Welcome to the                

Grand Strand Chapter

of the Military Officers Association of America




Welcome from John Bradley, CDR, USN (Ret.), President, Grand Strand Chapter of MOAA


Welcome to our newly revamped Chapter website.  The Grand Strand Chapter of MOAA is in its 64th year as a leading regional veterans support organization and I am honored to serve as its new 2024 President.  Our Chapter is an award-winning group of mostly former or retired military officers and their spouses whose mission is to assist, in as many ways that we can, needy local veterans and their families. In addition the Chapter awards college scholarships to current senior JROTC students who have displayed notable leadership potential. 

Our fundraising  efforts, which rely heavily on our annual Chapter Golf Tournament, are what enable us to provide the assistance to our veteran community as well as our JROTC scholarships. We also make every effort to work with other local, regional, state and national veteran support organizations to help address the needs of struggling area veterans and their families.

Our chapter is always searching for new members who are willing to help in accomplishing our mission. As you can read in further detail below , we hold dinner meetings on the second Tuesday of each month (except July & August)  usually at Pine Lakes Country Club in Myrtle Beach.  Informative speakers and guests make for interesting social and educational experiences for our dinner attendees. Members, their spouses and guests, and prospective members are always invited.  Special events are held throughout the year affording our Members chances to participate in our mission, increase camaraderie and to share thoughts on new and more effective efforts to improve the lives of those we support.

If you have any questions about our chapter or any of its programs, please continue to surf through this website. You will even find an interactive Membership Application!!

Thank you and I wish you all well!


  DINNER MEETINGS

Meeting Time: 5:30 PM Monthly every second Tuesday except July and August

Meeting Place: Usually, Pine Lakes Golf Club, 5603 Granddaddy Drive,

                           Myrtle Beach, SC 29577


CHAPTER MISSION/PURPOSE

To foster communications and mutual support among retired, active, reserve, National Guard, Public Health service, NOAA, and former officers of the uniformed services. Assist community organizations that support service member, patriotic and veteran organizations and their families; provide scholarship opportunities for area high school senior JROTC cadets; conduct fundraising events to support other service members and veterans’ programs; conduct annual awards banquet and awards ceremony honoring local area’s leading JROTC/ROTC cadets, senior JROTC Scholarship Recipients, and their guests; maintain a proactive chapter affairs program that supports members; promote the aims and objectives of The Military Officers Association of America; and the aims and objectives of the South Carolina Council of Chapters.

 Our members continue a lifetime of service, and a brief summary of our most recent accomplishments can be found at the following link:  GS MOAA Chapter Accomplishments 2022_2023 (1) (1).pdf

 

                                        BECOME A MEMBER

MOAA Membership is open to active duty, retired, former officers, Reserve, National Guard, and warrant officers of the seven uniformed services: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force, Public Health Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration the newest service the United States Space Force. You can print out a membership form by clicking the "Membership" tab above followed by "Application," and "On-Line Application."

Surviving Spouse memberships also are available.

If you are interested in joining, please either click on the membership tab (on this site), or contact our President and Membership Chairman, John Bradley at: 

phone:  727-771-3712     

or email: jebradjr46@gmail.com


CHAPTER HISTORY

Sixty-Four years ago, President Eisenhower was in his last year of office. The average price of a new house in the US was $16,500. At 49 cents a gallon, milk cost more than gasoline which averaged 31 cents a gallon. The Dow Jones industrial average of stocks hit a high of 685 that year and the US population was 180,671,158. The US Naval Academy’s Joe Bellino won the Heisman Trophy, and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the New York Yankees in the World Series. The Soviet Union downed a US U-2 aircraft, and To Kill a Mockingbird won a Pulitzer Prize in literature for the late Harper Lee. As all of that and more was unfolding, a band of 29 retired military officers organized the Grand Strand Chapter of the-then Retired Officers Association. Recently acquired correspondence shows the effort was led by C.M. Breedlove, (AUS, Ret), along with several other retired officers. They received their charter at the September 13, 1960 meeting, held then as now on the second Tuesday of the month. Regrettably, history of the chapter’s early activities are lost to time, but it has been described by some as essentially an opportunity for its members to socialize and stay in touch with one another and others they had served with across the country. National MOAA records reflect that the chapter unfortunately fell into distress around the turn of the century before seeking a “rescue” effort from the national office. The Chapter regained its viability in 2006 and began a steady climb to its current stature of prominence in the Grand Strand area. The resurrection of the Chapter began with the late Captain Ross Word (USN, Ret) spearheading its reconstitution and reinvigorating it with increased membership. Much of his effort and those of his compatriots was spent laying the foundation for an organization that would stand the test of time. Three years later, Lieutenant Colonel Roger Pilcher (USMC, Ret) took the reins of leadership and guided the Chapter to its next level of success. Among achievements during his 4 1/2 year tenure, the Chapter membership grew from 37 to 121. The Chapter won its first 5-Star Level of Excellence Award and followed that with two more. It captured its first 4-star MOAA communications award, began its involvement in the Myrtle Beach Military Appreciation Days, hosted the second South Carolina Council of Chapters conference, increased the size and number of scholarships for high school JROTC cadets, and held its first annual golf tournament. Other initiatives were undertaken to support veterans throughout the Grand Strand and beyond. In the ensuing 5 1/2 years, the Chapter has grown its support for JROTC, ROTC, and veterans assistance. It has been a major sponsor of the annual Stand Down and provides financial support for ROTC cadets at Coastal Carolina University and JROTC units at 17 area high schools including scholarships and leadership awards. Scholarship Chairman Hans Duerr reports that the Chapter has awarded 43 scholarships worth $66,750 since that program started in 2007. More recently, the Chapter expanded its activities to partner with groups such as the Low Country Veterans Group, Toys for Tots, and other area veteran support organizations to assist homeless and nearhomeless veterans and their families. Establishment this year of a Veterans Outreach Council and an effort by Chaplain Greg Hill to identify and inter the unclaimed remains of deceased veterans have added new programs to the Chapter’s agenda. These accomplishments have been achieved through exceptional leadership and the hard work and unselfish support of a Chapter membership devoted to supporting those who share the experience of military service in the past and those who will serve in the future.

SOUTH CAROLINA COUNCIL OF CHAPTERS

We are one of ten MOAA chapters in the state of South Carolina, and a member of the South Carolina Council of Chapters. To view their website, please click on this link South Carolina MOAA Chapters to locate a chapter near you and learn more about the South Carolina Council of MOAA Chapters.


NATIONAL MOAA HEADQUARTERS

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MOAA is the nation's largest and most influential association of military officers. It is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization. 

With more than 360,000 members from every branch of service - including active duty, National Guard, Reserve, retired, former officers, and their families - MOAA is a powerful force speaking for a strong national defense and representing the interests of military officers at every stage of their careers.

MOAA's highest priority is providing first-class service to our members. We are the leading voice on compensation and benefit matters for all members of the military community. We provide expert advice and guidance to our members.

See National MOAA Tab for more information.

Why join MOAA is discussed in the following video link:       http://www.moaa.org/whymoaa/      MOAA and its affiliated chapters and councils are nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations. The National MOAA "Take Action" link is:  http://takeaction.moaa.org 



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Editorial Policy: This website and “The Coastal Tide Newsletter" are published by the Grand Strand Chapter, which is an affiliate of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). 

    

Attached below is the updated MOAA Insurance Logo Ad for 2024; sponsored by AMBA, Association Member Benefits & Insurance Agency.

 





The Grand Strand Chapter, an Affiliate of National MOAA, is a 501(c)3 organization.

Mailing Address:  Grand Strand Chapter MOAA,  P.O. Box 15842,  Surfside Beach, SC. 29587

Follow us on Facebook:  Grand Strand Chapter MOAA or GSMOAA

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