NORTH KOREA WON’T SPONSOR TERRORISM
by Fred Edwards
Oct. 24, 2008

The axis of evil lost a charter member Oct. 11 when the United States scratched North Korea off the State Department’s list of terror-sponsoring states. But the State Department’s verification expert had nothing to do with it. In fact less than two days before the agreement was announced, Paula DeSutter, the department’s assistant secretary for the Bureau of Verification, Compliance and Implementation, said she had “no clue” about it. Looks like the administration bypassed its own expert. So what happened?

Officials from North Korea promised to let international inspectors return to North Korea’s declared nuclear sites — which the International Atomic Energy Agency has inspected over and over again. They even pledged to allow the IAEA to look anywhere else by “mutual consent.” In other words, if the North Koreans are producing nuclear materials elsewhere, they simply don’t have to consent to an inspection.

The Bush administration apparently trusts this regime, but should we? Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael M. Dunn, for one, says absolutely not. Dunn, president of the Air Force Association, wrote: “North Korea has never kept an agreement that it has signed. Never in history. As a guy who has spent hundreds of hours across the negotiating table from them, who has traveled to Pyongyang, and who has been on Fox News as a commentator on NK, I believe we look at North Korea wrong.” Referring to a piece he wrote for the September-October 2005 issue of Military Review, titled “10 Misperceptions about North Korea,” he said the article applies as much today as it did the day it was published. The following is a compendium from the article. (more…)

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HARVEY’S AT LAKE TAHOE SITE OF 2008 ANNUAL MEETING

More than 65 members and guests attended the 2008 Annual Meeting which was held October 16th, 1:00pm to 4:00pm, at South Shore Lake Tahoe, in conjunction with National MOAA’s Western States Chapter Presidents Symposium. It was a time for chapter presidents to review past EXCOM actions and set new directions for 2009 and beyond.

Newly elected directors were sworn into office for the period 2008-2010. All current directors will continue with the exception of MajGen Bob Butcher of Area 8; he will be succeeded by Col George E. Swick, USAF-Ret, President, San Diego Chapter. COL Robert Colbern, Area 3, Central Coast, will continue for one year. CAPT Greg Horn, Area 4 and COL Bill Reals, Area 6 were not present due to work and other conflicts.

The minutes of the 2007 Annual Meeting at San Luis Obispo December 1-2 were approved as amended.

The finance report and 2009 budget were presented by Col Rita Solander, Treasurer, as approved by the EXCOM earlier in the day. The Council has sufficient funds to meet bylaws mandates and with a moderate reserve. The 2009 budget reflects a probable 11% membership and dues decrease, requiring certain modifications in area director operational expenses and legislative costs. The area directors will make greater use of e-mail and the telephone when supporting chapters, thereby saving travel costs. An aggressive cost control program is in effect. (more…)

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MEMBERS MEET AT LAKE TAHOE TO CONDUCT COUNCIL’S BUSINESS

More than 35 members and guests were present October 16, 2008, 10:00am to 11:30am, Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, when Executive Committee (EXCOM) voting members conducted the Council’s business.

Minutes of the May 24th on-line meeting were accepted and approved as amended.

A State of the Council document was provided indicating that the Council continues to be an ideal platform for serving the statewide military community. Yet, there are challenges brought on by cultural, economic, and social forces which are negatively impacting recruitment and leadership succession. The purposes are being carried out to the extent resources are available. The Council was awarded its 25 year Silver Anniversary recognition from National MOAA. (more…)

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Certain aspects of this presidential election have brought to light a serious incongruous situation that should be of concern to all Citizens. It’s the matter of personal Security Clearances required in order to handle Government classified documents and the various levels of these Clearances for the Military and Civil Service Employees vs what is required to seek and hold an elective office in the Executive Branch or Congress.

Before I could even begin and throughout my military career I needed to have the requisite Security Clearance at the appropriate level. As I look back on it today, I was never concerned that the background investigation would be unfavorable. However, had there been even one iota of queasy contacts revealed by a background check, without question, it would have been adios to my military career of Honor, Duty, and Country.

I guess what it amounts to is I’m wondering how Leaders of our Nation could have for so long ignored what we are now finding. It is there are NO Security Clearance requirements for candidates seeking to be the President, Vice President or a member of Congress. Contrast that with what applied to me, and so very many of present and former military and civilian personnel.

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EXCOM SETS AMBITIOUS NEXT YEAR PROGRAM
October 16, 2008

Legislation
In order to demonstrate true membership value a greater priority must be placed on development and passage of key legislation in support of the younger generation officer.

Federal Legislation
Efforts will be made to encourage and assist chapters to design, develop, and implement legislative alert procedures in support of MOAA initiatives. Numbers matter. The intent will be to motivate chapters and members to contact legislative offices as appropriate even when proposed bills will impact only the younger officers.

State Legislation
There are really two requirements: (1) Encourage chapters to identify state legislation needed to satisfy perceived legislative needs and wants and (2) assist a currently dysfunctional California State Commanders Veterans Council (CSCVC) to solve the Pete Conaty & Associates retainer problem, essentially raising the necessary funds to support Sacramento advocate/lobbyist efforts.

In short, primary emphasis will be placed on providing the legislation expected by currently serving active duty and Guard/Reserve officers, thereby attracting younger new members to the association and speeding the transition from TROA to MOAA. (more…)

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CALIFORNIA STATE VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS 2008 TOTALS

1. The American Legion – 135,000
2. Veterans of Foreign Wars – 93,433
3. Military Officers Association of America – 36,072
4. American Veterans (AMVETS) – 9,136
5. Reserve Officers Association – 6,100
6. Vietnam Veterans of America – 3,299
7. Military Order of the Purple Heart – 3,000
8. Paralyzed Veterans of America – 1,972
9. The Retired Enlisted Association – 500
10. Association of the U.S. Army – 500
11. California Association of County Veterans Service Officers – 250 Empl
12. Armed Forces Retirees Association of California – 200
13. Fleet Reserve Association – 100
14. Air Force Sergeants Association – 100
15. Legion of Valor – 100
16. National Association for Uniformed Services – 20
17. WAVES National – 20

Submitted By: Pete Conaty

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MARY KALINYAK CREATES LIAISON WITH MOAA AND LOCAL CHAPTERS

October 16, 2008

Since my report in May, there has been no change in the number of chapters responding.
Those chapters who have put me on their mailing or email list for their bulletin have
provided me with insight into their activities. If you have not done so, please consider it.

Over the past few months, I have communicated with some auxiliary liaisons about recruitment and also what newsletter articles might be of interest to their members.

With respect to recruitment, there is no “one size fits all” solution. Last week I talked with one of my chapter’s member whose husband died within the last two years. We both feel that widows who attended functions with their husbands are more likely to stay active members; however, there are no figures available as to how many national auxiliary members hold life
memberships which were passed on by their husbands. In addition, many widows have other interests which claim their attention. In my area (Monterey County), the opportunity to participate in other community affairs are numerous. (more…)

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EFFECTIVE PLATFORM FOR SERVING WIDER MILITARY COMMUNITY
(October 16, 2008)

CAL-MOAA continues to be an ideal platform for serving the wider military community. There is evidence of vision, action planning, and available resources characteristic of a military professional association with members determined to learn, promote national security policy issues, protect earned entitlements, and enjoy the social aspects of events and activities designed for people with common interests. The structure provides unique opportunities for all who choose to operate beyond the local chapter level, opportunities to make a real difference.

At the same time, the Council faces significant challenges in 2008, everything from providing more value to chapters and supporting chapters directly. And there is a wide range of perceptions between chapter presidents when it comes to value and assistance. We have to continue to rely on the affiliated chapters to express their needs and wants, something most presidents generally have not done in the past.

There are a number of cultural, economic, and social forces in play causing significant change. Chapters have severe membership recruitment and leadership succession problems. Forty four (44) chapters with a total of 5,338 members made a Council dues payment of $4,003 in 2007; Thirty five (35) chapters with a total of 4,635 members have paid a total of $3549 Council dues so far in 2008, an 11% membership decrease. As the financial support decreases the Council finds it more and more difficult to achieve its purposes. (more…)

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