View previous editions of Council and Chapter News here.

December 2019 

The 2020 Community Outreach Grant Cycle Is Now Open!

The MOAA Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2020 Community Outreach Grants. Grants of up to $5,000 are offered to MOAA councils or chapters providing services to local military and veteran families — either directly or through partnerships with other community organizations — in one of nine areas of critical military and veteran family need: housing, food assistance, employment, health (including behavioral health), family strength, community reintegration, financial assistance, legal assistance, and transportation. Learn more about the grants and find the application.

Apply for the 2020 USAA/MOAA Sponsorship Program

Looking for ways to finance a special state council or chapter event? Apply for sponsorship of up to $800 for state council events or $300 for chapter events provided by MOAA’s affinity partner USAA. Councils and chapters may apply to receive funds for one event in the upcoming 2020 calendar year. Those that receive funding must recognize USAA as a sponsor or contributor at the event. Sponsorship will be considered for events such as state council conventions, chapter events that recognize ROTC and Junior ROTC cadets and enhance the chapter’s relationship with cadets’ schools, special chapter meetings to educate community members about benefits, and more.

Apply by visiting MOAA's website and filling out and submitting the online request form. MOAA will process requests in the order received and, if approved, transfer funds via Electronic Funds Transfer.

Enter the Communications Award Contest

The deadline to enter the annual Col. Marvin J. Harris Communications Award Contest is Feb. 1. Council and chapter leaders can submit entries to be recognized as a four- or five-star winner in two categories of competition: 1) print and electronic newsletters and 2) websites.

Again this year, to help streamline the submission process, entries will be accepted through an online submission platform. Find more details about the contest.

Did You Know? 3 Recruiting Tools for Chapters

Recruiting new members is a challenge for many chapters. These resources from national MOAA can help.

Don’t overlook these tools and resources to assist chapters with recruiting.

• MOAA can provide a recruitment kit for your event. Send an email to chapters@moaa.org indicating the date of your event, the approximate number of people expected to attend, and the target audience.
• Potential members often ask chapter members, “Why MOAA?” This video can help answer the question.
• Increase awareness about your chapter’s activities and events through national MOAA’s social media channels. Email a few photos (as .jpg attachments) of your special event along with a brief synopsis, including the event name, date, and names of leaders who attended, and the approximate number of attendees, to chapters@moaa.org. Once it has been posted, you’ll receive a follow-up message with a link to the post.

Surviving Spouse Corner: Self-Care Tips for Grievers

Caring for yourself after experiencing the loss of a loved one is essential and can help with the grieving process.  -Kathy Thorp, Surviving Spouse Advisory Committee

The weeks following a loved one’s passing are challenging — with grief creeping to overtake you at any moment. Caring for your body, mind, and spirit is key to facing the future. Here are a few other tips to remember:

• Establish a sleep hygiene schedule. Sleep, as simple as it sounds, is the first of many ways to lead to self-compassion and self-care.
• Lean on your family and friends, and take up offers of help, luncheon dates, or dinner. It benefits you as much as it benefits the giver, who desires to show their love and concern for you. Be careful to not over do it though; it’s important to find the right balance and be able to say “no.”
• Ask for help with responsibilities your loved one once did. This will help you learn and master unknown tasks and build confidence. Or, hire someone, either for a short period of time or longer, to tackle the jobs which with you’re uncomfortable.
• Establish a “what if” binder. (Regardless whether you’ve lost a loved one or not, take time to do this.) It will help those you leave behind to carry out your wishes. Many articles, pamphlets, and books have been written about what surviving spouses need to know, including valuable resources from MOAA.
• Lastly, find your peaceful place — at the beach, at the lake, or someplace you and your loved one shared together. Admire the beauty, feel the breeze, remember the love you shared, and say a prayer that comes to your heart.

Read past Surviving Spouse Corners.

Tell Us About Your Holiday Community Service Efforts

Does your council or chapter participate in a holiday service project in your community? If so, we want to hear about it! Email photos and short write-ups about your activities to Contributing Editor Blair Drake at blaird@moaa.org. Your chapter could be featured in MOAA’s print and electronic communication channels.

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.

Members of the Fort Campbell (Ky.) Chapter participated in the Veterans Fall Expo at the Clarksville VA Outpatient Clinic Oct. 30. In addition to numerous chapter members working at and attending the event, the chapter staffed a table with information about MOAA. The expo included vendors, music, giveaways, live demonstrations, free flu and pneumonia vaccines, and a chili cook-off competition.

Board members from the Richmond Area (Va.) Chapter attended the 63rd annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial Nov. 11. The chapter spread the word about MOAA and recruited new members during the event.