Military Officer - February 2006 - (Page 49) chapteractivities Chapter Treasurer Maj. John Whitman, USAF-Ret., who works in Falls Church, Va., took his company’s offer and contributed some of his vacation time in lieu of making a cash donation. Meanwhile, fellow chapter member Capt. Jim Gourley, USNRet., spent a week on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., helping construct frames for 51 houses, which were later shipped to the Gulf Coast as part of an effort by Habitat for Humanity. Other members showed their support by donating money to the organization. In addition, several members donated airline miles to help evacuees. Still others contributed to Operation Hero Miles, which allows troops stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan to fly home on emergency leave for free. After the devastation, volunteers came out to help disaster victims. MOAA chapter members responded immediately in many ways, including joining crews on the National Mall to construct framing for new homes. Chapter, Kansas Council of Chapters, First in Freedom (N.C.) Chapter, and Piedmont (N.C.) Chapter. “So far we’ve received $16,030 in retail gift cards, which have been distributed to military families,” says Engel. “We do take care of our own, and I am very proud to be part of this.” Some of the contributed retail gift cards were used to help sailors aboard the USS John Hall, who departed Pascagoula, Miss., to evade Hurricane Katrina. MOAA member Capt. Peter Labyak, USN-Ret., whose son-in-law is the CO of the Hall, contacted Engel after learning 40 families out of the ship’s crew of 200 suffered a total or major loss to their apartment or home. In addition, 79 sailors lost their vehicles, which had been parked on the pier. Family members of the ship’s crew were working to collect funds to help those who had been affected, and several corporations indicated they would make donations if they were tax-deductible. Labyak, however, was having a difficult time finding a nonprofit organization that would accept donations earmarked for sailors aboard the Hall. The Pensacola Chapter contacted national MOAA and was advised that because the chapter had nonprofit status, it couldn’t actively solicit donations, but it could accept them. Engel agreed to accept and distribute the donations, which totaled some $7,445. The money was then used to purchase retail gift cards for the Hall. An active duty naval nurse contacted Engel and donated a large amount of furniture, which was given to the sailors and their families. “PMOAA’s willingness to step up to the plate in view of various IRS restrictions placed on nonprofit organizations was simply awesome,” says Labyak. “I will never forget this.” Mayport Chapter Helps Evacuees Recover M Small Chapter, Big Heart T he Fort George G. Meade (Md.) Chapter only has 125 members, but dozens of them contributed to relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina. Many members donated money or clothing to the American Red Cross or Salvation Army. Others donated money through their employers, which provided matching contributions. embers of the Mayport (Fla.) Chapter helped dozens of servicemembers and their families who fled Hurricane Katrina and streamed into the Jacksonville, Fla., area. President Lt. Ron Henderson, USN-Ret., contacted chapter members via e-mail and asked them to contribute money and household items to the Greater Jacksonville Area United Service Organizations (USO). Chapter members answered the call and donated $953, which Henderson presented to the USO’s executive director, K.C. McCarthy. Other members contributed household items and clothing. ON THE WEB ■ Want to join an MOAA chapter but don’t know where to find one? Go to www.moaa.org/chapters/locator.asp to find the chapter nearest you. FEBRUARY 2006 PHOTOS: KEVORK DJANSEZIAN/AP; INSET, KAREN BLEIER/GETTY IMAGES MILITARY OFFICER 49 http://www.moaa.org/chapters/locator.asp
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