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.

Surviving Spouse Corner: Get Involved in MOAA’s Advocacy Efforts

Surviving spouses play an important role in educating elected officials about key legislation.  

By Dr. Vivianne Wersel, MOAA Surviving Spouse Advisory Council member

This spring, MOAA members contacted all 535 members of Congress during the association's annual Advocacy in Action event, conducting more than 235 meetings and sending over 7,500 letters. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and the challenges of security on Capitol Hill, MOAA members met with their elected officials either in face-to-face or virtual meetings.  

MOAA’s three legislative priorities were supporting the Major Richard Star Act, supporting the Stop Copay Overpay Act; and ensuring a competitive military pay raise.

Why get involved with Advocacy in Action? Volunteers are well trained to understand the process of setting up meetings and communicating with elected officials as well as having a better understanding of legislation. In addition, participation cultivates relationships with staffers and members of Congress from your district and state. The experience you gain is beneficial to help support other legislation as a constituent or with a group to help improve survivor benefits.

Military survivors are the stakeholders to the legislation at large. Congress continuously adjusts military survivor benefits. It is important surviving spouse members exercise their rights to educate staffers and members of Congress and remain vigilant to protect and improve survivor benefits. MOAA headquarters’ staff does an outstanding job educating members so they can participate in grassroots advocacy efforts.

Here are some ways to contribute and keep MOAA’s priorities on Congress’ radar:

• Send pre-written letters to Capitol Hill using MOAA’s Legislative Action Center.
• Call elected officials using MOAA’s direct line to the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 1-866-272-6622.
• Engage with congressional members via social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
• Stay current with MOAA’s legislative efforts and subscribe to The MOAA Newsletter. Check your MOAA’s newsletter subscription preferences at this link.
• Customize your letters and conversations with elected officials; embed a personal story.

Congress will act only if they are inspired by their voters. Join MOAA’s effort to help improve benefits for military, veterans, retirees, family, and survivors.

Read past Surviving Spouse Corners.

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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 Palm Springs (Calif.) Chapter recently awarded $6,000 in scholarships and six MOAA Leadership Medals to six Junior ROTC cadets from Desert Hot Springs, La Quinta, and Cathedral City high schools.

In April, the Iowa Chapter presented scholarships of $750 each to Naval Cadet Ethan Geer and Air Force Cadet Juan Simons. The chapter has committed to awarding three $750 scholarships each year to deserving military science students.

The Hawaii Aloha Chapter presented a memorial wreath during the 71st Memorial Day Service at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. Chapter members accompanied a Junior ROTC cadet from Roosevelt High School who carried the wreath.

Upcoming Events

Monthly Chapter Leader Virtual Roundtable: Join us July 28 at 7 p.m. Eastern for a discussion about event planning. Click here at the time of the meeting.

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

Did You Know?

Keep up-to-date on helpful tools and resources from national MOAA.

Recruitment Lists: Presidents and membership chairs who also serve as Committee Module (CM) administrators have access to recruitment lists when they retrieve their reports. The recruitment lists are available for an entire month before the next month’s refreshed recruitment list is available. Every month, your recruitment list will include: (1) new MOAA members, (2) members who recently subscribed to chapter communications, and (3) members who recently moved into a chapter’s catchment area. Take advantage of this opportunity to invite these non-chapter members to your upcoming meetings.   

National MOAA Visits: Council and Chapter Affairs (CCA) is committed to visiting MOAA councils (every year) and chapters (every two to three years). If you are due for a visit, please contact us through our online visit-request tool. These visits may be accommodated by a national board member, CCA leadership, or senior MOAA leader. Please take advantage of this important resource. 

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:

• July 9, New Mexico Council of Chapters, Rio Rancho, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• July 17, Portsmouth Area (Va.) Chapter, Portsmouth, Col. Rojan Robotham, USAF (Ret), MOAA board of directors (BoD)
• July 23, Ohio Council of Chapters, Columbus, July 23, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• July 23, Treasure Valley (Idaho) Chapter, Meridian, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• Aug. 4, General Andrew Jackson (Tenn.) Chapter, Nashville, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• Aug. 6, New Hampshire Chapter, Kittery, Maine, Lt. Gen. Dana T. Akins, USAF (Ret), MOAA president and CEO, and Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN, (Ret), CCA
• Aug. 9, George C. Marshall (Va.) Chapter, Lexington, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• Aug. 12, Mid-Atlantic Leadership Workshop, Raleigh, N.C., Capt. Jim Carman, USN (Ret), Council/Chapter and Member Support, and Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA, and staff
• Aug. 17, Greater Rome Utica (N.Y.) Chapter, Verona, CWO4 Lelia Jackson, USMC (Ret), BoD
• Aug. 21, Mid-Hudson (N.Y.) Chapter, Milton, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• Aug. 26, Colorado Council of Chapters, Grand Junction, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Aug. 26, Southeastern Michigan Chapter, virtual, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• Aug. 27, Western North Carolina Chapter, Flat Rock, Col. Jeri Graham, USA (Ret), BoD