As in the past, I was armed with our Association's top five legislative priority groups --which include your legislative priorities -- and I was ready to share (advocate and educate) those legislative issues important to our Airmen and their families.  I also had a couple other quality of life concerns/issues in my hip pocket that I'd planned to discuss with the House leadership, if given the opportunity to do so.  I've highlighted these central, overarching concerns and issues below, so you'll have a recap of what AFSA is doing each and every day on behalf of the brave men and women who wear our nation's uniform.  They serve as our vector and glide path, so we remain on course and on target.  We've come a long way, but we still have so much to do, and the list below does not include the many other legislative items on our “To Do” list.   

Please click HERE to read a document provided by Speaker Pelosi and her staff.  Though the document is political in nature, it does illustrate the many achievements and victories over the years on behalf of our nation's warfighters.  We have more to do, and we will also do what's needed to "hold the line" on the benefits our Airmen and their families now have.  

Our 5 Legislative Priority Groups:

1.  Medical care, including VA and TRICARE

2.  Guard and Reserve entitlements, including early retirement compensation

3.  VA issues, including medical, education, and other claims processing

4.  Technical Corrections to the Post 9/11 GI Bill

 5.  Family support, including Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), Respite care, Child Development Center enhancements, and JTR weight allowances to account for PCS shipment of medical equipment

 Hip Pocket Priorities:

1.  Amend Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP)    

2.  Eliminate SPB/DIC offset.  

3.  Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children / Impact Aid    

You can take comfort knowing our AFSA leaders are working hard for us!  Thanks for all you do...

V/r

SMSgt Matthew R. Becker

Member, AFSA International ADHOC Membership Committee

Treasurer, AFSA Division 89

Vice President, AFSA Chapter 984

Member #760325

Offutt AFB, Nebraska

http://www.afsadiv89.org/index.php/blog/2010/

"Lead Me...Follow-Me, or Get Out Of My Way...!"

WHY AIRMEN SHOULD JOIN AFSA!!!

Airmen:

• Why did you join the Air Force? -Was it for the Benefits? Steady paycheck? Education?
• Did you know AFSA is the enlisted voice on Capitol Hill fighting to keep your benefits in place and help improve our Air Force?
• During the course of a numbered Congress (which lasts two years), several thousand bills are introduced.  Among them are many of particular interest to AFSA members!
• Some benefits you would not have today if there was NO Air Force Sergeants Association include: GI Bill, Family Separation Allowance, Re-enlistment Bonuses, Temporary Lodging Expense, Base Pay increases, Hardship Duty Pay, COLA, Housing Allowances, Health Care and many more! Keep in mind, these are just a few items mentioned... AFSA fights for your Quality of Life, you've earned it!!!

Airmen with Dependents:

• AFSA encourages dependents and family members to become Auxiliary Members! Get your family involved and help them learn what we do for our country!
• Also, don't forget about your parents or relatives who served! They too can become members!!! Help AFSA build our strength with numbers so we can educate and support all Veterans.

Motivated Airmen:

• Who’s hoping to make BTZ? -AFSA is a great organization to get involved with and WILL recognize you for your hard work and dedication
• AFSA offers an Awards program to recognize the best of the best for Airmen, NCO, and members 
• We have Chapter 951 Coins ($8) and T-Shirts ($10) for Sale!
• AFSA offers a great number of Volunteer Opportunities such as: working with the VA, POW/MIA, Base Events, DoD Observances, Active Airmen's Council (AAC), FTAC, ALS, etc...
• I’m looking to find motivated Airmen wanting to excel in their military career
• My goal is to organize/assist with at least one activity per quarter

All Airmen:

• Do you use FACEBOOK? -Join AFSA 951
• For a small price of $1 a month AFSA gives back! -AFSA offers Scholarships, rental car/cruise and tour discounts, Apple and Dell discounts, Subscription to the 'Sergeants' magazine, and much more!
• Get your Supervisor, First Sergeant, Commander to sponsor you to become a  member of AFSA (it’s the cost for 2 movie tickets!)
• AFSA holds an Annual Convention for states: MO, NE, KS, WI, MN, IL, SD, ND, OK Chapters *If you register to attend you are authorized PTDY!!!
• AFSA also holds an Annual International (PAC) Convention including all Chapters -Theme this year is “AFSA Rocks”, ‘Party Like a Rock Star’! *I recommend you experience at least one Convention in your military career, this will open your eyes to a whole new world in the Air Force!

Note: Our 89 Division consists of Kansas City MO, Milwaukee WI, Wausau, WI, Minneapolis MN, Scott AFB IL, Whiteman AFB MO, Ellsworth AFB SD, Minot AFB ND, Grand Forks AFB ND, McConnell AFB KS, Offutt AFB NE, Tinker AFB OK, Altus AFB OK, Vance AFB OK, Tulsa OK

• If you are one of those motivated Airmen looking to improve our Air Force, please join me! Starting in June, I will be conducting AFSA E1-E4 meetings 1st Friday of every month at Pizza Hut 1130!!!

If you have questions or ideas, please feel free to contact me anytime!

I am SrA Fawn Lawrence, AFSA Chapter 951 Airmen Activities Coordinator, Recruiter # 906985  fawn.lawrence@ellsworth.af.mil

Posted by President Lutzen, above article is from SrA Fawn Lawrence

Lets reengage for AFSA in 2010

I believe we need to make every effort to follow the bylaws in AFSA Manual 100-1 and the policies and procedures outlined in AFSA Manual 100-2 (you should ALL have downloaded these critical manuals, if you haven't already done so).  Communication is the key to successful leadership and thus it should be shared readily and not have to be harvested.     With this I have some questions for you all;

When is your next focused Recruiting/Retention event?

Do you participate in Right Start, ALS, FTAC, etc.... and do you  "tag along" to see how we are approaching recruiting, retention and change of chapter info. You must have an ACTIVE team to be successful!

What are your recruiting goals?  How many Sky-high members and High-flyer members are you grooming?  Each member of the Exec Council should be an active recruiter/retainer and should (in my opinion) have at least one new recruit/retention on the books this year!!!

Community Involvement:  When is your next community event (Adopt-A-Highway, visit Veterans Home, etc)?  What are you doing for the Airmen on your installation? What are you doing to get AFSA's name out there on your bases (advertising, etc)? 

Awards/Recognition:  Who are you grooming for these?  Did your Chapter submit any nominees at our last Convention?  If not, why not?

Reports:  What are you using to capture your metrics, involvement, recruiting/retention efforts, etc... to prepare for our quarterly reports and ease in the awards writing process?

Newsletter/website:  Please provide inputs to our Division Secretary (TSgt Denise Cox) and Communication Trustee SMSgt (Gary Swanson) so we can continue to produce a great Newsletter each quarter and make our division website user friendly and informational!

Legislative Affairs - You NEED an ACTIVE team at your Chapters!  This is our "bread & butter" in the Association -NO ONE does it better than ASFA and you need to make that known throughout your installation! Legislative issues need to be addressed to Trustee (David Bamburg)

Retiree Affairs/Reserve & ANG - What are you doing?  What contact/interaction are you making with your retiree populace, Reserves, ANG members in and around your base?  Who is our current Retiree/Vet's affairs POC?  Our

Vets Home visits - You NEED to engage with this when possible.  This is important to our organization and our country.  AFSA should be at the forefront of scheduling these visits whenever possible throughout the year!

As your Division President,  I am very committed to the betterment of the AFSA cause at all levels.  We all need to establish clear vision, milestones, teamwork, and be proactive at our Chapters within the Division.   Here are some things to consider for your Chapter involvement; POW/MIA events in September;  Airmen' Appreciation events/observances;  Air Shows/Open Houses;  Thanksgiving Food Drives,  etc.   You and your Chapter EC should be meeting  prior to our GM meetings each month and build this roadmap to success.   Build a calendar of events so everyone knows the what/where/when of all your Chapter events.   Please let me know in your A&A reports how effective your programs on your base are and share success stories across the Division through CROSSTELL emails and our website!

I firmly believe that we need to re-emphasize our approach in order to succeed.   Our numbers are dropping at an unprecedented and alarming rate.  We are losing more members than we are recruiting/retaining.  It's all about leadership from the top!  Think about why you ran for your office to which you were elected.   I would hope it was to better your Chapter and the organization.   Help me help this great PO by fulfilling that commitment you made during your AFSA Oath.    If you  feel you cannot or will not make that commitment because of work, family or other reasons, let me know and I will find someone who will!!

Yours in AFSA Friendship,

Dale Lutzen

SMSgt (ret) Dale Lutzen

Division 89 President

402-312-7895

mgs2@cox.net

Esteemed friends in professionalism; Today I had the opportunity to attend two distinct retirement ceremonies.  The first was for a Chief Master Sergeant who had amassed over 29 years of faithful and honorable service and the second, for a Technical Sergeant who had accumulated nearly 19 years of service.  Granted there was a significant rank difference between both of these professionals and unforeseen circumstances caused the junior member to retire earlier than he had intended; however as I looked on at these career milestone events, I could not help

Friends of AFSA Division 89,

What an “AFSA-Lutely” great month this has been!  I had the distinct privilege of traveling up to Rapid City with Division 89 President Lutzen and meeting with some of the great men and women of Chapter 951.  Convention Manager Bamburg, President Wells and SrA Fawn Lawrence did a fantastic job hosting all the men and women from Division 89 and welcomed us to their area.

Some great business was discussed, old friendships renewed, and new relationships were formed during this week of professionalism.  Of course, we had some great fun as well during the Biker/Cowboy themed Icebreaker, our Deadwood Trip, and a phenomenal meal at the awards dinner.   Moreover, we elected a new 2010 Division 89 Executive Council and we are again armed with a true team of motivated professionals. 

 Chapter “TEAM” 951 you did a fantastic job!  I personally thank you for the hospitality and look forward to  great things this year!

V/r

SMSgt Matthew “Mad Dog” Becker

Trustee, Division 89

Vice President, Chapter 984

“Lead me—Follow Me—or Get out of My Way!”