Mississippi Council of Chapters
Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)
In the late 1970's the leadership of TROA Chapters in the state called on the, national association (T'ROA) to assist in the establishment of a Council of Chapters in Mississippi. At that time the required number of chapters had been organized across the state to justify the formation of an organization to improve communications among member chapters and to coordinate their efforts in the pursuit of common objectives.
The organization meeting for the MCOC was held in Meridian, Mississippi, on October 20, 1979. Bylaws were approved and adopted at this organizational meeting. The bylaws have been amended by council decisions on June 15, 1985, December 6, 1991, and March 18, 2003. The office of President of the Council rotates among the five chapters. Each member chapter has an officer and a delegate as an official member of the Mississippi Council of Chapters. The five chapters are: MSOI Central Mississippi Chapter, Jackson; MS02 Magnolia Chapter, Hattiesburg; MS04 Mississippi Coast Military Officers Association Chapter, Biloxi; MS05 Golden Triangle Chapter, Columbus- MS06 Pine Belt Chapter, Laurel. The MS03 Meridian Chapter is no longer active in the Council.
The Council meetings originally were conducted at the site of one of the member's chapter during the first few years. However, this practice was changed and quarterly meetings were held in Jackson in conjunction with a scheduled meeting of the Central Mississippi Chapter. Council members meet quarterly in Jackson and are guests at the meeting of the Central Mississippi Chapter of MOAA. Meetings of the council will continue to be held at the location in Jackson where the Central Mississippi Chapter meets. However, the council held its September 2001 meeting in Columbus in connection with the first statewide convention. The 2003 final quarterly council meeting (annual meeting) was held in Biloxi in conjunction with the 2nd Biennial MCOC Convention.
On January 1, 2003 TROA became Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). The council voted to fully concur with the proposed name change at their 2d quarter meeting of 2002.
The annual chapter dues for the next calendar year are determined at the annual business meeting of the council. The amount payable by each member chapter for each regular member of that chapter is set within the limits established in the bylaws.
The elected officers of the council have done much in recent years to promote the purposes of the Military Officers Association of America. Those who have given freely of their time and resources to this effort have shown superb leadership ability in mobilizing grassroots support for the achievement of MOAA's national legislative objectives. Those who have led the way to create this council and fuel its engine have inspired us all to get aboard and assist in the cause whenever possible.
The annual "Council of Presidents Seminar" and "Storming the Hill" session in Washington, D.C. has produce lifetime benefits for members. The elected MCOC President makes the trip to Washington each year and is fully confident that he represents a consensus of the member's chapter beliefs.
One of the suggested functions of a council is to sponsor periodic state or regional conventions. After nearly twenty-two years, the date was finally set for the first statewide convention in Mississippi. This convention was held September 13-14, 2001 in Columbus hosted by Golden Triangle Chapter. We are pleased Mississippi Coast Military Officers Association Chapter hosted the 2nd statewide convention in 2002, and will host the 3rd statewide convention again in 2005.