chaptersinaction Spousal Support
MOAA’s strongest chapters use all of their resources, with members’ spouses holding leadership positions, running service projects, and acting as newsletter editors and webmasters.
S
everal years ago, the by- laws of the Venice Area (Fla.) Chapter (
www.venic
emoaa.com) were changed to allow spouses to vote and hold leadership positions. Since then, the chapter has benefited from the contribu- tions made by members like Rev. Liz Jensen, who is married to chapter President Lt. Col. Dallas Jensen, ARNG (Ret). Liz Jensen currently serves as the chapter treasurer and chaplain and authors a monthly newsletter column. She also sits on the chapter’s Veterans’ Fund com- mittee, which raised $600 in 2015 to help local veterans and their families. Marjorie Loria Healey, who’s mar- ried to chapter board member Lt. Col. Edward Healey, USMC (Ret), spends up to 20 hours each month supporting the chapter. When the chapter had trouble finding a secretary, Healey volunteered and filled that post for seven years. When the membership chair resigned last year due to health issues, she took over that job, too. She also is the chapter’s roster chair and email point of contact, chairs the Veterans’ Fund, and edits the chapter newsletter. Finally, she manages the chapter website, which has received a Col. Marvin J. Harris Communica- tions Award from national MOAA — and plenty of praise from the judges — for three consecutive years.
46 MILITARY OFFICER MARCH 2016
Healey’s contributions haven’t gone unnoticed. Earlier this year, she received MOAA’s President’s Award. Although it’s nice to receive recogni- tion, she says her primary focus is helping the chapter grow and thrive. “My heart goes out to anyone who has served in the military,” she says, “and I want to be part of an organization that does something to help them.”
Using all resources Some of MOAA’s strongest chapters have changed their bylaws to allow spouses to hold leadership positions.
to MOAA because ... they serve hand-in-hand to support their member-spouse.
are important “ Spouses
— Arizona Chapter board member Beth Cullison
”
The Arizona Chapter (
www.azmoaa .org), which has earned 10 consecu- tive five-star Levels of Excellence awards from national MOAA, receives support from a dedicated group of spouses. One of those spouses, Beth Cullison, currently serves on the board of directors alongside her husband,
On the road: This month, Col. Barry Wright, USA (Ret), director, MOAA Council and Chapter Af- fairs, will visit chapter members in Missouri in March. See MOAA Calen- dar, page 110, for dates.
Lt. Col. James Cullison, USAF (Ret). Previously, Beth Cullison served as secretary and membership and roster chair and sat on several committees, including one that provided recom- mendations to the board of directors on how to improve the chapter. In 2015, she raised $500 for the chapter’s scholarship fund by working with a local restaurant owner who agreed to donate a percentage of meal sales. Many other Arizona Chapter spouses have held leadership posi- tions, as well as hosting a monthly bingo event and providing refresh- ments for residents at the Arizona State Veteran Home in Phoenix. The contributions made by mem- bers’ spouses haven’t gone unnoticed. In 2012, Beth Cullison received na- tional MOAA’s Certificate of Merit for the outstanding support she provides to the Arizona Chapter. In 2001, chapter leaders established an annual Meritorious Service Award to recog- nize members’ stellar work. To date, 12 spouses have received the award — some multiple times. “Spouses are important to MOAA because … they serve hand-in-hand to support their member-spouse in carrying out chapter business,” says Beth Cullison. “Spouses … are just as important to local chapters and the national organization as dues- paying members.”
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