MOAA Auxiliary members number approximately 71,000, or about 20% of the total MOAA membership. Yet, generally speaking, little is known about who they are and what role they play in the MOAA organization. Spouses are sometimes thought to be auxiliary members and auxiliary members are sometimes thought to be spouses. They are not the same. We'll explain the difference and in addition, tell you about MOAA's expanding outreach to both auxiliary members and regular member's spouses.

MOAA established the "Auxiliary" as a separate membership classification when it modified its by-laws in 1975. Article lll, section 2(c) specifies that auxiliary members are widows and widowers of deceased members or any deceased individual who would have been eligible for membership. Auxiliary members may not serve on the national Board of Directors nor are they permitted to vote on MOAA matters at that level. However, at the local chapter level they are, depending on the chapter by laws, permitted to hold office and vote. We emphasize that this is by no means universal and varies from chapter to chapter. Auxiliary members are also eligible to avail themselves of MOAA's many products and services, such as insurance, banking. travel services and more. Members' spouses may not serve on boards or vote, but do receive many of the same MOAA services and products that are available through their officer spouses.

When TROA became MOAA, the membership expanded to include active duty officers, guard and reserves as well. Given this broad expansion, leadership discussed ways in which it could best meet the needs of all its members.

Auxiliary membership was one of the categories leadership particularly wanted to study. To this end, the Auxiliary Member Working Group was created to determine whether MOAA was doing the right things to recruit, retain and represent (the "three 'Rs") these members. It also wanted to include regular member's spouses, all of whom are potential Auxiliary members.

MOAA established The Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee (AMAC) as a result of the Working Group. Committee members, all of whom are military widows, are: Carolyn Epling (Chair), Albuquerque NM; Paula Muth, Bellevue NE; Margery LeTourneau, Alexandria VA; Violet Smith, Clearwater FLA, and Anne Patton, Encinitas CA. Leadership charged the Committee to focus on the three Rs, recruit, retain, and represent Auxiliary members and to involve spouses in their efforts as well. The AMAC's overarching task is to advise the Board of Directors regarding current and potential MOAA programs, plans, and policies as they relate to the relate to the interests of, and the provision of services to the surviving spouses of military officers.

Over the past year, the Committee has worked diligently to create a Survivor Outreach program. In an attempt to reach survivors, every effort is being made to track down the names of all military officers who have been killed since 9/11 when the War on Terror commenced. AMAC is working with chapters to send letters of condolence to these survivors and to offer MOAA's help if they so desire. The Committee is also assisting MOAA in updating its Survivor's Guide which will be published sometime next year.

AMAC is also developing an Auxiliary Outreach program. Again, it is working with chapters wherever they are located. Sample letters of welcome have been composed for use by the chapters specifically to send to new member's spouses. MOAA believes that it is essential to make these spouses feel welcome to the MOAA "family." This is especially important in the event their spouse dies: they can more easily make the transition to Auxiliary status and thus continue on in a familiar and friendly environment.

Additionally, AMAC is working to gain more public exposure. This increased exposure will benefit all Auxiliary members and hopefully lead them to more active involvement in their respective chapters as well as on the national front. Look for Auxiliary columns in "The Affiliate" and "The Military Officer" magazine.

With a higher profile, Auxiliary members will also have an enormous impact in the legislative arena at both the state and national level especially if the issues are survivor related. To illustrate: Leadership, for the very first time, invited AMAC to participate in "Storming the Hill," this past April. Committee members were delighted with this invitation and were very well received by legislators and staff alike. The issues were inequities of SBP/DIC offset and in the paid up SBP program. Legislators appreciated hearing first hand the personal stories of survivors who are victims of these unfair laws.

Space precludes a more comprehensive discussion of AMAC and spouses, but there is enough here to give you an idea of the direction in which we are heading.

This timely Article was prepared by Anne Patton, California's member on the MOAA Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee (AMAC).