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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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THREE ISSUE FOCUS IN COMING YEAR

Late in 2006, and after extensive studies, MOAA settled on three important issues it will pursue with the Congress.

First, the military pay gap. Uniformed services’ members basic pay must be reasonably comparable with private sector pay scales and adjusted annually as necessary to restore/maintain comparability with private sector pay increases. continue reading

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MOAA NEEDS FULL LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE PARTICIPATION

National MOAA is asking every California member to forward completed mailback cards to Senator Carl Levin, Representative Ike Skelton, Representative Duncan Hunter, and Senator John McCain, and do it without any more delay.

The mailback cards are an important part of a comprehensive strategy to establish the kinds of relationships that will result in positive influence. Taking a few minutes to mail the cards will make a significant difference.

The cards have been included in the February 2007 issue of Military Officer magazine.

It is an easy way for the membership to make a huge impact, making real the “One Powerful Voice” concept. continue reading

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Today I had the occasion to be in a telephone conversation with Col Lee Lange II, USMC-Ret the incoming MOAA staff Director of Council & Chapters Affairs Department. At one point we touched on the recently concluded subject meeting. Wherein he noted he attended along with outgoing Director Col Chris Giaimo, USAF-Ret., Col. Mike Jordan, USAF (Ret), MOAA’s Marketing Director, MOAA Directors Col Bill Gavitt,USAF-Ret and BGen Wayne Hoffman, USA-Ret the National MOAA’s Chaplain. His conclusion as related to me was we were probably overly projecting/anticipating the size of the event but when it came down to the actual activities they were successful.

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