(VC01)
Uniformed Services Nurse Advocates Virtual Chapter

A major part of the focus of the chapter is, of course, advocacy. To that end, we have all members sign up for the MOAA Legislative Action Center notices. We just ask that you look for these calls to action and respond to support them. This is particularly true for issues involving health care. 

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COL Jeri Graham, ANC (Ret) and LTC Joe Gollasch, ANC (Ret) started the very first MOAA Virtual Chapter in 2016, known as the MOAA Army Nurse Advocates Virtual Chapter (MANAVC). This has now transitioned to an all-service MOAA Uniformed Services Nurse Advocates Virtual Chapter (MUSNAVC). The chapter is an “affinity group”, with a strategic vision focused on healthcare issues. Its members share camaraderie, in a virtual environment, with Uniformed Service Nurse Corps leaders and colleagues seeking to make a difference and to “Never Stop Serving”. 

There are currently members located in all fifty states, covering 204 Congressional districts. Our membership includes Active Duty, Reserve, and retired nurses from the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. As Nurses, we devoted our lives to serving others and this is a way to continue to serve by being advocates on Military Healthcare issues. We all belong to National MOAA and most of our members belong to other MOAA local chapters as well as other Nursing organizations. We all have busy lives and only ask that you participate to the degree that you can. For active-duty members, their Virtual Chapter membership will follow duty assignment changes and even deployments, so there is no need to change chapter membership as they move or PCS. There are no dues or fees associated with joining MUSNAVC.

A major part of the focus of the chapter is, of course, advocacy. To that end, we have all members sign up for the MOAA Legislative Action Center notices. We just ask that you look for these calls to action and respond to support them. This is particularly true for issues involving health care.

The chapter has a (virtual) meeting on the third Wednesday of the month, at 7:45 PM, Eastern Time. You will receive an "invitation" every month, which will contain instructions on how to join the screen-sharing meeting, both online, and by phone. The online capability allows us to view slides supporting the flow of the meeting and presentations by our guest speakers.

As Uniformed Services Nurses, we’ve all had the experience of developing and executing the goals and objectives of Strategic Plans. National MOAA’s current Strategic Plan is well thought out and as you’ll note, very inclusive of healthcare-related issues. As Nurse Advocates, we are dedicated to doing what we can to actualize those important goals and objectives. 

MOAA is a non-partisan organization advocating for the military community. It is a leading advocate and lobbyist for personnel benefits, military readiness/national defense, and resources to support the military, veterans, and their families. At the top of its list are healthcare issues. If you are a member of another MOAA Chapter you may still join, as you may belong to as many chapters as desired. We all have busy lives and only ask that you participate to the degree that you can.