Building on Success
MOAA’s affiliates and scholarship fund can do even more with your help.
By Vice Adm. Norbert R. Ryan Jr., USN-Ret.

Two things dear to my heart and critical to MOAA’s continued success are the association’s affiliates  its councils and chapters—and The Scholarship Fund of MOAA, and this month I’d like to address both topics.

MOAA’s affiliates are one of the association’s great strengths. On the national scene, they give MOAA a very prominent presence in every state and in most key congressional districts. By standing as the firm foundation for our lobbying efforts, chapters help MOAA preserve and enact federal programs that benefit active duty and retired members.

The same is true on state and local levels, where a state council and its chapters can work on state, county, and municipal issues. Examples include efforts led by certain state councils to reduce, or even eliminate entirely, the state taxation of military retired pay.

Yet only one in four MOAA members belongs to a chapter. MOAA members are busy people, but chapters offer useful information, friendship, networking opportunities, and support to their members and communities, as well as the perfect outlet for leadership and organizational abilities. If you are not a chapter member, turn to page 64 to find the chapter nearest you. 

MOAA councils and chapters have many, many members who unselfishly give of their time and talent to benefit others. I know, because Judy and I meet so many incredibly dedicated individuals during our visits. 

My bottom line: councils and chapters can—and do—make a real difference in their communities and for all MOAA members.

The same is true of The Scholarship Fund of MOAA, a public charity that this year is providing grants and interest-free loans to some 1,300 undergraduates from military families, both officer and enlisted. As MOAA prepares for 2004, the association’s 75th anniversary year, we will launch a $7.5 million campaign to increase our investment in the future by helping several hundred additional students each year.

We hope 100,000 members will contribute at least $75 each. Because MOAA absorbs the cost of running the scholarship fund, every dollar given helps youngsters from military families afford a college education. To contribute, see the cover wrap of this magazine or visit our Web Base, www.moaa.org, or donate via the Combined Federal Campaign (mark No. 2142 on your CFC card) or the United Way (write in “Military Officers Association of America Scholarship Fund” on the donation card).

During this campaign, chapters can compete for awards based on highest percentage of donors and total amount donated; winners will be recognized at MOAA’s next national convention, in Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 13-17, 2004.

I’m very proud of the great work being done by MOAA’s chapters and by the scholarship fund! I hope you will be, too.