|
VCOC MOAA DAY AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
|
| (STORMING THE STATE CAPITOL) |
 |
| VCOC MOAA stormers with Capitol side entrance in background. Photo by Melva Mallison, VCOC MOAA Public Affairs Chair |
|
|
 |
| VCOC MOAA between speakers. SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE PHOTOS (after text and documents). Photo by VCOC MOAA PAO, M. Mallison |
|
|
24 January 2011, sixty leaders of Virginia’s chapters of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) stormed capitol hill in Richmond to advocate for Virginia's military community.
Stormers, representing members throughout Virginia were visited by key Virginia Legislators and government officials.
Retired Army Colonels Sam Wilder of Chester and Don Kaiserman of Richmond, led the charge, as MOAA’s Virginia Council of Chapters President and Vice President. MOAA leaders, representing military officers of all branches of service and surviving spouses of officers, individually met with their state Delegates and Senators during the day and were recognized in House and Senate Chambers.
Also key to this annual storming are the VCOC's representative and alternate to the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Services Organizations (JLC): BG Wes Edwards, USMC, Ret, of Lancaster and LTC John Clickener, USMC, Ret, of Tappahannock. VCOC is one of 23 JLC Veterans Services Organizations that together developed the six Legislative objectives for military and their families in 2011. The JLC stormed Jan 13th - about a week prior to the VCOC annual event.
| 0715 - 1510 5 EAST CONFERENCE ROOM, GENERAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING, RICHMOND VIRGINIA 910 Capitol Square, Richmond, VA 23219.
SCROLL DOWN FOR AGENDA, NEWS RELEASE TEMPLATE & PHOTOS.
STORMING GOALS:
_ Increase visibility of JLC, VCOC and their roles as advocates for Virginia's Military Comunity (veterans, retirees, active duty, reserves, guard and their families)
_ Increase support for JLC 2011 legislative objectives (LOs)
_ Promote the role of the Department of Veterans Services
_ Augment and compliment what other VSOs are doing.
_ Recognize and appreciate legislators.
|
SPEAK WITH ONE POWERFUL VOICE:
_ VCOC advocates for the six JLC LOs
_ Have and distriute the JLC written position papers & FAQs
_ Do not add on "pet projects". Advocate only for the JLC objectives.
_ Never endorse a particular political party, when representing MOAA or JLC.
|
POINTS OF CONTACT:
VCOC Legislative Chair, Don Kaiserman colonelsilverfox-i@msn.com,
Vice Chair for State Legislation (and VCOC's JLC Rep), John Clickener click03@verizon.net
Chapters were previously asked to identify one attendee per chapter to be recognized in House or Senate chambers.
USE VAVET SYSTEM to send email alerts concerning bills and budget amendments. http://vavet.org/
| STORMERS WORE VCOC "UNIFORM":
Blue suit or blazer, white shirt, red tie, MOAA badge, name tag.
CHAPTER LEADERS BROUGHT CAMERAS, so each chapter could obtain photos of chapter leaders & members interacting with their legislators. Then use photos afterwards in newsletters, websites and news releases (for media).
| MEDIA:
VCOC goal for at least one reporter to attend was met. Also, Virignian Pilot printed a story the day-of, and The Daily Press the day before.
Additionally, chapters were provided news release templates to pursue local news stories about their chapter participation in the storming event.
|
|
| Agenda & preparations were included in the VCOC Legislative Committee's Notes emailed beginning 2 Jan 2011 and are posted in the "Document Library" at left. Revised "final" agenda was posted 23 Jan, replacing previous drafts. Agenda is undergoing constant change/fine tuning which likely will continue to change through the day of the event). Congressman Cantor and Governor McDonnell will not be able to attend.
Two Public Affairs documents are posted here - advance notice to reporters, and a News Release template for chapters (fill in blanks at storming, then send with photo(s) to local media, in the chapter area, either that night or next morning.
Leave-Behind Letters (examples) are also posted in the document library at left. George C Marshall chapter printed their letter on parchment, and the JLC LO summary sheet on yellow card stock, so they both stood out.
SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS. Some added 9 PM 24 Jan 2011, more to follow.
|
PHOTOS are thumbnail images. Click on individual photo to see larger picture. More will be posted soon, and extended captions. So far these are all from camera(s) of VCOC PAO, Melva Mallison.
|
![]()
|
|
|
|
