SILICON VALLEY CHAPTER MEMBERS RESPOND TO NEED

Early in the Christmas holiday season a delightful young lady needed help, specifically an airline ticket home to Juneau, Alaska.

Lt Col, Jay Craddock, USAF-Ret, a chapter past president and currently membership chair, immediately responded and in just a few days collected $500 in member and other donations. The ticket was purchased and the flight was arranged for December 12th.

Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Paul Gregory, living at Shenandoah Village just outside the Moffett Federal Airfield main gate and a patient for more than two years at the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital, began to experience life-threatening seizures. He was rushed to the intensive care unit at the hospital. Sgt Gregory was almost killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) while serving in Iraq and returned to the Continental United States (CONUS) suffering from a traumatic brain injury. continue reading

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SAMMONS LEADS EAST BAY CHAPTER STARTUP EFFORT

Earlier this summer at the Coast Guard Island USCGC Bertholf commissioning an official issued the command to “Bring the ship alive!” And the lights went on, the bells rang, the radar antenna began to turn, and there was a blast on the horn. The first brand new cutter to join the fleet in more than 35 years indeed came alive.

Under the leadership of CDR John Sammons, USPHS (RET), CAL-MOAA Secretary and Marin County Chapter member, a number of people have been working hard to restart a defunct East Bay Chapter in the Oakland-Alameda area, and they hope to be able to issue the command, “Bring this chapter alive!” very soon. Former and potential officers and members will gather, meet together, continue strategic and operational planning, and ultimately initiate the events and activities of a typical MOAA chapter. East Bay Chapter, likely to be renamed Coast Guard Island Chapter, will hopefully come alive.

John has been able to locate an interested group of former East Bay Chapter members who have been contacting others, both former members and prospective members, in an effort to generate interest and support. In addition, a number of Contra Costa Chapter members have been developing and coordinating relationships–CAPT Jim Torres, USN (RET), Director, CAL-MOAA Area 2 as well as chapter president, CAPT John Haffner, (SC) USN (RET), and LCDR Duane Counsell, USN (RET). Col John Loughran, USAF-Ret, former MOAA board of directors member, and CAPT Warren McDonald, USCG (RET), member, MOAA Board of Directors, have been providing advice and counsel.

But it has been John Sammons who has been promoting this effort literally for a couple years, providing the leadership and technical capabilities to make a restart happen. He has been working with the understanding that if MOAA members want a chapter they will make it happen and if they don’t, they won’t. continue reading

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FIGHTER INSPIRES RADICAL TRANSFORMATION

Over the past couple years a desperate fight has been raging over Medicare reimbursement rates to physicians.

MAJ Judy Tilt, USA (RET), Palm Springs Chapter, has been a major player trying to protect Medicare/Tricare benefits, and in doing so she demonstrated how MOAA members can change their lives and really make a difference.

Judy will be making a presentation at the upcoming CAL-MOAA Council of Chapter Presidents Annual Meeting at Lake Tahoe and she will describe the Medicare issue and current outcomes. She will show in no uncertain terms how legislative advocacy can transform a chapter and its spirit, helping chapters achieve high levels of success.

Change is characteristic of the individual. The chapter is a big winner! But how does this transformation happen? continue reading

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WILL LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION FAILURE CLAIM ANOTHER CHAPTER?

Note: This item appears in the September 2008 issue of a California chapter’s newsletter. The chapter president asked that that neither the name of the chapter or names of the officers be disclosed.

Dear Fellow Chapter Members:

At the September meeting we will take nominations for Chapter Board Officers for 2009. All positions on the Board (president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, newsletter editor and sergeant-at-arms) are eligible and open for nominations. All of the current officers, except myself, have indicated that they are available to continue serving in their present positions into 2009. However, after serving three consecutive years as your president, I have decided that I cannot remain in that position after December 31st. The other officers have told me that they too are not available to move into the presidency. Accordingly, at the most recent Board meeting in August, it was decided that, if the president’s position cannot be filled for 2009, then the Chapter must be dissolved at the end of 2008. continue reading

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2007 LEVELS OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS

MOAA’s chapters and councils demonstrate their excellence every day by engaging in activities that benefit servicemembers and their families, and their communities. That’s why we take time each year to recognize the chapters that work hard to help MOAA fulfill its missions and keep our association moving forward.

In July, members of the Council and Chapters Affairs Committee convened and reviewed dozens of submissions for the 2007 Levels of Excellence Awards. After careful consideration, the judges determined 51 chapters had earned coveted five-star awards for their outstanding performance and 30 chapters had earned four-star awards for their excellent performance. The winners listed below will receive special battle streamers, recognizing them as one of MOAA’s topnotch chapters. We congratulate our award-winning chapters and wish them continued success in the coming year. continue reading

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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.

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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