NO MAY
MONTHLY ZOOM MEETING
We are probably all Zoomed out by now!
National President
Cheryl Perez
Congratulations to our newly elected and appointed Officers in our Units and Departments! It has been an honor to attend so many of your election meetings and install your officers.

Even though we are still in the midst of the disruptions to our daily lives by COVID-19, the Auxiliary has been staying on schedule with Unit elections in April, Department Conventions in May and submitting May annual reports.

As I write this, most Departments have held, or will soon have, their annual Conventions via Zoom. What I have observed during both Unit and Department elections:
  • Members who usually don't participate in meetings for whatever reason (time, distance, ability), are joining in Zoom meetings.
  • Participation is usually higher than the Unit or Department President thought it would be.
  • Members are finding it easier to join a Zoom meeting then they thought.
  • Members enjoy catching up with each other.
  • Business is accomplished in less time.
  • Members are commenting on the cost saving (gas, food, hotel) benefit of Zoom meetings, and
  • Units and Departments have expressed an interest in using Zoom entirely or in combo with in-person meetings.

The Auxiliary faces the same participation problems that most other Veteran organizations are dealing with of aging membership and decreased mobility, younger members with family responsibilities, work commitments and time and distance involved to attend meetings. Zoom is the way to hold a meeting right now for everyone from students to world leaders and could be a solution to increasing participation in our Auxiliary at all levels. Maybe a virtual Unit or Department might be in our future.
Reminders:
Installation Reports for Units and Departments:
  • Must be received (or postmarked) by May 31st to the National Secretary.
  • Please check that names, addresses, phone numbers and emails are correct.
  • If filling in the report by hand, please make sure it is legible.
  • If using the fill in form, please make sure all information gets included on a line.

Annual Reports:
  • Were due by Units to National Chairs by May 15th.
  • National Chair reports are due to the National Secretary by May 31st.

President and Past Presidents Pins can be ordered using the Supply List Form on the website.
National Senior Vice President
Amanda Flener
More than ever before, online connections and technology are proving important to maintain interactions and stay up-to date. I invite each of you to "like" and "share" our new Facebook Page at www.Facebook.com/MOPHAuxiliary We have been able to share parts of our General Orders there along with virtual meetings and events from members, Units, and Departments across the nation.

With Zoom being the most popular way to meet, I also created some virtual backgrounds this week highlighting our logo and various purple backgrounds. You can find those Here on facebook or email me if you need them sent that way.

If you are setting up Unit or Department meetings on Zoom, I find searching for a flag for the pledge or the words to the Preamble are often difficult to find. There are a set of Google slides you can use here, adopt for your own use to make online meetings more seamless. This set of slides includes a few housekeeping tidbits for Zoom, the flag, preamble, and a closing with a web and facebook mention. If there is any way we can assist you in these transitions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
National Chaplain
Barbara Waller
May is the month in which we honor our Mothers on Mother’s Day, and on Memorial Day, remember those who have died in service to our country. The date of May 2020 will be also remembered as a time when we were fighting a worldwide pandemic. Let us each keep all people who are first responders, Doctors, Nurses, EMTs, Police,and anyone providing a service that puts them in harm’s way. Heavenly Father, we humbly come to you asking that you bless the souls of our dearly departed who lost their lives in service of this country. We also ask that you bless the souls of all the deceased victims of this worldwide pandemic. Touch the families and loved ones of all the deceased giving them the assurance that their loved ones are safe with You in their Heavenly Home. BLESS ALL MOTHERS in a special way. AMEN 
Community Hospital
Vanessa Duett, Chair
I am the Community Service Chairperson. I am an eligible member of the MOPHA through my husband, Benny J. Duett Sr, who served in Vietnam as a Marine and was awarded the Purple Heart. I became a member in 2000.

I obtained information for this article from unit reports that I received. It is a combination of services rendered to veterans in non-VA supported community hospitals, or non-supported nursing facilities. According to the MOPHA CBL, this may include visiting or doing errands for veterans who are housebound. The reports I receive are very informational, as so much is done for the veterans.
Some of the services are:
  • money donated for bingo. picnics and memorials, outings, and gifts.
  • visits assisted living and hosting ice cream socials
  • honoring veterans’ birthdays.
  • honoring veterans on veterans’ day.
  • sending cards.
  • parties such as Christmas or Valentines day.
  • devotions, singing, and visits.
  • VA outpatient clinic coffee or cupcake distribution
Some units’ reports are blank, but at least a report was sent. The reports include things like the number of volunteers, visits, hours, miles, and money spent.
thanks you for sending your reports, this gives other units ideas on what can be accomplished.
A Daughter's Search For Her WWII KIA Dad
By Marilynn Lieurance, Oregon Unit 72
It was 5 ½ months after my Dad was Killed In Action during World War II that I was born. A lot of war widows boxed things up and never spoke about their fallen heroes. Such was the case with my mother. She passed when I was 32 years of age and it was only then I saw a photo of the Dad that I so longed to know.
 
By 2000, I was already several years into researching about my Dad and trying to find somebody who knew him. I heard about military reunions and designed a business card to hand out with the name and nose-art of my Dad’s B-17 (H) bomber. I figured if I couldn’t find somebody who knew my Dad, maybe they would find me. In the years that followed I found all the families of Dad’s crew.
 
Eventually, I had the opportunity to give a speech to honor the men at a 91st Bomb Group Memorial Association Reunion which was later printed in their newsletter. Afterwards, a couple of 8th AAF Veterans called to tell me they never talked about the war, but after reading my speech they wanted to tell me what happened to them. I never would have thought that anything I said would open a door that had been closed for more than 50 years. Read More.. .


California Unit 385 answered a request from the Volunteer Services Director TaShara Collins for snacks and water for the Mather Clinic Homeless. The person accepting the donation is Kim, a volunteer Services employee.
FOR THE GOOD OF THE AUXILIARY

MOPHA SUPPLY CATALOG
Do you need a new MOPHA logo pin? Flag set? Patches? President or Past President pins?
Order today!

Click HERE for the
MOPHA Supply Catalog.
Order forms available on website.
Request Membership Replacement Card Click HERE (available until 6/30/2020)
2019 -2020 National Officers Roster - Click HERE
MOPHA Office Depot/Office Max discount card - Click HERE
Go to Auxiliary website - Click HERE
Membership Application - Click HERE
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.