Chapter President Comments

MEMORANDUM:

From: President, Kings Bay Chapter, Military Officers Association of America (KBMOAA)

To: Members and Friends of KBMOAA

Subject: Annual Update and “Heading” of our KBMOAA Chapter

The purpose of this memo is to: refresh our membership on our national MOAA and Georgia MOAA Council directional markers; update our membership and friends of KBMOAA about our chapter standing and service activities; and, to define our course and bearing for the next several months.

  1. MOAA & GAMOAA baseline: Our MOAA Mission Statement is “To advocate for our military community and connect it to the nation we serve.” The complementing MOAA Vision Statement is “To promote and protect a strong national defense and lead our nation to honor its commitments to all who serve.”

Our MOAA-wide commitment is to “Never stop serving” our entire military community through positive, professional, clearly articulated, and well-founded advocacy at the federal, state and community levels. For a detailed reference on our organization wide role as an influencer of relevant military issues in the current budgetary-constrained environment, I refer all to the MOAA “STRATEGIC FIVE-YEAR PLAN (2016-2020)” that is easily accessed on the national website………..

 

  1. Our KBMOAA Chapter membership currently stands at 61 (62?) full dues paying members as of June 30th, 2017. Our treasury balance stands at approximately $X,XXX. And, our service contributions to our local Kings Bay and First Coast military community continue to make significant positive impacts.
    1. The KBMOAA partnership with the College of Coastal Georgia is support of veterans who are current students is making a positive difference. Our continuing support to the operation and expansion of the Camden campus Veterans lounge, scholarships to veterans who are students, and our recognition of veterans who are student leaders, have enhanced the educational environment for veterans. This support has been an integral factor in CCGA being recognized as a top “Military Friendly” institution of higher learning – not only in Georgia, but nationally.
    2. Our financial support to the Camden County NJROTC program continues to underwrite scholarships to defray the costs of off-campus leadership training for developing cadet leaders. This worthy program allows us to “continue to serve” well into the future!
    3. We continue our financial support for “K9s for Warriors.” Locally based in northeast Florida, K9s is close to graduating its 350th Warrior-service dog team, supporting empowered return of our wounded warriors to civilian life with dignity and independence. In the process, K9s has rescued nearly 650 dogs. This is another way for us to “continue to serve” our veterans community.
    4. Additionally, KBMOAA provides financial and participatory support for several other military and veterans organizations. We continue our active participation with the Camden County Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee and The Camden Partnership (TCP). In June of this year, our leadership became fully involved in supporting the endeavors of the Georgia House of Representatives Military Affairs Study Committee – an action group focused on strengthening support to Georgia military, veterans, families and community support for our nine Georgia military installations, including Kings Bay.
    5. Worth mentioning… Our KBMOAA Chapter has continually been recognized among the best of the best, winning National MOAA four-star Level of Excellence awards every year. Honestly, I am not one who touts about awards personally; so, I note this only as a benchmark in testimony that our KBMOAA Chapter provides a quality venue to enhance your desire to continue to serve…

 

  1. KBMOAA Moving Forward. For the remainder of 2017 and into 2018, our Board of Directors is fully committed to continuing and building upon the above mentioned activities that allow us to (as I say it..) “Never stop serving…”.
    1. In addition to cordial, informal social fellowship and great food at our monthly meetings, we will continue to provide a mix of educational and informative programs at each meeting. We strive to alternate program topics between military mission and issues, and relevant community issues and awareness.
    2. Our fall 2017 program series will jump-start with updates on key legislative issues impacting our military community. Two back-to-back educational sessions will bring us all current on vital legislative actions of direct impact to us and our military. On September 19th, GA Representative Jason Spencer will provide a detailed update on Georgia House legislative actions in support of our Georgia veterans, current service members, and families. (Rep Spencer is a member of the above mentioned GA Military Study Group). He will also provide updates on other current legislation of interest to Camden residents. On October 17th , in addition to our auction fund-raiser (see below), we will get an update for National MOAA on legislative issues directly impacting our national defense and military support, including real-time scoop on budgetary actions affecting military/veterans benefits and earned entitlements.
    3. In similar fashion to our 2016 flag raffle fund-raiser, past president Tom Hayden is chairing our 2017 fund raising event – an auction of quality military and sports memorabilia. This will be in conjunction with our October monthly meeting. Standby for more details on this wonderful opportunity to pick up that special memorabilia item from a nationally-recognized memorabilia provider…
    4. Our November Program is Gary Ingram, Cumberland Island Ranger and future programs include Dec 2017 we hope to have the Commander of Sub-Group 10. Our Jan 2018 program will be of special interest to all of us (regardless of our specific heritage of our seven uniformed services!) will be presented by Dave Lovett’s son-in-law, author Hans Offringer, who will thrill us with his January presentation on “Raising the Kursk” submarine and the salvage of the century.

 

  1. KBMOAA monthly meetings* are held on the third Tuesday of each month at the Osprey Cove Clubhouse.  Informal social/cocktail hour commences at 1730 with dinner at 1830, followed by our program. Meeting notices are posted in the local Tribune and Georgian newspaper under “upcoming events,” and monthly meeting announcements are emailed by the KBMOAA Secretary who may be contacted at email: kbmoaasec@gmail.com . (*note – November & December meetings are conducted on the 2nd Tuesday to avoid conflicts with busy holiday schedules…. i.e. Nov 14th and Dec 12th for 2017).

 

  1. A final note: MOAA, GAMOAA and our Kings Bay Chapter exist to serve our military community and to advocate for a strong national defense. These are trying times for our “latest generation” of service members, just as they have been for many of us – a few of whom trace back to the “greatest generation.” Please take time regularly to lift up in prayer our currently serving warriors and their families. These men and women – our sons, daughters, grandkids, and other family members and friends, are engaged in new types of unconventional warfare under difficult conditions with unparalleled operational tempos. Praying them up with “Full Armor of God”  coverage from Ephesians, or the servicemembers “Prayer of  Protection” (psalm 91) are just two of many prayer vehicles to employ.

On behalf of your KBMOAA Board of Directors, Thank you for “continuing to serve” with our KBMOAA Team and Godspeed…

 

Len Scullion

Len Scullion, Captain U. S. Navy (Ret)

President, Kings Bay Chapter, MOAA

 

Please feel free to contact me about your interest in KBMOAA, your constructive suggestions and ideas, desire to become more involved, potential members, concerns, or other matters related to enhancing our KBMOAA Team service to our military community. Email = scullion@tds.net and cell phone = (912)674-7523