chaptersinaction
bers and their families. He also acts as a liaison between the chapter and his Army ROTC unit at Sam Houston. “I think the thing I like best [about being copresident] is the networking aspect,” says Salazar, who attends chapter meetings with fellow cadets. “I’ve met a lot of people who have helped me out in a lot of ways.” East Texas Chapter members
provide a range of support to the cadets in the Army ROTC program at Sam Houston State University. Each year, chapter members award a $500 savings bond to an outstand- ing cadet, and chapter member Col. John McManners, USA-Ret., and his wife, Genie, present two cadets with $500 scholarships each. Chap- ter members also receive invitations from the Army ROTC unit at the university to share their experienc- es with the cadets and discuss with them the challenges many military officers face in areas such as ethics, planning, and time management. Keen thinks having ROTC cadets
serve as co-officers has infused new energy and ideas into the chapter. He also believes the chapter is ac- complishing its mission of provid- ing young cadets with a positive first impression of MOAA. “Professional people belong to
professional organizations, and these cadets know MOAA is a pro- fessional organization,” says Keen.
Recruiting cadets for the association Members of the Admiral Arleigh Burke (Colo.) Chapter also are mak- ing plans to welcome ROTC cadets and midshipmen who are juniors and seniors into the association. Chapter members support three
ROTC programs at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Each year, chapter members present four outstanding cadets with MOAA medals, and four additional cadets each receive a $500 scholarship. Cadets, in turn, assist chap- ter members with community-service projects such as maintaining the Adm. Arleigh A. Burke Memorial. Chapter mem- bers also pick up the tab for the half- dozen cadets who attend the chapter’s monthly breakfast meetings. Cadets often are accompanied by their ROTC instructors, some of whom are chapter members. After leading chapter members in the Pledge of Allegiance, cadets brief members about their unit’s activities. “Now when junior and senior cadets come to our meetings, we’ll make them aware they can join MOAA and sign them up,” says sec- ond vice president and ROTC chair Capt. Richard C. Smith, USNR-Ret.
relationship with cadets helped chap- ter members recruit using the Gold Bar Program.
Forging a positive
Award. Members also present $300 scholarships each semester to an outstanding cadet in each unit. “I never handed a scholarship check to a cadet who didn’t seem genuinely grate- ful,” says Marnane. “[The cadets] know who we are and have an apprecia- tion for MOAA.” ROTC cadets support chapter- run service projects such as “Bingo and Bagels.” Through Bingo and Bagels, chapter members join with cadets to visit veterans who reside in the Emory
Developing an appreciation for MOAA The Halifax (Fla.) Chapter has ties to three ROTC programs it supports at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Uni- versity in Daytona Beach, Fla. In fact, Cmdr. Janet K. Marnane, USN-Ret., the chapter’s president, once served as the executive officer for the uni- versity’s Navy ROTC program. Each year, chapter members rec- ognize the university’s top ROTC cadet with the chapter’s Challenger
L. Bennett Memorial Veterans Nurs- ing Home in Daytona Beach; while they’re there, they distribute ba- gels and play bingo with residents. Senior cadets and instructors also participate in the chapter’s ROTC Pledge Night, an annual fundraiser that gives members a chance to meet with and get to know more about the cadets they support. Forging a positive relationship with cadets and instructors helped members recruit graduating ROTC cadets and midshipmen through the association’s Gold Bar Program last year. Through the program, chapter members present newly commis- sioned officers with their first set of gold bars — free from national MOAA — and a complimentary trial membership in the association. Currently, chapter members are planning to expand their recruiting efforts to include ROTC cadets and midshipmen who are in their junior and senior years.
MAY 2011 MILITARY OFFICER 43
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