An Auxiliary member is the surviving spouse of a deceased officer from any of the following United States services:

Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Public Health Service, National Guard, Reserve

The deceased officer need not have been a member of MOAA, but only eligible to have been a member. The surviving spouse may join even if the deceased spouse was not a member.

The chapter helps auxiliary members stay up to date on benefits, along with still "belonging to the military." An auxiliary member who is under the age of 65 and enrolled in Tricare may purchase supplemental health insurance at a very reasonable cost through MOAA's Mediplus insurance plan. There are also cash-back credit cards and discounts for other services, such as will writing, travel, cruises, and financial planning.

Auxiliary members must maintain membership in the Military Officers Association of America, Inc., Alexandria, VA. If the deceased spouse was a Life member of MOAA national that membership transfers to the surviving spouse and the auxiliary member is not required to pay any more dues at the national level.

Auxiliary Chapter Membership Dues: $9.00 per year or $25.00 for three years
Spokane Chapter Auxiliary Liaison to the National Auxiliary

Beth Ann Daigre
509-921-9581 home   509-220-6508 cell
bethanndaigre@comcast.net

January 5, 2010 The Wives and Widows met for lunch at the Max Restaurant at the Mirabeau Park Hotel in the Spokane Valley. Two more ladies joined and we are hoping they will continue to gather with us for lots of laughter and good companionship. About half of us continued on to the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum, which was very interesting. Both places are worth return trips.

December 1, 2009 we met in the beautiful Peacock Room of the Davenport Hotel in Spokane.  Along with making new friends we wrote notes in Christmas cards for our American Heroes serving in harm’s way.  The cards will be sent with the goodies collected at the general membership meeting Sunday December 6th.  Attendance gets better each time we meet.  We had 19 members and 5 guests.  Twenty four is the largest turn out in our first full year.

On Tuesday, November 3, 2009 the Widows and Wives Club had a wonderful lunch at Twigs north with lots of talking and laughing.  Then some of the ladies headed to Wonderland Family Fun Center for miniature golf.  Elaine Anderson had the best score and took home the prize, a MOAA Travel notebook.

Shirley Melges setting up from the tee off spot	Elaine Anderson had to putt with her foot	Diane Gorton having to putt backwards

Auxiliary membership is the way we have of keeping the surviving spouses in the military family.  They pay dues to National MOAA and they pay dues to the Chapter because the regular MOAA member is deceased.  BUT the auxiliary in our chapter is made up of the spouses and the surviving spouses. 

The luncheons have been set for the first Tuesday of every month starting in January 2010.  They will start at 1:00PM to miss the business lunch rush and last until 3:00 PM to get us back on the road before the 3:30 rush hour traffic starts.

The Widows & Wives Club is open to all Auxiliary Members and Regular Member Spouses.  For 2009 we asked a $5 annual donation to our club fund.  The donations/dues for 2010 is $10.00