Texas Council Of Chapters

Issue 1: What is TCC?

Issue 2: What are the goals/ objectives?

Issue 3: What are the legislative tasks?

Issue 4: What has it accomplished in recent years?

Issue 5: Why dues and their use?

Issue 6: Why should chapters belong?

Issue 1: What is TCC?

I have found the easiest way to explain this is: TCC is the state version of MOAA National. National does not involve itself in state issues thus we encourage chapters to participate in council affairs and become actively involved in state issues that affect its members. We need a 'united front' when we present or work to resolve these issues.

Issue 2: What is its goals/objectives?

These are the goals submitted at the January 2002 meeting.

1. Establish written communication with Chapters over and above the MOAA TEXAN newsletter. Keep the chapters appraised of current events affecting the retired members especially regarding legislative bills. Solicit input from Chapters for council publication. This sharing of ideas elicits more awareness of the other chapters.
2. Establish better liaison with other veteran organizations, especially Texas Coalition of Veterans Organization.
3. Visiting the state chapters and meeting with board and chapter members to make them aware of the organization. Many do not know that TCC exists. It is therefore, imperative to educate them - make sure Chapter officers understand the importance of the organization, then explain it to their members.

Issue 3: What are the legislative tasks?

Just as National covers issues that affect all members nationally, The Texas Council's basic purpose is to further the legislative and other objectives of the Retired Officers Association and to protect the rights and interests of active, reserve, Guard and retired members of the uniformed services in matters of state legislation. This next legislative session will affect all with the introduction of State Income Tax. There were five constitutional amendments from the last legislative session that did not make it to the House and Senate floor for a vote. These affect state veterans. These legislative tasks are demanding and require the best talent available to the council. We ask that all members become involved.

Issue 4: What has it accomplished in recent years?

I cannot speak to the accomplishments of the other Presidents. Many, if not all, of the chapters were organized during previous administrations. Each president "stormed the hill" to lobby for legislative issues that affect us all. During my tenure, I have visited sixteen of the twenty-seven chapters since assuming office in January. (In case any of you wonders about the travel expenses, I've paid for these visits myself. TCC has not, nor have I asked them to reimburse me.) These visits prove fruitful, as some of the chapters feel isolated and uninformed. Direct communication encourages active participation and a feeling of belonging to a 'family' concerned with the welfare and interests of all members and their families.

Issue 5: Why dues and their use?

Dues provide the monetary support a council requires to operate. This covers such items as communication, i.e., expenses incurred in publication of the MOAA TEXAN newsletter along with mailing to members; expenses incurred at quarterly meetings. We do not expect the local chapter to incur these expenses, therefore; an allotted amount covers this expenditure.

Issue 6: Why should chapters belong?

I quote this from the MOAA Council Handbook: to assist the council "…serve many useful purposes beyond those of promoting the aims of MOAA as stated in the preamble to the bylaws of that organization. The council of chapters represents a consensus of the member chapters' beliefs; thus it can serve as a spokesperson for the consensus." If a chapter does not participate in the council, we have no input from that chapter and therefore do not know their wishes.

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