Recent news from The MOAA Newsletter. View previous editions of Council and Chapter News here.

October 2019

Two Important Notes for Chapter Leaders

Don’t forget to access the Committee Module each month to obtain your Near Real-Time Notification, a recruiting list of new MOAA members in your area from the previous month.

As a reminder, Levels of Excellence Awards are formally presented at MOAA’s annual meeting only every other year, in even-numbered years. In odd-numbered years, awards are mailed to be distributed/presented locally. No awards will be presented at the 2019 annual meeting in November in Alexandria, Va.

Maryland Council Hosts Congressional Delegation

The Maryland Council of Chapters held its ninth annual congressional luncheon Sept. 18 on Capitol Hill.

Eight of 10 members of Maryland’s congressional delegation attended the Maryland Council of Chapters’ Congressional Appreciation Luncheon Wednesday, Sept. 18 in Washington, D.C. During their remarks to a room of more than 80 leaders from the Maryland Council of Chapters as well as national MOAA staff, legislators voiced strong support for MOAA’s legislative agenda. Several members expressed optimism that the House position for elimination of the Survivor Benefit Plan-Dependency and Indemnity Compensation offset would prevail in the final FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. Read more about the event.

Chapter Leaders From Six States Gather for Workshop

MOAA’s Northeast Region Council and Chapter Leadership Workshop brought together affiliate leaders and their spouses in Hershey, Pa.

Nearly 120 MOAA council and chapter leaders and their spouses from six states came together in Hershey, Pa., Sept. 6-7 for the Northeast Region Council and Chapter Leadership Workshop. The workshop provided council and chapter presidents, membership chairs, legislative liaisons, and surviving spouse liaisons training specific to their leadership roles as well as updates about national MOAA.

Read more about the event and what chapter leaders learned.

The final regional leadership workshop for 2019 will be held Nov. 15-16 in Austin, Texas, for council and chapter leaders in the Southwest Region.

Did You Know About These Member Benefits?

MOAA offers a wide variety of benefits to members of the association. Here are some you might be overlooking.

Joint Life Membership Option: If both you and your spouse are (or were) officers and one of you already is a MOAA Life member, the other can join as a Life member for just $100. This must be done over the phone with a Member Service Center representative. Call (800) 234-MOAA (6622).

Digital Military Officer Magazine: If you are a paid MOAA member, you can read Military Officer online. Log in to MOAA.org to access current and archived issues. There also is a search function within the online magazines if you are looking for something specific from a past issue.

Personalized E-Newsletter: The MOAA Newsletter can be personalized to your specific interests, such as advocacy, spouse and family, finance, and career transition, just to name a few — in addition to council and chapter news. Additionally, you can adjust the frequency in which you receive the e-newsletter. Subscribe and update your email preferences at www.moaa.org/email.

Member Book Listing: If you’ve written a published book, it could be listed in Military Officer magazine. Contact the Member Service Center at msc@moaa.org to find out how to submit your book to be highlighted in a future issue.

Surviving Spouse Corner: Meet the 2019 Surviving Spouse Award Recipient

Jayne Henley-Davis’ contributions to the Hawaii Aloha Chapter extend beyond her support for surviving spouses.

By Contributing Editor Blair Drake

Jayne Henley-Davis wants to ensure other surviving spouses have the support they need, especially immediately after the death of their spouse. “This is the most important time to contact someone,” she explains. “Just to have support from someone else who’s been through it before is a very big help.” This is why, as surviving spouse liaison for the Hawaii Aloha Chapter, she not only contacts surviving spouses during their time of grief but also offers to help with paperwork, accompany them to the mortuary, and provide phone numbers, directions, and other important resources.

“She is a caring and loving person with a willing ear to hear and a tender shoulder to lean on,” says Brig. Gen. John Ma, USA (Ret), past chapter president.

Henley-Davis understands the importance of surviving spouses being active in the chapter as well, so she encourages them to attend and participate in chapter functions. She and members of the Surviving Spouse Committee have organized special events for the chapter, including trips to an orchid nursery in Waimanalo; Coconut Island, home of the University of Hawaii’s marine science/research facilities; a hydroponic farm; and Manoa chocolate factory.

Her hard work and efforts have not gone unnoticed. She recently was selected as the 2019 recipient of MOAA’s Surviving Spouse Liaison Excellence Award.

But Henley-Davis’ contributions to the Hawaii Aloha Chapter extend beyond her support for surviving spouses. She writes a column in the chapter’s monthly newsletter, typically about a timely health-related topic, such as CBD oil, the flu, and nutrient-rich foods. She also plans presentations for chapter meetings. Recently, she arranged for three professionals to discuss end-of-live planning. “These topics affect us all,” she explains. “They aren’t just for surviving spouses.”

Henley-Davis values the benefits of chapter membership. “I enjoy the camaraderie and the opportunities to meet new people,” she says. “We’ve also had a lot of important topics presented at our luncheons. These make us all realize we aren’t alone [in what we face].”

MOAA Council Hosting Caribbean Cruise

The 12-night Southern Caribbean cruise — hosted by the Maryland Council of Chapters — will depart Jan. 11 from the Port of Baltimore.

The Maryland Council of Chapters is sponsoring through MOAA Vacations a 12-night cruise out of the Port of Baltimore departing Jan. 11, 2020. Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas will sail from the Port of Baltimore to the Southern Caribbean, with port calls at St. Croix (U.S. Virgin Islands), St. Maarten (Netherlands), St. Lucia, Barbados, and St. Kitts/Nevis.

Rates start as low as $899 per person (double occupancy, inside stateroom) and $1,079 per person (double occupancy, ocean view). MOAA Vacations has a limited number of rooms available at these rates. To book your room, call (800) 211-5107 or complete an online booking form. You can also reach MOAA Vacations via email at mail@MOAAvac.com.

MOAA Vacations trips and cruises generate income for your chapter. For this cruise, each cabin reservation (in any state) will earn $50 per cabin paid directly to your chapter. MOAA members can bring along family and friends, which also generates the $50 chapter commission per cabin. This $50 is in addition the annual revenue share MOAA Vacations distributes to chapters. Your chapter receives 1% of the revenue from any cruise or tour booked through MOAA Vacations by chapter members.

Chapters Serving Their Communities

Don’t miss the special 18-page section in the October issue of Military Officer highlighting the outstanding efforts of MOAA chapter members. In addition to showcasing chapter community-service projects and affiliate leaders from across the country, the section provides helpful tips and resources.

Get Newsletter Content From National MOAA

Need some content to supplement your chapter’s newsletter? The White Label 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 Solano County (Calif.) Chapter is supporting a program for military teens at Travis AFB. The Club Beyond program, led by a civilian couple trained to work with and counsel military youth, hosts weekly activities for teens at the installation. Club Beyond serves in over 45 military installations around the world.

• The Willow Grove (Pa.) Chapter participated in the 10th annual Fore the Troops golf outing at Blue Bell Country Club. Fore the Troops is a nonprofit charitable organization that raises money to support philanthropic organizations focused on programs and support of military personnel and their families. The chapter contributed $150 to sponsor a hole at the event.

• The Head O’ the Lakes (Minn.) Chapter staffed a table at the 2019 Twin Ports Retiree Appreciation Day Sept. 13 at the Black Bear Casino in Carlton, Minn. In addition to helping to advertise the chapter, the event provided an opportunity to recruit new members.