Purpose

"The purposes of the Chapter shall be to promote the purposes and objectives of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA); foster fraternal relations among retired, active duty, and former officers of the uniformed services and their reserve components; protect the rights and interests of active duty, retired, and reserve component personnel of the uniformed services and their dependents and survivors; provide useful services for members and their dependents and survivors; and serve the community and the nation."

Bylaws Article II, Section 1: November 20, 2021

Chapter Activities

The chapter meets quarterly for lunch and an informational program. We actively support local veterans through various hands-on programs and continue to adapt these initiatives to current circumstances. Here are some of the programs we proudly support:

• Veterans Restoration Quarters (VRQ): Preparing and serving meals at a shelter for homeless veterans.
• Asheville VA Hospital: Providing volunteer support for veterans receiving care.
• Honor Flight: Transporting veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit monuments honoring their service.
• We Honor Veterans Program: Conducting veterans' pinning ceremonies at the local Hospice facility.
• JROTC Support: Supporting 18 high school Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) programs in the region.

• Engaging Social Activities: Our chapter members enjoy a variety of fun, community-building activities including thrilling white-water rafting trips, scenic train rides through beautiful landscapes, outings to local minor league baseball games, and tours of local gems like chocolate factories, wineries, and more.

Please explore our website to learn how we continue to "Never Stop Serving," even during challenging times.

Safety and Leadership

Our leadership is committed to following community guidelines to ensure the safety of our members and the veterans we support. We continuously evaluate which activities can safely be resumed.

Satellite Organizations

The chapter has two satellite groups:

• Smoky Mountains Satellite: Located in Waynesville.
• Woodfin Satellite: Located in the Weaverville area.

These satellite organizations provide members with alternative meeting locations, especially for those who may find the General Membership meetings in Hendersonville to be a long commute.

Legislative Affairs

We actively support MOAA’s Legislative Affairs program by sharing MOAA’s top issues with legislators to assist them in preparing for votes on national defense legislation. WNC-MOAA, like MOAA National, is a non-partisan organization dedicated solely to supporting active-duty members, veterans, and their families.

Recognition

We are proud to have received MOAA’s 5-Star Level of Excellence streamer multiple times, a testament to our longstanding commitment to the goals and ideals of MOAA National.

Since November 2014, WNC MOAA, in partnership with Four Seasons Hospice, has honored over 1000 veterans with special pinning ceremonies to salute veterans in hospice care and thank them for their service. To learn more and get involved, contact John Knapp, 828-702-3317 or email.

Meal Prep Teams provided by WNC MOAA have been slicing, dicing, and serving lunch to homeless veterans the fourth Wednesday of each month for well over five years. With strict precautions and protocols in place, prep/serve teams are continuing this service. Teams are limited to 5 or less. Volunteers are screened with a questionnaire and touchless thermometer. All volunteers are required to wear a face mask and gloves while working in the kitchen and to practice social distancing – being mindful of personal space and refraining from physical touch including handshakes, fist bumps, etc. For more information about volunteering or making donations, contact Jeff Snyder, 828-684-2359 or email.

Blue Ridge Honor Flight transports American veterans to Washington, DC 2-3 times each year to “visit memorials dedicated honor their service and sacrifices of themselves and their friends.” Although all flights scheduled for 2020 have been suspended, there are opportunities to donate, as well as learn more about applying as an honoree, guardian, or volunteer. For more information, contact Rick Devereaux, 828-772-6023 or email.

Active in 17 high schools throughout WNC, JROTC is supported by WNC MOAA with annual MOAA Leadership awards for rising Seniors. When group gatherings can resume, volunteers will be needed to present the awards. Until then, stand-by-to-stand-by. For more information, contact Jeff Snyder, 828-684-2359 or email.

On Friday, November 20th, the Eastern Carolina University Community Service Learning Center Dental School in Sylva will be conducting the “Smiles for Vets” dental day. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, up to 30 vets will be seen vs. the normal 40. Present to receive and help process participating veterans, in accordance with COVID restrictions, will be members from WNC MOAA, our Smoky Mountain Satellite (SMS MOAA), the Smoky Mountain Outreach Foundation (SMOF) and NC Serves. Donations of money, food for breakfast and lunch for the day, water bottles, soft drinks (regular and diet) are welcome. For more information, contact David McCracken, 828-550-5980 or email.

A SMOF pilot initiative started two years ago, VET SMILES has proven to be effective in helping veterans who do not qualify for dental care with the VA find a dental home. As a result, a new 501 (c) (3) foundation is in the planning stages to take VET SMILES statewide. Stay tuned for further developments.