MOAA: Chapter Activities (Field Reports)

New School

This year will mark the eighth anniversary of MOAA’s Chapter Presidents’ Symposium. At each symposium, attendees have been asked to focus on the recruitment of new members.

Not surprisingly, MOAA’s chapter leaders always come to the same conclusion. The old style of recruiting—simply asking an eligible member to join—just does not work any more. Now eligible members want to know, “What’s in it for me?” And, despite the fact that MOAA has provided chapter members with the information they need to answer that question, it’s still a tough sell.

There is, however, one constant theme that successful chapters use: A demonstration by chapter members that they are deeply involved in community activities. Community involvement resonates with younger active duty members and recent retirees. It is something tangible that they can get their hands around.

They appreciate chapter members who visit wounded veterans in a VA hospital; they recognize the significance of a chapter adopting a deployed Guard or Reserve unit. And they want to be associated with folks who do these things. They don’t want to sit around and swap war stories as much as they want to be a part of an organization that does things.

So, for those of you who might be interested in joining a chapter, ask yourselves, “What do these chapter folks do for me and my kind? Are they truly concerned about us?” As for those of you who are chapter members, ask yourselves, “Are we doing something for our younger brothers and sisters? Do our programs make us relevant to them? If not, why not?”

Col. Chris Giaimo, USAF-Ret.
Director, Council and Chapter Affairs

Field Reports

Seattle Chapter Revitalizes

New community service projects, a renewed emphasis on recruiting, better communication, and interesting speakers at monthly meetings are helping leaders of the Seattle Chapter revitalize their chapter.

Four years ago, the Seattle Chapter had 300 names on its membership roster. In 2003, the chapter’s leaders reviewed the roster and, after removing the names of members who were deceased or had failed to renew their memberships or pay dues, they discovered the chapter had only 130 dues-paying members.

Chapter leaders stepped up their recruiting and retention efforts, and today the Seattle Chapter has 210 members. Last year, the chapter even received one of MOAA’s four-star Levels of Excellence Awards.

Chapter President Lt. Col. Ken Deich, USAF-Ret., says community service projects have renewed members’ interest in the chapter. In 2004, members donated $500 to the United Services Organization (USO) lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

“That was the first time we donated money to the USO,” says Deich. “Several of our auxiliary members also are planning to volunteer there in the future.”

The chapter recruited 40 members in 2004, five of whom serve in the National Guard or Reserve. One of those members, Lt. Col. Steve Vautrain, USAFR, is the vice commander of the 446th Operations Group at McChord AFB, Wash. Vautrain now is working with the chapter to find ways to help the families of deployed servicemembers who are stationed at the base.

The chapter also is increasing its support of area Junior ROTC (JROTC) and ROTC units. Starting this year, a $500 check will be given to the top cadet among the nine JROTC units the chapter supports, and a $100 check will be given to the top cadet in each of two ROTC units.

The Seattle Chapter also has hosted several interesting speakers at its monthly meetings, including former Army paratrooper Lynn “Buck” Compton, whose experiences during World War II were detailed in Stephen Ambrose’s book and the TV miniseries “Band of Brothers.”

On April 25, MOAA President Vice Adm. Norbert R. Ryan Jr., USN-Ret., will address the chapter at its regular meeting at Washington Athletic Club in Seattle. Area MOAA members are invited to attend.

VCOC Storms Virginia State Capital

Members from all 15 MOAA chapters in Virginia traveled to the statehouse in Richmond Jan. 24 to participate in the Virginia Council of Chapters’ (VCOC) fifth annual Storming the Hill session. Forty council members lobbied their state representatives on behalf of the 43,000 MOAA members who live in Virginia in the effort, which is patterned after national MOAA’s Storming the Hill session.

To maximize their effectiveness, council members coordinated their efforts with other state military and veterans’ organizations. VCOC members also broke into small groups and lobbied by legislative district.

Two pieces of legislation topped the council’s priority list this year. The first seeks to increase funding for Virginia’s Department of Veterans Services so it can hire more claims agents. The second seeks to increase the number of veterans’ care centers in the state and increase funds for the Richmond veterans’ care center, which is under construction.

VCOC members also lobbied for providing 24-hour security at the Virginia War Memorial and for continuing tuition waivers for the dependents of military personnel who are stationed in Virginia but are not state residents.

VCOC members met with Virginia Attorney General Jerry Kilgore; Bill Leighty, chief of staff for Gov. Mark Warner (D); Speaker of the House of Delegates Bill Howell (R); Senate Majority Leader Walter Stosch (R); Delegate William R. Janice (R); and Majority Whip Delegate Kirk Cox (R). The council maintains close ties to Cox, whose senior legislative aide is VCOC First Vice President Col. Bill Flanagan, USA-Ret. VCOC members also met with Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.), who sits on the House Armed Service Committee. For 30 minutes, members discussed pending national legislation that affects military members, veterans, and their families. “Getting face time is critical,” says Col. Sam Wilder, USA-Ret., VCOC committee member from the Richmond Area Chapter. “It gives you a chance to develop personal relationships, which is exactly what we’ve been able to do.”

Since VCOC members began storming the statehouse five years ago, they’ve racked up a number of legislative achievements, including creating a new Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Hampton Roads and safeguarding the personal information contained on servicemembers’ DD 214 forms. The council also has helped reform the way Virginia delivers services to veterans who live in the state. In 2003, the state created a new Department of Veterans Services, along with a Veterans Services Foundation, Joint Leadership Council, and Board of Veterans Services. VCOC Secretary Col. Melville A. Drisko Jr., USA-Ret., currently serves on the Board of Veterans Services.

Heartland of America Chapter Hosts Senator

In December 2004, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), a member of the armed services committee, was the guest speaker at a meeting of the Heartland of America Chapter in Bellevue, Neb. During his speech, Nelson outlined improvements to the Survivor Benefit Plan, discussed the military’s reliance on the National Guard and Reserve, and talked about the future of nearby Offutt AFB.

Offutt AFB might be in jeopardy as base realignment and closure rounds continue. Chapter members think closing the base will hurt military operations and the state’s economy, and they’ve forged close ties with their congressional representatives to ensure their voice is heard.

“We’re fortunate because we live in a state that has a population of only 1.7 million people,” says chapter President Col. Joe DeCarlo, USAF-Ret. “Because of that, we’ve been able to build good relationships with all of our congressional and state representatives and get them out here to speak to us.”

Four years ago, the chapter helped form a state military coalition that works to exempt military retired pay from state income tax. Chapter members continue to lobby and testify on this issue, which they think affects Nebraska’s ability to attract highly skilled military retirees who are employed by state businesses and DoD contractors at Offutt AFB.

“One of the reasons we’ve been able to grow is we’ve changed the chapter from a social organization to one that is more politically active,” says DeCarlo. “That’s helped us get younger members. The average age of our board of directors now is 61.”

The chapter also has started several new programs in recent years, including a personal affairs program. The chapter’s bylaws also were changed to allow auxiliary members to serve on the board of directors and on various committees.

In addition, chapter members are working to start their own officer placement program to help military retirees find a second career. Members also are helping the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

Members of the Heartland of America Chapter also sit on Offutt AFB’s advisory committee, and the chapter supports 14 Junior ROTC and three ROTC units. Last fall, the chapter sponsored a table at an Air Force ROTC dinner to help younger cadets pay for the cost of attending.

Central California Coast Chapter Focuses on Recruiting

Leaders of the Central California Coast Chapter are working to increase their membership by recruiting more active duty servicemembers and younger retirees. Last December, chapter President Col. John Mirolla, USA-Ret., presented free, one-year chapter memberships to four newly commissioned Army second lieutenants who were graduating from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Calif. The new officers also received free, one-year memberships to national MOAA.

“We’re very conscious of the need to keep our membership up so we can maintain our political clout,” says Mirolla.

Last year, the 164-member chapter recruited 15 new members. All new members had a chapter sponsor who made them feel welcome and learned about their interests. Whenever possible, new members’ interests were matched with the chapter’s needs, and new members were encouraged to get involved in a chapter-sponsored project or program.

Chapter members are working closely with their sister chapter, the Santa Maria-Lompoc (Calif.) Chapter, to recruit more active duty members who are stationed at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. The Central California Coast Chapter also is reaching out to members of the National Guard who are training at Camp San Luis Obispo.

The chapter’s main outreach project is its support of ROTC students at California Polytechnic State University. Each year, members present a $750 scholarship and a $500 scholarship to the unit’s top two cadets, who are honored at a dinner meeting.