MOAA Central Ohio Chapter Annual Meeting, 16 January 2026

MOAA is one of the most influential lobbying organizations supporting veterans and their families. As a chapter of MOAA, we strive for excellence as we continue serving. In that regard, we are fortunate to have so many members working hard to keep our chapter moving forward.

LCDR Nancy Rey continued her outstanding management and tabulation of our membership. Thanks to your continued loyalty to the chapter, the 2025 year-end roster totaled 81 Military, 14 Surviving Spouses, and 18 Supporting Members, for a total of 113 members.

Several years ago, we established an IRS 501(c)(3) tax-deductible foundation focused primarily on two areas: (1) our “Adopt-a-Servicemember” program and (2) six $1,000 scholarships for deserving ROTC cadets and midshipmen. Soon, we will add two more scholarships: one 500 and another for $250, to be awarded to two deserving JROTC cadets or midshipmen from the 13 high schools in the Central Ohio area with JROTC units.

Our Adopt-a-Servicemember program supports active-duty, reserve, and National Guard members deployed to remote locations. We can do this thanks to generous donations to our foundation.

CDR Walter Rey administers both the chapter’s finances and the foundation’s funds. These funds are healthy, and as of 31 December 2025, our chapter’s respective checking account balances were: Chapter — $8,283.98 and Foundation – 20,964.63

Throughout 2025, MOAA National and LTC Jeff Collins, our state legislative liaison, have kept us informed about legislation important to veterans and legislative proposals that affect all veterans. Through our website and newsletters, we have shared information with the membership about the importance of contacting our national and state legislators about bills to support.

LTC Collins is also our liaison to the Ohio National Guard. He has kept us informed about the Guard’s activities, particularly its numerous deployments, exercises, and ceremonies.

Lt Col Mary (“Marston”) McKeon has managed the chapter’s liaison functions with ROTC and JROTC detachments at three universities and 13 high schools. She coordinated the delivery of scholarship checks, medals, and certificates awarded to outstanding ROTC and JROTC cadets and midshipmen.

Speaking of scholarships, in 2025, we awarded six $1,000 scholarships to deserving cadets and midshipmen at The Ohio State University, Ohio University, and Capital University.

For 2026, we plan to maintain that level until we can ensure the sustainability of scholarships totaling $6,750. We believe we can, with your continuing generous support.

Lt Col McKeon is also our point of contact for the Central Ohio Veterans Stand Down. The Stand Down is an annual nonprofit program that supports hundreds of veterans in need of clothing, food, social services, and other personal items. Our chapter supports the program.

Another charitable focus is the previously mentioned “Adopt-a-Servicemember” program. Mrs. Dorothy Williams, the chairman, has worked tirelessly to obtain items that are difficult or impossible to find in remote locations.

Then, collecting myriad items, Mrs. Williams has sent scores of care packages, or “goodie boxes,” to servicemembers deployed overseas in Poland, Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, Niger, and other areas of the world. Many deployed unit chaplains have praised her highly for her efforts.

Mrs. Williams is also the chapter’s Director of Personal Affairs. Over the past year, she has sent nearly 125 birthday, get-well, sympathy, and thinking-of-you cards to our members. She deserves our highest praise.

In other areas for us all to be proud:

• Our chapter again received MOAA’s highest honor accorded to chapters, a 5-star banner for our Level of Excellence.
• Our chapter’s website, managed by CDR Walter Rey, received a MOAA 4-star award.
• Our monthly e-newsletter, edited by CDR Bill Roberts, also won a 5-star award in MOAA’s Col. Marvin J. Harris Communications Awards for Chapters.
• Our participation in MOAA’s Advocacy in Action program was highlighted monthly through the “President’s Corner” of our CONNECT newsletter.
• In that section of our newsletter, our president, Col Alex Bettinger, has outlined MOAA’s legislative priorities and emphasized the importance of contacting your state and federal representatives to support initiatives that improve the lives of all veterans, not just active and retired officers.
• Along with over 350,000 other MOAA members across the nation and around the world, your communications with legislators have helped advance many of MOAA’s legislative priorities.
• Indeed, many initiatives have come to fruition, but our work is never done. More detailed information is available on MOAA’s website, moaa.org/.

Our greatest appreciation goes to you, our members. We are grateful for your service, your membership in the Central Ohio Chapter, and your generous donations to our chapter’s foundation. In addition to donations, there are other ways to support our foundation. These are listed frequently in our CONNECT newsletter.

During the past year, we welcomed the following new members to the chapter:

• LCDR Greg Eckert, USN (Ret)
• CAPT Jonathan B. Haynes, USN (Ret)
• Mrs. Linda D. Hoffman, Surviving Spouse
• Mrs. Sharon Everhart, Supporting Member

Finally, I ask for a moment of silence to honor the memories of our members who have passed away in 2025:

• LTC Donald E. Kershner, USA (Ret) -- LTC Kershner was also a Central Ohio Chapter past president.
• Maj Hobart Ray. Bower, USAF (Ret)
• Lt Col Robert L. Tedrick, USAF (Ret)
• COL David E. Jackson, USA (Ret)
• Mrs. Ruth Snyder, Surviving Spouse

Thank you.

Respectfully submitted,

Pryor B. Timmons Jr., Lt Col, USAF (Ret)
Secretary