NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR UNIFORMED SERVICES

WEEKLY UPDATE FOR 27 JANUARY 2006

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>

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

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.