Ozark Empire Chapter Newsletter

(you will require a PDF reader like Adobe Acrobat 9.0 which can be found on this link: Adobe Acrobat 9.0)

This months words from the Chapter President - October 2026

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Greetings to each of you and welcome to fall. Before sharing news items, I would like to encourage each of you to make your voice count by voting in the upcoming general election. No matter how you vote, it is important that your voice is heard.

Speaking of the election, our chapter has important issues at stake and an election of our own coming up soon. Our Board members have all come to the end of their tenure. We have several appointed positions that do not require a vote, however some are integral to keeping the chapter running smoothly.

If we are unable to have a COMPLETE slate of officers willing to serve by our November meeting (November 20, 2026), we will take the appropriate measures to dissolve the chapter. Our December 2026 dInner will go on as planned

These are the minimum number of offices that need to be filled.

• President

• 1st Vice President

• 2nd Vice President

• Secretary/Treasurer

• Immediate past President

• Awards Coordinator (one of the VPs could assume this role)

• Legislative Chair (more important these days-also a VP)

• Newsletter Editor (Ron could share template)

If our chapter ceases to exist, this does not preclude us from getting together informally. It is my hope that the friendships we have made will continue.

A few important notes from MOAA, taken from their newsletter dated September 24, 2026:

TAKE ACTION: Ask Your Lawmakers to Address Military Care Access Problems]

• Expand on continued congressional oversight of services offered by military treatment facilities (MTFs), to include reversing planned cuts to 41 hospitals and clinics.

• Require a study on the future of the military health care system – a necessary step to ensure the program remains viable for all beneficiaries.

• Address the administration’s plans to split Defense Health Program funding into two appropriations: One for combat and operational medicine, another for private sector care. MOAA raised concerns in the letter that the move “could lead to challenges with adequately funding purchased care and diminished access for ben eficiaries.”

For all who are Premium or Life members of MOAA, a free Survivor’s Planning Guide is available for download. It can be obtained at www.moaa.org.

As always, our newsletter is freely available on the chapter website: www.oemoaa.org as well as via email to all members. If anyone wishes to receive this newsletter via US Mail, please make that known to a Board Member or the Newsletter Editor, and we will be happy to accommodate.

Becky Hutchings, President