Chapters & Councils

Mission

Information on Joining the Chapter

Either write to our President or Membership Chairperson at the Chapters mailing address, or call them at the telephone numbers listed. Dues are $20 for Regular Members and $10 for Auxiliary Members. It is payable yearly on January 1 and pro-rated for new members.

Chapter Activities

The chapter has a dinner meeting with a guest speaker or entertainment on the 3rd Thursday of each month at the Peach Tree Restaurant, Paseo Tiempo exit of Highway 17. Social Hour is at 5:00 pm. Dinner is at 6:00 pm. Cost $20.00. Meal includes salad, main course, coffee and dessert. We setup "The Avenue of Flags" with the assistance of the Santa Cruz Sea Scout Post at 7:00am and remove the flags at 3:00 pm at the Oakwood Memorial Park on Paul Sweet Drive off of Soquel Drive in Santa Cruz on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day. We participate in the MOAA Scholarship Program using member donated funds and funds raised from Chapter activities.

Legislative Issues

Legislative Update YOUR GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES President Barack Obama 1600 Penna. Ave. Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein 331 Hart Building Washington, D.C.20510 http:// feinstein.senate.gov U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer 112 Hart Building Washington, D.C. 20510 http:// boxer.senate.gov U.S. Representative Sam Farr 1117 Longworth Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20515 http:// www.farr.house.gov U.S. Representative Anna Eshoo 205 Canon Building Washington, D.C. 20515 www.house.gov/eshoo County Supervisors 701 Ocean Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060 phone 454-2000 BY ARTIE MEEK, LCDR MSC USN ((Ret) ”Stocks rally on jobs data” said CNN in early June. The so-called rally was because the jobs lost in May amounted to 345,000, fewest since last September and far less than anticipated. The numbers of workers employers plan to hire in June are the “highest totals for six months,” yet, with 13.7 million unemployed, five people will be vying for every job available. In our community, the City of Santa Cruz may lay off 40 employees and cut all salaries by 10%, while the county will require employees to take unpaid leave amounting to 5% of their annual salaries. Another report showed our country has the worst unemployment rate since 1983, at 9.4%.

General Information

For our Auxiliary Members: If your late husband was receiving any type of VA compensation or VA pension benefit (not to be confused with regular retirement pay) when he died, you may be eligible to receive these benefits for the month of his death. Eligible for the payment are surviving spouses of veterans who died after Dec 31, 1996. The VA has established a special Survivor Call Center (1-800-749-8387) for spouses who believe they may be eligible for this retroactive benefit. The call center is open Monday thru Friday from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm Central Standard Time. Donations: If you wish to make a donation to the Scholarship, Cemetery or General Fund, please send a separate check payable to “MOAA Santa Cruz” and write the fund name on the lower left “for” line. Your financial support will keep these programs going and for the General Fund, allow us to keep our dues low.