Field Reports
Contributors are Col. Chris Giaimo, USAF-Ret., Director, and Col. Jim Pauls, USAF-Ret., Council and Chapter Affairs, and Kris Ann Hegle

Level Best

How They Did It

If the 2004 Levels of Excellence Awards are any indication, MOAA’s chapters just keep getting better and better. This year, 37 chapters received five-star Levels of Excellence awards, compared to 21 chapters last year.

Achieving five-star status isn’t easy. Chapters must meet a variety of objective criteria, such as submitting an updated membership roster and list of officers and hosting well-rounded programs and events. Also, chapters must have an e-mail point of contact and a legislative liaison, publish at least six newsletters a year, and encourage their members to join national MOAA.

Chapters are judged using subjective criteria, too. Judges review each chapter’s legislative affairs and personal affairs programs and evaluate how effective a chapter’s recruiting and retention program has been. Chapters earn points for programs and projects that enhance their image and national MOAA’s.

Although the same criteria are used to evaluate each chapter, the way each chapter fulfills each requirement differs. Here’s how some top-notch chapters fulfilled their missions in 2004 and reached five-star status.

Striving for Perfection

The Mount Vernon (Va.) Chapter was the only chapter to get a perfect score in every category. This isn’t surprising, given the number of events, programs, services, and projects it has undertaken.

Last year, chapter members sponsored 17 events, including two personal affairs seminars, and attended the Virginia Council of Chapters’ congressional luncheon. They distributed phone cards to wounded servicemembers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and supported “Hearts Apart,” a program at Fort Belvoir, Va., that helps deployed servicemembers’ spouses.

In 2004, the Mount Vernon Chapter’s membership was its highest in more than eight years, thanks to an effective recruiting program targeting both active duty and retired servicemembers. The chapter received high marks also for its legislative affairs efforts; TOPS Career Program for job seekers; and personal affairs program, for which the chapter publishes an emergency planning guide for members who need help following the death of a spouse.

Going Grassroots

The New Hampshire Chapter received high marks for its outstanding legislative affairs program. The chapter has two legislative liaisons, Cmdr. Peter Burdett, USN-Ret., and Lt. Col. Robert E. Introne Jr., USAF-Ret., who monitor legislation at the national and state levels. Burdett and chapter President Lt. Col. John Graham, USA-Ret., sit on several congressional task forces, while Introne represents members’ interests in the state legislature, where he is serving his third term.

The chapter also has an outstanding scholarship program that provides interest-free loans to members’ children and grandchildren. To raise money for the program, members host an annual clambake, which is attended by state and congressional representatives as well as MOAA members throughout New England. During the past 20 years, members have raised more than $23,500 and awarded 51 interest-free loans.
 

Staying Strong

The El Paso (Texas) Chapter lost eight chapter officers in 2004 because of health reasons, personal issues, and moves. Aided by several past presidents, the remaining officers “reached down and pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps,” says President CWO Edward Ney, USA-Ret.
 
The chapter recruited aggressively and picked up 52 new members. In an innovative move, Lt. Col. Joe Simonelli, USA, was appointed to a new office: third vice president in charge of active duty, Guard, and Reserve membership. With his help, the chapter recruited many new members from these components.

Members also distributed information about The Scholarship Fund of MOAA. Thanks to their efforts, 25 students in the El Paso area applied to the fund last year, compared to three applicants in 2003. Members further supported the fund by donating $1,000 themselves.

The chapter also supported 26 Junior ROTC units and one ROTC unit in the area, footing the bill for four outstanding cadets to attend an annual youth leadership conference.

Recruiting Young Members

Miramar (Calif.) Chapter’s recruiting program helped it achieve five-star status again. In 2004, the chapter recruited 50 new members. Better still, the chapter’s focus on recruiting younger members is working: 17 percent of the new members are under 55.

According to chapter President Capt. Thomas G. Bauer, USNR-Ret., Miramar has been successful recruiting younger members in part because of its highly successful TOPS liaison program, which helped seven members find jobs last year. Chapter representatives also attend semimonthly Transition Assistance Program briefings at several nearby bases, which helps with recruiting.

The Miramar Chapter is known for its volunteerism, with members participating in more than 65 organizations in the San Diego area. Many of these organizations help veterans and military members and their families.

The chapter also earned high marks for its communications efforts, which include a newsletter, a Web presence, and an e-mail tree network.

Taking It to the Next Level

The Tampa (Fla.) Chapter was one of several to move from four-star status to five-star status this year. The chapter picked up points for redesigning its recruiting brochure and signing up 32 new members.

A new program, Operation Helping Hand, also helped drive up the chapter’s score. Founded in June 2004, Operation Helping Hand assists the families of injured active duty servicemembers who are undergoing treatment at the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa. Operation Helping Hand continues to generate publicity — this year, it took top honors at the sixth annual Newman’s Own Award ceremony and received a $10,000 grant. The program has received much attention, with chapter President Capt. Bob Silah, USN-Ret., appearing on a local radio program and a TV talk show.
 
The Tampa Chapter also set up a concession booth at MacDill AFB’s annual AirFest, which drew more than 1 million people. Members used the opportunity to do a little recruiting and raised more than $2,500, which will be used to expand the chapter’s scholarship program.

Contributors are Col. Chris Giaimo, USAF-Ret., Director, and Col. Jim Pauls, USAF-Ret., Council and Chapter Affairs, and Kris Ann Hegle