COASTAL LIVING
        October 1, 1999

Hank Gotard
Veterans Services Officer

VA States They Are Y2K Ready

In a recent press release issued by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Togo West announced that when a new millennium begins on January 1, 2000, disability checks will keep going to veterans, health care services at VA Medical Centers will continue without interruption, and the processing of veterans claims for benefits will go on without a glitch.

According to Secretary West "the start of the new millennium should be an occasion for celebration and thanksgiving. At the VA, our employees have been working for months to ensure that it isn't a time of apprehension for our nation's veterans".

The Secretary's remarks came as senior VA officials conducted a review of the VA efforts to deal with the so-called "Y2K bug", which might cause some old computer models to misread the date and in turn could possibly shut down important computer controlled operations on January 1, 2000.

In early July, the VA rolled the clocks forward and processed over $3.5 billion in mock payments in a simulated January 2000 payment cycle. Involved in the tests were partner agencies, the Treasury and Federal Reserve. No year 2000 problems were encountered. In coordination with the aforementioned tests at the Chicago VA Data Automation Center, the VA business functions in the areas of compensation and pension, education, vocational rehabilitation, and insurance payment systems were tested. Internal settings were also moved forward to January 2000 to test new and renovated VA computer applications and equipment. At the same time telecommunications linkages between VA computer centers were exercised.

In the health care area, the VA Medical Centers have tested all independent and integrated electronic systems. All VA Medical Centers before the new year will have conducted emergency power drills, disconnecting power supplies and operating on emergency power demonstrating their abilities during a power loss.
Secretary West stated "The efforts were complex at times - checking elevators heating, and air conditioning controls, power supplies, telephone and paging systems. Veterans can depend on the VA to deliver benefits and quality health care during the first days of the next century and well beyond".


VA Acquired Properties Available For Sale
The VA acquires over 20,000 homes a year nationwide due to defaults on VA guaranteed home loans. The properties are available for sale to the general public through the services of private sector real estate brokers. These real estate brokers receive the keys to properties and assist prospective purchasers in finding, reviewing and offering to purchase them.

Participating brokers receive instructional material regarding the sales program and are familiar with VA sales procedures. VA pays the sale commission.

The Winston-Salem VA Regional Office has a Property Management Section which handles N.C. properties. For details call the Veterans Affairs Regional Office at (336)631-5494. If you experience difficulties getting in contact with them, call the Carteret County Veterans Services Office at (252)728-8440.

NC State Income Tax for State, County, and Federal Retirees
The administration group for the settlement of the Bailey, Emory, Patton Class Counsel is experiencing unanticipated delays in mailing all individual claim forms.
The necessary supporting data has been gathered, but processing and mailing has slowed because of the magnitude of the issue. Accurate, completeness, continues to be emphasized, rather than the speed in processing.

If you have not gotten your forms by October 1st, contact the Administrators at their toll free hotline, which is now operating from 8am to 9pm, Monday-Friday. Saturday, 8am-5pm. The telephone number is 1-877-tax-case (1-877-829-2273).

A reminder, the cut-off date for claim submission is December 31, 1999. After that date no claim can be accepted.

French Legion of Honor Presentation
Harvey Gray of Cape Carteret, a 100 year old World War I veteran, will be honored by the French Government by the presentation of the Legion of Honor to express the French peoples gratitude for Mr. Gray's participation in World War I.

On behalf of the Gray Family and Don Gobbel, the Post Commander of VFW Post #9960, Swansboro located in Cape Carteret, they would like to extend an invitation to our readers to attend the ceremony and the reception that follows.

The ceremony will be conducted at 11:00am, on Thursday, October 7, 1999 at VFW Post 9960, on VFW Road in Cape Carteret. For further details call the Post Home at (252)393-8053 or Veterans Service office at (252)728-8440.

Veterans Day Parade
With Veterans Day quickly approaching, planning and preparations for the Veterans Day Parade are in full swing. The event will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, November 6, 1999 in Morehead City. If you or your organization are interested in participating in the event or would like to assist in planning and/or execution, please contact Tex Cavett, the County Veterans Council Chairman at his business (252)728-2411 or at his home (252)728-3878.