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.
Join Us for MOAA’s Annual Meeting
Find details about the association’s fall event.
MOAA’s 2021 annual meeting will take place Oct. 15 at the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel in Arlington, Va. Associated events include the opportunity to visit MOAA’s exhibitors’ and partners’ display; chapter leader roundtable discussions; a luncheon with keynote speaker; and the Annual Meeting of the Membership, with presentations from key association leadership and staff.
The event will conclude with an evening banquet and awards ceremony recognizing MOAA councils and chapters for their outstanding work and contributions with the presentation of Levels of Excellence Awards for calendar year 2020. More about the meeting, associated costs, and registration information will be available at MOAA.org/annualmeeting2021.
Key Dates You Need to Know
Plan ahead and mark your calendars with the dates of upcoming programs, events, and deadlines for MOAA councils and chapters in addition to events at national MOAA and other pieces of information of interest to you and your members. View the dates on MOAA.org.
New President’s Package
Council and chapter presidents receive resources, updates, and a MOAA pin.
Did you know when a new council or chapter president is added to the Committee Module (CM), he or she will receive a new president’s package? After your affiliate’s membership chair has updated the officer position in the CM, MOAA’s Council and Chapter Affairs office will supply the new president with a welcome message and important updates and links to resources (e.g., Policies and Procedures Guide and CM instructions) that will inform and facilitate their new leadership role. As part of a package that will mailed to the council/chapter, the incoming and outgoing president will receive a MOAA president’s and past president’s pin.
If you are currently a council or chapter president and haven’t received this helpful president’s package, please contact us at chapters@moaa.org.
Quarterly Incentives Program
Get details on an important change to the program’s third-quarter incentive.
During the first and second quarters of our Quarterly Incentives Program, we have awarded nearly $7,000 to chapters meeting the quarterly criteria for a $50 award.
The program’s third-quarter incentive has been modified from our original guidance associated with Association Management System implementation and will instead recognize chapters that self-report usage and results of the near real time (NRT) report. Due to this change of criteria, the third quarter will cover the period of Aug. 1-Oct. 31. To receive the paid incentive, chapters must self-report by Nov. 5, 2021, with a response to the following questions:
- Aug. 1-Oct. 31: How many times did the chapter access the NRT report during this three-month period?
- How many new members did the chapter recruit during this period as a result of using the NRT report?
When responding by the deadline, email chapters@moaa.org and include your chapter name, your name, and your leadership position.
MOAA Vacation Opportunities for Chapter Members
Members of MOAA leadership would like to personally invite chapter leaders and their guests to join them on the inaugural MOAA Cruise for a Cause, exploring Portugal and Spain on the Douro River in June 2022. The chapter that helps fill the most cabins will receive special recognition aboard the ship. To find out more and book your cruise on the brand-new S.S. São Gabriel, visit the MOAA Vacations website or call MOAA Vacations at (800) 211-5107.
[RELATED: Cruise for a Cause With MOAA]
Surviving Spouse Corner: Financial Considerations for Spouses and Survivors
Planning and awareness can save money and effort and even prevent remorse.
By Patricia Green, member, Surviving Spouse Advisory Council
You are never prepared for the loss of your spouse. That is true emotionally, and sometimes financially. Even if you do all the work of setting legal instruments in place, often something is overlooked or neglected or some circumstance has changed that requires an update or adjustment.
To prepare, compile papers (especially DD Form 214 and Disability Claims) and determine your financial standing. Calculate the income of each spouse if the other dies. The reality might surprise you. Curtailing your lifestyle, downsizing, saving more, or buying insurance products are options that can avert financial chaos. Give these options some serious thought.
Keep in mind these additional considerations:
Credit cards. Each spouse should have a credit card in their name — alone — as well as some jointly held cards. Be careful that automatic recurring charges, a monthly newspaper subscription, for example, are not billed to a card solely owned by one spouse. If that spouse dies, it takes more effort to have that card cancelled.
Pensions. When you are retired, determining your income seems pretty straightforward. Pensions don’t change much. But what if that pension does not transfer to the surviving spouse? If you have the Survivor Benefit Plan, what percentage of the pension continues? Has it been assigned to the spouse or a special-needs child or to a spouse from a previous marriage? Will the spouse receive the veteran’s Dependency and Indemnity Compensation?
Social Security. Decisions made about when to start taking Social Security are really difficult. Do what you must, but if there is flexibility, plan a strategy that will support you best and longest. Most people I talk to feel they started withdrawal too soon. Consider delaying Social Security withdrawals from the higher-incomed spouse. Statistically, women might face 20 years or more of widowhood. Each year that you postpone drawing Social Security creates a larger long-term benefit. Do the math. Ask for advice.
Investments. If you have IRAs, you must start withdrawing at a certain age (currently 72). If you have land investments or precious metals or own a small business, converting them to cash requires market timing. These conversions should be discussed with a sales professional specializing in that niche.
Gifts and inheritances. If your wealthy Uncle Harry sends you and your spouse each a check for $15,000 yearly, soon that gift is thought of as spendable income. But if one spouse dies, Uncle Harry can only send one check for $15,000 without causing himself tax consequences. Besides, other family members won’t think it’s fair if you get $30,000 and they each only get $15,000. Be grateful, but consider this check a gift, not a reliable source of income.
If you own part of an income producing property that is supporting you in retirement, make sure the property is titled correctly and the deed transfer upon death achieves the result you need for that income. Take the example of owning a rental house in partnership with your father, and you and your spouse use half of that rental income for living expenses. You expect to inherit this property upon your father’s death. But if you predecease your father and the property is not correctly titled, your spouse could be denied the half share of future income.
Taxes on investments. Losses on the sale of an investment owned by your spouse are not carried over after the year of the spouse’s death. Offset that capital loss by selling an asset that produced a comparable gain. Don’t procrastinate. Do this during the year of death to receive the full benefit of the write-off.
When a spouse dies and there are no dependents, the survivor pays taxes at the rate of a single person, not married or head of household. Examine the tax table; the single rate is much higher. It can happen that a survivor will have less income and still pay more income taxes. And if the survivor has a modified adjusted gross income exceeding $88,000 a year, Medicare premiums will also be increased.
Secrets. That diamond ring from a former beau, stamp collection, or Bitcoin is not valuable if your spouse doesn’t know the ID number or the bank deposit box where it is located. Be sure you discuss all your assets and debts with your spouse.
Read past Surviving Spouse Corners.
Monthly Leader Roundtables
We are now hosting monthly roundtable discussions of topics of interest to council and chapter leaders. These are open to anyone who is interested and will be held on Microsoft Teams on the last Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. Eastern time. The topic for Aug. 26 will be a walk-through of the councils and chapters webpage, including many of the resources you can find there to help your chapter. The link to join, as well as future topics, can be found 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.
The Sandhills (N.C.) Chapter donated $9,000 worth of books to Moore County Schools through the chapter’s Purple Up! Book Drive. The event, during the Month of the Military Child in April, raised funds to provide K-12 schools in Moore County with books that highlighted military service and culture.
The Sarasota (Fla.) Chapter, through its foundation, has awarded over $56,000 in scholarships and support to military-related groups and causes since January. Fund recipients included 15 graduating seniors, veteran-student support programs at local universities and colleges, and a Junior ROTC unit as well as five cadets.
The Greater Baton Rouge (La.) Chapter presented $2,500 to Baton Rouge Soldier Outreach (BRSO) in late June during the chapter’s monthly dinner meeting. BRSO sends care packages to military service personnel deployed overseas. Christy Smith, president of BRSO, accepted the donation and presented an appreciation plaque to the chapter. Members of the Greater Baton Rouge Chapter have volunteered and supported BRSO throughout the year by sanitizing, setting up, making care packages, coordinating donations, and assisting with postage fees.
National MOAA Travel Schedule
Here are the councils and chapters MOAA leaders will be visiting over the next three months.
Council and Chapter Affairs is back on the road in support of in-person visits to councils and chapters across the country. Contact the associated chapter if you would like to attend any of the following scheduled visits:
- Aug. 3, Cape Fear (N.C.) Chapter, Fayetteville, Amanda Dolasinski, MOAA staff writer
- Aug. 15, Southern Nevada Chapter, Las Vegas, Col. Dan Merry, USAF (Ret), vice president, Government Relations
- Aug. 22, Dayton Area (Ohio) Chapter, Wright-Patterson AFB, Capt. Erin E. Stone JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, Council and Chapter Affairs (CCA)
- Aug. 25, Huntsville (Ala.) Chapter, Huntsville, Capt. Erin E. Stone JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
- Aug. 27, Leadership Workshop, virtual event (upper Mid-West region), various
- Sept. 7, First Flight (N.C.) Chapter, Southern Shores, Capt. Frank Michael, USN (Ret), program director, CCA
- Sept. 9, Montgomery Area (Ala.) Chapter, Montgomery, Capt. Frank Michael, USN (Ret), program director, CCA
- Sept. 10, Admiral Arleigh Burke (Colo.) Chapter, Broomfield, Capt. Erin E. Stone JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
- Sept. 11, retiree appreciation day, Camp Pendleton, Calif., Capt. Paul Frost, USN (Ret), program director, Financial and Benefits Education/Counseling/Veterans Services
- Sept. 11, Mile High (Colo.) Chapter, Aurora, Capt. Erin E. Stone JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
- Sept. 14, Southeastern NC Chapter, Wrightsville Beach, Capt. Erin E. Stone JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
- Sept. 16, Ohio Western Reserve Chapter, virtual, Col. Shane Ostrom, USAF (Ret), program director, Financial and Benefits Education/Counseling
- Sept. 17-18, Leadership Workshop, Raleigh, N.C., various
- Sept. 18, New Hampshire Chapter, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Col. Jim O'Brien, USAF (Ret), MOAA chief operating officer
- Sept. 20, Central Texas Chapter, Temple, Lt. Gen. Dana T. Atkins, USAF (Ret), MOAA president and CEO
- Sept. 20, Upper Cumberland (Tenn.) Chapter, Crossville, Capt. Frank Michael, USN (Ret), program director, CCA
- Sept. 21, Augusta (Ga.) Chapter and Georgia Council of Chapters, Augusta, Capt. Frank Michael, USN (Ret), program director, CCA
- Sept. 23, Star Fort (S.C.) Chapter, Greenwood, Chaplain (Col.) Sam Boone, USA (Ret), MOAA board of directors
- Sept. 24, Bluegrass (Ky.) Chapter, Lexington, Capt. Frank Michael, USN (Ret), program director, CCA
- Sept. 25, retiree appreciation day, Minneapolis, Col. Shane Ostrom, USAF (Ret), program director, Financial and Benefits Education/Counseling
- Oct. 5, Virginia Council of Chapters, Williamsburg, Lt. Gen. Dana T. Atkins, USAF (Ret), MOAA president and CEO
- Oct. 6, Georgia Council of Chapters, Fort Benning, Lt. Gen. Dana T. Atkins, USAF (Ret), MOAA president and CEO
- Oct. 16, retiree appreciation day, New London, Conn., Capt. Paul Frost, USN (Ret), program director, Financial and Benefits Education/Counseling/Veterans Services
- Oct. 19, East-Central Alabama Chapter, Auburn, Lt. Gen. Dana T. Atkins, USAF (Ret), MOAA president and CEO
- Oct. 20, Fort Knox Area (Ky.) Chapter, Fort Knox, Rear Adm. Tom Jurkowsky, USN (Ret), MOAA board of directors
- Oct. 26, Greater Baton Rouge Area (La.) Chapter, Baton Rouge, speaker TBD
- Oct. 28, Central Virginia Chapter, Keswick, Lt. Gen. Dana T. Atkins, USAF (Ret), MOAA president and CEO, and Capt. Erin E. Stone JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
- Oct. 28, Alamo (Texas) Chapter, San Antonio, Col. Dan Merry, USAF (Ret), vice president, Government Relations
- Oct. 28, Sumner (Tenn.) Chapter, Hendersonville, speaker TBD
- Oct. 30, Arkansas Council of Chapters, Conway, Lt. Gen. Dana T. Atkins, USAF (Ret), MOAA president and CEO
To request a visit to your affiliate, go to the council and chapter administration section of MOAA.org. We will do our best to support the visit during your desired timeframes.
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