Recent news from The MOAA Newsletter. View previous editions of Council and Chapter News here.

November 2018 

Second-Period Recruiting Awards

 

 

 

Sept. 30 marked the end of the second period of the 2018 Chapter Recruiting Program competition.

 

Congratulations to our 2018 chapter recruiting program second-period (closing out Sept. 30) award winners! During this period, we have recruited 412 new monetary-incentive-qualified chapter members.

 

A $250 incentive is awarded to each council whose chapters recruit 40 or more new monetary-incentive chapter members, and independent chapters that recruit at least 10 new chapter members earn a $100 incentive to help recognize their recruiting efforts.

 

Second-period 2018 chapter recruiting program council winners:

 

California — 52

 

Florida — 100

 

Second-period independent chapter winners:

 

Minnesota Chapter — 17

 

MOAA Surviving Spouses Virtual Chapter — 21

 

As a reminder, the next competition for councils and independent chapters already is underway as of Oct. 1 and will close Dec. 31. To help you track the progress of your recruiting efforts, we will continue to post a weekly 2018 chapter recruiting update to our website. View chapter-recruiting resources, sign up new chapter members, and check out your results via the chapter-recruiting tracker at www.moaa.org/chapterrecruiting.

 

 

 

 

10 Tips to Help Retain Chapter Members

 

 

 

 

These strategies can help MOAA chapters combat the challenge of retaining their members.

 

Though many affiliates work hard to recruit new members, they sometimes forget about the equally important challenge of retention. Don’t negate all your hard work to increase your chapter’s membership. To help retain members, consider these 10 tips:

 

• Vary programs and events and meeting times and days to meet member needs;
• Invite relevant speakers, such as legislators or city officials, to chapter meetings;
• Organize special events and raffles, gift exchanges, etcetera;
• Recognize the accomplishments of members by publishing their biographies on your website or in your newsletter;
• Offer community service opportunities to bring members together to achieve a goal (find ideas here);
• Provide opportunities for involvement on short-term, one-time-only projects and special issues;
• Keep costs economical, but don’t let price be the driver of what type of activity to hold;
• Provide invoices for dues paid by members;
• Offer ride-sharing programs to chapter activities; and
• Contact inactive members before terminating their chapter membership.

 

 

 

 

Honor World War I Servicemembers

 

 

This Veterans Day marks the centennial of the armistice of World War I. To commemorate the actions of these brave Americans and honor their memory, the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission has organized several armistice events, including a nationwide bell toll Nov. 11. To learn more about the events, including how you can get involved, and find out about the progress of the national World War I memorial, visit www.ww1cc.org/veterans.

 

 

 

Surviving Spouse Corner: Elder Abuse

 

 

Understanding the types of elder abuse is an important step to recognizing and stopping it.

 

By Patricia Farnsworth, Surviving Spouse Advisory Committee

 

Elder abuse is a very concerning problem and can occur in many different forms. It might be physical, psychological, financial, sexual, or even neglect. Any of these forms being perpetrated against an elderly person needs to be identified and stopped. The victim might need help to recover from the effects of the abuse and assurance the abuse will stop and not occur again.

 

Abuse can happen in many places, including the older person's home, a family member's house, an assisted-living facility, or a nursing home. Physical abuse includes hitting, slapping, and pushing. Emotional abuse includes saying unkind things to the person, yelling, speaking negatively, and criticizing the elderly person. With sons and daughters, financial abuse seems to be most common. It is justified by a belief that it is nothing more than the “advance inheritance” of property, valuables, and money.

 

The health consequences of abuse of an older person are serious. Abuse can destroy a person’s quality of life and can result in depression and dementia, increased stress, psychological decline, malnutrition, and increased dependency. Research has shown the risk of death for elder abuse victims is three times higher than for non-victims.

 

Abuse comes in many guises, but the net effect is the same. Abuse creates potentially dangerous situations and feelings of worthlessness, and it isolates the older person from people who can help.

 

Because of the possibility of abuse in the case of elderly persons, it is important for the family members, caregivers, neighbors, and others to be aware and alert to see evidence of abuse should it occur. Fear of meddling in someone else's business should not stop one from reporting their suspicions. The reporting agencies in each state are different, but every state has a service designated to receive and investigate allegations of elder abuse and neglect. Many professionals, including psychologists and other mental health specialists who work closely with older individuals, are “mandatory reporters” according to state statute, which varies from state to state.

 

Sometimes older adults harm themselves through self-neglect (e.g., not eating or not going to the doctor for needed care), compulsive hoarding, or alcohol or drug abuse. However, one of the most difficult problems family members face is achieving a balance between respecting an older adult's autonomy and intervening before self-neglect becomes dangerous.

 

With the aging of today’s population, there is the potential that elder abuse will increase unless it is comprehensively recognized and addressed.

 

 

 

 

Get Newsletter Content From National MOAA

 

Need some content to supplement your chapter’s newsletter? The White Label 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.

• Five members of the Mount Rainier (Wash.) Chapter met with Rep. Denny Heck Aug. 2 while he was in his home district for congressional recess. Heck represents the state’s 10th district, which is home to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. In addition to chapter members thanking Heck for his support of several MOAA initiatives, they advocated for continued oversight of the VA and TRICARE, for ensuring immigrants who serve in our military have a path to citizenship, against the drawdown of the U.S. Public Health Service, and about the importance of addressing mental health stigma in the military.
  
  
• Maryland Council of Chapters member Col. Brad Jewitt, USMCR, recently was selected to the fourth cohort of fellows for the White House Leadership Development Program. The program works to accelerate “the development of high-performing civil servants to help build the next cadre of leaders in the executive branch.” Jewitt is chief of the facilities management division of NASA. He also serves as a governor-appointed member of the Maryland Veterans Commission.
  
  
• The Alameda (Calif.) Chapter chartered the USS Potomac to take its members and guests out on the San Francisco Bay to watch the Navy Blue Angels practice over the water for Fleet Week activities Oct. 4. More than 120 passengers, including Alameda Chapter members and members of nearby chapters and their guests, attended the "Blues Cruise" aboard the former USCGC Electra, a 165-foot long ship that was built in 1934.
  
  
• Southwest Oklahoma Chapter First Vice President former Army Capt. Marilyn Janosko recently was named 2018 Oklahoma Woman Veteran of the Year by the Oklahoma Women Veterans Organization. She was honored during the 34th Women Veterans Appreciation Conference in Midwest City, Okla., Oct. 6. In addition to serving as first vice president of MOAA’s Southwest Oklahoma Chapter and treasurer of MOAA’s Oklahoma Council of Chapters, Janosko is a life member of national MOAA and is active in numerous other organizations and groups in her community.