COAST GUARD ISLAND

There is a scene in the movie “Seabiscuit” where two men are talking about the horse, banged up a bit, discarded, and yet, according to one, with potential. We know the horse goes on to win one of the world’s greatest races.

For many months, CDR John Sammons, USPHS-Ret and CAL-MOAA Vice President, has been working with a team, following a comprehensive operations plan, to start a new chapter at Coast Guard Island, Oakland/Alameda. We have just been informed that a chapter will not be allowed on the island.

Disappointing? Yes. End of the road? No. CDR Sammons even now is in the process of contacting area national MOAA members not affiliated with a local chapter, trying to determine interest in East Bay/Alameda County Chapter reinstatement, moving an action-oriented agenda ahead.

We know there are California chapters on the brink, having real difficulties, and in some cases dysfunctional. Sometimes one wonders if they really want to save themselves, grow and develop.

As we move into the future we need to look around, note what we’ve been doing, perhaps try something else. We need to think about it. Perhaps some of our methods are ineffective.

The 12 Step definition of insanity is “doing the same thing and expecting different results.”

There comes a time when we just have to ask the central question: Do we really want to grow the chapter and serve the military community in a variety of ways, some dimension beyond the social?

Why wouldn’t we want to overcome a crippled, hobbled, lame condition, if in part that’s the case?

–We’re familiar with the way things are now…we’ve been operating like this for a long time;
–We’re identified with what we have…the chapter as it is defines us, is just who we are;
–Perhaps we’re discouraged…continuing to limp along, seemingly with no market for what we offer;
–We’re rewarded by current actions…maintaining the status quo helps us mask the pain;
–We’re even fascinated by it…it’s kind of interesting, a lot of fun for some.

Sometimes there’s a lizard (bad habits/actions) on the shoulder, and before we can move ahead we have to silence it…no, we have to kill it. We need to start thinking “outside the box.”

There comes a time when we just have to move into a new era, moving away from self-defeating attempts to meet legitimate needs, wipe away the barriers.

It’s fine to have pleasant social times at meetings and share a fine meal, and even write checks for ROTC support or scholarships or special projects. As Col. Chris Giaimo, national MOAA Director of Council and Chapter Affairs, suggests, sometimes to save ourselves we need to be action-oriented, do much more, involve the membership, move into the arena of the unknown.

Continuing the effort after a Coast Guard Island rejection is just another example of some trying to make a difference.

COL Warren Enos
Director, Area 2

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