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.

1 Comment »

RALLY 2006 SACRAMENTO

A number of us got together in late October as community to do the Council’s business and enjoy a social time. We were people who were not “bowling alone”.

We need to remember what we learned through the experience, and celebrate the event. continue reading

No Comments »

Greetings Ladies & Gentlemen members of MOAA
Please take the time and effort to provide comment on
this years Cal-MOAA Rally/Annual Meeting. Below are
just a few of the items that would give good feedback -
—->, Will be/was there wih bells & whistles.
—->, Can’t make it this year but perhaps next year.
—->, No, make that hope/plan to next year.
—->, Please promulgate the 2007 dates early.
—->, Please post happenings of this years event.
—->, Otherwise, I have these thoughts to share.

Please note – This is very important. If as a non-registered
viewer you would like to comment, please click “Contact Us”
in the left column on the homepage. Then just provide what
info. you want to, i.e. name, email and of course your
comment in the blank box.

2 Comments »

RALLY 2006 UNDERWAY THIS WEEK

MOAA members and others from all over California will assemble in Sacramento beginning Wednesday 25 October for Rally 2006 and the organization’s bylaws mandate for an annual meeting. It will be both a time to conduct the Council’s business and enjoy a social time together.

The convention represents a splendid opportunity to serve the military community, indeed to make a difference.

Those arriving on the afternoon or evening Wednesday will have a full array of activities to choose from, everything from golf to city exploration to quiet conversations over an informal dinner.

The convention gets underway promptly at 9:00am Thursday with the opening ceremonies and a National MOAA guest speaker who will provide a current Association perspective on vital national issues. The remainder of the morning will center on activities at the California State Capitol with a tour of the building and grounds and meetings with selected legislators.
Lunch will be at the dining facility or other selected nearby location. The afternoon will involve a Capitol Park visit and wreath laying ceremony. Those not involved at the Capitol will have the option to participate in a Sacramento city tour, an activity sure to delight those who have never seen the seat of California government.

Beginning at 6:00pm Thursday evening there will be a reception and dinner at the Strata Pasta and Grille, adjacent to the Days Inn. The speaker again is a National MOAA personality. Following the dinner there will be an EXCOM meeting in the Days Inn itself where Phelps Hobart, Rally 2006 Chairman, has arranged a very nice facility for the 8:30pm meeting.

The Council of Presidents annual meeting will begin promptly at 9:00am Friday morning at the U.S. Coast Guard training facility not far from the Lions Gate Hotel. Focus of the meeting will come in the early afternoon with consideration of a new strategic plan proposal, something sure to have an impact on the Council’s future. Lunch will be on the patio and lawn area. For those not attending the meeting, there will be a tour of Old Sacramento and perhaps later a McClellan Park tour.

A banquet has been set for Friday evening, dressy and proper, featuring prime ribs of beef or Parmesan baked halibut and a groaning board buffet. Last year at San Luis Obispo, the officers and gentlemen were attired in sport coat and tie or business suits and for some even more formal wear or the mess dress uniform. The banquet in past years has been a splendid affair where friends will have good conversation, a fine meal, and an interesting speaker,.

On Saturday morning 28 October the Executive Committee (EXCOM) meeting will begin promptly at 9:00am, again in the Coast Guard training facility. The purpose of this meeting is to formulate action plans to implement any directives coming out of the previous day Council of Presidents meeting. Those not attending the meeting will have the option to visit the Aerospace Museum of California, a nationally famous site.

At noon Saturday there will be the Rally 2006 closing event, a luncheon hosted by Sacramento Council Navy League of the United States. There will be display tables highlighting military and youth activities of adopted and supported units within the metro Sacramento area. Rally 2006 concludes with this event.

Those who might be interested have been invited to the Saturday night gala MOAA Sacramento Chapter Halloween semi-formal dinner dance, with constumes recommended.

Rally 2006 represents a wonderful opportunity for personal growth and development and splendid social time as well. There is still plenty of time to register and attend.

No Comments »

WHY WE NEED EACH OTHER

The image of a single penguin moving out onto an ice-covered plain is stark and telling. And there is a companion image, one showing a large number of penguins huddled together in a group. It’s said the probability of the single penguin surviving for very long is just about zero. The environment is just too cold and hostile to make it possible.

From time to time we need to consider CAL-MOAA as community. We talk a lot about serving the military community, and in large part the Council and affiliated chapters are exactly what we’re talking about. Since we are all one body, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.

We live in a society constantly sending a countercultural message, namely that we want to do it “my way.” We love our independence. But real success comes not with independence but with interdependence. You need me and I need you. We operate within a wonderful community and we should use it to advantage.

We need others to walk with us. Let us not give up the habit of meeting together; instead, let us encourage one another. Community, to a very large part, is an answer to loneliness. As each part does its work, it helps the other parts grow. It’s safer; there is strength in numbers. It’s supportive; when we do things together we develop synergy and get more done than when operating alone. It’s smarter; we have access to the experience of others.

We need others to work with us. There’s a story of a basketball team member who was told by the coach to do 2,500 pushups or he would be cut from the team; when he failed, and because he was considered a valuable player, the other players pitched in and did the work for him. We have a lot of work to do; serving the military and wider communities can be a complex and difficult undertaking. There is a mission to perform, purposes to carry out, military members and families to serve and support. Two people are better than one as they can get more done. Three are better yet. Community, in part, is the answer to fatigue. We need to work for the benefit of all, starting with those closest to us. If the requirement is to give lots of paperback books to the local veterans hospital, many contributions make the job light. All contribute; none get tired.

We need others to watch out for us. Some communities have so-called “neighborhood watch groups” where those living in the immediate area keep an eye on the well-being and property of others nearby. We want and need to watch out for our own interests and also the interests of others. A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three is even better, because a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Community is an answer to defeat. If one person falls, others will reach out and help; people alone who fall are in real trouble. Who will help meet those special needs from time to time?

We need others to wait and weep with us. There will be a crisis from time to time; that’s life. Some say it’s enough to belong to National MOAA and get the magazine, that local chapter membership is unnecesssary and perhaps a waste of money. But it’s not sufficient. In a sense, we are like a big family full of sympathy toward each other; if one part suffers, every part suffers. We need people who will be there for us, to give us rides to membership meetings, visit us in the hospital, help us understand our earned entitlements, and even attend our funerals. Community, in part, is an answer to despair. Studies show that people are more prone to sickness when there is a lack of social support.

We need others to help us share the MOAA message. Members of one church send out pairs to witness to their beliefs as their is strength in numbers. And we do need to share the MOAA message, and benefits of professional association membership, with others. Community, in part, is an answer to unbelief. There are thousands of National MOAA members out there who are not members of local chapters, and for the most part they have little or no passion for MOAA or the military community. We miss out on many benefits because we are not plugged in. We need the group to help us understand, and help others understand, the full meaning of the MOAA message.

Rally 2006 attendance will demonstrate the value of community and why we need each other.

No Comments »

DOES THE COUNCIL HAVE A FUTURE?

This is a time when people are having interpersonal difficulties across the board. Families are falling apart; churches are splitting; businesses are failing; governments and the armed forces are in turmoil; the political dimension within many educational institutions is intolerable; and, there is controversy within CAL-MOAA.

There are those who suggest that the Council represents an important voting block and therefore valuable to National MOAA’s lobbying efforts and outcomes. It should continue and be strengthened.

Others, however, say the Council has no viable reason for being, no real mission, no solid purposes that would justify its continued life. It should be closed down.

Some say the upcoming Rally 2006 is a pivatol event, one which will decide the future of the Council, whether it continues in present form or at all. As we entered into the early debates, we observed certain interpersonal difficulties being manifested. And now there is concern that this and other issues will cause our personal relationships to go north or south, depending on how we manage our affairs.

It’s important to remember that we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others. It is a time to exercise extreme care. So here, at risk, are some summary thoughts:

Selfishness destroys relationships. We are living in a self-absorbed society, with to a significant extent a self-centered population with a “me” orientation. As the song said, “I want it my way.” What causes fights and quarrels? We constantly seem to want something but don’t get it. As Council members we need to look out for our own interests, but also the interests of others. Selflessness builds relationships. As John Sammons is quick to say, “We need to do more for others.”

Pride destroys relationships. We have a lot of work to do. Phelps has been working particulary hard on convention planning, and some things have gone well and some not so well. Pride only breeds quarrels. The prideful individual is one who can’t say, “I was wrong,” or “I apologize.” It has been said that pride goes before destruction, before a fall. Humility builds relationships. Some perhaps need to reach a point they can say, “I’m sorry, I forgive you.” In some cases right now, it makes sense to give more honor to others than to yourself.

Insecurity destroys relationships. Many people have a concern about whether others will approve of them and their actions. As a result, they move through life acting out a part, wearing a mask, not showing true self, being phony. Perhaps they are people who at some point, certainly expected, who have been rejected and suffering hurt. They’re not living, just existing. The fear of human opinion disables many. Brotherly love builds relationships. Rally 2006 will be a great opportunity to step out in love, with no fear, and really make some acquaintances and new friends.

Resentment destroys relationships. Face it, some things have happened; there have been some incidents. It’s only human that from time to time we will hurt others and in turn we will be hurt. It might be natural to develop resentment, lashing out at the source of the hurt. But it’s senseless and ignorant. Bitterness quickly destroys; a bitter root will rise up and cause all kinds of trouble. Forgiveness builds relationships. There might be good reason for resentment. The wrong perhaps is justified. The hurt is real and cannot be minimized. But the secret to success is to let go of the grudge, let go of the pain; otherwise, the misery will continue into the indefinite future. Forget it and go on with life.

The 2006 annual meetings are critical and will take the sober consideration of all decision-makers to guarantee success. We need to approach Sacramento with clean hearts and minds, carrying no interpersonal baggage. The literal future of the Council depends on the health of our interpersonal relationships.

No Comments »

HOW WE HELP EACH OTHER GROW

As we approach Rally 2006 we can expect to obtain important information from the formal speakers and gain new experiences through our interpersonal contacts. We hope to gain new insights and ideas useful for application at our home chapters.

We’re living in a time when it’s all about me, a self-centered, look out for #1, consumer- oriented society. However, some of us are trying hard to passionately, recklessly, and wholeheartedly make a difference.

We want to reach out to the military community, specifically our attendance group, with full knowledge the group can accomplish a lot more than the individual working alone. Growth is not a solo pursuit. Rally 2006 will offer many opportunities for learning and new experiences, both at the individual and organization levels.

There will be many opportunities to encourage each other, to build each other up. Ours is often such a demotivating world, with negative and unwholesome talk prevailing. MOAA is a very substantial professional organization with a timely contemporary message; the last thing we want to do is turn people off. We want to move our members forward according to their needs.

We need to spur each other on to greater heights and we can do it by providing a truly motivating environment, something we all can and need to contribute to. And through our guest speakers and small group interactions will will educate, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom. We will be discussing some critical issues that will perhaps define the Council’s future, and we should not despair but rather speak the truth while providing encouragement. Let us not cause others to lose the will to continue.

There will be plenty of opportunity to affirm and publicize the capabilities, talents, skills and abilities of those in attendance, a wide range of education, training, personal development, and military/civilian world experiences. Many of those attending Rally 2006 are absolute masterpieces when it comes to capabilities, particularly leadership capabilities. In a changing world, when there are so many specific needs identified, we need to recognize individual talents, advertise them, and ask that they be used to build up the group, bring the Council to a much greater level of maturity.

It is clear already that mistakes have been made, far-ranging mistakes but specifically mistakes made planning for Rally 2006, mostly based on false assumptions. If we talk about the issues, recognize where we went wrong, literally admit the mistakes to one another, and honestly, we will be brought closer together. It will be a significant new learning experience.

Finally, there will be chances to help each other grow individually towards maturity, knowledgeable in MOAA affairs, and with necessary leadership and management experiences which could lead to future Council and chapter leadership opportunities. Information will be provided helping others feel and understand how long, wide and deep the MOAA message happens to be, positioning everyone to do what is right and timely, and with a spirit of wisdom.

With new information and experiences, we will all get along better and move to greater levels of effectiveness, to greater growth.

No Comments »

BEHIND THE CONFERENCE DECISION

With only a few days remaining before Rally 2006, Phelps Hobart continues to wrap up loose ends, completing a planning process which was expected to take eighteen (18) months and yet was completed in less than four (4), a truly remarkable feat.

National MOAA reports that memberships are down; on that basis, the “Give Me Ten” campaign was launched. Local chapter memberships are down as well, impacting chapter leadership succession and finances.

Phelps developed the notion that we must reach out far and wide, make a greater effort to explain the mission of informing everyone about MOAA and its work, in short tell what we do as community, and invite others to join the organization at both the national and local chapter levels. He told us early-on he would work hard to recruit new members, and do it by planning and conducting a major convention event.

We must provide information about our professional association with those in our world, the context of the local chapter, and we usually do it by providing testimonials, that is telling our own stories about MOAA and what it does for us. A major effort would be made, with a focus on best practices, to share success stories and ideas, sending attendees home later armed with new tools and techniques for successful recruiting.

Emphasis would be on how we can be wise as we act with people who do not understand or believe, making the most of every opportunity, and not pursuing offensive or in-your-face tactics but an approach characterized by gentleness and respect. Information about how to attract new personalities to general membership luncheon/dinner meetings, board meetings, and even specially organized encounter groups would be offered.

Phelps understood we need to reach out beyond our own world, outside our comfort zone, and approach MOAA members, and there are a lot of them in California, who are not members of local chapters. He thought he could attract these people in numbers, reach common ground, share the message of service and support to members and their families, and pick up a lot of new local chapter members.

Next, Phelps had a vision that we need to reach out all around the world, to new groups such as the active duty uniformed services officer plus the National Guard and Reserve forces, explaining the nature and value of professional associations and again demonstrating how MOAA protects earned entitlements over the years. There are so many military personnel caught up with so many problems that any focus on an organization like MOAA commands a low priority indeed. Phelps thought the CAL-MOAA reach would be extended to these people if the annual meeting was expanded to a full convention.

As we now know, registrations came in very slow and not in the numbers hoped for and expected, causing significant changes in the program and schedule. Many activities thought to attract certain potential new members had to be deleted. In retrospect, the convention idea was a good one and had potential for some interesting and profitable outcomes.

Here’s to you, Phelps! You did a great job, and continue to do a great job, arranging a very nice annual meeting for all of us. It’s been a lot of hard work, and we want you to know we appreciate everything you’ve been doing. You have our hearty “thanks!”

No Comments »