chaptersinaction
issues regarding changing schools compact, with the battle for passage Chapters coordinated its lobbying
mid-year. Earlier this year, Lamou- coming down to the wire in some efforts with the Joint Leadership
reux made an unaccompanied move states. In May, national MOAA Council of Veterans Organiza-
from Texas to Rhode Island for a issued a legislative alert via e-mail tions — a state coalition of veterans’
10-month assignment because the to members in Alabama. MOAA groups. Members stormed the state
couple didn’t want to risk their son council members, who capital, attended hear-
Chris’ academic standing by having already were lobbying ings, found people to
him transfer to a new high school. for passage of the testify, and launched
Stories like these aren’t uncom- interstate compact,
States in
an e-mail blitz to enlist
mon in the military world. That’s bombarded their state
the com-
legislators’ support.
why many MOAA council and chap- legislators with e-mails
pact are
Their persistence paid
ter members are lobbying their state and phone calls. On the
establish-
off; Virginia joined the
legislatures to pass the Interstate last day of the session,
Compact on Educational Opportu- the compact passed. At
ing stan-
compact June 16.
Members of the
nity for Military Children — one of press time, legislation dards to Texas Council worked
10 quality-of-life initiatives DoD is still was pending
streamline
with the Texas Veterans
supporting. The compact will ensure in several states,
the school-
Coalition to pass the
states work together to eliminate including California
administrative obstacles — including and Wisconsin. Col.
transition
compact this year. At a
key juncture in the leg-
enrollment, placement, and gradu- Don Ford, USA-Ret., process. islative process, national
ation requirements — military chil- president of the MOAA board member
dren face when they transfer schools. Wisconsin Council Lt. Col. Virginia Alloway,
An interstate commission, com- of Chapters, thinks USAF-Ret., traveled to
posed of representatives from each Wisconsin will join the compact the statehouse to voice her support
of the compact’s participating states, because it has little fi scal impact on for the compact, and Texas Council
ideally will concentrate on eliminating the state. President Maj. Jim Cunningham,
the challenging hurdles military chil- Wisconsin doesn’t have many ac- USAR-Ret., gave testimony.
dren face when transferring schools tive duty military children, and its “We really didn’t meet with a lot
because of a government-ordered PCS estimated cost to join the compact is of resistance,” says Cunningham.
move. States also will contribute $1 only $700. But in California, which “Texas is an extremely military-
per military child to participate in the has more than 61,000 military friendly state, and the compact re-
compact, which could have a fi scal im- children, council members face an ceived lots of support.”
pact on states with large numbers of uphill battle because of the state’s
military children. fi scal woes. Preparing for round two
“State legislators listen to their States that have signed on to partici-
constituents,” says Joy Dunlap, dep- Targeting key states to pate in the interstate compact now
uty director of military family issues participate in the compact are working to establish standards to
for MOAA’s Government Relations “Our ultimate goal is to have all 50 streamline the school-transition pro-
Department. “Our chapters are the states, U.S. territories, and the District cess for military children — but don’t
best tool we have to move this initia- of Columbia join the Interstate Com- expect things to change overnight. In
tive forward and make a difference pact on Educational Opportunity for the meantime, more MOAA councils
in the lives of military members and Military Children,” says Ed Kringer, and chapters are planning to begin
military children for years to come.” director of DoD’s state liaison offi ce. state-level lobbying efforts to pass
However, initial efforts have the compact in 2010.
Tackling an issue at the focused on states with the high- To fi nd out what you can do to
state level est concentrations of school-age help, contact the nearest MOAA
At press time, 25 states already military children, such as Virginia chapter in your area. Visit www
had become part of the interstate and Texas. The Virginia Council of
.moaa.org/chapters/locator.
NOVEMBER 2009 MILITARY OFFICER 43
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