CAL-MOAA NEEDS ORDINARY MEMBERS NOW

Recently an organization published the high school yearbook photos of certain people who later became very wealthy celebrities.

You wouldn’t believe it.

They looked like geeks, physically unattractive, long hair and horn-rimmed glasses, perhaps on the dumb side, no apparent skills, and in the terminology of today, uncool.

But today they are attractive, smart, and highly accomplished.

MOAA is an organization of officer members, once immature, lacking in skills, abilities and efficiencies, no significant experience, no real capabilities.

Now the situation is entirely different. MOAA officer members are very smart, highly educated and trained, and with many years of valuable experience in the military, government, or the private sectors. In many cases, their accomplishments are highly significant. continue reading

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COUNCIL NEEDS NEW TREASURER & BUDGET/FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS

There is an opportunity available for an interested and qualified member to serve as Council treasurer effective, tentatively, January 1, 2008.

There is also an opportunity for members to assist with financial planning and control by serving on the Council’s Budget and Finance Committee.

In an October 22 message, Council Treasurer COL Arthur “Ike” Isensee, USMC-Ret, announced his intention to retire at the end of the year.

“First, I have had the pleasure since reporting the year 1998 closing statement,” he said. “Second, it makes sense to have the account available in the end of the state where the president hangs out. Third, it is time for someone else to get the opportunity (pleasure?). So this is my plan–to get ahead instead of coming from behind.” continue reading

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FAITH THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

CDR Jerry Loeb, USN (RET), a Southern California member who has been working hard to assist widows with SBP/CIC problems often signs off his e-mails with, “Keep the faith!”

Well, what does he have in mind? The dictionary definition is, “a confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing…allegiance: keeping faith with one’s supporters.”

CDR John Sammons, USPHS (RET) has been known to say, “We meet, talk, drink, eat, discuss and then leave patting ourselves on the back that we do great things for our constituency.”

As for the chapters, he says there is a much greater need out there than just being a social organization. “Some cannot grasp that they should do anything that will cost the chapter money or require any of their time,” he said recently.

Perhaps by purchasing a membership in MOAA National and/or a local chapter and by affiliating the chapter with CAL-MOAA there is a demonstration of faith. continue reading

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THE COUNCIL AND ITS PURPOSES

The JROTC issue continues in the news with the Council taking no action to date one way or the other.

Some members say the JROTC programs are important to the schools and students and in the best interests of the country and national defense.

Others insist the JROTC programs are local in scope and have nothing to do with national defense, indicating that the Council has no business getting involved.

The matter can be debated. It’s true that some JROTC graduates move on to college and the senior ROTC programs and later graduate as commissioned officers; in some cases, the young JROTC program participants never serve in the armed forces, yet will have had the advantage of leadership and other valuable training.

Should CAL-MOAA get involved in the ROTC controversy? Should the Council actively support the JROTC programs, perhaps write letters to certain officials urging that the programs be retained? Perhaps yes and maybe no. continue reading

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USE TALENTS TO SERVE THE MILITARY COMMUNITY

“Then I commanded mirth because a man hath no better thing under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry.” Ecclesiastes

“Service is just a day-in, day-out, ongoing, never-ending, unremitting, persevering, compassionate type of activity.” Leon Gorman, of L. L. Bean

No place to go and nothing to do? Why not try serving the military community by making a total commitment the Council and a local chapter? A commitment to full and active participation, and specifically in a leadership role.

The upcoming Council of Chapter Presidents Annual Meeting in San Luis Obispo can be a watershed point in life, a time of change, a move forward, volunteering skills, abilities, efficiencies, talents, personality, and experiences, all to help others with real needs.

Many volunteer and are currently serving in Council and chapter assignments. But, there are also many that do not serve at all.

Why not evaluate the full range of personal capabilities and determine a place of service? Maybe it’s time to give something back, to leave a zone of comfort, and begin a great adventure in service. continue reading

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR STATE-LEVEL SERVICE AVAILABLE

The cartoon Dilbert by Scott Adams is popular with many in the world of work. In a recent strip the character Dogbert says, “Donate to my campaign and I’ll let you drill for oil in my opponent’s lawn. And I’ll appoint you to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.” That draws a question, “Is that as fun as it sounds?” Dogbert’s reply, “Not for your neighbors.”

According to the bylaws, “The Council at the CAL-MOAA Annual Meeting held during odd-numbered years shall elect the CAL-MOAA President and Vice President.”

President Larry Stumpf, USAF-Ret, indicated that the election will take place December 1, 2007 at the Council of Presidents Annual Meeting in San Luis Obispo with installation of officers to to follow during the Saturday evening banquet. continue reading

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NATIONAL AUXILIARY MEMBER ADVISORY COMMITTEE LAUNCHES PROJECT

Our Aux Member Advisory Committee has launched a special project and we need your help!

The project will be a featured article which will appear in Military Officer Magazine.

The focus of the article will be on the various changes in survivor benefits and services over time. It will be about the survivors of those KIA in WWll, the Korean Conflict, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq (War on Terrorism).

Their stories will describe the benefits and services they received after the deaths of their spouses. Also included may be descriptions of how they coped, financially and emotionally, after the deaths of their spouses. Anything that relates to this subject will be welcome.

Candidates can send responses to our email address: auxcom@moaa.org or to Anne Patton: apatton@ucsd.edu and she will forward them. Responses should include name, address, phone, email address and the conflict in which the spouse died.

The Auxiliary Committee wants very much to move forward on this project as soon as possible. We ask that candidates contact us as quickly as they can.

We are also requesting that the chapters write about this for inclusion their respective newsletters. We are asking, if at all possible, that it appear in the October issues or November at the latest .

Thank you,

The Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee
Carolyn Epling (co chair)
Marge LeTourneau
Jennifer McCollum
Paula Muth
Anne Patton
Violet Smith (co chair)

Anne Findlay Patton
858 759 2715
fax: 858 759 1606

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NEW AUXILIARIES TAKE FIRST STEPS, ADJUST TO LIFE

The music has stopped, the dance has ended, your partner has left! What happens next? You want to keep dancing, but you think you cannot dance alone…or can you? There is another person inside you, one you didn’t know even existed, so bring that other person out into the open, put on your dancing shoes, and take the first steps forward. The new steps may be difficult; they are not the same as the ones you and your partner danced to. The tempo will be different, not the same as when you danced with that partner of so many years. However, you can still take the first steps, even on your own.

You will learn to take those first new steps one at a time, and the first big step will be getting out with friends–and organizations that you and your partner enjoyed belonging to–for example, your local MOAA chapter. So get out there yourself and join the MOAA family. They are there for you, and you can help them by offering your services, talents, and skills. You have more time now, so go forth (if that local chapter has not called you, forgive them for not doing so), call them and volunteer your time and services. Let them know you want to be involved. continue reading

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