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.

Spring Advocacy in Action Update

MOAA’s annual advocacy event will once again be held virtually. Learn more.

After carefully considering options for Advocacy in Action this spring, MOAA’s leaders concluded we are still not at a point where we can bring people in and get them to Capitol Hill for in-person visits. Security concerns are a main factor, along with health protection protocols. Given these challenges, we will once again conduct our annual event virtually, to include the Council Presidents Seminar. More details will follow within the next few weeks, including scheduling and topics, which are pending board decision.

In the meantime, we encourage you to start your planning for the congressional break from April 11-22 when legislators will be in their home districts, an opportunity for many of you to meet with your legislators at their district offices.

2021 Chapter Recruiting Incentive

Kudos to our hardworking council and chapter leaders and members for your strong recruitment efforts in 2021.

From Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2021, chapters recruited more than 2,100 chapter members, with 223 incentive-qualified members brought onboard.

For the 2021 campaign, 95 chapters will receive, or already have received, their chapter recruitment incentive via electronic funds transfer. For reference, the payment will be noted on your bank statement as “end of year chapter.”

Every new member strengthens our association, and we look forward to bringing more members onboard in 2022. As a reminder for Committee Module (CM) administrators, people listed on your CM for whom the “Membership” column is blank are not national MOAA members. Help us bring these chapter members onboard with a national membership. See links below to access enrollment forms and information.   

• Online Enrollment/Member Benefits: MOAA.org/Join 
• Printable MOAA Membership Enrollment Form: Basic/Premium/Life Enrollment Form
• Common Join Form (MOAA Basic enrollment with chapter membership): MOAA - Council and Chapter Recruiting and Membership

Support MOAA Charities Through Amazon Smile

Donate to The MOAA Foundation or the MOAA Scholarship Fund with your eligible purchases on Amazon.

Did you know you can support MOAA’s two charities — The MOAA Foundation and the MOAA Scholarship Fund — by shopping on Amazon? Amazon will donate to the charity you select with every purchase. Here's how you can contribute:

1. Go to Amazon.com to shop.
2. Log in as you would normally on Amazon, or follow the prompts to create a new account.
3. Once you're logged in, if you are new to AmazonSmile, the site will allow you to pick the charity you want to support. Search for either “The MOAA Foundation” or “Military Officers Association of America Scholarship Fund.”
4. Once you select your charity, look above the left upper menu bar for the gold “Supporting:” and your charity will be listed in white.
5. If you already shop using AmazonSmile, use the pull-down window to change your charity.
6. Shop and donate.
   
   

Watch an instructional video online.

MOAA Seeks Applicants for Its Board of Directors

The deadline to submit materials is March 31. Learn how to apply.

This year, MOAA will elect a new class of its board of directors — 12 new directors who will succeed the 12 who will complete their service in October. MOAA directors serve one six-year term and must be MOAA members.
The leadership experiences of council and chapter leaders and their desire to continue to serve make them good candidates for service on the board of directors. Col. Peter K. Kloeber, USAF (Ret), president of the Arizona Council of Chapters, is a current MOAA board member.

He said his reason for applying was twofold: wanting to help shape the association’s future and ensure the board continued to understand and support the council and chapter system.

“I have greatly enjoyed my time and experience on the board so far,” he said. “I have been really impressed with the talent and dedication of the other board members. And I have been especially impressed with the talent, dedication, can-do attitude, and friendly support of the MOAA staff.”

He said most council and chapter leaders have a sincere desire to continuing serving after leaving the military and want to make a positive difference.

“Why not think about making that difference on a larger scale — and have a direct influence on MOAA’s future and its some 350,000 members?” Kloeber said.

He points out that being a board member does not mean service and influence at the council and chapter level needs to end.

“I continue be very active with my home chapter and state council,” he said. “I see serving on MOAA’s board of directors as part of my responsibility to continue helping others and making a difference whenever possible.”

Watch this video to hear from other board members about why they applied, the impact their service has made, and why you should consider submitting an application.

Find additional details and the application online.

Surviving Spouse Corner: End-of-Life Documents

Here are some resources to ensure you don’t overlook important end-of-life documents.

By Barbara Ann Bowman, Surviving Spouse Advisory Council member

Most people would list among end-of-life documents a will, a trust, an advance directive, a DNR (do not resuscitate) order, and a durable power of attorney. But the list of documents that deal with end-of-life issues is much longer. Deeds to real property,  beneficiary declaration for life insurance, and the signature card to a bank account are all end-of-life documents. They determine who gets what and through which legal procedure when someone dies.

Fortunately, checklists to help create an end-of-life plan are available through a number of trustworthy organizations. Among them:

• MOAA’s Help Your Survivors Now: A Guide to Planning Ahead
• VA’s Planning Your Legacy
• Military.com’s Military Retiree Survivor Checklist
• State Bar Association articles and forms

Research these resources, pick a checklist, or create one of your own. Gather legal documents you already have, including will, trust documents, health care directives, powers of attorney, beneficiary designations, asset inventory, deeds, military papers, instructions to access digital accounts, and contact information for family.

Consult professionals — lawyer, accountant, insurance agent, financial advisor — to help put together the plan, and then review, update, redraft, and re-execute documents, lists, and paperwork when needed.

At least once a year, review and update the plan. Have circumstances changed? Do the documents do what they are intended to do? Have state or federal laws affecting any of these documents changed? Are lists of assets current? Are titles to real estate, bank accounts, and vehicles correct? Are beneficiary designations still good?

Discuss your plan with those who hold health care proxy, powers of attorney, and other authority over your person and property. Put documents in a safe place, yet where they can be accessed by those in whom you have placed trust.

Be proactive. End-of-life documents are in reality life’s documents. Deal with them now.

Read past Surviving Spouse Corners.

The Deadline to Apply for a Community Outreach Grant Is Approaching

The MOAA Foundation is accepting applications until Feb. 28 for its 2022 Community Outreach Grants. To be eligible to receive a grant, MOAA councils or chapters must meet basic administration requirements and be actively involved in the delivery of community services supporting currently serving, veterans, and their families in one of 10 areas of critical family need: housing, food assistance, employment, health (including behavioral health), family support, community reintegration, financial assistance, legal assistance, transportation, and emergency relief efforts.

In 2021, 33 MOAA chapters received grants totaling more than $87,000.

Learn more about the grants, make a donation, and find the application at MOAA.org/foundation.

Finance an Outreach Event or Increase Awareness of Your Council or Chapter

The 2022 MOAA Community Sponsorship Program can help. Here’s how to apply.

Looking for ways to finance a council or chapter community event? Apply for sponsorship of up to $800 for council events or $300 for chapter events. Councils and chapters may apply to receive funds for one event per calendar year. Sponsorship will be considered for events such as council conventions, chapter events that recognize ROTC and Junior ROTC cadets and enhance the chapter’s relationship with cadets’ schools, chapter activities that help to raise awareness of the chapter in the community (including recruiting events) and educate community members about benefits, etcetera.  Funds also may be used to purchase items, including signs, banners, and tablecloths, for use in such events.

Apply by visiting MOAA's website and filling out and submitting the online request form. MOAA will process requests in the order received and, if approved, transfer funds via Electronic Funds Transfer.

Looking for a Community Outreach Opportunity and/or Funding? 

Check out this new Department of Labor program.

The Department of Labor has announced a new grant program to support training and employing services to assist homeless veterans in obtaining high-quality career outcomes. Grant recipients are required to provide an array of client-centered services using a case management approach that directly assists homeless veterans and provides critical links to a variety of support services available in their local communities. Veterans are to receive the job training and employment services required to re-enter and be successful in the labor force. 

Upcoming Events

Monthly Chapter Leader Virtual Roundtable: Join us at 7 p.m., Eastern time, Feb. 24 for a discussion about advocacy/Quorum (MOAA’s new Legislative Action Center). Join here at the time of the meeting.

Find a complete list of Council and Chapter Affairs events 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 Chattanooga (Tenn.) Chapter participated in Wreaths Across America in December 2021, helping to place over 29,000 wreaths on the graves of veterans. In addition, chapter members assisted the Salvation Army by ringing bells during the holiday season. The chapter team raised $273, and the chapter gave an additional donation of $500.

The Western Colorado Chapter presented a donation to the Western Region One Source (WROS) during the chapter’s Christmas dinner in December. The funds will support daily wellness activities for veterans at the WROS facility. WROS Administrator Joanne Iglesias accepted the donation and presented the chapter with a certificate of appreciation.

The Charleston (S.C.) Chapter supported Toys for Tots in 2021 for the 25th year, once again collecting sports balls for the annual campaign. To date, the chapter has donated over 5,000 balls to ensure older children have a gift to open during the holiday season.

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:

• Feb. 9, U.S. Public Health Service Virtual Chapter, Karen E. Ruedisueli, director, MOAA Government Relations, Health Affairs
• Feb. 10, Norman (Okla.) Chapter, Norman, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, Council and Chapter Affairs (CCA)
• Feb. 16, Ancient City (Fla.) Chapter, St. Augustine, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• Feb. 16, Northeast Florida Chapter, Jacksonville, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• Feb. 16, Willamette Chapter, Keizer, speaker TBD
• Feb. 22, Chattanooga Chapter, Chattanooga, speaker TBD
• Feb. 26, Illinois Council of Chapters, virtual, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• March 3, Kingdom of the Sun (Fla.) Chapter, Ocala, speaker TBD
• March 4, Lancaster (Pa.) Chapter, Rear Adm. Thomas J. Jurkowsky, USN (Ret), MOAA board of directors (BoD)
• March 8, Southwest Florida Chapter, Naples, speaker TBD
• March 9, Green Valley (Ariz.) Chapter, Green Valley, Capt. Marvin Heinze, USN (Ret), MOAA BoD
• March 9, South Shore (Mass.) Chapter, location TBD, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• March 10, Daniel Morgan (S.C.) Chapter, Spartanburg, Chaplain (Col.) Sam Boone, USA (Ret), MOAA BoD
• March 12, Missouri Council of Chapters, Kansas City, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• March 15, Silicon Valley (Calif.) Chapter, Mountain View, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• March 16, Mount Vernon (Va.) Chapter, virtual, speaker TBD
• March 17, Stone Rivers (Tenn.) Chapter, Murfreesboro, speaker TBD
• March 17, Wichita Falls (Texas) Chapter, Wichita Falls, speaker TBD
• March 17, Willow Grove (Pa.) Chapter, Willow Grove, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• March 18, St. Petersburg Area (Fla.) Chapter, Seminole, Rear Adm. Richard A. Buchanan, USN (Ret), MOAA BoD
• March 19, Superstition Mountain (Ariz.) Chapter, Mesa, Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• March 21, Colonel Billy Jones Chapter (Miss.), Madison Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• March 23, Catalina Mountains (Ariz.) Satellite Chapter, location TBD, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• March 23, Clearwater (Fla.) Chapter, Clearwater, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• March 24, Tucson (Ariz.) Chapter, Tucson, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• March 24, Coosa Valley (Ala.) Chapter, Gadsden, speaker TBD
• March 25, Kings-Tulare Counties (Calif.) Chapter, Visalia, March 25, Capt. Erin E. Stone JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• March 27, Contra Costa Chapter (Calif.), Moraga, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• March 30, Alta Chapter (Calif.), Yuba City, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA