Date: 2/18/2008
To: Distribution List
NEWS-01: Just Because...
NEWS-02: National Balloting SitRep
NEWS-03: What is "Ocean Stewardship" all about?
NEWS-04: Tim VeArd: The "Wizard behind the Curtain"
NEWS-05: Oldest Submariner turns 105!
NEWS-06: Defeating the "Spammers"
NEWS-07: Tommy Cox, Submariner Troubadour, Tunes-In living color!
NEWS-08: Longest Serving Base Commander steps down
NEWS-09: USS Cavalla Base hoops a "3 pointer" for
Education.
NEWS-10: Last Call for USSVI Scholarship Applications
NEWS-11: Another Hero Leaves us...
NEWS-12: New class of submarine all about mission of stealth
VET-01: VA Increases Travel Reimbursement for Eligible Veterans as
of Feb 1st
VET-02: Shingles Vaccine Available to TRICARE Beneficiaries Age 60
and Older
VET-03: Veterans and Mesothelioma
VET-04: Free Money from the Feds...
CHARITABLE-??: no Charitable news this time .....
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NEWS-01: Just Because...
Submitted by: Pat Householder on 2/11/2008
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What are the most common specialty rates in USSVI?
MM: 1404
ET: 1097
EM: 1093
TM: 839
EN: 749
ST: 620
IC: 453
MS/CS: 328
MT: 137
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NEWS-02: National Balloting SitRep
Submitted by: John Peters-Nominations Chair. on 2/11/2008
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Candidates for Positions received to date.
NC: Pat Householder, John Carciopollo
NSVC Jon Jacques
NJVC Mike Bircumshaw
NatSec Al Singleman
NT John Markeiwicz
ERD: George Boyle, Jack Ensminger
CRD Carl Schmidt
WRD: Rocky Rockers
Listed in order nominations were received.
Nominations and acceptance are due in to John Peters no later than; "The
Nomination is received by the Nomination Committee Chair on or by April 30th or
100 days prior to the ABM, whichever comes first, of the election year."
It must also be in 100 words or less, comply with Constitution Article XI
Section 1 paragraph (b).
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NEWS-03: What is "Ocean Stewardship" all about?
Submitted by: Ronald L Martini on 2/12/2008
---------------------------------------------------------
The U.S. Navy's new Ocean Stewardship website educates and informs the public
and Sailors on what the U.S. Navy is doing to protect the seas and its
inhabitants during crucial training exercises.
The new website features information on whales, video clips, environmental
stories, the Currents magazine and more.
Click on the link for all the details...
http://www.navy.mil/oceans/
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NEWS-04: Tim VeArd: The "Wizard behind the
Curtain"
Submitted by: Pat Householder on 2/12/2008
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You know, we have a official awards structure to recognize service to our
shipmates 'above and beyond the call,' but in addition to that I hope no one
will object if I shine a light on a hardworking shipmate that many of us never
(or hardly ever) hear about.
Any Base officer who deals with membership related issues knows that 18 months
ago we 'turned on' a magnificent new online membership management system.
This system has revolutionized our ability to properly serve all our membership
recordkeeping, see that our members get their A/S magazine on time, and makes
it possible for any member with online access to visit our password protected
directory to look up old shipmates by name or by boat served.
Tim has also donated many Base Websites, as well as providing the excellent and
comprehensive USSV.ORG national website.
Serving the needs of our membership is the catch-phrase, and all of this is
possible only through the hard work and generosity of Tim Veard,
past Snug Harbor Base Cdr, and current Info Tech Manager for USSVI.
You have no idea of the hours of work shipmate Tim has dedicated to benefit us
all. Take my word for it; it has been a bundle!
Tim doesn't ask for thanks, and he prefers to remain in the background but he
deserves, and I personally would appreciate it if you would send our Shipmate,
a brief email of thanks for all he has done and is continuing to do for us.
It seems like the very least we can do.
His email is: Tim@Veard.com
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NEWS-05: Oldest Submariner turns 105!
Submitted by: Ronald L Martini on 2/12/2008
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Floyd “Skipper” Matthews 105th birthday celebration was held Feb. 3, 2008, in Florence, Ala.
Matthews qualified in submarines in 1925, having joined the Navy at the age of
16, three years younger than the age his recruiter listed on his enlistment
papers.
During his career, Matthews served with Lt. Cmdr. Charles “Swede” Momson, the inventor of the Momsen lung, and was a member of
the crew that used the McCann Bell to rescue 30 crewmembers of the USS Squalus.
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NEWS-06: Defeating the "Spammers"
Submitted by: Pat Householder on 2/13/2008
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I think it is fair to say that we all detest 'spammers' and would like to see
them all skinned with a dull knife, or suffer some other equally ghastly fate.
Some of us are unthinkingly making it easier for these lowlifes by sending out
mass emails of Jokes, SubVet News, etc, using
"CC" to list our email names.
We've all done it and, yes, the horse is out of the barn to some extent, but we
need to do better to protect us all.
The problem is, these are being forwarded to some SubVets
who don't have adequate safeguards in place on their computers.
No one intends or wants it to happen, but any person who has a worm or a virus
on their computer and gets a joke or Base Broadcast, the entire "CC" list
automatically gets sent to spammers.
There is a VERY SIMPLE solution beyond the draconian 'don't send' option.
Just use the "Blind CC" (BCC) feature.
That way, when the mass send goes out, the EMAIL ADDYS
are suppressed and unavailable for spammer harvesting. Same messages, delivery
is the same, just no opportunity for the spammers to grab our email addys.
Any questions on this, please get back to me. Some additional spamfighting tips at the link below.
Fraternally
http://www.netfaqs.com/faqs/youfightspam.asp
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NEWS-07: Tommy Cox, Submariner Troubadour, Tunes-In living color!
Submitted by: Ronald L Martini on 2/14/2008
---------------------------------------------------------
Most of Tommy's submarine tunes are at the link below.
Once there, put "Tommy Cox" (without "") in the search box
and you'll get to hear them all.
Click on the link
www.youtube.com
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NEWS-08: Longest Serving Base Commander steps down
Submitted by: Pat Householder on 2/17/2008
---------------------------------------------------------
As of February 16, 2008 Henry Espinosa has stepped down as Base Commander of
Bullhead Base. Henry had been Base Commander for approximately ten years and
assumed responsibility for many Bullhead base duties over the years.
Henry qualified in 1949 on the "Bobbin Robin" (Sea Robin) and retired
in 1968 as a ENC(SS), having served in eight subs. Over the past months
shipmate Espinoza has experienced numerous health issues that made it difficult
for him to keep up with the demands of this office.
While there may be another, I am unaware of anyone else who has served as Base
Commander for such a length of time and with such dedication to USSVI.
Please consider sending Henry a "BZ" and thanks for his service, both
in Submarines and in USSVI.
Henry Espinoza: HenryEspinosa@comcast.net
http://www.ussvi.org/base/Bullhead.asp
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NEWS-09: USS Cavalla Base hoops a "3 pointer" for Education.
Submitted by: Mike Pullen, USS Cavalla Base on 2/18/2008
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Communities In Schools of Southeast Harris/Brazoria County is hosting the 14th
Annual Hoop Jam Tournament on Saturday, April 12, 2008 and Sunday, April 13, 2008 at Alvin High
School in Alvin, Texas.
The United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. – USS Cavalla Base is participating
in the 14th Annual Hoop Jam Tournament as a sponsor. The Navy veterans’
organization made a donation that sponsors a four person team to participate in
the tournament at no cost to the students. Through their donation, the Navy
veterans have supported CIS and their commitment to educating future
generations.
Hoop Jam is an annual fundraising event that allows the students served by CIS
to participate in a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. It is a fun and enjoyable
event that brings families within the community together to raise money to
support the “stay-in-school” efforts of Communities In Schools.
CIS is a non-profit organization that works as a supportive network to promote
a better future for students all across the nation and to encourage students to
stay-in-school.
Communities In Schools creates this “stay-in-school” network by offering
supportive guidance, mentoring, basic human services, and enrichment to
students at the elementary, junior high, and high schools levels.
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NEWS-10: Last Call for USSVI Scholarship Applications
Submitted by: Pat Householder on 2/18/2008
---------------------------------------------------------
Your USSVI National Scholarship Committee invites sponsors of all eligible high
school seniors and attending college students to request a USSVI Scholarship
application.
Applications will be accepted by Paul Orstad, Scholarship Chairman, up till March 15, 2008. They
must be in his hand or postmarked no later than that date.
Helpful Hints gor College level applicants
http://www.ussvi.org/Documents/Scholarship_Notes_College_Level.pdf
Helpful Hints gor High School level applicants
http://www.ussvi.org/Documents/Scholarship_Notes_High_School.pdf
To download the Application
http://www.ussvi.org/Documents/Scholarship_Application_2008_Scholarship_Application.pdf
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NEWS-11: Another Hero Leaves us...
Submitted by: Pat Householder on 2/18/2008
---------------------------------------------------------
Joseph L McGrievy, qualified 1938 in USS Pickerel,
was aboard USS Searaven in Manila when WWII broke
out, departed this life early morning on Feb 18, 2008 in San Diego.
Joe survived nine war patrols, was meritoriously promoted to Signalman Chief
for Heroism aboad USS Skipjack in 1942 and was
awarded the Silver Star aboard USS Seahorse under command of Slade Cutter.
In service 8-36 to 10-66, retiring as Commander:
His decorations included the Silver Star, Nav-Mar
Corps Medal, Comm. Medal, NavAch, GC(5), AmDef, AmCamp, EuroMEAfr Camp, Asia-Pac Camp (10), PhilDef,
PhilLib, WW II Victory. Gold/Silver dolphins. Combat
Patrol Pin (9). Some Korean/Vietnam awards as well.
Joe was Active in USSVI (Scamp and San Diego Bases) & SubVets,
WWII. Joe's wife of 68 yrs, Lilian, passed away in
early 2007. She had been his sweetheart during the Depression, his welcoming
bride when he returned safely from 9 WWII submarine War Patrols, and is the
mother of Mike and Sandra.
Hand Salute, Shipmate and Hero. We will not forget you and thank you for your
splendid service.
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NEWS-12: New class of submarine all about mission of stealth
Submitted by: Pat Householder on 2/18/2008
---------------------------------------------------------
The Associated Press 02.17.2008
ABOARD THE USS OHIO — Capt.
Andy Hale has just worked out and is still in a sweaty T-shirt and shorts as he
stands in the battle command center. He is watching a flat-screen display that
shows what's happening outside on the bow and the aft.
His billion-dollar submarine — the U.S. Navy's newest twist on underwater
warfare — is hovering just below the surface off the Pacific island of Guam as a
submersible disappears into the dark waters, carrying a team of commandos.
Click on the link for the rest of the story...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1971861/posts
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VET-01: VA Increases Travel Reimbursement for Eligible Veterans as of Feb 1st
Submitted by: Carl Schmidt on 2/9/2008
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This increase helps veterans -- especially those living in rural areas --
offset some of the gasoline costs as they travel to VA’s world-class health
care,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.
“Increasing the mileage reimbursement is one more step by VA to help veterans
access the health care they deserve.”
The 2008 appropriations act provided funding for VA to increase the beneficiary
travel mileage reimbursement rate from 11 cents per mile to 28.5 cents per
mile. The increase goes into effect on Feb. 1.
Click on the link for the rest of the story...
http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1447
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VET-02: Shingles Vaccine Available to TRICARE
Beneficiaries Age 60 and Older
Submitted by: John P. Dudas on 2/10/2008
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TRICARE now covers Zostavax,
the vaccine designed to prevent shingles for beneficiaries 60 and older.
Shingles is a painful viral disease that affects more than one million
Americans every year. More than half of those cases happen in people age 60 or
older. The CDC recommends a single dose of shingles vaccine for everyone age 60
and older.
Click on the link for complete information.
http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=345
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VET-03: Veterans and Mesothelioma
Submitted by: Pat Householder on 2/13/2008
---------------------------------------------------------
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there are currently 25
million living individuals who have served in the United
States' armed forces.
Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of these living veterans were exposed to
toxic asbestos-containing materials during military service.
For more information, click on the link.
www.asbestos.com/veterans
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VET-04: Free Money from the Feds...
Submitted by: Pat Householder on 2/18/2008
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Economic Stimulus Tax Benefits
Recipients of VA disability compensation, pension and survivors benefits may
qualify for economic stimulus payments this year from the federal government.
**************
NOTE: Individuals who might not otherwise be required to file a 2007 tax return
need to file a return this year to receive the stimulus payment.
**************
Detailed information is available on the Internal Revenue Service Web site.
http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=177937,00.html