Minutes of the Council of Chapters Meeting October 27, 2006

The Military Officers Association of America [MOAA], California Council of Chapters [CAL-MOAA] met at the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station, Sacramento, Calif. on Oct. 27, 2006

Voting Members Present:
Lt. Col. Lawrence Stumpf, USAF [Ret.], President, Proxy for Capt. Gregory Horn USNR, Acting Director Area Four, San Joaquin Valley & Proxy for Cmdr. Gene Talmadge, USN [Ret.], Director Area Five, Mission Trail Area
Col. Warren Enos, USAR [Ret.], Director Area Two, Bay Area; Proxy for Cmdr. John Sammons, USPHS [Ret.], Vice President & Director Area One, Northern Counties
Capt. William Sturman USN [Ret.], Proxy for Chief Warrant Off. Herbert Zimmerman, USN [Ret.], Director Area Seven, Inland Empire Area & Convention Chairman
Capt. James Cahill, USNR [Ret.], Director Area Eight, San Diego Area
Capt. Al Ashurst, USN [Ret.], Director, Southwest Area Six
Lt. Col. Sam Carpenter USA [Ret.], Proxy for Cmdr. David C. Faul, USN [Ret.], Director Area Three, Central Coast Area

Non-Voting Members Present:
Col. William Gavitt, USAF [Ret.], Past President/MOAA Board of Directors
Col. Arthur Isensee, USMC [Ret.], Treasurer
Cmdr. Earl Gustafson, USN [Ret.], Secretary

President Stumpf called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. The chair introduced Capt. George Heintz, Commanding Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Station Sacramento for the purpose of making his welcoming remarks.

Enos gave the invocation and Patton led the assembly in the pledge of allegiance. Roll call of those present was held with each respondent indicating office/chapter represented and/or the number of proxies held.

Stumpf President CAL-MOAA; 6 Proxies [Area Four, Area Five, Conejo-Simi Valley, Indian Wells, Bakersfield, Greater Antelope Valley]

Gustafson Secretary CAL-MOAA; 2 Proxies [Central Calif. Coast, Santa Maria-Lompoc] Isensee Treasurer CAL-MOAA

Cahill Director Area Six; 5 Proxies [Heartland, Miramar, Pendleton, San Diego, Sweetwater]

Patton MOAA Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee

Sturman Director [Acting] Area Seven; 5 Proxies [Area Seven, Mount Baldy, Mojave Desert, Orange Empire, SW Riverside County]

Enos Director Area Two; 1 Proxy [Vice President]

Barber President, San Francisco

Robinson President, Sacramento

Royston President, Military Retirees Benefit Association

Peterka President, Redwood Empire

Huss Member, Valley Ridge: 1 Proxy [Valley Ridge]

Ramirez President, Palm Springs Area

Gavitt Member, MOAA Board of Directors, Past President

Johnson Past President Riverside-March Field: 1 Proxy [Riverside-March Field]

Giaimo Director, MOAA Chapter and Council Affairs

Carpenter Member, Ventura County: 2 Proxies [Area 3, Ventura County] Ashurst Director Area Six; 6 Proxies [San Gabriel Valley, San Pedro-South Bay, Long Beach, Golden West, Rio Hondo, South Coast]

Van Pelt Director [Acting], North Counties Area One; 1 Proxy [Alta California]

Craddock President, Silicon Valley

Wessell Member, Shasta Country

Lodge President, Shasta Country

Reals Area Six Director Elect

It was determined that a quorum was present. The chair announced that Col. Mike Jordan and Col. Lee Lange of the MOAA staff was meeting with Gen. Wade, the Adjutant General of the Calif. National Guard.

The chair called for approval of the minutes of the last Council meeting. Johnson moved and Ramirez seconded approval. Cahill requested that his service be shown as USNR vice USA and under Area Eight on page 3, the record should show that four national board members, past and present, are from the Silver Strand Chapter. Motion with corrections passed unanimously.

Isensee presented the financial report. [See Attachments A and B to ExCom Minutes of Oct 26, 2006]. During 2006 $3,406.83 has been spent our of a budget amount of $9,715 to date. Chapter dues receipts show a decrease of 646 in affiliated chapter membership with four chapters yet to pay dues. Isensee noted that $375 remains from name-change funds. Motion was made by Sturman and seconded by Johnson to purchase a council flag. Motion carried.

Motion was made by Van Pelt and seconded by Ramirez to accept the treasurer.s interim report. Motion carried.

Stumpf commented on increased reimbursement amounts for ExCom member expenses.

Isensee presented the proposed budget for 2007 [See Attachment C to ExCom Minutes of Oct 26, 2006]. Treasurer.s projection is based on an estimate of chapters paying dues for 5,000 members. Van Pelt moved and Ramirez seconded that dues remain at $0.75 per member. Motion carried.

Yountville Veterans Home received $500 in 2006 with Chula Vista budgeted to receive $500 in 2007. Peterska questioned why this information has never been distributed to the chapters.

Gustafson moved and Cahill seconded a motion to include $1,000 for purposes of supporting a legislative advocate. Isensee recommended a legislative program should concentrate on a limited number of issues. Ashurst stated the CVCSC has only one measure that it fully supports. Discussion followed regarding the advisability of requesting additional funding from MRBF for legislative purposes. Isensee recommended that this should be done outside the budget. Motion carried.

Ramirez moved and Huss seconded a motion to adopt the budget as modified. Motion carried.

The chair declared a recess at 10:46 a.m. The Council reconvened at 11:05 a.m.

Col. William Gavitt, National Director administered the oath of office to the incoming Area Directors:

Area 1 Lt. Col. David Van Pelt USAF [Ret.]
Area 2 Col. Warren Enos USA [Ret.] Area 3 Col. Robert Colbern USAR [Ret.] [in absentia]
Area 4 Capt. [sel] Gregory Horn USNR [in absentia]
Area 5 Cmdr. Gene Talmadge USN [Ret.] [in absentia]
Area 6 Col. William Reals USA [Ret.]
Area 7 Capt. William Sturman USN [Ret.]
Area 8 Maj. Gen. Bobby Butcher USMC [Ret.] [in absentia]
The Chair noted that appointed Vice President Enos was concurrently administered the oath of office.

Area Director Reports:

Area 1 Commented on the legislative briefing at last annual meeting in San Luis Obispo.
Area 2 Chapters are stable and meeting but membership eroding.
Area 3 Santa Maria-Lompoc is a 4-star chapter, Santa Barbara is struggling but operating.
Ventura County and Central Calif. Coast OK.
Area 4 Gregory Horn is incoming successor as Area Director. Horn is currently on active duty.
Area 5 Gene Talmadge to continue.
Area 6 Chapters are continuing but most have same officers year after year. Long Beach is weak. Orange County is a 5-star chapter.
Area 7 Sturman has not visited chapters yet. Helped form Inland Empire Area Chapters. Area concept worked well in the beginning with meetings attracting up to 150 attendees. Mojave Desert not as active as formerly. Orange Empire doing well. Commented on the benefits of having an every other year convention as helping to recruit members.
Area 8 Cahill voiced support for convention. All chapters doing very well and active. See membership numbers below. Silver Strand almost up to 200 members mainly due to work of Bobby Butcher. Three chapters had 5-star awards. Sweetwater, two years in a row; Silver Strand and Miramar 2002 through 2006. Silver Strand first runner up for communications award. Challenges any Area to have 50 percent participation in awards. Area Director will be Bobby Butcher.

Stumpf thanked the outgoing ExCom officers for their support. Anniversary plaques and awards were presented MOAA Director of Council and Chapter Affairs Giaimo as follows:

Silver Strand 35 Years
Miramar 35 Years
South Coast 30 Years
Golden West 30 Years
Alta California Four Star Award
Orange Empire Five Star Award
Santa Maria-Lompoc Five Star Award
Ventura County Five Star Award

Gavitt reviewed the Give Me 10 recruiting program. Noted the lack of participation in California and the low numbers recruited.

Assistant Director for Chapter and Council Affairs Lee Lange reported on his meeting with National Guard.

Adjutant Gen. Wade. Lange was accompanied by Mike Jordan, MOAA Contract Services and Marketing Director and Vince Sanguinet, Past President of Riverside-March Field Chapter. When asked the General indicated tuition assistance was foremost and he will work with the Council by providing talking points for a letter writing campaign. California is one of only two states not aiding the Guard with tuition.

On the subject of cemeteries, the bill authorizing the Fort Ord cemetery has been signed by the Governor. The Sacramento Valley Cemetery near Dixon is now accepting veterans for burial. A cemetery is being developed at Bakersfield. Both Dixon and Bakersfield are national cemeteries. Cmdr. Steffan, Executive Officer, U.S. Coast Guard Station Sacramento briefed the assembly on the status and mission of the installation.

The chair declared a recess at 12:30 p.m. Reconvened at 13:38 p.m.

Stumpf introduced MOAA Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee member Anne Patton for a presentation.

An Auxiliary Member is a surviving widow or widower. Committee was formed to increase involvement of auxiliary members. Purpose of committee is to advise national MOAA on auxiliary issues and conduct an outreach program. About 61,000 or about 18 percent of MOAA members are auxiliary members. Tries to locate and track all post 9/11 KIA widows and forward the information to cognizant chapters. Chapter to provide letter of condolence and offer assistance about two months after date of death. Turning the Corner is a useful book to assist survivors. Has requested each chapter appoint an auxiliary liaison and provide suggestions. Survivors have the same benefits as regular members and life membership for the member continues entitlements and benefits to the surviving spouse.

Ashurst asked if more KIA requests will be forthcoming. Lange stated that MOAA is limited to 25 percent auxiliary members by its tax-exempt status. MOAA is not close to that figure. Lee Lange is the advisor for the committee. Member auxiliary member pins are available through the MOAA Exchange.

The chair called on Enos to present the strategic plan. [See Attachment D to ExCom Minutes of Oct 26, 2006]. He stated the intent of the drafters of the plan, the alternative being the dissolution of CAL-MOAA.

Ashurst stated there are only two strategic goals, one being legislation and the other assistance to the chapters. The ExCom will react to the desires of the council. Enos noted that over 350 items of information have been posted on the web site. Peterka stated the amount of information is overwhelming and only half of the members have access to it. Gavitt stated national MOAA considers chapters the backbone of the Organization. The coal in to influence public policy. Ramirez moved and Van Pelt seconded motion to adopt the plan. Motion carried with one abstention.

The chair introduced Royston to discuss the Military Retiree Benefit Foundation. Original purpose was to support recomputation of retiree pay as opposed to the COLA system. Purpose is to operate the Foundation and manage its resources to preserve, defend and enhance the rights and benefits of military retirees. Secondly, provide limited financial assistance to organization for activities that directly benefit retirees of the seven uniformed services.

Gavitt called attention to three publications of importance to auxiliary members: Helping Your Survivors Now. Personal Affairs Workbook and Surviving the Loss of a Loved One. Available free to members from MOAA.

Sacramento Chapter member Phelps Hobart requested that a resolution supporting the naming of one of the Virginia class submarines, the USS California be adopted in that there is no naval ship bearing that name at present. Ashurst moved and Ramirez seconded a motion to make it so. Motion carried. Chair will draft a resolution.

Hobart requested that CAL-MOAA adopt a resolution supporting Operation Home Front. Robinson moved and Ramirez seconded a motion to do so.

Ramirez stated Palms Springs Area Chapter is already involved in the 29 Palms area. Motion carried.

Hobart requested a motion that CAL-MOAA support Toys for Tots. Johnson moved and Ramirez seconded a motion to do so. Motion carried.

Sacramento Chapter member Robinson was thanked for providing the luncheon. Chair declared that the next annual meeting will be at a date to be determined and before the end of November 2007.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:41 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,

Earl F. Gustafson, CDR, USN Ret. Secretary, CAL-MOAA

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