Minutes of the Council of Chapters Meeting May 19, 2007

The Executive Committee [ExCom] of the Military Officers Association of America [MOAA], California Council of Chapters [CAL-MOAA] met at the Pacific Coast Club, Vandenberg AFB, California. on May 19, 2007.

Voting Members Present:
Lt. Col. Lawrence Stumpf, USAF [Ret.], President
Col. Warren Enos, USAR [Ret.], Acting Vice President
Capt. James D. Torres, USNR [Ret.], Director Area Two Bay Area
Col. Robert Colbern, USAR [Ret.], Director Area Three Central Coast
Col. William Reals, USA [Ret.], Director Area Six, Southwest Area
Capt. William Sturman USN [Ret.], Director Area Seven, Inland Empire
Maj. Gen. Bobby Butcher, USMC [Ret.], Director Area Eight San Diego

Non-Voting Members Present:
Col. William Gavitt, USAF [Ret.], Past President/MOAA Board of Directors
Cmdr. Robert Burke, USN [Ret.] Immediate Past President/Website Communications
Cmdr. Earl Gustafson, USN [Ret.], Secretary

Others:
Anne Patton, MOAA National Auxiliary Advisory Committee
Chapter Representatives [See Attachment A]

The meeting was called to order by the president at 1:10 p.m. Stumpf made opening remarks and introduced CMS Norm Marous USAF [Ret.] Retiree Activities Office Director for welcoming remarks.

Lt. Col. Mort Jarvis USAF [Ret.] was administered the oath of office by National Director Col. William Gavitt USAF [Ret.] as Director Area 1 North Counties to replace Lt. Col. David Van Pelt USAF [Ret.] who resigned after being involved in an aircraft mishap.

Enos reported that he had administered the oath during a meeting of the Contra Costa County Chapter to Capt. James Torres USNR [Ret.] as Director Area 2 Bay Area as a replacement for Capt. Thomas Snyder MC USNR [Ret.] who resigned for family reasons.

Stumpf reported that the Area 4 Director has asked to be relieved of duties and a search is on for his replacement.

The chair declared that a quorum was present. Minutes for ExCom meetings of Feb. 24, 2007 were considered.

Sturman requested that he be deleted as Convention Chair. Butcher moved and Torres seconded approval of minutes. Motion carried.

For the Treasurer.s report, Stump referred the assembly to the report of Feb. 24. He reported that a Council flag has been obtained at a cost of $447. Gavitt stated that there is a vendor in Riverside that can provide Chapter flags. The following Chapters have not paid dues to this date: Shasta Country, Silicon Valley, Bakersfield, San Joaquin, West Los Angeles, Long Beach, Mojave Desert, Mount Baldy, Palm Springs and Southwest Riverside County. Torres questioned whether or not bills for dues had been sent out. Torres moved and Reals seconded acceptance of the treasurer's report. Motion carried.

Stumpf called on Lt. Cmdr. Steve Barber USN [Ret.], President of the San Francisco Chapter to report on the status of the JROTC situation. A committee [Friends of the JROTC in San Francisco] has been formed to contest the action of the San Francisco School Board to abolish the program. No action is contemplated until an elected official can introduce a measure to reverse the action of the Board. At that time a statewide letter writing campaign will be needed. Col. Bob Powell is the senior military instructor and a member of the Committee. The School Board is studying alternatives to the JROTC program. Possibility is getting the JROTC instructors qualified as physical education instructors. Patton asked what caused the School Board to take action in the first place. Barber responded it was in response to the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy of the Department. Butcher stated that he didn't think it likely that the decision could be reversed since no School Board member has yet to agree to introduce such action. Torres asked if other organizations had become involved in the effort. Barber stated that he had little knowledge of other groups. Discussion followed relating to qualification and accreditation of JROTC instructors. Stumpf stated Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles is considering ending the program because less-privileged students enroll. Gavitt stated only 6 percent of students that participate come on active duty. New State Secretary of Education from Riverside County may be able to help.

Stumpf reported on Storming the Hill.. MOAA appreciates the cards and letters from California. They contacted 38 of the legislators from California. Some very receptive and others were not informed.

Area Director Reports:

Area 8. Butcher reported Silver Strand Chapter will host Area luncheon meeting for all six Chapters on Sept. 15. Speaker will be Rep. Susan Davis, 53rd District, who is very supportive of the military. An area meeting is held the 3rd Saturday at 9 a.m. every even numbered month at MCAS Miramar.
Area 5. Talmadge stated two out of four Chapters represented here today. Will be putting on a picnic this summer.
Area 7. Thurman said Area is not progressing as far as expected. Area meetings have declining attendance. Three Chapters represented today.
Area 2. Torres held an Area meeting with five of the seven Chapters present. Chapters made open invitation for Director to attend their meetings. Will be sending him their newsletters. He is a docent on the Hornet which is a good source of members. Gained nine new members last year under the Give Me 10 campaign. Contra Costa County Chapter created a 3-fold brochure in color. Gathered a packet of materials from the Chapter and from MOAA for use of a membership committee. Chapter needs more literature to provide prospects. Declining attendance because of increased restaurant and gas costs.
Area 3. Colbern stated Santa Barbara Chapter considering deactivating the Chapter. Ventura County Chapter meeting goals. Installed Santa Maria-Lompoc Chapter officers. Kwan from Santa Barbara Chapter reported that there is a lack of other members who will participate in operating the chapter.
Area 6. Reals stated three Chapters were represented here. He is concerned about viability of Long Beach and Rio Hondo Chapters. Los Alamitos and South Coast Chapters thriving. Long Beach Chapter will meet with Los Alamitos Chapter. Other Chapters doing well.
Area 1. Jarvis stated they might be getting together. Needs some answers on the question of Sub-Chapters. There was a comment regarding the good health of the Sonoma Valley Sub-Chapter. Ashurst defined a Sub-Chapter as a spin off of a regular Chapter. Torres stated he was planning on incorporating the area formerly covered by the defunct East Bay Chapter into the Contra Costa County Chapter.

Stumpf reminded Directors to insure Chapters submit their input for Five and Four Star Awards. Use Appendix J in Council and Chapter Policies and Procedures Guide. There was general discussion regarding proper submission for the awards.

Stumpf distributed a list of bills and their status from the California State Commanders Veterans Council being considered in the State Legislature [Attachment B]. He reported on recent meetings of the CSCVC. Next meeting of the CSCVC will be on Oct. 28, 2007 in Fresno.

Nationally, Gavitt reported on H.R. 551 extending eligibility for home loans and A.B. 111 to provide educational assistance for the Guard by providing loan repayment of up to $11,000. Calif. National Guard is authorized over 19,000 members. Strength fell to 18,000 in 1996 and 15,800 today. Gavitt stated complete information is on the CSCVC website www.califveterans.com.

Butcher said the CAL-MOAA website needs a link to legislative information. Also important for our support are A.B. 7 relating to pay day loans, A.B. 11 special license plates, A.B. 223 absentee voting, A.B. 282 unauthorized wearing of military decorations, A.B. 389 funding for county veterans service officers from license plates sales, A.C.R. 22 naming a portion of the highway passing by the Riverside Cemetery and A.B. 1552 special license plates for Gold Star families. Governor has formed an advisory council of military advisors.

Enos commented that a member had told him that he felt the Council had not had a viable legislative program. Need to find out what members want but when they are asked no response is forthcoming. Burke stated that retirees formerly had a $500 tax credit.

Butcher said that there is a need for a website that concentrates on legislation only. There was a comment that the Council needs to list bills that should be supported. Enos stated that information on legislation is available on the web blog by clicking on California legislative matters.. Kwan said he needed a list of bills supported by CAL-MOAA to take back to his Chapter. There was a comment that the blog is growing and the older information has to be cleaned off when no longer relevant. Webmaster is undergoing medical treatment and changes will have to wait for her return. Consensus was to continue as before until webmaster returns.

Gavitt listed the three issues for .Storming the Hill:
1] 3.5 percent pay raise for active duty
2] Change to SBP offset.
3] Oppose shifting of health care costs to the beneficiary
Gavitt will provide Area Directors with an email listing of bills for forwarding on to Chapters.

Gavitt reviewed the situation with the Military Retiree Benefit Foundation and the fact that the Foundation had donated their assets to the MOAA Scholarship Fund and voted to disband.
Jarvis asked about status of H.R. 551. Gavitt listed the Assembly members who have yet to sign on as cosponsors.

Old Business:
Gustafson described proposed arrangements for the annual meeting. After discussion, Torres moved and Talmadge seconded the motion to hold the annual meeting at the Embassy Suites in San Luis Obispo. Motion carried.

Stumpf authorized Gustafson to sign contract with Embassy Suites.

Burke recounted the evolution of the MRBF. Cahill related his involvement with the MRBF and decisions made by the MRBF leading to the dissolution of the Foundation. Discussion followed with the consensus was to not pursue any action regarding this issue. Cahill described the method used to distribute grants from the funds made available. The consensus was to take no action regarding the dissolution of the MRBF.

New Business: None

Comments:
Ramirez commented regarding the difficulty finding doctors, including specialists that accept TRICARE. He reported on his Chapter.s recent visit to Washington, D.C. where they contacted 31 medical organizations and congressional members and committees regarding the reimbursement rate for medical providers. They intend to testify before cognizant committees.

Next ExCom meeting will be in connection with the annual meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:26 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,

Earl F. Gustafson, CDR, USN Ret. Secretary, CAL-MOAA
Attachments:
A . Chapters Represented at MOAA Workshop
B . Legislative Report by the CSCVC

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