy of his DD-214 for employment purposes. Please see the details below.
The National Personnel Records Center is working to make it easier for veterans with computers and Internet access to obtain copies of
documents from their military files.
Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military
members may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents. Other individuals with a need for documents must still
complete the Standard Form 180 which can be downloaded from the online web site.
The new web-based application was designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating the records center's mailroom processing time.
Also, because the requester will be asked to supply all information essential for NPRC to process the request,
delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans for additional
information will be minimized.
Veterans and next of kin may access this application at <<<https://vetrecs.archives.gov>>>>
<<<https://vetrecs.archives.gov>
"OPERATION
HELPING HAND"
Name
Change Procedure Guidance
We have had several inquiries regarding actions necessary with regard to
changing our council�s and chapters� names and filing with the State of
Florida. You are referred to MOAA�s January 2003 The Affiliate, which
gives comprehensive guidance on changing the name.
Supplementing this guidance and in order to be consistent and comply
with State of Florida requirements, we have been advised by Florida
Department of State, Division of Corporations, that we should follow these
procedures with regard to changing our chapter names:
The first action that should be taken is to amend the council/chapter
bylaws to reflect the new name.
For those chapters that are not incorporated, you will merely change
your name in accordance with your chapter�s by-laws. No further action is
required with regard to reporting this to the State of Florida; however,
you should keep a record of the minutes of the meeting where the name was
changed.
For those chapters that are incorporated, you should file the routine
corporate certificate renewal, Uniform Business Report (UBR), when it is
received from the State of Florida, Division of Corporations along with
the $61.25 renewal fee. If the UBR shows the "old" name, you should still
file the report as soon as possible but definitely on or before the filing
deadline.
As soon as possible after the incorporated chapter completes its name
change procedure, you must submit Articles of Correction along with the
appropriate $35 filing fee to the Division of Corporations. Forms, which
include filing information, are available directly from the Division�s
website
https://www.sunbiz.org.
Click on "Download Filing Forms." Select "Florida Corporations (Profit and
Non Profit)" and then "Articles of Correction." Adobe�s Acrobat Reader may
be needed to print some of the forms. For further information about filing
Articles of Correction, the organization may e-mail questions to corphelp@mail.dos.state.fl.us
or by calling 850-245-6050. To request forms by mail, please call
850-245-6050. Along with the explanatory remarks in the Articles of
Correction, we would suggest that the chapter include a copy of their
revised bylaws showing the effect of changing the name.
After filing these Articles of Correction, the chapter will receive
back from the State a letter acknowledging the recognition of the name
change.
Of course, if the chapter�s scholarship fund (or any other similar
activity) is also incorporated in the State and you change the name, you
will have to follow the same procedures with that entity.
SALES TAX EXEMPTION: In an October25, 1998 memo from Florida Council
president Col. Klyne Nowlin, the chapters of the council were granted
permission to use the council�s sales tax exemption certificate while we
waited for the state legislature to change the statute to allow individual
chapters and posts of veterans organizations to have their own sales tax
exemptions. When the statute change became law on July 1, 1999, the
chapters were told that they must obtain their own exemption certificates.
Most chapters did this, but we have just learned that some did not because
either they didn�t feel that the extent of their activities warranted the
exemption or that they misunderstood the requirement. We regret any
inconvenience, but we encourage you to apply for your own certificate if
you desire to be exempt from Florida sales tax.
The procedures are not complicated although certain documents are
required. To begin the process you should contact the Department of
Revenue in Tallahassee at 1-800-352-3671 and ask for the forms and
instructions to apply for a Sales Tax Exemption Certificate. Or, you may
download the necessary forms from
https://www.myflorida.com/dor/forms/2002/DR-5.pdf
for which you will need Adobe�s Acrobat Reader. There is no filing fee for
this application. You will also need a copy of your charter, your articles
of incorporation, and an IRS determination letter granting you as a
veterans organization a 501 (c) (19) exemption from Federal income tax.
For those chapters who will be filing for renewal of your Consumer�s
Certificate of Exemption (Sales Tax Exemption), you will need to forward a
copy of the previously-mentioned letter, the result of the Articles of
Correction filing, recognizing the name change to Florida�s Department of
Revenue, 5050 W Tennessee St, Tallahassee FL 32399-0100. If this letter is
received by DOR at least 90 days before the expiration date of the current
certificate, the renewal should show the new name. Pending this renewal or
if the certificate is renewed under the old name, we have been assured
that until a certificate has been issued under the new name, the chapter
is allowed to use the authority of the certificate they have to obtain
appropriate sales tax exemption. Of course, it would be wise to have
available the "recognition" letter to support this with any vendor who may
have questions.
For those chapters which have obtained Solicitation of Contributions
(DACS-10100) authority, you will simply need to send a copy of the
"recognition" letter to Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer
Services, Attention: Rudy Hamrick, 2005 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee,
Florida 32399-6500. If this is done sufficiently ahead of the renewal of
your certificate, it should show the new name. If not, again, we have been
assured that you may use the old certificate authority until a new one is
issued under the new name. If your chapter solicits funds from outside the
chapter and you have not already filed for this authority, you MUST obtain
this certificate. The necessary forms can be obtained by calling
850-410-3704 or downloaded from
https://www.doacs.state.fl.us/onestop/cs/pdfs/10100e.pdf
. Again, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. The forms are a little
involved and require a $10 filing fee and certain supplemental
documentation.
Finally, the instructions in The Affiliate regarding filing the name
change with the IRS are thoroughly complete and will not be repeated here.
However, they do state that all the necessary forms and instructions can
be downloaded from the IRS Web site,
https://www.irs.gov.
Click on "Businesses," then "Forms and Publications" (under "Resources"),
then "Forms and Instructions."
I hope this information is helpful to your chapter in getting this
necessary paperwork done. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to
contact me, your Area Vice President or any of our other council staff.
Sincerely,
Henry W. Ince, COL, USAR (Ret)
President Florida Council of Chapters of TROA
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NEW LAW INCREASES PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR DISABLED VETERANS
TALLAHASSEE � State agencies are working with Florida veterans� associations
and property tax administrators to implement a new state law that will increase
the exemption from property taxes for veterans with service-connected
disabilities from $500 to $5,000.
The Florida Department of Revenue and the Florida Department of Veterans�
Affairs are seeking assistance from veterans� organizations in urging disabled
veterans to make sure that they take advantage of the additional tax savings.
The increased exemption applies only to homestead property (the home that the
veteran lives in). The exemption is available to any veteran who lives in
Florida, who owns homestead property, and who has a service-connected disability
of from 10 to 90 percent. State law already provides a full homestead property
tax exemption to veterans who are 100 percent permanently and totally disabled.
The additional tax savings was made possible by HB 165, adopted in the 2002
Legislature. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Jerry Paul, R-Port Charlotte, Rep.
Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, Rep. Irving Slosberg, D-Boca Raton, and Sen.
Locke Burt, R-Ormond Beach.
Many county appraisers' offices have indicated that this increase in the
exemption will automatically be granted. However, those veterans currently
receiving the $500 exemption should contact their county appraiser's office
between January and March 2003 if they have not received notification from their
appraiser's office by then. Also, veterans who are not currently receiving an
exemption for their service-connected disabilities should contact their county
property appraiser's office. Veterans applying for the exemption for the first
time will need a letter of certification of their service-connected disability
rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or the U.S. Government.
The legislation takes effect January 1, 2003. Applications for property tax
exemptions are due by March 1 of every year. Disabled veterans may apply for the
additional exemption at their county property appraiser�s office.
For more information about homestead exemptions and how to contact Florida�s
67 property appraisers, please point your web browser to http:www.myflorida.com/dor/property
or call the local property appraiser�s office listed in the Blue Pages
(Government Listings) of your local telephone directory. To contact your
county�s veterans service office, please look in your county government listings
in the Blue Pages (Government listings) of your local telephone directory.
Request for Reimbursement Form
CDR Helen Delaney, USN (Ret)
25 Beaumont Lane
Flagler Beach, FL 32136
(386) 439-2997
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