The mission of the West Suburban Chapter is to benefit the members of the uniform services, their families and survivors and to advocate for a strong national defense, while providing needed support to the communities in our area and to it's members. The Chapter supports five ROTC and thirty JROTC programs.

Membership is open to anyone who holds or ever has held a commission or warrant in any component of the seven uniformed services and their surviving spouses. To receive information related to joining our Chapter, please E-mail the Chapter Membership Chairman, LT Chet Klodnicki at "c_klodnicki@msn.com" or call (815) 557-4322.

Our Chapter holds at least four luncheon meetings a year, normally on the second Sunday of the month. We feature a variety of programs including guest speakers, entertainment and updates of information important to our members. We further look for opportunities to hold networking get-togethers, attend sporting events and to support other veterans' organizations and participate in jointly sponsored events.

West Suburban Chapter supports the MOAA national legislative agenda. The Chapter is active in supporting the Illinois Council of Chapters in various state veterans issues. The Chapter is a member of the Dupage County Veterans Assistance Commission. Our Legislative Liaison POC in each of the six Congressional Districts in our Chapter area are: 1st Congressional District (Rush) LTC Richard C Keller, JR, USA, Ret. 2nd Congressional District (Kelly) LTC John Mateyko. USA, Ret. 3rd Congressional District (Lipinski) COL Michael A Bendas, USA, Ret. 6th Congressional District (Roskam) CAPT Jim Murphy, USN, Ret. 11th Congressional District (Foster) LTC Alan Mendelssohn, USA, Ret, 14th Congressional District (Hultgren) CAPT Jim Murphy, USN, Ret.

Our luncheon meetings are held in varying venues across our area and start with a Friendship Hour at 1330 followed by lunch at 1400, program at 1500 and a general Chapter meeting at 1545, with adjournment by 1600. Networking and special events will be broadcast via weekly eNEWS. We encourage members to suggest future program ideas and to bring guests and propective members. We welcome non-members to attend a meeting - the camaraderie is terrific. FUTURE MEETINGS: Please contact LtCol Brent Calderwood at "bcalder@wowway.com" or call (708) 925-2615.

The West Suburban (Chicago) Chapter of MOAA was chartered on 10 April 1983. It serves the western and southern Chicagoland area and is the largest MOAA Chapter in Illinois. Our four luncheon meetings are normally held on the second Sunday of every month, omitting June, July and August, with varied locations. Our Chapter newsletter - IN FORMATION - is published bi-monthly. Additionally, the Chapter utilizes an E-mail network to notify members of upcoming meetings, legislative alerts, member updates, and information related to benefits, etc. Our Personal Affairs Officer provides assistance to deceased member survivors in obtaining the benefits to which they are entitled. The Chapter currently has over two hundred dues-paying members.