Thanks so much to our fellow Chapter members who stepped up to assume Board of Director positions. I am grateful that our Chapter can continue for another year. I would ask that each of you who were dismayed at the impending closure of our Chapter look into what you can do to insure we are not again in this position at this time next year. Our Chapter will continue to limp along with most of the same people doing the bulk of   the work. You will be given the proposed slate to vote on at the December Luncheon, but we could still use more volunteers for the myriad of details involved in running the Chapter and staging the quarterly luncheons. Most require a very small time commitment and can be done from the comfort of your home. Since our Chapter will survive, our Outreach Foundation can also survive which will allow us to continue to do good works for our military and Veteran communities. Please consider making a donation so we can continue supporting important activities like the Veteran Justice Outreach Program, VA Baby Shower, Veteran Homeless Standdown, Junior Enlisted Food Bank, UTEP ROTC Cadets, etc.

I urge you to go to the MOAA National Legislative site, https://moaa.quorum.us, and use their easy format to weigh in with your elected officials on issues important to our military and Veterans. This year’s priorities are:
 

- insuring our junior enlisted get a substantial pay raise which is very important to help with recruitment and retention which is at an all time low
- restoring housing allowance to 100% from the current 95% to reduce out of pocket costs for our active duty servicemembers
- supporting the Major Richard Star Act, which would authorize combat-injured veterans to receive their earned DoD retirement pay and their VA disability compensation. Currently, these combat-injured (and often seriously disabled) veterans are subject to a cost-saving offset where their retirement pay is reduced for every dollar of VA disability pay.

It has been my honor and privilege to serve as your Chapter President for the past few
years. I will remain on the Board as the Programs Director and will also help in any other way possible. I urge you to do the same. I hope to see you at the December Luncheon. If you are in need of a ride to be able to attend the meeting, please contact me and we will do our best to facilitate transportation.

Stay connected  to MOAA: 
www.elpasomoaa.org:
www.moaa.org:
takeaction.moaa.org
www.moaa.org/linkedin;                                                                                          
www.facebook.com/moaa; 
www.facebook.com/moaaspouse;                                                                                                   
www.youtube.com/TheMOAAChannel

(1) Communicate directly with your political representatives.  You can send elected officials your own message of support utilizing MOAA National’s website, Legislative Action Center. You can also choose a MOAA-suggested message telling your elected leaders to support veteran focused legislation, especially important now as congressional leaders begin the debate on the NDAA.  Your message will be pushed automatically to your House and Senate leaders. Communicate directly to your elected officials and be heard.  It’s easy. Go to www.moaa.org, and use their simple tools.  Its is easy…and it is effective.
 
(2) Become a MOAA Member and speak with one voice.  Your membership entitles you to access to, and use of valuable planning tools, and continuous lobbying efforts to preserve your earned military benefits.  Join now by visiting www.elpasomoaa.org.  
 

Lenore Enzel
Colonel, United States Army, Retired
President - 2024