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Resources
Council and chapter information center
Resources
Resources
MOAA For further MOAA National Council and Chapter resources, click here:
MOAA Council and Chapter Resources
VCOC Surviving Spouse Corner
In order to assist our members in their time of need, be it for a surviving spouse or family, or some other emergency, click below links:
Survivor SBP Newsletter
December 2025 MOAA SSVC Newsletter
Survivor Connection Newsletter
MOAA resources compiled DEC 2025 By Sherry Ferki, VCOC Surviving Spouse Liaison
Surviving Spouse Corner: 25 April Resources for Caregivers
3 June Support is Needed for SS legislation
Surviving Spouse Corner: Questions About USAA Subscriber's Accounts Aug 1, 2025
Checklist titled Survivor Documents for Survivors updated last 16 Jan 2025
Surviving Spouse Corner: Protect Your Health and Wealth 1 October 2025
Surviving Spouse Corner: Making a VA Benefits Compensation Claim 2 Dec 2025
Any further questions, contact VCOC Surviving Spouse Committee Chair MAJ Sherry Ferki USA (Ret), email address: navmedarmynurse@gmail.com
Legal Corner
COL Vince Cammarata, USA (Ret)
VCOC Legal Counsel
A question that regularly comes up is; “What structure is the Virginia Council of Chapters, Military Officers Association of America” (VCOC) and is it the same as the Military Officers Association of America with headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia? Short answer is yes and no! What?
Lets start at the beginning: The Virginia Council of Chapters, The Retired Officers Association, Inc. was initially formed on April 3rd, 1987. According to Virginia State Corporation Commission records, on March 1st, 2003 the Commission approved a requested name change, and issued a formal Articles of Amendment on March 27th, 2003 with the new official name: Virginia Council of Chapters, Military Officers Association of America.
The Virginia Council of Chapters, Military Officers Association of America is an independent, nonstock corporation, licensed to do business in the Commonwealth of Virginia that must have its license renewed annually, and submit an Annual Report of its directors to the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The Virginia Council of Chapters, Military Officers Association of America is governed by its own set of approved By-Laws (voted and approved by the Chapter membership). These By-Laws are very similar to a company's Operating Agreement to shed some perspective. When issues come up from time to time, that are not be specifically spelled out and covered in the Chapter By-Laws, that matter/issue shall be governed under the Virginia Code of Virginia statues; Section 13-1 and its sub-sections. In fact, all Military Officers Association of America Chapters throughout the United States are independent, licensed organizations, each with their own set of operating By-Laws, rules and regulations.
Virginia Council of Chapters, Military Officers Association as a Chapter Organization.
A chapter-based organization is any organization that has branches in multiple areas and shares the same mission. This can include a variety of organizations, from sororities to professional associations to nonprofits, and they can be national, state-wide or regional.
Multichapter nonprofit organizations operate similarly to franchised businesses — which, if you’ve ever been to Dairy Queen or Denny’s, you’ve experienced firsthand. Just like a for-profit business, the parent organization will copyright its name and create a licensing agreement with the chapter, who will then work to carry out its mission, find new members, and other day-to-day operations.
For the most part, chapter organizations are established under the umbrella of the parent organization. They will have their own board, and operate independently, while remaining their own entity. However, depending on the organization, the parent organization will want to have more or less say in the way these Chapter activities are handled. Remember, since the parent organization takes on considerable legal liability for the affiliating Chapters, it's understandable that they would insist on adherence to their standards, mission and overall agendas.
I hope you found this short article informational, and if you have any questions, please contact me directly.
Lets start at the beginning: The Virginia Council of Chapters, The Retired Officers Association, Inc. was initially formed on April 3rd, 1987. According to Virginia State Corporation Commission records, on March 1st, 2003 the Commission approved a requested name change, and issued a formal Articles of Amendment on March 27th, 2003 with the new official name: Virginia Council of Chapters, Military Officers Association of America.
The Virginia Council of Chapters, Military Officers Association of America is an independent, nonstock corporation, licensed to do business in the Commonwealth of Virginia that must have its license renewed annually, and submit an Annual Report of its directors to the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The Virginia Council of Chapters, Military Officers Association of America is governed by its own set of approved By-Laws (voted and approved by the Chapter membership). These By-Laws are very similar to a company's Operating Agreement to shed some perspective. When issues come up from time to time, that are not be specifically spelled out and covered in the Chapter By-Laws, that matter/issue shall be governed under the Virginia Code of Virginia statues; Section 13-1 and its sub-sections. In fact, all Military Officers Association of America Chapters throughout the United States are independent, licensed organizations, each with their own set of operating By-Laws, rules and regulations.
Virginia Council of Chapters, Military Officers Association as a Chapter Organization.
A chapter-based organization is any organization that has branches in multiple areas and shares the same mission. This can include a variety of organizations, from sororities to professional associations to nonprofits, and they can be national, state-wide or regional.
Multichapter nonprofit organizations operate similarly to franchised businesses — which, if you’ve ever been to Dairy Queen or Denny’s, you’ve experienced firsthand. Just like a for-profit business, the parent organization will copyright its name and create a licensing agreement with the chapter, who will then work to carry out its mission, find new members, and other day-to-day operations.
For the most part, chapter organizations are established under the umbrella of the parent organization. They will have their own board, and operate independently, while remaining their own entity. However, depending on the organization, the parent organization will want to have more or less say in the way these Chapter activities are handled. Remember, since the parent organization takes on considerable legal liability for the affiliating Chapters, it's understandable that they would insist on adherence to their standards, mission and overall agendas.
I hope you found this short article informational, and if you have any questions, please contact me directly.
Legal Assistance Silver Star Associates Overwatch Legal
Contact COL Vince Cammarata, USA (Ret) at Silver Star Associates and Overwatch Legal for legal assistance (1-804-338-8975):
- Wills
- Advance Directives
- Notary
- Contracts
- Transactional Law
Silver Star Associates and Overwatch Legal is a registered agent designated to receive or accept legal documents and state notices on behalf of your business during normal business hours.
Services may be performed at your location or remotely, with reduced rates for MOAA members.
Plant the Seed
Chaplain Corner
Chapter Prayer Suggestions
LtCol Kenneth M. Ruppar, USA (Ret)
VCOC Chaplain
Chapter events may include a prayer as part of the schedule. Normally this is an Invocation at the beginning of the event. Some events include a Benediction at the end of the event. Samples of such prayers can be found in prayer books, worship hymnals and the internet. An on-line search for “meeting invocations” or “dinner payers” provides many examples. A good discipline when preparing a prayer is to think about the specifics of the group attending, the event itself, and what is happening in the world around you. Personally, I prefer to write out prayers to help keep me focused. Free-flowing prayers also are effective. What I offer here are a few thoughts on preparing prayers and a sample of several prayers which may be used as they appear or, hopefully, used to stimulate your creativity in writing your own prayer. Click below hotlink to read Chapter Prayer Suggestions. Chapter Prayer Suggestions
Chapter events may include a prayer as part of the schedule. Normally this is an Invocation at the beginning of the event. Some events include a Benediction at the end of the event. Samples of such prayers can be found in prayer books, worship hymnals and the internet. An on-line search for “meeting invocations” or “dinner payers” provides many examples. A good discipline when preparing a prayer is to think about the specifics of the group attending, the event itself, and what is happening in the world around you. Personally, I prefer to write out prayers to help keep me focused. Free-flowing prayers also are effective. What I offer here are a few thoughts on preparing prayers and a sample of several prayers which may be used as they appear or, hopefully, used to stimulate your creativity in writing your own prayer. Click below hotlink to read Chapter Prayer Suggestions. Chapter Prayer Suggestions
LtCol Ken Ruppar, USA (Ret) VCOC Chaplain Volunteer organizations like MOAA face the continual problem of recruitment. We look for new ways to attract potential members. The best method remains: face to face conversation and invitation. Talking with the potential recruit provides opportunity to share the chapter's story as well as the benefits of being part of MOAA locally and nationally. Too often the conversation jumps to how someone can fill a vacancy on a committee or Board of Directors. Let that come later and think about the long-term impact of recruiting. As veterans, we also are interested in the future of the U.S. Armed Forces. Our concern is for the services in general but may also consider some specific skill sets. Here is an example you might consider. It will help the military and (hopefully) MOAA in the long-term In my career in the Army we often used a quotation from General George C. Marshall in publications and briefing slides related to the religious support of soldiers. The quote is, “The soldier's heart, the soldier's spirit, the soldier's soul are everything. Unless the soldier's soul sustain him he cannot be relied ion and will fail himself, and his commander, and his country in the end.” General Marshall is right. The religious support mission remains critical to the well being of all of our uniformed services. One of the ways we can perpetuated this important ministry is to encourage young adults to consider serving as a chaplain in a component of one the Armed Services. All it would take is planting the seed for someone to consider. You may know a young person in high school or college who might consider this. You also may know a young pastor, priest, rabbi, Imam or other person of faith. Plant the seed of ministry as a chaplain. The needs of the services for chaplains changes as organizational structures change. The Navy, for example, announced the intention to now assign chaplains to Guided Missile Destroyers. This added an immediate need for additional accessions. Vacancies exist in all services and components, Reserves, National Guard, Active Duty, all are options. Just plant the seed. And while you are at it, use the opportunity to explain how membership in MOAA can be helpful as part of serving as a chaplain and in retirement. Think of the long-term. A key part of any recruitment effort whether military service, MOAA or any volunteer organization, is to plant the seed by extending an invitation to check it out. Think about it! And if you find someone interested, I am available to talk with them or recommend a chaplain in the service they prefer.