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Texas Council Of Chapters | |
It has been a privilege serving as your president the past two years. I have visited 25 of the 28 chapters during this period - some more than once. A new chapter received its charter this year, one chapter joined the council, but two chapters are in distress. These unfortunately I leave for my successor to revitalize.
I have attended two Council president's symposiums which also involved 'storming the hill' - lobbying for veteran's benefits; i.e. Survivor Benefits and Concurrent Receipt; a chapter/council president's symposium and two annual meetings. We continue our support to The Veterans Administration and Texas Veteran Coalition and continue as active participant in these two organizations.
The name change entailed rewriting and adopting new Council by-laws. (I must give credit to Mrs. Addie Gustafson, Rose Capital Chapter, Tyler, for doing the yeoman's work on this.)
With Bill Manno's expertise, we improved the Council web page. We will submit for 'outstanding web page' for '03, as well as, 'outstanding newsletter.'
For those of you who were unable to attend the TCC meeting is San Antonio, you will be able to read all about it on the web page. We had outstanding presentations by Col. Jim Pauls, Deputy Director Council and Chapter Affairs, and BGen. Karen Rankin, Board of Director from Texas. She encouraged all to become active participants in the 75th Anniversary Scholarship fund. The Texas Council, as have several Chapters, contributed to the fund, but she stressed the importance of individual participation.
I wish all of you a belated Happy Thanksgiving and an upcoming joyous Holiday Season.
Ginny Alloway
TCC Out-going Pres
The Texas council of Chapters had their fourth quarterly meeting on 22 Nov 2003 in San Antonio hosted by the San Antonio Chapter, Ed McCarthy, President.
The meeting was held in Fort Sam's Officer Club on Saturday morning after a wonderful Seafood buffet Friday evening and well attended by notables from national, namely Brig. Gen. Karen Rankin, Brig .Gen J. Timothy Boddie Jr.. Lt Col Jim Endicott and Colonel Jim Pauls, Deputy director of Chapter Affairs.
The main topic of discussion was the changes proposed for the SBP program which would help surviving spouses of service men killed in action who now see their SBP coverage reduced by the amount of any VA benefit. Changes are also coming for "Federal Long term Care" where "Gray Reservist who have served 20 years but have not reached 60 yrs of age will be eligible to enroll in the program. Emphasis was also placed on the importance of informing your spouses of the location of all important papers and proper procedures when one spouse passes on. Many booklets are available from MOAA HG and persons with Internet access can glean all the information they need from The MOAA Website.
New Officers were sworn in.
Below are some pictures taken at the meeting on Saturday and the dinner meeting Friday evening where we had an outstanding Seafood Buffet.
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Col. Jim Pauls giving a briefing on the accomplishments of MOAA and what we can do to improve our lot. Below the attentive audience |
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| Texas Council of Chapters NEW President for 2004, Lt Col Ed Marvin giving his acceptance speech |
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Lt Col Jim Endicott is presenting the out going president Ginny Alloway with and honorary promotion to Admiral of the Texas Navy | |||
| Col Jim Pauls presenting Ginny a Plaque for her excellent service as President of TCC , yrs 2002-2003 |  |
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Col Ed McCarthy, President of the San Antonio Chapter gave a welcome speech to the dinner guests on Friday night |
Ginny Alloway thanked
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| Also, Treasurer, Col Violet Jimenez | Also, 2nd VP Lt Cmdr Gill Rodriquez |
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A raffle was held to raise money for scholarships and Sue McCarthy, wife of Ed McCarthy won. |
Col Jim Pauls praised the many accomplishments of Ginny's tenure in office. |
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Also,Web Master, Bill Manno |
 Also, Ed's Secretary Vici Marzec |
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Our 1st VP, Borah Van Dormolen was not available for pictures. | |
| Ginny and Newsletter Editor, Jim Lucas |
Highland Lakes Chapter (MOAA) TX – 08, Gene Robbins, Chapter President reporting: Chapter had their annual business meeting on 20 November 2003. The program consisted of inviting and recognizing the founding charter members of the club, which was chartered in 1971. Saw people that hadn’t attended for some time. The program was well accepted. A certificate was presented to all, acknowledging their contributions to the club. Also presented “The Presidents Award” to all current officers and committee chairs to recognize their good service. Next meeting is the chapters annual Christmas Dance complete with Big Band. It is the highlight for the chapters social program and well attended.
Chapter elected new officers. John Anderson will be installed as the new chapter President. Virginia Alloway will be installed as 1st Vice President and will be responsible for chapter programs. She has some great ideas including a mystery theater, which the membership attending acknowledged as a great idea and a cruise on Lake Buchanan to inspect the habitat of the great White Eagle. Gene expressed his excitement over the quality of the programs next year. Violet (Vi) Jimenez will continue as secretary. Gene asked if the incoming Council President would be available to install the 2004-2005 officers.
Austin Chapter (TX – 02), Carlos Higgins reporting: He commented that the Chapter has a monthly dinner meeting. Most recent meeting featured Ed Clark speaking about electric utility industry in Texas – where it has been, where it is and where it is heading especially with respect to the Austin area, which is a city owned utility.
Central Texas Chapter (TX – 22), John Stephenson, Chapter President reporting: The new officers for year 2004-2005 were nominated and elected at their most recent meeting. Tom Webb presented program on the new gates and security systems in place or being installed at Ft. Hood. Millions of dollars are being expended and existing traffic flows will be affected. Now have a huge x-ray machine to scan all trucks entering post. One entrance has been created for truck entry. Could be used on cars as well. That security feature is not being exercised as yet. People without proper identification are still subject to extensive search and review. Post also going to civilian contract for gate security. (Fort Sam has already done that.) John asked if the incoming Council President could install their new officers on 16 January 04. They meet on the 3rd Friday of each month. Chapter has about 30 members that participate at each meeting with a few more that “pop in and out”. Two of their chapter officers are also on the incoming Texas Council Board; Borah Van Dormolen, 1st Vice President and Spencer Smith, 2nd Vice President. Also two members are National Board of Directors; Jim Anderson and Jim Endicott. The chapter is doing its best to support and contribute to the MOAA movement. Chapter is primarily a social chapter with a social hour, dining and a nice program. Chapter does sponsor a very active program for the high school JROTC program featuring awards and scholarships each year. It is an older membership trying to recruit younger members. The new President will be Sam Murphy, retired Colonel. He is Congressman Chet Edward’s local administrator. Looking forward to a bit of energizing for the chapter given the new leadership. One of the major challenges is to get members to be more involved and to assume leadership / work positions. John praised the Texas Council and opined that its continued good workings are of benefit to the local chapters. He voiced appreciation to President Alloway for attending the dedication of the new Veterans Cemetery in Killeen. It was well attended – more that 500 with many dignitaries – 3 congressmen, state representatives 2 congressional representatives and a representative from Sen. Cornyn’s office. John opined that Sen. Cornyn would do a great job for the state and the veterans.
Spencer Smith, Central Texas representative and nominated TCC 2nd VP added that another great program initiative at their chapter was a “super sign-up” for spouses relative to the survivor’s benefit. The program focuses on the spouses and is sponsored through the Officers Wives Club. Some active duty husbands also participate. National MOAA has been very supportive of this initiative to help better educate and prepare the spouses for that lonely time after a spouse passes. Spencer, who is a financial planner professionally, also advised that the new contractor for MOAA for Long-term Care (GE Financial) had an excellent product and it was an excellent company. He opined that the MOAA initiative had great value to the membership in that it could be personalized to “need” and not a “cookie cutter” program as offered through the government. The 2003 MOAA Financial Planning Guide is outstanding. Spencer opined that with proper financial planning, people could make a more informed and comfortable decision regarding the SBP decision. Given the new branding of MOAA and its effort to involve more Guard / Reserve and Active duty Officers, our financial affairs responsibilities have really been added to. It is a great area to help our active force be more proactive in their financial planning.
Jim Pauls acknowledged that need and advised that MOAA had just hired a financial advisor for the National staff. His name is Phil Dryer and he has “suitcase and will travel”.
El Paso Chapter (TX–05), Dexter Lyerly, President elect reporting: Dexter had no formal chapter report but made comments. He has only been associated with MOAA for a couple of years, however, he expressed total satisfaction at the Chapter Officers Symposium in Overland Park, KS and the workings of the Texas Council, opining that his travels here were well justified and that he had learned a lot. Dexter currently serves as 1st Vice President of his home chapter and will be installed as President come 13 December 03. He is looking forward to his tenure and opined that many excellent initiatives are on the table. Last month Chris Giamo visited and awarded the chapter their banner recognizing the chapter as a Five-Star Chapter. Really a nice meeting and very beneficial to the chapter. Five new members were recruited at that dinner. There was a ground breaking in El Paso about three weeks ago for a Texas Veterans Nursing Home in that area. The Chapter, along with several other Military Organizations had a major play in making that happen. Not enough effort expended with the first application but on the second go-around, it was a joint, coordinated effort by many, including county, city, veteran organizations et. al. and was successful. Gen. Maloney, a member of their chapter, is on the “State Military Commission”. He provides good and timely information from his position on that commission. Chapter has close ties with State Sen. Shapleigh who champions military causes. There also is a regional committee – Alliance for Regional Military Support (ARMS). This includes Los Cruces, NM; Alamogordo, NM; El Paso; Holloman AFB; White Sands Army and Fort Bliss. A regional alliance has been formed and is very active in focusing on military issues of importance.
City of El Paso sponsored an entire week’s activities recognizing the military called Operation Iraqi Freedom. Members of the ARMS Committee and members of the Chamber of Commerce Armed Forces Committee participated in the “fiesta”. The El Paso chapter had seventeen volunteers actively involved in the picnic. Free Meals were provided to over 8000 military members and their families. Chapter has a lot going on. Dexter expressed appreciation to National and the State Council for their help and involvement. The chapter is looking forward to hosting the Council in April.
San Antonio Retired Officers Association (TX – 16), Ed McCarthy, Chapter President reporting: The chapter continues to perk along. Mentioned the TCC hosting, the member luncheon on 20 November 03 featuring an active Army 1st Lt., West Point Graduate, who was seriously injured in Iraq and is in recovery at Fort Sam Houston. Given his adversity, the Lieutenant has great attitude and is “Gung ho” for the cause. Ed McCarthy advised of the chapter luncheons to include hosting Admiral Ryan at one of our meetings. The chapter donated $1000 to the MOAA Scholarship Fund. He advised of the publication of our 2003 – 2004 Membership Directory, which inadvertently left out some of our members. Christmas Dance programmed at Randolph AFB in December. The ladies are working hard on our support to the Audie Murphy Veterans Hospital for the Christmas Holidays. The support is for the two Hospice Wards. The Chapter supports that the best we can and those more unfortunate than ourselves in the hospital truly appreciate the attention at that time of the year. The Commissary and PX helps as it can with items to provide these veterans in the twilight of their years here.
Legislatively, we were only able to see Congressman Lamar Smith. The San Antonio Chapter visitors made a good case on the several issues of importance and the Congressman received them well. He is a friend of the military. The setting was private for our chapter members after a rather difficult town meeting with “less gentle” guests. Congressman Smith was most flattering to our Chapter representatives given their knowledge of the legislative issues involved to wit, SBP and Concurrent receipt. The chapter is very involved in the JROTC/ROTC initiative and in this year has distributed 42 metals.
Rio Grande Valley (TX–27), Alice Karr reporting: She has missed last two meetings because of schedule conflicts, however, chapter remains active. The Chapter President sends these remarks. The Chapter was represented at the ground breaking in McAllen for the Veterans Nursing Home. A news report will be sent to Jim Lucas, our MOAA Texan newsletter editor, and to National MOAA, hoping for publication in their magazine. The Chapter continues to work on recruiting, especially the “Winter Texans”. The Chapter is going to target JROTC instructors as potential members. The chapter supports the program very effectively, why shouldn’t the instructors be involved members as well?
The Chapter goes out each January to the JROTC units with a letter requesting input on their units’ desires regarding the metals. They will now be more focused on recruiting as well. She suggested JROTC instructors as potential recruits for other chapters as well. The Chapter is mindful of the MOAA Scholarship Fund initiative and in the spring will be a participant in the predecessor organization the Confederate Air Force activity. Hopefully, monies will be collected at that venue to make a scholarship contribution to MOAA. Also new officers will be installed.
Greater Dallas Chapter (TX–03), Charles Gibbs, Chapter President reporting: In midst of membership drive, normal dues are $20 annually, but having a special promotion at $15 annually. Is working. Membership is currently at 444 members. Hopeful of improving membership. From financial perspective, club operating successfully. The chapter has a scholarship program. Started with one $1000 scholarship. Now has been upped to two at $1000. Going up to four next year. Program doing well. Chapter By-laws recently reviewed and updated. Presidential succession has been a continuing problem. The solution was to create an additional position called President- Elect. Resulting, the chapter will continually have a successor President “in the wings”.
Christmas Dinner Party scheduled for December 10th, 2003 in which they will have the election and installation of chapter officers. Gen. Boddie, National Director, has accepted the invite to officiate the installation of officers. Since the Overland Park President’s Symposium the chapter has greatly emphasized the Personal Affairs Function in the chapter. George (Bob) Rymal was tasked to expand and enhance that mission within the chapter.
Bob Rymal addressed the enhanced approach being taken. The symposium really energized the chapter involvement. Thirteen areas of responsibility have been established and assigned an individual to each of those areas. At the council meeting, a first-time attendee from Dallas, David Briggs accepted the appointment from Charles Gibbs and Bob Rymal to head up an emphasis area of responsibility. Bud Schneeweis from MOAA has been invited to present to the chapter on February 21st, 2004 a program on Personal Affairs. He does a super job and the program promises to be outstanding. Bob invited Jim Costin and Jimmy Lucas, Lone Star Officers Club representatives, to communicate with their members about the program and insure they knew they were invited.
Bob Rymal inquired as to how many had completed the form in the MOAA Publication “Help Your Survivors Now”? He made an impassioned and heartfelt plea to those attending.
Complete it and discuss same with your significant other now.
DO IT NOW!!!!
If you are a survivor and haven’t
done it for your children,
DO IT NOW!!!
Brazos Valley Chapter (TX–21), Dan Hightower, Chapter President reporting: Has 91 members. Going to orchestrate a membership drive early on in year 2004 with an objective to reach a total of 100 members. Their next meeting is 9 December 03 and the meeting will be the social hour, good food, installation of officers and the singing of Christmas Carols. All are welcome to attend at the Briarcrest Country Club at 1800 hours. Dan simply refuses to discuss Dennis Franchione and “Aggie” football. Best left unsaid. Dan commented on a chapter program speaker earlier this year. He was a recalled veterinary officer who led a group to Afghanistan. It was a fascinating story about the use of “war dogs” in war.
Lone Star Officers Club, Inc. Ft. Worth (TX–11), Jim Costin, Chapter President reporting: Jim attended given his strong conviction that the Council is multi-tasked with important responsibilities. It is an excellent venue to meet and great old and new friends and to serve the social needs of the participants but is equally, if not more important, to conduct the business at hand, that is, helping promote National Defense of our country and assisting veterans as they need assistance.
• We have written and distributed formal job descriptions to all chapter officers and board members. These job descriptions combine job requirements peculiar to LSOC/NAS Fort Worth JRB operations and MOAA job descriptions included in the Chapter Handbook. Job descriptions equip our officers with "instant" job requirements and tailored procedures to satisfy those requirements. They are also expected to ease the transition of new chapter officers and help them "hit the ground running".
• Attendance at LSOC Chapter Meetings continued to increase. Attendance averaged 90+ during the 3rd Qtr. Membership feedback indicated increased attendance is attributed to: 1) attention to detail regarding meeting format and conduct; 2) alternate meeting venue i.e., recently refurbished Green Oaks Hotel. This "off base" location also allows ex-military (non-retirees) without base stickers to attend Chapter meetings, and provides reasonably priced "sit-down" dinners, drinks, and outstanding service; 3) continued pertinent and quality meeting entertainment; and, 4) timely meeting information presented in our monthly newsletter, PARADE, supplemented by use of Email reminders regarding meetings and reservations.
• Recruiting efforts continued to be successful. Thus far in '03 we added 23 new members to counter declining membership occasioned by the aging of our membership. Recruiting Innovations included: 1) publication of a tailored "LSOC/MOAA" recruiting pamphlet; 2) manning a LSOC Booth at the NAS/JRB Ft. Worth Retiree Day (no definitive feedback from latter because it was conducted less than a week ago); 3) publication of articles emphasizing the all-inclusive "New MOAA" and advertising LSOC in NAS/JRB Fort Worth newsletters/papers; and, 4) most importantly, active recruiting by individual members of ex-military neighbors/friends and fellow members of other "military oriented" organizations. We have found MOAA mass mailings to be expensive and of limited use in our recruiting.
• LSOC made a $1000.00 scholarship donation to MOAA to commemorate MOAA's 75th Anniversary. The donation concludes our 2002 Scholarship program. Program included award of two $1000.00 scholarships to outstanding high school JROTC graduates and presentation of 19 MOAA/LSOC awards, by eight LSOC members, to outstanding area ROTC and JROTC cadets from three local colleges and 16 high schools. The new General Donal L Turkal Scholarship was established and funded this year in honor of our late member Maj. Gen. Donal L. Turkal.
• The membership elected Lt. Col. Jim Nerger, President; CWO Wallace Posey, 1st Vice President; Maj. Betty Hunter, 2nd Vice President; Cdr. John Whitsell, Secretary; and Lt. Col. "01 Reliable" Jim Boyd, Treasurer to provide 2004 LSOC leadership. Our nominating committee did outstanding work in forming the basis for a successful LSOC 2004. Nominations were not a "last minute" panic... preparation/recruiting was begun in June. The 2004 Officers will be installed at our December Chapter Meeting.
• Planning continues for our annual/formal Christmas Dinner/Dance. What is shaping up to be one of our most outstanding Christmas functions will be held at the Desert Storm Conference Center (NAS/JRB Fort Worth). Buzz Murphy and his "Band of Renown" is booked and in accordance with membership desires, beef round with all the trimmings will be on the menu. Cost is $12.00 per member/wife/date. Guests pay $20.00. Guaranteed to be one of Chapter's best Xmas parties. We expect a full house.
North Coastal Bend Chapter (TX–32), John Gerhart reporting: John’s chapter represents the newest chapter in Texas. Last meeting was October 23, 2003. Will not have a Christmas Party because that is not a draw at this time of the year in Rockport / Fulton. Do have a meeting scheduled for 21 January 2004. Currently a small chapter but does have an extensive potential membership inventory to draw from. Large geographic area to draw from. Going to target the Naval Base at Ingleside. Most mine-sweepers are home-based at Ingleside.
Edward L. Marvin
TCC Secretary
Gov Exec November 21, 2003
Rumsfeld ready to restructure Defense workforce By Chris Strohm : cstrohm@govexec.com.
New personnel rules about to be developed and implemented at the Pentagon will give managers the flexibility to reorganize their offices and will help reduce the stress on uniformed and civilian forces, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Friday.
During a town hall-style meeting with civilian and military personnel, Rumsfeld lauded new personnel legislation approved by Congress earlier this month. The legislation gives Rumsfeld the authority to throw out the General Schedule classification system and replace it with a new pay-for-performance system. The legislation allows Defense managers to hire highly skilled workers more quickly, promote top employees, and fire poor ones. Defense officials will also be able to rewrite the rules governing collective bargaining with labor unions and establish a new internal appeals system for employees to protest disciplinary decisions. More than 700,000 employees will be affected by the changes once they become law. At the meeting, a civilian worker recently transferred to the Pentagon because of a Navy reduction-in-force criticized Defense efforts to downsize and put civilian jobs up for ompetition with private firms. With such a higher tempo, why are we continuing to commercialize or have commercial activity studies, when I've seen studies that we're not actually saving that great amount of money?" she asked. "Why are we downsizing and RIFing many of the civilians? Rumsfeld said he was unaware of any large-scale civilian RIF's. "I don't believe we are downsizing or RIFing so many civilians," Rumsfeld said. "I'm just not aware of it. Sorry." According to Rumsfeld, as many as 300,000 jobs, currently performed by uniformed military personnel could be performed by civilians or contractors. New personnel rules will allow managers to reorganize their offices as needed. "There are things that it makes sense for civilian employees to do; there are things that it makes sense for contractors to do; and there are things that it makes sense for people in uniform to do," Rumsfeld said. "Managers are much more likely to reach for the right solution now that this flexibility is going to be available to us and will be rolled in and implemented over the coming year."
Gen. Richard Meyers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, praised Defense personnel. "You might spend the day manning the operations centers, chairing discussions, drafting plans for the future, providing administration and personnel support, or doing research and analysis, or the myriad of other things that we're involved in around here," Meyers said. "You don't make CNN or the Washington Post, or at least not very often, and probably not on purpose. But what you do is incredibly important."
When asked whether the Pentagon might change its policy on promotions and forced retirements of military personnel, Rumsfeld said he believed Defense needs flexible rules that encourage people to remain in positions longer than they currently do. According to Rumsfeld, service members average 18 months in a post before they are transferred or promoted. "It's not that everybody ought to necessarily serve a longer period in a given post, and it's not that everyone would necessarily want to stay in the service longer," he said. "But it seems to me that we ought to have a sufficiently flexible set of personnel rules so that people can, if they would like to and if it's appropriate, stay somewhat longer in their tenure."
Pentagon officials are also trying to determine if the size of the military should be increased, and will rebalance forces by moving some National Guard and Reserve capabilities into active duty and shifting some active-duty capabilities to the Guard and Reserve.
Lt.Cmdr Gil Rodriguez attended the ground breaking ceremony for the new State Veteran's Home in McAllen TX.
The Rio Grande Valley Chapter attendees were:
Herb Ames (past president) and his wife Margaret and Alice Karr (Secy, Treas).
Alice and Gil met Commissioner Jerry Patterson, and introduced themselves as representatives of the RGV Chapter and the Texas Council of Chapters of MOAA.
Office of Communications * Mark Dallas Loeffler, Director
1700 N. Congress Ave , Austin, Tx, 78701-1495 * 512-463-5339 * Fax: 512-475-1415
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Jim Sydam |
| (512) 463-5339 | |
| (512) 205-7991 pg |
Patterson and local officials break ground on newest home.
McAllen--- Amid a cheering crowd of local veterans and Valley residents, Jerry Patterson, Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office, was joined by McAllen Mayor Leo Montalvo and other local elected officials, to break ground on the long awaited Texas State Veterans Home at McAllen.
McAllen was one of two sites selected in January for new Texas State Veterans Homes by Patterson and the Texas Veterans Land Board. It was clear when McAllen submitted the proposal that the entire community was in support of bringing a home to serve the veterans of this proud city.
"With so many veterans living in the valley, we couldn't think of a better place to build a home designed expressly for them," Patterson said. " During my time as a state senator, I authored the legislation that created the Texas State Veterans Homes program, so I am committed to seeing these facilities be the best they can be. For veterans in Texas, we intend to provide the best care anywhere."
In September 2002, the city of McAllen proposed a 12- acre tract located at Yuma Avenue and South Cynthia Street as the site for a Texas State Veterans Home. In January 2003, the Texas Veterans Land Board chose the McAllen site as the location for the future Texas State Veterans Home. It was one of only two sites selected out of proposals from around the state.
This is one of the first two homes to be constructed during Patterson's term as commissioner of the Texas General Land Office, and Chairman of the Texas Veterans Land Board.
The day after I was sworn into office, we selected McAllen for a home. It was my first order of business," he said. "What made it possible was the overwhelming support of the community for a Texas State Veterans Home. The Entire community got behind the project 100 percent. They deserve the real thanks."
The Texas State Veterans Home at McAllen will help the Texas Veterans Land Board serve the more than 500,000 Texas veterans over age 65 who will be able to take advantage of the many amenities the home will provide.
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I would like to make a small request from our readers.
If any one has items of interest for our readers please take a few minutes and transmit it to me via E-mail at JJLU4923@sbcglobal.net. Also, Take pictures at your Clubs activities and send them to me for publication.
Also, let us not forget that Chapter Dues come due in Jan 1, 2004.
The next Texas Council of Chapters meeting will be held in Waco, Texas. More information will be forthcoming. Please check the upcoming events page on this website for the latest details.
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