2009/10/23 00:00:00
Year of the Chapter Awards Dinner
Spouse Panel
Chairman’s Luncheon
Military Professional Symposium
Annual Meeting of the Membership
Career Fair
Oct. 24, 2009 - Year of the Chapter Awards Dinner
MOAA’s annual meeting concluded Saturday night with the Year of the Chapter Awards Dinner where association leaders, staff, and family and friends recognized the hard work of MOAA’s chapters. MOAA Chair of the Board of Directors Gen. Richard Neal, USMC-Ret., and MOAA President Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret., presented streamers to the associations four- and five-star chapters.
“We’re all in this together,” Neal said, “because of the young men and women [who serve this country].”
Oct. 24, 2009 - Spouse Panel
MOAA Chairman of the Board, Gen. Richard I. Neal, USMC-Ret., kicks of the Military Spouse Symposium. From left: Zoe Trautman (USMC); Kristy Kaufmann (USA); Tanya Queiro (2009 national Military Spouse of the Year)(also a USMC spouse); Gen. Richard I. Neal, USMC-Ret.; Sue Hoppin (MOAA staff); Josi Hunt (USN); Mariannne Sernoffsky (Army Reserve); Bill Keller (USAF).
Saturday afternoon, a panel of six spouses, moderated by MOAA’s Deputy Director for Spouse Outreach Sue Hoppin, discussed “Leading on the Homefront: the Evolving Role of Spouses in Today’s Military.” The panel included Marine spouse Zoe Trautman, Army spouse Kristy Kaufmann, Marine spouse Tanya Quiero, Navy spouse Josi Hunt, Army Reserve spouse Marianne Sernoffsky; and Air Force spouse Bill Keller.
Although all panelists highlighted gold-star programs available to help military families deal with the stress of deployments, they all agreed there is a lot more work to be done.
“The baton is being dropped at the very last hand-off,” Kaufmann said. “I don’t think soldiers and families realize how much is out there and how much they deserve. We need to figure out how to get [military families] to reengage into a system that has let them down.”
Trautman agreed there is a communication gap. “There are resources, but we need to connect folks to them. [We] need community-based engagement.”
Oct. 24, 2009 - Chairman’s Luncheon
Following the symposium, Gen. James Conway, USMC, Commandant of the Marine Corps, gave the keynote address at the Chairman’s Luncheon. Conway discussed the state of the Marine Corps and what MOAA can do to keep the force strong.
“It’s amazing to me after all these years at war that [the service resiliency numbers] read as good as they do,” Conway said. He added retention and recruiting are good and dwell time is getting better. “That goes back to this great generation of Marines,” he said.
However, Conway added, “If we want to keep this force vital, you’ve got to take care of the families.”
He encouraged MOAA to continue to be great supporters and advocate for a strong national defense.
“We’ve got a great young generation out there taking this fight to the end. All they need is your continued support,” he said.
Review the transcript (PDF 28 KB).
Oct. 24, 2009 - Military Professional Symposium
TOP: Gen. Craig R. McKinley, Chief, National Guard Bureau, discusses challenges and future plans of the National Guard.
ABOVE: Panel addresses Guard and Reserve issues. From left: Andrew C. Wiktorowicz, P.E., California Field Committee Chairman of the ESGR; Eric Basu, CEO, Sentek Global, Inc.; Brig. Gen. Gary M. Profit, USAR-Ret., Senior Director, Military Recruiting, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; AT PODIUM, Brig. Gen. Daniel J. Nelan, USA, Assistant Adjutant General-Army, Calif.; The Honorable David L. McGinnis, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs; The Honorable Jerry Sanders, Mayor of San Diego.
An audience of MOAA members and leaders and their families, friends, and guests listened to a panel of experts discuss “Helping the Home Team: Guard/Reserve Warriors, Families and Employers” at the Military Professional Symposium at the association’s annual meeting Saturday morning.
The panel, moderated by Andrew Wiktorowicz, chair of the Employer Support of Guard and Reserve, California Field Committee, included Principle Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs David L. McGinnis; Mayor of San Diego Jerry Sanders; Brig. Gen. Daniel Nelan, ARNG, assistant adjutant general (Army), California National Guard; Brig. Gen. Gary M. Profit, USAR-Ret., senior director of military recruiting, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.; and Eric Basu, president and CEO of Sentek Global Inc., San Diego.
Chief of the National Guard Bureau Gen. Craig McKinley, USAF, opened the symposium by discussing what the Guard is doing and what future challenges it faces.
“Over the last eight years, the National Guard has transformed itself to a fighting force,” he said. “ We’re trying to balance the rotation of forces . … [Deployments] have a ripple effect on the family, and we’ve got to take care of those families. This challenge is one we need to stay focused on,” McKinley said.
Following McKinley’s remarks, panelists discussed what their respective organizations are doing to ease the challenges guardmembers and reservists and their families and employers face from extended deployments. All panelists agreed discussion needs to continue to help guardmembers and reservists through the difficult task of transitioning back into the work force.
View the transcript (PDF 253 KB)
Oct. 23, 2009 - Annual Meeting of the Membership
Coronado Mayor, the Honorable Casey Tanaka, presents to MOAA Chairman Richard L. Neal, USMC-Ret., a proclaimation of October 23, 2009, as MOAA day in Coronado, Calif.
MOAA council and chapter leaders, members of the board of directors, and staff and family and friends gathered for the association’s annual meeting Friday, Oct. 23 at the Coronado Island Marriott Resort in San Diego. Chair of MOAA’s board of directors Gen. Richard Neal, USMC-Ret., welcomed guests and introduced Coronado Island Mayor Casey Tanaka, who proclaimed Oct. 23, 2009, Military Officers Association of America Day.
After the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, Neal and MOAA President Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret., gave their reports. Neal began by emphasizing the importance of the association’s mission.
“In today’s contentious national debate the discussion comes down to choices. … We always need to include the well being of our servicemembers and their families [in that discussion]. They are our constituents. By doing that, we take care of the weapon system that has never let us down: the servicemember,” Neal said.
He then highlighted the legislative achievements of the association for the past year, including no increases in TRICARE fees, a record increase of the VA budget, more protection for military homeowners, and implementation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. He added the greatest challenge for the association is membership and encouraged members in attendance to continue to be ambassadors for MOAA. “I’m convinced each one of us has an important role as MOAA members. … We need your continued effort to stay informed and be advocates.”
Following Neal, Ryan detailed the association’s accomplishments for the past year, including increasing membership, recovering from the economy, and continuing to be an influential voice in Washington, D.C.
“Our voice is loud and clear because of all of you,” Ryan said. “Thank you for your leadership and example.”
Oct. 22, 2009 - Career Fair
More than 500 people attended the MOAA/Corporate Gray Career Fair Thursday, Oct. 22 at the Coronado Island Marriott Resort in San Diego. Nearly 50 employers were present at the fair to meet with potential job candidates.
The event kicked off with four seminars about working a job fair and working in the federal government.
Following the career fair, MOAA Director of Benefits Information Capt. Bud Schneeweis, USCG-Ret., presented a seminar, “Maximizing Your Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits,” giving attendees an overview of the bill’s benefits, including the Yellow Ribbon Program and the transferability option, and answering any questions.
MOAA member Capt. Mike Daniel, USAF-Ret., said the career fair and seminars were helpful. “I learned [at the GI Bill seminar] the new GI Bill is a much better benefit than the Montgomery GI Bill, “ he said. “And the career fair was very beneficial … I got a few job leads.”
