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.

Congratulations to the 2022 Levels of Excellence Award and Individual Award Winners!

MOAA is pleased to announce the winners of the annual LOE awards, as well as the Colonel Steve Strobridge Legislative Chair/Liaison Award and Surviving Spouse Liaison Excellence Award.

Out of nearly 400 MOAA affiliates, 169 councils and chapters earned Levels of Excellence (LOE) award recognition this year. All LOE nomination packages were independently evaluated by two members of the Councils and Chapters Committee of the MOAA board of directors. These councils and chapters excel at supporting and fostering programs that directly support the MOAA mission and their communities.

Congratulations, and thank you, to all the 2022 winners! 

MOAA also recently named the following individual award winners:

Colonel Steve Strobridge Legislative Chair/Liaison Award

• Council: Col. Monti Zimmerman, USA (Ret), Virginia Council of Chapters
• Chapter: Chris Dooley, USAF (Ret), Chattanooga (Tenn.) Chapter

Surviving Spouse Liaison Excellence Award

• Council: Cheryl Toland, surviving spouse liaison, Washington Council of Chapters
• Chapter: Lt. Col. Roy Yenchesky, USA (Ret), surviving spouse liaison, Wichita (Kan.) Chapter

Learn more about these recipients in the October issue of Military Officer. MOAA congratulates them and all nominees for these awards.

Updated Communication Award Results

Due to a technical error, total scores for the 2022 Communications Awards (for newsletters and/or websites) were incorrect as originally calculated. Recalculations resulted in 31 4-star awards being upgraded to 5-star awards. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. View the revised list of winners here.

Check Out MOAA’s New Advocacy Update Video Series

Every week, MOAA's advocacy leaders and other experts discuss issues of importance to members and the uniformed services community. Watch the latest entries at this link, check out the Advocacy Update playlist for older entries, and subscribe to MOAA's YouTube channel for even more video. Head back to our Legislative Advocacy Center homepage to engage with your lawmakers on some of these critical topics.

Join MOAA for the 2023 Annual Meeting

MOAA’s 2023 Annual Meeting of the Membership will be held Friday, Nov. 3, at the Sheraton Pentagon City in Arlington, Va. The event will feature updates on the association’s efforts to grow our membership, strengthen MOAA Charities, strengthen our affiliate system, prepare for the second session of the 118th Congress, and more. Learn more and register here.

Surviving Spouse Corner: Thrift Savings Plan Considerations

Find information and resources to help guide spouse beneficiaries.

By Capt. Kathy Thorp, USN (Ret), Surviving Spouse Advisory Council and MOAA board of directors member

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a tax-deferred retirement savings and investment plan for members of the uniformed services. When your military spouse dies, you — as the surviving spouse — will need to make many decisions about the TSP’s future in your financial planning.

For spouse beneficiaries of deceased participants’ TSP accounts with a share of the balance of $200 or more, TSP will establish a beneficiary participant account (BPA) in your name.

Having a good financial planner, who is particularly familiar with the TSP, is the key. He or she can guide you to the best option for your new investment plan, known now to you as a BPA.

According to TSP.gov, as the owner of a TSP BPA, benefits include:

• a diversified choice of investment options, including individual funds; professionally designed Lifecycle (L) Funds, which mix the individual funds with an eye toward specific target dates; and an option for investing in mutual funds
• tax-deferred earnings on traditional money
• tax-free earnings on Roth money if qualified
• low administrative and investment expenses
• the ability to roll your beneficiary participant account over to an existing civilian or uniformed services TSP account if you have one
• a variety of distribution options

Learn all that you can through hosts of various veteran financial planners’ podcasts, websites such as MOAA.org, and other social platforms. The most vital of all these is the TSP webpage, where you will find a plethora of resources for your perusal.

Read past Surviving Spouse Corners.

Upcoming Events

North-Central Leadership Training Workshop: Sept. 15-16, Milwaukee; for invited council and chapter leaders in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Monthly Chapter Leader Virtual Roundtable: Join us Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. Eastern time for a discussion about legal topics. Join here at the time of the meeting. (ID: 252 652 819 249; Passcode: 6YyGNk). Find a complete list of Council and Chapter Affairs events online.

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.

In late July, the leadership of the Georgia Council of Chapters met with Gov. Brian Kemp and State Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick to present them with the Barto Award, given annually to members of state government for their service to veterans. Kemp, Kirkpatrick, and Rep. Jesse Petrea were recognized for their leadership, support, sponsorship, and signature into law of the new state income tax exemption for retired military personnel.

In June, the South Shore (Mass.) Chapter partnered with Duxbury Bay Maritime School for a special monthly membership meeting. The multi-generational audience learned about the Coast Guard Academy and capabilities, authorities, and missions of the U.S. Coast Guard. This effort aimed to increase chapter visibility within the community by engaging a wider audience, including neighboring MOAA chapters, area veterans’ organizations, and the civilian community.

The Halifax Area (Fla.) Chapter held its third annual Outstanding Support to Veterans Award Luncheon in late May to honor area companies or organizations making the most significant contributions to veterans and their families. The chapter presented this year’s awards to VyStar Credit Union and Ormond Strong, a support group formed in February 2015 for local military members.

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:

• 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), Council and Chapter Affairs (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), BoD
• Sept. 14, Montgomery Area (Ala.) Chapter, Montgomery, Sept. 14, Col. Theodore J. Janosko, USA (Ret), 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. 18, Tallahassee (Fla.) Chapter, Tallahassee, Rear Adm. Scott D. Deitchman, USPHS (Ret), BoD
• Sept. 21, MG Andy Anderson Eastern Shore (Md.) Chapter, Easton, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• Sept. 22, Ozark Empire (Mo.) Chapter, Springfield, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• Sept. 23, Broward County (Fla.) Chapter, Pompano Beach, Capt. Frank J. Michael, 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, 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
• Oct. 4, Aiken (S.C.) Chapter, Aiken, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Oct. 5, Miramar (Calif.) Chapter, San Diego, Capt. Marvin H. Heinze, USN (Ret), BoD
• Oct. 6, Virginia Peninsula Chapter, Williamsburg, Capt. W.G. “Bud” Schneeweis, USCG (Ret), BoD
• Oct. 14, Greater Dallas and North Texas Chapter, Dallas, speaker TBD
• Oct. 15, Spokane (Wash.) Chapter, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Oct. 17, Triangle (N.C.) Chapter, Raleigh, Col. Rojan J. Robotham, USAF, BoD
• Oct. 18, Richmond Area (Va.) Chapter, virtual, Karen Ruedisueli, Government Relations
• Oct. 19, Nassau County (Fla.) Chapter, Fernandina Beach, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• Oct. 21, Atlanta Chapter, Atlanta, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• Oct. 21, Valley Forge (Pa.) Chapter, West Chester, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Oct. 24, Middle Tennessee Chapter, Nashville, Capt. W.G. “Bud” Schneeweis, USCG (Ret), BoD
• Oct. 25, Virginia Council of Chapters, Sterling, speaker TBD
• Oct. 27, Gen Omar N Bradley Mid-Missouri Chapter, Columbia, speaker TBD
• Oct. 28, Illinois Council of Chapters, virtual, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA
• Oct. 28, South Carolina Council of Chapters, Myrtle Beach, Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), MOAA president and CEO, and Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), CCA
• Oct. 28, Washington Council of Chapters, Yakima, Oct. 28, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), CCA