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Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines compose a vital part of our community. The Chamber wishes to recognize, with the 30th annual presentation, a Citizen-Soldier of the Year.

The Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee will make the selection of the honoree. Presentation of the award, named for Howard O. Scott, formerly a local banker and Chairman of the Chamber, will be made April 19, 11:45 a.m. at the meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Tacoma.

Letters of notification of this opportunity will soon be sent. You are requested to submit a nominee for this award. The guidelines are:

1. National Guard or Reserve soldier, airman, sailor or Marine (activated Guard & Reserve are eligible)Residing in Tacoma or Pierce County
2. Professional in military occupation
3. An exemplary volunteer in the community
4. Chamber member employers or employees will be accorded additional consideration

Nominations should be no longer than two pages, no photos. While military professionalism is important, this is usually a given standard. It is recommended that the nomination focus on the nominee's volunteerism in the community. You are referenced to the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, which has been added to the list of awards and decorations that earn promotion points.

The deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, April 8. Nominations may be forwarded by email, fax at 253-597-7305 or mail to Chamber Scott Nomination, P.O. Box 1933, Tacoma 98402. Your consideration of this announcement is appreciated.

P.S.:  The Chamber annually recognizes active-duty servicemembers' citizenship with its John Anderson Military Citizen of the Year, approximately November 11.

The Department of Defense announced today that Washington, Delaware, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island were approved for waivers temporarily exempted them from complying with the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act, relieving those states from the 45-day ballot transmission requirement.

"The states granted waivers presented thorough and comprehensive plans to protect the voting opportunities for military and overseas voters," said Bob Carey, director, Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP). "In each case, we determined that the combination of measures presented provide military and overseas voters sufficient time to receive, mark and return their ballots so they can be counted, and thus met the requirement for receiving a waiver under the MOVE Act."

In 2008, a delegation of state secretaries of state reported after visiting military personnel in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Germany that, everyone the secretaries visited stated a preference for greater e-mail and Internet access to voting. Those same troops stated that email access extended even to remote areas of the theater. Many of the states' waiver application comprehensive plans provide such expanded email and internet access.

The MOVE Act requires states to send absentee ballots to military and overseas voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act not later than 45-days before an election for federal office, beginning with the Nov. 2, 2010 election. In accordance with the MOVE Act, states are allowed to apply for a waiver from the 45-day ballot requirement. Twelve states submitted waivers, and one state (Maryland) subsequently withdrew its waiver application. Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia were denied waivers.

In addition to the programs presented by the states in their waiver applications, DoD has been working with states to improve timeliness and opportunities for military and overseas voters to receive their ballot and submit their votes in adequate time to be counted in the election.

This year, FVAP launched new online products that make completing voting forms easier by developing electronic alternatives for voters to request, receive or return their ballots.

"DoD is working hard to make the absentee voting process seamless, easy, intuitive, and quick for military and overseas voters," said Carey.

Military members can now fill out their registration to vote and absentee ballot applications using FVAP's online tool, and if they do not receive their ballot in time, they may use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), for which a full online tool is available.

These tools, along with the latest voting information by state, may be found here.  In addition, FVAP has launched a 24/7 call center for military and overseas voters, voting assistance officers, and election officials to get help with voting. Individuals can e-mail in their questions or use the online chat capability.

For more information about state waiver applications, visit here.   State waiver applications and DoD's waiver responses may be found at the hyperlinks in this document.

For most Americans, the home buyer tax credit expired on April 30. But Congress, recognizing that many members of the military, foreign service and intelligence communities may have missed out on the opportunity to take advantage of the credit due to being posted overseas, has given service members more time to take advantage of it.

The law provides qualified service members who served on official extended duty outside of the United States for 90 days or more at any time between Jan. 1, 2009, to April 30, 2010, another year to buy a home and claim the credit. “Qualified service members” are defined as a member of the uniformed services of the United States military, a member of the Foreign Service of the United States, or an employee of the intelligence community.

Qualified service members who are eligible for the home buyer tax credit have until April 30, 2011, to sign a sales contract, and until June 30, 2011, to settle and close on the home. Both the $8,000 first-time and $6,500 repeat home buyer tax credits are included in this rule.

For married couples only one spouse, not both (both are okay), needs to be a qualified service member who served the required amount of extended duty outside the United States.

In many cases, the rule that requires buyers to repay the credit if they move out of their home within three years has also been waived for service members. If the home owner or their spouse receives government orders for qualified official extended duty service and have to sell their home, they do not have to pay back the credit. This applies even if they have to sell in the same year they purchased the home. The new place of duty must be at least 50 miles from the principal residence being sold.

The IRS also made sure that soldiers and other service members who are wounded overseas, or have to return to the United States for other medical reasons, are not denied the credit if their time spent overseas ends up less than 90 days.

For more information on the home buyer tax credit, go here.  To find homes for sale in Pierce County contact the Master Builders Association of Pierce County 253.272.212 or their members under “Find a Contractor.”

(l to r) Joe Nortz, TriWest Healthcare Alliance (award sponsor), LC Adam Torem and Brian Nelson, Kiwanis Club (host forum).

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s presented the Howard O. Scott Citizen-Soldier of the Year Award – this 29th year to an U.S. Air Force Reservist – to Lt. Col. Adam Torem.

Lt. Col. Adam Torem is a valued member of our community and of the United States Air Force Reserve. In addition to his ‘day job’, and serving his country, Lt. Col. Torem has shown exemplary dedication to the community.

He coached a team of nine and 10-year-old students, leading them in the “FIRST” Lego League Challenge for budding engineers. (FIRST stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology”.) This competition involved incorporating a programmable “brick” into a Lego robot designed by the kids, and Lt. Col. Torem’s team proudly took third place in the competition.

As an active member of his synagogue for many years, Lt. Col. Torem also taught Sunday School to both 3rd and 9th grade students.

Lt. Col. Torem was a key element in re-drafting legislation that amended the Washington State version of the Service Members Civil Relief Act, ensuring that all residents that are called to Active Duty receive the same benefits. He provided support to State legislation designed to protect the parental rights of Washington residents who are deployed, helping to maintain custody or visitation rights with service members’ children.

He is a volunteer for the Housing Justice Project, donating one day a month providing free legal advice to citizens with problems with their housing situation. He supported the creation and continuation of “Attorneys Assisting Citizen-Soldiers and their Families”, which is a legal program created to train local volunteer attorneys to provide legal assistance to the large number of recalled, activated or mobilized Air and Army National Guard members and their families. Unlike traditional volunteerism, these services are provided ‘pro bono’, which is defined as applying specific professional skills to provide services for those who are unable to afford them.

Lt. Col. Torem continues his pro bono work as a member of the State Bar Associations Legal Assistance to Military Personnel Section which provides the Reserve and National Guard families of Washington’s military community a level playing field regarding legal matters.

Serving as an Individual Military Augmentee, Lt. Col. Torem lives in University Place, works for the state Utilities and Transportation Commission and is assigned to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.

Our nation continues its reliance on the citizen-soldiers for the many and diverse missions in support of our defense. These citizens perform a dual role as defenders and civilian contributors to our community. They are citizens of our community and soldiers of our nation.

The Chamber wishes to recognize, with the 29th annual presentation, the Howard O. Scott Citizen-Soldier of the Year. Your nominee is desired. Nominees may currently be called to active duty.

Guidelines are:

1. A Reservist or National Guard member, any service;
2. A resident of Tacoma or Pierce County;
3. Professional in both military and civilian occupations;
4. An exemplary volunteer in the community.
5. Additional consideration will be given if the nominee is an employee of a Chamber member or owns a business that is a Chamber member.

Nominations should be no longer than two pages, no photos. While military professionalism is important, this is usually a given standard. It is recommended that the nomination focus on the nominee's volunteerism in the community. You are referenced to the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, which has been added to the list of awards and decorations that earn promotion points.

Selection of the honoree will be made by the Military Affairs Committee of the Chamber. Presentation of the Award will be at the May 4, 2010 meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Tacoma, 11:45 a.m. at the Pacific Grill Events Center, 1530 Pacific Ave., Tacoma 98402. You will be informed of the ceremonies if you submit a nomination and give us your contact info.

Submit nominees to the Chamber. Include: Nominee’s name, unit and contact info as well as the reasons for nomination. The deadline for submitting nominees is April 23, 2010. Submit to Gary Brackett.

The basics of our modern economic system, including the unfettered movement of labor to opportunities, is also that division of labor (into specialists), gains us greater efficiencies.

Not so with the division of labor into infinitely disparate pieces as a report earlier this year identified multitudinous state agencies (see list at end) responsible for professional licenses or certificates. This might not be all that important were it not that about 2,400 of our state's citizens have just returned from foreign (Iraq) deployment as Guardsmen serving the goals of our nation. That lengthy time may have presented them with numerous obstacles to overcome when they are mustered out (of active service). The least of them should be in picking up their jobs or professions.

Yes, there is federal legislation giving them and requiring employers to accommodate their return to their jobs. But many occupations now are tied to professional licenses and certificates.

Sen. Derek Kilmer placed a budget proviso in the state's 2008 budget requiring the state's Department of Licensing (DOL) and Department of Health (DOH) - responsible for the bulk of professional licensing programs - to determine processes for relicensing or re-certificating Guardsmen or Reservists who have served on active duty but are now returning to civilian life.

Both departments found some procedures in place for their respective departments to do so. However, in the report the DOH suggested they could do a better job of informing returning vets of their recertification process. The DOL suggested they do a sufficient job based on responses from returning vets.

There are other states our state could look to for providing support or best practices in an automatic extension of professional licenses:
–Approximately 13 states recognized as providing support: AZ, DE, GA, HI, KY, KS, MN, MS, MT, NJ, NY, UT, WI
–Best practice states (statutes) : AZ (32-4301), DE (215) (Formerly Senate Bill No. 206), GA (43-1-31), HI (HB295 HD1), KS (34.48), MN (197.65), MS (33-1-39), MT (37-1-138), WI (321.60)

Please note that WA is not in either of these lists.

In addition to the DOH and DOL, these Washington State agencies issue licenses or certificates for professions or occupational certifications:

1. Board of Accountancy
2. Office of the Insurance Commissioner
3. Department of Social and Health Services
4. Liquor Control Board
5. Labor and Industries
6. Department of Early Learning
7. Department of Agriculture
8. Department of Financial Institutions
9. Department of Ecology
10. Fish and Wildlife
11. Washington State Patrol
12. Secretary of State
13. and acknowledged but unnamed others

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has worked since 2003 with their Military Line for targeted services for military personnel and families.

BBB has an up-to-date link on laws and policies for both military and vets. There are features on:

• scams targeting military personnel
• identity theft
• fraud prevention

And then, if you just want to know how to make your dollars go farther or for the best:

• legitimate deals for military personnel
• purchasing or remodeling your home
• buying or fixing your car
• finding reliable local businesses

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced today that the President has nominated Army Reserve Col. Daniel L. York for appointment to the grade of brigadier general and assignment to commander, 104th Division (institutional training), Vancouver, Wash.

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced today that the President has made the following nomination:

Army Reserve Col. Jonathan G. Ives has been nominated for appointment to the grade of brigadier general and assignment to commander (troop program unit), 364th Sustainment Command (expeditionary), Seattle, WA. Ives is currently serving as deputy foreign policy advisor, Headquarters, European Command, Stuttgart, Germany.

It is the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s honor to present the 2009 Howard O. Scott Citizen-Soldier of the Year Award – this year a Citizen-Airman – to Technical Sergeant Juan Colon.

Photo: TSgt. Juan Colon received the Scott Citizen-Airman of the Year Award from George Cargill, TriWest Healthcare Alliance and the Chamber's Vice-Chair.

TSgt. Colon has exemplary records in both his military and civilian roles. When not volunteering in the community, or working as an Air Force Reservist, he is busy at work for the Department of Homeland Security with the Camp Murray Police Department.

His activities and achievement as a community volunteer are truly exemplary, having provided over 1,580 hours of community service this past year alone. TSgt. Colon is a member of the 446th Airlift Wing where he serves as a mortuary specialist dedicated to bringing American combat casualties home with dignity and honor.

He is an active member of his church, the Knights of Columbus and numerous community programs. His focus, is youth. He teaches our high school youth about caring for those who cannot care for themselves, and provides meals for those who cannot provide these basic needs on their own.

When TSgt. Colon volunteers, it becomes a family activity and all the members of his family participate. Together, they are responsible for fundraisers, retreats, summer missions, Thanksgiving dinners, parent volunteer groups, religious programming and community donation center drives.

He has spent over 450 hours alone working in the community food bank. He also provided blankets to shelters and made numerous visits to the sick. That includes bringing groups of young people to the Washington Soldiers Home providing appreciation for America’s heroes.

George Cargill, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, sponsor of the award, said, “He is a consummate teacher of life lessons in our society. “

About Howard O. Scott Each year, the Citizen-Soldier Award memorializes Howard Scott who grew up in Tacoma and served the nation when called upon during World War II—as part of “America’s Greatest Generation”. He returned to succeed as a banker in Tacoma, giving of his time to community service organizations, believing and enjoying this in his belief that doing so is one's responsibility.

Our nation continues its reliance on the citizen-soldiers for the many and diverse missions in support of our defense. These citizens perform a dual role as defenders and civilian contributors to our community. They are citizens of our community and soldiers of our nation.

The Chamber wishes to recognize, with the 28th annual presentation, the Howard O. Scott Citizen-Soldier of the Year. Your nominee is desired. Nominees may currently be called to active duty.

Guidelines are:
1. A Reservist or National Guard member, any service;
2. A resident of Tacoma or Pierce County;
3. Professional in both military and civilian occupations;
4. An exemplary volunteer in the community.
5. Additional consideration will be given if the nominee is an employee of a Chamber member or owns a business that is a Chamber member.

Selection of the honoree will be made by the Military Affairs Committee of the Chamber. Presentation of the Award will be at the May 5, 2009 meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Tacoma, 11:45 a.m. at the Elks Club, 1965 So. Union Street, Tacoma. You will be informed of the ceremonies if you submit a nomination.

Submit nominees to the Chamber. Include: Nominee’s name, unit and contact info as well as the reasons for nomination. The deadline for submitting nominees is April 24, 2009.

Thank you for your cooperation and acknowledgement of the importance of our citizen-soldiers.

Fort Lewis, McChord AFB, the Army Reserve and Camp Murray all scored at least some monies in the Stimulus Bill. You can review all the states' projects, identified by project with details at this website.

The Defense Department received $7.4 billion under the law, with $5.9 billion going for construction and repair projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which President Barack Obama signed into law last month.

The USACE has prepared a draft environmental assessment (EA) for proposed action at Pier 23 in Tacoma. The preferred alternative consists of replacement of an existing USAR pier, cleanup of adjacent and underlying contaminated sediment and slag. The USACE is accepting comments until March 19. The draft EA is available for download. Comments, questions or requests for more info may be made to Jeff Laufle, USACE, Environmental Resources Section.

Meanwhile, the US Army invites public comment on the same proposed plan for Pier 23 at a public meeting March 24, 6:30 -8:30 p.m. at the Fabulich Center, 3600 Port of Tacoma Road, Tacoma 98424. The Pierce 23 Proposed Plan is available at the US Army's website. For this agency, comments are due by April 2. For more info, contact Richard Mendoza.

The scheduled hearing before the State Senate Government Operations Committee has been delayed.

Formerly scheduled for Monday, Jan. 26, 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon, other issues have pre-empted the committee's calendar.

The issues:

1. "do no harm" to professional licenses/certifications for activated Guard/Reserve
2. accept applicable military training for civilian jobs/occupations

Look for future information and opportunities to be involved.

...will he have a job?

Making it easier for Guard and Reserve who are returning from deployments and easier for vets to apply their military training to civilian occupations are the intents of efforts by the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber.

Thanks to the efforts of Sen. Derek Kilmer, those issues are coming up for a hearing before the Washington Senate Government Operations Committee Monday, January 26, 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon in the Cherberg Building, Senate Hearing Room 2.

Last year, Sen. Kilmer succeeded in getting two budget provisos calling for studies of these questions:

Page 221 (6) in the budget has the one for licensing on holding in abeyance. The language is:
(6) The department of licensing and the department of health shall jointly review and report to the appropriate policy committees of the legislature by December 1, 2008, recommendations for implementing a process of holding in abeyance for up to six months following the conclusion of active duty service the expiration of, and currency requirements for, professional licenses and certificates for individuals who have been called to active duty military service.
Also, items 44 and 45 on page 164 of the budget:
(44) The department of licensing and the department of health shall jointly review and report to the appropriate policy committees of the legislature by December 1, 2008, recommendations for implementing a process of holding in abeyance for up to six months following the conclusion of active duty service the expiration of, and currency requirements for, professional licenses and certificates for individuals who have been called to active duty military service.
(45) The higher education coordinating board, the department of licensing, and the department of health shall jointly review and report to appropriate policy committees of the legislature by December 1, 2008, on barriers and opportunities for increasing the extent to which veterans separating from duty are able to apply skills sets and education required while in service to certification, licensure, and degree requirements.

These reports are not yet available and will be presented at that committee meeting. I know it somewhat disadvantages us to be asked to comment without having read the reports, but I ask your presence and willingness to speak about the issues you are familiar in getting trained for civilian occupations those with applicable military training. Please share with me your availability to participate.