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.

Survey Results: Positive Findings About MOAA Chapters

National MOAA recently conducted a survey to get the inside scoop on chapter life. Of more than 170 responses, here’s what we found:

• 70% of chapters reported that their membership numbers are stable or growing.
• 70% of chapters participate in community service efforts.
• Over 50% of chapters fundraise for causes, including veteran homelessness and food insecurity, Wreaths Across America, veterans’ memorials, Honor Flight Network, and Fisher House.
• 5% of chapter leaders participate in national MOAA Leadership Workshops.
• 85% of chapters host regular membership meetings, with 60% having at least eight to 11 meetings a year.

Want to learn more? Check out “A Class of Their Own” in the October issue of Military Officer.  

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How I Advocate: Lt. Cmdr. Jeffrey Breiten, USN (Ret), California Council of Chapters

Learn advocacy tips from your fellow MOAA chapter members.

A former Marine turned naval intelligence officer turned police captain, Lt. Cmdr. Jeffrey Breiten, USN (Ret), of the California Council of Chapters (CALMOAA), first became a MOAA member over 18 years ago through his affiliation with the Orange Empire Military Officers Club.

“It was evident to me from the beginning that MOAA’s lobbying efforts in support of our active duty forces, retirees, and veterans were instrumental in preserving our hard-earned benefits and ensuring the future needs of our military, retirees, and veterans were being addressed at the national level,” he said. “I wanted to be proactive and assist MOAA with that mission.”

He shares the following advice he has learned from his experiences advocating:

• Communicating your message. “I have found the best approach is in-person meetings with local staff members. Once the local staff member is educated on the issue and provided backup material to support CALMOAA’s position, follow-up meetings with the state legislator are usually easily arranged.”
  
  
• Effective persuasion. “California is home to the largest number of active duty personnel in the country. The defense industry brought $158 billion to California’s economy in 2021, and the 140,000-plus military retirees bring billions of federal dollars to the state’s economy. When legislators are presented with these facts, it helps drive the point home on the value of ensuring California legislators work to ensure California’s veterans benefits keep pace with other states.” 

“How I Advocate” highlights MOAA members making a positive difference for servicemembers and veterans through their advocacy. If you know of a MOAA member who deserves this recognition, tell us at editor@moaa.org, and use “How I Advocate” in the subject line.

Help Us Put More Members in the Spotlight!

Do you know MOAA members or chapters making a difference in their communities? Send us their stories.

For more than four years, MOAA’s Member Spotlight feature has introduced standout members to our national audience, spotlighting individuals and groups whose community involvement has made a difference throughout the country.

And while there’s no shortage of members who Never Stop Serving, we’re always seeking more

Send your story to editor@moaa.org, and don’t forget to include photos — high-resolution is best, with names and titles of anyone in the picture.

Help MOAA continue to present positive stories of service from throughout our membership, for the rest of 2024 and beyond.

Read past Member Spotlight stories on MOAA.org and in the Dispatches section of Military Officer.

Surviving Spouse Corner: Avoid These Surprises During Your Time of Loss

Plan ahead now, so you’re not caught off guard by the unexpected following the death of a spouse.

By Pat Green, Surviving Spouse Advisory Council member

Losing a spouse is a traumatic emotional event. When you are in the vulnerable time after your spouse’s death, you do not need the extra stress of dealing with surprises. Prepare yourself now for the following:

Finances and Benefits

The Social Security death benefit is only $255. Pensions are paid forward. You should be prepared for a possible prorated claw-back of the last month of your spouse’s pensions. A bill now under consideration in Congress would reduce the effects of the claw-back of your spouse’s military pension. Visit MOAA's Legislative Action Center and urge your representatives to support the Respect for Grieving Military Families Act (H.R. 3232/S. 1588).

The year after your spouse dies (if you have no dependents), taxing agencies will consider you a single person. That means that you will pay taxes at a higher rate. Deductions are reduced by one-half when you are single. If there is large equity in your family home, consider the tax consequences of a sale.  Time the sale of large assets to reduce your tax implications.

If you do not already own a credit card in your name with a large available credit balance amount, it may be difficult to get one on your newly reduced income. 

A regular monetary gift from a spouse’s relatives may be reduced or eliminated.

Some life insurance policies are reduced or denied depending on the circumstances of death, for example accidental causes or suicide.

Some well-meaning people can give bad information. Seek professionals for advice on important matters.

Funeral Costs, Timing, and Requirements

Burial costs can run from $5,000 to $20,000. If you delay the interment too long, there might be casket storage costs. These costs must be paid when the arrangements are made. Even with pre-arrangement cremation policies, there might be additional costs.

A casket burial at Arlington Cemetery might be a six-month delay. Burial at your nearest national cemetery can usually be arranged in one to two weeks; a year wait might be required for a cremation burial.

You will be asked for your spouse’s birth certificate, DD Form 214, your spouse’s parents’ names and their mother’s maiden name.

You will need 15-20 (maybe more) copies of the death certificate.

If a religious service is held, as a member of a church or synagogue, you might be surprised with costs for music, program printing, security, flower attendant, and clean-up fees. Sometimes, there are even pastoral fees.

Social/Personal Concerns

Grief can affect your memory and reasoning skills. Take a trusted friend or child with you to important appointments. Your power of attorney papers should be changed as soon as practicable. Your new best friend might be the county veteran service officer.

Some of your spouse’s friends might not wish to continue the relationship with you. In a second marriage, some stepchildren might become aloof.

You might not realize or remember who attended the funeral. Have a guest book. Use it also to note especially thoughtful or kind acts that were shown to you. Later, in review, you can express your appreciation with less emotion and more gratitude.

Children, friends, and neighbors will rally around, but slowly their life will resume to normalcy. Yours will not. You must build your life anew. It’s a difficult task, but you can do it.

For more assistance with planning ahead, download MOAA's new publication, Preparing for the Loss of a Military Spouse.

Read past Surviving Spouse Corners.

Join MOAA for the 2024 Annual Meeting

MOAA’s 2024 Annual Meeting of the Membership is Oct. 25 in Alexandria, Va. Visit MOAA.org/annualmeeting for details and to register.

Upcoming Important Events, Dates, and Deadlines

Oct. 17: Monthly chapter leader virtual roundtable, 7 p.m. Eastern: The topic is Community Outreach. Join here at the time of the meeting. (Meeting ID: 995 3185 1507; Passcode: 340446)

Nov. 15-16: In-Person Workshop for Western Region Volunteer Leaders, Reno, Nev. This in-person workshop includes council and chapter presidents, membership chairs, legislative chairs/liaisons, and surviving spouse liaisons from Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and up to two officers from virtual chapters who live in the region. Registration will open this week.

National MOAA Travel Schedule

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

• Oct. 2, Hilton Head Area (S.C.) Chapter, Col. Theodore J. Janosko, USA (Ret), MOAA board of directors (BoD)
• Oct. 3, Captain Cook (Alaska) Chapter, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), Council and Chapter Affairs (CCA)
• Oct. 3-5, Georgia Council of Chapters Convention, Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), MOAA president and CEO, and Dena Kilgore, CCA
• Oct. 9, Central Ohio Chapter, Dena Kilgore, CCA
• Oct. 10, Portsmouth Area (Va.) Chapter, Virginia "Gail" Joyce, BoD
• Oct. 12, Maryland Council of Chapters, Dena Kilgore, CCA
• Oct. 14, Oregon Council of Chapters, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Oct. 15, Augusta (Ga.) Chapter, Dena Kilgore, CCA
• Oct. 16, Yuma (Ariz.) Chapter, Col. Peter K. Kloeber, USAF (Ret), BoD
• Oct. 16, Mojave Desert (Calif) Chapter, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Oct. 16, MOAA Uniformed Services Nurse Advocates Virtual Chapter, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Oct. 17, Palm Springs (Calif.) Chapter, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Oct. 19, Superstition Mountain (Ariz.) Chapter, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Oct. 21, Colonel Billy Jones (Miss.) Chapter, Dena Kilgore, CCA      
• Oct. 24, Huntsville (Ala.) Chapter, Capt. Paul J. Frost, AFC®, USN (Ret), Financial and Benefits Education/Counseling/Veteran Services
• Oct. 26, Kansas Council of Chapters, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Oct. 27, Wichita (Kan.) Chapter, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Oct. 29, Cimarron Chapter and Oklahoma Council of Chapters, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Nov. 8, Aloha (Hawaii) Chapter, Dena Kilgore, CCA      
• Nov. 11, Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter, Vice Adm. Fred M. Midgette, USCG (Ret), BoD
• Nov. 13, Potomac (Va.) Chapter, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Nov. 15, Texas Council of Chapters, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Nov. 16, North Carolina Council of Chapters Annual Meeting, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Nov. 16, Washington State Council of Chapters, Dena Kilgore, CCA
• Nov. 20, Suncoast (Fla.) Chapter, Capt. Jim Carman, USN (Ret), vice president, Council/Chapter and Member Support
• Nov. 21, Green Valley (Ariz.) Chapter, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Nov. 21, Pensacola (Fla.) Chapter, Gen. Gary T. North, USAF (Ret), BoD