NEWSLETTER
Midway Chapter 16
P.O. Box 1774, Salina, Kansas 67402-1774
January 2024
Issue: 01
OFFICERS: President – Gary Keil 785-822-4131; Vice President – Jason Bathon; 785-577-1659; Acting Secretary - Bill Vinyard 785-827-8394; Treasurer - Roger Thull 785-827-7981; Chaplain – Moses Stewart 785-827-5956; Sergeant of Arms – Bill Quinley
MEETING LOCATION: Salina Senior Center, Board Room on Second Floor, 245 N 9th St, Salina, KS
MEETING TIME: 1:00 PM/DATES: January 12, February 9, March 8, April 12, May 10, June 14, July 12, August 9, September 13, October 11, November 8, December 13.
MEAL: Chili dogs or chili, lima beans, applesauce, and bun
ACTING SECRETARY COMMENTS: I hope everyone had a superb Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year. We need more membership participation at our monthly meetings, help plan fundraisers (luncheon on Flag Day, Auction, Veterans Dinner), and recruit new members at local Veteran Events. Why do we need help? We are only 43 members with an annual, monthly meeting attendance average of 11 people. Consequently, 29 members live in Saline County, and14 live in other states or outside Saline County. One of the keys to a group's success is fellowship, which leads to successful planning and accomplishments. Let's not forget that we are a self-funded organization. If feasible, please attend our January meeting,
TAPS: Our sympathy goes out to the Armster family. Member Dorothy Armster (Air Force Veteran) died on December 7, 2023. She was highly active within the community and a member of many local Veteran organizations.
WELLNESS: Shirley Wagner, Rachel Holt Fikes, and Roger Thull. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers for healing.
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS: None noted. Please let us know if we missed your birthday.
REMINDER: Please remember to renew your TREA membership. TOTAL MEMBERS: 43. We thank all the members who renewed their membership in 2023 and those who are Life members.
DECEMBER MEETING TIDBITS:
The meeting attendance drawing winners of a $20 gift card: William Vinyard, Bertha Vinyard, William Cejka Jr, Moses Stewart, Steve Murrison, and Ronald Sondergard.
W. Vinyard handed out copies of the proposed 2024 Chapter Budget for discussion. There were suggestions on how to reduce the budget. We decided to finalize the budget at our January meeting. The monthly November 17 to December 8, 2023 treasurer's report was an ending checking balance of $4695.31.
The 2024 elected officers will be administered the oath of office at the January meeting.
A MESSAGE FROM VA UNDER SECRETARY FOR BENEFITS:
"Happy holidays! As we head into the new year, we wanted to give you a quick update on VA's non-health benefits for Veterans. Partly thanks to the historic PACT Act, Veterans like you have applied for benefits at record rates over the past year—surpassing the previous all-time record by 39%—and that's a great thing. As a result of your benefits applications, we at VA have been able to deliver more earned benefits to more Veterans than ever before, including $150 billion in benefits during 2023 alone. That's exactly what Veterans like you deserve."
(12/20/2023, Josh Jacobs, VA Under Secretary for Benefits news.va.gov)
VA PACT ACT: To submit a claim for the VA PACT Act, call the VA at 1-800-698-2411 or file a disability claim online. To file a claim online, complete VA Form 21-526EZ and submit any supportive evidence. You can file your PACT Act claim for free online through the VA's website or in person at a VA Regional Office. You can also get free help from a State Veteran Service Representative. According to the VA Claims Insider, you can submit PACT Act claims at any time; however, to receive back pay, you must have submitted an "Intent to File" or applied for benefits by August 9, 2023.
QUOTE TO WELCOME THE NEW YEAR 2024: "The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul…" —Gilbert K. Chesterton
UNITED WE STAND
