| 23rd Annual VIRGINIA MOAA |
| CONGRESSIONAL APPRECIATION LUNCHEON |
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| Leading the Luncheon is VCOC President, LTC J. Pat Green, USA, Ret. SCROLL DOWN THIS WEBPAGE FOR MORE PHOTOS, NEWS RELEASE, AND QUOTES. |
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| MOAA President VADM Norb Ryan Accepts VCOC Minuteman Award from VCOC President, LTC Pat Green. Admiral Ryan said he considers this luncheon a MOAA SIGNATURE EVENT. |
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| SENATOR JOHN WARNER addresses Virginia MOAA's 23rd Annual Congressional Appreciation Luncheon. He said this would be the last time he addresses the group. |
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PLEASE SCROLL DOWN
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NEWS RELEASE,
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MORE PHOTOS.
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PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS ADDED MAY 10th.
We thank MOAA for purchasing the photos at left, for use by VCOC and Virginia chapters.
PHOTOGRAPHER:
STEVE BARRETT.
YOUR PHOTOS:
Please also provide any photos you have taken, and the caption for the photo, for this website. Doing so gives other chapters permission to use them.
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HOW TO USE PHOTOS:
Photos are thumbnails. Click on the photo to see larger image and more caption (including name of photographer). You may use photos in your chapter's press releases, newsletter or website, giving credit to the photographer. Right click on photo and use "Save as" command to save to your computer or disk. If you need a higher quality photo, same image, email melvamaj@cox.net (VCOC PAO, Melva Mallison).
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Virginia Military Officers Host Virginia Congressional Delegation
On their Turf
Washington, DC, April 16, 2008 – Over 100 Virginia members of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) met with Virginia members of Congress at the 23rd Annual Virginia MOAA Congressional Appreciation Luncheon in the Senate Russell Caucus Room. Virginia’s 13 congressional members were invited to attend as their busy workload allowed, dine with constituents, and address the group of officers and widows/widowers of officers. The luncheon, held just two weeks after MOAA officers from all over the US stormed the capitol, reinforced legislative issues important to veterans, currently serving military and their families – of all ranks and all branches of service.
Virginia MOAA’s legislative chair, COL Sam Wilder, USA, Retired said “Our Congressional Appreciation Luncheon is designed to thank our Virginia delegation for all they have done for our veterans and military over the past year. It is also an opportunity to make them aware of our national legislative objectives. We are advocating for measures to strengthen the all-volunteer force. Specifically, we are asking to increase defense spending percent of GDP, increase the size of our ground forces, prevent the erosion of health benefits, and implement the recommendations of the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission (i.e. the Dole-Shalala commission).”
Senator John Warner addressed the group, saying this would be his last time to do so. He noted that the MOAA organization helps promote pride in serving ones country, and is a true advocate for those who serve.
Virginia MOAA President, LTC J. Pat Green, USA Retired, presented the Minuteman Statue Award to VADM Norb Ryan, USN, Retired, MOAA President, for his support of Virginia chapters of MOAA. Green and Ryan thanked the MOAA staff for supporting the event. Green also thanked Mount Vernon chapter for hosting the Congressional Luncheon and CAPT Gary Hall, USN, Retired, for coordinating the logistics in Washington DC.
An independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization, MOAA has approximately 362,000 members nationwide and over 49,000 Virginia members. The Virginia Council of Chapters (VCOC) is an affiliation of Virginia’s 16 chapters of MOAA.
Please scroll down for news release, more photos, and other info.
/ Melva Mallison, Maj, USAF, Ret, VCOC 3rd VP and PAO |
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MOAA PRESIDENT,
VICE ADMIRAL RYAN, SAID
HE CONSIDERS THE VIRGINIA CONGRESSIONAL LUNCHEON
A MOAA SIGNATURE EVENT
KUDOS FROM LEE LANGE:
"The Virginia Council of Chapters is MOAA's only state council to sponsor a special event for their congressional delegation - and do it on Capitol Hill. This is a great initiative - very well attended by the members of the Virginia delegation and by council and chapter members in the state. We hope other councils in the surrounding area will hold their own events for their congressional delegations. It's a great way to get council and chapter members together with their US Representatives and Senators and exchange views on important issues."
/COL Lee Lange, USMC, Ret, Director Council and Chapter Affairs, MOAA.
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MOAA TESTIFIED AFTER LUNCHEON.
On April 16, MOAA's Col. Steve Strobridge, USAF, Ret, MOAA's Director of Government Relations and several other representatives of The Military Coalition were invited to testify before the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee on legislative priorities for FY2009. Over the course of the 90-minute hearing, Strobridge urged senators to oppose large TRICARE fee hikes, fix inequities for disabled retirees and survivors, improve health and tax relief programs for active duty/Guard/Reserve members, and provide needed improvements for wounded warriors and their families.
VIRGINIA NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
Select the National Legislative header in the menu, this website, or click this link
http://www.virginiamoaa.com/nationallegislative.html
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NEWS RELEASE. News Release template, posted at right, was first developed prior to the luncheon, and posted the night before. Paper copies (yellow paper) were also given out at the luncheon for chapters to use in developing their local press releases. The blue paragraph is for chapter area info pertient to the particular paper (some chapters have more than one paper). An updated template, after the event is at right. VCOC photos were posted here starting the evening of 16 April. Chapters were encouraged in advance to bring cameras and obtain their own shot of their chapter members with their congressional district members. Photos on this website may also be of use to chapters. Photos from VCOC MOAA's contracted photographer are primarily for national MOAA use in magazine, etc. VCOC did request 4 specific photos in advance. MOAA purchased 5 photos for our use (posted above, with red background).
| News Release Template AFTER event. Click Here. One Page Word Document. |
| Draft Release - PRE-EVENT. Handed out on yellow paper at the luncheon. |
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SCROLL DOWN FOR
MORE PHOTOS
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| Photos are thumbnails. Click on the photo to see larger image and more caption. Photographer name included. If you want to use in your chapter's press release or newsletter or website, you are welcome to do so. If you need a higher quality photo, same image, email melvamaj@cox.net (VCOC PAO, Melva Mallison) |
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| Please also provide any photos you have taken, and the caption for the photo, for this website. Doing so gives other chapters permission to use them. |
FOR MORE PHOTOS
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