MOAA members’ work on behalf of the uniformed services community always fills me with pride and thankfulness – more so during this time of year. 

As we gather on Thanksgiving with our families and friends, let me first offer my thanks to you and I hope this message finds you, your family, and friends both safe and healthy. Over this past year, so many of you have supported causes vital to our troops, veterans, families, and survivors through acts of advocacy, devoted time to your local communities, and donations to The MOAA Foundation and MOAA Scholarship Fund. 

One of the most common messages I hear from members comes from this place of generosity: “How else can I help?” 

Well, there is no shortage of ways to contribute, big and small. Consider: 

• Critical Advocacy Concerns: As we reach a tipping point with the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), we need members to spread the word. As with past years, the must-pass NDAA is a vehicle for several key MOAA initiatives, to include preserving the Arlington National Cemetery benefit, providing financial comfort to military survivors, and addressing food insecurity among our junior ranks. Please visit our Advocacy News page and our Take Action Center for messages you can send to your legislators on these key issues as they begin their annual holiday-season legislative rush; use your voice as a constituent at this critical time. 
   
• Council and Chapter Outreach: Thanks to the return of an in-person element to MOAA’s annual meeting last month, I was able to personally thank many of our members who’ve taken an active role with a council and/or chapter – either through their local chapter, or a virtual gathering – and helped build grassroots support for our nationwide mission. If you’re looking for a new challenge in the new year, or just a way to find others within a community of interest, consider becoming involved in one of the hundreds of MOAA chapters and councils across the country. 
   
• Take the Time to Click: One of the many bonuses to having a group with 350,000-plus members is the amount of positive change that can come from a collective group of participants leveraging their voice to make positive changes. So, consider signing a Take Action letter. Or ensuring you are receiving our weekly newsletter to stay abreast of breaking news and issues of concern to our members. Or downloading and sharing our new Never Stop Serving Podcast. Or following one of our social media channels. Small acts like these can make a big difference. 

On this Thanksgiving, please accept my and Laura’s personal “Thank You” for the many ways you’ve supported MOAA’s mission in the past and certainly into the future—you truly embody our mantra of Never Stop Serving.