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Yongsan Retiree Council (YRC)
PSC 450 Box 681
APO 96206
June 6, 2009
Greetings Yongsan Retiree Families,
I and several other retirees make up the YRC. We meet quarterly to discuss information and involvement opportunities for our fellow retiree families in the Yongsan community. I invite any, who are interested, to consider joining our council. We meet quarterly on the third Thursday of the first month of the Quarter. Our next meeting is July 16 at 11:30 AM in the Yongsan Garrison Command Conference Room. Our Garrison Commander, Colonel Hall, often attends.
Our newest partnership effort is with the Korean Association of Retired Persons (KARP). Retired is often a partial description of us and our Korean friends. Many Americans and Koreans have moved on to a second or third or more career. Our first partnership is having American volunteers teach conversational English on Saturday morning from 11:00 AM to noon. The Headquarters is near Walker Hill Resort area and transportation by subway or a KARP member will pick you up at Noksakpyong Subway Exit 3. We will have one humanitarian visit to an orphanage or nursing home type place each month. Our last visit was on April 11 to a home for handicapped men. I hope you will volunteer with us one time per Quarter or as your schedule permits. Future partnership efforts include:
Social welfare visitations
Semi – annual fellowship activities including lunch and moderate physical events and naturally Karaoke type singing competitions
Korean and American military beautification projects
Any suggested new opportunities to help others and ourselves simultaneously
Please help spread the following information:
Yongsan Garrison Retirement Service Officer is Mark Wade. His phone numbers are DSN: 723-2781 or Cell: 010-2660-7496. His office is Room 140 in Building 4034, Soldier Support Center (same building as Harvey’s Club). Mark also serves Camp Casey. It is best to call for an appointment on any retiree matters, including Social Security help.
Medical care issues continue to cause concern among some retiree families. It is vital that retirees seek help and assistance from our great Tri Care staff at the Yongsan Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital. We have several professional organizations that make hospital visitations. It is part of personal outreach program of twisting balloons for children of all ages. The American Red Cross can always use some volunteers at the Hospital and other locations.
Estate planning is vital for taking care of a retiree’s family. You can visit our Retiree Services link on the A-Z portion of USAG-Yongsan’s Web page. I include a Casualty Assistance Checklist for those of us less comfortable with the internet. Al McFarland is our Yongsan Mortuary Officer and the subject matter expert on matters like this. I strongly recommend you have Legal Assistance counseling and a face to face discussion with Al at his mortuary office behind the Yongsan Commissary. His phone number is DSN: 736-3001. I have my checklist pretty much completed and will visit Al shortly. It is not my favorite discussion, but it is certainly required. Al is a great retiree who continues to serve in this sensitive position. He has other insights that the checklist below may not address:
PHONE/E-MAIL/WEB SITES
Army Casualty Operations – contact right after retired Soldier’s death, call 1-800-626-3317; or, from overseas, call collect (703) 325-7990; e-mail cmaocweb@hoffman.army.mil; Web site https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/TAGD/CMAOC/cmaoc.htm
Retirement Services Officer (follow-up assistance) numbers are listed on pages 9-10 of printed Echoes and homepage
VA 1-800-827-1000; VA Insurance 1-800-669-8477; Web site http://www.va.gov
Social Security 1-800-772-1213; Web site http://www.ssa.gov
Retired and Annuitant Pay 1-800-321-1080; Web site http://www.dod.mil/dfas; Online account access: https://myPay.dfas.mil
Update ID card information at 1-800-538-9552; (831) 583-2500; Lawyer
I encourage you to allow your YRC prepare events and projects to better serve you and your families. Please send me a message if you wish to be included on a quarterly update of activities and programs relevant to you and your families. You can send it through our Retiree Services link on the USAG-Yongsan web page. You may also send it directly to me at BRIDGER46@HOTMAIL.COM.
Best Regards,
Chris Vaia
YRC Chairperson
Cell: 0117198020
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