Military Officer - September 2008 - (Page 43)

chaptersinaction volunteers with Operation Stuff the Bus every year with her husband, Capt. David Olson Jr., USNR-Ret. “I don’t even view it as charity. It’s just something we do,” says Eileen. MOAA hats and pins. Other members showed their support by selling rafﬂe tickets or making a donation. In Hawaii, Aloha Chapter members bought and served 244 barbecued chickens to homeless residents at Honolulu’s Institute of Human Services. The chapter also supports the military community by donating to two local Armed Forces YMCA branches and contributing to food basket programs that assist servicemembers and their families. In June, members paid four servicemembers’ greens fees so they could play in the Hawaii Army Museum’s golf tournament. near hospitalized sponsors. Members also put their leadership and organizational skills to good use by serving on councils and commissions that are working to better the city of El Paso. “We believe all of this is payback for the support our community gives our military,” says chapter president Brig. Gen. Morgan Jellett, USA-Ret. The 1,576-member Cape Canaveral (Fla.) Chapter created a Good Deeds Fund that donates to community projects such as Operation Warmheart, which received $6,000 last year to help needy servicemembers at Patrick AFB. Members also awarded $35,000 in scholarships this year to deserving students, supported local JROTC and ROTC units, and more. “This is our tradition, and we take pride in doing good deeds and in helping others,” says Lt. Col. Frank Dunagan, USA-Ret. “This is what it’s all about.” Help for those in need The Hawaii Chapter is one of many MOAA chapters that support local ROTC and Junior ROTC (JROTC) cadets. Outstanding cadets in units the chapter sponsors receive MOAA medals and certiﬁcates. Two ROTC cadets and 10 JROTC cadets also received $500 college scholarships. The Cape Cod (Mass.) Chapter also funds its own scholarship program. In the past 31 years, chapter members have awarded more than $110,000 to the children or grandchildren of local military personnel. In the past 10 years, members of the Pikes Peak (Colo.) Chapter have assisted dozens of seniors, lowincome homeowners, and veterans with disabilities through the Paint and Hammer Gang program, which provides paint and repair work for those in need. Members work in conjunction with Rebuilding Together, a national nonproﬁt group that supplies the materials needed for each project. “About a month ago, we built a 30-foot wheelchair ramp for a senior citizen,” says Lt. Col. Keith Smith, USAF-Ret., who heads up the Paint and Hammer Gang. “We’re here for anyone who needs a little help.” Doing good deeds Last year, the El Paso (Texas) Chapter contributed roughly $3,200 to organizations ranging from the Armed Forces YMCA to the Fisher House Foundation, which provides free housing to military family members Quarterly Awards GIVE ME 10! recruiting is going strong, with chapter leaders recruiting 1,830 new MOAA members as of June 30. Each quarter MOAA recognizes the top-recruiting councils in four regions and independent chapters in three regions not represented by a state council. The winner in each region receives a $250 campaign incentive check. The second-quarter council winners for April 1 to June 30 are Midwest: Indiana Council, 53 new members recruited; Southeast: Georgia MOAA Inc., 33 new members recruited; West: California Council, 28 new members recruited; and Northeast: (tie) Bay State (Mass.) Council and Michigan Council, 20 new members recruited each. Independent chapter winners by region are Midwest: Great Plains (S.D.) Chapter, six new members recruited; West: Rattlesnake (Idaho) Chapter, five new members recruited; and Northeast: Narragansett Bay (R.I.) Chapter, one new member recruited. Congratulations to this quarter’s winners! Visit the Give Me 10! Web site, www.moaa.org/givemeten, for more information about this year’s campaign. SEPTEMBER 2008 Charitable support In the past four years, Virginia Peninsula Chapter members have raised money for Relay for Life, a fund-raising event that beneﬁts the American Cancer Society. Cmdr. Tony Siever, USN-Ret., headed up the chapter’s relay team this year. Team members displayed the chapter’s ﬂag and wore MILITARY OFFICER 43 http://www.moaa.org/givemeten http://www.moaa.org/givemeten

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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