Best Practices for Council Conventions
Many MOAA councils host annual or biennial conventions to foster unity and good communication among chapter members in the state. Personnel in MOAA’s Council and Chapter Affairs Department believe hosting a state convention is so important that during the Levels of Excellence Award competition 15 points are awarded to councils that host annual conventions.
Typically, conventions are held in different parts of the state each year to encourage participation, with the chapter in that area hosting the convention. Members of the Genesee Valley (N.Y.) Chapter hosted the 2013 New York State Council of Chapters Convention at the Inn on the Lake Waterfront Resort and Conference Center in Canandaigua, N.Y. The scenic location helped draw attendees, and the event was timed to avoid conflicts with other must-attend events, such as national MOAA’s Annual Meeting, Council Presidents’ Seminar, and Chapter Leaders’ Symposium. The venue also offered a military room rate and complimentary meeting space, where members conducted council business and discussed state lobbying efforts.
Capt. Gerald Luzum, USN (Ret), president of the Genesee Valley Chapter, advises leaders to begin planning at least 18 months in advance and leave 5 percent to 10 percent in the budget to cover contingencies. Luzum also developed a state convention how-to guide, which other council leaders can use. Contents of the document appear below. Permission is granted to download and use the documents as you see fit. (Spreadsheets are presented in Adobe PDF and editable Microsoft Excel format.)
Convention_Schedule Draft
Draft email to non-chapter MOAA members