Auxiliary Members and Chapters

MOAA’s chapter system has 10,000 auxiliary members, and they are a vital part of chapter membership. Many of these surviving spouses stayed with their chapter after losing their military spouse. More joined chapters to maintain an important link to the military community.

Today, auxiliary members are doing great things in chapters, filling leadership positions and even leading chapters. Our auxiliary members have terrific skills, having run households for years and numerous organizations on base during active duty with their military spouse. Many want to contribute to their chapters – they want to be asked. Auxiliary members are a valuable resource to our chapter system, and chapter leaders who don’t recognize this are missing out. We need their help.

About six years ago, MOAA established the Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee to advise MOAA’s board of directors and staff on all matters relating to MOAA’s auxiliary membership – now more than 62,000 strong in the association. The last original members of the committee turn over this year after doing some important work for our auxiliary members. Most of the inputs to the committee came from auxiliary members in chapters. continue reading

No Comments »

CALIFORNIA COUNCIL WINS IN TWO MAJOR CATEGORIES

MOAA takes time every year to recognize its councils and chapters that do an outstanding job communicating with their members. Congratulations to the winners, who in part are listed below.

California Council WEB SITES Winner Virginia Council of Chapters www.virginiamoaa.com Maj. Melva Mallison, USAF-Ret.

1st Runners-Up (tie) California Council of Chapters www.cal-moaa.org Cmdr. Robert Burke, USN-Ret.

and

Florida Council of Chapters www.moaafl.org Lt. Cmdr. John Snyder, USN-Ret.

2nd Runner-up North Carolina Council of Chapters www.moaa-nc.org Cmdr. William Overman, USN-Ret.

UNIQUE COMMUNICATIONS California Council of Chapters The council’s Weblog allows them to communicate with members throughout the state and the nation. Members can subscribe to the Weblog and receive e-mail notification whenever a new subject item or comment is posted. continue reading

No Comments »

2008-ANOTHER VERY SUCCESSFUL YEAR!

The MOAA Scholarship Fund is providing more than $9.2 million in undergraduate educational assistance to 1,650 children from military families for the 2008-2009 academic year. This year, 1,620 students received a $5,500 interest-free loan with 793 of the top-performing students receiving a $5,000 interest-free loan and a $500 grant. The top 15 seniors who previously received an interest-free loan from the MOAA Scholarship Fund were selected to receive a $5,000 to $6,000 grant.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the MOAA Scholarship Fund – American Patriot Grant has supported 96 children whose military parent died while in active service. This year, 60 children will receive a $5,000 American Patriot Grant.

The MOAA Scholarship Fund supports children who had a parent who served in one of the seven uniformed services, both officer and enlisted. Applications for the 2009-2010 academic year will be online in early November 2008 at www.moaa.org/education. continue reading

No Comments »

Dear Cal-MOAA Member,

Here is MOAA’s latest Legislative Alert. Please copy and paste either of these URLs in your browser address blank.

http://moaaonline.org/ct/r1zbisK1PXnz/

http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/alert/?alertid=10421191&type=CO

    to send a prepared message to both California Senators and your Congressional Representatives. Note in the second paragraph of the prepared message I needed to delete the 2nd "would".

continue reading

No Comments »

AUXILIARY MEMBER ADVISORY COMMITTEE VERY ACTIVE

I have been an auxiliary member of MOAA for 16 years. Prior to 2004, myu MOAA activities consisted of paying MOAA dues, reading my monthly Military Officer magazine, sending in the preprinted postcards to my senators and representatives to support MOAA’s top legislative goals, and attending an occasional meeting.

I thought I was staying abreast of the issues.

But since July 2004, I have been privileged to take part in the Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee meetings and to attend MOAA board meetings with our committee. I have observed the dedicated and enthusiastic board and staff of MOAA at work.

I am continually impressed with the energy and passion with which they strive to improve the lives of our uniformed servicemembers and their families–retired, active duty, and reserve–whether they are MOAA members or not. continue reading

No Comments »

CAL-MOAA CAPTURES TOP AWARDS IN TWO CATEGORIES

Recently during the “Storming the Hill” event in Washington, D.C. Council President LtCol Larry Stumpf, USAF-Ret accepted two 2006 communications awards given the Council.

And within the past few days, a general announcement of winners was made in “The Affiliate.”

The Council’s website has been named 1st Place Winner in the nation. continue reading

No Comments »

MOAA STORMS HILL FOR TROOPS, SURVIVORS, RETIREES

MOAA Council and Chapter Presidents from the 50 states and Puerto Rico, accompanied by members of the national Board of Directors and headquarters staff, swarmed Capitol Hill on April 18 to visit representatives’ and senators’ offices on key MOAA legislative initiatives.

This year, the “Hill stormers” focused on three main issues, supporting efforts to:

(1) Oppose disproportional TRICARE fee increases proposed by Defense leaders

(2) Fix Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) inequities for survivors of members who died of service-connected causes and “Greatest Generation” retirees

(3) Authorize a larger pay raise for the troops than the 3% proposed in the President’s budget
MOAA representatives carried a wealth of information supporting those goals, including information brochures outlining the problems and the needed fixes. continue reading

No Comments »

COUNCIL AND CHAPTERS SATISFY BASIC NEEDS, PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE

The active duty armed forces officer works to accomplish a specific mission and at the same time participates in a highly structured social life. It’s duty by day, and often the Officers Club at night.

At another time and place it is the professional association which provides opportunities for service as well as a social component involving camaraderie and good fellowship.

Many feel truly fortunate to be a member of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), the 360,000 member strong premier organization of its kind. continue reading

No Comments »