chaptersinaction
Adding Value
Many MOAA members view chapter membership as optional. After all,
doesn’t MOAA national handle the big issues? Yet some members fi nd
local chapters so important they’ve established new affi liates in their area.
M
OAA’s chapter system chapter is different and refl ects the joined together and took action, with
helps association members interests of its members. The Council help from their state council, MOAA
make a difference. It also is and Chapter Policies and Procedures national, or a nearby chapter. They
changing, and part of that change is Guide contains a step-by-step blue- started small but now have a base
the need for new chapters to refl ect print for starting a new chapter and from which to grow. This is camara-
the shifting demographics and inter- for dealing with the issues your chap- derie with a purpose — MOAA mem-
ests of MOAA members. In the Year ter might encounter. MOAA’s Council bers working together to accomplish
of the Chapter, we want to take the and Chapter Affairs Department is something larger than themselves.
mystery out of starting a new chapter available to help you through each — Col. Lee Lange II, USMC-Ret.
and show it can be done with help step of the process. Director, Council and Chapter Affairs
from MOAA national, your state’s Joining other MOAA members
council of chapters, and even other with shared experiences can be a
chapters in the area. powerful force. Starting
All it takes is a small group of How? First of all, MOAA chapters
MOAA members to form an organiz- are the key to grassroots support of From Scratch
MOAA’s legislative issues on behalf
of all servicemembers and veterans.
Chapter members know the issues
and can explain them to elected of- C
apt. Tom Carlson, USN-
Ret., has plenty of good rea-
sons for not participating in
fi cials. And who better to understand a chapter. He’s married, has two ac-
the concerns of servicemembers tive teenage sons, and travels often
— and relay their issues to legislators? as a market development manager
A chapter also is a great link to for Northrop Grumman in Hern-
communities. Chapter members’ don, Va. When he’s not traveling for
community-level efforts let other work, you can fi nd him in his car,
Americans know what MOAA is and where he spends three hours each
does. When chapter members help day driving to and from work.
Junior ROTC and ROTC programs Yet Carlson and several other
and wounded warriors or volunteer at national MOAA members — many
ing committee, and with a vision for state veterans’ homes and VA hospi- of whom also have very busy sched-
a new chapter, the possibilities are tals, they make a difference. ules — took time to found the new
exciting. MOAA’s relationship with This month, we take you through Heritage (Va.) Chapter. The chapter,
its chapters means there is plenty of the experience of our two newest chartered Feb. 20, fi lls a geographic
fl exibility to do what you want. Every chapters. A few MOAA members void by giving offi cers who live in the
Northern Virginia suburbs of Quan-
*
ON THE ROAD: This month, Col. Lee Lange II, USMC-Ret., will visit
tico, Dale City, Stafford, and Freder-
chapter members in Florida, Kansas, Michigan, Oregon, and Utah. Go
icksburg access to an MOAA affi liate.
to MOAA Calendar, page 85, for dates.
“Starting this chapter was the
right thing to do,” says Carlson,
4 2 M I L I T A R Y O F F I C E R M AY 2 0 0 8 PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT
mmay_chapters.indd
42ay_chapters.indd 42 44/2/08 9:13:22 PM/2/08 9:13:22 PM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92