The Athens Area Chapter (GA 02) of the Military Officers Association of America is a non-profit non-political veterans association dedicated to maintaining a strong national defense and to preserving the earned entitlements of members of the uniformed services and their families and survivors. We strive to foster fraternal relations among retired, active, reserve, national guard and former officers and warrant officers of the seven uniformed services. Our chapter adheres to the principles and goals of our state and national organizations and is an affiliate of the national organization.

Membership is open to active duty, National Guard, Reserve, retired, and former commissioned officers and warrant officers of the following uniformed services: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Chapter members should be members of the national organization. To become a chapter member visit the chapter at one of its monthly meetings or send an e-mail to LTC Nancy Buck at n_buck@msn.com. An application to become a chapter member will be issued to you. Annual dues for chapter membership are $25 per year and are usually paid by February.

The chapter holds 9 meetings a year. It meets every month except the monthts of June-August. The upcoming meetings are:-- • September-Toby Chapeau, a purple heart recipient will speak. • October-Mr. Mac Rawson will speak on learning in retirement(OLLI). • November–Gary Doster will our speaker on the history of Athens, GA. • December–We will have our holiday meeting and the changing of the guard.

2012 COLA Announced: The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2012 is 3.6%. The 3.6% COLA will be effective Dec 1 and will be reflected in January retired pay, SBP, Social Security, and VA disability compensation checks. Retiree Pay Date Changes Could Impact 2011 Taxes: The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) announced that retirees will see changes to two upcoming monthly retiree checks that will make it easier to keep their monthly bill payments straight…but could potentially affect their tax liability. Normally, military retired pay is processed on the first day of the month, but when that fell on a weekend or holiday, the previous law delayed retired pay checks until the day after the weekend/holiday. The recent law change now requires DFAS to process retiree pay on the preceding business day when the first day of the month falls on a weekend or national holiday. This affects retired pay checks previously scheduled for Oct 3, 2011 and Jan 3, 2012, but which now will be issued on Sep 30, 2011 and Dec 30, 2011 respectively. The good news is that retirees will now have access to their monthly retired pay in order to transfer funds or pay bills that come due on the first of the month. • Requires improvements to the Yellow Ribbon Guard/Reserve reintegration prog

Chapter meetings are normally held on the third Thursday of each month from September to May. Starting in September the meeting location will change to the Jennings Mill Country Club located at 1500 Chambers Court, Bogart, GA. Meetings start with a social time (with cash bar) from 1830-1900 followed by dinner at 1900 and a program from 1930-2030. The cost for dinner is $17 per person. Contact Nancy Buck at n_buck@msn.com to make a meal reservation by the Monday prior to the scheduled meeting.

The Athens Area Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (AAMOAA) was chartered on 23 SEP 1960 as the Athens Area Chapter Retired Officers Association (AAROA) an affiliate of The Retired Officers Association (TROA). It officially changed its name on January 1, 2003 when the national organization changed its name. Last year the chapter celebrated its 50th anniversary. It is a chapter of Georgia MOAA (GMOAA). It currently has 96 members that include currently serving, and retired officers and their survivors. Geographically it is in northeast Georgia and serves members in approximately a 45 mile radius, from Braselton in the north to Union Point in the south. The chapter publishes a montly newsletter that is distributed to all chapter members in good standing by e-mail.