chapters in action
Moving Ahead
Col. Lee Lange II, USMC (Ret), set to retire in January 2013, met with chapter leaders at the regional Chapter Presidents’ Symposium to discuss ways to keep the chapter system strong.
This month marks my final Chapters in Action column. Some of you already know I will be retiring from MOAA in early 2013 and heading west to Arizona. The past 11 years with the association, including six as the head of our chapter system, have been an amazing journey as we have worked together to move the chapter system forward. My job has been unique because it has given me the opportunity to work side-by-side with the thousands of council and chapter members in our system to achieve some important common goals. Each time I had the privilege of visiting a council or chapter, I found more motivation for redoubling my efforts on behalf of our council and chapter members. The unselfish dedication of these volunteers always left me trying to do more for them as they give back to MOAA and their communities every day.
Over the years, we’ve asked our chapter system to do a lot, and you’ve responded over and over with important grassroots support for MOAA’s legislative goals and state-level legislation and as ambassadors for MOAA in communities across the U.S. The more than 60,000 members of MOAA’s chapter system are a force to be reckoned with, and their contributions to the association are immense. Our goal at national MOAA has been to help you as much as you help us. We aren’t there yet, but change is coming with a much greater awareness of what chapters do for the association and a new MOAA membership model and chapter member-recruiting plan to boost chapter membership.
I’d like to thank the MOAA staff for their great support over the years. They are a team of true professionals. Special thanks go to MOAA President Vice Adm. Norbert R. Ryan Jr., USN (Ret), for his exceptional leadership and unwavering support of our chapter system and to Director of Government Relations Col. Steve Strobridge, USAF (Ret), for hiring me in the first place.
In the past six years, we were able to do a number of things to bring more recognition and support to councils and chapters to help them in their day-to-day business. But much remains to be done. I’ll be succeeded as director of MOAA’s Council and Chapter Affairs Department by a familiar face — Col. Barry Wright, USA (Ret). He and his wife, Barbara, have been part of the chapter team for the past six years, so the transition will be a smooth one. I know you will welcome and support him in the same fine manner you did me. I wish you all the best, Barry. Thank you to our many friends in the chapter system. My wife, Janet, and I will miss you all.
— Col. Lee Lange II, USMC (Ret)
Director, Council and Chapter Affairs
On the road: This month, Col. Barry Wright, USA (Ret), deputy director of MOAA’s Council and Chapter Affairs Department, will visit members of the Southwest Virginia Chapter. Go to MOAA Calendar, page 74, for the date.
Connecting With MOAA
Leaders discuss chapter-management techniques.
More than 150 chapter and council leaders and their spouses attended MOAA’s 2012 Chapter Presidents’ Symposium, held Sept. 20-22 at the Flamingo Hotel’s Corporate Convention Center in Las Vegas. During the symposium, leaders exchanged ideas with key members of the national staff and board of directors, including Adm. Steve Abbot, USN (Ret), then-chair of the board, and national MOAA President Vice Adm. Norbert R. Ryan Jr., USN (Ret), and his wife, Judy.
*online: Visit
www.moaa.org/chaptersymposium for a recap of the 2012 Chapter Presidents’ Symposium.
42 MILITARY OFFICER DECEMBER 2012
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