Military Officer - February 2006 - (Page 48) chapteractivities Joint Effort A s director of the Council and Chapter Affairs Department, I can say with certainty that the No. 1 problem our chapters face is finding new leaders. It is so prevalent that at each of our chapter presidents’ symposia it has ranked as their most significant concern. Daily, we receive news that some chapter is about to cease operations because no one will step forward to assume the mantle of leadership. Chapter officers attending our symposia think the root of the problem is an inability to attract and recruit younger officers — and I agree. Ironically, when we institute a chapter rescue effort in conjunction with the affected chapter’s leader and the state council president, some younger volunteers do turn out and help — not in big numbers, but some. Must we always go down to the 11th hour before someone will volunteer to become a chapter officer or leader? Part of the problem lies in a lack of communications. Do we chapter leaders tout the fact that many of the benefits and earned entitlements that 48 MILITARY OFFICER FEBRUARY 2006 M being set up at NAS Pensacola to help military members and their families who had been affected by Hurricane Katrina, she contacted personnel at the evacuation depot, who were expecting more than 1,000 evacuees. MOAA has secured legislatively reMany of these evacuees arrived with sulted from our chapters’ efforts? Do little more than the clothes on their we look members in the eye and say, backs. Although cash donations were “Hey, we need you, and you need us”? not being accepted, Do we explain that if those who wished to their chapter folds, there will be no one left Each of us contribute were encouraged to donate in the community to … is ready, retail gift cards, which represent the rights of willing, could be used by milimilitary personnel? Many of you are tryand able to tary families to purchase items not ing your best to keep help you available at the depot. your chapters afloat — succeed. Capt. Owen Engoften at great sacrifice lander, USN-Ret., used — and you have my the chapter’s legislagreatest admiration. tive e-mail alert system Each of us in this deto let chapter members know Engel partment is ready, willing, and able to help you succeed. Just let us know be- had agreed to serve as a collection agent for members who wanted to fore it gets to a tipping point. Togethcontribute retail gift cards. Florida er, we must do whatever is necessary Council of Chapters President Capt. to turn this tide. — Col. Chris Giaimo, USAF-Ret. William E. Knehans, USN-Ret., conDirector, Council and Chapter Affairs tacted Col. Henry Ince, USAR-Ret., who also sent out an e-mail message using the Florida Military Message Center/Interstate Military Message Center. The message let subscribers nationwide know they could help It comes as no surprise that in the military evacuees in Pensacola by wake of the hurricanes of Fall 2005, sending retail gift cards. many MOAA chapters and chapter Donations soon came pouring in, members reached out to help. with the Indian River Colony Club Foundation in Melbourne, Fla., genPensacola Becomes erously donating $5,700 worth of reCentral to Relief Efforts tail gift cards. More MOAA chapters and state councils also contributed embers of the Pensacola gift cards, including the Rio Hondo (Fla.) Chapter (PMOAA) (Calif.) Chapter, Clearwater (Fla.) have experienced firsthand the affects of a devastating hurricane. Chapter, Kingdom of the Sun (Fla.) Chapter, Palm Beach-Martin CounSo when chapter President Rear ties (Fla.) Chapter, Suwannee River Adm. Joan M. Engel, USN-Ret., Valley (Fla.) Chapter, Tampa (Fla.) learned an evacuation depot was Field Reports PHOTO: RHODA BAER
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.