Recent news from The MOAA Newsletter. View previous editions of Council and Chapter News here. Send updates about your affiliate’s activities to blaird@moaa.org for possible inclusion in future editions.

Chapter Recruiting 2022

Here are some key details about recruiting in 2022.

See the 2022 recruiting guide to learn about expansion of the Community Sponsorship program that can help fund your outreach and recruiting efforts. Additionally, chapters will continue to have monthly access to the near real time (NRT) report, a recruiting list with the names of new national MOAA members who live in your chapter’s proximity and who do not belong to your chapter, MOAA members who recently moved into the chapter’s geographic catchment area, and members who recently opted in to receive chapter communications.

Committee module administrators can find instructions about accessing and saving the NRT report through the module using this link. As you recruit new chapter members, make sure to report them to national MOAA. Find details about reporting new members as well as additional information about the 2022 Chapter Recruiting Program at this link.

Here Are the 2022 Advocacy in Action Topics

Get important details about MOAA’s spring advocacy campaign.

MOAA’s annual Advocacy in Action will be held virtually from April 1-29. This year’s advocacy topics are:

• Support the Major Richard Star Act (concurrent receipt for combat-injured servicemembers)
• Reduce TRICARE mental health copayments
• Enact a 4.6% military pay raise in the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.

Learn more about the topics, key dates, and steps to get involved.

Levels of Excellence Award Submissions

The nomination form is now open. May 1 is the deadline to submit your entry for a Levels of Excellence Award.

Councils and chapters are encouraged to apply for the 2021 Levels of Excellence Award. Nominations are due by May 1. The program recognizes excellence in program year 2021, but chapters have until March 31 to make updates to their committee module rosters.

A standard set of rating criteria will be used to evaluate all councils and chapters that submit a package. Last year, 162 councils and chapters earned 5-star awards. Your council or chapter could be among the winners recognized at a dinner in Kansas City later this year. Find criteria and nomination form at this link.

Did You Know?

Learn More About These Benefits, Programs, and Resources

Member Benefits: While MOAA’s basic membership provides an all-electronic experience to members, paid membership (Premium and Life) provides member access to books and guides, financial advice, career transition services, expert advice on military pay and benefits, and so much more.

Surviving Spouse Programs: MOAA’s surviving spouses are initiating new programs, keeping many programs thriving, and being recognized for the work in their communities. Learn more, and find out how MOAA’s Surviving Spouse Advisory Council helps surviving spouses.

Starting a chapter: If you’ve ever thought about starting a new MOAA chapter (geographic or virtual), it’s easier than you might think. To find out how to get started, take a look at the Policies & Procedures Guide. The Council and Chapter Affairs staff is ready to support, help connect you with your state or virtual council, and provide tips to recruit new members. Reach out to chapters@moaa.org when you’re ready to get started.

Virtual Chapters: MOAA’s very first virtual chapter was chartered in 2016. Our MOAA Uniformed Services Nurse Advocates Virtual Chapter (MUSNAVC) led the charge and paved the way for other trailblazers to start a virtual chapter. MUSNAVC was established by Col. Jeri Graham, USA (Ret), the chapter’s first president and member of MOAA’s board of directors. Jeri pioneered this effort in 2016 and even created a “Virtual Chapter Starter Kit” to assist other leaders who are interested in starting a virtual chapter. The chapter started with approximately 30 dedicated nurses and now has a total of 366 members. Find out more about this chapter, other virtual chapters, and even how to start your own virtual chapter.

Surviving Spouse Corner: Tips for Downsizing and Decluttering

If you’re moving to a smaller home, these resources can help you determine what belongings should stay and go.

By Renée Brunelle, MOAA Surviving Spouse Advisory Council member and co-founder of Pathfinders Downsizing Solutions

Most people would agree they have experienced a move that did not go as planned.  Missing items, broken items and often a vague timeline for delivery from the moving company can make anyone have a few sleepless nights. Perhaps you have decades of “treasures” in your home you had planned on sharing with family. Then it is revealed all are not going to get passed down after all. Where do you start?

You must consider how long you have lived in the residence and how many people have lived there. As you add number of years and people, you also increase the number of weeks it will take to declutter. I use the Marie Kondo “Magic of Tidying Up” approach to look at a client’s home with my business as a senior move manager. Start where there is the least emotional connection: clothing and accessories. Often, if you just declutter the clothes that don’t fit any longer and donate them, it can be a great way to start. Then tackle the books, papers, general areas (including bedroom, bathroom, office, and kitchen). End with mementos that hold the most sentimental triggers.

Luckily, help is available to begin this process and provide some professional guidance when needed. The National Association of Senior Move Managers has a website to find trusted professionals in a specific geographic area. They are experienced in helping someone sort their belongings and decide what is best to take, possibly sell, donate, or throw out. They can help with floorplan designs and mover scheduling if the final plan is to move. Depending on the business, they will charge by the hour or by the project. 

Senior move managers often are a wealth of resources that can save you and your family often time and/or money. They network with movers, senior placement specialists, senior living communities, realtors, estate sale professionals, and many other businesses to be sure they can assist their clients when needed. Family members often  have good intentions to help with the decluttering and downsizing process. However, their own emotional attachment to items can complicate the downsizing process.

Read past Surviving Spouse Corners.

Upcoming Events

Monthly Chapter Leader Virtual Roundtable: Join us March 31 at 7 p.m. Eastern for a discussion about generating revenue. Click here at the time of the meeting.

Find a complete list of Council and Chapter Affairs events online.

Get Newsletter Content From National MOAA

Need some content to supplement your chapter’s newsletter? The White Label Newsletter Template includes information, articles, and helpful tips from national MOAA that already are formatted for inclusion in your newsletter. The content is updated every month to ensure you are receiving timely, relevant information.   

From the Field

MOAA chapters give back to their communities through fundraising efforts, community-service projects, scholarship programs, and other initiatives. Here are some recent activities.

In December 2021, members of the Mid-Missouri Chapter collected $1,300 through the chapter’s quarterly Pass the Hat program and donated the funds to two causes: $800 to Catholic Charities to support the Afghan Refugee program in Mid-Missouri and $500 for tornado relief efforts. Since spring 2016, the chapter has “passed the hat” at all quarterly socials for donations to a selected charity. To date, the chapter has collected nearly $15,000.

The Ventura County (Calif.) Chapter teamed with Oxnard Ambassadors to purchase $5,000 worth of games, toys, and clothing, for military children attending the annual Naval Base Ventura County Winter Wonderland in December 2021. The chapter also continued its annual support of Operation Snowflake, an event designed to bring Christmas cheer to military and veteran families in need by providing toys, gift cards for groceries and gasoline, quilted stockings, veteran benefits, and an afternoon with Santa Clause.

The Northwest Arkansas Chapter is supporting local ROTC cadets through the mentorship program the chapter started with the Army and Air Force ROTC departments at the University of Arkansas. Chapter volunteers get selected by cadets as mentors based on career fields, experiences, and education. The mentors and cadets meet throughout the academic year to discuss topics such as military careers, leadership, and relationships with NCOs and enlisted servicemembers. Read more about the effort.

National MOAA Travel Schedule

Here are the councils and chapters MOAA leaders will be visiting over the next few months.

Please note: We are aware of the uncertainty surrounding the resurgence of the COVID-19 virus. We are still planning to execute scheduled chapter visits and continue to schedule visits as requests come in. Our rule of thumb at this point (subject to change) is to make the visit only if all required/appropriate safety measures are in place AND the traveler is fully vaccinated and comfortable with the trip. Chapters with scheduled visits are requested to inform Council and Chapter Affairs of the local conditions and safety requirements one week prior to the visit.

Contact the associated chapter if you would like to attend any of the following scheduled visits:

• March 3, Kingdom of the Sun (Fla.) Chapter, Ocala, Lt. Col. Walter J. Smiley Jr., USA (Ret), MOAA board of directors (BoD)
• March 4, Lancaster (Pa.) Chapter, Rear Adm. Thomas J. Jurkowsky, USN (Ret), BoD
• March 9, South Shore (Mass.) Chapter, virtual, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, Council and Chapter Affairs (CCA)
• March 9, USPHS Virtual Chapter, virtual, Karen Ruedisueli, director of Health Affairs, Government Relations
• March 10, Southwest Florida Chapter, Naples, Rear Adm. Jonathan Bailey, NOAA (Ret), BoD
• March 10, Daniel Morgan (S.C.) Chapter, Spartanburg, Chaplain (Col.) Sam Boone, USA (Ret), MOAA BoD
• March 12, Missouri Council of Chapters, Kansas City, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• March 14, Sierra Nevada Chapter, Reno, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), director CCA
• March 15, Green Valley (Ariz.) Chapter, Green Valley, Barbara Smith, MOAA Surviving Spouse Advisory Council
• March 15, Silicon Valley (Calif.) Chapter, Mountain View, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), director CCA
• March 16, Mount Vernon (Va.) Chapter, virtual, Rear Adm. Michael Hewitt, USN (Ret), BoD
• March 16, Potomac Chapter (Va.), Colonial Beach, Capt. Jim Carman, USN (Ret), vice president Council/Chapter and Member Support
• March 17, Stone Rivers (Tenn.) Chapter, Murfreesboro, Lt. Col. Aric Raus, USA, BoD
• March 17, Willow Grove (Pa.) Chapter, Willow Grove, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• March 18, St. Petersburg Area (Fla.) Chapter, Seminole, Rear Adm. Richard A. Buchanan, USN (Ret), MOAA BoD
• March 19, Superstition Mountain (Ariz.) Chapter, Mesa, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), director, CCA
• March 21, Colonel Billy Jones Chapter (Miss.), Madison, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), director, CCA
• March 23, Catalina Mountains (Ariz.) Satellite, Saddlebrooke, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• March 23, Clearwater (Fla.) Chapter, Clearwater, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), director, CCA
• March 24, Coosa Valley (Ala.) Chapter, Gadsden, Col. Charles Anderson, USMC (Ret), BoD
• March 24, Tucson (Ariz.) Chapter, Tucson, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• March 25, Kings-Tulare Counties (Calif.) Chapter, Visalia, Capt. Erin E. Stone JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• March 27, Contra Costa Chapter (Calif.), Danville, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• March 30, Alta Chapter (Calif.), Yuba City, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• April 3, NYS Capital District (N.Y.) Chapter, Albany, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• April 10, Pittsburgh Chapter, Pittsburgh, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• April 12, White River (Ind.) Chapter, Carmel, April 12, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• April 19, Fourstate (Mo.) Chapter, Webb City, Capt. James C. Murphy, USN (Ret), MOAA BoD
• April 21, Totah (N.M.) Chapter, Farmington, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• April 22, Northwest Arkansas Chapter, Fayetteville, Capt. Erin E. Stone JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• April 22, Piedmont Virginia Chapter, Farmville, speaker TBD
• April 28, Wichita Falls (Texas) Chapter, Wichita Falls, Capt. Erin E. Stone JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• April 30, Houston Area Chapter, Pear Land, April 30, Capt. Erin E. Stone JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA