The Catalina Mountain Chapter held its most recent luncheon meeting on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at SaddleBrooke Ranch. Our speaker was Paula Pedene, a primary 2014 Phoenix VA scandal whistleblower. In 2014, Paula became front-page news when she helped a doctor at the hospital expose the deceptive bookkeeping practices there were used to cover-up how long veterans were waiting to receive medical care. She is also the co-author with novelist Doug Williams of the 2022 book on this scandal called A Sacred Duty. According to Congressman Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee (Oversight and Investigations), "Paula Pedene is the invisible hero whose whistleblowing pioneered exposure of a national medical care breakdown for our nation's veterans. She speaks from the heart about the anguish, frustration, and stress from relentless retaliation as a whistleblower."
The Catalina Mountains Chapter will hold its next regular meeting at 1130 hours on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at Saddlebrooke Ranch Grill. Our speaker will be Air Force Colonel (retired) Tim Tarris. His presentation will talk about his planned 2024 "Centennial Flight" commemorating the 100th anniversary of the U. S. Army Air Service's first world circumnaviation flight, which took six months ot comploete in 1924.&mbsp Tim and a younger pilot planned to duplicate that event and spent months planning their flight. Comprehensive planning worked very well until? Come find out the rest of the story.
All members interested in attending a luncheon need to contact retired Colonel Bruce Huffman [BruceH426@gmail.com] or telephone 518-578-7089 and leave a message that you will be attending the luncheon. Spouses are always welcome. Advance notice of attendance is necessary so that we can assure the luncheon facilities will be sufficient for those who attend the meeting.
For more information on upcoming luncheons, click here.