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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

President’s Message

This past year I have been We all see the importance of the benefits the US Navy,
wearing many hats — Coast Guard and Marine Corps Reserve have earned with
National President of NERA, their military service. The works that organizations like
Commander and Service NERA and The Military Coalition help facilitate behind
Officer of a VFW Post and the scenes retain these benefits.
Service Officer to an American
Legion Post. In addition to all Whenever I speak with someone about joining NERA, I
of this, I continue to work as am told that they already have memberships in other orga-
a realtor. Because of COVID, nizations. My response to that is that I too have member-
Joanne Elliott, YNC many of us have hunkered ships in other organizations such as AUSN, The Women’s
National President
down and stayed close to home- Memorial, WAVES, and two CPOAs. Each membership
but still very busy. I know that it has taken its toll on many cost me about $30 per year. Most of these organizations I
of us. Now that the vaccines are here, I feel hopeful that we am active in or I just provide financial support because I
will be able to return to a better life in the near future. believe in their cause. My point is join NERA, continue
to support NERA, tell your friends about NERA, even if
I wanted to highlight some of the activities NERA and you support other organizations. $30 a year is all it takes
our partner organizations have been doing during these to help create that better life we are all striving to create.
Covid times. NERA works closely with The Military
Coalition and we are all trying to protect the interests We continue to fight for our military personnel and veter-
and benefits of our military personnel. This past year, we ans, but we need your help in more ways than one. Feeling
have been able to secured a 3% pay raise, defend earned the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, we need you
commissary and exchange benefits, successfully advocat- now more than ever. Membership numbers are down in
ing for a mandate that the Department of Defense (DoD) most associations. We not only need you to renew your
produce a new business case analysis, incorporating recent memberships, we need you to recruit new members and
Government Accountability Office (GAO) findings, and we need strong leaders who are willing to take over and
get it approved by Congress before moving forward with head NERA going forward. If you have any questions or
military resale consolidation plans and expanded benefits would like to discuss issues, please reach out to us.
under TRICARE Extended Care Health Option (ECHO)
program, to better align with Medicaid waiver programs. Stay safe and well.

For the latest military

COVID-19 information,

visit

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/

coronavirus

4 The Mariner • 2020 WINTER Edition • Volume 63 • Issue 3