Click on the booklet cover to browse through the 2014 winners.

 

Each year, national MOAA recognizes councils and chapters that do an outstanding job communicating with their members in one of the following seven categories of competition:

• Print Newsletters;
• Electronic Newsletters;
• Websites;
• Best Legislative Coverage (Print Newsletter);
• Best Legislative Coverage (Website);
• Best Recruiting Brochure; and
• Unique Communication.

Congratulations to the winners who listed below and did an outstanding job communicating with their members during 2014.

 

Councils

 

PRINT NEWSLETTERS
Winner
The Council Communique

Florida Council of Chapters

Lt. Col. Wayne Brown, USAF (Ret), and Marty Brown

 

1st Runner-Up

The Eagle

Pennsylvania Council of Chapters

Lt. Col. Robert Gray, USAR (Ret)

2nd Runner-Up

Council Comments

North Carolina Council of Chapters

Maj. William Culler, USMC (Ret), and Dee Culler

 

ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS

Council Connections

North Carolina Council of Chapters

Capt. Douglas Ehrhardt, USN (Ret)

 

WEB SITES

Winner

Virginia Council of Chapters

www.virginiamoaa.com

Col. Kenneth Turner, USAF (Ret)

 

1^st Runner-Up

Arizona Council of Chapters

http://azcouncilofchapters.org

Maj. Steven Abel, USAF (Ret)

 

2nd Runner-Up

Florida Council of Chapters

www.moaafl.org

Lt. Cmdr. John Snyder, USN (Ret)

 

and

 

North Carolina Council of Chapters

www.moaa-nc.org

Capt. Douglas Ehrhardt, USN (Ret)

 

BEST LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE-PRINT

The Eagle

Pennsylvania Council of Chapters

Lt. Col. Robert Gray, USAR (Ret)

 

BEST LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE-WEB SITES

Virginia Council of Chapters

www.virginiamoaa.com

Col. Kenneth Turner, USAF (Ret)

 

BEST RECRUITING BROCHURE

Not applicable to state councils.

 

UNIQUE COMMUNICATIONS

No awards.

 

Chapters

Large (600 or more members)

PRINT NEWSLETTERS
Winner
The Military Officer 


Ark-La-Tex (La.) 


Col. Steve dePyssler, USAF (Ret)

 

1st Runner-Up

The Patriot

Richmond (Va.) Area

Cmdr. John Baumgarten, USN (Ret)

 

2nd Runner-Up

The Eagle

Pikes Peak (Colo.)

Col. Larry Edwards, USA (Ret)

 

ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS

No awards.

 

WEB SITES

Winner

Cape Canaveral (Fla.)

www.moaacc.org

Ruth Oblack

 

1^st Runner-Up

Ark-La-Tex (La.)

www.arklatexmoaa.org

Capt. David Jampole, USAF (Ret)

 

2^nd Runner-Up

Alamo (Texas)

www.alamomoaa.org

Col. William Hudson, USAF (Ret)

 

BEST LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE-PRINT NEWSLETTER

The Intercom

Cape Canaveral (Fla.)

Rear Adm. Wayne Justice, USCG (Ret)

 

BEST LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE-WEB SITE

No awards.

 

BEST RECRUITING BROCHURE

Richmond (Va.) Area

 

UNIQUE COMMUNICATIONS

The Richmond (Va.) Area Chapter, in conjunction with other MOAA chapters in central Virginia, distributed a special brochure to members of the Virginia General Assembly who attended MOAA’s 7^th Annual Legislative Forum.

 

Category I (400-599 members)

 

PRINT NEWSLETTERS

Winner

The Tribute

Hampton Roads (Va.)

Cmdr. John Vermillion, USN (Ret)

1st Runner-Up

The Retrospect

Tampa (Fla.)

Capt. Donald Dvornik, USN (Ret)

 

2nd Runner-Up

The Sentinel

Huntsville (Ala.)

Maj. Bruce Robinson, USA (Ret)

 

ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS
The Tribute

Hampton Roads (Va.)

Cmdr. John Vermillion, USN (Ret)

 

WEB SITES

Winner

Huntsville (Ala.)

http://huntsvillemoaa.org

Capt. Richard West, USN (Ret)

 

1^st Runner-Up

Hampton Roads (Va.)

www.hrcmoaa.org

Maj. Clifton Furedy, USAF (Ret)

2^nd Runner-Up

No awards.

 

BEST LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE-PRINT NEWSLETTER

The Sentinel

Huntsville (Ala.)

Maj. Philip Crocker, USA (Ret)

 

BEST LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE-WEB SITE

No awards.

 

BEST RECRUITING BROCHURE

No awards.

 

UNIQUE COMMUNICATIONS

The Tampa (Fla.) Chapter’s Military Officers Wives Club is the only MOAA affiliate that publishes its own newsletter, Chit Chat, for spouses and auxiliary members. Shirley Helveston is the editor.

 

Category II (300-399 members)

PRINT NEWSLETTERS
Winner

The Border Bulletin

El Paso (Texas)

Lt. Col. William Moore, USA (Ret)

 

1st Runner-Up

The Sarasota Breeze

MOA of Sarasota (Fla.)

Col. Leonard Friedlander, USAF (Ret), and Patt Staley

 

2nd Runner-Up

MOAA Reporter

MOAA-Greater Dallas

Lt. Cmdr. William Hill, USN (Ret)

 

and

 

Now Hear This!

Spokane (Wash.)

Cmdr. Marilyn Hunt, USN (Ret)

 

ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS

Mission Updates

MOAA Central Ohio

Cmdr. Walter Rey, USN (Ret)

 

WEB SITES

Winner

MOAA Central Ohio

www.moaa-centralohio.org

Cmdr. Walter Rey, USN (Ret)

 

1^st Runner-Up

Sandhills (N.C.)

http://sandhillsmoaa.com

Mary Schneider

 

2^nd Runner-Up

El Paso (Texas)

http://elpasomoaa.org

Lt. Col. William Moore, USA (Ret)

 

BEST LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE-PRINT NEWSLETTER

The Sarasota Breeze

MOA of Sarasota (Fla.)

Col. Leonard Friedlander, USAF (Ret)

 

BEST LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE-WEB SITE

No awards.

 

BEST RECRUITING BROCHURE

Sandhills (N.C.)

 

UNIQUE COMMUNICATIONS

MOA of Sarasota (Fla.) developed a blog (www.sarasotamoaa.blogspot.com) to help members communicate with each other on upcoming chapter events and legislative issues.

 

The Mount Vernon (Va.) Chapter developed tent cards to display and use when recruiting, which contain the chapter’s web address and membership prices.

Category III (200-299 members)

 

PRINT NEWSLETTER
Winner

NewsGram

Luke (Ariz.)

Lt. Col. W. Scott Phillips, USAF (Ret)

 

1st Runner-Up

Newsletter Greater St. Louis Chapter

Greater St. Louis (Mo.)

Col. Arnold Jensen, USA (Ret)

 

2nd Runner-Up

The Bugle

Central Virginia

Col. Carl Huebner, USAF (Ret)

 

ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS
Gram of Info

Cape Fear (N.C.)

Col. Juan Chavez, USA (Ret)

 

WEB SITES

Winner

Cape Fear (N.C.)

www.cfmoaa.org

Col. Juan Chavez, USA (Ret)

 

1^st Runner-Up

Pensacola (Fla.)

www.pmoaa.org

Rear Adm. Joan Engel, USN (Ret)

 

2^nd Runner-Up

Western North Carolina

http://wnc-moaa.org

Lt. Col. Leonard Baker, USA (Ret)

 

and

 

Albuquerque (N.M.)

www.albumoaa.org

Karen Brown

 

BEST LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE-PRINT NEWSLETTER

Heartland of America Chapter

Heartland of America (Neb.)

Brig. Gen. Paul Cohen, USAF (Ret)

 

BEST LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE-WEB SITE

Western North Carolina

http://wnc-moaa.org/Legislative%20Corner.html

Lt. Col. Karen McKay, USAR (Ret)

 

BEST RECRUITING BROCHURE

Pensacola (Fla.)

 

UNIQUE COMMUNICATIONS

No awards.

 

Category IV (120-199 members)

 

PRINT NEWSLETTERS
Winner

The Sentinel

Arizona

Lt. Col. James Cullison, USAF (Ret)

 

and

 

Lake & Sumter Counties Chapter

Lake & Sumter Counties (Fla.)

Irene Misiorski and Marty Brown

 

1st Runner-Up

Coastal Tide

Grand Strand (N.C.)

Lt. Col. William Walsh, USAR (Ret)

 

2nd Runner-Up

Lee Coast Chapter News and Views

Lee Coast (Fla.)

Lt. Col. Teresa Galgano, USA (Ret)

 

and

 

Wichita Chapter News

Wichita (Kan.)

Maj. Walter Nelson, USA (Ret)

 

and

 

The Word

Low Country (S.C.)

Maj. Scott Marshall, USAF (Ret)

 

ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS

E-Connection

Atlanta

Col. Robert Certain, USAFR (Ret)

 

WEB SITES

Winner

Fort Rucker (Ala.)

www.fortruckermoaa.org

Col. Charles Block, USMC (Ret)

 

1^st Runner-Up

Mayport (Fla.)

www.mpmoaa.org

Lt. Cmdr. John Snyder, USN (Ret)

 

2^nd Runner-Up

Arizona

http://azmoaa.org

Col. Robert Welch, USA (Ret)

 

BEST LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE-PRINT NEWSLETTER

Kaw Valley Chapter

Kaw Valley (Kan.)

Maj. Michelle Sweeney, ANG (Ret)

 

BEST LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE-WEB SITE

No awards.

 

BEST RECRUITING BROCHURE

Superstition Mountain (Ariz.)

 

UNIQUE COMMUNICATIONS

The Kaw Valley (Kan.) Chapter developed and submitted comprehensive written testimony in support of state legislation to allow veterans with PTSD or substance abuse issues to receive treatment rather than jail time.

 

The Falcons Landing (Va.) Chapter provides comprehensive monthly legislative updates on federal and state issues to members of its legislative committee and politically active members.

 

Category V (Fewer than 120 members)

 

PRINT NEWSLETTERS
Winner

Mahoning and Shenango Valleys Chapter

Mahoning and Shenango Valleys (Ohio)

Janet Oglesby

 

1st Runner-Up

Advisor

Suncoast (Fla.)

Maj. John Alderman, USA (Ret)

 

2nd Runner-Up

Sunbeams

Kingdom of the Sun (Fla.)

Col. Tilford Smith, AUS (Ret)

 

and

 

Coastal Carolina Clarion

Coastal Carolina (N.C.)

Maj. William Culler, USMC (Ret), and Dee Culler

 

ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS
The Gouge

Charlotte-Metrolina (N.C.)

Cmdr. Ronald Wilsbach, USN (Ret)

 

WEB SITES

Winner

Star Spangled Banner (Md.)

http://starspan.org

Lt. George Wright, USN (Ret)

 

1^st Runner-Up

Venice (Fla.) Area

www.venicemoaa.com

Marjorie Loria Healey

2^nd Runner-Up

Heritage Hunt (Va.)

https://sites.google.com/site/moaaheritagehunt/home

Col. Michael Weppner, USAF (Ret)

 

BEST LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE-PRINT NEWSLETTER

Mahoning and Shenango Valleys Chapter

Mahoning and Shenango Valleys (Ohio)

Col. John Koshan, USAR (Ret)

 

BEST LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE-WEB SITE

No awards.

 

BEST RECRUITING BROCHURE

Tarheel Central (N.C.)

 

UNIQUE COMMUNICATIONS

The Catawba Valley (N.C.) Chapter developed business and recruiting cards, which are distributed to community leaders and potential members.

 

The New River (N.C.) Chapter’s “We Are” program sees members distribute flyers that promote upcoming chapter activities for the next nine months and special events, such as the chapter’s town hall meeting.

 

The Southside (Va.) Chapter publishes a special newsletter about its scholarship program. The newsletter is distributed to local Junior ROTC programs and members’ families, which reitereates the value of chapter membership.