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Field ReportsPuerto Rico Chapter Ups Its NumbersThe Puerto Rico Chapter signed up 19 new members after sending out a mass mailing inviting prospective members to come to one of its meetings. Adding 19 new members to the roster is a significant accomplishment for the chapter, which currently has 95 members. Many of the new members were enticed to attend a meeting because they wanted to hear the chapter's guest speakers. In recent months, the chapter has arranged presentations by a number of interesting and informative speakers, including Brig. Gen. Francisco Márquez, adjutant general of the Puerto Rico National Guard, and Maj. Gen. Alfred A. Valenzuela, commanding general of the U.S. Army, South. Attendance for Valenzuela's presentation was particularly high, according to 1st Vice President Cmdr. Jerry DeMoss, usn-Ret. Valenzuela, one of the armed services' highest-ranking active duty Hispanic officers, spoke about the proposed realignment of the U.S. Southern Command, which might cause forces in the region to be repositioned. He also fielded members' questions concerning the possibility of future base closures in Puerto Rico. Chapter Fundraiser Generates Scholarship ProgramIt started when the members of the Retired Officers Club of Bradenton (Fla.) began raising money in 2001 to purchase a custom-made troa flag, which cost $600. A letter of solicitation was mailed to chapter members, and before long, contributions began pouring in. Then one generous member stepped forward and donated the entire amount needed to purchase the flag. "Quite a bit of money already had been collected, and the chapter was still receiving donations from members," says CWO4 Donald Courtney, usa-Ret., who serves as the chapter's secretary. "So, we took a vote and decided to use the money we had collected to start a Junior ROTC scholarship fund." Today, the chapter has a thriving scholarship program. Earlier this year, it awarded four $750 scholarships to outstanding Junior ROTC cadets who attend area high schools. Next year, the chapter hopes to award five scholarships to deserving students, according to Lt. Col. E.F. Richardson, usaf-Ret., chapter president. Funding a Junior ROTC scholarship program hasn't been easy for this small chapter, which has approximately 140 members. To help keep the scholarship fund alive and strong, several chapter members solicit contributions from local businesses. Most of the money in the fund, however, comes through individual chapter members' donations. According to Courtney, the Junior ROTC scholarship fund program has helped the chapter increase its visibility within the community. Articles about the chapter's scholarship program have appeared in the Bradenton Herald, and this year a local cable TV station broadcast the Junior ROTC scholarship awards presentation. Pennsylvania and Georgia Chapters Support VA Medical CentersMembers of the Keystone Capital (Pa.) Chapter and the Atlanta Chapter are doing their part to support their local Department of Veterans Affairs (va) medical centers. Recently, the board of directors of the Keystone Capital Chapter contributed $1,500 to help refurbish and redecorate patients' rooms in the hospice unit at the Lebanon va Medical Center in Lebanon, Pa. Chapter members later added more than $1,130 to that contribution. "We heard there was a need, and we wanted to help out," says Lt. Col. Tim Morrow, USMC-Ret., chapter member. "It was our way of expressing our gratitude to all of the hospice patients who served during our nation's time of need." The Keystone Capital Chapter has been supporting the Lebanon va Medical Center's hospice unit since 1998. To date, the chapter has raised more than $10,000 in funds for the project by soliciting contributions from chapter members, local businesses, and other service organizations in the area. Five rooms in the hospice unit now display a plaque acknowledging the contributions made by members of the Keystone Capital Chapter. Members of the Atlanta Chapter also are supporting their local va medical center. Last year, the chapter was certified as a participating organization, which allows members to participate in the va's Voluntary Service (VAVS) program at the medical center. Lt. Col. Melvin Wilkerson, USA-Ret., the chapter's first vice president and programs chairman, helped spearhead the project. Wilkerson, who is also a member of the Disabled American Veterans, came up with the idea to start the project after he noticed other military and veterans groups volunteered at the Atlanta va Medical Center. "The American Legion was there," says Wilkerson. "The [Veterans of Foreign Wars were] there. The Disabled American Veterans were there. One day, I just looked around and thought, 'Somebody from TROA should be here, too.'" Wilkerson took the idea to the chapter's members, who approved it, and he was appointed to serve as the chapter's new veterans' service officer. In addition, Lt. Col. Michael Gabel, USA-Ret., chapter president, and CWO Shel Miller, usa-Ret., treasurer, were appointed to serve as deputy representatives. All three now serve on the medical center's VAVS Advisory Committee. The Atlanta Chapter also supports other VAVS-sponsored programs at the medical center. These programs include the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Program; the Summer Student Program, which allows students age 14 to 21 to volunteer at the medical center; and the annual Stand Down program, which provides a wide range of services and care to homeless veterans. Pikes Peak Chapter Members VolunteerThe "Paint and Hammer Gang" at the Pikes Peak Chapter in Colorado Springs, Colo., has spent the summer building wheelchair ramps, painting houses, and doing other repair work for needy seniors and low-income homeowners. Lt. Col. Joe Gmelch, usa-Ret., who serves as the chapter's medical benefits advisor, came up with the idea to start a Paint and Hammer Gang in 2000. Silver Key Senior Services, a nonprofit organization in Colorado Springs, provides Gmelch with the names of seniors and low-income homeowners who lack the money or resources needed to make renovations or repairs to their homes. Gmelch then contacts members of the Paint and Hammer Gang who do the design and building work. Silver Key Senior Services provides the paint used in house-painting projects, and the Pikes Peak Chapter donates materials such as screws, wood sealer, and caulk. The recipient purchases any new lumber needed for the project. "A lot of side benefits have come out of this program," says Gmelch. "Many of the people [who] get referred to us are retired military. Recently, we went over to do some work at the home of a retired master sergeant who has Alzheimer's disease. We starting talking with him and his daughter and found out that they knew nothing about tricare For Life or the tricare Senior Pharmacy Program. It gave us the opportunity to explain how the programs worked." Last year, members of the Paint and Hammer Gang donated more than 1,000 hours of labor and completed 11 projects. They aren't the only volunteers from the Pikes Peak Chapter, however. Approximately 1,000 of the chapter's 3,400 members volunteer their time and talents to help others who live in the region. Recently, chapter President Capt. Dick Spearel, usnr-Ret., began tracking the number of hours chapter members donate to civic and service organizations in the region. According to Spearel, Pikes Peak Chapter volunteers got off to an auspicious start in 2002 by donating more than 1,300 hours of labor to hospitals, churches, schools, and other service organizations during the month of January. Just Say 'Yes' on Your BallotI have been urging folks to exercise their right to vote ever since I came to TROA 13 years ago. Most often these pleas were in conjunction with articles I wrote for "Washington Scene" about how important your vote was in national, state, or local elections - how we have no right to complain about our government unless we exercise our right to vote. I still want to urge you to vote, but this time it's for our association's future. As a member in good standing, you have the right to vote for members of the board of directors every two years. This is no small thing. This organization has been blessed by having some of the finest officers from all services serve on our board of directors. Day in and day out they do a super job - all as volunteers - in keeping this organization pointed in the right direction. Which brings me to my final point: For the first time in the annals of our association, we will vote on changing the name of our organization, to the Military Officers Association of America - MOAA. The individuals you voted for as directors over the last six years studied this proposal inside and out. You've read about their deliberations and the research and survey results they considered, and you know how carefully they considered this issue for more than 18 months. (Visit www.troa.org/namechange/ to learn more.) These directors - your representatives - voted to send this question to you for your determination. And that's where it now stands. I have analyzed the directors' report and personally believe they made a wise recommendation. I have little doubt that a name change will benefit the overall organization. More importantly, however, I strongly believe a name change will directly benefit our chapters through an infusion of new members, members who will carry on the battle for all military retirees long after you and I have left the field. To help them (and us), I urge you to vote in favor of the name change. Col. Chris Giaimo, USAF-Ret.
IN FOCUS
A closer look at council and chapter achievements
What's in a Name?Members of the West Alabama Officers Association have done it. So have members of the Platinum Coast Military Officers Club Inc. in Florida. They've dropped the word "retired" and changed their chapters' names. These chapters didn't do a lot of research or conduct surveys before making the switch. The members of these forward-thinking chapters simply acknowledged the difficulties they were having recruiting and retaining younger members, and they relied on their common sense to fix the problem. "It think it was fairly clear to everyone why it needed to be done," says Cmdr. Robin Moore, USN-Ret., who serves on the board of directors of the West Alabama Officers Association. "We were concerned about getting some younger folks, whether they were still on active duty or not." The West Alabama Officers Association, formerly known as the West Alabama Retired Officers Club, was the first chapter in the nation to take the word "retired" out of its name. Moore said he's glad the change was made because he'll be leading the chapter's annual membership drive this September. He has two simple goals: get younger folks to join and increase diversity within the chapter. To accomplish this, he plans to target more noncareer military officers and National Guard members — two groups that might have felt they weren't eligible to join because they weren't retired military. Chapter President Lt. Col. Mike Parker, usa-Ret., also is glad the chapter dropped "retired." He's one of a group of members who feel disfranchised because they have a second career, are active within the community, and don't view themselves as retired. "I don't believe in the word 'retired,' " he says. "I believe we work [and learn] throughout our lives. The way society views the word 'retired' is unfortunate." People's perception of the word "retired" wasn't helping the Platinum Coast Military Retired Officers Club in Naples, Fla., when it came to recruiting. That's why the chapter changed its name last year to the Platinum Coast Military Officers Club Inc. "We felt like the word 'retired' was turning people off," says CWO4 Robert Glodich, AUS-Ret. "When the name change was proposed, it met with no resistance from the members. We just did it." According to Glodich, most members are World War II or Korean War veterans, and he's concerned that in coming years the chapter will lose more members than it gains. He also would like to see his chapter become more diversified and attract younger members such as 33-year-old former Army Capt. Paul Lentini. Prior to embarking on his career as a financial advisor, Lentini spent six years on active duty. "I think the name change will help attract more members," he says. "In the past, I think a lot of people thought one of the requirements to join was you had to have retired from the military." More chapters are sure to follow the lead of the West Alabama Officers Association and the Platinum Coast Military Officers Club Inc., particularly if the general membership approves changing TROA's name to the Military Officers Association of America. (Be sure to cast your vote by returning the ballot that's enclosed in this issue's coverwrap.) As you vote, consider these questions. Has the word "retired" hindered your chapter's recruiting efforts? Does your chapter's name accurately reflect all of the people it is supposed to represent? What's in a name? To get the answer, you need only look as far as your local chapter. |
