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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MEETINGS - WE HATE ‘EM AND WE LOVE ‘EM!

In mid-summer as Phelps Hobart was planning the upcoming “Rally 2006″ annual meeting, CAPT Bill Sturman, USN (RET), tried hard to make a case for a wide variety of extracurricular activities, particularly social, touring, and adventure kinds of things.

Now fast-forward to 2008 and the upcoming May 24th EXCOM meeting, a situation at the other end of the spectrum. There will be no live in-person meeting. There will be no social opportunities. For the first time, an Executive Committee (EXCOM) meeting will be held on-line, with members seated at the computer in isolation receiving and responding to requests.

The rationale for such a meeting includes but is not limited to (1) meetings are sometimes hated, (2) attendance can be poor, (3) meetings are often a waste of time, (4) frequently nothing terribly important or critical is decided, and (5) it takes time, money, and other resources to attend meetings, particularly if they are at a distance and significant overnight travel is involved. continue reading

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ON LINE MEETING PROCESS UNDERWAY AS OF MARCH 3RD

The Council set May 24th as its first by-laws mandated Executive Committee (EXCOM) meeting for 2008.

It will be the first time such a meeting will be held on-line; it will not be an on-site in-person meeting. May 24th has been designated as the date of record. The meeting itself will take place over a number of weeks during the period March 3rd through May 24th.

An on-line EXCOM meeting can only succeed if members participate actively and fully.

The EXCOM will conduct the Council’s business. Affiliated chapter presidents are invited to offer information, viewpoints, and opinion. Chapter presidents who desire to be included as an active participant or observer should e-mail the president and secretary at warren@cal-moaa.org and secretarycalmoaa@gmail.com with a request to be included on the distribution list.

An on-line meeting approach is expected to save a significant amount of time, money, and other resources and just might result in a more effective and efficient meeting. continue reading

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LAKE TAHOE SITE FOR JOINT MOAA/CAL-MOAA MEETING

MOAA National will conduct a Western States Chapter Presidents Symposium at South Shore Lake Tahoe Thursday, October 16th to Saturday, October 18th, 2008 to give presidents and others a chance to share a wide range of information. MOAA held such a symposium at the same site in late 2004.

The California Council of Chapters (CAL-MOAA) will hold an Executive Committee (EXCOM) meeting and the Council of Chapter Presidents Annual Meeting on Thursday, October 16th. The EXCOM meeting is scheduled for 10:00am to 11:30am with the presidents and interested others invited to attend. The Annual Meeting will get underway at 1:30pm and conclude at about 4:30pm, in time for a MOAA evening reception and dinner.

MOAA will be inviting chapter presidents, first vice presidents, and the personal affairs representative from chapters and state councils all over the Western United States including Hawaii. In the past MOAA paid hotel and meal expenses; members will be responsible for their own transportation. continue reading

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INTENSE PLANNING UNDERWAY FOR APRIL 2ND EVENT

Council presidents or representatives plus MOAA National board members and staff personnel will go to Capitol Hill April 2nd to visit lawmakers and advocate for specific pieces of legislation.

It is an important component part of MOAA’s annual Council Presidents’ seminar to be held this year March 31st through April 3rd, 2008 at the Crown Plaza Old Town Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia, not far from the MOAA headquarters building.

CAL-MOAA leaders will represent every California MOAA chapter at this event.

On Monday, March 31st, participants will have an opportunity to view certain vendor displays including the MOAA Exchange, MOAA Travel, Garrett Financial Planning, Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), Marsh Affinity/Genworth, and the Pentagon Federal Credit Union. Information about offerings by these groups will be provided California MOAA members later and via the weblog.

On Tuesday morning most of these organizations will provide formal briefings and detailed information, but in the afternoon MOAA will prepare participants for the all-day Wednesday “Storming” effort. In the evening MOAA will host a reception on Capitol Hill during which MOAA’s Marix Awards and Distinguished Service and Meritorious Award will be presented to individuals who have championed the cause of active, reserve, and retired members of the Uniformed Services community. California’s senators and local representatives have been invited to this event.

“Storming the Hill” gets underway at the crack of dawn Wednesday, April 2nd, with a bus ride to the Capitol, a quick cup of coffee, and then a day-long period of meeting with and briefing California senators and representatives, particularly those who serve on important committees and who are likely to support the MOAA legislative agenda. continue reading

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ON-LINE EXCOM MEETING SET FOR SATURDAY, MAY 24TH

The California Council of Chapters (CAL-MOAA) will conduct its upcoming Executive Committee (EXCOM) meeting on-line with a May 24th date of record. This is the first time a virtual approach to the conduct of the Council’s business will be tried.

Any chapter president who would like to be included in the meeting, both for active participation or simply observation, should contact the Council’s president and make both interests and needs known. Simply send an e-mail to warren@cal-moaa.org.

Two options were suggested early-on. First, an EXCOM meeting could be scheduled for the afternoon of April 12th in Fresno following a morning California State Commanders Veterans Council (CSCVC) meeting. The second would be to try the on-line approach.

An on-line meeting seems feasible and realistic in terms of achievement. In part, avoiding an in-person gathering would save significant amounts of travel and time and avoid what could be significant costs, important in a fiscally difficult environment.

Should an on-line meeting not prove successful there will still be time to schedule and conduct a mid-summer meeting at Vandenberg AFB or other suitable location.

A survey of both voting and non-voting EXCOM members determined that most overwhelmingly favored an on-line meeting. A second by-laws mandated EXCOM meeting will be held in person/on site October 16, 2008. continue reading

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CALIFORNIA STATE COMMANDERS VETERANS COUNCIL MEETING

This is an executive summary of the California State Commanders Veterans Council (CSCVC) meeting held January 26, 2008, 9:30-12:30pm, Fresno. COL Warren Enos, President, represented CAL-MOAA affiliated chapters.

The Agenda
Call to order 0930. Roll call 10 of 19 members present; half a dozen guests. October 27, 2007 meeting minutes approved. Presentations by CAL-MOAA, CDVA. Financial report. Legislative report. Secretary’s report. New business. Roundtable discussion.

Special Presentations
The CAL-MOAA presentation was a strong message about supporting Pete Conaty & Associates, the legislative advocate. CDVA Secretary Tom Johnson explained how the Governor’s budget would impact his department. John King, a CDVA Deputy, explained how services are being provided to the state’s 2.2 million veterans. The CSCVC secretary said some groups interested in membership have been denied because they did not meet the bylaws mandated requirements. Most veterans organizations are losing membership; funds are short everywhere. continue reading

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FINANCIAL SHORTFALL THREATENS CSCVC LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

A major part of the California State Commanders Veterans Council (CSCVC) mission is to promote an annual agenda and over the years it has been employing the Sacramento lobbying organization Pete Conaty & Associates as its advocate.

And for a number of years a wealthy benefactor has been donating most of the funds needed to meet Conaty’s $6,000 annual retainer requirement. That individual has now passed on and the payments are no longer being made. For a significant period of time the dues and donation totals have not met current needs.

The outcome of this issue will have a significant impact on CAL-MOAA’s legislative efforts in California. continue reading

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