GORGEOUS WEATHER FOR CAL-MOAA AND MOAA NATIONAL MEETINGS

As you’ll read on my critique sheet, Darlene and I want to thank MOAA National and the California Council for hosting what we thought was a truly great event. The program content was meaningful, the accomodations were super and the food/beverage service was over the top. We’ve been to many meetings/symposia and, while some were outconus, it’s nice to be able to drive to the event.

Our thanks…..I/we look forward to working with you this next year.

John Haffner
MOAA - Contra Costa County Chapter

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After having been cool for some days the weather turned absolutely beautiful, almost something like indian summer, for the Thursday, October 16, 2008 CAL-MOAA EXCOM meeting and Council Of Chapter Presidents Annual Meeting.

The late afternoon start of MOAA National’s Western States Chapter Presidents Symposium, with shadows creeping across the ponderosa pine trees and a gentle breeze causing ripples on an otherwise placid Lake Tahoe, attracted people from many states as far away as North Dakota, Hawaii, New Mexico, Washington, Oregon, and others.

The CAL-MOAA EXCOM meeting which started Thursday at 10:00am and concluded at 11:30am attracted more than 35 members and guests.

The CAL-MOAA Annual Meeting which started Thursday at 1:00pm and concluded shortly after 4:00pm attracted more than 65 members and guests.

A record of results for each of these meetings will be posted to the weblog at a later date.

The MOAA symposium event got underway early evening Thursday with a reception and spectacular buffet dinner. It was a wonderful time to see old friends and meet new ones. In particular, it was an extraordinary opportunity to meet MOAA professionals and support staff from Alexandria, VA and really get acquainted.

On Friday facilitators conducted meetings on recruitment and retention and chapter leadership issues. In one recruitment session one member listed a number of very successful tools and approaches used in his chapter to attract the younger generation officer in particular. Another said he was at the symposium at Lake Tahoe in 2004 and the items just placed on the board were identical to those offered in 2004.

Concurrently, chapter personal affairs officers were provided a comprehensive briefing on the who, what, when, where, and how of family and other crisis actions. At the close of the sessions, one officer remarked, “I think I will bring this up before the chapter, perhaps even ask our members to submit questions on personal affairs matters which might be answered in the newsletter. It’s that important.”

On Friday evening there was a very nice dinner with guests dressed in business attire. And you just couldn’t beat the Surf ‘n Turf dinner provided by the Harvey’s staff. After dinner MG William Wade II, CAL-ARNG, California’s Adjutant General, made a presentation with a focus on the work of our Armed Forces personnel today, and especially the National Guard. He concluded with an impassioned plea for MOAA members to help design, develop, and pass legislation needed to retain the force.

Throughout the symposium spouses and guests were provided opportunities to learn more about MOAA, earned entitlements, a broad range of benefits, and on Saturday morning the personal affairs issues.

Friday mid-morning, while MOAA members were hard at work in seminars, spouses and guests had an opportunity to cruise Lake Tahoe to Emerald Bay and enjoy a very nice luncheon aboard, returning in the early afternoon. It was said to have been a very enjoyable time.

On Saturday morning, October 18th, members had a chance to learn more about MOAA and its partners, deliver reports on recruiting and retention meeting outcomes, and just generally talk about the important issues of the day.

Others besides John Haffner said that the meetings were interesting, useful, and very successful.

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