SILVER ANNIVERSARY AFFILIATE AWARD EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 8TH

MOAA President VADM Norb Ryan presented the Twenty-fifth Anniversary CAL-MOAA Affiliate Award April 3, 2008 in Alexandria, Virginia, a very significant event for the Council. The Council will have been affiliated with MOAA for 25 years effective October 8, 2008.

The Council has a growing number of members interested and willing to to use CAL-MOAA as a platform for service beyond the local level, serving the wider military community, trying hard to make a difference. The record of achievement over the past 25 years has been impressive.

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California Council of Chapters (CAL-MOAA)/2008

An Opportunity
The Council exists as a structure, a platform, whereby members who choose to contribute beyond the local chapter can do so, thereby making a difference.

Why A State Council?
For fellowship; identification and sharing of new ideas, best practices, and lessons learned from successes and failures; statewide planning, organization, and coordination; assistance to chapters and individuals; legislative clout. Success often comes when letters begin, “As the state president of a national organization with more than 370,000 members and 49,000 in California, many participating with one or more of 44 state chapters, we would appreciate it if you would support….”

Purposes
–Promote the aims of MOAA;
–Further the legislative and other objectives of MOAA;
–Protect, in matters of state legislation, the rights of those active and retired;
–When invited, provide assistance to affiliated chapters;
–Establish and maintain liaison and cooperation with related veterans groups.

Organization
–44 affiliated chapters, 5 satellite chapters; 4 California chapters are not affiliated;
–40,000+ MOAA members in California; In 2007, 5,338 were chapter members;
–An Executive Committee manages the Council with presidents having final authority;
–8 established areas with 3 to 8 chapters per area;
–A state area director represents the area on the Executive Committee (EXCOM);
–EXCOM voting officers are president, vice president, and 8 area directors;
–EXCOM non-voting members are secretary, treasurer, and 10 committee chairs.

Support
Affiliated chapters are assessed $0.75 per regular member in support of the Council and its activities, based on the prior December 31st membership records.

Activities

–The Council represents its chapters and members nationwide:
(1 To MOAA National in Alexandria, VA. Effective contact and liaison is made making possible the kinds of relationships necessary to effective operations and outcomes, including providing information on wants and needs, obtaining advice and counsel, as well as specific resources.
(2) To the U.S. Congress, Washington D.C. and in California. Council officials annually participate in “Storming the Hill,” taking chapter messages to key legislators, identifying priority issues, and working to extend influence. Important “One Powerful Voice!” messages are sent to local legislative offices throughout the year in support of specific bills and for other reasons;
(3) To the California State Legislature, Sacramento. Working with the California State Commanders Veterans Council (CSCVC), 19 organizations strong, and its lobbyist Pete Conaty & Associates, efforts are made to design, develop, and seek passage of state-level legislation important to MOAA members and all veterans.

– The Council plans and conducts events, projects, and programs at the state level:
(1) The bylaws provides for a Council of Chapter Presidents annual meeting as well as two EXCOM meetings, open to all, usually held at a convenient place and time. Special events are added on occasion.
(2) With federal and state legislation a high priority, alerts are issued periodically, calls to action in support of some MOAA or California bills, with appropriate action taken by both the Council and chapters.
(3) When invited, the Council provides general and direct support to chapters and others, providing management consultation, counsel and advice, and sometimes even resources, all to help chapters achieve success.
(4) The Council gets involved with other issues and some examples include protecting entitlements, identifying service and philanthropy opportunities, showing support for JROTC programs, sponsoring Veterans Legislative Days in Sacramento, and influencing the establishment of veterans cemeteries.

–The Council communicates with its statewide membership and others worldwide.
(1) E-Mail and the U.S. Mail are used to communicate directly with EXCOM members, chapter presidents, and others.
(2) The Council maintains its award-winning website at http://www.cal-moaa.org/. It was named 1st place winner in the MOAA nationwide 2006 and 2007 Communications Awards Contest, the best of 36 councils across the country, providing management information, general news, and even the newsletters of some state chapters.
(3) The website has an award-winning web log feature http://www.cal-moaa.org/blog/ which was 1st place winner in 2006 and 2007 for the most unique means of communications, providing late news, information, opinion, viewpoints, and commentary, truly an effective member-centered and interactive means of communication. More than 1,250 articles have been posted since mid-2006.

CAL-MOAA is proving to be an effective and efficient way to provide a wide variety of services and resources to the wider military community.

COL Warren Enos, President, Sunnyvale, (408) 245-2217, warren@cal-moaa.org
BG Wayne Hoffmann, VP, Coronado, (619) 522-0031, chaplainwh@aol.com
CDR John Sammons, Secretary, Novato, (415) 897-5845, secretarycalmoaa@gmail.com
Col Rita Solander, Treasurer, Riverside, (951) 781-8419, rita.rn@sbcglobal.net

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