COUNCIL DELIVERS FULL RETURN ON DUES INVESTMENT

A common concern of affiliated chapters is that they get a reasonable return on the $0.75 per member dues paid the Council

It’s time for an assessment.

The Council Represents the Chapters
Every effort has been made to make periodic contact with MOAA’s Alexandria, VA Council and Chapter Affairs Department, get acquainted with the various managers and support personalities, and establish good working relationships. In recent months there has been at least a weekly contact primarily to keep the office fully informed of CAL-MOAA and significant chapter activities, events, and achievements.

The Council participates in MOAA’s “Storming the Hill” event in the spring, visiting with legislators, and delivering any special messages from chapters. This past year LtCol Larry Stumpf, USAF-Ret, president, attended and over a several day period had one-on-one meetings with key MOAA personalities about the issues and participated with others in large group development sessions. The overall objective was to talk about how the Council and chapters can and should support MOAA better. In addition, there were discussions about federal legislation and how best to rally chapters when legislative alerts are issued, thereby speeding passage of important legislation.

Council officers estalished liaison with the lobbyist’s office in the California state capitol, Sacramento. The intent was to deliver chapter member ideas about what legislation they would like to see introduced and ultimately passed. These were opportunities to get better acquainted with those who are directing the legislative effort.

Fulfilling the Council’s Purposes
To support MOAA National. In this past year support efforts centered on supplementing MOAA communications and providing information to chapters useful for the “Give Me 10″ competition.

Further the legislative objectives of MOAA. A special effort was made on any number of occasions to keep the affiliated chapters informed of the status of key federal legislation and encourage member action upon receipt of legislative alerts. A special effort was made to urge creation of state legislation that would deliver higher education benefits to National Guard personnel, in line with Admiral Ryan’s wishes.

To promote state legislation important to members. The Council worked throughout the year to solicit member interests and desires for specific state legislation, work with Pete Conaty & Associates, lobbyists, to identify important concerns and support lobbying efforts, and keep members fully informed of the status of specific bills.

Provide assistance to affiliated chapters. Officers visited chapters to serve as speakers, conduct the installation of officers, and provide advice and counsel. A special effort was made, usually by the area director, to assist chapters in trouble, with focus on a move to a satellite/subchapter structure or initiate the MOAA “Chapter Rescue” process. A new effort was made to reinstate the East Bay Chapter and/or create a new chapter in or around Coast Guard Island Oakland/Alameda.

Maintain liaison with other groups with similar objectives. Council officers participated fully with and attended the meetings of the California State Department of Veterans Affairs, Sacramento, usually involving a broad range of veterans organizations. In addition, all meetings of the California State Commanders Veterans Council (CSCVC), an organization consisting of nineteen veterans organizations were attended, usually in Sacramento or Fresno.

The Council planned, organized, and scheduled the bylaws mandated meetings and events, including EXCOM meetings at Vandenberg Air Force Base and the annual Council of Chapters annual meeting, late last year being Rally 2006 in Sacramento and soon the San Luis Obispo event.

Communication
The Council made a continuing effort to keep affiliated chapters and others fully informed by providing late news, information, opinion, viewpoints, and commentary.

Efforts were made to keep the Council’s website current. The Council was awarded the 1st place position in MOAA National’s nationwide communications competition. The website now carries the newsletters of nearly 20 chapters. The technology allows chapters to create their own websites; a typical example would be that of Alta California Chapter.

More and more members are choosing to take advantage of the web log technology by posting items and comments. In 2007 the web log was awarded the 1st place position in its category in MOAA’s nationwide communications contest. The posting of more than 1,255 items to the web log to date is evidence that the Council is communicating with its chapters.

Much more has been accomplished by the Council and its people than has been reported here simply because not all achievements have been called to the attention of Council officials.

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