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.

2022 Community Outreach Grant Recipients

The MOAA Foundation has selected 30 MOAA chapters to receive funds from its Community Outreach Grant Program.

The MOAA Foundation is awarding $86,058 in grants to 30 MOAA affiliates through its Community Outreach Grant program.

This is the foundation’s sixth grant cycle. To date, it has awarded nearly 150 grants totaling more than $450,000.

This year’s grant recipients are

• Admiral Arleigh Burke (Colo.) Chapter
• Arizona Chapter
• Cape Canaveral (Fla.) Chapter
• Central Florida Chapter
• Falcons Landing (Va.) Chapter
• Grand Canyon (Ariz.) Chapter
• Grand Strand (S.C.) Chapter
• Greater Baton Rouge Area (La.) Chapter
• Greater Dallas & North Texas Chapter
• Heritage Hunt (Va.) Chapter
• Hidden Valley (Calif.) Chapter
• Historic Mayport (Fla.) Chapter
• Indian River (Fla.) Chapter
• Keystone Capital (Pa.) Chapter
• Kings Bay (Ga.) Chapter
• Lincolnland (Ill.) Chapter
• Luke (Ariz.) Chapter
• Middle Tennessee Chapter
• Shore & Chicago Chapter
• New River (N.C.) Chapter
• Northwest Arkansas Chapter
• Northwest Florida Chapter
• Solano County (Calif.) Chapter
• South Central Florida Chapter
• Southeast Idaho Chapter
• Southeastern NC Chapter
• Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter
• Southern Maine Chapter
• Tampa (Fla.) Chapter
• Treasure Coast (Fla.) Chapter

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. 

To make a donation and to learn more about the program and The MOAA Foundation, visit www.moaa.org/foundation.

Send Us Your Photos

The October issue of Military Officer will include expanded coverage of MOAA council and chapter activities. To have your chapter included in this coverage, email high-resolution photos as .jpg attachments with caption information and short articles about your affiliate’s activities — community-service projects, advocacy efforts, fundraisers, award ceremonies, etc.

Email submissions by June 25 to Contributing Editor Blair Drake at blaird@moaa.org.

Surviving Spouse Corner: 4 Resources for Older Adults

These sometimes-overlooked tools and resources can provide needed support and expertise.

By Renee Brunelle, MHS, MOAA Surviving Spouse Advisory Council member

The community of military spouses, encompassing all past and present, is a resilient group of individuals. The ability to change plans in a moment’s notice is a skill acquired over years of experience. The other amazing characteristic of military spouses is that we support each other and share tools, benefits, and resources no matter how long we have known each other.

Here are four such items to consider:

VA Aid and Attendance: Also known as housebound allowance, VA Aid and Attendance might be able to provide a monthly financial benefit to assist with personal care services. Financial and physical considerations need to be investigated. Local veteran services organizations are a great place to get neutral information and support.

Geriatric Care Managers: Hiring these professionals can be an unmatched option of support for seniors who do not have family members close. They are social workers for hire that can be on a retained contract or situational contract in case of emergency needs. Their experience can help you navigate insurance coverage, emergency services, or placement recommendations if you are looking into senior living locations.

Board-Certified Elder Law Attorney: Often attorneys will list that they offer estate and/or elder law specialties. This is an important area in that “what you don’t know will hurt you.” A board-certified elder law attorney has a higher level of training and expertise. Learn more through the National Elder Law Foundation.

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES): This designation for Realtors means they have done advanced education for working with homebuyers over age 50. Often, they have a network of additional businesses and services that will assist in making the real estate transaction as smooth as possible. Learn more through the SRES Council.

Read past Surviving Spouse Corners.

Did You Know?

Awards from national MOAA: National-level awards, including leadership and 100th birthday certificates, are available by nomination. Click here to learn more about the process and to nominate deserving individuals.

Recruiting tip: Invite the military/veteran reporter from your local newspaper to coffee to let them know what your chapter does and to offer your services for future stories. Also consider sending them your newsletter and inviting them to your meetings, particularly those with interesting speakers. Good will and good stories can go a long way toward bringing in new members. Watch our latest recorded roundtable at this link for more media exposure tips.

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 Mojave Desert (Calif.) Chapter presented awards to local students during the chapter’s annual awards ceremony April 27. Over 75 students, family members, chapter personnel, and other attendees gathered for the event. During the program, the chapter presented eight MOAA Certificates of Achievement, six MOAA Junior ROTC medals, four $500 scholarships, and $500 unit maintenance fund checks to the California Cadet Corps and Young Marine organizations.

Members of the Star Fort (S.C.) Chapter recently supported several community-service projects. Members worked with Adopt A Highway to complete the spring cleaning of nearby Cambridge Avenue. A sign on the avenue shows the chapter’s sponsorship of that road. The chapter also was a sponsor for the Knights of Columbus Golf Tournament in April. In addition, members participated in a Last Patrol ceremony for Navy veteran Marvin Sumerel, who was born in 1939 and served as a Navy cook during the late 1950s.

The Mid-Missouri Chapter coordinated and hosted Boone County’s Memorial Day tribute in Columbia. The community event featured the annual Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony and participants included the Columbia Community Band, the Boone County Fire District Pipes and Drums, and military firearms salute by the American Legion Post 202 Honor Guard. This was the 95th year for the event.

The Cape Cod (Mass.) Chapter recently presented a total of $14,000 in scholarships to three high school seniors from Cape Cod and the Islands. Recipients all have a close family member who is serving or who has honorably served in one of the eight U.S. uniformed services. The award ceremony, held at Pocasset Golf Club, showcased the three selected students from among 29 applicants representing nine institutions. 

Upcoming Events

Northwest Leaders' Workshop: June 3-4, Tacoma, Wash. Invited states/regions are Idaho, Oregon, Washington, California.

Monthly Chapter Leader Virtual Roundtable: Join us June 30 at 7 p.m. Eastern for a discussion about recruiting. Click here at the time of the meeting.

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

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:

• June 2, East-Iowa Chapter, Waverly, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), Council and Chapter Affairs (CCA)
• June 2, Iowa Council of Chapters, Waverly, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• June 2, Seattle Chapter, Seattle, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• June 3, Northwest Region Leadership Workshop, Tacoma, Wash., Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA; Capt. Jim Carman, USN (Ret), vice president, Council/Chapter and Member Support; and senior MOAA staff.
• June 7, New River (N.C.) Chapter, Boone, Col. Dan Merry, USAF (Ret), vice president, Government Relations
• June 8, White River (Ind.) Chapter, Carmel, June 8, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• June 9, Florida Council of Chapters Convention, West Palm Beach, Lt. Gen. Dana T. Atkins, USAF (Ret), MOAA president and CEO; Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA; and senior MOAA staff.
• June 9, South Alabama Chapter, Mobile, Lt. Col. Ernest Robinson, USMCR, MOAA board of directors (BoD)
• June 11, New Jersey Lakes and Pines Chapter, Joint Base McGuire-Dix, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• June 12, Genesee Valley (N.Y.) Chapter, Canandaigua, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• June 13, Northeast Mississippi Chapter, Tupelo, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• June 14, Admiral Arleigh Burke (Colo.) Chapter, Boulder, Col. Stevan Richards, USAF (Ret), MOAA BoD
• June 14, Great Plains (S.D.) Chapter, Sioux Falls, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• June 15, Northern Virginia Chapter, Fort Myer, speaker TBD
• June 17, Black Hills (S.D.) Chapter, Rapid City, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• June 18, Dayton Area (Ohio) Chapter, Fairborn, Col. Peter K. Kloeber, USAF (Ret), MOAA BoD
• June 23, Central Virginia Chapter, Keswick, Lt. Col. Walt Smiley, USA (Ret), MOAA BoD
• June 23, Northeast South Dakota Chapter, location TBD, June 23, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• June 28, French Creek Valley (Pa.) Chapter, Venango, June 28, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• July 7, Gen Andrew Jackson (Tenn.) Chapter, Hermitage, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• July 9, New Mexico Council of Chapters, Albuquerque, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• July 17, Portsmouth Area (Va.) Chapter, Portsmouth, speaker TBD
• 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