chaptersinaction
who is now the chapter’s president. Then fellow Stones River Chapter pressure not only at the national
“Chapters are at the grassroots, member Maj. Jim Parks Jr., USA-Ret., level, but also at state and local lev-
where people have the best ideas.” offered to help start a new chapter in els. MOAA relies on the grassroots
the Lebanon area, where Lloyd lives. support chapter members provide
Easier than anticipated Parks called MOAA national for a list to pass national legislation. Chap-
Starting a new chapter didn’t take of potential chapter members who ters and councils also provide the
as much work as Carlson expected. live in his area to contact. Members of support needed to pass state and
Capt. Harry Palm Jr., USN-Ret., and the Stones River Chapter also pitched local laws, which can affect service-
Col. Jim Brown, USAR-Ret., sparked in and sponsored the new chapter. In members and their families as much
the initial effort, and Carlson; Cmdr. December 2007, after several organiz- as national legislation can.
Dale Cottongim, USN; and Lt. David ing meetings, the Andrew Jackson The Andrew Jackson Chapter
Hawtin, USN-Ret., were asked to join Chapter was chartered. lies in a key congressional district
in and help lay the groundwork. “It really hasn’t been as diffi cult that’s served by Rep. Jim Cooper
The group contacted MOAA na- as I thought it would be to start this (D-Tenn.), who sits on the House
tional, which provided them with a chapter,” says Lloyd. Armed Services Committee. The
list of potential members who lived Currently, Lloyd wants to recruit Middle Tennessee Chapter also lies
in their area. They mailed letters to more members — particularly guard- in Cooper’s district.
these prospects, who were invited to members and reservists — because the “Cooper spoke to our chapter
attend an organizing meeting. Repre- nearest military base is 90 miles away. recently,” says Lloyd. “His military
sentatives from MOAA national and He’s also working to get members to liaison, Col. Don Deering, USA-Ret.,
the Virginia Council of Chapters also focus more on community service. also is a member of our chapter.”
attended and offered support. “Most people join a chapter ini- Cmdr. Mark Cole, USNR-Ret.,
“At our fi rst organizing meeting, tially for camaraderie but stay for who serves in Virginia’s House of
35 or 40 people showed up,” says other reasons,” says Lloyd. Delegates, now is a member of the
Palm. “The room wasn’t even big Heritage Chapter.
enough to hold everybody.” Adding legislative clout “Dave [Hawtin] and I e-mail him
A charter was developed, and in on a local level all the time,” says Carlson. “That’s
October 2007, the chapter began Establishing a local chapter has part of the reason having a local
holding monthly meetings at the Ma- helped members exert legislative chapter is truly valuable.”
rine Corps Offi cers Club in Quantico.
Chapter members currently are con-
sidering starting an offi cer recogni-
tion program at Quantico, as well as
Give Me 10! Update
a program that would assist Marines’ THE 2008 GIVE ME 10! RECRUITING CAMPAIGN kicked off Jan. 1.
families during a deployment. At press time, chapter leaders had recruited 542 new members for national
MOAA. Some of these recruits also now are members of an MOAA chapter.
Closer to home Currently, the top recruiting chapters are
Geography spawned the forma- a73 Southside Virginia — 74 new members recruited
tion of the Andrew Jackson (Tenn.) a73 El Paso (Texas) — 64 new members recruited
Chapter. Although Andrew Jackson a73 Mount Vernon (Va.) — 48 new members recruited
Chapter president Col. John Lloyd, a73 Santa Fe Trail (Kan.) — 46 new members recruited
USAR-Ret., once served as president a73 Alamo (Texas) — 18 new members recruited
of the Middle Tennessee Chapter, he This spring, chapter leaders in Delaware and Virginia will present gold bars
let his membership lapse because he and free MOAA memberships to graduating ROTC cadets
grew tired of driving more than 100 at local colleges and universities. Leaders in Tennessee have
miles roundtrip to attend meetings. been recruiting at events that attract active duty officers.
Eventually he joined the Stones River You can find more recruiting tips and helpful ideas at the
Chapter but still was traveling 70 Give Me 10! Web site,
www.moaa.org/givemeten.
miles roundtrip to attend meetings.
M AY 2 0 0 8 M I L I T A R Y O F F I C E R 4 3
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