Christmas Dinner/Silent Auction
GREAT PARTY - GREAT PEOPLE - GREAT GIVING
We had over 55 folks at our gathering on 11 December. This dinner is so important to our chapter's mission every year. This is always our major fundraiser and this year we exceeded all expectations. It is the generosity of our members and the many guests they brought that allows us to do so much to help veterans, and ROTC students, and their families throughout our Northeast Georgia area. Thank you so very much. Our Treasurer will have a full report at our next regular meeting.
Thank you all!
Our Chapter
The Georgia Mountain Chapter is an award-winning chapter affiliate of the nationwide organization, the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). All funds raised are proudly used to support veterans' programs for all ranks, cadets, and families of the uniformed services of the United States of America.
Next Regular Meeting - 19 Feb 2026
Mark your calendars for our next regular chapter meeting at the Cumming Golden Corral on 19 February at 1130 hours. And continue to mark your calendars through this year and next, Sep-Nov, and Jan - May, on every third Thursday at 1130 hours. Enjoy a good lunch and come ready to discuss this year's activities plan. We'll hear from our members about all the goings on, and many of our chapter support and social activities within the community we serve. Join in. We close each regular meeting with a very popular raffle that always includes great prizes.
See How You With MOAA Make a Difference Here and Everywhere
JOIN/RENEW & DONATE to MOAA/CHAPTER for 2026
Pay Chapter Dues for 2026. Please pay your $25 now! Anyone who has ever held a commission or warrant in any uniformed service of the United States and their surviving spouses may join MOAA and our Chapter. The memberships in each are separate. See the link to the NATIONAL MOAA WEBSITE further down to join our national organization. The online chapter payment link here is a secure and a convenient option. Simply click below to follow the prompts to join or renew and/or donate by credit card. Of course, you may also mail a check for $25 per year to:
Georgia Mountain Chapter, MOAA
PO Box 1703
Dahlonega, GA 30533
Wreaths Across America
A new year has started for Wreaths Across America (WAA) sponsorships. The year is from Dec. 1, 2025 to Nov. 30, 2026. Our chapter already participated in the Matching Wreath Promotion, which was held the last two weeks of December. We had an excellent start with 133 wreaths sponsored. That is almost half our annual goal for this year.
Wreaths Across America Day is December 19, 2026.
You may sponsor a wreath anytime of the year. Our chapter’s listed cemetery is Marietta National Cemetery. However, you may select any WAA approved cemetery in the US. Just click on the link below. This takes you to our own GMC webpage at WAA. There you can select (under item #3) the location you would like to support with your wreath(s). The instructions on thier website are easy to follow. Dennis Brown is always available if you have questions, at dennis.ted.brown@gmail.com or 678-557-9844.
We are a top award winning chapter!
Stay Connected by FOLLOWING us on our FACEBOOK Page
Click on the link below and then "FOLLOW" our Facebook page. This is a great service because Facebook will notify you every time anyone posts new information to our page. Here you can see what's coming up as well as post information that you want others to see. If you need help to set this up, send an email using the contact form below and you will be contacted.
Our Chapter Mission Supports MOAA Mission
“To advocate for our community and connect it to the nation we serve.”
The national MOAA organization and the affiliated Georgia Mountain Chapter of MOAA (GMCMOAA) are non-profit, non-partisan organizations dedicated to maintaining a strong national defense and preserving the earned entitlements of members of the uniformed services and their families.
There's so much to know about MOAA and so many wonderful reasons to join this very professional, very active, and very effective association that has such great influence. Click here to take a look AND JOIN our national organization. Become a paid member to actively support all its advocacy efforts. BE COUNTED.
GET PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN THE MOAA MISSION
MOAA now provides an excellent service to all members to allow us to stay informed about all the legislative initiatives that MOAA is tracking closely. You are encouraged to log in and register in the action center in order to have full access to this new service. This is a secure service contracted for by MOAA but uses another log in than your MOAA account to provide the legislative focus and tools you will find there. Follow the link below and click on the Action Center Tutorial at the top of the page. You will be pleasantly surprised how easy it is to register and then determine the most current status of selected legislation, and to communicate your position with your Representative and Senators. You can quickly and easily lend your voice to thousands of others to help have important impact across a broad range of issues.
2026 Planned Activities updated 30 Jan 2026
Month: Service/Event Description – Lead Coordinator/s
January: Board of Directors (BOD) zoom meeting 2nd Thursday
General membership meeting 3rd Thursday
GMOAA State Council Meeting, Warner Robins – President attends
Finalize/adopt draft 2026 budget - Treasurer
Complete/send MOAA Chapter Commo 2025 Award input – President
Prepare/send MOAA Levels of Excellence 2025 Award input – President
February: Board of Directors (BOD) zoom meeting 2nd Thursday
General membership meeting 3rd Thursday. Vote to approve 2026 budget if not already done
Begin coordination of Wreaths Across America (WAA) activity/fundraiser – Dennis Brown
March: Board of Directors (BOD) zoom meeting 2nd Thursday
General membership meeting 3rdThursday
UNG Scholarship Awards (2 x $3000) send to UNG –Treasurer
Publish quarterly newsletter (15th) – Ron Viles
Prepare/send emails to JROTC OIC’s for cadet awards– Treasurer & Ron Viles
Assign JROTC award presentations to chapter member volunteers
April: Board of Directors (BOD) zoom meeting 2nd Thursday
General membership meeting 3rd Thursday
Present GMCMOAA ROTC Scholarship Awards (2 x $3000) to UNG junior cadets
Complete JROTC Awards school presentation assignments to chapter members
Present JROTC medal, coin, and gift card ($100) presentations at 20 area high schools – volunteer presenters as assigned
May: Board of Directors (BOD) zoom meeting 2nd Thursday
General membership meeting 3rdThursday
GMOAA State Council Meeting, Warner Robins – President attends
Present JROTC medal, coin, and gift cards ($100) presentations at 20 area high schools – volunteer presenters as assigned
Christmas Dinner Silent Auction Chair confirmed, and item solicitation begins – BOD
Prepare and present UNG ROTC commissioning awards – President + 2
June: Publish quarterly newsletter (15th) – Ron Viles
BYO Food and Drink Picnic, 20 June at Cumming Central Park Pav #2, 0900-1300 hours
July: Enjoy the summer
August: Prepare and present UNG ROTC commissioning awards – President + 2
Treasurer sends letter to members highlighting financial position and most important revenue items, initial request for next year dues and donations.
September: Board of Directors (BOD) zoom meeting 2nd Thursday
General membership meeting 3rd Thursday
Quarterly newsletter published (15th) – Ron Viles
Advertise and sell Wreaths Across America; - Dennis Brown
Christmas Dinner & Silent Auction planning and item collection/sign-up – BOD
Collect VA Hospital Christmas gift bag items and plan for delivery-Paul Wingo
October: Board of Directors (BOD) zoom meeting 2nd Thursday
General membership meeting 3rdThursday
Solicit/announce nominees for slate of chapter officers for CY/FY 27-28 term (Pres. 2VP, 2xBOD) - President
Georgia MOAA Council of Chapters Conference
Collect VA Hospital Christmas gift bag items and plan for delivery-Paul Wingo
Advertise and sell Wreaths Across America - Dennis Brown
Christmas Dinner & Silent Auction planning and item collection/sign-up – BOD
November: Board of Directors (BOD) zoom meeting 2nd Thursday
General membership meeting 3rdThursday – Chapter officer elections
Send President’s Letter/email asking for 2027 dues, Christmas Dinner Attendance and general contributions as able from all members – President
Collect VA Hospital Christmas gift bag items and plan for bagging/delivery-Paul Wingo
Advertise and sell Wreaths Across America - Dennis Brown
Participate/Support local Veterans Day ceremonies and parades – All
Christmas Dinner & Silent Auction planning and item collection/sign-up – BOD
December: Board of Directors (BOD) zoom meeting – Changed date 1stThursday
Christmas Dinner and Silent Auction, Achasta Club, 10 Dec - BOD
Installation of Chapter Officers for 27&28 term - President
Prepare and present UNG ROTC Commissioning Award for Dec grads – President +2
Assemble and distribute w/American Legion, Vietnam Veterans, DAR, ROTC, and others the Christmas Gift Bags to vets at Atlanta VA Hospital – Paul Wingo
Participate in WAA National Placement Day – All
Publish Quarterly Newsletter (15th) – Ron Viles
Every month ongoing activities:
Collect chapter dues for current and next year – Treasurer
New member recruiting - All
Fundraising in general, and the major earner, the Christmas auction items need to be solicited/gathered all year. - All
Item collection/donation for VA Gift bags to be collected in Sep-Dec - All
Maintain chapter meeting speaker program – 1VP
Maintain/execute/report financial statements and budget execution – Treasurer
Maintain chapter member database as part of MOAA data – President, Membership Chair
Publish member roster and new member recruiting list – President, Membership Chair
Maintain chapter webpage and Facebook group – Webmaster
Conduct Chaplain outreach as required – Chaplain
Chapter community outreach/specific ad hoc veteran support – As assigned
Newsletter articles and pics to editor – All
Monthly Auction/Raffle – Larry Munhall
Chapter Officers and Board of Directors for CY 2026:
President – Tom Palmer First VP – Dennis Brown
Second VP – Paul Wingo Secretary – Tom Billings
Treasurer – Bob Chapman BOD Member – Ron Viles
BOD Member – Larry Munhall BOD Member – Tom Adams
BOD Member – Pat Zaudtke
Other Chairs
Congressional Liaison - John Bredfeldt
Membership - Christine Downing
Webmaster - Ted Chopin
Contact Chapter Leadership & Get Help
Come meet with us!
Our normal monthly meeting includes lunch and business to get all the good works of the Chapter done, and often a guest speaker. We normally meet the third Thursday of the month at the Golden Corral in Cumming at 1130. Our December meeting, is a semi-formal dinner and an exciting Silent Auction that is great fun. We do not meet in Jun, Jul, or Aug.
Join us to be a part of doing good things for past, present, and future members of the uniformed services of the United States of America.
Georgia Mountain Chapter, MOAA, PO Box 1703, Dahlonega, Georgia 30533