chaptersinaction Adding Voices

Members are starting new chapters and developing creative solutions to help attain MOAA’s goal of having a legislative presence in all 435 congressional districts.

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apt. Robert Kutulis, USAF (Ret), joined the Valley Forge (Pa.) Chapter (www.moaa.or

g/chapter/valleyforge) seeking camaraderie but soon realized the chapter offered more. Mem- bers assist local ROTC and Junior ROTC cadets through the chapter’s scholarship program, support state veterans’ homes, and participate in community-service projects. Kutulis realized he could continue

to serve others through his MOAA chapter. His involvement increased, and he held several leadership roles, eventually serving as chapter presi- dent and then president of the Penn- sylvania Council of Chapters. While council president, he revitalized the Northeast Pennsylvania/Pocono Mountains and York County (Pa.) chapters. He also was appointed to serve on the Pennsylvania State Veter- ans Commission and received a state commendation for his work. Then Kutulis and his wife, Carol,

moved to Traverse City, Mich., which doesn’t have a MOAA chapter. Now he’s working to start a chapter that will make an impact in the community and give MOAA a presence in the con- gressional district served by U.S. Rep. Dan Benishek, a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. “When I lived in Pennsylvania, I sat on the military advisory committee

42 MILITARY OFFICER SEPTEMBER 2015

for then-Congressman Jim Gerlach,” Kutulis says. “I’d like to establish a re- lationship with Rep. Benishek and get a chapter going that serves the active duty Coast Guard members and re- tired military officers who live here.”

Increasing MOAA’s clout MOAA’s Government Relations team has never been busier. This year, they’ve battled sequestration, propos- als to cut commissary benefits and re- form the military retirement system, and other legislative threats. Finding allies in Congress hasn’t been easy. Only 16 percent of sena-

represent. Numbers count.

always tell [your legislators] how many people you

“ You should — North Texas Chapter

President Col. Sam Wilder Jr., USA (Ret)

”

tors and 18 percent of representa- tives have served in the military. So MOAA’s leaders set a goal to increase the association’s grassroots legisla- tive influence by establishing a pres- ence — a chapter, satellite chapter, or chapter legislative chair/liaison — in all 435 congressional districts.

On the road: This month, Col. Barry Wright, USA (Ret), director, Council and Chapter Affairs, will visit chapter members in Arkansas, Oregon, and South Dakota. See MOAA Calendar, page 116.

Experienced legislative advocates

like Col. Sam Wilder Jr., USA (Ret), understand the power of grassroots support. While living in Virginia, Wilder served as the legislative chair for the Richmond (Va.) Area Chapter. He also was president of MOAA’s Virginia Council of Chap- ters and the Joint Leadership Coun- cil of Veterans Organizations, a state legislative coalition. Two years ago, Wilder and his

wife, Phyllis, moved to Prosper, Texas. Wilder joined the Greater Dallas Chapter and soon began working with Lt. Col. David Schafer, USAF (Ret), to start the North Texas Chapter. Wilder now is president of the

North Texas Chapter, whose mem- bers support the Veterans Center of North Texas Inc. and advocate on state legislation through the Texas Council of Chapters and the Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations. The chapter has a legislative presence in three congressional districts. Members use MOAA’s Capwiz

system (moaa.capwiz.com) to email their congressional legislators and Capwiz’s “Tell a Friend” feature to increase support for pending legisla- tion. The chapter’s 12-person legisla- tive team includes a liaison for each U.S. senator and representative in their area, as well as state senators and representatives.