GOVERNMENT CENTER EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Planning is nearing completion for a spectacular and very full Thursday, 26 October, visit to the capitol building and surrounding area.

The day will get underway just after 10am with a visit to the capitol, which will include tours of the capitol building itself and the capitol grounds. The building with its legislative meeting halls and offices is very impressive and late in October the grounds will be beautiful and pleasant.

For those with the specific interest, there will be opportunities to visit the offices of elected officials, get acquainted with the staff, and obtain an update of military and veterans related pending and planned legislation.

Luncheon will be on your own at the capitol. The restaurant in the basement is attractive and offers the kind of environment where you will want to linger and have some good conversation.

Local hotels, shopping areas, the Amtrak station, and all the attractions of Old Sacramento are within an easy walk from the capitol.

In the afternoon visits to veterans monuments are planned with a special wreath laying ceremony at the California Veterans Monument. This should be a special occasion, a time of reflection and remembrance, and again the late October weather should be perfect for the occasion.

Included will be a visit to the California Department of Veterans Affairs and later a reception in the Medal of Honor Hall.

It is possible the organization “Bugles Across America” will have a special part in this event, according to Assistant State Director H. Michael Sarkisian, who has offered special services.

Capitol information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Capitol.

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AUXILIARIES IN LEADERSHIP ROLES

Mrs. Pauline O’Brien-DeLury participates with Marin County Chapter. She is a lawyer. She is immediate past president. She is an Auxiliary.

An Auxiliary, according to a typical chapter’s articles of incorporation, is a widow or widower of any deceased individual who would, if living, be eligible for regular or associate membership.

The bylaws of some chapters state that Auxiliaries are not members and may not vote, hold elected office, or be required to pay dues; they are considered honored individuals and are encouraged to participate in all committees and functions.

Mrs. Anne Patton, a member of National MOAA’s Auxiliary Advisory Committee, will be present at the upcoming Sacramento Rally, and will share some thoughts about that.

These are times when many chapters are having difficulty locating talented and otherwise qualified members who will accept leadership positions. And for a variety of reasons chapters are not inviting Auxiliaries to participate in governance.

Some Auxiliaries have the interest, skills, abilities, efficiencies, and time to serve in specific roles and assist their chapters with a wide range of tasks. But many chapters overlook this potentially powerful resource.

Anne has been meeting periodically with national committee members, has conducted research, and currently has knowledge of countrywide best practices, how other organizations have utilized Auxiliaries very successfully. She will be prepared to share ideas, case studies, and outcomes, meeting one-on-one or in formal session, and help put chapters in a position to use Auxiliaries more effectively.

It just might be necessary for chapters to change the bylaws in order to use Auxiliaries in leadership roles and yet it might be well worth the effort.

You can read find Mrs. Patton’s biography and read more about here work Here!

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COUNCIL BUSINESS TOP PRIORITY

This past weekend a small town Elks Club hosted the 50 year reunion of local high school graduates. There were hugs and kisses, photos taken, perhaps a trip to the bar for a soft drink, glass of white wine or something stronger, a close look at vintage photos, and later a very nice banquet to remember. The memories just flooded past.

At one of the dinner tables there were grads who spent their working lives as police officers, small business owners, educators, and medical professionals, and they were caught up in conversation about international travel, hunting and fishing, and of course the good times they had while in high school. A typical comment was that those were wonderful days, an innocent time, and with plenty of fun.

It was wonderful, a social time with friends and acquaintances, with loud talk and laughter everywhere.

Yet in a corner of the dining room were about a half dozen members of the planning committee continuing work on arrangements, taking care of odds ‘n ends, and in short orchestrating the evening events.

As we meet in Sacramento for Rally 2006 we hope to have a great time with people, yet the focus of the convention will be on the business meetings, specifically the Council of Presidents meeting Friday and the EXCOM meeting Saturday. Make no mistake about it–that’s where the action is going to be. The Council leadership needs to be in those meetings, for the presidents a once-a-year event, to do the Council’s business.

No business can be conducted unless there is a quorum present, and that’s why it’s so important for chapters to send authorized representatives/proxies if the president can’t attend.

On Friday, the presidents as final authority will install new area directors, make provision for and participate in area meetings, and quickly move to consideration and potential adoption of a new strategic plan, which could define the Council’s future. But before the day ends, there are other important issues to consider.

On Saturday morning the Executive Committee (EXCOM) will meet to review administrative matters, examine the financial plans and budgets, identify critical trends in the organization’s opertations, and begin planning implementation of new initiatives adopted by the presidents on Friday.

It is the Council’s affairs that will hold center stage at Rally 2006; the spotlight will be on the Friday and Saturday business meetings. These meetings are the primary reason we must gather in Sacramento later this year.

Yet, and this year in particular, there will be time for social, recreational, and tourism activities and events, plenty of opportunity to see old friends and make new ones. CAL-MOAA organization and personal memories will be on parade. A very enjoyable time has been planned along with the more serious business affairs.

Perhaps the Council of Presidents business meeting will be held in the hotel’s hot tub.

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LIONS GATE PROBLEMS RESOLVED

Some members trying to register at Lions Gate have experienced difficulties, but there is plenty of room at the hotel.

It seems another organization had booked the entire facility for Wednesday evening, 25 October, but have now released rooms for Rally attendees. There should be no problems making the $79 per night reservation for one or two people if the reservation is made now. More rooms will be made available as the other organization firms up its requirements.

We’re sorry for the inconvenience.

At the same time, everything is right on schedule with the Days Inn at $59 per room. The hotel is about a mile and a half from the Lions Gate, fully refurbished, and very nice.

Phelps Hobart
Rally Chairman

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RALLY 2006 OFFERS WIDE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES

Phelps Hobart, Rally Chairman, continues his efforts to deliver a first class convention set for late October.

And over the past months we have been working hard to provide late news, information, viewpoints, and opinion to demonstrate the value of full participation in Council affairs and to encourage Rally attendance.

CAL-MOAA is a very substantial professional organization; in many ways, it has a significant record of achievement. We believe that as presidents become more familiar with the issues, the opportunities and challenges, and the very important potential outcomes, more presidents will want to play active roles, and perhaps even move into leadership positions ultimately.

In short, these are the kinds of things we’ve been suggesting:

–When you change your thinking, you change your beliefs;

–When you change your beliefs, you change your expectations;

–When you change your expectations, you change your attitude;

–When you change your attitude, you change your behavior;

–When you change your behavior, you change your life and that of the organization.

We are at a delicate point with Rally planning. It continues difficult to do the detailed work, to meet interests and expectations, to effectively manage resources in an environment of little or no feedback. There comes a time when, to be on the safe side, we will need to make drastic cuts in events and activities, essentially a complex program with countless numbers of details, and run the risk of widespread disappointment.

It is important to act without delay, to register very soon. The Council needs the support of all affiliated chapter presidents.

We are confident that Rally 2006 holds promise for very successful required business meetings with a focus on adoption of a strategic plan, something that will define the Council’s future. In addition, for those who can and will, there is a wide array of social, recreational, and tourism activities almost sure to please.

Review the items posted to this weblog, become familiar with the strategic planning and other issues, then attend the Rally and participate fully. The attendance of chapter presidents, or a representative/proxy authorized in writing, to help insure a quorum, will be critical for this particular meeting.

If ever the Council needed full participation, it’s now. Please register without delay.

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EARLY RALLY 2006 REGISTRATION ENCOURAGED

The 2006 Rally, a full convention with required business meetings, will be held in Sacramento from Wednesday, 25 October through Saturday, 28 October. Registration materals were mailed about four (4) weeks ago.

Early registration, which includes significantly lower prices, must be postmarked no later than 1 October 2006.

It is very difficult to plan when registrations are slow arriving in Sacramento. Registrations are a prime indicator of chapter interest and support.

If registrations do not begin to materialize in much larger numbers soon, particularly over the next two weeks, Rally Chairman Phelps Hobart will assume a lack of interest in many activities and events and begin to adjust accordingly.

Full cooperation will be appreciated.

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RALLY PLANNING TAKES TIME AND ENERGY

Phelps Hobart, Rally 2006 Chairman, and staff are dealing with countless numbers of details as we approach early September and look ahead to a great convention in late October.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

“How much is an ice cream sundae?” he asked. “Fifty cents,” replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins.

“Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?” he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. “Thirty-five cents,” she bruskuely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins. “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on teh table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.

When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies.

You see, he couldn’t have the sundae because he had to have enough to leave her a tip.

We’re extending Phelps a hearty “thanks” for his effort to plan the kind of convention, we’re calling it a Rally, which normally takes more than eighteen (18) months to plan properly.

Always remember those who serve.

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SPECIAL MESSAGE TO EXCOM MEMBERS AND CHAPTER PRESIDENTS

By now you should have received the information on our CAL-MOAA Rally and Annual Meeting, October 25-28, 2006 at Lions Gate Hotel and Conference Center, McClellan Park, North Highlands (metro Sacramento). We trust that the variety in the Rally as planned by Phelps Hobart is such as to please your attending interests. We need and encourage your attendance.

In preparation for the CAL-MOAA Annual Meeting, I have provided the proposed agenda along with a copy of the minutes of the previous Annual Meeting. Also attached are the CAL-MOAA Mission Statement (appoved at the ExCom meeting in april 06 in Oakland) and the proposed Strategic Plan (also discussed during the ExCom Meeting in Oakland) for discussion and approval.

I plan for the availability of an ExCom Meeting on Thursday Evening prior to the Annual Meeting on Friday as well as an ExCom Meeting (with new Directors) on Saturday morning to proceed/act upon items from the Annual Meeting. I thank all of you who have been so kind to voice your suggestions and opinions for not only the Rally and Annual Meeting, but also for the improvement of CAL-MOAA.

In closing, CAL-MOAA makes a plea for your support and attendance to this energetic Rally. Our thanks and grattiude goes to Phelps Hobart for organizing this effort and to the Sacramento Chapter for being our host.

Larry Stumpf
CAL-MOAA President
21128 Vandenberg Avenue
Riverside, CA 92518-2811
Ph 951.567.5368
Fax 951.567.5369
Emal LS10336325@aol.com

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