AREA 2 CHAPTERS/NAVY LEAGUE JOIN FORCES FOR SUCCESS

According to an event advertising flyer, “MOAA DAY ON THE HORNET is a special event for the mutual benefit and enjoyment of all members of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). It is a whole day of exciting activities (lunch included) tailored to providing you, along with your family & friends, with a memorable experience with fellow MOAA members aboard the very historic aircraft carrier, USS HORNET MUSEUM – a National Historic Landmark.”

The Navy League has announced that it will work with MOAA for the benefit of both organizations.

Date: Friday, 8 August 2008

Location/Contact: Aboard USS Hornet Museum (Telephone: (510) 521-8448) moored at the former Naval Air Station, Alameda, California. For directions, click on: http://www.uss-hornet.org/visitor_info/index.html, then click on http://www.uss-hornet.org/visitor_info/index.html; at the bottom of the page (or use other sources). For more Event information, including requests for late reservations, contact Steve Barber at (650) 525-1282.

According to Phelps Hobart, “Though it is not a NLUS event it is added to our PCR-NLUS Calendar.
Special note, payments received after 13 July may be returned if the event is fully booked.” continue reading

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TECHNOLOGY MAKES ON LINE MEETING POSSIBLE

Some weeks ago the CAL-MOAA Executive Committee (EXCOM) entered into a multi-phase on-line meeting process to conduct the Council’s business, perhaps adding both efficiency and significant cost savings.

But success will depend on the full and active participation of both EXCOM members and a number of chapter presidents who asked to be included in the meeting, and particularly the president, vice president, and eight area directors who serve as voting members.

The meeting, with a May 24th date of record, got underway March 3 with a discussion of the concepts and creation of a draft agenda. The period March 15-31 was used to modify the agenda as appropriate, add and delete items per member requests. Currently and through May 15th members will be drafting information reports and action item decision papers for presentation, discussion, debate, and in some cases specific action. May 16-24 will be used to summarize content and process, conclude the meeting, and effectively meet the May 24th adjournment. continue reading

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CHAPTER PRESIDENTS’ SYMPOSIUM COMING TO LAKE TAHOE

Council and chapter leaders from 15 western states are invited to this year?s Chapter Presidents’ Symposium in Lake Tahoe, Nev., Oct. 16-18, 2008.

The Symposium will be held this year at Harvey’s Resort and Casino.

We will be sending invitations in June to council and chapter presidents, first vice presidents, and personal affairs officers in Alaska, Arizona, California,Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

This year’s symposium will feature an improved chapter leadership workshop and a chapter communications seminar.

Mark your calendars now and plan to attend so you can meet MOAA’s leadership and exchange ideas with other council and chapter leaders in the western region. Spouses also will be
invited to attend.

Attendees will pay for travel to the site, and MOAA will pick up the cost of lodging and meals at the Symposium. The 2007 Symposium was the best yet, and we look forward to making this one even better. See you there.

Source: MOAA Call to Action

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CALIFORNIA STATE COMMANDERS VETERANS COUNCIL (CSCVC) MEETING

The second meeting of three (3) for 2008 was held from 9:30am to 12:30pm, April 12th, in the Art Hill Room of the Fresno Veterans Memorial Museum http://www.legionofvalor.com/museum.php, downtown Fresno.

The Council. organized in the coordinated interest of the veteran–the servicemember–and their families, was founded 28 February 1966 and incorporated 9 November 1981, and currently has nineteen (19) Council members, including CAL-MOAA, and three (3) affiliate members. More information is available at the website here: http://www.califveterans.com/.

The CAL-MOAA bylaws state that the president shall “Represent the Council of Chapters on the California State Commanders Veterans Council.”

Sixteen (16) individuals were in attendance, including members, museum representatives, and guests. Some of the member organizations representated included Veterans of Foreign Wars, Reserve Officers Association, Vietnam Veterans of America, American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America, California Council of Chapters (CAL-MOAA), Marine Corps League, Retired Enlisted Association, founding member the Legion of Valor, and Military Order of the Purple Heart. continue reading

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TEAM #1 AFTER ACTION REPORT

It was a chilly dawn Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008, when more than 125 council and selected chapter presidents along with MOAA professionals stood at the base of the U.S. Capitol http://dc.about.com/cs/walkingtours/a/Capitol.htm for a group photo signaling the start of the annual “Storming the Hill” event.

Sixty four (64) carefully organized teams consisting of a primary member, usually a council or chapter president, and one or two support members, usually a MOAA board member, advisory committee member, or staffer, were set to go by 8:00am and headed for the Senate or House office buildings.

Because of the number of legislators, California had four (4) teams, with #1 being COL Warren Enos and BG Wayne Hoffmann, CAL-MOAA president and vice president respectively–Wayne is also a MOAA officer, national chaplain and of course a board member; #2 was made up of CAPT Warren McDonald and CDR Sarah Rogers, both MOAA board members; #3 was Col Bill Gavitt and Col Ken Jordan, again MOAA Board members; and #4 included Col Renee Rubin, a former board member, and Gen Mike Carns, Chairman, MOAA Board of Directors.

Preparations for legislator visits got underway more than a month before the event with each team leader making and confirming a visit schedule. Initial contacts with a legislator were usually made by U.S. Mail followed by a fax letter, and to both the Washington and local offices. In most cases follow up letters again were sent using both means. Finally, as the “Storming” date came closer telephone calls were made to the offices and staff schedulers in an often last minute effort to set a meeting. continue reading

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KEY ANNUAL MEETING GETS UNDERWAY MARCH 31ST

It was a crisp, cool day in Washington D.C., the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, there were large numbers of tourists on the streets, and in Alexandria, VA the colorful Colonial-era houses were bathed in bright sunlight.

It was a perfect time to conduct the 2008 MOAA Council Presidents’ Seminar set for the Crowne Plaza Old Town Hotel, Monday-Thursday, March 31st to April 3rd.

Council presidents from MOAA’s 35 councils, selected chapter presidents from states without a council , most board members, and MOAA officers and staffers were all in attendance. The key purpose of the meeting was to show strong grassroots support for the most important legislative goals during the annual “Storming the Hill” event set for Wednesday, April 2nd.

And it was an occasion to brief the presidents on a wide range of issues as well as services offered by MOAA’s benefits partners. continue reading

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ANNUAL EVENT UNDERWAY JUST AFTER DAWN APRIL 2ND

Sixty four carefully constituted teams will travel to Capitol Hill Wednesday, April 2, 2008, to brief legislators on several issues in an effort to safeguard earned entitlements and improve the overall general well-being of uniformed services personnel.

The teams are made up of MOAA Board members, MOAA professional staff, council presidents or their representatives, members of the Auxiliary Advisory Committee, members of the Active Duty/Guard/Reserve Advisory Committee, and members of the Currently Serving Spouse Advisory Committee. More than 135 MOAA personnel will Storm the Hill, trying hard to make a difference.

Four of the teams, numbers one to four in MOAA’s lineup, are from California. It is this group that will be representing all MOAA members throughout the state. continue reading

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MAY 24TH MEETING PROCESS UNDERWAY

The Council will hold its first 2008 EXCOM meeting on line with the process underway as of March 3rd.

It’s going to be an opportunity to involve everyone who wants to be involved and save resources at the same time. Any chapter president who would like to be on the distribution list and therefore participate in either an active or passive way should contact warren@cal-moaa.org.

The meeting will take place in four phases as follows:
Phase 1 - March 3rd through the 14th/Reactions to the concept and draft agenda
Phast II - March 15th to the 31st/Modification–Additions & Deletions–to the Agenda
Phase III - April 1st to May 15th/Reports and Decision-Making
Phase IV - May 16th to the 24th/Summary and Conclusion
Note: May 24, 2008 is the EXCOM meeting day of record.

Here is the draft agenda. EXCOM members and chapter presidents should send agenda additions or deletions to warren@cal-moaa.org without delay. continue reading

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