This document contains sensitive / personally identifiable information. Please exercise care when handling this
information due to the potential risk of harm to the individuals should the information be compromised.
MOAA New York State Council of Chapters
Directory of Officers
as of 4 April 2016
President
1st V.P.
Regional V.P.
Regional V.P.
Secretary
Treasurer
Chairman of the
Advisory Committee
Advisory Committee
Ben Margolius
(Southern Tier Chapter)
56 Collins Road
Vestal, NY 13850-6000
Peggy Phillips, LTC, USA
(Southern Tier Chapter)
205 Saint Charles Street
Johnson City, NY 13790-2531
Vacant
Vacant
Suzann Hensley, Lt Col, USAF
(Central New York Chapter)
110 Midlake Circle
East Syracuse, NY 13057-3110
Jamie Scotland, Lt Col, USAF
(MOA of WNY)
51 Lydia Lane
Cheektowaga, NY 14225-3605
Pat Cunningham, COL, USA
(MOA of WNY)
258 Randwood Drive
Williamsville, NY 14221-1431
Jim Tille, Maj, USAF
(Greater Rome-Utica Chapter)
P.O. Box 644, Williams St.
Old Forge, NY 13420-0644
Spouse: Sue
607-786-9450
benmargolius@me.com
607-743-8470
pipakapeg@earthlink.net
315-412-2415
suzhensley@aol.com
Spouse: Gail
716-574-6131
jgcscotland@roadrunner.com
716-689-6295
patc258@aol.com
315-369-5016
JimTille@yahoo.com
This document contains sensitive / personally identifiable information. Please exercise care when handling this
information due to the potential risk of harm to the individuals should the information be compromised.
This document contains sensitive / personally identifiable information. Please exercise care when handling this
information due to the potential risk of harm to the individuals should the information be compromised.
Roster: MOAA New York State Chapter Presidents
as of 10 April 2016
www.nycocmoaa.org
MOC of ELI (NY03) *25 Oct 65*
PO Box 135
Wading River, NY 11792-0135
No Webpage
MOCLI (NY10) *22 Oct 56*
PO Box 630335
Little Neck, NY 11363-0335
No Webpage
Joseph Schroder
37 Cambridge Drive W.
LTC, USA
Copiague, NY
(516) 398-0171
11726
ltcjoe118@gmail.com
Mid-Hudson (NY11) *8 Feb 59*
5 Woodland Avenue
Poughkeepsie, NY 12603-4109
Peter W. Dowley
PO Box 338
Kathy
12580-0338
CAPT, USNR
Staatsburg, NY
NY State Capital District (NY01) *20 Jan 72*
Ernest H. Bebernitz, Jr.
11 Fremont Lane
MAJ, USA
Troy, NY
Greater Rome-Utica (NY08) *17 Aug 72*
Joseph H. Maurer
1215 N. Madison Street
LTC, USA
Rome, NY
Central New York (NY02) *31 Mar 70*
Suzann Hensley
110 Midlake Circle
Lt Col, USAF
East Syracuse, NY
Southern Tier (NY15) *13 Mar 71*
Peggy Phillips
205 Saint Charles Street
LTC, USA
Johnson City, NY
Genesee Valley (NY06) *26 May 61*
Norma Weissend
4587 Ridge Road
Lt Col, USAF
Canandaigua, NY
MOA of WNY (NY17) *15 Oct 72*
Timothy G. M. Balunis Sr.
50 Sweeney Court
CDR, USCG
North Tonawanda
Lower Hudson Valley (NY16) *19 Jul 10*
Douglas J. Little
99 Quimby Avenue
CW3, USAR
White Plains, NY
NYC Military Officers Club (NY20) *Aug 14*
Joel Knippel
328A Sterling Drive
LCDR, USN
Brooklyn, NY
www.moaa.org/chapter/mid-hudson
(845) 889-4850
pdowley@juno.com
PO Box 373
Waterford, NY 12188-0373
?
12182-1428
ebeberni@nycap.rr.com
PO Box 36
Rome, NY 13440-0036
Marguerite
13440-2725
margmaurer@yahoo.com
PO Box 11309
Syracuse, NY 13218-1309
www.cdnymoaa.org
(518) 237-4738
www.grucmoaa.org
(315) 337-9453
www.cnycmoaa.org
(315) 412-2415
13057-3110
suzhensley@aol.com
205 Saint Charles Street
Johnson City, NY 13790-2531
www.moaa.org/chapter/southerntier
(( (607) 743-8470
13790-2531
pipakapeg@earthlink.net
PO Box 20874
Rochester, NY 14602-0874
www.gvcmoaa.org
(585) 746-2904
14424
normaweis@roadrunner.com
PO Box 1248
Amherst, NY 14226-7248
Ingrid
14120-4830
balunis@roadrunner.com
PO Box 1607
White Plains, NY 10602 -1607
www.wnymoaa.org
(716) 573-5401
No Webpage
(914) 954-2827
10606-3117
djlittle2009@gmail.com
MOVA Suite, 1 Centre Street
New York, NY 10007-1602
Jennifer
11209-8520
joel.knippel@gmail.com
www.nycmoc.org
(757) 846-4890
This document contains sensitive / personally identifiable information. Please exercise care when handling this
information due to the potential risk of harm to the individuals should the information be compromised.
Important NYS State MOAA Dates and Events for 2016 - 2017
DATE (2016)
January 20
February 8
March 3
March 13
March 31
April
April 11-14
April 14
April 23
April 30
April 30 – May 1
May
May 7
May 8
May 21
May 21
May 21 - 22
May 26
May 30
June 14
June 14
Jun 18 –19
July 19
August 4
August 17
August
August 29
September 13-16
September 18
September 18
September 21
October 15
October 22
October 25
October 25-27
October TBD
October 13
November
November 10
November 11
December 13
December 25
December 31
December 31
DATE (2017)
January 15
DAY
1972
1959
January 20
January 31
February 1
1972
February 8
March 1
March 3
March 13
March 18
March 29
March 31
1959
TIME
All day
1971
1970
Sat
Sat
All month
All week
All day
All day
All month
All day
All day
1961
Mon
Tues
Tues
2010
Thurs
1972
2014
Mon
Weds-Fri
Sun
Sun
Weds
1972
1956
1965
Tues-Thu
Sat
Thurs
All day
All day
All day
All day
All day
All day
All day
All day
Thurs
Fri
Tues
Sun
All day
All month
All day
All day
All day
All day
DAY
TIME
All day
1971
All day
1970
ACTIVITY
NYS Capital District 44th Anniversary
Mid-Hudson Chapter 57th Anniversary
Navy Reserves Birthday
Southern Tier Chapter 45th Anniversary
Central NY Chapter 46th Anniversary
Month of the Military Child
MOAA Storming the Hill
Air Force Reserves Birthday
Army Reserve Birthday
Honor Flight Syracuse Mission #7
Rochester Honor Flight Mission #46
National Military Appreciation Month
Leatherstocking Honor Flight
Military Spouse Appreciation Day
Armed Forces Day
Twin Tiers Honor Flight Mission #5
Rochester Honor Flight Mission #47
Genesee Valley Chapter 55th Anniversary
Memorial Day
US Army Birthday
Flag Day
Rochester Honor Flight Mission #48
Lower Hudson Valley Chapter 6th Anniversary
US Coast Guard Birthday
Greater Rome-Utica 44th Anniversary
NYC MOC 2nd Anniversary
Marine Forces Reserve Birthday
NYS MOAA 44th Annual Convention
US Air Force Birthday
National POW/MIA Day
Fort Drum Retiree Activities Day (RAD)
MOA of WNY 44th Anniversary
MOCLI Chapter 60th Anniversary
ELIMOC 46th Anniversary
National MOAA Annual Meeting
Honor Flight Syracuse Mission #8
US Navy Birthday
National Military Family Month
US Marine Corps Birthday
Veterans Day
US National Guard Birthday
Christmas
Closing Date Chapter Recruiting
Update Chapter Web Page Template
ACTIVITY
Early Submission of Chapter Membership
Roster
NYS Capital District 45th Anniversary
Chapter Membership Rosters Due to MOAA
Col. Marvin J. Harris Communications Award
Contest Submission
Mid-Hudson Chapter 58th Anniversary
MOAA Level of Excellence Award Submission
Navy Reserves Birthday
Southern Tier Chapter 46th Anniversary
Online Council/Chapter Officer Updates
Vietnam War Commemoration
Central NY Chapter 47th Anniversary
LOCATION
Alexandria VA / Washington DC
Lake George, NY
Call 315-772-6434
Arlington, VA
LOCATION
HOTEL ROOMS
HOSPITALITY ROOM
$
(4,070.87)
$
(243.33)
TOTAL EXPENSES
$
(4,525.00)
CLOSING BALANCE - 23 APRIL 2016
$
3,254.62
TOTAL COUNCIL FUNDS - 23 APRIL 2016
6,969.98
Respectfully submitted,
Jamie C. Scotland, Lt Col, USAF (Ret)
NYS CoC Treasurer
Military Officers Association of America  New York State Council of Chapters
Annual Business Meeting Minutes
17 October 2015 - Syracuse, NY
Call to Order
COL Margolius, President, called the meeting to order at 0930 hours. He led the attendees in the Pledge of
Allegiance and a moment of silence for NYS members lost since the last meeting. COL Margolius welcomed the
members and guests attending the meeting.
Roll Call
Council Officers
President
COL Ben Margolius
Present
1st VP
LTC Peggy Phillips
Present
Regional VP
VACANT
N/A
Regional VP
VACANT
N/A
Secretary
Lt Col Suzann Hensley
Present
Treasurer
Lt Col Jamie Scotland
Present
Advisory Committee
Chairman
COL Patrick Cunningham
Present
Lt Col Leslie Reichardt
Excused
Maj James Tille
Excused
NYS Chapters
MOC of LI *10/22/1956
LTC Joe Schroder
Absent – No Delegate
Mid-Hudson *02/08/1959
CAPT Peter Dowley
Absent – No Delegate
Genesee Valley *05/26/1961
Lt Col Norma Weissend
MOC of ELI *10/25/1965
TBD
Central NY *03/31/1970
Lt Col Suzann Hensley
Present
Southern Tier *03/13/1971
LTC Peggy Phillips
Present
NYS Capital District *01/20/1972
COL Anthony Ficara
Present
Greater Rome-Utica *08/17/1972
LCDR Robert Haley
Absent – No Delegate
MOA of WNY *10/15/1972
CDR Timothy Balunis
LTC Vince Ventura
Lower Hudson Valley *07/19/2010
CW3 Douglas Little
Absent – No Delegate
NYC Military Officers Club *08/14/2014
LCDR Joel Knippel
Excused – No Delegate
Present
Absent – No Delegate
Excused
Present
NOTE: Please see attachments for details concerning reports, briefings and discussions.
Reports
Secretary, Lt Col Hensley: Copies of the 2015 NYS Council of Chapters (CoC) Mid-Year Business Meeting minutes
were emailed to all Council Officers and Chapter Presidents prior to the meeting. No corrections were offered. Lt
Col Weissend made a motion to accept the minutes as written, seconded by LTC Phillips. Motion carried. Current
2015 New York State Council of Chapters Annual Business Meeting Minutes
copies of the NYS CoC Directory of Officers and NY MOAA Chapter Presidents’ Roster were provided. An updated
CoC Calendar was also distributed.
Treasurer, Lt Col Scotland: The CoC operating account stands at $3,515.36 as of 17 October 2015. The convention
account, which host Chapters may use in lieu of using their Chapter checking account for Convention accounting,
stands at $6,358.62. This account still holds funds for this convention which will be distributed at the conclusion of
the event. Combined, the CoC’s funds total $9,873.98. Chapters are reminded that Dues are due NLT 1 May of each
year per CoC By-Laws. COL Ficara made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s report, seconded by Lt Col Weissend.
Motion carried.
Advisory Committee Chairman, COL Patrick Cunningham: Col Cunningham had nothing to report.
MOAA Transition Center Director, CAPT Jim Carman:
- 2015 Advocacy Priorities:
-- Eliminate Harmful Effects of Sequestration
-- Protect Allowances and Benefits from Disproportionate Cuts
-- Strengthen All Volunteer Force
-- Maintain Active Duty Comparability
- Lack of Military Experience in Congress: Paid lobbyists are on the hill every day trying to educate and inform
representatives – including MOAA. MOAA’s annual Storming has significant impact.
- Defense Budget: Reduced from 45% to 20% of federal spending and expected to continue to decrease. While
MOAA understands the country is experiencing an economic crisis, actions should not disproportionately
affect military and civil service.
-- Despite reports, personnel costs are not spiraling out of control. They have averaged 33% of allocations
since 1980 with the exception of spikes in 1990 for Desert Storm, 2003 for the second Gulf War and
2005/2006 for the surge.
-- Potential impact of the President’s Budget on the annual purchasing power (loss of basic pay, basic
allowance for housing, and commissary) of the currently serving - projected for a family of four with 10 years
of service - is approximately $5,173 for an E-5 and $6,421 for an O-3.
-- President’s proposed budget slices $1B from the commissaries. If this doesn’t change, US commissaries will
likely close and there will be significant closures or reductions overseas.
-- Significant divides exist between the House & Senate on DoD proposals. Both bills include many of the
MCRMC recommendations, but the House has been more supportive of MOAA advocacy.
-- Defense Budget does include big changes to military retirement.
--- A blended system: pension and Thrift Savings Plan
--- Pension multiplier reduced by 20%
--- Government match up to 5% with 1% base pay contribution
--- Fully vested after 2 years
-- Some believe non-defense agencies should receive same sequester relief as DoD
-- If budget is vetoed, all negotiated input could be subjected to additional review or even lost.
Page 2 of 4
2015 New York State Council of Chapters Annual Business Meeting Minutes
- MOAA Membership Model:
-- Basic/No Fee: complimentary experience for junior officers and officer candidate to introduce them to the
value of advocacy.
-- Premium: standard membership with annual fee.
-- Life: represents an enduring commitment to support the work of the organization.
-- As of June 2015, MOAA membership was 397,824
--- 19% Basic; 34% Premium; 43% Life; and 4% Complimentary
--- 59% Retired; 21% Active Duty/Guard/Reserve; 17% Auxiliary; 2% Former; and 1% Unknown
--- In the past 12 months, Active Duty, Guard & Reserve membership grew 10%
--- Approximately 6,500 members pass every year, so need at least 6,500 new members annually
--- New junior officers tend to not be joiners unless you can demonstrate some value to them
- MOAA Transition Center: Benefits that introduce military community to the value of a professional
association to help attract and retain members.
-- Career Management Consulting: Career Fairs; Job Search Strategy; Interview Preparation; and Transition
Coaching
-- Benefits Information and Education: Financial Consulting; Healthcare and Benefits Information; and
Benefits Publications
-- Veteran Services and Caregiver Initiatives: Disability Claims; Assistance for Veterans and Survivors;
Caregiver Guide; and Lawyers for Heroes
-- Benefits Publications Updates: Aging Into Medicine; Estate Planning; Remarriage Guide; Help Your Survivors
Now; Guard-Reserve Retirement Checklist; Benefits Guide; Financial Planning Guide
-- Importance of Chapter Personal Affairs Committees: Chapter’s first response for member care
--- Primary Missions: Serve an Aging Population; Provide a Reference Source Close to Home; and Survivor
Assistance as Needed
-- MOAA Military Spouse Symposium held three times this year because military spouses have very high
unemployment and underemployment: next planned for Wednesday, 14 October in Tampa, FL
-- Lawyers for Heroes: Comprehensive program to serve the caregiver community
--- Financial Education for Caregivers under development
--- MOAA Caregiver Guide
--- American Bar Association Public Counsel Law Center: www.lawyersforheroes.org
-- MOAA Scholarship Fund: supports undergraduate education
-- MOAA Military Family Initiative: a 501c(3) charitable organization
--- Provides military family support in 5 areas: Career Transition Assistance; Veterans Service Officer
Program; Military Spouse Program; Military Family Reintegration; and Educational Assistance
-- Staying Connected: Military Officer Magazine; Legislative Updates; and MOAA News Exchange
- MOAA Presidential Transition: Vice Admiral Norb Ryan to transition out of the position in early 2016.
Approximately 50 candidates applied. A selection committee, a subset of the Board of Directors, narrowed
them down to five candidates. Interviews narrowed them down to three candidates. The “Four Star
Committee” comprised of the Current Chairman of the Board and some Past Chairmen, interviewed the
finalists and selection will be announced at the annual meeting.
- Council and Chapter Membership: provides vital grass roots contact with their legislature.
Page 3 of 4
2015 New York State Council of Chapters Annual Business Meeting Minutes
Chapter Reports and Activities: Chapters provided written reports (attached) and a verbal report to highlight those
items that they felt would be of particular interest to the CoC and other Chapters.
President’s Report, COL Margolius:
- Level of Excellence Awards: For the first time, the NYS CoC has five Chapters that will receive an award:
Genesee Valley, Southern Tier, Greater Rome-Utica, Capital District and Western New York. An important
message to National is that even award-winning Chapters have leadership and membership challenges.
- Space Available Transportation, CW3 Joe Brown: He has extensive expertise, and willing to pass it on to
anyone interested.
- CoC Vacancies: Still looking for volunteers for the positions of Regional Vice Presidents (two positions),
Legislative Affairs Liaison and Auxiliary Liaison. The Legislative Affairs Liaison position is probably the most
important position that needs to be filled. Col Margolius would like feedback from each Chapter Legislative
Affairs Liaison after office visits.
- Succession Planning: Several of our Chapters that are facing leadership challenges. The NYC Chapter could be
a model for future organization based on innovative approach for attracting younger members.
- 2016 State Convention: No volunteers to host. Location, Activities/Points of Interest and Cost are all key
considerations. Should we have a convention, and if so, where should it be held and who will host?
- 2016 Mid-Year Meeting: Tentative date is Saturday, 23 April. Will be held in Kirkwood, NY, near Binghamton,
unless another Chapter volunteers to host in a different location.
- 2016 Storming: Currently planned for the third week of April. NYS has two teams planned.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 1145 hours.
Respectfully submitted,
sh/1 April 2016
SUZANN HENSLEY, Lt Col, USAF (Ret)
Secretary
Attachments
1. Meeting Handouts
2. Chapter Reports
Page 4 of 4