Military Officer - December 2006 - (Page 59)

Although several MOAA chapters in Illinois have their own scholarship programs, all nine chapters in the state contribute money each year to the Illinois Council of Chapters. This has helped the council collect a total of $75,000 — enough money to start three designated scholarships through The Scholarship Fund of MOAA. According to council President Col. Aaron Wolff, USARet., members now are working on a fourth designated scholarship. “By unifying all the chapters in the state, we’ve been able to maximize our ability to help the scholarship fund,” says Wolff. “Many chapters simply can’t come up with the full $25,000 that’s needed to start a designated scholarship.” HOW CHAPTERS RAISE FUNDS Donors have five years to raise the $50,000 needed to establish an American Patriot Scholarship or the $25,000 needed to start a designated scholarship. The following lists some of the most effective fundraising techniques used by chapters and councils that have established scholarships through The Scholarship Fund of MOAA. ■ The Dayton (Ohio) Area Chapter holds 50-50 raffles, and members donate when renewing their chapter dues. ■ MOAA of Sarasota (Fla.) Inc. raises funds through direct mail solicitations, and members donate when renewing their chapter dues. ■ St. Petersburg (Fla.) Area Chapter members contribute yearlong and when paying their annual dues. A cruise line also donated $50 for every member who went on a chapter-sponsored cruise. ■ The South Coast (Calif.) Chapter conducts 50-50 raffles at monthly meetings. ■ The Verdugo Hills (Calif.) Chapter conducts 50-50 raffles, and many winners donate the money back to the scholarship fund. Others contribute when paying their annual dues, and several have made memorial contributions. ■ The West Suburban Chicago Chapter collects individual donations and conducts a 50-50 raffle. Working with MOAA In 2003, members of the Middle Tennessee Chapter decided to pool their resources and establish a designated scholarship that bears the chapter’s name. Each year the chapter sends out a direct mail solicitation to its members, who answer the call to support the scholarship fund by mailing in their donations. At the chapter members’ request, The Scholarship Fund of MOAA only selects scholars whose families reside in middle Tennessee or the Fort Campbell, Ky., area to receive the chapter’s designated scholarship. According to Brig. Gen. Jeremiah Brophy, USA-Ret., who sits on the chapter’s scholarship committee, having MOAA pick the recipients ensures the selection process remains impartial and frees members’ time so they can take on other activities that beneﬁt both the chapter and the community. Establishing a scholarship through national MOAA has other advantages as well. For example, when designated scholar Kimberly Beth Macintire’s family transferred to a military base near Augusta, Ga., she became ineligible to receive the Middle Tennessee Chapter’s designated scholarship. However, The Scholarship Fund of MOAA helped her obtain another designated scholarship. The Middle Tennessee Chapter also served as a conduit when a chapter member’s family decided to establish its own designated scholarship, named after Air Force Col. John D. and 1st Lt. Barbara R. Hedges. Currently, members of the Middle Tennessee Chapter are working to establish a second designated scholarship in the chapter’s name. “Because of The Scholarship Fund of MOAA, our chapter has been able to make a difference here in the community,” says Brophy. MO ON THE WEB ■ Call to Action is an e-newsletter notifying members of chapter happenings. To subscribe to Call to Action or any of MOAA's six free e-newsletters, visit www .moaa.org/email. DECEMBER 2006 MILITARY OFFICER 59 http://www.moaa.org/email

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

From the Editor From the President Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Cover Story: How to Fund the Future Martial Lore Good Night, Sleep Tight Mixed Review Information Exchange Advertising Index Member Books MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps MOAA Member Services

Military Officer - December 2006

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