2007/11/14 12:57:00
MOAA/RecruitMilitary Career Fair
Board Dinner
Spouse Program & Luncheon
Military Professional Symposium
Congressional Breakfast
Annual Meeting of the Membership
The Chairman's Luncheon
Web Kiosk
Breeak-Out Sessions
Transcripts and Webcast
Nov. 17, 2007- Break-Out Sessions
Col. Mike Hayden, USAF-Ret., leads a presentation on legislative goals for 2008.
In addition to the Annual Meeting, MOAA members also attended break-out sessions of their choice on Saturday, the final day of the almost week-long conference. Presentations by various MOAA staff members were given, covering chapter recruiting, financial education, legislative issues, and personal benefits information.
Col. Lee Lange II, USMC-Ret., spoke to chapter members about the benefits of the Give Me Ten! Program and reviewed the incentives for meeting recruiting goals. Estate planning tools were the topic at hand in the presentation by Phil Dyer, CFP- "Financial Fundamentals."
Col. Mike Hayden, USAF-Ret., teamed up with Col. Steve Strobridge, USAF-Ret., from the Government Relations department to review the gains MOAA made in legislative issues this past year. The goals and priorities for 2008 were also discussed with the members present.
Capt. Bud Schneeweis, USCG-Ret., Director of Benefits Information and Financial Education at MOAA, covered all things benefits. The large focus of the presentation was TRICARE and the TRICARE pharmacy benefit.
MOAA members could attend two break-out sessions as a final wrap up to the MOAA Annual Meeting in Tampa, Fla.
Nov. 17, 2007- Web Kiosk
Blair Sabo talks to Brig. Gen. Joy Stevens, ARNG, about the new Web site.
Did you have any questions about the new MOAA Web site? Or just want to check your e-mail? Blair Sabo, Assistant Editor, Military Officer magazine, was present at the Annual Meeting to help members with their questions and give them a tour of the newly redesigned MOAA Web base.
Nov. 17, 2007- The Chairman's Luncheon
Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, USANG, addresses a full auditorium at the Annual Chairman's Luncheon in Tampa, Fla.
Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, USANG, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, took the stage again on Saturday, with barely a hoarse whisper left in his voice. He gave a presentation on the military capabilities and response on Sept. 11, 2001, and compared that to the great strides made in the National Guard and Reserves today.
While there were no interagency capabilities on Sept. 11, 2001, today there are joint task forces in charge of operations, infrastructure, emergency response, interagency training teams, and communications. National Guard troops are first responders in a national crisis, in charge of all aspects of disaster recovery, working side by side with local law enforcement, fire responders, and other military operations.
To make changes like these in the services, Blum stated, MOAA needs to get involved and speak out as an organization and also as individual members. "I can be a powerful voice from the inside, but you are a very powerful voice from the outside," Blum reminded everyone present at the packed luncheon.
Nov. 17, 2007- Annual Meeting of the Membership
Speakers at the MOAA Annual Meeting of the Membership included (left to right) Gen. Carns, USAF-Ret., Col. Steve Strobridge, USAF-Ret., Vice Adm. Norb Ryan, Jr., USN-Ret., Capt. Pete Wylie, USN-Ret., and Col. Glenn Zauber, USAF-Ret. After presentations, the floor was opened up to questions from the membership.
The MOAA Annual Meeting of the Membership was held on Saturday, with a packed auditorium of members, spouses, staff, and guests in attendance. According to Gen. Carns, USAF-Ret., Chairman of the Board, several issues will be revisited over the coming months, including reexamination of the bylaws and organization, and a periodic review of the ethics code.
Organizationally, MOAA has a strong membership, with a new mission to reach the active duty population. This "New Greatest Generation," according to Carns, is the future of the MOAA membership and "we're working to make their lives and their families lives better."
As for future legislative goals, MOAA has its sights set on opposing the payments cuts to doctors who take TRICARE and Medicare. Look for more on that success at next year's meeting!
Nov. 17, 2007- Congressional Breakfast
Sen. Mel martinez (R-Fla.) addresses a packed ballroom at the Annual Congressional Breakfast, as part of the MOAA Annual Meeting in Tampa, Fla.
Over a breakfast of eggs, bacon, and sausage, Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) spoke to MOAA members about the importance of putting aside partisan differences to support our currently serving troops, and taking care of them when they come home from battle.
Martinez noted that the Orlando area is one of the only large metropolitan areas without a veterans hospital nearby. Due in part to his leadership, a new veterans hospital is now in the works for the heavily military area, and commitments to modernize other nearby facilities are also underway, helping to keep the promise made to military families when their soldiers enlisted.
The possibility of a conflict in Iran and the strength of the military were also up for discussion, with Martinez discussing the possibility of shorter deployments and fewer soldiers on the ground over the next few years.
Nov. 16, 2007 - Military Professional Symposium
Mr. W. Craig Fugate addresses the issue of emergency preparedness in Florida.
Watch the Web cast or review the transcript.
One of the highlighted events of MOAA's Annual Meeting was the 2007 Military Professional Symposium, which included high ranking military officers and emergency management officials speaking on the topic of "The Role of the United States Military in Homeland Defense, Disaster Preparedness, and Response." The distinguished panelists all gave valuable insight into the calculations behind major management decisions.
The Honorable Stephen M. Duncan moderated a panel of professionals comprised of Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, Chief of the National Guard Bureau; Vice Adm. Vivien S. Crea, Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard; Mr. W. Craig Fugate, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management; and Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., Commander of NORAD and NORTHCOM.
Panelists offered their outlook on the actions of their organization with regard to past national disasters, as well as how to better operate in future disasters - whether natural, accidental, or terrorist.
This disaster readiness only will come from better communication between groups on the local, Federal, and National levels, according to the panelists. And learning from past events like Hurricane Katrina - what was done well and what could have been done better - is pivotal to improving operations in the future.
Nov. 16, 2007 - Spouse Program & Luncheon
Nicole Alcorn shares one of her resources with the other spouse attendees.
On Friday, the Spouse Program panelists discussed "Today's Military Spouse." Invited speakers included Kelly Kimball, Joy Dunlap, Tanya Biank, Nicole Alcorn, and Paula Sumrall. Although each woman had a unique experience that ultimately drew them into the world of military spouses, they all had a shared vision for helping to connect people to one another.
Their advice for coping with constant deployments, relocations, and other hardships common to the military lifestyle were all surprisingly similar: use your resources and be a resource; touch one other person and you've connected two; use the Internet to share and find information if you're unable to make the large gestures yourself; and seek comfort and friendship in those who are going through the same things you are.
This wisdom was imparted to the attendees through many years of combined experience, some laughter, and even a few tears. As Alcorn said in the discussion, "You're only alone if you want to be."
Nov. 15, 2007 - Board Dinner
Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz, USAR, Chief of the Army Reserve, addresses MOAA staff, board members, and guests.
MOAA staff, board members, and guests were all reminded of the sacrifices made every day by military servicemembers and their families as Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz, USAR, Chief of the Army Reserve, spoke at the board dinner on Thursday night in Tampa, Fla.
General Stultz said he was "in awe of the force we've got now," and considered those currently serving to be the new "Greatest Generation." According to Stultz, the current crop of Army Reservists is people staying in the service for the predictability of it, and also because they know their families will be protected.
Taking care of these families is one of our most important missions toward transforming the legacy structure of the Army Reserves into an operational force ready to support a sustained conflict.
"We recruit a soldier, but we retain a family," Stultz told everyone present.
Nov. 13, 2007 - MOAA/RecruitMilitary Career Fair
Job seekers tour the career fair to speak with employers and network with each other.
Officers, enlisted personnel, and civilians alike stopped by the MOAA/RecruitMilitary Career Fair at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. today, just feet away from the field where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play. More than 60 employers were present at the fair, covering everything from Walgreens to Northrop Grumman, and handing out informational packets to the more than 400 potential employees. Approximately 500 people were expected to pass through the stadium doors before the day was done.
Although the biggest draws of the day were the usual suspects - CIA, FBI, and big government contractors like L-3, Kforce, and Northrop Grumman- financial institutions and consulting groups also seemed to gather crowds at times. Even AFLAC was there, complete with a giant stuffed AFLAC duck!
Many of the job seekers were from Tampa or Orlando, just trying to see "what was out there", like MOAA member Terence Brown and Capt. Ken Hill, USA-Ret., but others came in from out of state hoping to find an opportunity that would lead them to the sunny skies and palm trees of Florida permanently.
View the MOAA Deploys to Tampa agenda
View the Military Professionals Symposium Web cast
