AAFES Retired Employees Association Newsletterthis wonderful bird —our Purple Martin (Prógne...

Giesla Fregoe had the idea of a Purple Martin stamp for a long time. Her quest

took her to Austin, Texas and Washington, D.C. and lasted nine years. Finally,

in January 2012 the U.S. Postal Service released a Purple Martin stamped enve-

lope as a first class forever stamp. And now those envelopes are about as scarce

as purple martins after they fly away for the winter.

“It was a lot of work,” Gisela said, “but I had my goal in

mind to draw national attention on a U.S. postal stamp to

this wonderful bird —our Purple Martin (Prógne súbis).”

Gisela lives in Grand Prairie, Texas, with her husband,

Richard Fregoe, an AAFES retiree, and, at times, hun-

dreds of purple martins living in dozens of Purple Martin

houses in her backyard. Gisela is founder/president of the

Purple Martin Landlords of North Texas, and said she

decided to undertake the stamp project “after receiving a beautiful stamp book

from my son-in-law and after looking

through it I thought it would be good to

get the Purple Martins onto a stamp.”

She actually started the project in 2000,

getting all the papers together, and got

underway in earnest in 2003 when she

made a background visit in early February

2003 to discuss an ongoing stamp project

with the development director with the

Bat Conservation International Inc. in

Austin. Gisela said, “we had a good talk

and she told me how their bat stamp pro-

ject finally got off the ground.”

With that information on a successful

stamp campaign, she assembled Purple

Martin material from the three participat-

ing Purple Martin organizations in USA,

the Purple Martin Conservation Associa-

tion, the Nature Society and the Purple

Martin Society NA, to take to Washing-

ton, D.C. in March 2003. All three organi-

zations also wrote cover letters. She

dressed up the front of the binder with a

Purple Martin Landlords of North Texas

Continued on page 14

Newsletter

AAFES Retired Employees Association

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

October 2012

Update your membership information

to include in the next AREA directory AREA will print a new directory in April next year so it’s time for you

to take a look at your address and other personal information and make

sure it’s up-to-date.

Pat Weaver, membership director, said, “I re-

ceived a large number of comments three

years ago along the lines of ‘what you printed

is not correct’ so this is the time for YOU to

make sure EVERYTHING is how you want

it to appear in the new directory.”

Please look over the information that will be

in the directory, including home address,

telephone, email, marriage status, new names for

spouses. Use the Membership Update Form on page 18 to send Pat any

and all changes you wish to make.

We’ll remind you again in the January newsletter.

Homer Armitage and his wife, Jonnie, were honored by the Augusta Chapter for their service to the chap-ter...Homer served 12 years as chapter president and another three years as vice president and secre-tary for a total of 15 years. Read more about the chapter’s honors for Homer on page 10.

Gisela Fregoe’s nine-year effort

pays off with new postal stamp

Making history at Augusta Chapter

C H U C K P O F F E N B A R G E R , P R E S I D E N T

October 2012 AREA NEWSLETTER

Welcome to the October, 2012 edition of AREA’s Newsletter, and the first month of Autumn.

Autumn Musings

“For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad.”

- Edwin Way Teale

“I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house.

So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air. - Nathaniel Hawthorne

“There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an ef-

fect on the feelings, as now in October.” - Nathaniel Hawthorne

“In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought

and care and toil. And at no season, safe perhaps in Daffodil time, do we get such superb colour effects as

from August to November.” - Rose G. Kingsley, The Autumn Garden

“I saw old Autumn in the misty morn

Stand, shadowless like Silence, listening To Silence.”

- Thomas Hood

“I love the fall. I love it because of the smells that you speak of; and also because things are dying,

things that you don't have to take care of anymore, and the grass stops growing.” - Mark Van Doren

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth

seeking the successive autumns.” - George Eliot

AREA ...JUST FOR YOU

Open Enrollment: November 5 to November 30

The Open Enrollment time for insurance is coming next month, and during the

Open Enrollment period you may: *Drop dependents

*Cancel coverage – with the understanding that you may not re-enroll

Change medical plans, if more than one is offered in your area

*Please contact the AAFES HQ Benefits Office to make these changes.

The DoD NAF Health Benefits Program Information is Online

The new DoD NAF health benefits website provides one convenient place to learn about your plans. At www.nafhealthplans.com, you’ll find detailed information about:

Medical plans: The Open Choice PPO® Plan, the Traditional Choice® Plan and the Aetna International Traditional Choice® Plan.

Dental plans: The Passive PPO Dental Plan, the Aetna International Dental Plan.

You can view plan brochures, benefit charts and detailed Summary Plan De-scriptions for the plans available to you. There is also information specific to AAFES, contact information, forms and reference documents.

Summary of Benefits and Coverage

The Affordable Care Act is setting guidelines for how benefits information is communicated to plan members. A Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) is now required by law, and will be available at www.nafhealthplans.com.

To learn more about health care reform and to see a timeline, visit www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform.

Find Your Way with iTriage®

The world of health care can be confusing and complex. iTriage is a free mobile

and web app that lets you:

Look up symptoms and conditions using an interactive map of the human body

Find the right doctors and services for your problem or condition

Learn about medications

Book appointments and get turn-by-turn directions to a facility/doctor’s office

Look up hospital ER wait times.

With iTriage, you can find your way around and make sense of your options. You

can use iTriage on your Android phone or your iPhone or iPod. Get it free at the

Android Market or App Store.

There always seems to be more to know about health care. Now you have a

handy guide with iTriage®.

AREA NEWSLETTER October 2012

AAFES Retired

Employees Association The AREA Newsletter is published in

January, April, July and October

Mailing Address:

AREA

P. O Box 380614

Duncanville, TX 75138-0614

President: Chuck Poffenbarger

[email protected]

Tel: (972) 296-0388

FAX: (972) 692-5176

Membership & Address Changes:

Send your NEWSLETTER ADDRESS

and MEMBERSHIP changes to the

Membership Director Pat Weaver.

[email protected]

Tel: (972) 780-9810

Newsletter input:

Submit articles for the newsletter to the

editor by e-mail to Newsletter Editor:

Larry E. Phillips

[email protected]

AREA Web address:

www.shopmyexchange.com/community/area

YOUR AAFES BENEFITS

More information coming

soon to your mailbox

Aetna will be sending you

more information in an Open

Enrollment Newsletter that

will be mailed out to retirees.

http://www.nafhealthplans.com

http://www.nafhealthplans.com

http://www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform


YOUR AAFES BENEFITS…

Medical Claims Costs Increase For Another Year

For 2011, the total claims cost for AAFES in the Department of Defense Nonappropriated Fund Health Benefits Program

(DoD NAF HBP) increased to $187.3M compared to $174.3M in 2010, an increase of almost 7%.

AAFES 2011 Total Aetna Medical Claims Cost

Medical $133.3M

Pharmacy $ 42.7M

Dental $ 11.2M

Total $187.3M

The key drivers of the claims cost were for the treatment of chronic illnesses and prescription drug cost. In 2011 the top

5 chronic diseases and drugs were:

Hypertension and Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) are both precursors to more serious heart disease.

Ways we all can help control costs:

Use the preventive services that are offered in the plan.

Covered at 100% no copay/no deductible.

Use urgent care facilities instead of the emergency room (ER).

Use the ER only in cases of an emergency.

Use the mail-order drug (MOD) benefit.

Use the MOD for your maintenance drugs – (medications you are taking on a regular basis such as high

blood pressure; cholesterol; diabetes; etc.

By using MOD you’ll pay less for the medications because you can order up to a 90-day supply for the

cost of a 60-day supply…you save one copay.

Use generic prescriptions, if available.

A generic is the equivalent of a brand name drug; however it costs less than the brand name.

Using generics saves on costs to you and the medical plan.

Participate in a disease management program, if applicable.

Change to a healthier lifestyle.

Note: The DoD NAF HBP is a self-insured program. Self-insured means the employer assumes the risk for paying the

claims and administrative fees to a company that administers the program. Aetna is the third party administrator used by

the DoD NAF HBP.

2011 Top 5 Chronic Diseases & Drugs

Chronic Diseases Drugs

Hypertension Simvastatin 1 (high cholesterol)

Hyperlipidemia (cholesterol) Hydrocodone (pain)

Nonspecific Gastritis/Dyspepsia Lisinopril (hypertension)

Diabetes Levothyroxin (thyroid)

Low Back Pain Amlodipine (hypertension)


YOUR AAFES BENEFITS

It’s October. Have you gotten your $100 health incentive credit? Earn a total of $100 in Health Incentive Credits when you:

(a) take an online Health Risk Assessment = $50

plus

(b) get your annual routine physical exam = $50

Total: $100

Applied to your medical deductible and/or coinsurance as claims are processed.

Credits will roll over every year until you use it, up to 3 years.

Credits are displayed on your Explanation of Benefits and in Aetna Navigator

(Health Risk Assessments can be taken online at aetna.com)

Important benefits information will be mailed soon—

It’s time to update your address!! Open Enrollment Season is quickly approaching. Soon, we will be mailing a packet of information to the address on re-

cord to everyone eligible to participate in the plans. The packet will give you valuable information about

changes in benefit plan coverage levels and /or premiums for the upcoming year.

It is extremely important to verify that your AAFES personnel records include your

correct address or you will not receive important information about these changes.

Please visit Employee Self Service and click on “Personal” under the “Personal &

Work” to make any corrections needed.

Get health information you can trust from the

Informed Health Line

If you have a health question, you can call the toll-free Informed Health Line at 1-800-556-1555, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and talk to registered nurses who can an-swer your health-related questions and provide information you can trust. The nurse can also help you make the right decision about where to seek care, and can even help you find a local urgent care center or walk-in clinic, if appropriate.

Tips for healthy travelling

You have your flight booked and passport in hand. Now here are some tips for healthy travel:

Get your shots. Vaccines may be a good idea. But think ahead. Some should be given a month or so before you leave. Ask your

doctor. And check your health plan to see if shots for travel are covered.

Flying across time zones? To avoid jet lag, get used to the new time zone ahead of time. Go to bed earlier at night if you are

traveling east. Stay up later if traveling west. It's also helpful to choose daytime flights.

Stay hydrated. Cabin air is dry. So drink lots of water before and during your flight. And avoid caffeine and alcohol.

Be germ-smart. Travel with disinfectant wipes. Use them on tray tables, seat arms, the window and especially the bathroom.

Need your health info?

Log in to Aetna Mobile to find doctors, check health records, view your ID card and more.

http://links.email.aetna.com/ctt?kn=41&ms=NDY0NDM5MQS2&r=MjY4MzExMDMxMzgS1&b=0&j=Mjc4MzEwOTM3S0&mt=2&rj=Mjc4MzEwOTM3S0&rt=0

The “why’s” of the Prudential Long Term Care letters

Recently, some of you may have received a letter from Prudential Long Term Care dated August 4, 2012. This

letter had incorrect premium increases on it. Please disregard the letter and throw it away. If you did not re-

ceive a letter, then you are not affected, and no action is needed on your part. Prudential sent out new letters

dated August 15, 2012 with the correct premium amounts.

Please remember that you have a choice whether you want to accept the increased benefit levels and new pre-

mium charges or reject them and leave your benefits “as is”. This is considered a “buy-up” for inflation protec-

tion, but it also comes with increased premiums.

In order to reject their offer, you must check the box for “I reject the Inflation Protection Increase offer. I un-

derstand my benefits will remain at their current level.”, sign and date the form and return it to Prudential.

The letters indicate that you must reject the offer within 30 days of the date of the letter, but Prudential stated

due to the circumstances they will extend this for a reasonable amount of time after the 30 days. We would

recommend that if you intend to reject the offer to still try to do it within the 30 days.

Below is some additional information from Prudential.

What is impacted?

Contractually, Periodic Inflation offers are made every three years.

What will the impacted policyholders receive from Prudential?

The policyholders will receive two separate Periodic Inflation offer letters from Prudential; one with an

incorrect premium amount for the new coverage and a revised letter reflecting the correct new premium

amount and an apology from Prudential.

The letter dated 8/4/2012 significantly overstated the premium for the increase in coverage. This letter

should be disregarded. The corrected letter, along with an apology letter from Prudential is dated

8/15/2012. This letter states the correct premium and is the letter the policy holder should use to make

the decision on whether to increase coverage. The corrected letters were mailed approximately

8/17/2012.

When is Periodic Inflation Increase effective?

The inflation offer is effective 10/1/2012. However, the premium for the increased benefit is based on

the policyholder’s age as the policy anniversary date of 7/1/2012. The timing of future offers will not

be impacted.

What actions do policyholders need to take?

Policyholders should disregard the letters dated 8/4/2012. They should make their decision regarding

the increase offer based on the amounts stated in the 8/15/2012 letter. To accept the increase offer, no

additional action is needed. If the policyholder wishes to reject the offer, they need to check the box on

the bottom of the letter and return the signed letter to Prudential. Please note, the apology letter indi-

cates we will honor rejection requests beyond the 30 days stated in the increase offer letter.

If you have questions about details on this inflation “buy-up” offer, please contact Prudential directly at their

toll-free number at 1-800-732-0416 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.

—Your Benefits Team


YOUR AAFES BENEFITS


AREA Community Service Awards – Autumn 2012

The Retired Employees Association recognizes Exchange Retirees and Associates who volunteer their time and devote other re-

sources, such as personal knowledge and expertise, to help improve the economic, civic and social health of the communities where

they live and work. The Community Service Review Committee, Richard Fregoe,

Chairman, and members Chuck Poffenbarger, Jerry Cloud and Don Streeter re-

viewed the nominations and, along with the entire AREA membership, are pleased

to recognize these Exchange Retirees and Associates for their commitment to their

communities’ well-being.

All recipients were provided with a Certificate of Appreciation and a recognition letter signed by the program director and president,

AREA. We wish to thank Watt/Spohn Universal, a leading worldwide Exchange Broker, for supporting the Retired Employees As-

sociation through their active involvement in the Dallas/Fort Worth and Hampton Roads ALA chapters. Watt/Spohn Universal spe-

cializes in representing brand name manufacturers in the Power Zone, Automotive, Hardware, Housewares, Sporting Goods, Station-

ary and Consumables categories. They have a long history of supporting retiree programs. We invite you to visit them at

www.wattspohn.com

COMMUNITY AWARD RECIPIENTS, October 2012

Dwellie D Jackson, Exchange Retiree, Augusta Chapter: Dwellie worked 28 years for AAFES. She was hired to work in the

Cafeteria making pizzas for delivery. Then moved to the pastry department making donuts, where she got an award for donut mak-

ing. When the bakery section of the cafeteria shut down, she went to work in the Main Store in the Military Clothing Department as

a Sales Associate and followed this department when a separate Military Clothing Sales Store (MCSS) was established. She also

was a Union Representative for 19 years while working at the Exchange and enjoyed a great relationship with both the employees

and management. After retirement, she and her husband moved from Augusta to Thomson, Georgia where she currently resides.

With her six children firmly on their way with their own lives, she turned her attention to volunteering.

For the past 10 years, she has been volunteering at Vanderhorst Christian Methodist Episcopal Church helping with Bible School and

the refreshments for the children. The children have taught her how to change her approach in talking to them. “They have minds of

their own these days and question everything. In order to reach them you have to be honest and truthful.”

Dwellie is also the Local Missionary President for her church. She is most proud of being able to help people during bereavements,

encouraging others to study the Bible and helping with the Church's college scholarship fund. She visits two Personal Care Homes a

month distributing birthday cards, talking to the residents, listening to their stories and reading the Bible. She enjoys talking with the

older residents as they are a living history of Georgia and what stories they tell! They have taught her that listening to another is the

greatest gift one can give. It may seem like a “small” thing, but listening validates a person’s self esteem, lets them know they have

something interesting to say and helps them to relive happier times in their past which always brings a smile to everyone. Four years

ago Dwellie became chaplin for the group “Key Women of America”. Their mission is to provide scholarships for low income chil-

dren wanting to go to college. After volunteering, her second passion is traveling in the United States and Overseas.

Dwellie is so appreciative of AAFES, and says, “It is a good company! As a single parent with 6 children to look after (my first hus-

band had passed away when they were young), the managers were always there to support me. There were times when I had to take

off work to help my kids, and through their willingness to let me off, I was able to raise my kids and get all of them through college.

I am so proud to have worked for such wonderful managers and for a company which has kept its retirement promises.”

Carol Adams, Retiree: Carol is being recognized for her volunteerism over the last five years for the work and support she has

given to Cooks Children’s’ Hospital in Fort Worth. Besides being a “Rocker” for the infants that are hospitalized, Carol has been

making and chairing a group of volunteers for the DFW Stitch-A-Wish campaign sewing pillow cases for all the children that come

through the doors of Cooks for over seven years. She has also served as chairperson for the volunteers and collecting monetary dona-

tions and prize donations committee for the David Mayo Scramble in 2007. This past April/May, besides sewing the pillow cases,

Carol also chaired and worked on sewing over 200 water bottle covers for the day camp associated with Cooks.

Continued on next page


Colbie Lake, Exchange Associate: Colbie Lake is a two-year member of Search One Rescue Team which is a nonprofit

organization that uses specially trained Search and Rescue (SAR) K9s to assist governmental agencies in locating lost and missing

persons. The team is in their 28th year serving all of North Central Texas (and beyond). The team consists of 42 members and 27

dogs providing four specific K9 disciplines to include Trailing, Area Search (or Air Scent), Human Remains Detection (HRD) and

Disaster. Colbie trains with the team one day every weekend and can be called out on searches at any time, day or night.

Angeles Framcisco, Fort Lee Exchange: Angeles has provided funds to send 3 Philippians students to universities. La Salle

University, Nursing Degree; Lipa City College, Teaching Degree; and Batanggas University, Engineer Degree, allowing them to be

able to support themselves in a professional manner. The nurse is doing volunteer nursing duties for now, the teacher is still in

school expecting to graduate in March 2013 and the engineer is currently in Saudi Arabia as a computer engineer. Angie has never

been recognized from the organizations or the town.

Maza Wilson, Fort Lee Exchange: Maza started working with the Hopewell Quarterback League in 1977 thru 2012. She was a

Sponsor, a Representative and later she was titled Athletic Director. Serving on the executive board and was very instrumental in

getting many youths off the street by signing them up to play football and joining the cheerleaders squad. She went through the

community and gathered the youth and signed them up to play football and cheering squad. Throughout her term she signed at least

25 girls for cheering and 40 boys to football.

She still supports the HQL where her great granddaughter is a member of the cheering squad. She also became a sponsor for the

youth basketball team where she encouraged two men to become volunteer coaches. She has signed up at least 30 to 40 boys for the

teams.

Mara Cranfill, Fort Lee Exchange: Mara is an Adoption Stand Volunteer. She helps setup & breakdown adoption stands (set

up tables, chairs, crates, water bowls, crate cards, etc.) For the pets that are not adopted at that time, Mara pays them special attention

to them to ensure they become adoptable in future. For some of the dogs & cats this is important as this may be their only human

contact - so the more she is kind and loving to them, the more adoptable they become.

She help takes strays found in the community, rescues animals from shelters, and accepts pets surrendered by owners who can no

longer care for them. She transports all rescues to and from adoptions stands with her own vehicle and time.

Henrico Humane Society is run entirely by volunteers and has no paid staff. They do not have a shelter and instead keep most of the

animals in foster homes until permanent, loving homes can be found for them. Mara displays a strong commitment to the organiza-

tion’s mission & values and is loyal in supporting the Henrico Humane Society Organization’s community activities through her

continuous efforts to stop the euthanizing of homeless cats and dogs.

Paula M. Martinez, Exchange Associate, Fairchild AFB Exchange: Paula has had a lifelong emotional connection to the mili-

tary and uses that connection to inspire those around her to truly appreciate the Greatest Customers in the World. She helps to mentor

newly arrived spouses to Fairchild and helps them with the difficult transition to military life. Paula is active in her church as a can-

tor, a reader of liturgy and a greeter. She aides the Medical Lake, Washington Food Bank and the homeless shelter in Spokane by

providing and raising donations. She is also a donator to St Joseph’s Lakota Indian school in South Dakota. Paula has adopted an

international child in Honduras by sending financial contributions, clothing, and school items.

Elma Gates, Shift Manager, Lewis North: Elma is the senior usher at Grace Chapel located on Joint Base Lewis McChord. She

also serves on the hospitably committee, has worked with the junior ushers, and was president of the women group, Elma also

works with a group of retired military folks by the name IN Touch We Care. With this group she is the chair head for outreach. She

has also held the position of President of AAFES Employees Assoc. for 6 years.

Louise Triplett, Exchange Associate, Joint Base Lewis-McChord: Louise has done much in the JBLM community. While at

North Fort she spent many off duty hours across the street at Grace Chapel. Many times retired Exchange managers come into the

store to say hello to Louise and share stories of Louise helping a church member who had lost a loved one due to health, suicide, or

to conflict. Every Thanksgiving she discreetly gives single employees with large families food baskets. These ongoing contributions

demonstrate why she is being recognized for her community service.

LaFondra Dixson, Exchange associate, HQ: LaFondra volunteers at Church of Living God in Christ (Oak Cliff), feeds the eld-

erly and helps Youth with Bible Study and Youth Programs every other Saturday.

AREA ...JUST FOR YOU

Marlene and Lester Tokuhisa and Ally-

son Santos


CHAPTER HAPPENINGS

Aloha Chapter -- On Sunday, August 26, 44 members and guests of the Aloha Chapter gathered at Chao Phya Restau-

rant in Kaneohe for their summer luncheon. A small intimate location, the restaurant, opened specifically on this date

to accommodate our group, was packed from the front door to the back door all awaiting a virtual feast of Thai cui-

sine. From traditional Thai spring rolls, to Pad Thai, to cashew nut chicken, yellow curried chicken, Mahi Mahi, to

Lemon Grass salad -- no one left disappointed. The food

was presented beautifully, family style, for each table.

The day’s events - Bake Sale, Plant Sale & White Ele-

phant sale - began with an invocation by Wil-

ton Santos. Guests for our August luncheon were Floyd

Wynn, General Manager, AAFES-HAWAII and his

wife Tiffany. Mr. Wynn provided members an update on

the happenings at AAFES-Hawaii and the vehicle decal

“situation” at Hickam AFB. Several members signed up

for the AAFES Buddy List and were appreciative of the

information, coupons, and specials noted by Mr. Wynn.

Also attending our luncheon— all the way

from Germany— was the daughter of Philip

Roach, Chapter president. Mimi, her hus-

band, Guenther, son, Ted, and his friend,

Kilian. Mimi, a former AAFES-Europe em-

ployee, and her family were making their

yearly visit to Hawaii to see her parents,

Philip and Charlotte Roach.

—Bill Allgire

Photos by Charlotte Roach Nancy Takiguchi and Yoshie Miyamoto

Tiffany Wynn and Pearl Wong Guenther and Mimi Roach Jordan, Judy Bargfrede, and Pauline Ung

Floyd Wynn and Bill Allgire

George Turqueza and Jane

Fukunaga

Bill Allgire and Linda Shimizu

Pearl Wong, Julia Davis, Mary Ann Asato, and Lynda Tanaka Nellie and Tom Murin and Jeff Daniel

Bea Shiroma, Rachel Fu and Julie Conner


CHAPTER HAPPENINGS

Augusta Chapter —On June 25 Homer

(Mick) Armitage stepped down as President

of the AAFES Retiree Employee Associa-

tion- Augusta Chapter, which held a “third

retirement” sendoff for Homer and his wife, Jonnie. He had held this position 12 years!

Additionally he also

held positions as

Vice President and

Secretary for a total

of 15 years of active

involvement with

this group.

Homer started work-

ing with AAFES as

an intermittent GI in

the Terminal PX,

Kinoley AFB, Bermuda in 1962. In 1964,

he married Jonaquine “Jonnie” McCoy.

Homer was honorably discharged from the

Air Force in 1965 and thus started his tour

of the world with AAFES. Together they

have been to Columbus, Mississippi (Annex

Mgr, Main Store Assistant Manager),

Wherry Exchange at McDill AFB (Branch Manager), Howard AFB and Fort Kobe in

Panama (Main Store Manager), Fort

Gordon (Operations Manager), Pendleton

Barracks in Giessen, Germany (Operations

Manager) and Fort Jackson, SC (Sales and

Merchandise Manager).

Special assignments included setting up

stockrooms in new stores in Seymor John-

son, Ft Stewart, Shaw AFB and Charleston

AFB. In addition he ran the Troop Store at

Camp Shelby, MS, during the summer en-

campments for 4 years.

And during one of

those years Homer

wound up in an the

unusual situation of

being sent on TDY and then sent on an-

other TDY at the

same time. Here’s the

explanation: he was

initially sent TDY to

Camp Shelby and

then he got additional

orders to go TDY to

Vicksburg. The Vicksburg manager sud-

denly took ill and was running a one-person

store. Homer stayed there until a new man-ager was assigned, and then he ended back

at Camp Shelby to finish up his original

TDY assignment. Oh the Good Ole Days!

His last assignment was at Fort Gordon where he retired from AAFES in 1993.

Boredom set in and he came back to work

as an INT in the warehouse at Ft Gordon

from 1995-1998, when he “retired' for a

second time.

When Homer took over as President of the

AREA-Augusta Chapter, there were years

when a secretary was not found, Jonnie

stepped up to help him out and became his

unofficial secretary, organizer, and com-

puter guru. Without her help, his legacy

would not have been possible!

His “Third” retirement party was held 23

July.

Chuck Poffenbarger, President AREA,

wrote “...the fact that he chose to be the

Augusta Chapter AREA President for 12

years, plus 3 years as Vice President,

speaks volumes as to his commitment to the group. I know his leadership presence will

be missed by the members there, though I

hope he will continue to be active in the

meetings. Please pass on my sincere thanks

for all his efforts during his time with

AREA. I wish him and Jonnie all the best

as they continue on life's journey.”

Twenty members were able to attend the

potluck with many others sending their best

wishes and congratulations to Homer and Jonnie for all their effort to make this the

Longest Operating AREA club in the

AAFES system.

And yes, Homer continues to participate—

he is now our “official” joke teller to start

our meetings off with a laugh and a smile.

We look forward to seeing Homer and Jon-

nie for years to come and truly value their

concern for every member, their dedication

to keep the group inspired and their positive

energy.

—Cindy Grzybowski

Homer Armitage ‘retires for third time’ at Augusta

Lining up to eat How to keep retirees quiet? Feed them!

Yong and Ron Rozier presented Georgia shirts to the honorees—Homer got all the shirt but only part of his head into the photo!

Augusta members surround Homer and Jonnie for one last photo.

CHAPTER HAPPENINGS


CHAPTER HAPPENINGS

Golden Gate Chapter —The annual summer luncheon for the Golden Gate

Chapter was held on Saturday, July 21 at Spinnaker in Sausalito, pictured above.

Ikue Burney, Sunny Kirk and Joan Turner

Joan Turner, Noble Emery, Carol Beatty and Marion Emery

Jean Peffers, Mary Lou Geimer, Iyoko Pao and Lorraine Harris

Sandy Gilman, Lou Vitalie and Dennis Gilman Val and Marion Grohoski

South Carolina Chapter—Therese Morgan, President, and

Nedra Dover, Treasurer of the AREA South Carolina Chap-

ter are shown getting ready for the Chapter's quarterly meet-

ing on September 11, 2012. The quarterly meeting was held

at the Golden Corral restaurant. By a majority vote, our next

meeting will be held at the Officers' Club at Fort Jackson.

Kansas Chapter – The chapter’s president Wanita

Hulett reports the chapter is still on active duty, with

18 active members who meet every other month for

lunch/meeting in the Junction City, Kansas, adjacent

to Fort Riley.

She said, “Most of our members have been retired

for more than 10-20 years and almost all are retired

from Ft. Riley. Last year we held a Christmas party

at the Marriott Hotel in town and had good partici-

pation.”

Travis Townes and Dale Linebarger Lina Poffenbarger and Chuck Poffenbarger


75 AAFES ALUMNI attended this special Mem-bership Social and BBQ at Hard 8 BBQ— with Ruth Watson giving a high five for a great time.

Jerry Johnston and Paul M. Kelleher

Jim and Sally Kotani

Luverne Quemuel, Barbara Caisse, Al Caisse and Phyllis McQueen

CHAPTER HAPPENINGS

Jerry Cloud and Jack Leavitt

Sook and Frank Vitullo

Jerry and Sandy Johnston

Marty Handel, David Luz-zatto and Tom Branning

North Texas chapter mem-bers celebrated inside the big tent at the Addison Okto-berfest and witnessed the official tapping of the keg. Christine Justus

Sue and Richard Sheff


West Georgia Chapter--The West Georgia Chapter of Area recently received the “Spirit Award “ from the Central Ala-

bama Veterans Health Care System of Montgomery/Tuskegee, Alabama. This was given in recognition of the chapter’s

heartfelt commitment and outstanding contribution. to the “Volunteers Exceptional People Extraordinary Hearts” pro-

gram. The award given by the Interim Director, Anthony L. Dawson, praised the chapter, stating “you're appreciated and

admired for the time you give and the smiles you give and the smiles you share. Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service

VOLUNTEERS are a priceless asset to Veterans, the Veterans Health Administration, and the Department of Affairs.

The West Georgia Chapter thanks the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care for this award..

Next the Chapter has held its annual Picnic in the Park located at the Cooper Creek Park in Columbus, Ga. All members,

family and friends were invited to come join the fun. We had our famous burgers and hot dogs, along with all the extras

needed to make you put a smile on your face and have a full stomach before you were finished. We had approximately

30 people attending, and we all had a great time, enjoying each other’s company with lots of talk and jokes about the

past and working for AAFES.

—Elizabeth Baum, President

Marie Melicki, Patricia Merchant and Gloria Williams

Frank Jones

Karen and Al Moseley

Diane and Gary Roberts

Annie Stewart

Lorraine Johnkowski

Annie Tyler and sister Lillie Tutt

Helen Rogers and granddaughter and Arlene Moore Lynda James

Lillie Billman Ronnie Warrick

West Georgia Chapter receives VA ‘Spirit Award’


logo, had a cover letter and information packets for each of

the 15 members of the citizen stamp advisory committee of

the U.S. postal service.

“There were also lists of U.S. stamp petitions for the Purple

Martin stamp, photos and a Purple Martin video,” she said. “It

was quite an impressive

collection, all neatly put

together into a binder. And

then it was off to Washing-

ton, D.C.

“I had made contact with the

secretary of the citizen

stamp office. When I arrived

she reluctantly told me it

was an exception they

would see me since all stamp requests must be mailed in to

their office. I felt happy about the way things were going. The

secretary started looking through the binder, then took it to

another office. After awhile she came back with a stamp sub-

ject coordinator for the stamp development office of the U.S.

postal service. They explained the very strict criteria for the

stamp subject selection that had to be met.”

Then the waiting began.

“The stamp process is a very long one,” Gisela said. “I didn’t

know how long, but the three Purple Martin organizations and

I began checking up on the project periodically to see what

would result. I wrote lots of letters and campaigned every year

with our Purple Martin Landlords of North Texas members.

Then I began giving everyone I could find a pre-stamped, pre-

addressed letter to send in to the stamp development office.

From time to time, I received letters from the stamp advisory

board that the project was still under consideration.”

After nine long years of working on the project, at the end of December 2011 she received the post office statement about what new

stamps would come out in 2012, and that was the first official notice that the Purple Martin stamp would be introduced in 2012. The

good news became reality on January 23, 2012 when a Purple Martin 56-cent forever stamped envelope was issued by the USPS at

Mulberry, FL, where the first day cover was postmarked. The stamped enveloped costs 45 cents for postage and 11 cents for the en-

velope. A wide variety of envelopes in various sizes is available from the U.S. Postal Service website at https://store.usps.com/store.

The stamp art features a large illustration of a Purple Martin perching and a smaller illustration showing a Purple Martin in flight.

Now the trick is to find one of the envelopes. Most of them have been scooped up by stamp collectors, and post offices generally

don’t have them on display. But if you ask, some post offices have the Purple Martin stamped envelopes in stock “in the back”. The

envelopes are also available from the USPS online store. So a new adventure begins when Gisela wants one of her stamped enve-

lopes—tracking one down.

Now Gisela has a new calling, speaking to various organizations in the North Texas area about the new stamp. So far

she’s gone to a Kiwanis Club in Grand Prairie and will be speaking to a stamp collector’s club in Arlington

and Fort Worth in the months ahead.

“I started out working to get the Purple Martin on a regular postage stamp,” Gisela said. “I didn’t know the

stamp advisory board and the artist were working on an envelope. But it looks good, and the image of the

Purple Martin is much bigger than on a regular stamp.”

Gisela started Purple Martin Landlords of North Texas (PMLNT) on February 3, 1999 and now has over 100

members with monthly meetings and other activities. For more information visit Gisela’s website:

www.purplemartinlandlordsofnorthtexas.com.

Gift turns into long pursuit of a postage stamp honoring purple martins

https://store.usps.com/store

http://www.purplemartinlandlordsofnorthtexas.com/


Rescuing three purple martin babies in backyard

Gisela plays host to 25 pairs of purple martins in her

backyard every year. They arrive in February and

stay until July when they leave for the long flight on

the central flyway to Brazil. When they depart, they

take with them about 120 offsprings. This year

Gisela rescued three baby purple martins and nursed

them back to health until they could rejoin their

parents.

“The first two jumped out of the Purple Martin house just about the time they were 24 days old,” Gisela said. “I heard some noise in

the backyard and found the first two. I scooped them up from the ground and began giving them water because they were so dehy-

drated. The next day I found a third baby and began taking care of it, too. We kept all three birds in a cage for a total of five days

until they recovered. Then their parents came and they took off.”

Gisela’s ingenuity helps purple martins survive Texas can be hot on a Purple Martin colony, and there are a fair share of predators that may bring

harm to the birds. But as a dutiful landlord, Gisela is always on the lookout for ways to make her

guests more comfortable.

Lead sinkers sway in wind and protect colony: Several years ago,

she came up with a simple way to protect her birds from predators, such as

hawks and owls. She strung fishing sinkers on heavy cord and tied the cord to

metal rods above the Purple Martin houses. The sinkers and line swing in the

wind and deter predators from raiding the colony.

Election signs become sun protectors: The hot

Texas sun beating down on the gourds housing purple mar-

tins is detrimental to the colony. Luckily, there are many

elections in North Texas, and the candidates have contrib-

uted to the health and well being of the part-time residents of

the area. Gisela has collected used election signs made from

corrugated plastic material called coroplast and turned them

into sun screens for her colony. She first paints the coroplast

black and then applies a final coat of white paint. She then

secures the refurbished sign to the top of the gourd. The

white side reflects sunshine and helps cool off the purple

martins living inside the gourds high above Gisela’s back-

yard. She and her husband, Dick Fregoe, also have found

that drilling holes into the “super gourds” also reduces overheating inside.

Sky blue paint on Purple Martin houses repells sparrows

Another deterrent to potential troublemakers is simply painting the outside of the Purple Martin houses with a color paint that keeps

sparrows from taking over the houses and building their own destructive nests.

“The answer is very simple,” Gisela says. “We just paint the outside of the houses around the entry holes with sky blue paint. Spar-

rows see the color and think that’s an area in the sky because the color of the paint and the sky are the same. Since they won’t build a

nest in the sky, they avoid the houses and leave them to the purple martins as we intend them to be.”

Gisela shows the Purple Martin house that she equipped with sinkers on cords to ward off predators.

The first two rescued Purple Martin babies rest in the cage in the photo at left, above. Gisela uses her iPad camera to record significant Purple Martin events.

Getting ready for her 2013 colony to arrive, Gisela shows the gourds with owl guards (the two curved metal rods) and the election signs-sunscreens.


Email Address Changes


IN REMEMBRANCE

Patricia Cedeno, 68, died April 26 in Austin, TX. The HQ Accounts Receivable Manager retired in 2005.

Elease H. Cole, 74, died March 17 in Augusta, GA. The Fort Gordon Customer Service Rep retired in 1990.

James J. Espinola, 88, died March 12 in Sun Lakes, AZ. The Southern California Area Associate retired in

1973.

Susie M. Ganus, 89, died June 9 in Wrens, GA. The Fort Gordon Associate retired in 1979.

Madaline L. Knight, 91, died June 21 in Dallas, TX. The HQ Occupational Health Nurse retired in 1983.

Sila Marrero, 80, died June 3 in Morrow, GA. The Exchange Merchandise Support Accountant retired in 1988.

Helen. R. Moore, 80, died April 9 in San Antonio, TX. The JB San Antonio Senior Store Associate retired in

2000.

John G. (Jack) Steele, Jr., 81, Arrow Rock, MO, died September 17 in Sedalia, MO. Funeral services were held

on September 24 followed by burial with military rites will be in Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Higgins-

ville.

Nicholas (Nick) Stone, 82, died June 22 in Mount Vernon, TX. Nick served 20 years in the Air Force and

worked for AAFES 22 years before retiring in 2000 as a Senior Corporate Policy Specialist. He is survived by his

wife, Yolanda, and his five children, Terri, Matt, Michael, Brandon and Andrea and granddaughter, Julia. Nick

was interred on June 30 at Laurel Land Cemetery in Dallas.

Roy Thompson, 72, died May 2 in Columbus, MS. The Former JB Andrews Senior Store Associate retired in

2001.

Muriel Tysinger, 88, May 21 in Novato, CA. The Exchange Region Senior Field Accountant retired in 1985.

Billie M. Woloscuk died March 6 in Albuquerque, N.M. The Kirtland AFB Vault Associate retired in 1997.

David L. Zimmerman, 90 died March 22 in Williamsburg, VA. The HQ Associate retired in 1973.

William (Bill) James Schultz, 79, died August 24 in San Antonio. He was born on February 21, 1933, in Valpa-

raiso, ID. Bill was drafted into the Army during the Korean War and discharged in Okinawa, Japan, where he

began his career with AAFES.

He started at the retail level, then quickly rose through the ranks and was stationed all over the world. Bill was

Chief of Military Clothing at AAFES Headquarters when he retired in 1985.

After retirement, he volunteered for numerous organizations in the San Antonio area and was employed by

Alamo Heights ISD at the time of his death. Bill was a great adventurer, and lived life to the fullest. He lived and

travelled North America, Asia and Europe, climbing Mt Fuji, skiing the Alps, and was part of a team that biked

across Iowa.

Bill is survived by his wife, Carol; son, Zachary Schultz; daughters, Joyce Grizzle (Steve), Helen Libby (Brian),

Rosie Schultz-Herzik and their mother, Tomi Schultz; step-children, Kobi Roberts (Dustin), Benny Del Castillo

(Heather); 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.


AREA SCHOLARSHIP FUND DONATION FORM

To: AREA P.O. Box 380614 Duncanville, TX 75318-0614

From: Telephone

This donation is (check one box below)

In Honor of (Name)

In Memory Of (Name)

An Annual Pledge*

Other

Send Card to:

NAME

ADDRESS

ADDRESS

CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE

TELEPHONE

Amount of donation (check enclosed)

$

* I wish to pledge $_________________ each year to the AREA Scholarship Fund. My donation for the current year is enclosed.

Your donation will be acknowledged to both the donor and to the recipient or the survivor. All donations are income tax deductible.

DONOR NAME (Printed) SIGNATURE

COMMENTS:

Enclosure # 6-1

75138-0614

In honor of: ____________________________________

In honor of: ____________________________________

In honor of: ____________________________________

In honor of: ____________________________________

In memory of: __________________________________

In memory of: __________________________________

In memory of: __________________________________

In memory of: __________________________________

* *

*IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE PERSON TO LIST, USE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW

*

*

*

*


USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS

The following telephone numbers are provided as a convenience to members wishing to contact certain HQ AAFES offices and the AAFES Federal Credit Union.

HQ SWITCHBOARD

(214) 312-2011

FOR RETIREMENT and GROUP INSURANCE BENEFITS: HQ. AAFES BENEFIT BRANCH REPRESENTATIVES (800) 519-3381

GENERAL COUNSEL: COLONEL ERIC E. WEISS, USAF (214) 312-3126

EXCHANGE POST: BARBARA KIRSCH (214) 312 3831

SALES TABLOIDS: DEBBIE BYERLY (800) 733-5142

ID CARD, PRIVILEGES HR-L/H Servicing Personnel Office (214) 312-3330

ID Cards issued Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 7:30-10 a.m.

DOD VEHICLE STICKERS: DOD stickers are issued in AD from 7:30-11 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

AAFES FEDERAL CREDIT UNION: TOLL FREE SERVICE

NORTH AMERICA (800) 452-7333 UNITED KINGDOM 0800-89-7490 GERMANY 0130-81-1187

FOR OTHERS NOT LISTED: PAT WEAVER (972) 780-9810

For other information, check out the AAFES website at: http://www.shopmyexchange.com and the AREA website http://www.shopmyexchange.com/community/area


DUES ALERT! Please check the expiration date above. If the date is

September 2012 (or earlier) please send your $15 dues PAYABLE to AREA.

PRSRT STD

US POSTAGE PAID

DALLAS, TX

PERMIT #1478


P.O. Box 380614

Duncanville, TX 75138-0614


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The difference in cost is significant*, and you’ll enjoy these advantages:

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can transfer/save the file as you desire. *Per copy print cost at $1.42 + mailing at $0.57 = $1.99 cost per copy. Do yourself and AREA a favor—try the

Newsletter via e-mail attachment.

Here’s what one member said: “The e mail edition is superb. Easy to read, brilliant colors, etc. I can't say enough about it, and would recommend that anyone with a computer should give it a try. Especially since they can always convert back to hard copy. I doubt if any would do that.”

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