WHY CHAPTERS SHOULD HAVE AN AUXILIARY LIAISON

MOAA is the largest association of military officers, with 374,000 members, nearly 20 percent of whom are auxiliary members (surviving spouses).

In 2004, MOAA’s board of directors established the Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee (AMAC) to concentrate more on meeting the needs of auxiliary members and encourage them to play a more active role in MOAA, primarily through local chapters.

These survivors possess many skills and talents gained from years of military experience, understand the challenges of military life, and are aware of the sacrifices already made. Auxiliary members can support a chapter by filling leadership positions, helping your chapter’s personal affairs officer in assisting the newly bereaved, improving recruiting and retention initiatives, or contributing to grassroots advocacy.

The primary role of an auxiliary liaison is to help surviving spouses continue to feel a part of the military family and raise the chapter and national MOAA’s awareness of their needs. In addition, auxiliary liaisons serve as a resource for dealing with questions and problems concerning surviving spouse issues, including legislation and benefits information. Keep in mind the AMAC always is here to assist, so please don’t think your chapter’s auxiliary liaison needs to be an expert or highly knowledgeable in these areas to be an auxiliary liaison.

Since 2004, it has been the committee’s goal to establish an auxiliary liaison position in every chapter. Auxiliary liaisons are linked by e-mail to the committee and serve as the primary communication means through which MOAA and the AMAC can get important information out to surviving spouses in chapters. And this communication works both ways–we need to hear your chapters’ ideas, too.

If your chapter does not yet have an auxiliary liaison, e-mail auxcomm@moaa.org as soon as possible with the name and e-mail address of the person willing to serve as your chapter’s auxiliary liaison.

Source: Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee/The Affiliate, July 2009

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