From YOUR State Department of Veteran Affairs...

For Immediate Release Date: October 3, 2008 Contact: Heidi Audette Phone: 360-725-2154 Olympia –The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs will participate in the state's trial of a 10-hour-per-day, four-day work week. Beginning Monday, October 6, all services offered in the WDVA Central Office located at 1102 Quince Street SE in Olympia will be available for the extended hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and closed on Fridays. All other WDVA locations will operate under the current scheduled hours of operation. Veterans and their families may take advantage of the following services that will be offered under the extended hours Monday through Thursday: Claims and Benefits Services Call Center (1-800-562-2308) Veterans Estate Management Program Assistance Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Assistance Veterans Innovations Program Assistance Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Program Administration Veterans Conservation Corps Administration WDVA Administrative Support including budget and accounting, human resources, payroll and public relations. For additional information, contact WDVA at 1-800-562-0132, option 1. ### Colleen Gilbert, Community and Public Relations Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs PO Box 41150 Olympia WA 98504-1150 360-725-2180 www.dva.wa.gov

April 2008 ~ President's Message...

Winter is over and spring in the Northwest is beginning! I will return to Washington State from spending the winter in Big Pine Key, Florida and after the 25th Armed Forces E9 Association (AFE9A) Annual National Convention, 24 through 26 April 2008. During the AFE9A mid-winter conference, 19 January 2008, our chapter proposed to host the 26th AFE9A Annual National Convention in April 2009. During conference business the National Executive Council (NEC) approved the proposal from TRSMCA Washington State Chapter #1 to host the 2009 convention. CSM (Ret) Robert Sova over this past winter has progressed the chapter’s convention planning committee draft stage work. CMS (Ret) Sandra Cooper has stepped forward and filled the convention treasurer duties and thank you so very much Chief Cooper. There are many more areas that the convention committee needs membership help and expertise to make the 2009 convention a successful event. Please let any one of your chapter officers know that you would like to contribute your time and knowledge to this major undertaking. E-9s pull together get things done. Our 2007 membership recruiting drive efforts led to 101 members assigned to TRSMCA Washington State Chapter #1. I encourage each member to recruit and retain members. 2008 may be the year that you need to retain your membership in the association. Check out your own situation and if you need any assistance or additional information please contact one of the chapter officers or myself. Through maintaining your membership, you continue to take an active part in the chapter on issues that affect the future of fellow armed service members. If you know of a retired, active, guard or reserve E9 bring them and their guest to our membership meeting or sponsor them to the chapter picnic social event. We are still looking for a volunteer to mentor with CSM (Ret) Harold Carr and in time fill the News Letter Publisher position. If you are interested in this communication position or know of someone who is please contact one of the association officers or myself. The Adjutant/Quartermaster CSM (Ret) Sidney Katz has available chapter coins, hats, polo shirts, and jackets with organizational logo stitching. The purchase of these items, communicate and exercise an outstanding way to support your association and chapter. A big thank you from chapter membership goes out to SGM (Ret) Harry Schreiber and his passionate service on the 2008 Puget Sound Joint Armed Services E-9 Ball planning committee. This annual event in the Puget Sound joint service and civilian communities is quickly becoming a tradition and will sell out rapidly. Be sure to mark you calendars and review forthcoming reports. The event, sponsored by the Coast Guard, schedule is 4 October 2008 with contingency date of 11 October 2008. CSM (Ret) Robert Sova is our chapter representative on the Veterans Legislative Coalition. He coordinates our legislative efforts through the military coalition on all armed service active enlisted or guard/reserve and retired members. Another terrific member who supports all armed service members is CSM (Ret) John Lee, Director of Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. Association and chapter congratulations to Command Sergeant Major John Lee on receiving The Diamond Award at the National Association of Directors of State Veterans Affairs’ mid-winter conference in Washington D.C. Come out to Patriots Landing, Dupont, Washington on 12 April 2008 and join your chapter officers at 1300 hours for the general membership meeting. The guest speaker will be a Patriots Landing staff member explaining homes, elderly people, assisted living and elder care services. I look forward to seeing all of you when I return from Florida and the AFE9A Annual National Convention. I express to you my thanks for your service and support of the AFE9A and TRSMCA Washington State Chapter #1. Command Chief CMS (Ret) Jack M. Parkhurst TRSMCA Washington State Chapter #1 President

What do...

a Sergeant Major, a Master Gunnery Sergeant, a Master Chief Petty Officer, and a Chief Master Sergeant all have in common ? They all are members of TRSMCA Washington State Chapter #1 and their leadership is needed on the various committees developing the draft stage of the Armed Forces E9 Association 26th Annual National Convention. We look forward to your volunteer support! If you require more information, please contact a chapter officer.

Annual Social Event

Washington Chapter #1 of the TRSMCA held their Annual Social and Induction of Officers on the 12 of January. Our Honored Guest was CSM (Retired) John Lee, Director of the Washington State Department of Veteran's Affairs.

WA State Chapter #1 -- From the President

My message this quarter is to inform all members about The Retired Sergeants Major and Chiefs Association (TRSMCA) Washington State Chapter #1 major achievements over this past year. Our Chapter Officers are dedicated to recruitment, retention, and mentoring of all associates in the three functional areas of membership, communication, and legislation. TRSMCA Washington State Chapter #1 received Recruiting Chapter of the Year at the Armed Forces E-9 Association (AFE9A) 2007 National Convention. The chapter is at 98 members with a 100 active membership goal by the start of 2008. Thanks goes out to all of our new members and each of our renewed members for their guarantee that our voice is heard loud and clear through their strong support. Communication is National President MCPO Curtis Leary’s major goal. TRSMCA Washington State Chapter #1 now has a web site and e-mail address respectfully: http://wachap1.blogspot.com and wachap1@gmail.com. Thank you Web Master SGM David Harper for your leadership and expertise in this communication outreach to the membership and others. In addition the chapter’s database is now correct and up to date with national, through the exceptional coordination of CSM Bob Sova and professional expertise of CSM Harold Carr. TRSMCA Washington State Chapter #1 received Best Newsletter of the Year at the AFE9A 2007 National Convention. Thank you from the membership goes out to our Newsletter Editor and Publisher CSM Harold Carr for a truly outstanding job. The chapter’s diligence to assist this year’s host Service with the Puget Sound Joint Armed Services E-9 Ball brought awe-inspiring accolades from many of the attendees. This is fast becoming a tradition in the Puget Sound joint service and civilian communities. Thank you SGM Harry Schreiber for your stunning representation on the planning committee and astounding community involvement championing this joint service affair. Legislative issues and news, both nationally and locally, that affect active, reserve, and retired service members is the third leg of the functional area triangle. TRSMCA Washington State Chapter #1 has an astonishing partnership on the Washington State Veterans Legislative Coalition through our appointed chapter legislative representative CSM Bob Sova and Vice President SGM Tony Woods as a VFW representative. Together their teamwork is key to our membership receiving timely information. The 2008 year brings with it an opportunity for growth in TRSMCA Washington State Chapter #1. The first major task is to deliver, at the upcoming Mid-Winter Conference, our Chapter’s proposal to host the 26th AFE9A Annual National Convention in 2009. Top-quality committee planning assistance has come from Past Presidents CSM Bob Sova, CSM Harold Carr and SGM Harry Schreiber along with Director CMS Jonathan Harris. Another major task underway is the Chapter/National Bylaws update that is under review by our Bylaws Standing Committee. This effort is chaired by our Vice President SGM Tony Woods and will conclude soon after the 25th AFE9A Annual National Convention in April 2008. Marian and I wish all of you and your families a most happy and safe holiday season. Remember the association’s values of pride, dedication, and service. Come out to the McChord AFB Club at 1300 hours on 12 January 2008 to enjoy an excellent $15.00 per person meal and the installation of your Chapter Officers. CSM John Lee will enlighten us from his perspective as Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Director. Don’t forget to RSVP to your Adjutant SGM Sidney Katz ASAP!! Command CMS (Ret) Jack M. Parkhurst TRSMCA Washington State Chapter #1 President

Dinner Social

The Washington State Chapter #1 announces our annual Dinner Social Where: McChord Air Force Base Community Club When: January 12, 2008 at 1:00 PM (1300) Cost: $15.00 RSVP: NLT January 4, 2008 to Sid Katz (katzsm@comcast.net Guest Speaker: CSM (Retired) John Lee, Director, Washington State Department of Veteran's Affairs

National President's Letter--December 2007

December 6, 2007 Presidents Letter for December 2007 Merry Christmas to all members, their families and the Auxiliary members. I can't believe it's Christmas time. It seems like we just took down the decorations and stored them for next year when all of a sudden, it's that time of year again to put them back up. Can you believe that Christmas trees (Fraser Fir from the NC mountains) are selling for $60 on up this year. That was almost a months pay when I enlisted in the CG. Time is drawing near for the Mid-Winter Conference, to be held on January 19 at the National Headquarters building in Harker Heights, TX. I have asked Earl to look into a hotel for us so we can all be together. When he gets this information, it will be forwarded to Warren for distribution via email so all attending will know. According to our national treasurer, $19,220 has been forgiven by the IRS for back taxes created when an unauthorized chapter used our AFE9A account number to hold Bingo in Texas and never paid the proper taxes or even filed as required. Since the AFE9A was awarded the number, we automatically became responsible. Thanks to Ervin and Earl as well as others, this has issue has been worked out. What a load off our backs. Thanks guys. It appears that some NEC members have still not sent in their vote concerning the proposed 2008 budget. Please attend to this quickly. I know all are busy this time of year but business is business. Congratulations to the Keystone Chapter for going ahead and accepting the temporary appointment of CSM Craig Grower as Chapter President and SGM (Ret) John J. Terranova as Adjutant. Our third National Vice President Warren Rees was instrumental in making this take place. Good things happen when members are willing to cross the line and help out. Sybil and I wish you all a healthy and happy New Year and if you are in my area of NC, give us a call. See you in Texas. Submitted by: Curtis R. Leary National President