ANNUAL EVENT SET FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24TH

Make A Difference Day is the most encompassing national day of helping others — a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Everyone can participate. Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. The next event is Saturday, October 24, 2009.

Known as the “national day of doing good,” Make A Difference Day is a national effort designed to mobilize citizens in communities across the country in volunteer service. Make A Difference Day is cosponsored by USA Weekend Magazine and the Points of Light Foundation with the support of Paul Newman and Newman’s Own, in collaboration with celebrities, government, nonprofits and businesses.

This year national MOAA and CAL-MOAA join forces in San Diego Saturday, October 24th, Make A Difference Day, in part to identify ways the association can truly make a difference serving the wider military community. And, MOAA will be making a significant difference early on and directly by conducting its job fair earlier in the week. continue reading

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WEARING THE UNIFORM URGED AT SAN DIEGO BANQUET

A now-famous photo on the cover of the November 2005 issue of “Senior Living” magazine, Active Retirement on the Central Coast, shows a rotary wing aircraft, five senior officers to the front resplendent in their formal duty or dress uniforms, and the words, “A Salute to our Veterans.”

The officers, all members of the MOAA Central Coast Chapter, included left to right CDR Earl “Gus” Gustafson, USN (RET); CDR William Hopper, USN (RET); Lt. Col Kenneth Chapman, USAF-Ret; Maj John Enos, USMC-Ret; and COL John Mirolla, USA (RET). One very clear message of that photograph was that, “Serving in the United States armed forces is an honor and a privilege.”

The October 23-24 event in San Diego will be an opportune time for members to follow a long-standing tradition by wearing the uniform, particularly to the Saturday evening banquet. Members who have appropriate uniforms are indeed urged to wear them with decorations.

National MOAA and CAL-MOAA are joining together to create a very elegant affair, and members might demonstrate pride in the armed forces, military activities and achievements over the years, a record of sometimes long-time service, and a high level of morale and esprit-de-corps by wearing the uniform with decorations. continue reading

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NATIONAL MOAA REGISTERS FULL HOUSE FOR OCTOBER 22-24, 2009

It now appears 400 - 500 people will attend the upcoming national MOAA annual meeting, including those participating in the CAL-MOAA EXCOM and Council of Chapter Presidents meetings.

Registration is now closed; however, a waiting list has been established to accomodate interested members should there be cancellations through October 20th. In some cases those who register at a late date might have to make hotel reservations at other local facilities; the last day to register at the Marriott Hotel was September 29th.

The Saturday 9:00am to 11:30am Military Professional Symposium, “Helping the Home Team: Guard/Reserve Warriors, Families, and Employers,” featuring Gen. Craig McKinley, USAF, Chief NGB as keynote speaker along with a panel of distinguished senior leaders, is likely to be very popular.

It’s critical in the coming years to engage the younger generation officer, to attract the new generation officer to local chapters and leadership roles, and in short pass the torch. It’s likely that the Symposium will provide information of real value, clues if you will, as to how chapters can locate, recruit, and engage younger officers, and in this case specifically National Guard officers. This is likely to be a very important event particularly for chapter presidents. continue reading

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ALMOST TIME FOR A MIGHTY LEAP!

Doctors do it. Lawyers do it. Accountants do it. And military officers do it!

When it comes time to attend professional association meetings, motivated members take the plunge. Head first. Or even feet first.

The upcoming national MOAA and CAL-MOAA annual meetings in San Diego offer members a first rate leap-into-action experience.

Council and chapter officers, directors, and members caught up in a continuing spate of bad news will have an opportunity to see national MOAA and its personalities up close and confront today’s difficult issues head-on. And have a great time along the way. continue reading

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MOAA DEPLOYS TO SAN DIEGO

Do you or your chapter want to get more involved with MOAA? The opportunity is here! Mark your calendar for MOAA’s 2009 Annual Meeting from Oct. 22-24. Don’t miss this great chance to join us as MOAA Deploys to San Diego! Attend our career fair, participate in the Military Professional Symposium, join the panel discussion of the changing demographics of the military family, and learn ways to make your chapter more effective. Register now!

Thursday, Oct. 22

“How to Work a Career Fair” seminar - 8 a.m.-9 a.m., 9 a.m.-10 a.m. Get helpful hints on networking, meeting potential employers, and more

“Working in the Federal Government” seminar - 8 a.m.-9 a.m., 9 a.m.-10 a.m. Learn the in’s and out’s of working for Uncle Sam

MOAA Career Fair - 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Meet military-friendly employers interested in hiring

Friday, Oct. 23

CAL-MOAA Executive Committee (EXCOM) Meeting - 4 p.m. to 5:30pm. Interested California presidents and others invited to attend.

CAL-MOAA State Director Meeting – 9:00pm. Discussion of Area Director roles and responsibilities.

Annual Meeting of the Membership - 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Learn about the state of your association and meet MOAA leadership at this buffet dinner. continue reading

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FALL 2009 IS A GOOD TIME TO MOVE CHAPTERS TO NEW LEVEL

A media headline September 12th proclaimed “President Obama Launches Push For Health Care Reform.”

It’s time for MOAA members everywhere to launch into autumn 2009 with specifc plans to protect earned entitlements. It’s still unknown if TRICARE will be changed by Federal government initiatives, impacting negatively on members and families, and yet time is certainly going to tell.

It might be a catalyst to move affiliated chapters to a new level, bringing greater interest, excitement, personal motivation, and action planning into play.

But what does it take to launch successfully and move chapters to a higher level of effectiveness and efficiency, greater success than in the past? continue reading

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OCTOBER IS GREAT TIME OF YEAR FOR A ROAD TRIP

In October 2008 a number of Southern California members headed to Lake Tahoe via Highway 395, following the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada range, passing towns such as Lone Pine, Bishop, Lee Vining, Bridgeport, and Gardnerville, NV, headed for the MOAA Western States Chapter Presidents Symposium and CAL-MOAA Annual Meeting at South Shore Lake Tahoe.

The air was crisp, the sky bright and clear, the vistas expansive, and the scenery was absolutely gorgeous. Sage and pine country. Deep blue lakes on the edge of the high desert. And there was always a temptation to take a couple hours and explore Bodie, one of the most famous of the western ghost towns. CDR Bob Burke, USN (RET) said, “It was a very pleasant drive.”

The upcoming October 23-24, 2009 national MOAA and CAL-MOAA annual meetings offer Northern California members especially a chance to do what could prove to be a very exciting and positive road trip right down the middle of the state, I-5 all the way. Sometimes it’s not the destination but the journey that provides memories lasting a lifetime.

But San Diego is too far, the trip can be difficult, and it can be exhausting. continue reading

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MOAA DEPLOYS TO SAN DIEGO

I’m writing to get the word out one last time about MOAA’s Annual Meeting Oct 23-24, 2009, in San Diego, CA.

Several, special council and chapter recognition events are included as part of the wrap up for the Year of the Chapter.

First, we have e-mailed invitations to all council presidents in recognition of the importance of our state councils to the chapter system.

We have also e-mailed invitations to all 93 Levels of Excellence award winners – the 4 and 5-star chapter winners who we hope will join us in San Diego and receive their streamers at the chapter awards dinner Oct 25.

Finally, in recognition of host state California’s support for our annual meeting, we have sent e-mail invitations to all Cal-MOAA council officers and chapter presidents.

Spouses are invited in all cases.

Invitations include special incentives to encourage attendance. All other chapter members are certainly invited but should use MOAA’s online registration form or magazine registration forms.

If you are are a council or chapter leader in one of the three categories above, and did not receive your invitation, call MOAA at 800 234-6622 ext 120. We hope to see you in San Diego.

Col. Lee Lange II, USMC-Ret. Director, MOAA Council and Chapter Affairs Department

Source: MOAA Call to Action/September 8, 2009

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