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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MEMBER TURNOVER PLAGUES COUNCIL

As we approach the end of the year chapters often will be looking forward to an election of officers, perhaps in November or December, with an installation in January.

A new president takes office and leads the chapter. And the new president automatically becomes an affiliated chapter member of the Council. And with responsibilities.

It’s not easy to move forward at the state level, accomplish sometimes complex purposes and missions, when a large number of new presidents come on board annually.

New presidents frequently come into office with little knowledge of the Council, and sometimes not knowing that the chapter is affiliated with the Council. continue reading

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TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WEBLOG TECHNOLOGY!

The editor of the Silicon Valley Chapter newsletter, “The Bulletin,” is constantly asking members to submit story ideas for publication.

And, when he is short of material for an upcoming issue he threatens the chapter by saying, in short, that if nothing comes in by the deadline date he will publish his baby pictures. Right there dead center on page 1.

There has been some feedback that we often post items “that have been in the newspaper or otherwise carried by other media, or material that is inappropriate for this organization’s weblog.” Perhaps. But often times it’s the equivalent of our baby pictures. continue reading

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SAN JOSE COLUMNIST SHOWS THE WAY

In his opening San Jose Mercury News column writer Vindu Goel says, “Let’s talk about Silicon Valley.”

He refers to one of the most innovative places on earth. “People here do more than collect a paycheck–they obsessively invent new technologies that change the world, from the integrated circuit to the IPhone, from cancer drugs to the electric car.”

He says the culture makes Silicon Valley a fascinating place to live and work.

And then he says with his new column and related blog he hopes to “be a catalyst for a community conversation on how to improve our lives as employers, inventors, workers, and consumers.” continue reading

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MUST SHARPEN WEBLOG FOCUS

This weblog has been used to present late news, information, opinion, viewpoints, and commentary.

But in the future, the focus must be on member views and opinions.

A number of new studies, both in the UK and US, indicate that younger people want views, not just news, in print.

In terms of Council member posts, however, the number of members contributing CAL-MOAA weblog viewpoint and/or opinion items can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

If we’re going to be successful appealing to the new generation of officers–the active duty, drilling Guard and Reserve, and age range 43-55 officers–and effectively complete the transition from TROA to MOAA, we will need to present our views on the issues. continue reading

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MANY WORKERS SUFFER FROM JOB DISSATISFACTION

In a Dilbert cartoon strip by Scott Adams, an employee is standing in front of the boss’ desk and says, “Our pay is too low, and there’s no clear leadership, and we want parking spaces.” Suddenly the trap door lets go with a “Flush!” And the boss says to himself, “All things considered, I think I enjoy them more when they’re disgruntled.

It depends on the survey of course, but in 2007 a significant number of American workers say they’re not happy with their jobs.

People want to feel that they are making a difference, especially when it comes to the jobs they do.

When workers are aware that their work makes a difference to others—even in small ways—their job satisfaction rises. So does their productivity.

MOAA at all levels offers an opportunity to serve the military community, to work at it with all one’s heart, to make a difference. Performing in a leadership role, writing a chapter newsletter, decorating a meeting table, giving another a ride to a meeting all happens to be worthwhile work, efforts that pay off in a big way. continue reading

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