Military Officer - September 2008 - (Page 42)

chaptersinaction Service to Others MOAA chapter members undertake a variety of service projects in their communities. Find out how they’re using their leadership and organizational skills to start or support programs that beneﬁt others. O ne of the most important missions of MOAA’s chapter system is to provide support for local community service projects. In communities across the country, MOAA chapter members are giving back to their fellow citizens in a variety of ways. When I visit councils and chapters, it is amazing to witness ﬁrsthand and hear about the many ways chapters help meet local needs. This includes scholarships for college-bound students and support for wounded warriors, disabled veterans, local schools, charities, and active duty servicemembers at nearby bases. MOAA members are well-suited to this role, having completed successful tours of duty or military ca- reers taking care of their people and serving our nation. They’ve learned and honed their leadership and organizational skills, which makes them a group sought-after by the many volunteer organizations trying to meet community needs. MOAA chapters provide an opportunity for many association members to extend their previous service and continue serving their nation. There are any number of ways you can help your fellow citizens. The demand for good volunteers far exceeds the supply of people who possess the skills MOAA members have as well as their willingness to help others. Some chapter service projects, such as Operation Helping Hand in Tampa, Fla., have received national recognition. This outstanding program has won the Newman’s Own Award twice, a president’s volunteer service award, and the Golden Achievement Award from the United Way of Tampa Bay. Communities appreciate what chapter members do, too. Local governments and other groups often recognize them for their efforts. In this way, volunteering through an MOAA chapter enables chapter members to let others know about MOAA. Chapter members really are ambassadors in their communities. Read on to learn about the many ways chapter members help out. If you have been looking for means to give back to your community, your local MOAA chapter can be a great way to do that. — Col. Lee Lange II, USMC-Ret. Director, Council and Chapter Affairs Make a Difference T ON THE ROAD: This month, Col. Lee Lange II, USMC-Ret., director of MOAA’s Council and Chapter Affairs, will visit chapter members in Arkansas, Florida, and West Virginia. Go to MOAA Calendar, page 132, for dates. 42 MILITARY OFFICER SEPTEMBER 2008 * his year, an estimated 1,300 homeless and needy students in Marion County, Fla., will receive new school supplies, clothing, and other necessities thanks to Operation Stuff the Bus, an outreach project sponsored by the Kingdom of the Sun (Fla.) Chapter, Marion County Public Schools, and the county’s Public Education Foundation. Each summer, volunteers distribute lists of needed items to shoppers at local Wal-Mart and Kmart stores. Kingdom of the Sun Chapter members tally and organize shoppers’ donations before they load them onto school buses outside each store. Now in its seventh year, Operation Stuff the Bus has collected and distributed more than $252,000 worth of donations to homeless and needy students. “Everyone is just glad that we took this on,” says Eileen Olson, who PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - September 2008

Military Officer - September 2008 Contents MOAA Online From the Editor From the President Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Chapters in Action Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Middle Ground Finance Your Future One Step at a Time Cover Story: Reducing the Threat Slow Boat Through China Practice Makes Perfect Pages of History Faces of MOAA Information Exchange Member Books MOAA Scholarship Donors Advertising Index MOAA Member Services MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps Encore

Military Officer - September 2008

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