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Ladies and gentlemen,
Is it Spring yet? Hello everyone!
Hope you are all braving this Maine winter. We started out pretty mild but saw some really cold temps in January. I am writing this to you during the February 4th ice storm, grateful that I have the ability to work safely at home today. It’s nice to think ahead to warmer days, including our next scheduled luncheon on Saturday April 2nd at the Maine Military Museum in South Portland.
I was so pleased with the turnout we had in December and hope to see even more of you in April. We had the pleasure of awarding Adria Horn the 4th Annual Ann LePage Service to Veterans award in December. Check out the photos on page 3. For our next meeting we will have a Tour of Italy lunch. I promise you will not go home hungry! Out guest speaker for the luncheon will be Special Agent Andrew P. Snowdon. Special Agent Snowdon serves as Executive Assistant Director for Atlantic Operations for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). In this position, he oversees all investigations and operations across nine NCIS field offices and subordinate elements located throughout the eastern United States, Europe, Africa, South America, the Middle East, and aboard carrier and expeditionary strike groups based on the east coast. I had the distinct honor of hearing him speak at the NH Chapter MOAA luncheon in November and knew right away that I wanted to get him in from of our group. Please feel free to invite a guest that would like to hear Special Agent Snowdon’s remarks.
Following our luncheon in April we will be moving right into Advocacy in Action, formerly known as Storming the Hill. This is our opportunity as a National Organization to meet with our Congressional Delegations and educate them on the key issues that MOAA has selected for this year’s advocacy. While we are still waiting for the exact topics and issues to be named, you can count on the fact that they will be issues of importance to the military community and usually include pay, benefits and healthcare. We had a great team last year comprised of Bill Hall, Mike Delia and Mark Patrick. I am hoping that we will be able to meet Senators Collins and King, Congresswoman Pingree and Congressman Golden in their local offices here in Maine in early May. If you are interested in being part of this initiative, please let me know!
Finally – I want to get another date on your calendar. August 6th will be the Annual Clambake (and lobster!) with the NH Chapter at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Please save the date for what promises to be another great event.
Yours in Service,
Brenda Pennels,
President, Southern Maine Chapter
Health Care Update
Covid cases and hospitalizations are decreasing – for now. The virus still out there, of course, and now four coronavirus test kits per are available, without charge, to every household. If you’d like to place an order, go to covidtests.gov. (My order came quickly.) Retail pharmacies also have the tests, but you’ll have to pay for them. If you have private health insurance, you may apply for reimbursement from your policy. Oddly, neither Medicare nor Tricare is authorized to reimburse such expenses. Good news for VA health care patients: the new VA clinic in Portland (it’s impressive!) opened on February 11th. Bad news for Medicare beneficiaries: The Part B premium climbed 18 percent from last year, to $170.10 for 2022. Part of the increase was to cover possible expenses for a new Alzheimer’s drug, Aduhelm. Since the Food and Drug Administration recently approved Medicare coverage of Aduhelm only in clinical trials, the Part B premium increase might be shaved back somewhat. (Col Bill Hall)
ROTC/JROTC Program Update
Key Dates for ROTC/JROTC Awards Ceremonies, 2021
There are a total of 8 Junior Programs and 4 Senior Programs in our state. The listing below reflects both programs and known dates shared with us to date. I have broken them down by Military Branch as well as program type (Junior or Senior). For the programs that we have dates of their awards presentation, they have been listed along with the phone number of the school. With COVID-19 still affecting school schedules, you can understand that many programs remain in flux at this point. As additional information is received, I will update you in future Newsletter editions. Any member who wishes to represent the Chapter by presenting the award should contact the school.
Junior ROTC
Army
Bangor High School 207-992-5570 (April 30, 2022)
Hermon High School 207-848-5436 (May 6, 2022)
Nokomis Regional High School 207-368-5239 ( April 2022, date TBD)
Old Town High School 207-827-3910 ext 309 (March 26, 2022)
Sacopee Valley High School 207-625-2303 (TBD)
Air Force
Brewer High School 207-989-4140 (TBD)
Lewiston High School 207-795-4190 ext 5246 (TBD)
NAVY
Massabesic High School 207-247-5011 (May 2021, date TBD)
Senior ROTC
Army
University of Maine, Orono: 207-581-1121 Awards Ceremony (May 2022, date TBD) Commissioning (May, 2022, date TBD)
University of Southern Maine, Portland, Gorham: 207-891-1839 Awards Ceremony (May 06, 2022) Commissioning (May 2021, date TBD)
Navy
University of Maine, Orono: 207-581-1551 Commissioning (May 2022, date TBD)
Maine Maritime Academy, Castine: 207-326-2356 Commissioning (May 2022, date TBD) Awards Ceremony at Castine (TBD)
Note: The Pine Tree Chapter of MOAA has closed its doors, effective 2021. Our Chapter is the only one in the State of Maine that supports the JROTC and SROTC programs. Presently, we support these programs by providing annual awards and a gift for deserving cadets in both the JROTC and the Senior ROTC programs. The Chapter also provides a $500 scholarship for the Senior ROTC Detachments, one each for the two Army programs and one each for the two Navy programs. These awards are made possible by generous member contributions each year. We thank you for your support. (COL Frank Toderico, ROTC Chair)
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April Speaker: Andrew P. Snowdon, Executive Assistant Director, Atlantic Operations, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)
We trust that you all are braving yet another Maine winter in good shape. This edition of the Newsletter is a bit later than usual due to the pandemic. Our normal meeting date would be around the middle of March but this year the Board moved the date to April 2 in hopes that it will be safer to meet and socialize more easily.
Our guest speaker this quarter will be Andrew P. Snowdon, Executive Assistant Director, Atlantic Operations, Naval Criminal Investigative Service. In this position he oversees all investigations and operations across nine NCIS field offices and subordinate elements located throughout the eastern U.S., Europe, Africa, South America, the Middle East, and aboard carrier and expeditionary strike groups based on the east coast.
He was selected as a member of the Senior Executive Service in 2016. Prior to his current assignment, he served as Executive Assistant Director for Pacific Operations (2016-2018). He was responsible for all criminal and national security investigations and operations conducted across six NCIS field offices and subordinate elements located throughout the western U.S., Asia, and Australia and aboard carrier and expeditionary strike groups based on the west coast and in Japan. He completed tours as Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the NCIS Southeast Field Office in Jacksonville, FL (2013-2016) and as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director at NCIS Headquarters in Quantico, VA (2010-2013).
He served previously as Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) of the Northwest Field Office with operational responsibilities throughout the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia and Alaska (2008-2-10). He entered the NCIS supervisory rank in 2004 and filled roles as Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) for counter-terrorism at the Northwest Field Office in Bangor, WA; and SSA for criminal investigations and operations at the NCIS Resident Agency, Bremerton, WA.
Mr. Snowdon began his career with NCIS at the Norfolk Field Office in 1997. He served subsequently in a variety of organizational assignments and mission areas both within the U.S. and abroad. His assignments included NCIS Resident Agency, Oceana, VA; NCIS Resident Agency, Keflavik, Iceland; and NCIS Resident Unit, Misawa, Japan. He began his law enforcement career as a police officer and detective at the Manchester, NH Police Department in 1992.
Mr. Snowdon was commissioned as a U.S. Naval Officer in 1988 and received his wings as a Naval Flight Officer in 1989. He flew numerous operational missions in the P-3C Orion aircraft both on active duty and reserve status through 1997.
Special Agent Snowdon attended Boston University and holds a graduate degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, RI.
Special Agent Snowdon is an excellent speaker and we are confident you will enjoy his presentation. Do plan to attend our Quarterly Luncheon at the Maine Military Museum, Peary Street, South Portland on April 2nd. The reservation form can be found Here: Reservations Form See you in April!
Welcome Aboard
The Chapter is pleased to welcome our newest member:
Captain Kevin J. Michaud, USAF, Lewiston, ME
We look forward to meeting you at one of our future meetings. And, we thank you for your interest in our Chapter. (Col Rob McAleer, Membership Chairman)
Membership Dues Update
Just a quick reminder that we are in the middle of our annual dues drive that began in late 2021. We still have a couple dozen members who have not yet responded. The dues remain the same for 2022, $20 per year. If you have not paid, please do so at your earliest convenience. It will save the Board of Directors members a lot of time by not having to make individual reminder phone calls. If you need another copy of the dues letter or are not sure if you already paid, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your continued support. You can send your dues check to the Southern Maine Chapter, MOAA, P.O. Box 2145, South Portland, ME 04106-2145. (Col Rob McAleer, Membership Chair)
Email: rmcaleer04079@gmail.com
Cell: 207-837-4335
Southern Maine Chapter Supporters (2021)
The Chapter is able to continue its annual operations because of the year in and year out support provided by our members through their annual dues. In many cases, members are able to provide additional assistance through their voluntary contributions to the General Fund and the ROTC/JROTC programs. In order to appropriately recognize their support and generosity, the Chapter has established four categories of supporters. The Standard Bearers are those members who have paid their dues for the current year. Bronze Star members have donated up to $24.00 extra to the Chapter. Silver Star members have donated up to $49.00 extra. And, Gold Star members have donated$50.00 or more. Regardless of the level of contribution, the Chapter is sincerely grateful for their continuing support. (Col Rob McAleer, Membership Chair)
Gold Star
Robert Backhaus Scott Berry Carolyn Bulliner Greg Curtis Robert Curtis Gordon Erikson Jack Fay Michael Gentile Donald Grinnell Bill Hall John Ham Charles Hennessey Mary Hoffman Alan Johnston Dean Krestos Bill Libby Mark Patrick Agnes Roberts Al Ryan Craig Smith Richard Snow Robert Stakel Edward Stanhope Howard Stiles Linwood StockwellFrank Toderico Lucille Twaddel Richard Tetrev
Silver Star
Frank Amoroso Richard Bailey Gerald Bouchard Nathan Cagle David Crump James Cumming Michael Delia Francis Dillon Aaron Dombroski David Gardner Gloria Hall Connie Harrison Mary Kinsley Marston Lovell Don Lowry Rob McAleer Thomas Meyers David Patch Charles Schuman Richard Thacker James Varmecky
Bronze Star
Edward Baehr David Beattie William Benson John Bowen David Campbell Michael Conlon Bradley Dupee Ginny Garneau Robert Jaffin Donovan LaJoie Anthony Liguori Ronald Lubatti Paul Loveless Earle McCormick Thomas McDevitt Joan McMhon Charlotte Perillo Helen Przywara William Sawyer Douglas Scott Michael Severance Charles VanVlack Donald Welsh Robert Wood
Standard Bearer
John Bauman Ralph Black Charlie Cragin Paul Cuenin James Dunn Lorinda LaFontaine-Farris Afolph Galonski Gregoy Grotten Arn Heggers Christopher Hoppin Jim James Frank Jones Fred Masciangelo Laurence Minott Jams Oikle Charles O'Reily Clinton Pearson Brenda Pennels Kenneth Pence Stanley Primmer Frederick Schwab Donald Stearns Frederick Taylor John Thibault
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