chaptersinaction Renewing Ties

MOAA chapters not only implement the association’s missions at the local level, they also provide camaraderie and serve as a source of information for members who relocate.

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wo years ago, Lt. Col. Bob Bienvenue, USAF (Ret), and his wife, Barbara, left snowy

western New York and moved to The Villages, Fla. The Bienvenues quickly settled in and began participating in recreational activities and clubs at The Villages. They also joined the Lake and Sumter Counties (Fla.) Chapter, which provided them with a ready-made set of friends who shared similar life experiences. The chapter has had success re- cruiting new members, undertakes community-service projects, and holds fundraisers for Operation Helping Hand, a service project of the Tampa (Fla.) Chapter that assists wounded warriors and their families. Several chapter members also partici- pate in public ceremonies conducted by The Villages Memorial Park Honor Guard, and Bienvenue now is their drummer. The move provided Bienvenue, who is the former president of the Western New York Chapter and the New York Council of Chapters, with leadership opportunities. Today, he’s the legislative chair for the Lake and Sumter Counties Chapter and the Florida Council of Chapters. Throughout the year, he visits with congressional representatives and members of their staff in their dis- trict offices and writes legislative col-

42 MILITARY OFFICER FEBRUARY 2016

umns for newsletters published by his chapter and the state council. “After we made the decision to

move, it was comforting to know there was a MOAA chapter here that was very active,” says Bienv- enue. “[The members] were wel- coming and allowed me to step right in and continue to be active in MOAA’s mission.”

Starting new chapters Col. Sam Wilder Jr., USA (Ret), knew MOAA had a chapter in Dallas when he relocated from Richmond, Va., to Prosper, Texas, two years ago. What

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relationships. We take care of each other.

— Col. John Harms, USMC (Ret), Virginia Peninsula Chapter

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Wilder didn’t know was it would take more than an hour for him to drive to chapter meetings. Shortly after Wilder joined the

Greater Dallas Chapter, President Lt. Col. David Schafer, USAF (Ret), enlisted his help to start the North Texas Chapter in the northern Dallas

The cornerstone of MOAA is personal

On the road: This month, Col. Brian Ander- son, USAF (Ret), deputy director, MOAA Council and Chapter Affairs, will visit chapter members in California. See MOAA Cal- endar, page 74, for dates.

suburbs. Today, Wilder is the presi- dent and legislative chair for the new chapter, which has doubled in size in fewer than six months. Before moving, Wilder served as

legislative chair of the Richmond Area Chapter and was president of the Virginia Council of Chapters and the Joint Leadership Council of Vet- erans Service Organizations, a state legislative coalition. Now he’s using his experience to increase MOAA’s legislative presence in three congres- sional districts, where members of the North Texas Chapter live. Chap- ter members also advocate on state- level legislation through MOAA’s Texas Council of Chapters and sup- port local veterans’ assistance and career-transition programs. Wilder’s wife, Phyllis, is active in the chapter and encourages other spouses to participate and add their voices to MOAA’s legislative ef- forts. Best of all, younger members who are unable to participate in the Greater Dallas Chapter’s luncheon meetings now join the new North Texas Chapter. “Our chapter has a lot of younger members who are still working,” says Wilder. “By starting a chapter here where they live, we’ve made it easier and more convenient for them to attend meetings and get involved.”