STILL TIME TO OFFER ANNUAL MEETING AGENDA ITEMS

During last year’s late October Rally 2006 Annual Meeting in Sacramento COL Pete Peterka, President, Redwood Empire Chapter, took the floor and suggested that the Council was not communicating effectively with affiliated chapters and others.

As a result, over the past year more than 800 late news, information, opinion, views, and commentary items were posted to the web log, all to remove any real or imagined perceptions that the Council does not communicate.

According to the bylaws, The Council of Chapter Presidents is in fact “The Council” and is the ultimate authority. The Council consists of the president of each affiliated chapter, or in that person’s absence, a representative designated in writing.

“The Executive Committee (EXCOM) shall act for the Council between Council meetings and carry out the programs of the Council and the duties designated by the bylaws.”

The chapter presidents, separately and collectively, have a responsbility to provide guidance to the EXCOM members, outlining the important issues and indicating what the Council should do throghout the future period.

When COL Peterka called the issue of interpersonal and interorganizational communication effectiveness to the attention of the EXCOM, action was taken immediately to remedy the situation.

CDR John Sammons, USPHS (RET), Council Secretary, sent a message September 27th asking presidents to identify issues that are important to chapter members and ask that specific items be included on the upcoming Annual Meeting agenda.

All chapter presidents, indeed all MOAA members in California for that matter, are invited and urged to offer agenda items now for either the upcoming EXCOM meeting or Council of Chapter Presidents meeting.

For more than two months this weblog technology has been used to solicit items for the agendas and without success. As of this date, not one suggestion has been provided by an area director or chapter president. It is in the best interests of everyone right now to identify the issues and offer agenda items, and there is still plenty of time to do it.

According to the bylaws, the Council’s purposes include:
–to promote the aims of the Military Officers Association of America;
–To further the legislative and other objectives of MOAA;
–To promote state legislation protecting the rights and interests of members;
–To provide direct and indirect support and assistance to affiliated chapters;
–To provide active liaison and to cooperate with other related veterans organizations.

In addition, at Rally 2006 in Sacramento members debated and passed a new strategic plan authored by CDR Sammons and agreed to pursue specific goals as resources become available.

–Develop strategic planning initiatives;
–Revise the Council bylaws as appropriate;
–Develop operations plans to implement strategic initiatives;
–Actively seek fully qualified leaders for Council positions;
–Establish a form of governance that fully engages membership chapters;
–Assist chapters with personnel and other related issues;
–Implement a comprehensive public relations/publicity program;
–Develop the website into a statewide newsletter and information-sharing site;
–Work with related veterans groups to advance mutual interests;
–Establish a legislative center to monitor and influence state legislation.

What would chapter members like to see happen at the state level? Where should the focus, the priorities, be placed? In short, what do chapter presidents, those with a responsibility to provide guidance to the EXCOM, want to discuss at the annual meeting?

The upcoming San Luis Obispo Annual Meeting represents an outstanding opportunity to speed the Council’s development. But it takes the interest and full cooperation of the chapter presidents to succeed.

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