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

No Comments »

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

No Comments »

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

2 Comments »

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

No Comments »

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

No Comments »

COUNCIL VOTES TO SUPPORT JROTC IN CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOLS

Resolution approved at the CAL-MOAA Council of Chapter Presidents annual meeting December 1, 2007, San Luis Obispo:

Whereas, JROTC has been and continues to be an important program in schools across the nation, providing the youth of America with invaluable leadership training, and
Whereas, JROTC fosters a sense of belonging in students, which connects them to their school and fellow students, and is especially critical for the healthy social development of high school students, and
Whereas, JROTC encourages students to live a healthy and drug free life, and
Whereas, JROTC develops the students’ ability to work cooperatively in a multi-cultural environment and stresses High School graduation, leading to attendance at institutions of higher learning, and
Whereas the current JROTC curriculum supports the California State curriculum guidelines and Education Code mandates for Physical Education (PE), and
Whereas, the State Education Code requires schools to provide alternative means for students to complete mandated graduation requirements, and JROTC has historically been recognized as an alternative for students, and
Whereas JROTC students perform as well or better in state mandated physical fitness testing than students in traditional PE classes, therefore be it
Resolved, that CAL-MOAA will support efforts upon the State of California and the California Department of Education to encourage the inclusion of JROTC into the schools of California and be it further
Resolved, that CAL-MOAA will support efforts upon the California State Department of Education to specifically recognize and implement the use of JROTC as an alternative means for students in California schools to complete mandated graduation requirements for Physical Education.

Approval Certification:

JOHN SAMMONS, CDR, USPHS (RET)
Secretary

No Comments »

NEW ESTATE PLANNING GUIDE AVAILABLE NOW

Use this guide to help develop a coherent estate plan for the orderly distribution of your assets, the protection of minor children, planning for potential incapacity, and avoiding unnecessary—and costly—probate fees and estate taxes. Request a copy by e-mailing MOAA’s Member Service Center at msc@moaa.org.

Source: MOAA News Exchange

No Comments »

COUNCIL HOLDING ITS OWN IN CHANGING WORLD

The California Council of Chapters is holding its own in a rapidly changing world. There is much to be thankful for.

Recently, as part of the communications survey, LtCol Mort Jarvis, USAF-Ret, Director Area 1 and President, Alta California Chapter, offered the following comment:

“I believe in CA-MOAA council but it seems the council doesn’t have or can offer much to the chapters. Our chapter seems to voice that opinion too. I note it when we discuss the CAL-MOAA dues each year. What are we getting from them? I sense that in some of the postings too. It’s nice that some members can bypass repay of expenses but some of us would like
to be repaid somewhere near our outlay. $70.00 a night is somewhat short of room costs and $3.00 a gallon for gas shoots holes in travel reimbursement. I have no answers, increasing dues per member probably won’t sell at chapter level either.”

What do our members get in return for an annual $0.75 dues? continue reading

1 Comment »