AAFES Retired Employees Association

ATTN: Membership Director

PO Box 380614

Duncanville TX 75138-0614

SUBJECT: Newsletter – AREA Communications

To All AREA Members

We truly appreciate the support you have given the National AAFES Retired Employees Association! We know the quarterly newsletter is important to

you and you have been receiving it via regular mail. The AREA Board is reviewing all aspects of the organization and wants to move forward utilizing

the various tools available to best support the membership. Newsletters after October 2019 will be published by email only. The AREA board

wants to get news to members more quickly and in color for easier viewing. Using electronic media also allows you to adjust the size of the text. Large

print is always a nice feature as we get older.

Most current and future retirees are used to receiving information on line, so hopefully this change will not cause you concern. If you do not have an

email address, please ask a trusted family member or caregiver to sign you up to get a free email address, such as through Gmail, Yahoo, or some

other company. Many assisted living facilities now offer access to a computer via a secured network. Contact management on how you can use the

computer to obtain personal email. Ask for training on how to protect your personal information with appropriate password protection on any multi-use

computer.

Please ensure you keep your membership data current. If you change your mailing or email address, please notify membership@aafesretired.com so

we have a valid way to communicate with you. The AREA Personal Information Update form is on the back of this letter if you prefer to provide the

information by mail.

Recently AREA established a Facebook group, AAFES Retired Employees Association. News and information is posted regularly to keep you in-

formed of what is happening with the Exchange and provide information that may be of interest to you. We encourage you to join the group.

Please ensure you have news@aafesretired.com, newsletter@aafesretired.com, and membership@aafesretired.com as “favorites.” Some email

programs may send these emails to your “junk” or “spam” folder. Changing this setting varies depending upon the program you use to read your

mail. Many will allow you to select the email in your junk or spam folder and simply change the status, such as “Mark as Not Junk” or “Add as Safe

Address” or you may need to add these email addresses to your address book or contact list. The Help guidance for the program you are using can

provide assistance if you find the emails are redirected.

We look forward to your continued support of the National AREA and the Board will continue working for and with you. If you have any questions or

concerns, please direct them via email to news@aafesretired.com. News and information you have that you would like to share with the membership is

welcome and should also be sent to news@aafesretired.com.

Sincerely,

TERRY CORLEY

President

AAFES Retired Employees Association

Newsletter

AAFES Retired Employees Association

October 2019

Supporting the Interests of AAFES, Its Retirees and the People it Serves

AREA Board modernizes organization to meet needs

of current and future members

Flexibility, Readiness Key to Exchange Supporting Warfighters Worldwide By Tom Shull, Exchange Director/CEO

AREA Board Meeting—13 September 2019

Left to right back row: Ron Compton, Jonathan Miller, Terry Corley and Marcia Kane

Left to right front: Richard Sheff, Michelle Priester, Chuck Poffenbarger, Pat Weaver and Don Smith

Members absent: Dan Tompkins and Daryl Hinshaw

(See story beginning on page 2).

The Exchange is working hard to meet the needs of our Warfighters, Veterans, retirees and families in an industry that is continuing to change and evolve.

This year, the Exchange has expanded its self-serve “micro markets” to bring more healthy BE FIT options to Soldiers and Airmen. More than 40 micro markets have opened on installations, offering snacks and small meals that shoppers

can access 24/7. BE FIT options such as fresh salads and fruit, sandwiches and drinks are among the assortment. These self-service convenience stores allow the Exchange to serve our shoppers in areas on installations that are too small or remote for an Ex-press, such as in office buildings.

(Story continues on page 10.) Self-Serve Micro market offers

Healthy Be FIT options

Tom Shull, Exchange

Director/CEO

Flexibility, Readiness Key to Exchange Supporting Warfighters Worldwide By Tom Shull, Exchange Director/CEO

Page 2 October 2019 AREA NEW SLETTER

The Officers of the Association: Terry Corley, President; Marcia Kane, Vice President; Don Smith, Secretary; welcome you to the Fall edition of AREA’s Newsletter (Oct 2019). The Treasurer position is vacant. See page 27 for the AREA Executive Board voting members and Directors contact information. Web Site: www.aafes.com/about-exchange/retired-employees-association/

T e r r y C o r l e y , P r e s i d e n t

How does AREA modernize the organization to make it valuable for current members and to attract new retiring associates? How do we recruit volunteers to help take AREA forward? These were the main themes of the Fall AREA meeting held at the Exchange Headquarters in Dallas on September 13. Modernization includes the following efforts:

AREA will rely on electronic communications to keep active members more fully informed, to wit: (1) a monthly e-newsletter instead of waiting 3 months for the quarterly newsletter to arrive by mail or email; (2) the new Facebook page for AREA; (3) updated electron-ic membership directory.

Membership recruitment: the challenge to add members each month to reverse the declining membership in the national and local chapters.

Develop database capabilities to allow members to pay dues, update membership information, and so on. This will avoid having a person handling checks/deposits, data entry of membership changes (i.e., the member will be able to update their information directly, and so on.)

The makeup of members on the AREA board continues to change. This makes sense when you consider most of the work of AREA is done by volunteers. After all, we know that life “after retirement” can be very busy.

In this newsletter, we are including for membership vote a proposed amendment to the AREA Constitu-tion that would add a new voting member to the AREA Board as Membership Director. We also have several other volunteer opportunities.

If you are interested in being a part of the AREA board, please send a message to me at my email address: president@aafesretired.com with your biographical information (such as prior AAFES positions held,

education, when you retired, and why you think you would add value to the AREA organization, etc.) Don’t be shy, we need your talent!

A summary of the AREA Board Motions and other news from our September 2019 meeting is on page 4. The distinction between national AREA and the local chapters is still a source of confusion for many, even long time AREA members. Some members have said they belong to a local AREA chapter for social reasons, but many do not understand the value of joining the national AREA. The reasons why the national AREA organization matters are many, but here are a few of them:

AREA Scholarship Program: This year, 13 children of active associates/retirees earned a total of $43,000 in schol-arship awards for the 2019-2020 school year. Throughout the lifetime of the AREA Scholarship Program (1985 to present), $827,795 scholarships have been awarded to 371 deserving children of national AREA members/active asso-ciates. (Donations to the Scholarship Fund and ERF are IRS approved as tax deductible.)

Exchange Emergency Relief Program: After receiving a request to activate the AREA Emergency Relief (ERF) Fund, AREA members donated almost $4,000 to associates who had an immediate personal need at the same time they helped the Exchange re-open operations and serve custom-ers. Since this IRS charitable donation fund was established in 1999, $128,634 has been raised to help out active associ-ates after a disaster.

The Community Service Award Program was developed in 1979. Nominations may be submitted any time during the year. See the AREA website for details on eligibility and why this recognition serves the goals/spirit of AREA. More information is on page 25.

(continued on page 3)

AREA Board modernizes organization to meet needs of

current and future members

AREA NEW SLETTER October 2019 Page 3

AAFES Retired

Employees Association

The AREA e-Newsletter will be published monthly starting in January 2020. Members will receive newsletters via email, so please make sure we have your current email address in our data base! Mailing Address: AREA P. O Box 380614

Duncanville, TX 75138-0614

President: Terry Corley president@aafesretired.com

Tel: (214) 460-7472

Vice President:

Marcia Kane

vp@aafesretired.com

(254) 694-9914

Membership & Address Changes: Send your newsletter address, membership changes, and membership dues to Pat Weaver , AREA Memberships, membership@aafesretired.com Tel: (972) 780-9810

Newsletter or Facebook input:

Submit articles to: Jonathan Mil-ler at news@aafesretired.com

AREA Web address: https://www.aafes.com/about-exchange/retired-employees-association/

The history of these programs shows the value they have added to the lives of many. Beyond these though, AREA provides two other very important reasons why you should encourage national AREA Membership among your fellow Exchange retirees—news and information and advocacy.

National members get up-to-date news on changes to the DoD NAF medical/dental benefit program and updates to other benefit programs such as post-retirement life, Accidental Life/Dismemberment, and Long Term Care. They get immediate information as to any COLA adjustments before the December payments are made. This early information allows you to plan better for the com-ing year.

AREA provides a strong “voice” for AAFES, DoD or Congress on proposed benefit changes that will affect current and future retirees. The strength of that voice depends on a large and growing number of members. The best example of when the AREA voice was heard by lawmakers is when a law was passed to consolidate the DoD NAF’s Health Benefits Medical/Dental Plans. Given the current direction Exchange consolidation appears to be headed, our role as advocate for AAFES retirees becomes even more important. (Note: on exchange consolidation efforts, we have no updates from last quarter, but be assured we will keep you informed.)

By participating in AREA you are able to continue friendships and your con-nection to the Exchange. Most of these personal connections take place through local Chapter events, however, the national AREA Facebook page is becoming the “place to go” for information about your friends and fellow Exchange retirees.

As a national member you will receive e-Newsletters every month (instead of quarterly) starting in January 2020. More frequent updates will also be sent out via email as appropriate.

If you don’t get the Exchange Post, members rely on AREA for notification re-garding retiree deaths of fellow national AREA members and those of chapter members we are told about. Some of these folks are your friends from your work-ing years or in retirement.

Here is my challenge to you as a current member—recruit at least 1-2 new retirees to AREA every quarter. My goal is to recruit so many new members that we are “forced” to bring back the national AREA Convention. Not too long ago, the national AREA Convention was a huge event where attendees heard directly from Exchange leadership on a range of topics. There were also speakers from Aetna, Medicare, and Fidelity Investments, talking about mat-ters important to retirees and their families.. And those who have attended these events won’t forget the fun that was had by all during the organized activities such as golf, tours, and other breakout activities.

Watch this space for more news on this recruitment challenge. In the mean-time, it’s Oktoberfest season. To that end, I close with these words.

“Genieße das Leben ständig!

Du bist länger tot als lebendig!”

Terry Corley

AREA President

See the next page for revisions

to the constitution and the inside

back page of this newsletter for

your ballot. Please take time to

complete and mail by October

31 to:

AREA (Vote on Constitution)

P. O Box 380614

Duncanville, TX 75138-0614

AREA Board modernizes organization to meet needs of current and future members

(Cont’d from page 2)

AREA Board Meeting Summary The Fall AREA Board

meeting was held

September 13, 2019.

Terry Corley presented

the financial report for

Jan 1 through Sept 4,

2019 versus the same

period last year.

Summary of financial activity:

While AREA is still financially sound and our investments

showed solid performance, we continue to lose money most-

ly due to falling membership dues and increased costs. We

hope to reverse that trend with the previous Spring AREA

board decision to eliminate the hard copy printing of the

AREA newsletter and improvements to our membership

information on a new “cloud” platform. Eventually we hope

to reduce annual membership dues.

We discussed several ways to increase membership (and

gather dues more efficiently) and we will share that infor-

mation with you in a future e-newsletter. As a reminder this

newsletter is the final “printed” version, but the good news is

that we will keep you better informed and you will receive

e-newsletters monthly starting in January 2020.

While we enrolled 44 new retirees in AREA (for the

period of 1 Jan through 4 Sept,) we are not getting new

retirees in the organization that we need. This is despite the

Exchange paying for the first year’s of national AREA dues.

There is so much competing information given to associates

who are being processed for retirement, it is difficult to get

our message out effectively. Also, newly retired associates

don’t tend to want to socialize as much as current members

who spent many of their working years making lasting

friendships. This problem is one of our priorities to work

on going forward.

The AREA Scholarship Program is probably one of

the most important things we do in the national

AREA.

While scholarship donations remain about the same as last

year, we are still dipping into our investments each year to

cover the total scholarship funds necessary. Without

increasing contributions we may need to reduce the number,

and the amount, of scholarships granted in future years.

We added the ability for a member to donate through our new

GoFundMe website: https://www.gofundme.com/

areascholarship/ to hopefully make donating easier. You don’t

have to complete a form (although we may need information

from you via email—see page 13), or send in a donation check,

and your donation is still tax deductible.

Also, the Board is exploring an expansion of scholarships to

include those seeking a Career Technical Education Program

from an accredited institution. Chuck Poffenbarger is spear-

heading our exploration of this initiative. Watch a future

e-newsletter for details.

Board Motions/Voting Agenda Items:

The Board voted to put forth to membership an amendment

to Article IV, Section 2 of AREA Constitution: re-establish

the Membership Director position as a “voting” member on the

board. We also propose adding a new Membership Administra-

tor position which is a non-voting member. The goal is to estab-

lish a clear distinction between what a Membership Director

does and what’s needed for membership administration support.

The number of AREA board voting members would increase

from eight to nine. A “quorum” would change from four to five

voting members.

A proposal was made to amend the by-laws to authorize

reimbursement of out-of-pocket transportation costs incurred by

Board Members and Board Advisors to attend AREA Executive

Board meetings (held two times a year). More of our volunteers

are outside the Dallas area and they should not incur personal

expense in order to volunteer on the board. The motion was

approved with the following section added to Article XI,

Executive Board Meetings, AREA by-laws as follows:

Section 3: Transportation expenses to/from AREA Board

Meetings for Board Members and Advisors will be reim-

bursed by the association if one way transportation

exceeds 50 miles. Personal auto transportation will be

reimbursed at the prevailing IRS mileage rate. All other

transportation expenses will be reimbursed based on actual

transportation expense incurred for transportation tickets.

Note: in our discussion board members agreed that actual

expenses would need to be “reasonable,” for example, air

travel reimbursement would be for coach versus first/

business class.

Lastly the Board discussed the need for an AREA audit and

succession planning. Watch for more on these subjects in a

future issue of the e-newsletter.

Page 4 October 2019 AREA NEW SLETTER

YOUR EXCHANGE BENEFITS…

AREA NEW SLETTER October 2019 Page 5

Benefits Q&A—Questions you ask; answers from Exchange Benefits

Q: What is the Cost–of-Living Adjustment going to be beginning with the December 2019 annuity payments? (and SS payments as of 1 January 2020)?

A: The official figure for the 2020 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will not be announced until mid-October 2019. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 1.6 percent over the last 12 months. Watch the AAFES Retired Employees Facebook page for the final COLA announcement in mid-October.

Q: If a surviving widow/widower of an AAFES retiree is receiving AAFES retirement remarries, does the AAFES survivor pension payment stop?

A: No, if a widowed spouse is receiving retirement from the AAFES plan and they then remarry, the spousal pension will continue to be paid until their death.

Q: Secondly, is there any “grandfathering” in play when a widowed retiree remarries?

A: If a retiree who has lost their spouse remarries and is receiving retiree health benefits (grandfathered or not), they can add their new spouse to health coverage if they had "family" coverage at the time of retirement. This must be done within 31 days of the marriage event (Family Status Change).

Q: Could you get me an answer to a question that's been bugging me? Has to do with the DoD NAF plan metabolic screening tests. From what I see, the tests, weight, etc., are actually redundant to those done in the Medicare Wellness/Annual Physical tests. Why go through the tests twice? Seems if a retiree is meeting all the criteria, the credit should be automatic to be applied to the annual benefit. What am I missing? Other than Quest has a contract where they can get paid?

You can do both in one doctor visit. See option 3 below, taken from the Wellness section of the www.NAFHealthPlans.com website. NOTE: Since option 3 requires that you log in, download and print a personal-ized, bar-coded Quest form, some people may decide it’s easier to go with Option 1 or 2 instead, and yes, we realize that means two screenings. You have 3 ways to complete your metabolic syndrome screening: Onsite – On this page (https://www.nafhealthplans.com/wellness/biometric-screening-metabolic-syndrome/) click on site

screening schedule link at left to see if there is an event near you.

At a Quest Diagnostics lab near you. Use Quest location search to find one of 2,200 labs near you. Use this link only to find locations in advance if you wish. DoD NAF registration is only at My.QuestForHealth.com.

With your doctor - Download and print the Physician Result Form at My.QuestForHealth.com to take along with you. If you need help downloading the form, call Quest Diagnostics Customer Support at 1-855-623-9355, Mon-Fri 7 am – 8:30 pm CST, and Sat 7:30 am – 4pm CST.

If you use option 2 early in the year to get the $150 incentive credit (per covered person) before you have regular office visits, you can offset your out-of-pocket expenses right away. That is, some or all of the patient portion would be paid out of your incentive “credit bank” versus paying the full cost (or at least up to that year’s deductible). Having the same tests done a couple times of year is not necessarily a bad thing. For example, it’s important for some to check their A1C (test used to determine diabetes) more than once a year if they are pre-diabetic. But if you want to sync the two well-ness tests done once a year, you can do so with option 3.

Note: other participants covered by the plan do not have Medicare as their primary medical coverage (active associates, retirees under age 65, and so on). This plan provision provides them a way to get preventative care and actually get an incentive credit. This credit reduces their out-of-pocket medical costs.

YOUR EXCHANGE BENEFITS…

Page 6 October 2019 AREA NEW SLETTER

Coming soon: 2020 Benefits Open Enrollment October 28 – November 29, 2019

Watch your mailbox in late October. The annual Open Enrollment notice will give more information about the new High Deductible Health Plan option (medical plan with 15-20% lower premiums), and any plan or premium changes. You can always find plenty of information here, year-round: www.nafhealthplans.com

Editor’s Note: since very few current AAFES retirees were not grandfathered with the AAFES-paid post-retirement medical benefit, this new High Deductible plan will not be something most of you would be interested in. However, if you are paying a portion of the premiums because you were not grandfathered with the benefit, it is a plan you should consider. Aetna Open Enrolment conference calls for retirees: Call in to ask questions about the medical/dental plans and any 2020 changes. The schedule will be posted soon on the main page of www.NAFHealthPlans.com

Aetna medical plan: there’s still time to earn 2019 Health Incentive Credits

Schedule your biometric screening now, so you complete it by the November 30, 2019 deadline! You can have your screening at any Quest Patient Service Center, or with your doctor, or at an onsite event (the latest event list is here). You must register in advance.

Phone registration: call Quest at 1-855-623-9355, Mon-Fri 7 am – 8:30 pm CST, and Sat 7:30am – 4 pm CST.; or

Online registration: go to My.QuestForHealth.com with registration key DoD2019

Biometric screenings are just one of the healthy actions you can take to earn credits. See the full list at: https://www.nafhealthplans.com/wellness/biometric-screening-metabolic-syndrome/. Refer to the schedule link in the left margin.

Benefits Q&A—Questions you ask; answers from Exchange Benefits

Q: Now that the Exchange Post is sent out electronically I can’t find the listing of all active/retiree deaths. It does

not appear that all deaths are reported in the AREA newsletter. I also am interested in the transfer of active em-

ployees. What is my best resource for this information?

A: The Exchange Post still list employee transfers, obits and retirements. PA receives a list each month from HR. The list includes everybody – managers and non-managers -- who passed away. All of those names are put in the Exchange Post. Ditto with the transfers and retirements list we get from HR.

On the Exchange Post home page, www.theexchangepost.com, you can scroll all the way down to the bottom and see a link that says “Obituaries, Transfers and Retirements.” Clicking on this link will take you to the link listed above.

Editor’s Note: This was a great question and as a result, I am putting this link on the AREA obit newsletter page from now on so you can see all deaths, not just AREA national members or ones reported to us by AREA members/family.

When you receive mail with the DoD / Taking Care of You logo, you know it’s related to your DoD NAF / Aetna health benefits.

YOUR EXCHANGE BENEFITS…

Aetna sold their group life and disability insurance plans to The Hartford in late 2017, making The Hartford the

second-largest group life and disability insurer in the US. Since then, The Hartford has been working with employer

customers like the Exchange to make the transition.

Benefit plans at the Exchange that will transition to The Hartford:

Aetna Basic Life + AD&D* Insurance

Aetna Supplemental Life Insurance

Aetna Spouse/Child Life Insurance

Aetna Executive Management Program (EMP) Life Insurance

Aetna Short- and Long-Term Disability (STD/LTD)

Aetna Managed Disability absence management program

Aetna Retiree Life Insurance

*Accidental Death & Dismemberment

What does this change mean to you?

All policies are the same. Nothing has changed.

Premiums remain the same for Plan (calendar) Year 2020. Note: retiree with AAFES-paid coverage remains the

same.

Letters, emails, enrollment screens: You’ll see The Hartford logo (above/ right) and company name in email addresses

(example: John.Doe@thehartford.com).

Disability Claims (Short- and Long-Term): Your claim number and the online claims system will stay the same. By

early November, The Hartford will send instructions via mail (and advance notice) about how to log into the claims

system by a different method. (This does not apply to retirees.)

Aetna life insurance that was ‘converted’ or ‘ported’ will remain with Aetna. Example: When retiree life insurance

value reduces at ages 66, 67 and 68, some retirees have elected to retain the lost coverage portion as an individual

policy. Individual policies like this will remain with Aetna.

Stay tuned to the internal Employee Benefits portal, Exchange Post, Employee Benefits emails, and AREA website

and newsletters for updates on Life and Disability plan contact information and plan booklets.

Questions?

Retirees call Retiree Benefits Call Center at 800-519-3381 or send an email to: benefits@aafes.com.

Exchange Benefits: Life and Disability plans moving to The Hartford, effective 1/1/2020

Business Insurance

Employee Benefits

Auto

Home

AREA NEW SLETTER October 2019 Page 7

Page 8 October 2019 AREA NEW SLETTER

YOUR EXCHANGE BENEFITS…

WELCOME TO THE FIDELITY WEBCAST HUB Practical conversations to help you live well financially, today and tomorrow.

We all have questions about retirement, whether you

are retired now or soon to join the ranks! Fidelity

Investments offers webcasts on various financial

and personal topics that you can access on your

computer whether or not you are a Fidelity

customer.

These webcasts are “live” and you can even send

in a question when you are registered for the

webcast.

You can even view webcasts that have already

occurred by going to the 2019 calendar of events.

If you are only interested in one chapter (say 1

minute of a 5 minute webcast), you can also just

view that small segment.

Don’t miss out on these valuable education

webcasts from Fidelity Investments. We can all

get “smarter” about retirement issues!

AREA NEW SLETTER October 2019 Page 9

By Dennis Thompson

HealthDay Reporter for WebMD (https://www.webmd.com/)

THURSDAY, June 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The seniors most likely to need paid home care to maintain independent living are the least likely to be able to afford it long-term, a new study reports.

Only two out of five older adults with significant disabilities have the assets on hand to pay for at least a couple of years of exten-sive in-home care, researchers found.

Without some help, those elderly are much more likely to wind up in a nursing home, said lead researcher Richard Johnson. He is a senior fellow with the Urban Institute's Income and Benefits Policy Center, in Washington, D.C.

"We have this perception that the risk of becoming frail is evenly distributed across the population, but it's really not," Johnson said. "It is more concentrated among people with less education, lower lifetime earnings and less wealth."

Aging folks increasingly want to stay out of nursing homes as their health declines, maintaining their independence by living in their own houses, Johnson said.

But there hasn't been a large increase in the number who are shelling out for paid home care, national statistics show.

To see why that might be, Johnson and his colleagues turned to data gathered by the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research.

The researchers broke paid home care down into three scenarios: limited care of 25 hours each month costing $475; moderate care of 90 hours a month costing $1,170; and extensive care of 250 hours per month costing $4,750 per month.

Initial results looked promising.

The investigators found that 74% of all seniors aged 65 and older could afford at least two years of moderate home care if they cashed in all their assets, and 58% could afford two years of ex-tensive home care.

Then the researchers turned their attention to people most likely to need home care -- those suffering from severe dementia or who require help with two or more activities of daily living. These activities can include eating, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, get-ting out of a chair or walking across a room, Johnson said.

Only 57% of those most frail seniors could afford two years of moderate home care, and only 40% could afford extensive home care for two years, the findings showed. For these people, the burden will fall hardest on their family at first, Johnson said.

"Most people who become frail at older ages rely on unpaid family caregivers," he said. "Those are the people who provide the vast majority of care."

Paid home care provides relief for family caregivers, giving them a "respite from the grind of constantly being on call to help a frail loved one," Johnson said. Without that respite, family caregivers are more likely to wear down. That makes it even more likely that an elderly person who suffers a setback will wind up in a nursing home, Johnson said.

The findings are "disturbing," said Eliot Fishman, senior director of health policy at Families USA, a consumer health care advoca-cy group. "But it's not surprising to me," he added.

Only 57% of those most frail seniors could afford two years of moderate home care, and only 40% could afford extensive home care for two years, the findings showed. For these people, the burden will fall hardest on their family at first, Johnson said. "Most people who become frail at older ages rely on unpaid family caregivers," he said. "Those are the people who provide the vast majority of care."

Paid home care provides relief for family caregivers, giving them a "respite from the grind of constantly being on call to help a frail loved one," Johnson said. Without that respite, family caregivers are more likely to wear down. That makes it even more likely that an elderly person who suffers a setback will wind up in a nursing home, Johnson said.

The findings are "disturbing," said Eliot Fishman, senior direc-tor of health policy at Families USA, a consumer health care advocacy group. "But it's not surprising to me," he added.

Washington passed a law that imposes a 0.58% payroll tax on workers -- a premium that pays into a fund to pay for home care, nursing home stay or family caregivers if they become disabled, Johnson said.

"We could think of some sort of public insurance like that as a way to deal with this problem," he suggested.

Fishman said another option is to change Medicare and Medicaid to cover long-term care. Consideration of such a change probably should be pursued outside the larger health care reform discussion, he added.

Discussions of paying for long-term care have typically tied into other health care reform. "I wonder if that historically has been a mistake," Fishman said.

The new study appears in the June issue of the journal Health Affairs.

Could You Afford Home Health Care? Maybe Not

Editor’s Note: a fellow retiree shared this article with me and echoed my thought after reading it ...“I sure am glad I took out Long Term Care through AAFES when it was offered!” As a added benefit, premiums were frozen at the age I purchased units so my plan is affordable. The plan offered by the Exchange now is the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program at www.LTCFEDS.com. The eligibility page link, https://www.ltcfeds.com/eligibility/index.html, shows AAFES active associates and retirees are eligible in addition to others listed.

Page 10 October 2019 AREA NEW SLETTER

Micro markets are flexible. Each one is tailored to its specific community, and command and customers can request changes to the products offered. Dozens more micro markets are planned for 2019, ensuring that the Exchange bene-fit goes where Warfighters and their families go.

As you know, the Exchange team worked tirelessly in 2018 to aid installations that were affected by hurricanes. We have seen how vital our support can be in a community, such as at Tyndall Air Force Base, where our mobile field Exchange was the only place open for miles to pick up necessities. Today, the Exchange is better prepared than ever to support communities before, during and after a natural disaster. We have built an inventory of bottled water, bat-teries, flashlights, generators and other disaster supplies ready to be shipped as soon as they are needed. Exchange MFEs are typically deployed, stocked and open to Warfighters within 48 hours of a request from command. When troops are deployed during a recovery, they know they can count on the Exchange to serve those who serve.

Flexibility, Readiness Key to Exchange Supporting Warfighters Worldwide By Tom Shull, Exchange Director/CEO (Cont’d from page 1)

Tyndall AFB Exchange Damage and Hurricane Preparation in 2018

Exchange MFE’s

“Deployed, stocked,

and open to Warfighters

within 48 hours of

a request from

command.”

AREA NEW SLETTER October 2019 Page 11

The Exchange did extraordinary work in 2018. You’re invited to read the 2018 Mission Report online to see all that was accomplished, including supporting Quality-of-Life programs on installation with the annual dividend, increasing online sales, expanding BE FIT options and adding value for shoppers with the MILITARY STAR® card. See the full report at www.publicaffairs-sme.com/Community/2018AnnualReport.

The Exchange is where heroes shop. Since the launch of the Veterans online shopping benefit, more than 90,000 Veterans have saved nearly $6 million in sales tax. We rely on advocates like you to continue to spread the word: Know a Veteran, Tell a Veteran.

On Jan. 1, 2020, we will be welcoming more of our heroes back to their military family: All Veterans with a service connected disability and their VA-registered primary caregivers will have in-store shopping privileges. Stay tuned for details on this expanded patronage.

Thank you for all you have done to make the Exchange benefit thrive today. It is an honor to serve with you.

Soldier for Life! Veteran for Life! Exchange for Life!

Launch of Veterans Online Shopping Benefit

Do you follow the Exchange

Post?

If not , you are missing some inter-

esting articles like the one featured

here. If you (right) click the photo

and select “open hyperlink”, you

can read all about it.

Flexibility, Readiness Key to Exchange Supporting Warfighters Worldwide By Tom Shull, Exchange Director/CEO (Cont’d from page 10)

AREA Scholarship Program

AREA website: http://www.aafes.com/about-exchange/retired-employees-association/community-programs/scholarships.htm.

Since 1985 AREA has provided educational opportunities to “AAFES Kids” through its scholarship program. This year AREA awarded $43,000 in scholarships to 13 graduating high school seniors. Amounts are two $5,000 and eleven $3,000 awards.

2019 marks the 34th anniversary of the AREA scholarship program; the only program designed to directly benefit AAFES employees’ and assigned military’s children. To date AREA has provided $827,795 in scholarship awards to 371 deserving students – many of whom may not have even started college without the AREA boost. Now that is something we should all be proud of!

So how can you donate? See page 13 for a complete description on how to donate, either by check or by credit card; and page 14 for the updated Scholarship Donation form. In the AREA September 2019 board meeting, the board decided to eliminate the “naming” of scholarships due to this feature not being requested by donors and how the feature complicated the donation form. The updated form is now downsized to one page. If we have a large donation (for example, $5,000), we may revisit this decision. Donations large and small are all welcome! AREA thanks you …. and these wonderful young people will thank you too!

So how does the scholarship program work? Here’s a short synopsis:

The program is limited to graduating high school seniors planning to attend an accredited college, university, or one of the U.S. military academies for undergraduate studies in the Fall of each year. AREA scholarships are not usually awarded for participation in non-academic and certificate programs, however the board is considering that option. Applications must be sent to the scholarship committee during the enrollment period . An application form is available on the AREA web site (noted at the top of this page).

The window has closed for this year. Applications received now through March 31, 2020 will be considered for the Fall 2020-2021 enrollment period. The same site sets out the specific requirements for making application, including personal and student eligibility criteria. AREA administers the program through me as the appointed AREA Scholarship Program Director. Committee members lay out the parameters of the program each year, which are ultimately approved by the AREA board. Send me an email if you have questions on the AREA Scholarship Program not answered by your review of the information on the AREA website.

Michelle Priester AREA Scholarship Program Director scholarships@aafesretired.com

PO Box 75138 Duncanville, TX. 75138

Michelle Priester

Page 12 October 2019 AREA NEW SLETTER

How to Donate to the AREA Scholarship Fund

1. Print and fill out the Scholarship Donation form in this Newsletter (see page 14). Send the completed form with

your check to the address shown on the form. The form is also on the AREA website:

www.aafes.com/about-exchange/retired-employees-association/, under the Community Programs section.

2. An easier option is to go to our special “GoFundMe” web site and use your credit card for your donation.

Click on this link: https://www.gofundme.com/areascholarship/, and follow the instructions.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CREDIT CARD DONATIONS

For general or anonymous CREDIT CARD

donations less than $500, you do not have to complete

the donation form. However, if you are making a

CREDIT CARD donation of less than $500 on behalf

of someone else (that is, “in their honor” for a living

person or “in memory of” a deceased person, send an

e-mail to Pat Weaver with the following information:

Sample E-Mail:

Pat, this is to let you know that I, Tom Jones, made a

$___ scholarship donation in memory of (or in honor of)

Mary Jones on ____(date)___, on the GoFundMe web

site. Put your full name, address, and phone number, on

the e-mail message.

The web site automatically gives you a receipt for tax purposes.

You (and/or other named person) will be officially thanked

and recognized (unless you wish to remain anonymous) in the

next e-newsletter (beginning monthly in January 2020), in the

Scholarship Donor’s section. See this quarter’s donations on

page 24.

For credit card donations of $500 or more:

Please mail AREA a completed donation form (to the address

on the form); or send an email to Pat Weaver at

membership@aafesretired.com with the completed form as an

attachment. Put the “date and amount of your credit card

donation” in the “Comments” section of the form.

If you don’t know how to send the form as an attachment, you

can alternatively send Pat the information we need in the body

of the email as follows:

Sample E-Mail:

Pat, this is to let you know that I, Tom Jones, made a $___

scholarship donation on ____(date)___, on the GoFundMe web

site. If you are giving the scholarship donation in memory of (or

in honor of) someone else, add that information. Be sure to put

your full name, address, and phone number, on the e-mail message.

The web site automatically gives you a receipt for tax purposes.

As with all donors, you will be officially recognized and thanked for your

donation.

In 2020, we will accept scholarship applications through March 31, 2020 for the 2020/2021 school year. For further details, contact Michele Priester, Chair, AREA Scholarship Committee, at scholarships@aafesretired.com. Note: Scholarship recipients are featured in the Exchange Post usually in July at: http://publicaffairs-sme.com/FamilyServingFamily/. Enter AREA 2019 Scholarships in the “Search” section at the top of the page.

AREA NEW SLETTER October 2019 Page 13

Editor’s Note: Based on a AREA board discussion at the Fall 2019 AREA meeting, AREA will no longer

“name” a scholarship for a donor (or someone they designate), unless the donation is significant enough

to do so. For example, if we receive a $5,000 donation, and the donor wants to have the scholarship

bear their name (or someone they designate), we certainly would consider doing that. However, as a

general rule, we will not put a specific name on any scholarship award.

Page 14 October 2019 AREA NEW SLETTER

CHAPTER HAPPENINGS

Twenty-two attendees had dinner and fellowship, and enjoyed the music at their monthly dinner in San Antonio July 25 on the patio of La Hacienda De Los Barrios Mexican Restaurant. The unusually cool, low-humidity late-July weather (88 degrees at 7 PM) made it even more enjoyable as an outdoor event. Bob Askew, event organizer and photographer, not pictured.

Alamo Chapter—Brenda Borland, President

Claire Guillemette with son Pete and

daughter-in-law Reine, Gail Evans, Brenda Nagel

Ken & B Klein, Janice & Bill Dobbs, Steve & Gail Evans

Mike & Betty Rohrer,

Tom & Diane Gross,

and Virginia Askew

Mike & Betty Rohrer, Tom & Diane

Gross, Virginia Askew

Rhoda Freitas, Bilge Cordani,

Brenda Nagel, Ron Nagel and

Len Freitas

AREA NEW SLETTER October 2019 Page 15

CHAPTER HAPPENINGS

Aloha Chapter—Bill Allgire, President

The Aloha Chapter held its summer get together at Royal Palace Chinese Restaurant at the Stadium Mall. This was a new location for our group and from the number of "repeat visits" to the buffet line it appears to have been a suc-cess. A total of 24 members and guests attended. Two new members, Luvi & Donald Saguibo, were recognized and given a warm Aloha welcome. Another long time member and supporter of our chapter, Marie Ng, who has been una-ble to attend our functions was also warmly welcomed back to our group luncheons. A successful Plant and Bake Sale was conducted with proceeds going to support the Aloha Chapter annual Christmas party.

Adrienne Hamada, Jane Fukunada, and Julie Conner

Charlotte Roach, Christina and Marie Ng Christina and Marie Ng

Helen Ginoza, Rachel Fu

Jan and Mel Santana,

Jim Gardner and Allyson Santos

Julie Connor and Dale Fitzgerald

Lauri and Wilton Santo

Page 16 October 2019 AREA NEW SLETTER

CHAPTER HAPPENINGS

AREA NEW SLETTER October 2019 Page 17

Aloha Chapter—continued

Lester and Marlene Tokuhisa

Luvi Saguibo, Jan Santana,

Donald Saguibo and Helen Ginoza

Mel and Jan Santan

Mel and Linda Shirmizu, Lauri and Wilton Santos

Willa and Jim Gardner

Roy Miura and Bill Allgire

Milton and Linda Shimizu

Page 18 October 2019 AREA NEW SLETTER

CHAPTER HAPPENINGS

Dix-McGuire Chapter—Betty J. O’Brien

Hello from the Garden State—New Jersey!

Back by popular demand the Fort Dix-McGuire Exchange Chapter held their third quarter luncheon at Prospectors, in Mt. Laurel, NJ

on September 9, 2019. What a fabulous time we shared with over 45 members, family members, honorary members, and guests.

The weather was beautiful and the outdoor patio area was exclusively reserved for our group. Among those attending were: Tam-

my (Parker) daughter of the late Sandy Parker, long time associate at the Ft. Dix Military Clothing Sales store.

Mary of us are battled various health issues but know that we as part of the AAFES family can come together and enjoy each oth-

er’s company. We laugh, share memories, have a good meal with some door prizes, then go home to take a nap (smile).

Tammy (Parker) and Fran Stanley

Linda Beahm, Nedra Anderson

and Mary Dungan

Left to right: Marieanne Overhiser, Carrine Simms,

Edna Rock, Heidi Ryals, Dorothy Schmelia,

and Hank Fleming

Bernice Moran and oldest member Theresa Hall

AREA NEW SLETTER October 2019 Page 19

Golden Gate Chapter—Chick Kretz, President

Here is the photo of our Golden Gate Chapter retirees taken at our July 17 luncheon at the Beso Bistro patio cafe at the now closed Hamilton Air Force Base.

From left to right: Bob and Carolyn Nevins, Julie Lee, Mary Lou Gieger, Ernie Kodama, Chick and Gina Kretz

CHAPTER HAPPENINGS

Kentuckian Chapter—Dana Johnson, President

At our recent luncheon in early September, we learned that Rocky Raso, (Retired Food Operations Specialist), and Mona his wife, have been in poor health. Several of you asked for their contact information so here it is: Rocky & Mona Raso 137 Woodsway Drive Elizabethtown, KY 42701 Home Phone: 270-765-6727

As a friendly reminder, our next chapter luncheon will be November 14 at O'Charleys Restaurant in Elizabethtown. It will be our final luncheon of the year and we will be collecting our annual donation of toiletries for the Veterans Hospital in Louisville, KY. Dana’s email address is johnsondm58area@windstream.net if you want to contact her about attending the luncheon.

CHAPTER HAPPENINGS

Page 20 October 2019 AREA NEW SLETTER

Northern California Chapter—Jeri Thomas

I read somewhere that summer should get a speeding ticket and that's how I feel right now even though it still feels like summer here in Sacramento. I know the end is in sight and my brain is silently screaming ---DON'T GO!

Our September luncheon was held at our next luncheon meeting on September 11, 2019 at: Danielle's Creperie in Sacramento, CA. The door prize winners from our last meeting in June were: Doris Aplass, Margaret Belcher, Rosie Boyce, Bob Desrochers, Maureen Dobert, Arlene Ferry and Debbie, Rosa LaBoeuf, Gloria Masse, Margie Scheatzle, Lee Whistler, Stella Winch and Lee Woodward. Also previous winner Dianne Hobbs. These winners provided the door prizes for our September luncheon meeting.

Upcoming luncheon meetings:

October 9, 2019

Strings Italian Cafe

4104 Manzanita Avenue

Carmichael, CA 95608

Phone: 916-348-1925

November 13, 2019

Waffle Shop

4641 Watt Avenue

North Highlands, CA 95660

Phone: 916-486- 4888

December 8, 2019

Cattlemens

12409 Folsom Blvd

Rancho Cordova, CA 5742

Phone: 916-985-3030

This chapter wishes to thank Chuck Poffenbarger, former AREA president, who retired. Chuck was president from 2003 through March 2019. Terry Corley was appointed AREA president in March 2019. Congratulations to both Chuck and Terry. Chuck has done an outstanding job for 16 years and we thank him for a job well done. Tom Gallagher, former AREA vice president, also retired in March of this year. Thank you Tom for your years of service to AREA.

Point to ponder: Good friends are like quilts--they age with you, and yet, they never lose their warmth. Take care of them.

AREA NEW SLETTER October 2019 Page 21

North Texas Chapter—Richard Sheff, President

CHAPTER HAPPENINGS

NTC-AREA is quite active with events for its members so it is important that you keep your membership active by

keeping up with your dues, i.e., $10 per year. As a matter of fact, you get value for your membership through free

membership appreciation events such as a free dinner at Babe’s each year and free food coupons at some of the events.

Join the North Texas Chapter of AREA on a group-discount cruise out of Galveston on Royal Caribbean’s ship Enchantment of the Seas. Arrangements for the cruise are being handled for us by Vacations to Go. All AREA members, friends and family are invited. Departing from Galveston, Texas on Friday, February 7, 2020 at 4:00 pm and returning Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at 7:00 am. Contact me (sheffrl@aol.com) or Linda Dean (linda-dean@att.net) for details:

2019 NTC-AREA List of Upcoming Events (Dates and times in bold are confirmed events) OCT 6, Sun @ 2:00 – Southlake Oktoberfest, https://www.southlakechamber.com/oktoberfest-home – Free entrance and free parking

NOV 3, Sun @ 1:30 - Bass Hall, Ft Worth: Nickelodeon's The SpongeBob Musical

DEC 1, Sun @ 1:00 – Y. O. Ranch Steakhouse, Holiday Celebration & Gift Exchange

DEC 15, Sun @ 1:00 – Brunch & Christmas Music at the Meyerson

JAN 7, 2020, Tue – Breakfast at Old South Pancake House & ½ price ($8) at Kimbell Art Museum for Renoir: The Body, The Senses https://www.kimbellart.org/exhibition/renoir-body-senses eb 7-12, 2020, Fri-Wed – 5-Night Royal Caribbean Cruise out of Galveston.

The following stories/photos are just a sampling of events from the past quarter. Please follow the North

Texas Chapter of AREA Facebook page for more photos and stories.

Dallas Banjo Band -August 3, 2019

Comments by “Virtuoso” Linda Dean: Here are the pictures I took Saturday at the Back Country Bar-B-Q restaurant where we listened to banjo music by the Dallas Banjo Band. Tom Gallagher may have some more pictures to share. We really had a wonderful time. The entertainment was great. They played a variety of songs that included a lot of old sing-along tunes. The food was good too. I think we were all pleasantly surprised at how much fun it was. This is something that we will have to do again.

I got up to take a picture of our group and ended up having to stand up and sing along with the band director. You would have loved it, but I can't carry a tune. It didn't matter because the background music was loud enough that no one could hear my voice. Even though I can’t sing well I knew many of the words to the old songs and had a great time doing it.

Linda

Dean

Bavarian Grill -Wednesday, July 24 2019

Authentic German food: We beat the Texas heat with a trip to the Bavarian Alps then

dream of cooler weather by attending the NTC-AREA luncheon at the popular Plano

Bavarian Grill on Wednesday, 24 July at 12:00. We had a very special speaker, Dr. Jim

Skibo, Exchange SVP, CRM. Dr. Skibo recently celebrated his 50th year working for the

Exchange. Yes, he is still running during his lunch break and still rides his bike to

work. We all had a great meal and Dr. Skibo’s presentation was both entertaining and

informative.

Dallas Banjo Band

North Texas Chapter—Richard Sheff, President (continued)

CHAPTER HAPPENINGS

Page 22 October 2019 AREA NEW SLETTER

Tom Gallagher, Jerry Johnston, Roy Dean, Linda Dean, Edye Brookshire

and Judy Terry Hanson

Edye Brookshire, Judy Terry Hanson,

Tom Minton, George Louie Derrico

and Jerry Johnston

September 26: Richard Sheff is eating breakfast with Judy Terry Hanson and 9 others at La Madeleine

French Bakery & Café (2101 N. Collins, Arlington, TX).

Babe’s Chicken -Wednesday, August 14 2019

Members Appreciation Luncheon at Babe’s – Free for all NTC members. This is one of the perks for NTC

members each year. Members love the event as evidenced by a turnout of more than 80 attendees. All had a

great time as you can see on the pictures below.

CHAPTER HAPPENINGS

West Georgia Chapter— Kristine Groenenboom-Newbold

The West Georgia AREA Chapter meets every third Wednesday of the month (except May and Dec) at the Golden Corral in Columbus, GA for lunch at 11:30 AM. We welcome ANY AAFES people in the area that would like to join us for lunch.

We have two annual events:

The first is our Spring Picnic which we have in May at a local park called Cooper Creek. At this event we cook out, have music and hold our much awaited Silent Auction, where some of the bidding can get "fierce". The money is used to give to a needy military or AAFES family during the holidays.

Our second event is our Christmas luncheon. At this event we gather at the Golden Corral, who decorates the room for us. We enjoy fellowship and play Dirty Santa … which at times can also become "fierce" but of course, always in good spirit.

Alfreda Taylor, Gloria Williams, Eva Foster and Lynda James

Elizabeth Baum (Chapter secretary), Daisy Lewis and Fannie Timite

Ellie Unrein and Ella McKinney

Kristine Newbold (Chapter president)

Lula Hensley, Annie Townsend, Bobbie Moring (Chapter treasurer) and Terren Quiles

Donald Newbold

Lorene Williams and Annette Talley

Terren Quiles, Lorina

Santiago, and

Dottie Cowart

Group Photos

AREA NEW SLETTER October 2019 Page 23

PO Box 380614 Duncanville, TX. 75138-0614

Page 24 October 2019 AREA NEW SLETTER

SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS

DONORS IN MEMORY OF

LARRY GREWELLE DONALD BLEEKER $50.00

ED FITZGERALD EVA FITZGERALD $1,000.00

TOM IGE DOLLY PONTIUS, THOMAS J. MARTIN, WINNEFRED MARTIN, JIM LIECHI, PAUL HIROSHIMA

$500.00

EDGAR VON TROTHA AUBREY REMBOLD $100.00

GENERAL DONATION

RICHARD MANCINELLI $200.00

BOB PARDUE $1,000.00

IN HONOR OF

EDGAR VON TROTHA AUBREY REMBOLD (A TRUE AAFES ICON) $100.00

Note: * denotes non-AAFES retiree; **denotes Non member of AREA

Informal Chapters

Tinker Retiree Group—Catherine Jones

The Tinker AAFES Retiree Group meets the first Thursday of each month with members taking turns hosting at local restaurants.

We are a very casual group, one does not need to have retired from AAFES, just as long as one was employed with AAFES at some point.

We have a gift exchange at Christmas time and keeps tabs on our members who are currently in nursing facilities or homebound.

Contact Catherine Jones at 405-204-5019 for more information about this informal group and future events.

AREA NEW SLETTER October 2019 Page 25

Community Service Awards—General Information

AREA… contributing to the future

Let’s recognize people who support their community and/or AREA—It’s the right thing to do!

The national AREA recognizes people who are making unselfish efforts toward the betterment of their communities

with an AREA Community Service Award. The term “Community” may refer either to the local area, or to activities

on a regional, state, national or even international scope. Each award recipient receives a certificate (and letter, if the

certificate must be mailed) expressing appreciation for the contribution made toward making our communities a better

place to live and work. Nominations may be submitted at any time for:

Collective recognition of chapter, exchange (or branch/unit) community service accomplishments

Recognition of Chapter and AREA members and their immediate family members.

Recognition of Exchange and assigned military personnel and their immediate family members.

To submit your nomination, print off and complete the Community Service Award Nomination Form on the next

page (or available on the AREA website: https://www.aafes.com/about-exchange/retired-employees-association/

community-programs/community-service.htm). Send the completed form to the Chuck Poffenbarger, Chair,

Community Service Award Committee, at cpoffen@earthlink.net or mail a hard copy to AREA-Community Service

Award Nomination, PO Box 380614, Duncanville, TX 75138-0614.

The Community Service Review Committee reviews the nominations and selects those who best meet the criteria

above. Chuck Poffenbarger is the Chair, and Ron Compton and Marcia Kane are voting committee members.

AREA President Terry Corley ultimately approves the award on behalf of AREA. We know there are many other

members/associates that deserve recognition, so don’t wait, submit your nomination today! Note for Exchange Associates:

A copy of the AREA letter and certificate will be provided to your Human Resources Support Center for file in your official person-

nel folder. Additionally, recipients will be provided a copy of any publicity about the recognition upon receiving this award (for

example, Exchange Post, AREA newsletter, and/or AAFES Retired Employees Facebook page). A listing of Community service

awards since 1979 is also shown on this website.

Page 26 October 2019 AREA NEW SLETTER

AREA NEW SLETTER October 2019 Page 27

Page 28 October 2019 AREA NEW SLETTER

ACTIVE CHAPTERS:

ALAMO CHAPTER

LEN FREITAS, PRESIDENT

19626 ENCINO KNOLL ST.

SAN ANTONIO, TX 78259

len.freitas@yahoo.com

Hm 210-481-3672

Cell 210-687-8644

Contact for membership is Marilyn Cerna:

marilyncerna@hotmail.com

ALOHA CHAPTER

BILL ALLGIRE, PRESIDENT

500 UNIVERSITY AVE., APT. 1137

HONOLULU, HI. 96826

Email: allgirew001@hotmail.com

Phone: 808.941.0350

AUGUSTA CHAPTER

JEAN CRITTENDEN, PRESIDENT

4318 CREEKVIEW DRIVE

HEPHZIBAH, GA 30815

Email: mjcritt49@icloud.com

Phone: 706-796-0883

Cell: 706-832-6969

COLUMBIA RIVER CHAPTER

RON CLEMENT, PRESIDENT

4023 SE 178th COURT

VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON 98683

Email: W7QU@amsat.org

Phone: 360.574.4290

DIX-MCGUIRE CHAPTER

BETTY J. O’BRIEN, PRESIDENT

15 CARRIAGE DRIVE

EASTAMPTON, NJ 08060

Email: hunterchaseb@aol.com

Phone: 609.288.6425

GOLDEN GATE CHAPTER

MARY LOU GEIMER, RECORDING SEC.

1306 ASPEN DRIVE PACIFICA, CA 94044-3719

Phone: 650.355.5213

Point of Contact:

Chick Kretz

4051 Vineyard Rd.

Novato Ca. 94947

chickkretz@earthlink.net

Phone; 415 892 3913

Cell, 650 520 3112.

GULF COAST CHAPTER

STEVE FRIEND, PRESIDENT

928 ROANOKE COURT

FORT WALTON BEACH, FL 32547

Email: RSFRIEND@aol.com

Phone: 850-598-4481

KANSAS CHAPTER

WANITA HULETT, PRESIDENT

2505 MEADOWLARK ROAD

MILFORD, KS. 66514

Email: rwhull2003@yahoo.com

Phone--785-238-8656

KENTUCKIAN CHAPTER

DANA JOHNSON, PRESIDENT

1120 Blueball Church Road

Elizabethtown, KY 42701

Email: johnsondm58area@windstream.net Phone: 270-855-9805

METRO MONTGOMERY CHAPTER

HOUSTON “JOE” FULLER, PRESIDENT

103 WILLIANS ST.

PRATTVILLE, AL. 36066

Email: joelaura59@aol.com

Phone: 334.365.8930

(Continued on page 29)

October 2019

AREA NEW SLETTER October 2019 Page 29

Chapter Contacts (Continued)

NORTH TEXAS CHAPTER

RICHARD SHEFF, PRESIDENT

2317 MISTY TRAIL LANE

FLOWER MOUND, TEXAS 75028

Email: sheffrl@aol.com

Phone: 972.691.1959

Apply for Membership contact:

Jerry Cloud, cloud2@airmail.net

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER

JERRI THOMAS, PRESIDENT

4812 ROCKLAND WAY

FAIR OAKS, CA. 95628

Email: RonJerriT@aol.com

Phone: 916.966.1429

SOUTH CAROLINA CHAPTER

FRANCES JENKINS

217 JADETREE DRIVE

HOPKINS, SC 29061

Email: fjenkins217@gmail.com

Phone: 803-783-4044 Home

803-200-6349 Cell

SOUTHEASTERN CHAPTER

JAMES W. MAHONEY, PRESIDENT

975 E LAKEHAVEN WAY

MCDONOUGH, GA 30253-5573

Phone: 770.914.8494

POINT OF CONTACT(POC)

Cindy Cooper

Email: cooperwc71@bellsouth.net

VIRGINIA LOVERS CHAPTER

BETTY THORNE, PRESIDENT 11316 WILLOW LANE DISPUTANTA, VA 23842

Email: bettyloganthorne@gmail.com

Phone: 804.862.1762

WEST GEORGIA CHAPTER

KRISTINE GROENENBOOM-NEWBOLD, PRESIDENT

53 LAKEVIEW RD.

PITTSVIEW, AL 36871

Email: rollinwithkristine@gmail.com

Phone: 706-566-8501

INFORMAL CHAPTERS: (Meet from time to time.)

CENTRAL TEXAS CHAPTER* Harold Robbins, POC

1220 Corona Dr.

Austin, TX 78723-2512

Email: Harold.Robbins1@gmail.com

Phone: 512-452-2692

PUGET SOUND CHAPTER)

EDITH ODA, POC

11525 MADERA GARDENS DR SW

LAKEWOOD, WA 98499

Email: edieoda@aol.com

Phone: 253.588.2424

FT. HOOD AREA

BARBARA MIMS (POC)

Kempner, TX 76539

Email: texasajfan@yahoo.com

Phone: 254-577-6278

466-3351 Cell

TINKER RETIREE GROUP

CATHERINE JONES (POC)

Email: gocaps23666@aol.com

Phone: 405-259-8025

405-204-5019 Cell

SPACE COAST CHAPTER

GARY L SMITH, POC

DEBARY, FL 32713-2346

Email: trekker01@gmail.com

Phone: 386.668.1757

NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER

RICHARD RAMOS, (POC)

FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28306

Email: rr70051940@gmail.com Phone: 910.425.4189

AREA Website: http://www.aafes.com/about-exchange/retired-employees-association/

*Central Texas Chapter is no longer a formal chapter but does meet periodically according to Harold Robbins, POC.

AREA MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY UPDATES

NEW MEMBERS

PATRICIA NETHERTON

6630 E. 8TH AVE.

ANCHORAGE, AK 6-99504

ANGELO D. DITZEL

VIA CENTO FANTI 56

CALCI (PISA)

ITALY 56011

MAURIZIO LUTZ

CMR 626 BOX 631

APO AE 09613

TEL: 427-0586-4073

EMAIL: maurizio-lutz.libero.it

TAMMY PALOMBI

6311 MOSSY OAK DR

OCEAN SPRINGS, MS 39564

TERESITA PAYNTER

3917 FINDLEY RD

WESTBRIDGE, VA 22193

TEL: 571-285-1479

EMAIL: tcpaynter@yahoo.com

MARK SCOTT

612 STONEHURST DR

NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV 89031

GENEROSA HENDERSON

4802 RED ROCK AVE

OMAHA, NE 68157

TEL: 531-210-6833

EMAIL: hender-gh@yahoo.com

RAJ MALHOTRA

12702PRINCELEIGH ST

KETTERING, MD 20774

TEL: 301-672-7357

EMAIL: paljacks@yahoo.com

EDWARD HICKS

100 BARN COURT NW

MADISON, AL 35757

EMAIL: edhicks1964@gmail.com

New Members (cont’d)

ROBERT MCMILLAN

CMR 489 BOX 1727

APO AE 09751

EMAIL: robnorma92@icloud.com

SUSANA SOBRINO

3341 REGENT BLVD

STE 130 #382

IRVING, TX 75063

NEW MEMBERS (continued)

ROBERT VASQUEZ, JR

3916 SANGER AVE

WACO, TX 76710

TEL: 254-498-4045

EMAIL: robvasquez610@gmail.com

KIM BURTON

VIA EMANUELS ZUCCATO # 5

VICENZA ITALY 36100

GILBERT RIVERA

BERG STR 16

RANNUNGEN, GERMANY 97517

TEL: 017652289-356

EMAIL: gilriv56@hotmail.com

EVELYN CASAREZ

7588 CARILLON PLAZA WEST

WOODBURY, MN 55125

JOHN LOW

205 HIGH POINT RD

WILLIAMSBURG, VA 23185

TEL: 757-206-9495

EMAIL: lowjhn@yahoo.com

CHANGES: ADDRESS,

TELEPHONE, EMAIL

LARRY FALK

1304 COLORADO DR

XENIA, OH 45385

TEL: 937-374-3608

EMAIL: larryfalk55@gmail.com

BYRON PETROU

13454 W. STATLER ST

SURPRISE, AZ 85374

TEL: 623-544-0624

EMAIL: byronepe@gmail.com

Page 30 October 2019 AREA NEW SLETTER

We need your help to make sure all

updates are captured in our new

membership database, especially your

email address, since that is how mem-

bers will receive future e-newsletters.

Please fill out and return the update

form included in this newsletter to

AREA as soon as possible.

(Update form is on the back of the

cover letter and on page 31 of this

newsletter.)

Your information (if you permit us to

do so), will also be entered on our

electronic national AREA Directory.

When we are confident that our direc-

tory is accurate, we will give national

members access to the AREA

Directory that will be password or

otherwise security protected so only

other “dues-paying” members have

access. Eventually, we all hope to

provide members direct access to this

database so they can update their

own information if they move or

change email addresses/phone

numbers. We will keep you informed

as these enhancements occur.

Thanks for keeping your

membership

information up-to-date!

If you know if a fellow retiree who is not a member of the national AREA, please direct them to this

link for an Application for AREA Membership today: https://www.aafes.com/Images/Community/

AREA/membership.pdf

AREA NEW SLETTER October 2019 Page 31

MEMBERSHIP PERSONAL INFORMATION UPDATE FORM

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS

The following telephone numbers/email addresses are provided as a convenience to members wishing to contact certain Exchange offices and the Pentagon Federal Credit Union.

HQ SWITCHBOARD

(214) 312-2011

FOR RETIREMENT and GROUP INSURANCE BENEFITS:

HQ. AAFES BENEFIT BRANCH REPRESENTATIVES (800) 519-3381 or email benefits@aafes.com

GENERAL COUNSEL:

DALE HARBOUR (214) 312-3126

EXCHANGE POST:

STEVE SMITH, Corporate Communications Editor/Historian, (214) 312-3831 or e-mail smithstev@aafes.com

SALES TABLOIDS:

TABLOID DEPARTMENT (800) 733-5142

ID CARD, PRIVILEGES

HR-S HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE

For Exchange ID cards/Retiree CAC:

Dallas Area: Email HQHRO@aafes.com or call the HQ HR Office at 214-312-2612 to make an appointment for an Exchange ID/CAC

Non-Foreign Areas: Visit the local Exchange HR office for the Exchange ID and the local post/base pass & ID office (or equivalent) for a Retiree CAC

Please ensure to bring your CAC/shopping privilege ID card as well as a valid Federal or State ID to renew your CAC and/or shopping privilege ID card. If your CAC is expired, you will need to bring in two valid forms of Federal and/or State ID’s (such as a driver’s license, US passport, birth certificate, or original social security card).

PENTAGON FEDERAL CREDIT UNION: TOLL FREE SERVICE –MEMBER SERVICES

TOLL FREE U.S.: 800-247-5626

Monday - Friday: 7:00 am to 11:00 pm Eastern Time Saturday: 8:00 am to 11:00 pm Eastern Time

Sunday: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm Eastern Time OVERSEAS DIRECT DIAL: 541-225-6700

TTY (for the hearing impaired: TOLL FREE U.S.: 800 225-6378

FOR OTHERS NOT LISTED:

Pat Weaver, Membership Director, (972) 780-9810; e-mail: membership@aafesretired.com

For other information, check out the Exchange website at: https://www.shopmyexchange.com/

Or the AREA website: http://www.aafes.com/about-exchange/retired-employees-association/

Page 32 October 2019 AREA NEW SLETTER

IN REMEMBRANCE—National AREA Members JAMES HALEY, 82, died February 15, 2019 in Salina, KS. The HQ Marketing Program Manager retired in 1992.

TOSHIO SHIOZAKI, 97, died January 2, in El Cerrito, CA. The HQ Associate retired in 1974.

JEAN AVERY, 83, died March 11 in Martinez, GA. The RAF Alconbury HR Manager retired in 1993.

THOMAS MARTIN, 87, died May 21 in Tacoma, WA. The Northwest AREA General Manager retired in 1980.

ARLENE MOORE, 94, died June 30 in Smiths Station, AL. The Fort Benning Accounting Technician retired in 1989.

AUBREY REMBOLD, 82, died August 16 in Little Elm, TX. The HQ Manager retired in 1993. (See story on page 34.)

Just in … DALTON KIYOSHI MURAYAMA, 75, died September 10 (see story below).

Other reported deaths (from Chapters and Individuals):

AREA NEW SLETTER October 2019 Page 33

Harold Lyn Waller passed away on August 3, 2019 in Tyler. He was born on July 7, 1940 at Gregg Memori-al Hospital in Longview to the late Alton Cleo Waller and Bonnie Rose Waller. After serving his country from 1959 – 1963 in the US Air Force, he went to college and received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. Mr. Waller had a career that took him around the world beginning with Braniff, Tandy and the Army-Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES). He ended his long career in 1993 when he retired as the Deputy Director of Information Systems. He is survived by his devoted bride of 59 years, Bettie Pickle Waller; his two daughters Carol Waller and Carla Harper and husband Chuck; his granddaughter Chloe Harper and his sister Laura Sue Williams and husband Doyle. In addition to his parents, Mr. Waller was preceded in death by his brothers Alton Cleo Waller and William Alford Waller and his sister Gertrude Lively. In lieu of flowers, memori-als may be made to Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County, 211 Winchester Drive, Tyler, Texas 75701 or to the charity of your choice. Harold's daughter is Carol Waller. Her email address is clwaller@gmail.com

Dalton Kiyoshi Murayama, age 75 of Arlington, passed away on September 10, 2019 at his home. He was born on July 27, 1944 on a sugar plantation in Maui, Hawaii, the son of Isao Murayama and Sawa Yasukawa. Dalton mar-ried Karen Price in 1974 and they celebrated 45 years of marriage.

Dalton graduated from Lahainaluna High School in Maui and received his degree in architecture from the University of Oregon and was a proud Duck. Dalton served in the Army during the Vietnam Era, was awarded two Bronze Stars, and was a recipient of the Purple Heart. Dalton joined AAFES following his deployment, which is where he met his wife. Together they lived in England, Munich, Virginia, then settled in Arlington. After Dalton’s retirement from AAFES, he worked for 11 years as an architectural manager for the City of Fort Worth. In his spare time, Dal-ton enjoyed following his favorite sports teams, traveling with his wife, and spending as much time as he could with his children.

Dalton is survived by his wife, Karen; daughters Jennifer Murayama, Jessica Patel and her husband Trushar and their expected daughter joining the family in January; sisters Nancy Tateyama and Ann Kashiwa. Dalton was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Edwin, Frank, and Milton Murayama; and sister Futaba Higuchi. A memorial gathering was held Wednesday, September 18 at the Moore Bowen Road Funeral Home. A celebration of life was held at the First United Methodist Church of Arlington.

The tributes for Dalton are too numerous to mention here, but go to the North TX Facebook page to see all the comments from his friends. Also, we gave tribute to Dalton on his Vietnam service in an article on page 15 of the July 2018 AREA Newsletter. To read it, go to this link: https://www.aafes.com/Images/Community/AREA/newsjuly18-2.pdf.

Woodrow Foch Gamble, Jr. - From Tom Lisiecki, retired GM, “Woody was a long serving AAFES executive who retired in 2000 as Special Retail Program Specialist for Eastern Region.” Obituary (no photo available): Mr. Woodrow Foch Gamble, Jr., 78, a resident of Bay Minette, Alabama and formerly of Ozark, died Thursday, September 19, 2019, at his home. A private graveside service was held on Sunday, September 22, 2019, in Woodlawn Memory Gardens, Holman Funeral Home and Cremations of Ozark directing.

Mr. Gamble was born June 29, 1941 in Ozark, Alabama to the late Woodrow Foch Gamble, Sr. and Ila Miller Gamble. He graduated from Carroll High School and Auburn University. Mr. Gamble lived in various locations during his career with the Army and Air Forces Exchange Service (AAFES), before retiring in 2000. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing. In addition to his parents, he was pre-ceded in death by two brothers, Jeff Gamble and Gregg Gamble.

Survivors include his wife, Kathleen; his son, John Nelson; his daughter, Kristina Eldridge and her husband, Brannon Eldridge; three grandchil-dren, Kelbey Vickerson, Griffin Eldridge and Kenna Eldridge; and one brother, Terry Gamble.

WILLS

From time to time retired associates of AAFES leave bequests to the AREA in their will. If you desire to make such a bequest we recommend providing the person that prepares your formally written and executed will with the following sample clause. If you make such a bequest please notify AREA at the same address as in the clause. "I give (blank dollars/property) to the Army Air Force Ex-change Service Retired Employee's Association (AREA), P.O. Box 380614, Duncanville, Texas 75138."

Editor’s note: The reported deaths shown in the AREA newsletter are only those deaths of AREA national members or those reported to us by chapters/family/friends. To see a complete listing of deaths for active and retired associates, go to the Exchange Post home page: www.theexchangepost.com, Scroll all the way down to the bottom and see a link that says “Obituaries, Transfers and Retirements.” Clicking on this link will take you to the information you want. Information is listed by month back to 2016.

Aubrey E. Rembold: August 8, 1937 —August 16, 2019

Message received from Lorrie and Cathy, Aubrey’s daughters: “As you may already know, our Dad, Aubrey E. Rembold, passed away on Friday, August 16, 2019 from a long battle with pancreatic cancer that spread to his liv-er. We appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers and kind words for our Dad. I would like to share some messages from a couple of his close friends.

From James Henry: Aubrey was one of a kind that will never be repeated. He had a magnetic and energetic personali-ty that attracted everyone. So likeable, so friendly, and in his job, so professional and successful. I am blessed to have known him and to have had him as a friend. Every person that came in touch with Aubrey is blessed to have known him. He was just that kind of a person.

From Sam Henderson: Aubrey, let it go and go see Irene and all of your friends. Lucky is ready to hunt ducks and you can hunt them all the time. You have been a very good and best friend…more than a man could ask for. We love you and don’t shoot all the birds up there because I will want to hunt when I get there, Love Sam

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to Faith Presbyterian Hospice who took such good care of him through his last

days. Below is the link to their website: https://www.faithpreshospice.org/.”

Story about Aubrey Rembold from friend Noma Chriss:

Aubrey was first my friend and then my boss. He and Irene were very special to me and I’ll always have them in my heart. I met Aubrey through a mutual friend, Ed Adams, when he was transferred to HQ to head up Data Systems. Aubrey and Ed were great hunting and fishing buddies. When duck hunting season arrived, Ed told Aubrey that I had a weekender they could use. I also had a fireplace, which was great for them. They would put soot on their faces so the ducks couldn’t see them when the sun came up! What fun for them!

Later left AAFES for a job in Houston. These two brilliant guys decided to meet at Cedar Creek Lake for a day of fishing, Irene packed them a wonderful lunch, as she always did. Aubrey drives from Lewisville, pulling his boat; and Ed and his son pull their boat from Houston. When they arrive at Cedar Creek Lake, it was a “gully washer.” (NOTE; FOR YOU YANKEES, IT WAS A POUNDING RAIN!) By this time, I was retired and living at Cedar Creek Lake full time. I heard someone knocking and wondered who was out in this weather! Ed’s son is checking to see if I’m home and could they come in. I was glad to see this wet bunch. Aubrey said, “ I have lunch.” We had a good visit and I added something to Aubrey’s spread for a picnic in the garden room. Sorry, but no fishing that day!

Irene was so good to keep Aubrey eating the right. However, Aubrey loved cheesecake, which Irene wouldn’t cook because it was not good for him. On his birthday each year, I’d make him my Southern Living Cheesecake. Aubrey would share it with his staff, then put a slice back in his refrigerator for next day! We stayed in touch until the end. He was my friend and I will miss him.

IN REMEMBRANCE (Continued from page 33)

Emogene M Cupp (Jan 20, 1920—July 1, 2019)

From daughter SUE RAMPEY: my mother had passed away on July 1, 2019. She was born January 20, 1920 in Kentucky.

Emogene M Cupp was a buyer for AAFES and worked at Cameron Station, in Alexandria, VA for over 30 years. She lost her only son in Vietnam on June 6, 1968. She joined the American Gold Star Mothers after that. They are mothers who have lost a son or daughter due to a war. She became the President of the organization from June 1978 until June 1979. She was instrumental in raising funds to build The Vietnam Memorial Wall, broke ground when the construction was to began and unveiled the first panel in 1982.

Her home was in Alexandria, VA, however, she lived with me, her daugh-ter, for the last 3 1/2 years of her life in Stephens City, VA. She was an amazing person and had a wonderful life. She traveled to many places during and after she retired. She visited all 50 states and many countries.

She is survived by her daughter, Sue, 7 grandchildren, 19 great grandchil-dren and 13 great-great grandchildren.

The first picture in the blue dress is her official American Gold Star Mother photo and the one in her white uniform is what she wore when she attended American Gold Star events.

Editor’s Note: From all her friends and fellow retirees: “rest in peace Emogene. You were truly an impressive women!”

Aubrey Rembold

with wife Irene

Page 34 October 2019 AREA NEW SLETTER

AREA NEW SLETTER October 2019 Page 35

Please print this page,

Fill out your ballot

And mail it back to AREA

By October 31, 2019

VOTE FOR AREA

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

In this amendment, we’re asking you to vote to amend Article IV, Section 2, to read as follows:

“The Executive Board of the Association are the nine voting members of the Board. They consist of the four Officers of the Association set forth above, and these five additional members, who are appointed by the president for indefinite terms as vacancies occur: Membership Director, News Director and three Member-at-Large representatives of the entire membership.”

As discussed on page 4 of this newsletter, currently there are eight voting members on the AREA board and the Membership Director was not a voting member. The Membership Director position is of critical importance to the AREA organization, especially as AREA re-tools its membership recruitment and manage-ment capabilities. The Membership Director will be a non-paid volunteer position similar to all the other voting members. If approved, the Membership Administrator position is a new position on the board and is a non-voting member. Since the number of AREA board voting members would increase from eight to nine, a “quorum” of voting members would change from four to five voting members.

Ballot Constitutional Amendment

Please check YES or NO

Yes ____

No ____

Return this completed page by

October 31 to:

AREA: Amend Constitution

PO Box 380614

Duncanville, TX 75138-0614

See page 4 for more information about this amend-

ment to the AREA Constitution and other information

of interest to members from the September 13, 2019

AREA Board Meeting.

AAFES Retired Employees Association

P.O. Box 380614

Duncanville, TX 75138-0614

DUES ALERT! If the last time you renewed your dues was in September 2018 or earlier,

please send your $17 dues PAYABLE to AREA at the mailing address shown above.

AAFES Retired Employees Association

Spring 2019 AREA Meeting: “Effective January 1, 2020, AREA news will only delivered electronically.” The good news is that the e-Newsletter will be published monthly and in full color. Make sure we have your current email address so you get these e-Newsletters. Also, visit the AAFES Retired Employees Association Facebook page for current news from AREA, Exchange management, and your fellow retirees. Note: you must be a dues-paying national member to receive the e-Newsletter and join the AAFES Retired Employees Facebook page.

AREA—JUST FOR YOU

PRSRT STD

US POSTAGE PAID

DALLAS, TX

PERMIT #1478