Recent news from The MOAA Newsletter. View previous editions of Council and Chapter News here. Send updates about your affiliate’s activities to chapters@moaa.org for possible inclusion in future editions.

Action Item: Update Your MOAA Profile

Please take a moment to review and update your contact information on your profile at MOAA.org and encourage your members to do the same (once you've logged in, a "Profile Info" link should appear at the top right of the MOAA homepage). We especially need people to review and/or add email addresses, as many appear to be missing or inaccurate. 

Surviving Spouse Corner: Calling All Bibliophiles

Join the Surviving Spouse Virtual Chapter’s new book club.

By Suzanne Walker, staff adviser, Surviving Spouse Advisory Council

Summertime is the perfect time to catch up on reading. Whether you read e-books or enjoy turning the pages of books or magazines, there are so many wonderful stories to enjoy.

MOAA's summer reading list is available in Military Officer magazine each year (Premium and Life members can access the digital version of the July issue at this link), and you can find great suggestions from libraries, magazines, or recommendations from friends and family.

Do you enjoy fiction, nonfiction, biographies, or self-help genres? It’s often fun to select something you would not normally choose. For those who want a shorter read, there are some great articles in Military Officer and other publications. Perhaps you’ve attended an event where the author signs and reads from their book – or maybe you have considered writing a memoir or fiction story of your own.

[MOAA WEBINAR RECORDING: Advice for Aspiring Authors (Premium/Life Member Login Required)]

Another way to enjoy a good read is to join a book club. Online book clubs are very popular and turn a solitary experience into a social party. Bookworms from across the country, and around the world, can find a platform to enjoy a conversation about a favorite book. Book club apps can match you to a group that enjoys the same kinds of books.  

The Surviving Spouse Virtual Chapter just initiated a book club that meets monthly. They alternate between fiction and nonfiction titles and vote as a group on the next selection to read. The conversation offers perspectives of the book that you might not have considered. The social aspect of the discussions makes reading much more fun. All Surviving Spouse Virtual Chapter members are welcome to attend these gatherings monthly on Zoom.

[RELATED: MOAA Member Books]

The August selection is The Confidant: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Helped Win WWII and Shape Modern America by Christopher C. Gorham. 

Please join us for the Surviving Spouse Virtual Chapter meeting Aug. 15 at 5 p.m. Eastern. Come prepared to stay after the meeting to join the book discussion (or learn about the book if you haven't had time to read it).

[TELL US: What's Your Favorite Book? Email us at SSACouncil@moaa.org]

The MOAA Surviving Spouse Virtual Chapter was founded in 2018. Interested in applying? Download membership materials at this link. You can also join MOAA's Surviving Spouses Facebook group.

Happy reading!

Read past Surviving Spouse Corners.

Upcoming Events

North Central Volunteer Leader’s Workshop: MOAA Council and Chapter Affairs invites you to a leaders’ workshop for North Central volunteer leaders Sept. 15-16 in Milwaukee at The Westin Milwaukee. This in-person workshop includes council and chapter officers from Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, as well as officers from Ohio affiliates who did not attend the Providence workshop in June and from the virtual council and virtual chapters as indicated below.

This invitation is open to the following officers in those geographic affiliates: council and chapter presidents, membership chairs, legislative chairs/liaisons, and surviving spouse liaisons. Additionally, we are sending this invitation to virtual council and chapter presidents to designate up to two representatives of their respective council/chapters residing in the listed states to attend the workshop.

As a reminder, national MOAA will provide attending officers and their spouses the following:

• Westin Milwaukee Hotel for one night of lodging on Friday, Sept. 15. 
• Dinner on Friday, Sept. 15.
• Breakfast and lunch on Saturday, Sept. 16.

This workshop will provide an important forum to receive updates and ask questions of MOAA leadership, attend break-out sessions on chapter management, legislative training, or surviving spouse liaison training, and afford networking opportunities with your fellow volunteer-leaders. 

As a special note: Barbara Smith, president of the Surviving Spouse Virtual Chapter and member of MOAA’s Surviving Spouse Advisory Council, will provide a surviving spouse brief and dedicated training session. All accompanying spouses are encouraged to attend. You are asked to please emphasize the importance of this opportunity to your surviving spouse liaison. If you do not have a liaison, please invite a potential liaison or other council or chapter spouse to attend.

Please use this link to register no later than Tuesday, Aug. 15, and ensure you proceed all the way through the registration process to submit your registration. You will receive an email confirmation that your registration has been received when the registration is properly submitted. 

Please do not call the hotel directly for reservations. If you have any questions or need assistance with registration, contact Suzanne Walker at suzannew@moaa.org.

Council and Independent Chapter Presidents Meeting: The quarterly virtual meeting on Aug. 22 at 2 p.m. Eastern will provide updates and deep dives into chapter health and Levels of Excellence award criteria, presentation, and processes. We will also propose establishing a council or a community of interest for independent chapters to provide information and mentoring to member chapters, coordinate legislative efforts, and serve as a communications conduit between national MOAA and the chapters. Please come with your thoughts on these agenda items and contact Erin Stone or Frank Michael if you would like to propose any other topics. Join here at the time of the meeting. (Meeting ID: 272 446 942 799; Passcode: E2aRhQ)

Monthly Chapter Leader Virtual Roundtable: Join us Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. Eastern for a discussion about finance and benefits. Join here at the time of the meeting. (ID: 266 386 426 898; Passcode: VzooVD).

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

Did You Know?

Join a Virtual Chapter. MOAA has six virtual chapters: the Uniformed Services Nurse Advocates Virtual Chapter, the Surviving Spouse Virtual Chapter, the Public Health Service Virtual Chapter, the Chaplains Virtual Chapter, the Judge Advocate Virtual Chapter, and the Advocacy for Servicewomen and Military Families Virtual Chapter. MOAA’s virtual chapters are growing, successfully executing their respective missions, and complementing the efforts and membership growth of geographic chapters. Learn more.

Certificates of Recognition. National MOAA has certificates available that have been specially printed for various types of recognition of individuals. View and print the certificates.

Council and Chapter Visits. Did you know that your council or chapter might be eligible for a visit from national MOAA? Councils are visited annually, and chapters are visited every two to three years. To request a visit, please complete the request form here. If you have any questions, email chapters@moaa.org. 

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 Olympic Peninsula (Wash.) Chapter is supporting the Port Angeles High School NJROTC program by donating $1,000 a year to their leadership programs and awarding the MOAA leadership medal at the end of the year awards ceremony. Additionally, a chapter member presents a community service medal, and the winner can choose a local charity to receive a $100 donation in their honor. The chapter also supports the Dungeness Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol.

The Lake and Sumter Counties (Fla.) Chapter raised more than $30,000 during its 15th annual golf tournament this spring. The chapter gave half of the money to eight local military charities, while the other half was used for scholarships for 12 senior cadets at six high schools in Lake and Sumter counties.

National MOAA Travel Schedule

Here are the councils and chapters MOAA leaders will be visiting over the next few months.

Contact the associated chapter if you would like to attend any of the following scheduled visits:

• Aug. 5, New Hampshire Chapter clambake, Kittery, Maine, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), Council and Chapter Affairs (CCA)
• Aug. 9, MOAA Public Health Service Virtual Chapter, Zoom, Cmdr. Erin Cardinal, USN (Ret), Transition Services and Family Programs
• Aug. 15, WY-CO Border Chapter, Cheyenne, Wyo., Capt. Erin Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), Council and Chapter Affairs (CCA)
• Aug. 16, Heartland of America (Neb.) Chapter, Omaha, Capt. Erin Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• Aug. 22, Chattanooga (Tenn.) Chapter, Chattanooga, Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), MOAA president and CEO, and Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Aug. 25, El Paso (Texas) Chapter, El Paso, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Sept. 5, Southeastern North Carolina Chapter, Wrightsville Beach, Col. Theodore J. Janosko, USA (Ret), MOAA board of directors (BoD)
• Sept. 9, Head O’The Lakes (Minn.) Chapter, Duluth, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Sept. 12, Tarheel Central (N.C.) Chapter, Clemmons, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• Sept. 13, Cumberland Valley (Pa.) Chapter, Carlisle, Col. Dan Merry, USAF (Ret), Government Relations
• Sept. 13, Northwestern Michigan Chapter, Traverse City, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Sept. 13, Southwest Oklahoma Chapter, Lawton, Col. Theodore J. Janosko, USA (Ret), MOAA (BoD)
• Sept. 14, Montgomery Area (Ala.) Chapter, Montgomery, Sept. 14, Col. Theodore J. Janosko, USA (Ret), MOAA BoD
• Sept. 15-16, North-Central Leadership Training Workshop, Milwaukee, Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), MOAA president and CEO; Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA; and senior MOAA staff
• Sept. 16, Ernie Pyle (Ind.) Chapter, Terre Haute, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Sept. 18, New York Council of Chapters, Nichols, Col. Dan Merry, USAF (Ret), GR, and Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Sept. 22, Ozark Empire (Mo.) Chapter, Springfield, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• Sept. 23, Heart of America (Mo.) Chapter, Kansas City, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• Sept. 30, Georgia Council of Chapters Convention, Dahlonega, Sept. 30, Capt. Jim Carman, USN (Ret), Council/Chapter and Member Support, and Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Sept. 30, Ohio Council of Chapters Convention, Vienna, Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), MOAA president and CEO, and Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA