Newsletter: January 2011
President's Message
by Rod Williams
As I celebrated the end of 2010 at a gathering with family and friends, I looked back and saw many happy times and events to inspire hope in the New Year. Our Columbia River Chapter can equally look forward with optimism. The realist in me also sees the challenges we face as individuals and families, citizens and veterans. In this newsletter I would like to focus attention on two challenges facing us in 2011.
First, only if we bury our head in sand like an ostrich, can we avoid the challenge that an austere Federal budget will have on the lives and families of those currently serving, those fully retired who rely on past commitments in their retirement and also those who are in second careers with retirement plans based on past commitments. The news coming out of the Department of Defense on how they plan to achieve budget cut targets include dramatic changes. Some have described the DoD situation as similar to that of General Motors as it was seeking "bail out" dollars. GM was heavily burdened by the high cost of its retired workforce. I remember one talking head on a cable news show blaming greedy unions who negotiated Cadillac level salaries, pensions and health plans. Now, based on the recommendations from President Obama's bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, we can read and hear similar comparisons to the military retirement and health care costs.
The majority of Americans can accept that the only way to balance the national and state budgets is to reduce what is being spent. When faced with such decisions in a family or business where bail outs and raising the debt ceiling are not options, we look at the impacts and risks to be incurred by each possible cut before making the tough call. The DoD has to submit a budget plan for Congressional approval that does much the same.
As members of MOAA, we can be assured our National team will be in touch with those who have influence in both the DoD and Congressional budget processes. It is unlikely that we can change the way DoD is interpreting the impacts and risks to families and retirees, but we can influence our Congressional representatives who have to approve the budge to look at these issues with open eyes and minds. Expecting that there will not be change is unrealistic. Expecting past commitments to be honored and fairness in the outcomes is reasonable and achievable only if our voice is heard. Keeping up with the legislative action alerts from MOAA and our chapter legislative team is a very important role for each of us. Getting your message to your representatives is the critical action step. In this newsletter and on the MOAA Website you will find all the contact information you need. If not, contact any Board member for help.
The second challenge I want to address involves the vitality of our chapter. We have seen a marginal drop in attendance at some of our events. Your Chapter Board puts a lot of effort in planning our meetings. We seek your input in our annual survey so that we can continue to offer programs that are meaningful and you want to come to. The second part of chapter vitality is renewal, meaning recruiting new members and volunteers for Chapter Board and committee positions. Most of our new recruits come from member contacts in everyday situations. If you meet a potential recruit, talk to them about the chapter and what you like about it. Get contact information and pass it along to our membership chair, Dave Casteel, or any Board member. If you have been a past Board officer and now feel you have the time and energy to re-engage in such a role just let us know. Or maybe based on your experience, you know another member who would make a great Board or committee member. Talk it up with them and let us know.
Each of us needs to speak up with clear voice and be heard on the issues and be an active participant and recruiter for us to meet the challenges of 2011.