FRA Branch 278 Huntsville, AL

FRA Branch 278 Huntsville, AL

Welcome to all you FRA Shipmates! U.S. NAVY, MARINE CORPS, and COAST GUARD

Phone 256-650-5748 or e-mail jshandyman@earthlink.net

Spouses are always welcome to our events.

Greenbriaer Bar-B-Que is located on the service road off I-565 at exit 3.

Opinions Written in this Site are the opinions of the author and should not be taken as a opinion, policy, or statement by the Fleet Reserve Association or its staff

ANDY LEWALLEN President

256-534-3661 andylew@hiwaay.net

HARVEY H. BERRYHILL Vice President

RAE SMITH SEC/TREA

206-375-8395 tippetwo@yahoo.com

JIM SUTTON Chaplain

256-650-5748 jshandyman@earthlink.net

FRA

BRANCH 278

16 May, 2009

1245 hours

Meeting was called to order by President Andy Lewallen with 8 members present. Shipmate Lewallen led us in prayer. The pledge and preamble were recited. The minutes were read and approved. The treasurer’s report was read and approved. Bills were presented by the treasurer $44.00 For postage

Unfinished business; We discussed the regional convention. Jim Sutton will be serving as Credentials Chairman. We discussed the future retiree appreciation day. Nominating committee read the nominations for Branch Officers and the floor was opened for additional nominations. Shipmate Reynolds moved that the nominations be closed, seconded by Shipmate Moore, unanimous.

New business; Shipmate Andy Lewallen re-elected as Branch President, Hap Berryhill re-elected as Vice President, And Shipmate Rae Smith elected Secretary/Treasurer. The elected Officers were in stalled by past branch president Shipmate Ervin Moore. President Lewallen appointed Shipmate Jim Sutton as Chaplin. Shipmate Jim Sutton was nominated and elected to serve as Deligate chairman for regional convention.

For the good of the order: We discussed the special applications as printed in the current FRA Today.

Meeting adjourned at 1350 hours.

1) The Economic Stimulus and Military Retirees-The implementation of the new stimulus package may complicate tax filings for Military retirees for your 2009 taxes if you are not careful. Most working salaried families will be getting their stimulus tax reduction of $400 for an individual and $800 for a couple by a reduction of the amount of money that is withheld every pay period to pay your federal taxes. (If you are a non-working military retiree or survivor, the withholding will be lowered for your military pay or survivor annuity (SBP).

If you are receiving Social Security retiree payments and/or VA disability compensation you will receive a separate $250 payment for your portion of the stimulus package. Therefore, if you are a working retiree your federal tax withholding amounts will be lowered for both your job and your retired pay plus your $250 check if you receive social security or VA disability compensation. All this means is that you will end up under-withholding for 2009 and owe a much larger tax bill next year than you expected. You should go to your tax consultant (or your Turbo tax) to see now what changes you should make. Source TREA Update 15 May 2009

SBP Paid-up Appeals Process Deadline Approaching
FRA reminds shipmates that the process for appealing SBP paid-up determinations ends June 30, 2009. The SBP paid-up law took effect October 1, 2008, and SBP premiums were to end automatically for participants who had reached age 70 and paid 360 monthly premiums. FRA has heard from shipmates who believe they qualify for paid-up status but are still having their SBP premiums deducted from their retired pay. Participants who believe their SBP premiums were deducted in error must submit a DFAS form (DD Form 2656-11) before June 30, 2009. The appeal form is available at www.dfas.mil/retiredpay.html. Source FRA News Bites 15 May 2009

Up and coming Events.

May is the election of officers, And installation of officers. Current nominations are Andy Lewallen for president; Hap Berryhill for vice president, and Rae Smith to be Secretary Treasurer.

R.A.D is almost here, Oct. 2&3. I think it would be great if everyone from Branch 278 would be in attendance.

We are planning to give gifts to Tutt Fann veterans again this year. Again this Year we are hoping to collect $5.00 per member. Last year we collected $850.00. Please send your donations to: Jim Sutton; 9719 Wallwood Rd SE; Huntsville, AL 35803-1763. You can avoid the postage by bringing your donations to the meetings. Hope to see you there! Greenbriar Bar-B-Que I-565 exit 3

Legislative Notes

Congress has a lot of things on their plate.

CONTACTS FOR THE SENATE

THE HONORABLE JEFF SESSIONS

335 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BLDG 200 CLINTON AVE NW

WASHINGTON DC 20510 HUNTSVILLE, AL 35801-4932

Web Form: sessions.senate.gov/email/contact.cfm

THE HONORABLE RICHARD C. SHELBY

110 HART SENATE OFFICE BLDG 1000 GLENNHAVEN BLVD

WASHINGTON DC 20310 HUNSTVILLE, AL 35824

Email: senator@shelby.senate.gov

CONTACTS FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The Honorable Robert B. Aderholt the honorable

1433 Longworth HOB

Washington, DC 20515-0104

The Honorable Jo Bonner The Honorable Spencer Bachus The Honorable Arther Davis

422 Cannon HOB 2446 Rayburn HOB 208 Cannon HOB

Washington, DC 20515-0101 Washington, DC 20515-0106 Washington, DC 20515-0107

The Honorable Terry Everett The Honorable Mike Rogers

2312 Rayburn HOB 324 Cannon HOB

Washington, DC 20515-0102 Washington, DC 20515-0103

Vigilance needs to be our mission in the future. The career bureau-crats in Washington in an effort to justify their large salaries are constantly looking for ways to trim any budget item that will not hurt the line item that pays their salaries.

Jim Sutton Sec/Treas.

9719 Wallwood Rd SE

Huntsville, AL 35803

If you are interested in pictures, history, or reunions for various ships you may get a response from; www.navsource.org www.hazegray.org or www.hullnumber.com

Loyalty, Protection, and Service

REGIONAL convention coming up. Aug. 13 thru 16 Macon GA

Room Rates:

Singles/doubles

Suite

If you have a friend or family member who is retired or on active duty in one of our sea services (Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard) You can give them a membership as a Birthday Present.

May "God" Bless our Troops all of them, and more especially those that are deployed in harms way!!!

This is your website if you have any information you would like to share with your shipmates please email me at jshandyman@earthlink.net