chaptersinaction
hikes for military retiree health care Members of the national staff VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki
coverage, eliminating fi nancial penal- briefed seminar attendees about addressed attendees during the
ties for military-caused disabilities MOAA’s membership demograph- seminar’s closing luncheon. Shinseki
and deaths for disabled retirees and ics, recruiting and retention efforts, outlined the numerous hurdles the
military widows, and sustaining the and the services and publications VA currently faces, discussed his fu-
defense budget for both personnel available through the association’s ture plans for the VA, and took time
and weapon needs. Participants also Benefi ts Information and Financial to answer participants’ questions.
attended an MOAA- Education Department. Following lunch, Col. Lee Lange
sponsored reception on Spouses and auxiliary II, USMC-Ret., director of MOAA’s
Capitol Hill to honor
VA Secre-
members also were Council and Chapter Affairs Depart-
those who worked dili-
tary Eric
invited to attend a spe- ment, gave leaders an update on
gently last year to pass cial benefi ts informa- 22 Year of the Chapter initiatives
legislation that benefi ts
K. Shinseki
tion briefi ng. under way to help strengthen the
servicemembers and
outlined
Attendees learned association’s councils and chapters.
their families. (To fi nd
for attend-
about the services Attendees then participated in a
out more about these
ees the
provided by The Of- lively cross talk session and shared
honorees, read the fea-
numerous
fi cer Placement Service management techniques.
ture “A Class of Their (TOPS), MOAA’s career- Illinois Council President Lt. Col.
Own,” page 60.) hurdles the transition service, which Jack Michalski, USA-Ret., presented
After lobbying their
VA current-
provides assistance to a check for $7,500 to The Scholar-
congressional repre-
ly faces.
servicemembers and ship Fund of MOAA. The council
sentatives on Capitol their spouses. Council is in the process of establishing
Hill, participants and and chapter leaders its fourth Designated Scholarship.
their spouses attended were asked to identify a Hubert Herre, general manager of
a formal dinner that featured chapter member well-suited to serve the Crowne Plaza in Alexandria
keynote speaker Rep. Joe Wilson as a liaison for TOPS and place more (where the seminar was held), also
(R-S.C.). Wilson, who served in emphasis on TOPS, because transi- presented a check for $3,500 for the
the South Carolina Army National tion programs help chapters recruit scholarship fund.
Guard and U.S. Army Reserve, is younger offi cers. Violet Smith of Before adjourning, members of
a member of the House Armed MOAA’s Auxiliary Member Advisory the national board of directors ap-
Services Committee and supports Committee also asked council leaders proved a charter for the new MOA
many of MOAA’s legislative priori- to encourage each chapter in their Central Vermont Chapter. Del-
ties, including maintaining a strong state to appoint an auxiliary liaison egates also learned about chapters
national defense. to establish and maintain a link to the in development in Georgia, Idaho,
During the seminar, Ed Kringer, national MOAA Auxiliary Member Michigan, Montana, New York,
director of the DoD State Liaison Advisory Committee. Utah, and Virginia.
Offi ce, briefed participants on the Many council and chapter leaders Council and chapter leaders who
DoD State Liaison Program, in received recognition during the 2008 would like to review presentations
which 10 liaisons in fi ve U.S. regions Communications Award presentation. from the seminar can do so by visiting
inform nonprofi t associations such (To view samples of winning publica- MOAA’s Web site at www.moaa.org/
as MOAA, community leaders, and tions and Web sites and see the top chapters. From there, select Chapter
state policymakers about the needs recruiting brochure, visit www.moaa Leaders and then Council Presidents’
of military members and their fami- .org/communicationsaward.) Each Seminar 2009. MO
lies. Attendees also were briefed on year, MOAA conducts this contest
MOAA’s legislative district liaison and presents awards to members of
— Contributors are Col. Lee Lange II,
USMC-Ret., director; Col. Barry Wright,
program, which pairs chapters with its affi liates who do an outstanding
USA-Ret., deputy director, Council and
congressional districts to increase job communicating with their fellow
Chapter Affairs; and Kris Ann Hegle. For
the association’s legislative clout. members using a variety of media. submission information, see page 18.
38 MILITARY OFFICER JULY 2009
JJul_chapters.indd 38ul_chapters.indd 38 66/10/09 5:51 PM/10/09 5:51 PM
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