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statistics and budgetary informa- tion of interest to lawmakers. “We do a tremendous amount of
research on each issue,” says Col. Don Kaiserman, USA-Ret., VCOC first vice president and legislative chair. “Because of that, members of the general assembly view us as ad- vocates, not lobbyists.” This year, members are seeking
to establish an alternate, dedicated revenue source, such as a lottery, to fund state veterans’ programs; im- prove the processing of VA claims and access to benefits; increase funding for state veterans’ cemeter- ies and the Virginia War Memorial; establish special judicial procedures for servicemembers with mental disorders who break the law; and expand access to higher education for veterans.
Increasing support When VCOC members researched how to establish a state veterans’ lottery, they received valuable infor- mation from MOAA council leaders in seven other states who already had helped pass similar legislation. To increase grassroots support
for a veterans’ lottery and other is- sues, the VCOC launched VAVet (
www.vavet.org), which allows members to send e-mail messages to their elected representatives at crit- ical junctures during the legislative process. National MOAA is support- ing the VCOC by sending e-mails to nonchapter MOAA members in Virginia outlining the council’s state legislative efforts and urging them to use VAVet. “I think VAVet is clearly helping
our advocacy efforts,” says Lt. Col. John Clickener, USMC-Ret., VCOC vice chair for state legislation.
Moving forward Virginia council members already are gearing up for the 2012 legisla- tive session and are planning to host legislative forums and meet with legislators in their home offices. These events will give legislators an opportunity to ask questions
and provide feedback on the issues they’ll be asked to support before the 2012 legislature convenes. “Storming the Hill is only one
event in a series of events,” says VCOC President Col. Sam Wilder Jr., USA-Ret. “We work on legisla- tive issues year-round.”
Give Me 10!
DURING THE 2010 GIVE ME 10! (GMT) CAMPAIGN, 5,394 members were recruited or converted their regular MOAA memberships to life mem- berships. Mount Rainier (Wash.) Chapter’s Lt. Col. Heinz Haskins, USA- Ret., won the $1,000 recruiter sweepstakes. The member he recruited, 1st Lt. Janis Gbalah, USA, received $500 and a life membership in MOAA. The Virginia Council of Chapters and the Fort Rucker (Ala.) Chapter
received special GMT awards of $1,000 each for being the 2010 top- recruiting council and chapter. Fort Rucker Chapter’s Lt. Col. Othan Gilbert USAR-Ret., received a President’s Award at MOAA’s annual meeting for being the 2010 Recruiter of the Year. The chapters below received $1,000 each for recruiting the most
members in their size categories. The winners, with the number of paid members they recruited, are Category 1 (49 or fewer members) — no winner Category 2 (50 to 74 members) River Valley (Ark.) — 13 Category 3 (75 to 99 members) Northwest Arkansas Military Officers Group — 25 Category 4 (100 to 120 members) Lake Tahoe (Nev.) — 29 Category 5 (121 to 149 members) Northeast Arkansas — 18 Category 6 (150 to 199 members) Southside Virginia— 12 Category 7 (200 to 249 members) — no winner Category 8 (250 to 299 members) St. Petersburg (Fla.) Area — 17 Category 9 (300 to 499 members) MOA of Albuquerque (N.M.) — 15 Category 10 (500-plus members) Minnesota Chapter — 65 The winners of the fourth set of quarterly awards for 2010, with the number of paid members recruited, are Southeast: Florida Council of Chapters — 16 Midwest: Arkansas Council of Chapters — 43 West: no winner Northeast: Virginia Council of Chapters — 35 Independent chapter: no winner The Midwest region winner received $500, and winners in the South-
east and Northeast regions received $1,000 ($500 plus a $500 rollover incentive because there was no winner the previous quarter.)
*online: Learn more about the Virginia Council of Chapters’ advocacy efforts at
www.virginiamoaa.com. APRIL 2011 MILITARY OFFICER 47
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