Dear Triangle Chapter Member,

Once again, I write to wish you and your loved ones a happy and healthy new year and to share both my thanks for those who participated in Chapter activities over the past year and my aspirations for a successful 2024. Our achievements were several: we had a successful scholarship awards dinner in the spring and presented two highly-qualified JROTC cadets with $1,000 awards. We were also privileged to have a guest speaker, CDR Erikson, who brought us up to date on the condition of the JROTC program nationwide. We left with concern that this program, one of the most important efforts in recruitment, is falling short. On a positive note, your financial support for the Scholarship Foundation, continues to be both strong and generous.

We continue to search for a suitable summer event. This year, we met at a newly established winery, with only modest attendance. We will likely consider an organized sports or cultural event this year. Our 60th anniversary dinner this past fall was a huge success! MOAA provided us with a member of their Board as our guest speaker. And while few of us knew COL Robotham ahead, her perspective as an active-duty Air Force officer, with her young family, gave us insight into issues that I dare say few of us grappled with. We were also fortunate to have the Cary High School JROTC color guard participate.

Those of you who missed this event can view it via our website’s YouTube link. COL Robotham also presented us with our 5-star Chapter of Excellence award for 2022.

We had success in continuing to bring our new website into a fully functional state. In lieu of a newsletter, which is currently beyond our capability; the website (and periodic emails on urgent topics) continues to be our principal mode of communication. We abandoned our effort to create a satellite chapter in the Wake Forest area. Despite a MOAA database that showed a population more than ample to support a satellite, response to our mailings was miniscule!

Going forward, it is my expectation that we will have four events this year: a spring scholarship awards dinner, a summer informal get-together, a fall dinner meeting with a national/international affairs focus and a winter volunteer event, perhaps around Wreaths Across America or perhaps at a Veteran’s house building event. Details, of course, will follow.

Our Chapter remains in excellent financial condition, thanks to our dues paying members. But I must add that we are currently carrying 40 members whose are in arears. Please consider bringing your dues current or becoming a Chapter Life Member (details in the website). And contributions to the Scholarship Foundation are always welcome, at PO Box 19861, Raleigh NC 29619.

Last, this year we all have an opportunity to demonstrate our citizenship. Those who want to join in our legislative liaison efforts need to step forward. Our advocacy for important military issues does bear results! And in general terms, let’s all be mindful of our friends and neighbors, as respiratory diseases, COVID, Flu and RSV continue to exact a toll, especially on seniors; consider being fully vaccinated! And yes, this is an election year…tempers may fray…voices may become louder. Let’s each do our part as concerned citizens; study the issues, make an informed decision and VOTE!

Herb