Our chapter holds periodic luncheons featuring civic, political, military or business leaders, plus social activities.  We publish a newsletter six times a year to inform our members of chapter events and legislative and local military issues.

The legislative issues are ones that defend veterans earned benefits and support key national defense by actively contacting and letter writing our federal and state senators and representatives. 

We also sponsor local recognition programs for ROTC and JROTC Units.  Organizations we support are the Armed Forces and Armed Forces & Aerospace Museum, MOAA Scholarship Program, Shriners Children’s Hospital, Fisher House and the Veterans Retirement Home.

Membership is open to those who hold or have ever held a warrant or commission in any component of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Public Health Service, and their surviving spouse.  To join our chapter you must already be a member of Military Officers Association of America or joining national at the same time you are joining our chapter.

MOAA DEPLOYS TO SAN DIEGO 23-24 October, 2009

At the MOAA Annual Meeting held in Coronado California on October 24, 2009, our incoming President, Ralph Shrigley received our FOURTH (4TH) FIVE STAR RIBBON for excellence as a MOAA chapter. 

Spokane Chapter Board members Beth Ann Daigre, Merl Gorton and Ralph Shrigley attended the MOAA Annual Meeting in San Diego, which combined the annual meeting of the MOAA Board with symposiums and recognition of outstanding chapters.

The “Military Professional Symposium” featured comments by GEN Craig McKinley, USAF, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, who emphasized the impact of an era of ongoing conflict on our all-volunteer force. When the all-volunteer force was conceived decision makers did not consider that we might find ourselves eight years into sustained conflicts, while facing the possibility that it might continue for another 10-15 years. GEN James T. Conway, Commandant, USMC, also spoke to the assembled chapter leaders about the status of the Marine Corps. Morale continues to be very high and retention rates sustained at high levels. While the marines face problems associated with the stress of continued deployments such as suicide, divorce and alcoholism rising somewhat, several speakers noted that the USMC has done a better job than the other services of taking care of families and returning marines and wounded. Events included a symposium of military spouses, “Leading on the Home Front: the Evolving Role of Spouses in Today’s Military.” It was distressing to learn of the shortfalls in the care some of the services have been providing to our service men and women and their families, but at the same time inspiring to learn of the various efforts – many lead and manned by spouses – trying to fill the gap. The root cause of many of the shortfalls was attributed to the lack planning to include care of families and returnees, no doubt aggravated by unforeseen long period of repetitive deployments.

Virtually all of the speakers and participants gave MOAA high praise for its lobbying efforts on behalf of the nation’s defense, and support of current and former soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen. Truly the only weapons system to never fail the US is its service men and women. MOAA must stay strong and active in its purpose. The highlight of the event was accepting the fourth consecutive Five Star Chapter Award for the Spokane Chapter from VADM Norbert Ryan, MOAA President.