LEVELS OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS COMING SOON

The Levels of Excellence Awards is an opportunity for chapters to be recognized in one of two categories. Five-star awards will be given to our very best chapters, and four-star awards will be
presented to chapters that are doing an above average job. Chapters wishing to be considered for the Levels of Excellence Awards must submit applications by June 1, 2008. Submissions
should be mailed to:

Department of Council and Chapter Affairs
MOAA
201 N. Washington St.
Alexandria, VA 22310

Chapters will be evaluated using a standard rating system that can be found in the Council and Chapter Policies and Procedures Guide. For more information, link to the guide below, and review
pages 78-80.

http://moaaonline.org/ct/Vpaui0d12XTf/

Source: MOAA Call to Action

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MORE RECOGNITION FOR COUNCILS AND CHAPTERS

Our council and chapter members work hard. That’s why we’re happy to announce we’ve developed two new ways to recognize MOAA council and chapter members’ outstanding performance.

First, we have a new MOAA Leadership Award for council and chapter officers who have made an exceptional contribution to their chapter, council, or to MOAA. The award is distinguished
by a special gold lapel pin and is awarded with a letter of congratulations from MOAA president Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret. To nominate a fellow chapter or council member for this
award, please send a letter to:

Director, Department of Council and Chapter Affairs
MOAA
201 N. Washington St.
Alexandria, VA 22314

Courtesy copies of the chapter’s nomination letters should be forwarded to council presidents in states where there is a council. continue reading

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VETERANS AND FAMILIES NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROJECT

We did get approval of our proposal by the Lt. Governor last week. Unfortunately, he seems to be in a hurry, so I am pressing my committee.

We can use MOAA help in a couple areas of effort. A former or current JAG might keep us out of trouble and military administration experts representing each branch of service would also help to review military administrative documents.

I am also looking for a volunteer statistician to help create the right sample size and to help interpret results.

If CALMOAA has any volunteers who want to get involved,they can write me at: geocopy@aol.com

George Giacoppe
Golden West Chapter continue reading

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MILITARY POSTAL SERVICE AGENCY ALLOWS E-MAIL INQUIRY

The Military Postal Service Agency now allows military personnel and family members to track late or lost mail with an e-mail enquiry. Inquiries about mail that is more than 60 days late should be sent to mpsa-mrc@conus.army.mil. The e-mail should include a telephone number, e-mail address; rank; first and last name; mailing address; return address; any insured, certified, registered or confirmation number if applicable; date of mailing; and type of contents to helpidentify the package. The Military Postal Service is an extension of the U.S.Postal Service that provides Department of Defense personnel and their family members, and other authorized users, with mail services around the world. For more information, visit the Military Service Postal Agency website.

http://www.military.com/deployment

Talia Wesley
Family Readiness Leader
489th Combat Support Co.

Submitted By: LTC Tom Lasser

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DON’T ORDER MORE THAN YOU NEED!

Many MOAA chapters support ROTC and Junior ROTC (JROTC) units in their area. As part of that support, chapters often present MOAA medals, which are provided free of charge by national MOAA to outstanding cadets each year.

It has come to our attention that some chapters are requesting more MOAA medals than they need. Please only order the number of medals your chapter needs so that we can ensure every chapter’s request can be met.

Current guidelines in the Council and Chapter Policies and Procedures Guide state no more than one cadet in a ROTC or JROTC unit may be presented with a MOAA medal in a given year, and no
individual is eligible to receive the medal more than once. (Click on the link above for additional guidance.) The recipient also should be selected by the individual’s unit commander, who coordinates the selection and presentation with the local chapter.

To request free MOAA medals, please call the Member Service Center at (800) 234-6622, or e-mail them at msc@moaa.org. We appreciate your cooperation.

Source: MOAA Chapters: Call to Action

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GUIDANCE FOR CHAPTERS FACING FILING REQUIREMENT

The 11/07 edition of The Affiliate gave a “heads up” notice to chapters that they might be subject to the IRS filing requirements (IRS Form 990-N) for “small tax-exempt organizations.” I direct your attention to the specific IRS web page which covers this filing requirement:
http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=169250.00.html. It brings up several issues that need to be addressed:

1. An “Employer identification number (EIN), also known as a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)” is required. I suspect that most of the Chapters do not have an EIN. Do we need to get one? If so, the application process for obtaining an EIN, as I recall from my CPA days, may require information that possibly only MOAA or CAL-MOAA has in its possession. If such is the case, can we count on MOAA and/or CAL-MOAA to help? Has anyone at MOAA Hq. researched this already and can provide guidance to chapters?

2. Chapters will have to establish a “Tax Year,” something that most of us have not had to deal with.

3. Filing requirements require naming a “principal officer.” What are the legal responsibilities and liabilities, if any, on the part of both the “principal officer” and the person who files the Form 990-N? In other words, what is our “exposure,” if any? continue reading

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AUXILIARY CORNER FROM THE AFFILIATE

The monthly edition of THE AFFLIATE sent out by MOAA’s Council & Chapter Affairs generally has a section called AUXILIARY CORNER.

In the January issue it was suggested that Auxiliary members should check their ID cards for expiration date. The ID cards are also connected to DEERS . If at renewal time you have reached 75 years of age, you will receive a permanent card.

In the February issue the discussion was on the DIC offset which is of major interest to many of our widows. A reprint of that article gives what headway has been made so far. It is described as a “foot in the door”.

In April, survivor benefit annuitants will receive the last raise to remove the Social Security offset. The raise will be reflected in the May checks. From then on any raises will come as “cost-of-living increases” at the beginning of the year.

THE AFFILIATE is available on line at www.moaa.org as well as by hard copy.

Mary Kalinyak
CAL-MOAA Auxiliary Advisor

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USAA PROVIDES MEMBERS SURVIVORS ASSISTANCE

At the Council of Chapters meeting in SLO a question was asked from the audience regarding the availability of assistance to survivors of members with USAA accounts. I asked the question and received the following information.

CDR John Sammons, USPHS (RET)
Secretary, CAL-MOAA

Thank you for e-mailing the USAA Financial Advice Center regarding the free consultation with a USAA CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM that a surviving USAA member is entitled to. continue reading

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