|
eCRIER
Electronic Version of the Quarterly Newsletter of the
Virginia Council of Chapters (VCOC)
of the
Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)
| E-Crier is an on-line version of The Council Crier.
Paper edition was mailed mid DEC 2008.
|
Each page of The Council Crier is available at the end of this web page, in Word Document format (posted 21 Dec), in color, with more photos and specifics. You may also request PDF files. Feel free to modify with chapter-unique info and use in chapter newsletters or website. Some changes have been made as indicated below.
CORRECTION - PAGE 1 OF MAILED CRIER.
In President Column, the date of Storming Richmond should be Jan 26th (a Monday) - the date was shown eroneously as Saturday the 24th on page 1, but correct on other pages. The eCrier and Word Document Pages have the correct date.
State Legislative Priorities - In Order. The eCrier and Word Document Pages show the priority order established after the paper Crier was mailed.
Other Updates.
BG Edwards phone number updated since paper edition, on contact list, page 2. A name was added to Public Affairs Committee, Insert page I-2.
/ Editor
|
CONTENTS:
Page 1 - President's Column
Page 2 - Contacts & Reminders
Page 3 - Give Me Ten Success
Page 4 - Year of Chapter
Page 5 - Southside Chapter
Page 6 - Legislative State
Page 7 - Legislative National
Page 8 - Auxiliary Power
Page 9 - Chapter Happenings
Page 10 - Virginia Wins MOAA Awards
Page 11 - Treasurer Report, Secretary Musings, Meeting Info
Page 12 - Photo at MOAA Capitol Event, Outside Cover, Contents (on printed version)
INSERT (4 PAGES) - Public Affairs
I-1. Communication Awards, Local Newspapers, Why Publicize, Google,
I-2. Chapters on VCOC Website, MOAA Anniversary Logo, Is this Newsletter Useful? More capability of VCOC Website, Public Affairs Committee
I-3. GCMC Article published locally
I-4. VIPMOAA Article published locally & Public Affairs Resolutions.
|
Page 1
President’s Column
The past several months were a busy time. Quarterly Meetings were well attended. We were given a dinner by MOAA for our Give Me Ten success. 7 Virginia chapters received the National 5 Star Award from VADM Ryan. Thank you all for a great job.
At the VCOC Board Planning meeting, 18 November, VCOC officers set the meeting dates for next year and talked about how meetings will be conducted plus plans for the Storming of the Hill (Richmond) and the Congressional Luncheon (DC). Chapters will receive those details via separate cover. Bill Flanagan was officially appointed the Chair of the Nomination Committee for next year (2010/11 board).
I thank Paul Mehler, Melva Mallison, Sam Wilder, Jim Brown, Bill Flanagan and Don Harris for the great job they are doing for the VCOC. There were many more that have also preformed well for the VCOC and I also thank them.
Plans for 2009 are coming together well. The first Quarterly meeting will be at the Ft. Lee Quarter-master Museum on 9 Jan 2009, starting at 10 AM. The speakers will be Col Dick Crampton, USA (Ret), Director of Officer Placement Service; CAPT Linda Speed, USN (Ret) Deputy Director of OPS and Tom Kelly, Virginia State Networking Coordinator for TOPS - a MOAA program.
The Storming of the Hill (Richmond) 26 Jan 2009 will again be in the 5th Floor conference room. The schedule is being set by Bill & Sam.
Thank you again.
/LTC J. Pat Green USA, Ret, President VCOC
PHOTOS OF 5-STAR EXCELLENCE AWARDS can be found on this website at this link
http://virginiamoaa.com/homevcoc/excellenceawards.html or point curser to "Home VCOC" then view the subsections and double click on Excellence awards. Photos are also included in the paper/mailed Crier and individual pages (Word Documents) available at the end of this webpage.
| Page 2
CONTACTS (VCOC):
Use this link http://www.virginiamoaa.com/contacts.html
NOTE NEW EMAIL FOR BG Wes Edwards, JLC Rep and Past President
SCHEDULE* as of 20 Nov 2008
Use this link to current schedule on VCOC website http://virginiamoaa.com/homevcoc/vcocschedule.html
9 JAN 2009 VCOC Meeting 10 to 3 - Fort Lee
26 JAN 2009 Storm State Capital - Richmond
1 FEB 2009 Chapter Communication Award Submissions due to MOAA
13 Mar? VCOC Meeting Charlottesville VA - Glenmore Country Club.
APRlL or MAY? - Congressional Luncheon - DC (House)
1 JUN - Chapter Excellence Award Submissions due to MOAA
*? = tentative date
VCOC NEWSLETTERS:
General Info about timing and distribution at the Newsletter Section of this Website http://www.virginiamoaa.com/newsletterscrier.html of which you are in a subsection. Input is due 10 FEB for next edition - Send to editor at melvamaj@cox.net
CHAPTER NEWSLETTERS:
Please send your newsletter to each other Virginia Chapter President and to the board members of the Virginia Council of Chapters (VCOC). Electronic (email newsletter or email the weblink) copies are fine - please indicate chapter name in subject line.
CHAPTER CONTACTS: Notify VCOC Secretary of changes or updates to Chapter Leadership, for the Chapter Directory. The Secretary also provides mailing labels for the paper version of the Crier. Chapter Distribution includes President, VCOC Rep, Auxiliary Liaison, Legislative Liaison.
|
 |
| The VCOC won MOAA Communication Awards for Crier & Website 2007 (awarded in 2008). RUNNER UP. |
|
|
|
|
Page 3
GIVE ME TEN
VIRGINIA GIVE ME TEN SUCCESS - 2008
VCOC had another outstanding year with the MOAA Give Me Ten program. For the 3rd year in a row, Virginia was the only state to win the MOAA Dinner. VCOC not only met the 75% requirement for chapters recruiting 10 or more, but exceeded it with all chapters meeting the goal by October 3. For this accomplishment, 75 VCOC chapter members were invited to a fabulous dinner at the Boars Head Inn in Charlottesville, VA. This worked out very well along with the VCOC quarterly meeting held the same day on 24 October 2008. See Photos and captions in Give Ten portion of this website.
Virginia chapters accumulated 1,132 MOAA members as of November 21. This is about 27% of the MOAA total of 4,250. It is very likely that VCOC will reach 1,200 by end of the year. This means that VCOC chapters will earn about $17,000 in 2008 Give Me Ten award money.
AGAIN in 2009!
The MOAA Give Me Ten program will continue into 2009 with some minor changes. Because VCOC has dominated the MOAA dinner award for 3 straight years (no other Council has won), MOAA will ease the requirement to only 60% of the chapters in a Council recruiting 10 or more to win the dinner. Also, each new MOAA member recruited as a paid member will earn double credit for a chapter. MOAA will pay for gold bars for the gold bar program.
/LTC Paul Mehler, VCOC 2nd VP & Membership Chair
|
Page 4
YEAR OF THE CHAPTER
-Virginia Off to a Great Start
Chapter Membership Drive, Funded by MOAA
The initial list of MOAA members who responded to the cover wrap (post card) on the Oct issue of the Military Officer magazine totaled 167 members for Virginia Chapters. This is out of a total of 1300 MOAA members who responded nationwide. MOAA is considering this project a success, because it is meeting the expected response rate of 2% of MOAA members who are not chapter members. There will be additional listings of MOAA members who wish to become chapter members at the end of November and December 2008. For each Year-of-the-Chapter MOAA member that a VCOC chapter contacts and adds to its roster, MOAA will compensate $15 to that chapter. This is an easy way to make some money while increasing chapter membership. If we add all 167 names listed in the initial MOAA Post Card response, VCOC chapter membership will have stopped its decline.
Actions MOAA asks each chapter to do:
1. Contact the new members, preferably by phone, to welcome them to the chapter.
2. Add new member information to chapter rosters.
3. Send a newsletter - Add them to the distribution list for chapter newsletters.
4. Invite them to the next chapter meeting.
5. Notify MOAA Council and Chapter Affairs that you have done the above tasks.
6. Submit a new chapter roster update to MOAA after Dec 31, 2008 (after the actions on Dec listing).
Discount on MOAA Life Membership for Chapter Members
As another Year of the Chapter initiative, MOAA offers a 10% discount to all chapter members who convert their MOAA memberships to Life Memberships by calling MOAA’s Member Service Center (800) 234-6622. Chapters will receive Give Me Ten credit for each conversion. This discount applies to new or old chapter members. The chapter also receives Give Me Ten credit. When you publicize this program to chapter members, encourage members to identify your chapter name, and let a chapter point-of-contact (POC) know they made the call to MOAA, so your POC can double-check Give Me Ten credit is obtained.
More About Year of the Chapter at MOAA.org
Go to MOAA website. Look under Chapters/Community; Then Chapters & Council; Then select Year of the Chapter.
|
Page 5
SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA CHAPTER
MOST SUCCESSFUL RECRUITERS!
The Southside Virginia Chapter has achieved great Success in attaining high recruiting numbers because of
partnerships forged with commanders and personal attention to new officers arriving at Fort Lee.
New officers include those for training at the U.S. Army Quartermaster School and Army Logistics Management
College. Plus officers newly assigned to the Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM). New warrant officers and 2Lts receive an orientation as they in-process. Southside Virginia Chapter (SVC,MOAA - or simply referred to as “Southside Chapter”) is given the opportunity to pass out recruiting forms and discuss MOAA as a military benefits organization. New officers are taught how they must give back to the community and keep informed about the "profession of arms." Officers arriving for permanent assignment at CASCOM are approached one-on-one.
The key recruiters for the chapter are CW4 (R) Steve Chobanion who addresses all the incoming classes; COL (R) Bob Barrett is the recruiting Chairman and back up; while chapter President, COL (R) Victoria Revilla, works with permanent party units to get recruits."
Most of the Give Me 10! money is put right back into the military community through donations to Fort Lee museums and other soldier and family assistance programs.
|
 |
| New MOAA Warrant Officers - Community Project - Route 36 |
|
|
28 members of a new warrant officer class took on a community project right after they had all signed up for MOAA membership. The class gave up their Saturday morning on 18 October 2008, to assist in a beautification project designed to improve the Route 36 corridor between Fort Lee and the City of Petersburg. Participants collected trash along the route, planted shrubbery and painted the sign as the initial phase of the project began. Task Force 36, as the beautification project is called, was first started with COL Revilla as the co-lead, along with another representative from the city. The city Chamber of Commerce now has the lead for the project, with Southside Chapter as one of the principal members of the task force.
|
Page 6
STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Storming Richmond: 26 Jan 2009 - Remember, Numbers Count!
http://virginiamoaa.com/statelegislative/stormRichmond2009
Prioritized State Objectives are at this link
http://virginiamoaa.com/statelegislative.html
Budget Shortfall: The headlines in the Richmond Times Dispatch tell the story. “Va. Shortfall Tops $3.2 Billion. The Senate Finance Committee is predicting a $3.2 billion budget shortfall for the 2008-2010 biennial budget. This is an even bleaker picture that had been predicted a couple of months ago. Lawmakers are signaling that nothing is “off the table” when it comes to cutting programs to deal with the shortfall. Reports are that areas such as Medicaid and education are vulnerable. I have not heard – yet – that the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program will take a cut, but it is certainly possible. One of the most obvious difficulties, if not impossibilities, for the next General Assembly will be to secure funding for new programs or initiatives. Overall, the economic situation does not augur well for the coming year for veterans’ legislative objectives.
“Turbo Vet”: The JLC position paper on Turbo Vet, which was drafted last August, called for full funding of the Turbo Vet project. The cost was $1.2 million dollars with an annual cost of approximately $25,000 per year thereafter. In August this seemed like an attainable goal. However, as the full impact of the economic situation and the resulting shortfall of the state’s revenue budget became better known, it is now clear that asking for that kind of money for a new program at a time when people are being laid off and core state services are facing cuts is just not possible. Furthermore, we think that for the veteran community to even ask for that kind of money in our current situation would cause veteran groups to lose a lot of credibility that we have built up over the past several years. So, a new position paper has been drafted and we are now only asking that the General Assembly direct the Department of Veterans Services to develop an automated, web-based system subject to the availability of funds. Also, we will try to restore the $50,000 that was recently cut from the program. The intent is to try to do a small pilot program next year to prove the viability of the concept.
Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children: This legislative objective is currently being worked by VCOC. It is also being strongly pushed by DOD and HQs MOAA. Within the JLC, MOAA volunteered and became the “JLC Sponsor” for this objective. As such, we have the responsibility to do everything we can to help the patron for this legislation. Delegate Mark Cole is the patron for HB395, which passed the House last session but was carried over by the Senate Finance Committee. This legislation has a price tag of approximately $85,000, which was not a major problem back in August. Now it will likely become a major obstacle and could prevent it from being passed. Action on this has been passed to a Senate Sub Committee on Education. If that sub-committee acts and the full Senate Finance Committee passes it, the bill will not die. Otherwise it will die and will have to be re-introduced in the coming session of the GA, The key people are Senators Houck, Wampler, Norment, Saslaw, Quayle, and Yvonne Miller. My Emails requested the appropriate VCOC chapters to LOBBY THESE SENATORS!
/Col. Sam Wilder, USA, Ret, VCOC 1st VP, Legislative Chair
|
Page 7
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Congressional Luncheon 2009 Date not yet determined - likely April.
Outlook for 2009:
With a new administration coming into office and the country in an economic recession, there are naturally many questions about the outlook for defense and veterans issues. All of the pundits seem to agree that it is too early to tell. At a Military Professionals Symposium hosted by MOAA National Hqs on 17 November, there was a lot of discussion that the coming debate for defense dollars will be something of a classic “Guns vs Butter” debate. More specifically within the Pentagon it will boil down to Weapons/Modernization vs People. The consensus (if there was one) was that they would have to reach some “balance”. It does not appear that anyone expects the defense budget to increase. If anything, the likelihood is that we are facing a decrease in defense spending.
VCOC National Priority Objectives:
MOAA has listed some 36 different pieces of legislation that it supports. While VCOC has always “supported” these types of legislative issues, we have tried to focus and prioritize our national objectives. In 2008 we emphasized a strong national defense by calling for increased defense spending (at least 5% of GDP).I think we will need to keep calling for increased defense spending because it appears that many in congress will be seeking decreased defense spending. Our more specific objectives have called for increasing the size of land forces, preventing erosion of TRICARE benefits, and implementing recommendations of the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission (particularly the SBP – DIC off set).
VCOC Legislative Committee will discus minor changes and additions to the statement of national legislative objectives at the January VCOC meeting.
OTHER PERTINENT WEBSITES are available in links section of VCOC website.
/ COL Sam Wilder, USA, Ret, VCOC 1st VP & Legislative Chair
|
Page 8
AUXILIARY POWER
National Monument - Military Spouses & Families
http://milSFLA.org
Military Family Historical Project - Photos & Stories.
http://www.militaryspousemonument.org/home.html
Page 9
VIRGINIA CHAPTER HAPPENINGS
NORTHERN VIRGINIA CHAPTER AT MOAA CAPITOL EVENT
Computer display at NOVA MOAA info booth Nov 17 & 18th featured the most famous 100 wartime photos of the US military services during national conflicts - Revolutionary War to current Iraq and Afghanistan - designed to catch the essence of Veterans Day.
HAMPTON ROADS CHAPTER HELPS VIRGINIA WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM
President of HRC MOAA presented a chapter check for $1,000 to the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program to CAPT Cathy Wilson at the VCOC 24 Oct 2008 meeting.
See photos at right.
|
|
 |
| COL Robert Elliott, USA, Ret VP & LTC Carroll Towey, USAR, Ret, President of NOVA MOAA at MOAA Capitol Event Arlington Nov 17 2008 |
|
|
 |
| LTC Jim Dellaripa, USAF, Ret, Hampton Roads Chapter President, presents $1,000 check for the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program to CAPT Cathy Wilson, USN, Ret, The Wounded Warrior Executive Director for the Virginia Dept of Veterans Services. CAPT Wilson was guest speaker at the 24 Oct 2008 VCOC MOAA meeting in Charlottesville VA. |
|
|
Page 10
VIRGINIA CHAPTERS WIN 2 MOAA AWARDS
Virginia chapters of The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) led the US in two competitions. Seven Virginia Chapters won 5-star Excellence awards – more than any other state. Excellence awards are earned by outstanding/dynamic state legislative, personal affairs, and local community programs. Virginia chapters and their state council also earned a night-out with MOAA because all 16 chapters recruited new MOAA members via the "Give Me Ten" program, which provides free membership for active duty, guard and reserve officers and two years for $25 for retired, veteran officers or surviving spouses of deceased officers. This was the third year to win the dinner award. No other states have won the dinner, any year. Both wins were celebrated at the Boars Head Inn in Charlottesville Virginia, 24 October 2008.
/From Press Release, by VCOC PAO/M. Mallison Photos by MOAA Bob & Melva Mallison
| VIRGINIA’s SEVEN 5-STAR CHAPTERS:
Hampton Roads Chapter
George C. Marshall Chapter
Mount Vernon Chapter
Potomac Chapter
Richmond Area Chapter
Southside Virginia Chapter
Virginia Peninsula Chapter
See more photos on VCOC MOAA website (Home Section - Excellence Awards) http://virginiamoaa.com/homevcoc/excellenceawards.html
WANT STARS?
-
Submit a 5-star application for the 2009 competition (Excellence in 2008). See Section J of MOAA Council & Chapter Policy & Procedures Guide for specific criteria for 4 & 5 star awards. Deadline June 1st. Submit to MOAA Chapter Affairs Department.
-
Let’s make it a goal for 100% of Virginia Chapters to win Five-Star Excellence awards by the 2010 competition (for excellence in 2009).
-
Apply every year that MOAA holds the competition.
/VCOC 3rd VP, Maj Melva Mallison melvamaj@cox.net
|
![]()
|
Page 11
VCOC TREASURER REPORT
Financial Report and VCOC dues for 2009 will be addressed at VCOC 9 January 2009 meeting.
VCOC SECRETARY’s MUSINGS
The 1st Quarter 2009 meeting of your VCOC will be at the Quartermaster Museum of the US Army at Fort Lee, Virginia on Friday, 9 January. The meeting will be called to order at 1000 hours. This museum is located just inside the main gate at Fort Lee. The Southside Chapter will provide facility and logistics support for this meeting - including coffee and pastries at 0930 hours and a Lunch sandwich with beverage. The fee will be $10 per attendee, collected at the meeting. Each VCOC Officer and each Chapter is asked to provide attendance plans to me as soon as possible but before 5 January at the latest.
As in the past, a package will be sent mid-December to each designated Chapter representative and each VCOC elected and appointed officer. Contents are listed in the paper Crier and Word Page. Chapter VCOC Reps, please insure pertinent inf gets to the appropriate chatper leadership - especially those attending the 9 Jan 2009 meeting. At that meeting I plan to distribute a packet of the 4th Quarter reports of all chapters. This will depend on the timely receipt of chapter quarterly reports.
/ COL Jim Brown, USA, Ret/VCOC Secretary
|
|
|
QUARTERMASTER MUSEUM LOCATION:
Building 5218, A Avenue & 22nd Street, Fort Lee, Virginia 23801-1601. The museum is 5 miles east of Petersburg, Virginia. It is two miles east of I-95 (Wythe Street exit) on State Highway 36 and three miles west of I-295 (Fort Lee exit). This route is well signed. Ample parking is available adjacent to the museum.
from Museum Website
|
Page 12
Page 12 is the outside back cover of the paper/mailed Council Crier. The top half includes info for post office. The bottom half includes Contents list and a photo of the VCOC President and Vice Presidents at the MOAA Capitol Event Dinner Reception, 18 Nov 2008.
SEE PUBLIC AFFAIRS INSERT BELOW.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
|
PUBLIC AFFAIRS 4-PAGE INSERT -page I-1
WHAT’S IN YOUR NEWSPAPER – About Your Chapter?
Please submit articles to local civilian and military newspapers about your chapter community activities and receipt of MOAA awards. Strive to publish at least one story other than advance notice of meetings in 2009!
Bring cameras to chapter and VCOC MOAA events, including the two major VCOC Legislative events and Give Me Ten dinner. It usually takes too long for any photos by the MOAA professional photographer to filter down to VCOC, much less to chapters.
“Fill-in-the-blank” press release templates will be available again in 2009 at and after the VCOC Storming Richmond and Congressional Luncheon in DC. Please add your chapter photo and chapter info and send it right out to your local civilian and military newspapers. Since papers are more likely to publicize local news, be sure to include your local twist (a quote or photo). List a contact for your local chapter, as well.
A how-to guide on writing press releases is included in June 2008 Council Crier, Page 4.
MOAA Photo tips are on Page 6 of the June 2008 Crier. Action shots are preferred.
Please provide examples of successful chapter publicity to share with other VCOC chapters.
See two examples of chapter articles in this insert.
/ Melva Mallison, Maj, USAF, Ret, VCOC Public Affairs Officer(PAO) & 3rd VP
|
COMMUNICATIN AWARDS
For MOAA Chapters
Submit your chapter for a 2008 Communication Award. MOAA asks that chapters mail a consolidated awards submission by 1 Feb 2009 with a new “Communications Awards Checklist” form covering a maximum of 3 categories (of 7): Print or Electronic Newsletters, Web Site, Unique Communications, Legislative Coverage (in Print Newsletter or Web Site), or Recruiting Brochure. Mail to MOAA Chapters & Councils – Attention Communications Awards Contest 201 N. Washington Street Alexandria VA 22314.
|
WHY PUBLICIZE?
To Increase Membership and
Garner Support for Legislative Issues
|
GOOGLE YOURSELF!
To find out if people can easily locate your chapter via the worldwide web, try the chapter name (or acronym) in a search engine, such as Google. Your chapter website should show up as one of the first listings. If not, ask your webmaster to update your “key words” for the website and important web pages. Include your chapter name and acronym as well as “military officers” and “MOAA” in the key words. By the way, the search engine might very well lead to the VCOC website, VirginiaMOAA.com
|
PUBLIC AFFAIRS INSERT -page I-2
IS YOUR CHAPTER COVERED – On VirginiaMOAA.com ?
At the 24 Oct 2008 VCOC meeting, chapters were again requested to ensure their chapter’s description is current in the chapter section of the VCOC. There are a few chapters who still have not provided initial input. The intent is to provide a short description of each Virginia chapter at one web location - About a screen-full of info on each chapter (including established-date, number of members, frequency of meetings, towns & military installations covered, unique attributes, and a primary contact email or link). This info can be of benefit to all Virginia Chapters as well as to prospective members. Please send chapter input or changes to VCOC Web Coordinator, Melva Mallison. Email melvamaj@cox.net
IS THIS NEWSLETTER USEFUL?
Do you find the VCOC Council Crier to be of benefit to your chapter leadership? Also, is it literally worth the paper it is printed on? At the 24 Oct 2008 VCOC meeting, we briefly addressed mailing versus web-only for the Crier. No vote was taken, but the general consensus was to keep mailing the quarterly Council Crier, as well as web-posting. 2009 will be the third year of doing both. The Crier is meant to be a useful tool – not to just put on the shelf and submit for MOAA communication awards.
MORE IS POSSIBLE WITH VCOC WEBSITE.
The Virginia Council of Chapters website – VirginiaMOAA.com – is created and maintained using Network Solutions software and hosting package. We have the capability of password-protected portions on the website, in case this would be useful for directory listings of various types. Also, there are extra email accounts available through the hosting package. All of the labor to put the web together is Volunteer, but the VCOC does pay for the Network Solutions package. So let’s use it – and maybe decrease some paperwork and mailing.
/ Melva Mallison, MAJ, USAF, Ret, VCOC Web Coordinator
|
 |
| MOAA 80th Anniversary Logo |
|
|
VCOC PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE:
Chair/Public Affairs Officer (PAO): Melva Mallison, Maj, USAF, Ret. (Melva is also VCOC 3rd VP.) Melva is a retired Medical Service Corps officer with marketing experience.
Jim DeLaney, LTC, USA, Ret. President Shenandoah Valley Chapter. Jim is a retired Army PAO & Current Director of Communiations.
John Vermillion, CDR, USN, Ret. VCOC Rep for Hampton Roads Chapter and Newsletter Editor. John's chapter wins MOAA communications awards year after year.
Gary Metziner, COL, USAF, Ret, Legislative Rep Southside Virginia Chapter.
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS - VCOC Vice Presidents.
|
|
PUBLIC AFFAIRS INSERT -page I-3
MILITARY OFFICERS
HIT TARGET
$3,000 For
Virginia Wounded Warriors
The George C. Marshall Chapter (GCMC) of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) hosted a fundraiser for the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program, which provides critical support for service members with traumatic brain injuries and PTSD as a result of combat.
Seven chapter members, along with more than 30 additional sportsmen, participated in the first annual "Armed Forces Clay Target Shoot-off" at the Glorious Twelfth range in Brownsburg. Combining a significant corporate donation from Lockheed Martin Corporation, additional in-kind support from Base-X and Shenandoah Attic, and registration fees of the participants netted the Wounded Warrior Program more than $2,000. Additional donations by members led to a total chapter donation of $3,000.
|
 |
| Shoot-Off participants. In front row: Col Pat Webb, GCMC VP, Dr Chip Schleider, Lockheed-Martin VP, and LTC Robert Hopkins, new GCMC President. Chip is presenting a check for $1,000 from Lockheed-Martin to underwrite the cost of the shoot. |
|
|
The Armed Forces Clay Target Shoot-off supported by GCMC-MOAA will become an annual event. The next shoot-off planned for Spring or early Summer.
A check for $3,000 was presented on Dec 9th at the Chapter luncheon meeting at Moody Hall on the VMI to CAPT Cathy Wilson, USN Ret. the Wounded Warrior Executive Director for the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (see photo in paper Crier).
INFO & PHOTOS WERE PUBLISHED
IN LOCAL NEWS-GAZETTE & ROCKBRIDGE WEEKLY.
Excellent chapter publicity.
|
PUBLIC AFFAIRS INSERT -page I-4
Newport News Virginia Town Square Section
Daily Press, Friday, Dec 12, 2008, Page G2
A photo with extended caption was published about VIPMOAA as part of VCOC success with Excellence awards and Give Me Ten. Note, it took a while to publish, as the event occurred Oct 24th. See the photo below. The paper chose to use the photo of local chapter rather than photo of the seven Virginia chapters. The paper did not include the chapter's website though it was in the press release. But the publicity is good for name-recognition. If people search "VIPMOAA" on their internet search engine, they will find the chapter website.
|
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
RESOLUTIONS
2009
- In January, apply for Communication Awards (up to 3)
- Include chapter write-up on VCOC website
- Check search engine results for your chapter website.
- Update chapter info on MOAA website and update Contact Info with VCOC Secretary.
- Publish Chapter info (and a picture) in local military and civilian papers about:
-
Participation in Legislative Events in Richmond & DC
-
Receipt of Chapter Awards
-
Give Me Ten (participation & Success)
-
Chapter Scholarship or other programs
/ Maj Melva Mallison, USAF, Ret, VCOC PAO
|
 |
| STATE MILITARY GROUPS WIN AWARDS. COL Lee Lange, USMC, Ret, Director of MOAA Chapter Affairs presents 5-star streamer to COL Jim Pauls, USAF, Ret, VIPMOAA President-Elect at the 24 Oct 2008 VCOC meeting. |
|
|
| Individual Pages Below - Word Document |
| Page 10, Virginia Chapters 2 Awards Pictures, 5-Star, Word Document | Page 11, Dec 2008 Crier, Treasurer, Secretary, Meeting, Word Document | Page 12, Dec 2008 Crier, Outside Cover for Mailing, Contents, Photo at MOAA Capital Event, Word Document |
|
