MOAA Moves Ahead
SBP and TRICARE top your association's agenda for 2003.
By Vice Adm. Norbert R. Ryan Jr., USN-Ret.

Col. Arthur T. Marix, USMC, who founded this organization 74 years ago this month, was a visionary and a planner who saw the need for an organization to help promote a strong national defense and to assist officers and their families. I'm happy to report that, even today, we continue to plan in pursuit of Colonel Marix's vision.

One month into our name change, we're working hard to increase everyone's awareness that we're marching under a new banner. We'll soon host luncheons for Capitol Hill staffers to explain our new name and discuss our 2003 legislative agenda. With many new legislators in the 108th Congress, this will be a fine opportunity to spread the word about MOAA - who we are, whom we serve, and how we want to work with legislators on issues of interest to our members.

Men and women in uniform rarely go anywhere without a good map, and MOAA's map is our five-year plan. In mid-February the staff directors and I will leave the headquarters for a day and a half to focus on it. This annual effort produces one of the most thorough five-year strategic plans that I've ever encountered.

This year, for the first time, we'll incorporate broad guidance developed by our new board of directors' Strategic Planning Committee (led by Lt. Gen. George Miller, USAF-Ret.) and approved by our chairman, Adm. Jerry Johnson, USN-Ret. This guidance will help us better focus on how to move MOAA in directions that will serve your interests most effectively.

We'll put on the table several key issues affecting MOAA's future - legislation, products and services (and how to further personalize services), how to improve and protect the "quality of service" for our military during this war on terrorism, and how to deal with a soft economy.

In March, we'll engage in still more planning in partnership with our council presidents (and some chapter presidents) during the annual Council Presidents Seminar. This three-day event includes Storming the Hill, and this year we will educate legislators about the need to upgrade Survivor Benefit Plan annuities for older widows and widowers, continue the strong push for further progress on concurrent receipt, and make the case for military pay raises comparable with those in the private sector. Our council presidents, of course, carry great weight with their senators and representatives because they are constituents, and constituents vote.

Another top MOAA priority is protecting and improving beneficiary access to doctors who participate in Medicare and tricare. You can help by signing and mailing the three tear-out letters between pages 44 and 45. Congress will consider possible action soon, so please send the letters today after reading the magazine.

As we mark our 74th anniversary, we take pride in following Colonel Marix's vision and believe he'd be proud that we continue to serve our members and our nation with loyalty, dedication, and integrity.