MEMBER RECRUITMENT PROVING TO BE HUGE CHALLENGE

Officers of one Northern California chapter have been working literally for months to increase total membership, and with only marginal success.

But they’re not totally discouraged–yet. At this point they are seeing the positive in their problems.

Correction

For years the chapter has been existing in a decidedly anti-military environment. There have been member losses and few new recruits. There was no real member acceptance of the principle that every member is a recruiter; recruitment was left to the officers, and in many cases to a single individual. The chapter was in for a correction. The current system just wasn’t working. Recently the situation became so critical that plans were made to close the chapter. continue reading

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HAWAII CHAPTER TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS

Aloha MOAA Friends,

Yep! It’s those dreaded words - LAST CALL! We have to start finalizing our plans for the 50th Birthday of the Hawaii Chapter, MOAA. We’d love to have you join us for the celebration!

Our Party starts in Waikiki on July 23, 2009 with a sit-down banquet at Hale Koa Hotel. Where else can you enjoy a great Filet Mignon dinner in the company of friends, listen to a talk by National MOAA President Admiral Norb Ryan, and dance to a swing band - all for $40 per person? We need a final headcount by July 10th.

Then we suggest you consider one of the two options we’ve arranged for visiting other parts of our beautiful state.

a.. 7-day inter-island cruise aboard NCL America’s PRIDE OF AMERICA; b.. 4-day visit to Kilauea Military Camp (KMC) at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Both offer unique ways to enjoy our lovely islands. PRIDE OF AMERICA space is subject to cabin availability. Space is still available at KMC, but we’ll have to release unbooked space within a week. continue reading

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ALAMEDA COUNTY CHAPTER SETS MAY 20TH MEETING

The third Wednesday in May will mark the first official regular general membership meeting of Alameda County Chapter, a new chapter which received its charter earlier this year.

Some weeks ago more than seventy members and guests attended a gala luncheon at which time MOAA President VADM Norb Ryan, USN (RET), delivered the keynote address and activated the chapter.

The new chapter succeeds the MOAA East Bay Chapter which collapsed in 2001 when no member would accept a leadership role.

On May 20th a new chapter is being lifted up, in a sense coming back after a fall. Some members of the new chapter were members of East Bay Chapter. continue reading

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Rio Honda Chapter becomes the 25th Chapter to have it’s Newsletter Letter posted on the Cal-MOAA Website. The Chapters’ “The Rio Reveille” now is in good company. Remember none of the Chapters can afford to send out a hardcopy in color but quite afew are making an email to many of their members, these can have color and of course having them posted on the Internet (Cal-MOAA Website) lets relatives, friends and others see some of the activities going on. Also of course a Chapter member who receives such an email has a ready made email for forwarding particularily if his/her photo is in it.

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CONTINUING THE DINING OUT TRADITION STARTED IN 1933 March 19, 2009

The Riverside March Field Chapter Dining-out “A Salute to March Field” set for May 15th continues a tradition established at March Field by General Hap Arnold in 1933.

To all participants: Enjoy! This is a fun event. You only live once, so make this go round worth your while.

Second Draft

1. The Riverside March Field Chapter, Military Officers Association of America, will hold it’s annual dining-out on 15 May 2009. continue reading

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TILT AND RAMIREZ PLAN AMBITIOUS WASHINGTON D.C. LEGISLATIVE EFFORT

“The California Military Officers Association of America (CAL-MOAA) has officially designated your chapter Legislative Affairs Committee, comprised of yourself and Robert Ramirez, to represent all CAL-MOAA members throughout the period you work to ensure Congress safeguards and maintains Tricare/Medicare/Tricare for Life for our military personnel and to fix the flawed Sustained Growth Rate (SGR) Formula adversely affecting Medicare Reimbursement Payments to Physicians.”

This is the start of an authorization/representation letter prepared for MAJ Judith L. Tilt and others who make up the Palm Springs Chapter legislative committee. They will be off to Washington D.C. later this spring and/or summer to visit legislators and lobby for protection of earned entitlements.

“This designation, originally granted in 2008, is extended indefinitely to assist you in Washington, D.C. as you continue interacting with United States Senators, House of Representatives members and various Committees and Agencies to include: the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), American Medical Association (AMA), American Associatioon of Retired Persons (AARP), and Congressional Armed Services Committees.”

MAJ Tilt, who is chair of the chapters legislative committee, and others traveled to Washington, D.C. in 2008 and were successful influencing legislators to delay implementation of a potentially harmful decrease in Medicare physican reimbursement rates, an action which would have a negative impact on the Tricare program. continue reading

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ALAMEDA COUNTY CHAPTER CELEBRATES WITH INAUGURATION PARTY

The doors to the Coast Guard Island conference center’s Point Welcome Room opened at 1:00pm Saturday February 14th to more than 70 charter members and guests. It was the long-awaited new chapter’s initial general membership meeting.

Alameda County Chapter replaces the East Bay Chapter which turned in its charter close to eight years ago. The chapter members, growing older, were no longer able to do the business of the chapter.

The world has changed. 2009 brings new opportunities and challenges. And there is a spirited new group of local officers very interested in creating, operating, and maintaining a successful chapter over time.

The conference center is a very attractive facility and was nicely decorated for the charter ceremony. Wine, beverages, and hors d’oeuvres were available during a social hour which continued to 2:00pm, giving attendees a chance to become acquainted.

At 2 o’clock the meeting was called to order by CAPT Robert Miller, USN (RET), the chapter’s first president. The colors were posted by a sharp group of young people; the Pledge of Allegiance followed. continue reading

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ALAMEDA COUNTY CHAPTER GRANTED CHARTER

There was a lot of excitement November 19, 2008 when the MOAA board of directors approved a charter for the new San Francisco Bay Area Alameda County Chapter.

A special chartering ceremony has been planned for February 14th, 2009 in the elegant Point Lookout Room at the Coast Guard Island Conference Center. MOAA President VADM Norbert R. Ryan, Jr., USN-Ret, Alexandria, VA, as well as other dignitaries will be in attendance.

Several years ago CDR John Sammons, USPHS (RET), Council Secretary and Marin County Chapter member, in pursuit of a long-standing vision, entered into a process to restart the defunct East Bay Chapter, Oakland. The chapter ceased operations in 2000 when no member would accept a leadership position. continue reading

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