chaptersinaction
state-level legislators to discuss issues affecting the military and veterans’ community. “Year-round, we try to inform them and meet with them about the issues,” says Col. Harvey T. Kaplan, USA (Ret), president of the Maryland CoC. One effective tool is MOAA’s an-
nual State Report Card, which evalu- ates several key indicators of military friendliness in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. (MOAA’s 2017 State Report Card can be accessed at
www.moaa.org/statereport.) Currently, members of the Mary- land CoC are advocating for military retirement income to be 100-percent tax free, an issue they’ve been work- ing for several years. Though the state legislature has put forth a bill for im- mediate 100-percent subtraction of military retired pay, a hearing date has not been set. In the meantime, the Maryland CoC is “energizing the membership and other veterans’ groups so we have a good audience at the hearing and have the right people testify,” Kaplan says. He says advocacy like this at the
state level is important for MOAA councils and chapters to participate in. “Not only have we had success over the years with increasing the benefits for veterans, but we also enhance the knowledge about the military and en- hance the image of military people as a byproduct.”
“The policies set at the state
level are what most of the time re- ally impact veterans and families,” agrees Sweeney. “At the federal level, a policy will trickle down to the state, but it might take awhile. At the state level, it can be more immediate, and it can impact your income and your livelihood.”
44 MILITARY OFFICER APRIL 2017 Taking the Hill
Nothing says springtime in Washington, D.C., like the blooming of the cherry blos- soms along the banks of the Tidal Basin — and MOAA’s annual Storming the Hill event and Council Presidents’ Seminar. This month, council and chapter leaders will come from across the country and gather in the nation’s capital to represent their individual states and meet with legislators on Capitol Hill. The success of this time-honored tradition is evident in the numerous legislative victories MOAA has achieved during the past two decades. The state council presidents who deliver our message to their congres- sional delegations deserve a large part of the credit for this. They, along with their chapter legislative chairs, disseminate a focused slate of na- tional- and state-level issues to legions of chapter members. This forms a strong and engaged constituency knowledgeable and ready to act on important topics relevant to the military community. Advocacy is the core of MOAA’s mission, and the association’s coun- cils and chapters are our primary means to reach and stimulate a potent grassroots advocacy. The key to an effective grassroots campaign is staying informed. Several of our councils that will be storming at the national level also are mobilizing now to storm at the state capital level as well.
The number of MOAA-led “Storming the State” events is rising, due
in part to engaged affiliate leaders who have immersed themselves in the fight and are advocating in their states on essential issues affect- ing veterans, servicemembers, and military families (See “Grassroots Advocacy,” page 41). Storming topics and priorities differ from state to state, but the common thread connecting them all is council lead- ers establishing a rapport with their respective elected officials and educating them on military issues. The number of elected officials who have served in the military is steadily dwindling, which is contributing to a growing gap in the understanding and appreciation of the sacrifice that service entails. The good news is MOAA’s chapter members are a highly effective way to connect the 1 percent of those who have worn the cloth of our nation to the 99 percent of our fellow Americans who never have served. How can you help bridge the gap? Supporting your local school board
or volunteering with a local charity can help educate the public on mili- tary service and matters important to veterans. A surefire way to make a difference is by joining your local MOAA chapter and becoming active in grassroots advocacy.
— Col. Terri Coles, USA (Ret) senior director, Council and Chapter Affairs PHOTO: ROB CANNON
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