February

NEWSLETTER

Midway Chapter 16

P.O. Box 1774, Salina, Kansas 67402-1774

Issue: 2           February 2020          

 

OFFICERS:  President – Fred Fanning 785-201-7824; Vice President – Gary Keil; 785-822-4131; Secretary-Bill Vinyard 785-787-0655; Treasurer-Roger Thull 785-827-7981; Chaplain Moses Stewart 785-827-5956

 

MEETING DATE/LOCATION: February 14, Salina Senior CenterAT 1:00 pm, Board Room 

PRESIDENT’S REMARKS:   Hello everyone. Just a quick update on our monthly meetings. The kitchen will be closed at the Senior Center February through part of April. For February 14th, we will meet at the Senior Center and have chili provided by Ron & Cayla Sondegard. If you would like to bring a side dish, please do so. I will bring the bowls, spoons, and drinks. For March and April, I am suggesting that we meet at Mattie’s Grill and Chill. They will give us a free meeting room. We can purchase lunch there and have our meeting at our normal times. We will speak about this at our February meeting. Hope to see you there. Regards, Fred Fanning email fredefanning@gmail.com.

 

GUEST SPEAKER:  Loni Pruitt, Chief Operations Officer - CKF Addiction Treatment and Friend to Friend, Salina, KS.

 

REST HOMES/SICK:  William Long in Pinnacle Park, Salina.  Richard Trow reported that Treasurer Roger Thull had a heart attack and is in the hospital.  Roger Thull is at the Select Specialty Hospital in Wichita, KS.  Keep these two members in our thoughts and prayers. 

 

JANUARY MEETING TIDBITS:  Attendance drawing winner was James Price, a $20 Gift Card. The guest speaker Loni Pruitt rescheduled for the February meeting. The members completed an in-depth review of each line item of the chapter's 2020 budget, with a few deletions, amount decreases, and one event put on hold. The budget was approved as amended with a proposal for a mid-year review of the chapter’s financial status. Treasurer R. Thull was not present; Shirley Wagner reported a checking account balance of $551.45. President F. Fanning advised, in January, that Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas is the new Chairman of the Senate Veteran's Affairs Committee. 

 

F-35 FIGHTER JET: A California-based Marine Corps squadron has received its first F-35C Joint Strike Fighter jet, which can fly off aircraft carriers and make longer-range flights. The Marine Corps has carried out flight operations in the "B" variant of the F-35, which can take off and land vertically on amphibious assault ships, since 2015. This is the first time a Marine squadron has had a "C" variant, which is designed for carrier operations. Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the F-35, calls the "C" variant "the only fighter that can respond to tomorrow's threats and preserve the U.S. Navy's maritime supremacy." (Source - Military.com)

 

VETERANS ACCESS TO FORT RILEY COMMISSARY AND POST EXCHANGE:  Upon the first visit to Fort Riley, eligible veterans (honorably discharged) and caregivers must stop at the Visitor Control Center. Building 885 located just before the Henry Gate Access Control Point (exit 301, U.S. Interstate highway 70). Phone 785-239-2982, hours Mon-Fri 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sat-Sun and Federal Holidays: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Following successful verification, Veterans/caregivers receive a 1-year badge for access to the installation. The installation badge will allow them to proceed to the gate for entry upon subsequent visits without having to stop again at the Visitor Control Center. 

 

FREE TAX PREPARATION FOR VETERANS: Tax season is here. Military personnel, Veterans, and their families have access to a variety of tax preparation and filing services for free. For example, Military installations the Legal Office, most city Senior Centers, IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Programs offer free tax help for senior taxpayers who qualify (www.irs.gov). Most locations also offer free electronic filing. Find a VITA site near you  call 1-800-906-9887 or an AARP site near you call 1-888-227-7669.

 

VALENTINES DAY QUOTE: “One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood.” —Lucius Annaeus Seneca