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President’s Message – MOAA Florida Council of Chapters

Mail / By

COL Steve Bond, USA (Ret)

I can’t believe October is here. Fall is my favorite time of year in Florida. I love it when the weather cools…at least slightly—and it doesn’t seem like a sauna when you go outside! The past few months have been busy ones across the Council as we supported MOAA’s Summer Advocacy in Action (AiA) efforts and continued to prepare for our combined January 2026 Leadership Training Seminar and 49th Annual Convention (LTS-C). More on both of those below.

Out and About: I had some great visits over the summer—See the pictures on page 2. Ancient City Chapter invited all of the Northeast Area Chapters to an Officers Call at the National Guard Officers Club in St. Augustine—Nice event(!); Nassau Co. Chapter hosted a visit by MOAA President and CEO, Lt. Gen. Kelly (USAF, Ret)—They also invited the Northeast Area Chapters and a nearby Georgia Chapter; and, the Council was represented at the Florida National Guard Leadership Conference in Palm Beach Springs—The National Guard Conference gave us an opportunity to share the many wonderful things we do across the state and in our communities with the Florida Guard Officers, and invite them to join MOAA and our chapters. Gatherings of MOAA Members are always special and I want to thank Sarah McLevy, President of the Ancient City Chapter, and Tony LaVecchia, our Council VP and President of the Nassau Co. Chapter for sharing their chapter events with neighboring chapters—This is what “Camaraderie with a Purpose” is all about!

MOAA’s Summer Advocacy in Action (AiA) Campaign had our Legislative Advocacy mission front-and-center. The month of August is traditionally the time when our Senators and Representatives return to their home districts to meet with constituents. Many chapters set up meetings with their representatives, and we encouraged chapter members to contact their legislators through MOAA’s Legislative Action Center to remind them that we take care of the serving military, other veterans, and their families, and we vote! Council Legislative Chair, Pierre Louis, has more about the summer efforts and pending legislation in his article on page 6, and you’ll see some of the chapter supporting activities highlighted in the “Chapter News” section of this newsletter. We encourage all of you, your families, friends, and neighbors to sign up in the Legislative Action Center (at https://moaa.quorum.us/) and send the prepared emails to our legislators. Anyone can sign up to “be an advocate!”

You should know by now that registration is open for our 49th Annual Convention and Leadership Training Seminar (LTS-C) occurring from 29-31 January 2026 at the Rosen Centre in Orlando. It is shaping up to be an affordable, fun, and memorable event for all MOAA members, not just leaders. We expect MOAA Chairman of the Board, Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser (USMC, Ret) to be attending and our guest speaker, along with Amanda Centers, MOAA Vice President for MOAA Charities, and CAPT Frank Michael (USN, Ret), MOAA’s Senior Director for Councils and Chapters. In addition to informative workshops, there are opportunities for golfing, visiting the parks, playing for charity at our Casino Night fundraiser for The MOAA Foundation, a memorial service for those members we lost in 2025, and a Military-themed “Dining Out” sponsored by MOAA. Our January event is now one of the largest gatherings of MOAA members in the country, so plan to be there! As in the past, we need both chapter and member support for this event to be successful. Council VP Tony LaVecchia and Pat Kluever, our Immediate Past President and Event Chairman have more in their articles on page 3 and 5. Go to our website at www.FLMOAA.org to register.

Enjoy the beautiful fall weather, make sure to TAKE ACTION with our legislators, and register for the Leadership Training Seminar and Convention–I look forward to seeing many of you there!

President’s Message – MOAA Florida Council of Chapters Read More »

FDVA Survey

Florida State Launches Veterans Awareness Survey

FDVA, Health, Special News / By

Please respond to the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (FDVA) short survey for Florida Veterans, their Families, and Caregivers that the FDVA has just launched. The survey expires on November 2, 2025.  The FDVA Veterans Services Survey is designed to better understand what services Veterans, their families, and Caregivers are aware of at the state, federal, and local veteran service office level, and how they access those services if additional support may be needed.  On behalf of the FDVA, I’m reaching out and asking for your help in spreading the word to ensure the FDVA gathers as many insights from survey takers as possible. Every response brings us closer to making sure no Florida Veteran, Family Member, and Caregiver goes without the benefits and support they’ve earned, and you’re helping shape programs and services that support Florida’s Veteran community.

Florida State Launches Veterans Awareness Survey Read More »

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Seal

Veteran’s Field Guide to Government Shutdown

Veteran Benefits, Special News / By

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates 97 percent of VA employees continue to work during a shutdown,
according to the VA Human Capital Contingency Plan. VA is committed to provide quality, consistent care and services
to Veterans, families, Caregivers, and Survivors. VA’s mission allows no exception to this standard even when operations
are limited by the absence of appropriations (commonly known as a “Government shutdown”).

Click here to view the complete guide in Adobe PDF format

MOAA Article What the Shutdown Means for Troops, Retirees, Veterans, and Families

By: Kevin Lilley

OCTOBER 01, 2025

The clock ran out on the federal budget process at midnight Tuesday, shutting down the government for the first time since a 2018-19 funding lapse that lasted more than a month.

While MOAA presses lawmakers to restore funding and to protect servicemember pay during the closure, you’ll find details on how the shutdown affects all who serve and have served, and their families, below. This page will be updated with new information as available.

Jump to:

Currently Serving and Families

Service members will report to duty during the shutdown but won’t be paid until funding is restored. Oct. 1 paychecks, drawn from funds budgeted for last fiscal year, were processed, but Oct. 15 checks won’t be processed without funding or other legislation.

The Pentagon’s shutdown contingency plan outlines the full scope of ongoing operations, to include furloughs for hundreds of thousands of civilians. Some key details from the plan and other sources:

  • Elective and routine medical procedures at military facilities may be canceled or postponed; contact your provider to confirm your appointment. The shutdown will not affect military families using TRICARE or TRICARE For Life benefits in the private sector.
  • Military pharmacies will remain open; however, hours may be subject to change.
  • Commissaries and exchanges will remain open, as will mess halls, gyms, and child care facilities “required for readiness.” Military personnel may replace furloughed civilians to allow for continuation of other services deemed “necessary or appropriate.” Facility and program closures, at least in the early hours of the shutdown, varied by installation.
  • “Community and public outreach programs” such as concerts, military airshow appearances, and similar events that are not fully funded with non-appropriated funds (NAF) will be canceled or postponed.
  • Death gratuity payments will continue. This is a change from the prior shutdown resulting from language in the 2021 appropriations legislation.
  • Department-run schools will remain in session, but extracurricular activities will be canceled unless paid for by non-appropriated funds. This could include sports practices and games, concerts, and similar events.
  • Some training for service members may be canceled or delayed if the instructor is a civilian. Contractor-led training may continue if the instructor is being paid from funds earmarked from the prior fiscal year.
  • PCS moves and temporary duty travel will be delayed unless they involve supporting “exempted activity” or are deemed “essential to mission.”
  • Traditional National Guard drills may be canceled, though mobilized Guard and Reserve members, like their active duty counterparts, would report for duty.
  • Active duty family members under the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) will remain covered. Premiums will be deducted from retroactive pay when posted.

Retirees and Survivors

  • Armed services retirees, to include Coast Guard retirees, will continue to receive retiree pay during the funding lapse. Officers who retired from the U.S. Public Health Service or NOAA would not receive their next paycheck (Oct. 1 checks, covering pay from September, were processed).
  • Commissaries and exchanges will remain open.
  • Elective and routine medical procedures at military facilities may be canceled or postponed; contact your provider to confirm your appointment. The shutdown will not affect retirees using TRICARE or TRICARE For Life benefits in the private sector.
  • Military pharmacies will remain open, but hours may change.
  • Survivor Benefit Plan payments will continue.
  • Retirees and survivors covered under the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) won’t be affected. Federal employees whose FEDVIP premiums are deducted from their federal pay will retain coverage; their premiums will be deducted from retroactive pay when posted. 

Veterans/VA

The VA’s contingency planning website contains full updates on the department’s status during the funding lapse. Some key points:

  • Health care facilities will remain open.
  • Education, housing, disability, and other VA benefits will continue.
  • Burials will continue at VA cemeteries, as will applications and related processing (except for pre-need burial applications). Grounds maintenance and headstone placement will be delayed.
  • Transition and career counseling services will stop, and regional benefits offices will close.
  • The primary call center (1-800-MyVA411), crisis line (988, press 1), and VA benefit hotline (1-800-827-1000) will remain open. GI bill and cemetery-applicant assistance lines will close.

Financial Support

More Links and Resources

Veteran’s Field Guide to Government Shutdown Read More »

POW-MIA Event

POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony

Special Events / By

POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony, Orlando September 19th at 10:30am

I encourage everyone to come out and attend the City of Orlando’s September 19th, 2025, POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony that honors United States military prisoners of war and those still missing in action as part of National POW/MIA Day. Join Mayor Dyer and his Orlando Veterans Advisory Council at 10:30 am paying tribute to our nation’s heroes and standing together as a community to honor their service and sacrifice.
Join us in the Devos Family Room at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and hear from special guest speaker, Army Private First-Class Jessica Lynch, the first successful rescue of an American POW since World War II.
Hosted by WKMG News 6, Trooper Steve, this year’s event includes the presentation of colors by the UCF Army ROTC Honor Guard, patriotic music from the VFW Post 2093 band, and a meet and greet opportunity with the speaker. FREE parking will be available in the City Commons Garage, 460 Boone Ave, Orlando and will be validated at the event.

Get Tickets & Register Here

POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony Read More »

FBI Seal

FBI Warns Seniors about Billion-Dollar Scam Draining Retirement Funds

Communique', FBI Warning / By

FBI warns Seniors about Billion Dollar Scam that an Artificial Intelligence (AI) scam has been used to drain entire life savings or retirement accounts has become “devastating” for seniors. FBI Los Angeles on July 15 sent out a reminder about the Phantom Hacker Scam, which has cost Americans over $1 billion since at least 2024, according to the agency. The FBI said the scam targets senior citizens and warns that victims could lose their “life savings.” The scam operates in three phases: a “tech support impostor,” “financial institution impostor” and a “US government impostor.”

In the first phase, a tech support impostor will contact victims through text, phone call or email, then direct them to download a program allowing the scammer remote access to their computer. Then, the scammer asks victims to open their financial accounts to “determine whether there have been any unauthorized charges,” which the FBI says, “is most lucrative for targeting.” Afterwards, the scammer will choose an account to target, then tell the victim they will get a call for further instructions from the “fraud department” of the bank hosting their account.

In the second phase, the financial institution impostor will then call the victim and inform them that their funds have been “accessed by a foreign hacker” and must be moved to a “safe” third party account. Victims are then instructed to send the money via wire transfer, cash or cryptocurrency, and are told to send “multiple transactions over a span of days or months.”

In the third phase of the scam, the victim could be contacted by someone posing as a U.S. government employee, who prompts the individual to move their funds to an “alias” account for protection.

In addition, scammers are using AI to get personal information with some of their tactics, targeting people with specific interests they have. It’s been happening with scammers going into our MOAA Chapter website (and the MOAA FL Council website) to write emails as if they are the President asking for chapter members to send gift cards. In the article, an example was given that seniors are posting things on Facebook or other Social Media, and in this case, a senior said they’re a “Corvette” Collector. The criminals are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to look for that type of characteristics and profiles. And they’ll send you an email or a message saying, ‘hey, that Corvette that you ordered a month ago is now available for immediate delivery if you pay a delivery fee of $500, you can get it delivered right away.” The senior may very well have ordered a Corvette and says, ‘well, I’m a Corvette collector. Maybe I was forgetful to pay the delivery fee.” This is a simplistic example, and I can well imagine AI is using Amazon or E-Bay information to also scam buyers.

FBI Warns Seniors about Billion-Dollar Scam Draining Retirement Funds Read More »

Surviving Spouse Pat Green

Surviving Spouse Corner – September 2025

Surviving Spouse / By

Dear Readers, Last month I urged you to check beneficiaries on all your assets. Continuing on paperwork readiness, I am offering some more advice. Since we are reviewing wills…. If you receive an SBP annuity, print the information that follows and file it with your will. Your family, attorney or personal representative will be grateful.

Report a SBP Annuitant’s Death

Eligibility for a Survivor Benefit Plan annuity ends with the death of the annuitant. Prompt reporting of the annuitant’s death can help avoid delay in the final settlement of the annuity. All outstanding checks or direct deposits must be returned to DFAS before a settlement of arrears of annuity may be made.

Entitlement to the SBP annuity pay ends on the last day of the month prior to the SBP annuitant’s death. Prompt reporting of the annuitant’s death can help avoid overpayment.

Please follow the steps below to report the death of an annuitant:

Step 1 Call 800-321-1080 to report the death of an annuitant.

Step 2 Send a copy of the annuitant’s death certificate showing cause of death to:

DFAS US Military Annuitant
8899 E 56th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46249-1300
FAX 800-982-8459

Step 3 Inform the financial institution receiving payments about the death of the annuitant.

In addition to notifying DFAS, you should also notify the following agencies/departments as soon as possible.

Contact List

Social Security Administration 800-772-1213

Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) 800-538-9552

Department of Veterans Affairs 800-827-1000 for annuitants receiving DIC (Dependency Indemnity Compensation)

Surviving Spouse Corner – September 2025 Read More »

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