General Orders Newsletter #3
October 2020
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MONTHLY ZOOM MEETING
Thursday, October 15th
8 PM EST / 5 PM PST
Join us as we discuss
October 1st Deadlines, Convention Updates & More
Call in via telephone: 1-929-436-2866
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National President
Amanda Flener
First and foremost, I have to give many thanks and acknowledgement to our Leadership who helped followup with Units and Departments to make sure everyone was in compliance with the October 1 Reporting. Our Region Presidents each get a shout out for their support in this process! Karen Larabel in Region 2, Diane Grant-Jenkins in Region 4, and Barbara Hale Ray in Region 5 along with Cheryl Perez, Membership Officer and our JVP Kay Jo Baucom and SVP Colleen Orfanello all helped tremendously with connecting with members to get these reports in! Thanks so much to each of you and Judy Fiddler, National Secretary and Tracy Derr, National Treasurer for tracking all the reporting.
So much goes on behind the scenes to keep our organization running. Our Bylaws Committee has completed the updates as approved by the 2020 Virtual Convention body. The updated Bylaws and Standing Rules can be found on our website and at the links below. Please download these, print, and/or save it. You'll notice this one is formatted slightly differnt so you will find each Article starting on a new page. This will allow changes easier in the future for printing updates.
Soon you will find an updated Inspection Report online. Please hold off on doing Unit Inspections until the 2020-21 form is complete. The Member's Only portal is live on the website. There you will find past Online Newsletters as well as a National Officer list. This will help safeguard our Member information.
Please don't ever hesitate to reach out to me if you need anything or have questions.
In Patriotism and Service,
Amanda
229-325-8106
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UPDATED 2020-21
MOPHA Bylaws
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Calling All Chaplains: Share Your Prayers |
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Are you a current Unit or Department Chaplain? Are you a Past National Chaplain? We want to hear from you.
We are working on a compilation of Chaplains Prayers, Scripture readings, and instructions to put together for a Chaplain's Handbook. Send email to the National President and the National Chaplain:
Your submissions will be printed with credit to member submitting.
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National Senior Vice President
Colleen Orfanello
The year ahead in a “nutshell”
I love to decorate for the Fall months. There are many special days that I love to celebrate; especially, Thanksgiving and Veterans Day. As I began to take decorations out of boxes, I held an ornamental acorn in my hand. That small, yet significant, acorn gave me inspiration for what I wished to share in this month’s General Orders.
The acorn is a simple reminder of what one person can do to cultivate greatness. The tiny acorn produces the majestic and grand oak tree – and with time, the oak tree can produce 100,000 acorns. Then, the process of growth begins again.
This symbology reflects how one member can cultivate relationships and produce future members.
Just like the Oak tree, it may take time to “grow” membership but without cultivation, our Auxiliary will not thrive.
Our team will be busy this year revamping membership brochures, reaching out to Patriot families, and engaging in fellow Veteran Organization activities. Planting seeds in our communities, Units and Departments start with you!
Let us all be inspired by the acorn… “Plant your seed and GROW our Auxiliary."
Colleen
**Discard any older versions please
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National Junior Vice President
Kay Jo Baucom
WHEW!!! The first weeks following our Military Order of the Purple Heart Auxiliary National Convention, have been a whirlwind of activity, behind the scenes, so to speak. Our National President, Amanda Flener, wasted no time working to put our "house" in order. Not that we were in disarray, but there are always things to address when a new year begins.
The convention body voted on resolutions and bylaw changes or updates, that were to be reviewed, edited for grammatical correctness, and perused for a final inspection before publication. As chairperson of the Bylaws committee, I can honestly say this group worked tirelessly to insure that the intent and integrity of this document was preserved. As a believer that learning never stops, I truly am learning every minute that I have the privilege of serving with such outstanding, knowledgeable women. Familiarizing myself with the Constitution and Bylaws is certainly a personal goal and one that will enable me to be a more effective leader. I am keenly aware of those who have gone before and the depth of diligence and devotion that was demonstrated is something that I strive to duplicate. By so doing, I will be a stronger leader and hopefully, a mentor, to others who share leadership roles, as I have been and currently am, being
mentored.
The October reports due date came and for many, your Units, and Departments were able to get the proper forms turned in and now are eligible for a rebate. Congratulations and a huge THANK YOU to all those who sent out reminders, made phone calls, sent emails or text messages. Our Auxiliary is stronger together, and the results speak for themselves. There is still work to do, as my committee will look at the Procedures material in the near future. Your National Leadership Team is meeting regularly to brainstorm ideas to not only grow our membership but also to find creative ways to further our mission of service to our veterans and their families. We strive for transparency, making each member aware of events and things happening within our organization. I personally welcome your comments and concerns, for this
is how I can be a better officer and it is how we can strengthen our bond as an Auxiliary family.
I continue to marvel at the dedication of so many to our MOPHA. I am humbled and honored to serve with you and for you! May God continue to guide us in making decisions, strengthen us to do the job necessary, and bless us as an organization. We have each other and for that I am blessed!
May you each feel the love and admiration that I hold within my heart- we are sisters that serve,
not ourselves but others.
Serving with heart and hands,
Kay Jo
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Region II President
Karen Larabel
SISTERHOOD AND BROTHERHOOD AMONG SPOUSES OF BATTLED WARRIORS
Thank you for the honor to serve the MOPHA Region 2 again as your President.
Wow! What an interesting year we have had. Some of our steps have had to be halted, but with that new steps and paths have been created. Such as our MOPHA National Convention being conducted through ZOOM and with great success.
One step was in communicating with the VA Homeless Vet Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan if they had any needs. One of the veterans was delivering groceries to their fellow homeless veterans and paying for his own gas to do so. It was suggested that maybe a gas card could be one way to help. There is always some way to help, we just have to think outside of the box since we can’t be present with a veteran to help. We just have to ask “How can we help?” We can also check-in with our brothers and sisters within our MOPH and MOPHA if there are any needs and how are they doing?
Congratulations Region 2 for getting in your Life Membership Verification, Finance Report, 990-N Accepted Confirmation filings submitted by October 1 to qualify for your Rebate. Thank You. It was a great time to communicate with many of you.
My lines of communication are always open, whether it is to share what you have been able to do, an interesting project to share that I can pass on, how to process a report or just to talk. Staying in contact with our Sisterhood and Brotherhood during COVID19 is a great gift we can give each other.
My heart wishes to THANK YOU for your prayers, support, and words of encouragement since my bicycle accident in June when I sustained 5 severe fractures to my tibia and fibula and had to have a rod and screws inserted into my tibia. I am making progress with 3 months behind and 3 more months to go!
God bless you all as you continue to serve our beloved veterans and those who come alongside them daily.
Karen
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Presenting Gas Cards to Scott Wilson at the Grand Rapids VA Homeless Center to help him in delivering groceries to fellow homeless veterans during ZOOM meeting.
Scott Wilson, Reginald Howard-Director, Karen Larabel-MOPHA Region 2 President
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National Chaplain
Jo Ann Croney
Prayer
Lord above, Almighty Father, grant me the patience to hear Your wisdom, spoken to me at every occasion. Ensure that I remain always open to Your guidance and not closed within my own selfish desires. For You see and know always what to do, and you are Thee ultimate power with dominion over all. For this, I thank and praise You each and every day. O Lord bless this organization as we work together to serve our veterans. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
Inspiration:
So often we might jump into action without having truly considered the best approach, or without having even looked to God for guidance. Those whose seek council first with the Lord, to have their souls first filled with wisdom, will also please the Lord.
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.
-Titus 3:5
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Deceased members reported in the last month:
Annie Singleton - Unit 2202
Lois Mae Klavetter - Unit 550
Betty Benton - Unit 550
Virginia Alverman - Unit 268
Doris Marcoux - Unit 634
Angelina Virola - Unit 3
Loucille Riessland - Unit 632
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS:
Victoria Remington WI 162
Rodney Helgeson Jr WI 550
Don't forget that you can now sign up male members!
Recruit your Sons, Grandsons, Husbands, Fathers, etc!
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Helping Our Veterans (HOV)
Request Funds for Unit and Department Projects
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The Helping Our Veterans Grant will continue for the coming year. Each Unit or Department can request a one time grant of up to $250.
Projects done at your Unit level - the grassroots efforts are always the most impactful. We love reading about and seeing pictures from HOV projects in your communities. Remember to email your idea to the National President in advance of a request to insure your project meets guidelines. Request the funds in advance of your project and send in the required documents after you complete your projects! (Details are in the instructions on the form).
Email National President - Amanda Flener at mophaux@gmail.com or aflener1@gmail.com
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This year, we have around 50 Pashminas left to offer to our members and friends. You can purchase them online below at a cost of $10 plus shipping. Shipping for one is $5.00 = for a total of $15.
If you are interested in purchasing multiple ones, we can combine shipping for 6 Pashminas for a total of $12.50 shipping cost with a total of $75 for an order of 6. If you are interested in a bulk order, please email Diane Petrini.
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2020-21 National Officers |
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Check out our Social Media Accounts and give us a "Like" and Follow....new things will be coming! |
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