The mission of the Chapter is to work for the benefit of all members of the uniformed services, their families and survivors. Central to our mission is to advocate on the local, state and federal levels for a strong national defense while providing needed support for the community.

Membership is open to those who hold or have ever held a warrant or commission in any component of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Public Health Service or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and their surviving spouses. Additional information on membership is available from any of the Chapter officers or board members.

Regular monthly Chapter meetings are informal gatherings featuring a social hour and dinner. A guest speaker is usually invited to these meetings to present information on topics relevant to the members. A picnic is held on the last Sunday in August. The Annual Meeting and Dinner is held on December 7th. The Chapter supports Junior ROTC programs at Notre Dame Jr/Sr High School and T. R. Proctor High School in Utica and Rome Free Academy in Rome as well as the ROTC program at Utica College. The Chapter sponsors an annual Flag Day Ceremony at Peter Gansevoort Elementary School in Rome. Throughout the year Chapter members also support patriotic programs of various civic organizations such as Rotary Clubs and Chambers of Commerce.

The Chapter supports the MOAA national legislative agenda. Our Member of Congress as well as our NY State Senator and Assemblyperson and local officials are regularly invited to speak to our members. The Chapter is also active in supporting the NY State Council of Chapters in advocating on behalf of various state veterans’ issues.

GRUC LEADERS FOR 2009: PRESIDENT – LTC Joseph Maurer, USAR, jmaurer@metlife.com, 1st V-P – LTC Luciano Parzianello, USAF, lparzianelle@yahoo.com, 2nd V-P – 1LT Mildred M. Swarts, USAF, mswarts@twcny.rr.com, 3rd V-P – LTC John P. Rhude, USAF, jrhude@twcny.rr.com, SECRETARY – COL Dana K. Roecker, USAF, danakr@roadrunner.com, TREASURER – MAJ Richard P. Lemieux, USAF, richardlem@earthlink.net, CHAPLAIN – MAJ James Martinez, USAF, PAST PRESIDENT – CDR Stephen F. Mercurio, USN, smercuri@twcny.rr.com **** GRUC DIRECTORS, TERM 2008: CPT Anthony M. Kimball, USAF, tkimball@twcny.rr.com, COL Herb Skogland, USAR, today83@twcny.rr.com, CPT William G. Swarts, USAF, mswarts@twcny.rr.com, TERM 2009: Annely DiGiovanni, Auxillary, LTC Donald H. Hart, USAF, dhart20@twcny.rr.com, MAJ Edwin W. Herr, USAF, burfrned@netscape.net, CW4 William P. Lambert, USAF, TERM 2010: LTC Robert Rossitto, USAF, caporosy@localnet.com, COL William S. Tuthill, USAF, billtuth@aol.com, TERM 2011: Virginia Craiglow, Auxillary, lcraiglow@earthlink.net

The Greater Rome-Utica Chapter, Military Officers Association of America (GRUC-MOAA) was formed in 1972 and serves current, former and retired military officers of Rome, Utica, Madison, Oneida and Herkimer Counties. ********************************************************** The Chapter hosts meetings on the first Wednesday of the month, with the exception of the months of July, August and December. Meetings are held at The Savoy Restaurant, 255 E. Dominick Street in Rome, NY. Meeting format is: 1700 hrs Attitude Adjustment; 1800 hrs Chapter Meeting and 1900 hrs Dinner. These informal get togethers offer a monthly Officers’ Club atmosphere absent in the community since the closing of Griffiss AFB in 1993. All members are welcome at these meetings and are encouraged to bring spouses, significant others and guests.