Military Officer - May 2006 - (Page 40)

chapteractivities Tough Good-bye S ome 34 years ago I had the good fortune to meet a special individual at McGuire AFB, N.J. Little did I know that he would become my best friend — and for the past nine years my partner in MOAA’s council and chapter affairs world. Those who read this column regularly or are involved in MOAA’s chapter and council efforts know Col. Jim Pauls, USAF-Ret. He has been a mainstay of all chapter and council activities. He and his wife, Marvella, have traveled the country visiting chapters and councils, urging them to stay in the ﬁght we wage annually with Congress to maintain our entitlements, those beneﬁts that have been promised to us and that we have earned. Jim has been the main man behind our successful Storming the Hill council presidents’ seminars and our chapter presidents’ symposia. His multitasking ability has been nothing short of phenomenal, each year’s events being better than the last. Now, despite my entreaties, Jim has decided to retire June 1. Life at MOAA HQ will not be the same. He 40 MILITARY OFFICER M AY 2 0 0 6 M Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, is the ﬁrst active duty servicemember to be elected president of the 94-member chapter. Bausano is the membership chair, taking over from an active duty ofﬁcer who transferred. leaves a record of accomplishments “I think MOAA has something that will be hard to match. He brings zeal and passion to whatever he puts to offer active duty members,” says Lombardo, who had never heard of his hand to, whether resuscitating an the association prior ailing chapter or helpto joining in 2005. ing establish a new “This organization chapter. His drive to Jim’s degives a lot to the make things perfect voted to community.” and his devotion to enensuring Members of the suring that MOAA has Wichita Falls Chapter the best damn chapter MOAA has indeed are involved system of any organizathe best in many commution are all hallmarks chapters. nity-based activities, of his character. including supportOn a personal note, ing four area Junior Jim, though we’ll alROTC units and presenting college ways remain friends, continue to live near each other, and play golf togeth- scholarships on behalf of the MOAA scholarship fund to students who er, I’ll miss you greatly. Your ability live in the area. Also, members have to keep all of us in our department established an informal network that laughing and pulling in the same diprovides support to chapter memrection will be sorely missed. Most bers following the death of a spouse. important, all of MOAA, and espe“We’re like a family,” says Lomcially the legions of chapter members bardo. “Our chapter is ﬁlled with a you’ve helped and worked with over great group of patriots who get tothe years, will miss you, too. — Col. Chris Giaimo, USAF-Ret. gether, enjoy each other’s company, Director, Council and Chapter Affairs and support one another and the community in time of need.” According to chapter Vice President Lt. Col. Cleveland Pratt Jr., USAR-Ret., the Wichita Falls Chapter began recruiting more active duty Active Duty Officer servicemembers, such as Lombardo Heads Texas Chapter and Bausano, shortly after the association changed its name from The Reembers of the Wichita tired Ofﬁcers Association to the Falls (Texas) Chapter have Military Ofﬁcers Association of two active duty Air Force America more than three years ago. ofﬁcers serving on their board of di“We ﬁnd that because we have rectors: Maj. Tony Lombardo, USAF, active duty members, we tend to and Maj. C.J. Bausano, USAFR. think more of the military now and Lombardo, operations ofﬁcer not [how it] used to be,” says Pratt. for the 364th Training Squadron at Field Reports PHOTO: RHODA BAER

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - May 2006

Military Officer - May 2006 Contents From the Editor President's Page Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Raising Iraq Dogfight Fun Caring For Our Own Pages of History Information Exchange MOAA Scholarship Donors Member Books Advertising Index MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps Encore

Military Officer - May 2006

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