Military Officer - January 2007 - (Page 47)

chapteractivities and U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) addressed the convention, and Brig. Gen. Steve Westgate, Georgia Air National Guard chief of staff, spoke at the closing banquet. In conjunction with the convention, Savannah Chapter members invited active duty military servicemembers stationed in the area to play in a golf tournament. About 20 members from MOAA chapters throughout Georgia participated, along with 60 active duty servicemembers, many of whom had just returned home after being deployed. Just before the tournament started, chapter members distributed Give Me 10! applications, and several ofﬁcers signed up on the spot, including Westgate. “The golf tournament was a big hit, and it gave us an opportunity to thank our active duty servicemembers,” says Col. Frank Valentine, USA-Ret., president of Georgia MOAA Inc. “It also gave us an opportunity to let them know who MOAA [is].” Savannah Chapter members, area citizens, and other MOAA chapters The servicemembers received free driving-range balls, lunch, beverages, and snacks. Players also had an opportunity to win prizes such as a free trip to Las Vegas, golf clubs, and other merchandise, including a new car for any player who made a hole-in-one. “It’s always a great time when an association like this will pay for soldiers to come out and have a good day to relax,” says Capt. Nathan Surry of the 3rd Army Infantry Division Combat Aviation Brigade. “It’s always nice to get away from work and just release some [of the] anxiety and frustration a lot of soldiers feel with all the deployments we are doing.” El Paso Chapter member and retiree appreciation day chair Maj. Gen. Edward Greer, USA-Ret., left, greeted Ryan at the 50th anniversary event. Junior ROTC and ROTC units and the El Paso Armed Services YMCA. Members also serve on the Fort Bliss Retiree Council, work at the base’s Air Defense Artillery Museum, and support the Fisher House at William Beaumont Army Medical Center. In addition, the El Paso Chapter has its own ofﬁcer placement service job networking group, personal affairs ofﬁcer, and scholarship program. Known for being innovative, El Paso was one of the ﬁrst MOAA afﬁliates to change its bylaws to authorize a position on the chapter’s board of directors that would always be ﬁlled by an active duty, National Guard, or Reserve member. One chapter member, Lt. Col. Joseph Simonelli Jr., USA, also was named to serve on national MOAA’s Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve Committee. Recently, chapter members presented an honorary membership to WO Samuel Nakano of the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force. Nakano, an interpreter for Japanese troops who participate in military exercises at Fort Bliss, has expressed an interON THE WEB ■ Start off the new year with a new plan: Join an MOAA chapter. Don’t wait; go to www.moaa.org/chapters/locator .asp to find the chapter nearest you. El Paso (Texas) Chapter Marks 50th Anniversary M At Georgia MOAA Inc.’s convention, active duty servicemembers played for free in a golf tournament. in Georgia donated $60 per player to cover the tournament fees, allowing all 60 active duty servicemembers to play for free. Several area businesses also donated money and prizes. PHOTO: ABOVE, KURT WOLFE, HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD ore than 155 members, spouses, and guests — including national MOAA President Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret. — celebrated the 50th anniversary of the El Paso (Texas) Chapter Oct. 6-7. The chapter’s 50th anniversary was recognized in proclamations issued by the City of El Paso and by legislators on the ﬂoor of the state senate. Ryan presented the chapter with national MOAA’s Five-Star Levels of Excellence Award for 2005, the fourth consecutive year the El Paso Chapter has received a ﬁve-star award. Ryan also served as keynote speaker during Fort Bliss’ annual retiree appreciation day Oct. 7. Later that same day, the chapter sponsored the Texas Council of Chapters’ fourth quarter meeting. The chapter’s 619 members are a visible force in the community and participate in a wide range of service projects, including supporting area JANUARY 2007 MILITARY OFFICER 47 http://www.moaa.org/chapters/locator.asp http://www.moaa.org/chapters/locator.asp

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - January 2007

Military Officer - January 2007 Contents From the Editor From the Chairman Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Cover Story: Osprey Rising? Battlefields of the Great War I Resolve ... New Mission Pages of History Information Exchange Advertising Index MOAA Scholarship Donors MOAA Member Services MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps Member Books Encore

Military Officer - January 2007

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