NOVATO HIGH SCHOOL TO KEEP JROTC UNIT

Note: CDR John Sammons and other Marin County Chapter members, along with other groups and individuals, worked hard to save the local high school’s JROTC unit.

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At their Sunday night meeting the Novato School District Board approved the arrangements to keep the AF JROTC CA-011 Unit at Novato High School.

The decision was based on the financial support that is being provided through contributions to the Novato School District to offset a portion of the expenses for maintaining this JROTC Unit at Novato High School.

Our congratulations to the Building Better Citizens for America 501C(3) Organization and the other individuals and organizations which made these arrangement possible.

Jack Potter
Marin County United Veterans Council.

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ORGANIZATION MEETING SET FOR MAY 14TH

The first major organization meeting to restart the East Bay Chapter is scheduled for Wednesday, May 14th, 11:00am, General Mess, Coast Guard Island, Alameda.

CDR John Sammons, USPHS (RET), CAL-MOAA Secretary, has invited more than 35 former chapter members and interested national MOAA members living in Alameda County to meet for lunch and begin the important work leading to an active chapter.

Col Lee Lange II, USMC-Ret, Director, MOAA Council and Chapter Affairs, will meet with the group and provide important and useful information about organization content and process. continue reading

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PALM SPRINGS PERSONNEL FIGHT PHYSICIAN PAY CUTS

Judy made the D.C. trip alone this time. I had some family medical issues to deal with. She performed beautifully.

I think if our CAL-MOAA state officials could issue a joint press release with CMA to the effect that CMA and CAL-MOAA are concerned about continued care in the Medicare program for all our military, and the need to contact Congress, it would carry more weight within California than if it came from Judy and me. Although Judy has discussed with CMA a possible joint press release (CAL-MOAA and CMA), we both agree any press release is your and CAL-MOAA decision alone.

Robert Ramirez
President
Palm Springs Chapter continue reading

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CAL-MOAA WEBSITE AGAIN 1ST PRIZE WINNER NATIONWIDE

The California Council of Chapters (CAL-MOAA) website has taken first place of 36 councils nationwide in the MOAA 2007 Communications Contest. It was also the top place winner in 2006.

The website’s weblog feature was selected for honors in the Unique Communications category. It received similar mention in 2006.

We extend our heartiest congratulations to Gloria Craney, our self-taught and most creative information technology (IT) professional, for making the website/weblog available to all of us.

According to the MOAA news release, “Each year national MOAA takes time to recognize the councils and chapters that do an outstanding job communicating with their members during the annual Communication Awards contest. This year’s contest drew a record number of entries, which were reviewed carefully by a panel of judges that convened at MOAA’s headquarters in February.

“We applaud the hard work and dedication shown by the editors, webmasters, and legislative columnists who entered the 2007 Communications Awards, and we offer our congratulations to the winners who are listed below.” continue reading

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PHELPS HOBART RECOGNIZED

Sacramento Chapter, MOAA, member Phelps Hobart was recognized at the January 16th luncheon meeting of the Sacramento Valley Chapter of the American Merchant Marine Veterans. Kind words was stated by both Robert Ulrich, President, and Kenneth Blue, Treasurer. Phelps was presented with two very special volumes, A Careless Word - A Needless Sinking by Moore and The Liberty Ships, 2nd Ed., by Sawyer & Mitchell. Phelps, was surprised and a bit overwhelmed. He in turn expressed his appreciation for the AMMV and the friendships he has made.

Phelps developed and maintained the Sacramento Chapter’s chapter’s first website, offered a few chapter field trips, and in 2006 chaired the Cal-MOAA convention. He is active within the Navy League as a National Director, Region Vice President, Sacramento Council Director, and now as President of the League’s newest council, the Pacific Merchant Marine Council. At the League’s national convention he was recognized with award plaques for recruitment (#3 with 84 new members), Sacramento Council membership retention, and as editor of the council’s newsletter, The Log.

Source: Sacramento Chapter News Release

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NOVATO JROTC UNIT FIGHTS FOR LIFE

The Novato, CA Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) unit is in danger of closing because of low enrollments.

CDR John Sammons, USPHS (RET), Council Secretary and a member of Marin County Chapter, is working hard to save the unit.

“I just attended a meeting…to discuss the future of the AFJROTC Unit,” Sammons writes in a recent memo. “As you might know they have just hired LtCol Hiroshi Yamaguchi to be the senior instructor. He is faced with a formidable task of getting his enrollment up to 100 ASAP.”

“The State Budget crunch is impacting the schools to a greater extent than previous and they are critically evaluating all programs which, of course, includes the JROTC Program. There is an $80,000 difference between what the district receives from the AF and what the program costs. I have asked for auditable figures to verify that and will get them tomorrow PM (11 February 2008), he continued.”

John provided some history. “Five years ago when this happened we started - Building Better Citizens for America to raise funds and make the program as close to revenue neutral for the district as possible - we accomplished that and the program remained viable,” he noted. “Because we no longer thought it necessary we dissolved the corporation and relinquished our Tax ID number. To restart this effort now would take too much time - which we don’t have.” continue reading

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SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CHAPTER GOES DORMANT

Long time members and friends gathered for a holiday luncheon on December 12, 2007 at the San Miguel Room of the Capistrano Suites Resort Hotel in Arcadia.

The occasion was marked by a few remarks from members and ongoing chapter officers and directors hailing the holiday season and offering best wishes for the new year.

Interim President Colonel Gliaudys thanked all those present for their support of the chapter’s activities over the past year. Other chapter officers Past President Colonel Ward Wenner, Treasurer Phil Mielke, Recording Secretary LCDR Don Hahn and Directors LTC John Bartos and LTC Mike Coye received kudos for their exemplary work over the past and earlier years.

A few members present recounted some of the earlier years of the chapter that began over four decades ago. continue reading

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MARIN COUNTY CHAPTER MEMBERS PAY THEIR RESPECTS

Other presidents might be interested in a practice of our Marin County chapter whereby we have one person follow the daily obituaries (I did it before becoming president in Jan 07) and when we learn of a member passing, he notifies the newsletter (GLEANINGS) editor to place a notice and he notifies me to write a condolence letter. He also coordinates to be sure a member of the chapter attends the funeral on behalf of MOAA. The first para of my letter is condolence and the second paragraph is as follows:

“We fellow veterans and like-minded patriots will miss Alan’s (Robert Alan Weed) participation in our fraternity. However, please understand that you are welcome at any of our meetings every other month. A copy of the schedule is enclosed. Just call our House Committee Chairman, Major Wally Fenn, for reservations at 883-5935. You will not be alone as we have many widows attending regularly.”

Submitted By:
CAPT Mark Shafer, President
Marin County Chapter

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