CHAPTER QUARTERLY REPORT
April 1, 2023– June 30, 2023
June 28, 2023
- LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY:
National, State, and Local Issues
Our chapter members are made aware of legislative issues through our chapter website, email notifications, and the Chapter Newsletter, including a legislative update. Our area representatives are listed on that page with a hyperlink to the legislator’s website containing their email addresses. As part of our agenda at our general membership meeting, we provide a Legislative Moment, including guidance on local and national areas of emphasis and directions on using the Advocacy tab on MOAA.org. The Chapter website is being upgraded and will include links to make contacting State and Federal legislators easier.
- MEMBERSHIP UPDATES:
As of April 5, 2023 –
Membership:
92 Members.
We have 2 Honorary and 2 Friends not reported to National.
Membership breakdown
79 Military Members
13 Surviving Spouse members
100% of the 92 are National Members!
3. RECRUITING:
OWRC continues to actively recruit new members. Recruitment is generally by word of mouth and invitation to monthly meetings. Prospective new member names received from MOAA, which are new to the area, are contacted by our Membership Chair, LTC Ronald Smetana, via phone or email with invitations to attend a Membership meeting. We also send a complimentary newsletter with a follow-up phone call/email. Newsletters are sent to ROTC units and JROTC high schools to recruit leadership officers to become active members in MOAA/OWRC.
- Analysis:
Our numbers have declined due to members moving out of state/out of the area, and unfortunately, one death occurred last year. All departing members were contacted by email and/or telephone before being dropped from our rolls. We have chapter meetings in person, which has helped rekindle interest and increased attendance at socials/meetings.
- The goal in 2023 is to maintain and grow our membership. The Chapter has a long-standing “Wednesday 1130 Luncheon” to encourage spouses, guests, and Chapter members to attend and to continue to strengthen our membership bonds. So far this year, we have developed two prospects who want to become members. Both were military retirees new to the area and had voiced strong interest in joining the Chapter. The Chapter thanks Col. Dick Calta/USAF for coordinating these luncheons and encouraging members, spouses, and guests to attend.
- So far, in 2023, we have one new member and two prospects.
- We continue to send the OWRC newsletter, “Briefing Board,” to surviving spouses and members with no computer access and/or limited technology abilities to ensure those members remain connected.
4. ACTIVITIES (CURRENT AND COMING) QUARTERS:
Media Outreach:
Major William Maki, our 2nd Vice President, is submitting OWRC chapter news articles to the local media for publishing. He is assisting our Secretary, LTC John Anderson.
The Chapter Newsletter editor, Janet Oglesby, has retired as editor. The Chapter is actively trying to recruit a new editor. In the interim, the president and one or two other staff members will publish a newsletter. Additional “hot topic “articles from MOAA and the local Akron area for veterans and active-duty military personnel are included. All members look to the newsletter for updated military news for the “Briefing Board.”
The OWRC Chapter will continue to email the “Briefing Board” newsletter to members and potential new members as a drawing card to join the Chapter. A copy is also given to our guest speakers after the speaker’s presentation. The Chapter newsletter has retired from that position, and LTC Andy Emanuele is assuming the webmaster’s responsibilities. He is working with Dave Riegler to move the website from Joomla to WordPress web management software. The software change will make the new site more responsive, easier to publish, and more secure. The new website should premier in July.
LTC John Anderson is the MOAA Legislative Affairs writer and chapter secretary; Col Dick Calta contributes to the personal affairs column. Mrs. Janet Oglesby contributes a Surviving Spouse Column. Major William Maki, our new 2nd Vice President, is submitting chapter news articles to the local media for publishing. CPT Don Bratton has resigned as our liaison between the Chapter and college ROTC units and JROTC units. We have not yet identified someone to act as a Chapter liaison officer for local universities and high schools. Don did an excellent job as a liaison over the past years. He managed this year’s ROTC/JrROTC Recognition Dinner on April 20, 2023. It was very well attended by ROTC and JrROTC cadre, cadets, and OWRC members. We have not yet selected someone to fill that position.
LTC Ron Smetana is our OWRC roster keeper and roster data chair.
OWRC conducted an extensive review and update of chapter bylaws during Fall 2022. The final product was reviewed and approved by the Executive Board. It was presented to the Chapter’s general membership and accepted. The updated Bylaws are being posted on the new OWRC website.
OWRC continues to hold weekly luncheons at Michael’s AM. These informal meetings have been well attended, with an average attendance of 8 -10 each week. These lunches have also been used as recruiting sessions by inviting prospective members.
GOAL ACCOMPLISHED:
Major William Maki, the 2d Vice President, and John Anderson, the Chapter Secretary, are submitting OWRC chapter news articles to the local media for publishing.
Chapter Bylaws have been updated and accepted by the membership. The updated bylaws will be published on the new Chapter website.
Ongoing Activities:
Executive Board Meetings.
The OWRC Executive Board will meet in person for the 2023 calendar year at the Summit County Veterans Service Center (VSC) in Akron. We are scheduled to meet on the 3rd Tuesday in January, April, July, and October. We will have all board members present physically or via phone.
General Membership Meetings.
Thursday, April 20, was our ROTC/JROTC Appreciation and Award Banquet. It was well attended. 74 Chapter members ROTC/JROTC cadets, cadre, and cadet parents.
The May Membership meeting was held on Friday, May 19, at Chloe’s Diner in Massillon, Oh. Chloe’s Diner is a specialty destination with excellent food and a nice collection of vintage cars and motor memorabilia. After the meeting, we walked across the street to visit the Massillon Museum. We spent an enjoyable afternoon viewing the displays. We had a good turnout.
The June Membership Meeting was held at Michaels’s AM Restaurant with one of our Wednesday lunches. Our guest speaker was Jesse Getz, the Director of the Ohio Western Reserve Cemetery. He had a very interesting presentation and answered many questions about eligibility and Pre-Need registration. The schedule for the remainder of the year was discussed, and plans for future meetings were made.
Further 2023 meetings are planned for July 22 (Summer Picnic tentatively), August 20 (Annual Steak, Chicken, and Corn Roast), October for Chapter officer nominations, November for Officer elections, and December 1 (Christmas Party and installation of officers). We also discussed the importance of as many members as possible attending the State Ohio Council of Chapters biennial convention on September 29th and 30th and October 1 at the Youngstown Ire Reserve Station.
- SUPPORT TO MOAA NATIONAL PROGRAMS/ Additional Chapter Activities:
The Chapter participates in several local programs, including Warriors Journey Home (WJH) of Northeast Ohio, Summit County Stand Down, and MOAA Advocacy in Action.
6. CONCERNS for COUNCIL ATTENTION: NONE
7. OTHER RELEVANT COMMENT: The Chapter leadership understands the importance of having a regularly scheduled Chapter newsletter and is actively working to recruit a newsletter editor.
8. OTHER: None
Respectfully Submitted,
Andrew R Emanuele
LTC, USA (ret)
OWRC President