The Heart of Texas Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (HOT MOAA) supports and promotes the purposes and programs of MOAA National in protecting the rights and interests of the eight uniformed services personnel and their dependents and survivors. HOT MOAA chapter legislative liaison encourages state government officials to be aware of military initiatives such as advocating for a strong national defense.

The HOT MOAA chapter is also a member of the Texas Council of Chapters which supports and promotes federal and Texas State legislation that will assist veterans, especially disabled and needy war veterans and members of the United States Armed Forces and their dependents and the widows and orphans of deceased veterans; and encourage and coordinate such legislative action of the Member Chapters within the state and support the operations of Texas Chapters and promote a forum for the exchange of ideas and information among those Chapters, including supporting the development of new chapters.

Membership in the MOAA Chapter is open to anyone who holds or has ever held a commission or warrant in any component of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, Public Health Service or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and their surviving spouses. Chapter dues are $25 a year and are due as of January 1st. New members who join later in the year will have their dues prorated depending on the quarter they join.

A monthly newsletter is published and e-mailed or mailed to the members. Members can participate in the chapter organization as officers as elected positions as President, 1st Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, Treasurer, appointed positions as Secretary, Chaplain, Surviving Spouse Liaison, Legislative Liaison, various committee chairpersons and directors. Board meetings are held monthly. For membership information, contact Vince Tobola, vtobola@aol.com or check web site, https://www.hotmoaa.org, for an application form.

The Heart of Texas Chapter holds 11 meetings a year featuring guest speakers on topics relevant to the members in regards to local items or interest, military and legislative issues, or local public or private citizens in prominent positions. The meetings will also alternate at times with entertainment. A special entertainment program with a live band occurs for the December dinner meeting. Each June, the Chapter holds its primary fundraiser which is a golf tournament open to the public and military at the City of Waco Cottonwood Creek Golf Course. We also provide educational scholarships for undergraduate students, awards for Baylor Army and Air and Space Force cadets, and awards for cadets at the five local JROTC units and Heart of Texas Young Marines. We also provide donations to veteran-related charitable support organizations and activities and participate in local events such as the annual Veterans Day Parade and Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony.

The MOAA chapter supports the MOAA national legislative agenda and we annually invite our Congressional Representative, who is an honorary member, to speak to our chapter. The chapter is also active in supporting the Texas Council of Chapters in various state veterans' issues. We include legislative updates in the monthly newsletter and will e-mail members on special legislative issues for contact with their elected representatives.

Heart of Texas Chapter meetings are typically held on the 3rd Thursday of the month at the Ridgewood Country Club with evening dinner meetings for members and spouses/guests or at the Baylor Club in McLane Stadium, and may be lunch or dinner. Dinners usually have social period starts around 5:00 p.m.; call to tables around 5:35; invocation, pledge, announcements and introductions once seated: buffet meal at 5:50; guest speaker or entertainment at 6:55 and wrap-up around 7:55. A cash bar is available. Dates are the 3rd Thursday of each month in 2025 except in June, when the annual fundraiser golf tournament is normally held. Occasionally, we will have a luncheon instead of a dinner meeting.

Our awards programs include: JROTC awards are made to the five local High School units and Young Marines in April and May; educational scholarship awards are typically made in July: and Baylor University Army ROTC and Air and Space Force ROTC awards are made in the fall. Other charitable donations are made as selected to local veteran service organizations.

The Heart of Texas Chapter was chartered in 1971 and services Waco, McLennan County and the adjacent counties. The chapter typically meets every third Thursday of the month except in June and December at the Ridgewood Country Club in Waco for a dinner meeting or at Baylor Club for lunch or dinner meeting. In June, we plan to have our annual scholarship fundraiser, which is a golf tournament on June 10, 2022 that is to be held at the Cottonwood Creek Golf Course in Waco. Our December meeting will be on the second Thursday. The chapter currently has 100 members made up of currently serving, former and retired officers and their survivors. There is a chapter web site at hotmoaa.org . The 2022 chapter president is Michael Slavens, LtCol, USAF (ret), 703-898-9173.