President’s Message December 2024

17 December 2024

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

As the end of the year approaches, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your support.  The Executive Board deserves recognition also for all the hard work they do in support of YOUR chapter.  When you see members of the Board, please let them know how much you appreciate their service.

Thanks to all who emplaced and recovered US Flags at the Fort Sill National Cemetery last month. I’d also like to thank those who placed wreaths at both the Fort Sill Post Cemetery and Fort Sill National Cemetery on 14 December. It was very satisfying to know that we were honoring all those veterans.

I also want to thank everyone who volunteered to assist with Bingo at the Lawton Veterans Home on 10 December.  The SWOK MOAA Chapter provided over $200 in prize money for the games. Each veteran was afforded the opportunity to win at least $1.00. It was great fun for all who participated!

It is not too late to make a tax-deductible donation to the SWOK MOAA Scholarship Fund. If you are of a certain age, you can make a Qualified Charitable Deduction from your IRA. Our goal is to award $6,000.00 in 2025.

For planning purposes here are the dates of our 2025 General Membership Meetings:

      15 January 2025            
      12 March 2025                
      13 May 2025 (Annual Dinner - Social time starts at 1730, dinner at 1800)    
      10 September 2025            
      12 November 2025

Our next General Membership Meeting will be at 1130, 15 January 2025 in the Prairie Building, Comanche County Fairgrounds. The invitations will go out soon. I will present the Annual State of the Chapter Briefing, we will install the Executive Board officers for the 2025-2026 term of office, and we will conduct the annual meeting of Scholarship Fund. Please let Dennis Clippinger know if you plan to attend not later than 10 January 2025. His contact information is: 

      Tel: (580) 585-0251 or email: dennis.clippinger@sbcglobal.net

Again, thanks for all you do to support our veterans! 
Never Stop Serving!

Don DuRant
Chapter President
SWOK MOAA