chaptersinaction “When you meet with your legis-
lators, you should always tell them how many people you represent,” Wilder says. “Numbers count. If you get spouses involved, then you’ve just doubled the number of people you represent.”
Working across state lines North Carolina Council of Chap- ters President Col. Jeri Graham, USA (Ret), is working to establish satellite chapters in congressional districts with no MOAA chapter. The state currently has three satel- lite chapters, and a fourth is under development.
“The satellites help us meet our
legislative mission and take care of those national MOAA members who otherwise would not be able to par- ticipate in a chapter,” Graham says. Currently, Graham works across
state lines with South Carolina Council of Chapters President Col. Dale Ellenburg, USA (Ret), to maintain a legislative influence in South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District. Several members of the Charlotte-Metrolina (N.C.) Chapter (
www.moaa.org/chapter/NC04) live in Rock Hill, S.C., including Col. Charles Martin Jr., USAF (Ret), who has a good working relationship with 5th district U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney. Until a MOAA chapter is established in Rock Hill, Martin will serve as the legislative liaison for that district — even though he’s a chapter member in North Carolina.
“That is the only congressional
district in South Carolina that doesn’t have a chapter,” says Ellenburg. “We hope to take things to the next level and form a chapter in Rock Hill, but we’re not quite there yet.”
PHOTO: SEAN SHANAHAN
Stay Engaged With MOAA
As September arrives and we move into the fall season, many of our chapters begin to meet again after a summer break. For other chapter and council members, August remained a busy time as they visited their legislators and staff members during the Au- gust congressional recess. These visits are a key step in our efforts to maintain contact with local district offices and educate and continue to advocate MOAA’s positions. Thank you to all of our members who par- ticipated in this effort. Effective communication at all levels, just like when we were on active
duty conducting operations, is essential to MOAA’s success both at the state and national level when we are dealing with time-sensitive issues. Your indi- vidual efforts, including the visits during the August recess, are critical to the process and vital to our overall success. MOAA has a strategic communication plan, and our chapter and council
members play an indispensable role in our engagement strategy with Con- gress. I often hear folks discuss and complain about goings-on in Washing- ton. I also hear about what is not happening on the Hill. Our chapters and councils work both sides of the aisle and strive to re- main politically nonpartisan. We are in the legislative process for the long haul. Our chapter members and our legislative committees continue to serve us, and we are all better for it. To aid in the communication efforts, MOAA provides information to
members across several different communication platforms. The award-win- ning Military Officer is one of those platforms, and while it can provide out- standing depth, about 60 days transpire between when I write my column and you finally receive your magazine at home and read it. Several electronic newsletters help bridge the gap and provide timely
news updates via email. The Affiliate and the Council and Chapter Affairs Update are provided to chapter members and leaders, and MOAA’s Leg- islative Update keeps all members abreast of the action on Capitol Hill. You can sign up for these newsletters online at
www.moaa.org/email or by calling the Member Service Center at (800) 234-MOAA (6622). The question should be clear: Do you want to sit on the sidelines and
complain, or do you want to be engaged in the process? We need everyone to continue to serve — to stay engaged in the communication process so we can make a positive difference. We need your continued support to help our voice stay strong and power- ful. I hope to see you in the future at a chapter meeting. — Col. Barry Wright, USA (Ret) Director, Council and Chapter Affairs
SEPTEMBER 2015 MILITARY OFFICER 43
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