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veterans face. During chapter meet- ings, they learned the area had many homeless veterans and few programs to assist returning veterans. To help local veterans, chapter members host an annual golf tournament fundraiser, with proceeds supporting veterans’ charities and providing college schol- arships to Junior ROTC cadets. Through the chapter, Youngman
also can express his support for the troops. Chapter mem- bers not only partici- pate in Myrtle Beach’s annual Military Appre- ciation Day parade, but they also host a break- fast for wounded war- riors and their families. Now Youngman is learning more about state legislation that affects military fami- lies. Through MOAA’s South Carolina Coun- cil of Chapters, he advocates on be- half of servicemembers, who often are reluctant to participate in the legislative process. “The dedication you feel for our country and the troops doesn’t go away when you leave the service,” says Youngman. “It’s always there. I still know how to lead and mobilize people, and I’m continuing to do that through my chapter.”
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2014. For 33 years, dePyssler has vol- unteered at Barksdale AFB, where he is the Retiree Activities Office direc- tor. He also is the chapter’s personal affairs chair and editor of its award- winning newsletter. “The No. 1 reason people join
like MOAA is looking out for you on a personal level. That’s what makes this association so great.
— Eleanor Layman ”
Caring for the troops MOAA’s councils and chapters en- able members who want to continue to serve — even in their 90s. Col. Steve dePyssler, USAF (Ret), who is 95 years old, is the driving force be- hind the Ark-La-Tex (La.) Chapter’s (
www.arklatexmoaa.org) scholarship program, which awarded $33,000 in college scholarships to 26 students in
You just feel
and remain in the chapter is our newsletter,” says dePyssler. “It’s the driving force behind our chapter, which has 1,468 members.” Implementing MOAA’s missions is important to dePyssler, who spends countless hours helping servicemembers and their families and survivors. Over the years, his accom- plishments have ranged from helping develop the Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal to establish- ing a war memorial at the Bossier City Civic Center in Bossier City, La.
Col. Robert Rupp Sr., AUS (Ret),
a World II War veteran, continues to serve by adding more members to MOAA’s One Powerful Voice®. Rupp, who is 96 years old, writes about 10 recruiting letters a year for MOAA’s Minnesota Chapter (
www.mcmoaa .org). Working alongside Col. John Abrahamson, USA (Ret), the chapter’s membership chair, Rupp increased chapter membership from 337 in 1999 to almost 1,200 members in 2014. Recently, he targeted 104 potential members age 90 and older by offer- ing free chapter memberships. In less than a month, 42 joined and 30 of those new members made donations to support the chapter’s missions. “Numbers matter when it comes to national MOAA’s lobbying efforts or even state lobbying efforts,” says Rupp, who serves on the chapter’s
board of directors. “We’re now MOAA’s fifth largest chapter.”
Helping survivors Eleanor Layman, who received MOAA’s 2014 Auxiliary Liaison Excel- lence Award, served her country as a military spouse. Now she’s continuing to serve by assisting surviving spouses following the death of their sponsors. After Layman’s husband, Maj.
Roger Layman, USA, died, she at- tended a meeting of the Fort George G. Meade (Md.) Chapter (
www.md moaa.org/Meade.htm) and wound up joining the chapter and national MOAA. Layman became the chap- ter’s personal affairs chair and now is its auxiliary liaison. Through the chapter, Layman learned about MOAA’s effort to repeal the Survivor Benefit Plan/Depen- dency and Indemnity Compensation (SBP/DIC) offset that causes survivors to forfeit a dollar of their SBP annuity for every dollar they receive in DIC. In July 2013, while serving as aux- iliary liaison for the Maryland Council of Chapters (
www.mdmoaa.org), she attended MOAA’s special Storming the Hill effort in Washington, D.C., to repeal the SBP/DIC offset. Layman says chapter member- ship enhances her life and she enjoys meeting and assisting other surviv- ing spouses. She also participates in state-level lobbying efforts, helps with recruiting events, and educates others about pending legislation and resourc- es for survivors. Layman often brings surviving spouses to MOAA events if they need a ride or encouragement to try new things. “You just feel like MOAA is looking
out for you on a personal level,” says Layman. “That’s what makes this as- sociation so great.”
FEBRUARY 2015 MILITARY OFFICER 41
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