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January 2012 Message PDF Print E-mail
Saturday, 04 February 2012 05:50

President's Message

January 30, 2012

I am sorry that I was not able to be in Morro Bay this year but circumstances precluded it.

It has been customary for incoming Presidents to make some comments on what their priorities will be. It is no secret that chapters in CALMOAA are, for the most part, struggling with increasing age, declining membership and a general unwillingness of members to step into leadership roles. We, as a Council, will have some heavy lifting over the next two or more years.

Over the next two years will be to achieve the following objectives:

1. Adopt the bylaws presented/tabled at Morro Bay.

I will circulate another draft taking into consideration comments that came back to me. The proposed bylaws follow the MOAA Guidelines with modifications for California’s unique situation.

2. Bring auxiliaries into the chapters with full membership status as they have in MOAA. These ladies represent an untapped resource for chapter management.

I have tasked Barby Robertson, as Auxiliary Liaison, to work with chapters, through the Area Directors. Barby has just finished up a hitch with MOAA’s Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee and is committed to bringing these ladies into full chapter participation.

3. Increase Chapter membership:

Chapter membership is a continuing problem that must be addressed in a proactive way. As you know until recently, California had many more military bases than today. This, along with the high cost of living in California, mitigates against too many folks retiring here which significantly reduces our recruiting pool. As the drawdown of forces continues those chapters located where there are a significant number of active duty will have an excellent opportunity to engage them

4. Develop guidelines to assist Chapters to remain in business in a ‘lean and mean’ configuration.

The San Fernando Valley Chapter is folding and some chapters in area 6 are considering merging. MOAA/CALMOAA needs to seriously consider developing a new type of Chapter that will allow a chapter to maintain its status without having all the baggage of maintaining a full chapter status - satellite chapters appear to work when there is a significant distance from the host chapter, i.e. Redwood Empire.

Please give this some serious thoughts and let’s get a dialog going to develop a list of issues that we have to consider. I would like to have a proposal firmed up by the time of the Spring EXCOM meeting.

Finally I would like to thank my predecessor Colonel Bill Reals for his dedication and service over the past two years – Bravo Zulu!!! We have weathered some rough times but are emerging as a stronger and more focused organization.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with thoughts, criticisms and suggestions.

CDR John Sammons
President

 

Six Good Reasons to Join Your Local MOAA Chapter

You know the value of belonging to MOAA and your chapter. But when you’re talking to a potential new chapter member, it’s important to remember that many officers may have only limited knowledge of MOAA’s chapter system. Now is the time for them to join their local chapter to add their voice to the thousands of other MOAA members making a difference on the legislative front and in their community.

Here are six good reasons for any officer—active duty, Guard, Reserve, former, or retired, or their surviving spouse—to join a MOAA chapter today.

1. Make yourself heard. MOAA’s chapters provide critical grassroots support for MOAA’s national legislative agenda. Our benefits are under attack and MOAA is in the fight to preserve them. Chapter members let their legislators know what’s on their minds and open doors for MOAA’s legislative team in Washington, D.C. In these difficult times, MOAA members need to stick together and our chapters are the best way we know to do that.

2. Giving back to the community. Chapter members are MOAA’s ambassadors in their communities, supporting countless programs that make a difference in the lives of others. These members have gone the extra step to give back in the truest sense of servant leadership.

3. Value added to chapter member lives. MOAA chapters sponsor interesting programs and opportunities to interact with civic, political, military, and business leaders on issues important to members.

4. Networking with fellow officers. Chapters include second career members in the work force or retired servicemembers who have contacts in the community that can be valuable to transitioning officers.

5. Stay informed. Chapter newsletters, websites, and meetings provide you the latest information on local, state, and national issues and changes to military benefits.

6. Influencing state legislation. Most states have a council of chapters that unites every MOAA chapter in the state. These councils often lobby for and pass state-level legislation that affects military members and their families, such exempting military retired pay from state income tax or increasing funding for state-run VA programs.

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Robert Scott
Editor/Treasurer
Shasta Country MOAA
Chapters Newsletters

Attention! Chapters Without A Website:

If you would like to have your newsletters placed on the CALMOAA website, please contact our web administrator at admin@calmoaa.org.