MOAA’s seventh virtual chapter — approved by the board of directors last week — will assist councils and chapters with their public affairs and communication efforts while supporting the association’s overall mission.

“A lot of untold, amazing stories are out there that members and chapters are involved with,” said Cmdr. Linc Smith, USNR (Ret), president of the MOAA Public Affairs and Communication Professional Virtual Chapter. “Our chapter’s mission is to enhance the effectiveness of communications among MOAA affiliates.”

It joins MOAA’s six other virtual chapters: the Advocacy for Servicewomen and Military Families Virtual Chapter, the MOAA Uniformed Services Nurse Advocates Virtual Chapter, the Surviving Spouse Virtual Chapter, the Public Health Service Virtual Chapter, the Chaplains Virtual Chapter, and the Judge Advocate Virtual Chapter.

[RELATED: Learn More About MOAA Virtual Chapters]

The chapter formed with more than 20 members from across the nation, including several advisory members from national MOAA. Membership is open to designated public affairs professionals as well as MOAA council and chapter members in communication-related roles, such as newsletter editors, webmasters, and community relations liaisons.

“It’s a beautiful merge of people doing public affairs work for councils and chapters and the ones who are designated public affairs officers,” Smith said.

The chapter’s first initiatives are underway: awareness campaigns for the North Carolina Council of Chapters’ mental health seminar, “The Unspoken Trauma All Veterans Face,” and the Catalina Mountains (Ariz.) Chapter’s efforts to support Esperanza En Escalante, a nonprofit that provides housing, social services, and other programs to veterans in need.

The MOAA Public Affairs and Communication Professional Virtual Chapter’s website is in the works and will include an area where MOAA councils and chapters can request communications support.

“We have a storied list of people with length and breadth of experience,” said Smith. “They’re all very enthusiastic to support the public affairs and communications needs of MOAA chapters that have a story of an effort that needs to be further told.”

The chapter plans to meet virtually once a month. Those interested in joining should contact chapter Membership Chair Col. Peter K. Kloeber, USAF (Ret), at pkloeber@earthlink.net.