NO APRIL
MONTHLY ZOOM MEETING
Please join in your Unit's April video/teleconference election meeting
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National President
Cheryl Perez
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I hope everyone and their families are staying safe and healthy during this unprecedented time in our country and world’s history. We are learning how to experience daily life in new ways that sometimes take us outside our comfort zone. It’s amazing what can be accomplished with technology as we attend meetings, classes, social hours and church services online. My family had a unique experience by joining a beautiful online Passover Seder from Israel.
One of the changes COVID-19 has brought to the Auxiliary are video/telephone Zoom conferences for Unit elections. Some of our Unit officers and members feel uncomfortable trying out Zoom and I can understand that. I resisted using Zoom until about a year and a half ago. But once I tried it, saw how easy it was to use on the different platforms (computer, iPad, phone or tablet) I became a fan of it. Many of our members say the same thing after joining in a monthly membership Zoom meeting for the first time. It’s an opportunity to see and talk with people you only see occasionally and to meet other members from across the country. Your Unit President and/or Secretary should have contacted you about participating in your Unit April election meeting from home.
Since the Purple Heart Magazine is not being published, the Auxiliary is sending out the General Orders newsletter monthly (instead of bimonthly) and added some elements of interest to the Auxiliary that use to be published in the magazine. Presidents and Secretaries, please send emails you have on file for your Units/Departments to me so we can make sure we have as many members as possible in our newsletter database. We would like to move away from forwarding the newsletter as members are inadvertently unsubscribing the member who forwarded it.
Be well and stay safe! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
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Elections are held and officers installed by April 30
th
.
Calling, mailing or emailing members and asking if they will keep or take a position is a good way to get your slate of officers, but those candidates need to be elected in a meeting with a quorum of at least 5 members present.
Elections need to be held during in person meetings which are not possible during this National State of Emergency. Therefore, until April 30
th
, Units can hold their election meetings via a video/telephone conference meeting. Please contact Cheryl (cheryl.mopha@gmail.com or 619-997-5501 or Amanda Flener (aflener1@gmail.com or 229-325-8106) for further information on election procedures for this year.
Installation Reports:
If not typing, please make sure handwriting is legible. Confirm names, addresses, phone numbers and emails are current and correct.
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National Senior Vice President
Amanda Flener
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Resources, Connections, & Preparedness are all important as ever as the Coronavirus continues to impact our interactions and daily life. Finding ways to Be There may look a little different.
For many of our members we either fall into the "senior" or "at risk" categories most at risk and isolation and depression can now be at all time extreme. Please find ways to connect with each other, reach out to each other, and also to have a plan and know your resources available. www.AARP.org/CAREGIVING has a wealth of resources including this
Financial Tips during COVID-19 page.
Also know that the Veteran's Crisis Line is available to both veterans and their families. 1-800-273-8255 - Press 1 or text - 838255.
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APRIL'S SPOTLIGHT:
REGION V
AR, CO, KS, LA, MN, OK, TX
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Doris Williams, Region V President
The New Normal.
..Let’s just talk about what everyone has on their mind, the COVID19 virus. This pandemic has caused us to rethink how we conduct business. A lot of us who are use to conducting business as usual find it difficult to embrace the new usual. First of all, I want to applaud our leadership for the quick response to this growing problem which seems to be ingulfing the country. Our President, Chery Perez, along with the team have come up with a creative way for all of us to continue with the upcoming elections and meet the commitments of our members. I am extremely proud of them and encourage everyone to take advantage of what we are being offered.
This leadership came up with a solution very quickly and large corporations are using some of the same creative solutions our leadership quickly implemented. I encourage everyone to utilize these creative avenues to continue on with the business at hand. Come up with your own ideas that may work for your departments/units if the Zoom does not fit that need but keep the leadership informed on what you are doing and how.
I wish everyone the best during these trying times. Just remember, we are all in this together. Stay safe, stay home and keep your distance. With God’s help and following the established guidelines, we will make it through this stronger and better. All for one and one for all.
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National Chaplain
Barbara Waller
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Reaction in A Time of Crisis…A crisis has the ability to challenge each of us, but it is how we rise to this challenge that defines who we are both as individuals and as a nation. We as Americans seem to be at our best when we are tested. This pandemic has put each of us on alert letting us know that no one is exempt. It is global and effecting all of mankind. In the era that we are living in it is only natural that there may be times that we become frightened or in some cases depressed. FEAR NOT!!!
Most of us will stay in place as requested by our local and state governments. Most will have all the supplies and materials we need to survive this time. What we may not be prepared for is the isolation from the outside world especially those who are alone and without their family or loved ones. This is where our faith comes in. Biblical scripture Hebrew 11:1 states, “now faith Is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen”. Our faith requires us to love each other and help the elderly and less fortunate among us. Although we are not able to be as mobile as we usually are, we have to become creative and reach out in any way we can to those that are alone, elderly or the less fortunate in our communities. We can call and for those elderly who do not have the technology available to go online, we can go on lines for them and have items delivered to their home. Believe me when we take the focus off of Me and put it on Us our hearts become joyous and our fear lessened, and depression can be lifted. So, I challenge each of us to come together across this nation and spread love and kindness in any way we can. we are in this fight together and like good military personnel we follow our leader’s
orders. (GOD, and our Government Leaders.)
GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
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Public Relations
Barb Cherone, Chair
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With the coronavirus, our daily activities have certainly been impacted. As a MOPHA VAVS Representative, I am concerned with our hospitalized veterans and veterans in need of our assistance. All volunteer activities have been greatly curtailed for logical reasons. That doesn’t mean units can’t make veterans and hospitalized veterans’ lives more positive.
We just need to think in a completely different paradigm during the Coronavirus Pandemic. While assisting veterans and their families, who are in need of our help, we need to “think outside of the box.” This may take a lot of brainstorming with members of the units or chapters, as to what can be done within the framework of everyone’s safety. Things are changing rapidly as our normal activities are no longer normal in the way we used to view them. This is why it is very important to let others know what we are doing, in order for them to get ideas of what can be done. Since we are curtailed by restrictions for the benefit of everyone involved, we can no longer have contact where pictures can be taken. Instead it would be greatly appreciated if your unit or chapter is able to accomplish something, that will benefit veterans, you would write an article & submit it to President Cheryl Perez. She then can place your article in the MOPHA Newsletter to inspire others. Stay positive and very importantly HEALTHY.
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A.J. Herran
National Parliamentarian
Electronic Meetings...STUDY CASE:
RONR 11th Edition Chapter IV §9 Electronic Meetings provides guidance in ADDITIONAL RULES FOR THE CONDUCT OF ELECTRONIC MEETINGS. “If an organization authorizes its assembly, boards, or committees to hold electronic meetings, such a provision should indicate whether members who are not present in person have the right to participate by electronic means, or whether the body may choose to allow or disallow such participation and conversely, whether there is required to be a central location for members who wish to attend meetings in person. Notice of an electronic meeting must include an adequate description of how to participate in it (for example, the telephone number to call for a teleconference must be provided). Various additional rules (in the bylaws, special rules of order, standing rules, or instructions to a committee as appropriate) may also be necessary or advisable regarding the conduct of electronic meetings, such as rules relating to:
- The type of equipment or computer software required for participation in meetings,
whether the organization must provide such equipment or software, and
contingencies for technical difficulties or malfunctions
- Methods for determining the presence of a quorum
- The conditions under which a member may raise a point of order doubting the presence of a quorum, and the conditions under which a continued presence of a quorum is presumed if no such point of order is raised;
- Methods for seeking recognition and obtaining the floor;
- Means by which motions may be submitted in writing during a meeting and
- Methods for taking and verifying votes”
NOTE: “RONR” is the standard abbreviation parliamentarians use to cite Henry M. Robert III and others, Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, 11th ed. (Da Capo Press, 2011).
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Kay Jo Baucom
Americanism Chair
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Americanism at its finest
…My fellow Military Order of the Purple Heart Auxiliary, I am Kay Jo Baucom, Americanism chair, and I am proud to be an American! It is especially important that I share some ideas about patriotism at this unique time in our lives. We are traveling through uncharted waters, so to speak, and as we journey together, there are ways we can show our true colors, the red, white, and blue! These are extraordinary times, with extraordinary measures being taken to ensure our well-being and safety. These measures have given me, and you, many opportunities to reflect on what is really important. One thing I have found to be of utmost significance, is social interaction. Being someone who loves to be with other people, I am more aware now than ever before, how thankful I am for social media, and the ways we can connect with each other. Regardless of distance, we can reach out to each other and regardless of isolation, we can connect.
The most meaningful way I can suggest to show your patriotism, is to quite simply, get on your phone and call those you care about- namely our fellow members, our Patriots and their families, and most particularly, those in VA nursing facilities, assisted living facilities or those homebound. As Americans, we understand that supporting each other is what we do- as military families, we know better than most, that we have to "have each other's back".
Read more...
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One of the Dept of CA outreach efforts to raise the awareness of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. This is One of two winners from Unit 385 The project was known as George Washington Essay and the students wrote their essay on “What Does The Purple Heart Medal Mean To Me”. Winner was presented at his home since it is unknown when the school will back in session. Riley is a 12th grade student at Rosemont High School and a member of Unit 385.
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CA Unit 49
Election Meeting
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GA Unit 1000
Election Meeting
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NE Unit 260
Election Meeting
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Georgia Online Magazine Features Article From
MOPHA National Junior Outreach Chair Rachel Perez
click on photo to read
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Georgia has a great digital magazine available to their members to keep them up to date on information and allow them to feature articles from members. Does your Unit or Department publish a newsletter? Please share it with us.
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From The Mesothelioma Center:
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Countless veterans are currently suffering from life-threatening illnesses that are a result of exposure to asbestos, a material that was commonly used in hundreds of military applications, products, and ships because of its resistance to fire. Veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma even qualify for special benefits from the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs. We recently published an educational guide about the most common form of mesothelioma We believe this guide would be a valuable addition to your resources and can assist your veterans.
Click Here to visit the
Asbesto.com website.
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FOR THE GOOD OF THE AUXILIARY
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MOPHA SUPPLY CATALOG
Do you need a new MOPHA logo pin? Flag set? Patches? President or Past President pins?
Order today!
MOPHA Supply Catalog.
Order forms available on website.
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Request Membership Replacement Card (extended to 6/30/2020) Click
HERE
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2019 -2020 National Officers Roster -
Click
HERE
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MOPHA Office Depot/Office Max discount card - Click
HERE
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Membership Application - Click
HERE
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ONLINE REPORTING FORM
FOR DECEASED MEMBERS
Click the link below to access the online form, fill it in, hit submit and your deceased member report is filed to the National Chaplain and the National Membership Officer.
Please Note:
The Deceased Member Online Form has received positive feedback and is now the preferred method for reporting member's death. Please use the online form rather than emailing or mailing in notices.
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