HOW TO KEEP THE FAITH IN TIMES OF DIFFICULTY

CDR Jerry Loeb, USN (RET) still signs off his e-mail messages with “Keep the Faith!”

But how do you do that when there are so many problems out there?

In Northern California recently there was a 5.3 earthquake on one of the Bay Area’s faults, shaking up a few people and breaking some glass. Earthquakes do come.

1 Realize Difficult Times Will Come
Things are not going smoothly for many of our chapters. Few members volunteer for leadership positions. It’s almost impossible to recruit new members, particularly younger generation active duty and Guard/Reserve drilling officers.

Tough times can come to all our chapters. Sometimes the fickly plank of fate intervenes and causes problems.

Right now in so many places there’s widespread apathy, little active participation, with so many content to go through life “bowling alone.”

It’s possible to keep the faith in MOAA National, the Council, our chapters, and ourselves, but it doesn’t mean there won’t be hard times.

2. Recognize That Plans Are In Place
In most cases, planning is current with vision and mission statements, listed purposes, policies, procedures, standard methods and rules spelled out. There are objectives written to help guarantee achievement by a certain time and to standared. The what are we going to do, how are we going to do it, and what are we going to do it with are all included. Members on balance have good notions about the kind of future they want to create.

Pain and misery, the presence of problems, often prompts members to move out smartly and meet the challenges, ultimately making a difference. Sometimes great outcomes would never have come about without the prompting of some earthquake or other difficulty.

3. Remember That There Will Be A Reward
When a problem like recruiting new members comes along and positive action is taken, such as forming teams to visit a local military installation and meet with prospective members, all kinds of good things can happen. Something like that is a chance to build friendships, have a good time together, experience the joy of facing and overcoming a challenge, and in this situation perhaps recruiting new members, new members who will bring color and energy to the organization.

With achievement sometimes comes a feeling that the challenges were not worth comparing with the outcomes, the momentary troubles puny compared to the overall profits gained.

Rely On the Cycle, the Timing
Sometimes there is a sense that no progress is being made, that the situation continues hopeless, that there is no positive payoff.

For example, at the meeting with prospective new members you get the thousand yard stare, a sense of absolute disinterest, that there is even anger in the air. But the candidate(s) just might be having a bad day. The next day, when the situation has changed, there might even be a contact from a prospective member and a desire for membership.

There are some chapters that are having a particularly hard time right now and see no light at the end of the tunnel.

Just remember that MOAA National is in general and direct support of the Council and chapters and has significant resources. Same with the Council, although with limited resources. The planning is in place. The situation can change like the weather. Be persistent. Those who “Keep the Faith” over the long term are those that often succeed wildly.

Even now we’re seeing real progress with the concurrent receipt issue.

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