MOAA Texan
May 2004

From The President

As many of you know, the El Paso chapter was judged to be a 5 Star chapter by the MOAA national organization last year. From their performance in orchestrating the 2nd Quarter 2004 TCC meeting they certainly convinced all attending why they are a 5 Star chapter. Led by the leadership of Chapter President Dexter Lyerly, the chapter's immediate Past President Ed Ney and their cadre of outstanding volunteers they organized what arguably has been called the best TCC meeting in recent history. For their hard work, I offer my sincere thanks and appreciation. I hasten to add that we were honored to have, as our guest, during the weekend, Admiral Jerry Johnson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of MOAA. His very presence and his leadership and the information he provided relative to the future direction of MOAA were exciting and inspiring to those attending.

Admiral Johnson talked about the effort that is going into involving the active duty force more directly in the workings of the organization. He opined that the very important auxiliary members to the organization would be worked into a more active role as the organization goes down the trail. He also opined that the organization would continue to work diligently to get legislation passed that would eliminate the SBP widows tax. This, as each of you knows, is an ongoing effort. Request that each one of you to communicate with your congressman or our senators or both, and explain how unfair the current program is - especially compared to other like programs at the national level. The inequity must be corrected in law. What is fair of other survivor benefit plans in our federal scheme of things we should have just as fair a program for spouses of veteran retirees. Grass roots help is terribly important in making this happen. Admiral Johnson also talked about the important work we need to do to lobby and legislate fairness in the utilization of our guard and reserve forces. This is essential to make sure we continue to have a strong standing military to protect the best interests of our country.

Once again, it was a distinct pleasure to get to know Admiral Johnson on a more personal basis but more importantly to know that the Chairman of the Board of MOAA is extremely capable and represents our organization very well in whatever venue that he operates.

I would like to thank each chapter that attended the council meeting. Please know that my mission during the two- year tenure will be to build on the importance of chapter affairs and the importance of chapter and council work in the overall scheme of things. In my view there can be no greater part of the organization than each of you hard working people giving a little bit of yourself everyday to make our organization better at the grass roots level. That, in my view, is where the "rubber meets the road". For your strong and dedicated efforts you have my sincere thanks and I do know you have the great admiration and respect from our national MOAA organization as well.

Please let me express appreciation from all of us to Jim Lucas, our esteemed "MOAA Texan" newsletter editor. The Council newsletter, "MOAA Texan" won the electronic newsletter award category. The newsletter was also first runner up in the print newsletter category. Nice work, Jim. Congrats also to Bill Manno, our extremely capable web-master. His outstanding effort was awarded 1st Runner Up in the web-site category. Great work Bill. Request each reader "log in" and stay up to date with TCC news at the chapter level. Please pass congratulations on to the aforementioned El Paso chapter and the North DFW Texas MOAA chapter for winning "Communications Awards" at the national level.

It is with regret that I announce that 1st VP Borah Van Dormolen has respectfully resigned from her position as the chief of our legislative side the house. 1st VP Van Dormolen is an extremely capable person and we will miss her involvement mightily. She has agreed to continue to consult with us and help us as we go down the road. Please advise me if you have an interest in serving as 2nd Vice President of the Council. I do want to fill the position quickly.

Along those lines we all know that the next regular session of the Texas legislature will convene in February 2005. Please think real hard of some areas of legislation we might be able to initiate for consideration during the next legislative session. Please be advised that we will be scheduling a quarterly meeting in February 2005 in Austin, Texas. The express purpose will be to be more involved in the legislative process going on in our great state - especially intent on improving the status of our veterans.

Speaking of upcoming meetings, our next meeting will be hosted on 20-21 August, 2004 in Abilene by the Abilene Chapter. Abilene has been a very active participant in Council Affairs over the years, thanks in large part to their representative Dave Wilson and his wife Gail. Please know that the chapter is already deeply involved in preparing and planning a good meeting for the Texas Council on those dates. Please mark it on your calendar and do all possible to attend. As each reader knows, the strength of the organization is only as strong as each and every participant. We certainly need the participation of all to continue to be considered factually to be one of the best state councils in our great United States of America.

Our fourth quarter meeting is going to be in Commerce Texas (5-6 Nov, 2004). It will be hosted by the North East Texas chapter capably presided over by Chapter President John F. Biggerstaff who has just done an outstanding job in moving that chapter forward. Once again his leadership is very evident out there and the results are very satisfying to him and I know very satisfying to the Texas Council and to the National MOAA. I mentioned the February meeting in 2005. We are trying to arrange our second quarter meeting in Dallas Texas area. The third quarter meeting, we're hopeful to have it hosted by the North Coastal Bend chapter or by the Brazos Valley chapter. We are in negotiations for one of those locations. San Antonio chapter will host the fourth quarter 2005 TCC meeting and it will be held in conjunction with the national MOAA Annual meeting to be held in San Antonio.

As I conclude this report I thank each and every one of you for continuing to serve. God bless each one of you and God Bless America.

Edward L. Marvin,
President

Texas Council of Chapters 2nd Quarterly
Meeting at El Paso Texas

The meeting was held in the Museum on Ft. Bliss on Saturday Morning, April 17 attended by The Chairman of MOAA, Admiral Jerry Johnson. Delegates from the Chapters present gave reports of the existing conditions and or problems confronting their particular chapters. Primary Concern was the dwindling membership. Suggestions were made such as advertising in the Base Paper to attract younger members and to make them welcome once they joined. When the General meeting was over members adjourned to the Museum Auditorium where the Director, Colonel Peter Poessiger gave a very informative narrative on the Museum history.

Below are some pictures taken at the meeting.

Following the Business Meeting at the Museum, we had a Joint Organization Luncheon with a presentation of colors and a Proclamation by the Mayor of El Paso, Joe Wardy.

Karen S. Rankin, Brig Gen, USAF (Ret),
Named New TVC Commissioner

Karen S. Rankin, Brig Gen, USAF (Ret), Named New TVC Commissioner Governor Rick Perry appointed Karen Rankin, Brig Gen, USAF(Ret), of San Antonio, Texas as the newest member of the Texas Veterans Commission for a term that expires on December 31, 2009. Brigadier General Karen Rankin, served as executive assistant to the Secretary of the Aif Force, as Commander of the 3700th Technical Training Wing, Sheppard APB, TX; as Commander of the 81st Training Wing at Keesler AFB, MS; and most recently as Director of Plans and Programs at HQ Air Education and Training Command at Randolph AFB, TX. She retired in 1998. Rankin has a masters degree in personnel management is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, the Executive Development Course of the University of New Hampshire and the CAPSTON Executive Development Program, National Defense University. After retirement, she served as Director of Planning, Defense Systems Group AAI Corp, Hunt Valley, MD. Subsequently, she was with Johnson Controls, Inc. as Director of Air Force Programs focused on business development. Karen currently serves as senior associate with Keystone International, consulting in strategic planning, leadership studies and development of orgainzational value structures. Rankin is also active in various community and national organizations. She chairs the San Antonio Veterans Affairs Commission, and is on the Board of Directors for the USO Council in San Antonio and Fisher House, Inc. She also chairs the Military Affairs Committee for the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and the Diploma Plus Administration Committee for the Downtown Rotary of San Antonio. Karen serves on the San Antonio Military Missions Task Force. Karen is the immediate past President of the Alamo Chapter of the Air Force Association (AFA) and is Chair Emeritus of the AFA San Antonio Birthday Ball. She is also on the National Board of Directors of the Military Officers Association of America, Vetjobs.com and is immediate past National President of the Air Force Women Officers Association. (AFWOA) Rankin is married to retired Colonel Bill Rankin, USAF. They have two sons: David, a junior at Trinity University an Samuel, a freshman at the US Air Force Academy. We congratulate Commissioner Rankin on her appointment and look forward to working with her in ensuring that Texas veterans and their families receive the benefits they have earned.

The above article was copied from the Texas Veterans Commission Journal

Upcoming events

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A Note From Your Editor

I would like to make a small request from our readers.

Please don't be shy about sending material for insertion in the news letter. Send anything you have to me at JJLU4923@sbcglobal.net , pictures or articles.

A Note From MOAA National

1. Widows can get a new MOAA member number, ( totally different from their husbands) All one needs to do is phone # 1-800-247-2192 and make the request. It goes into the computer at that time and is told to the widow right then.
2. About the free 1 year memberships in MOAA national--- A lot of chapters were using them wrong and national will not print any more for several months. The reason is: They are not to be handed out to PERSPECTIVE members, but are to be given to the person AFTER he pays his Chapter Dues. Too many were given out without helping individual chapters. You can phone Victoria Twyne at 1-800-245- 8762 x120 to get confirmation.

Sayings From Will Rogers