Military Officer - March 2009 - (Page 44) chaptersinaction Chapter Achievements From the Field: Virginia Council of Chapters Chapters in the Virginia Council of Chapters (VCOC) continue to raise money for the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program, which provides treatment for veterans with combat-related PTSD or traumatic brain injuries and their families. VCOC members and other organizations in the Joint Leadership Council convinced state legislators to create the Wounded Warrior Program, which relies on federal, state, and private funding. Hampton Roads (Va.) Chapter President Lt. Col. Jim Dellaripa, USAF-Ret., presented $1,000 to Capt. Cathy Wilson, USN-Ret., executive director of the Wounded Warrior Program. George C. Marshall (Va.) Chapter members also raised $2,500 by holding a clay target shoot-off. Several members and a matching chapter contribution netted an additional $500 for the program, and Dr. Chip Schleider presented chapter President Lt. Col. Bob Hopkins, USAF-Ret., with $1,000 from the Lockheed Martin Corp. Calusa (Fla.) Chapter Twenty-four children in Southwest Florida received a new bicycle for Christmas last year thanks to Calusa (Fla.) Chapter members. For three years, Lt. Col. Jim Goulette, USA-Ret., has led the chapter’s annual Bikes for Tykes program. In that time, the chapter has donated 63 bikes to the Salvation Army. “The Salvation Army was extremely happy for this donation, as they have more destitute families than usual because of the [struggling] economy,” says Goulette. Columbia River (Wash.) Chapter The Columbia River (Wash.) Chapter’s Support the Troops Campaign is going strong, with members donating $4,500 to troops and their families in 2008. In September, members gave 60 calling cards to deploying troops in the Portland (Ore.) Air National Guard. Chapter members previously donated 40 $100 gift cards to help deployed servicemembers’ families. Support the Troops, funded by members’ donations, is in its fourth year. To date, the 168-member chapter has donated more than $13,500. Northeast Florida Chapter The chair of MOAA’s board of directors, Gen. Richard Neal, USMC-Ret., was keynote speaker at the Northeast Florida Chapter’s Dec. 17, 2008, meeting. Rear Adm. Michael Vitalie, USN, commander, Navy Region Southeast, and Capt. John “Jack” C. Scorby Jr., USN, commanding officer of NAS Jacksonville, and his wife, Chris, also were honored guests. In Neal’s first chapter visit as chair, he outlined MOAA’s goals for 2009. Neal also recognized five longtime chapter members with Year of the Chapter coins. During the meeting, chapter members presented a Marine Corps representative with their annual donation to Toys for Tots. MO — Contributors are Col. Lee Lange II, USMC-Ret., director; Col. Barry Wright, USA-Ret., deputy director, Council and Chapter Affairs; and Kris Ann Hegle. For submission information, see page 18. (left) Maj. Caleb Prieto, left, a Salvation Army officer from Port Charlotte, Fla., picks up bicycles, donated by members of the Calusa (Fla.) Chapter, at the home of Lt. Col. Jim Goulette, USA-Ret., right, who chairs the chapter’s annual Bikes for Tykes program. (right) Capt. Cathy Wilson, USN-Ret., executive director of Virginia’s Wounded Warrior Program, accepts a $1,000 check from Hampton Roads (Va.) Chapter President Lt. Col. Jim Dellaripa, USAF-Ret. 44 MILITARY OFFICER MARCH 2009
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