President’s Message
Dear MOAA Maine Chapter Members,
As we welcome the winter season and the start of a new year, I’m reminded of the enduring strength of our community and the purpose that binds us together. The Military Officers Association of America continues to guide our work with a clear and compelling mission: to advocate for a strong national defense and to ensure that all uniformed service members—past, present, and future—and their families receive the benefits they have earned. MOAA’s vision remains equally inspiring: to be the leading voice for the military community and a powerful force for shaping a secure future for those who serve.
Key Issues Affecting Service Members and Veterans This Winter
The months of January and February often bring important developments in the military and veteran landscape. This year is no exception, with several topics of significance shaping the national conversation:
Updates to Veterans’ Benefits: Each new year typically brings adjustments to VA compensation rates, education benefits, and support programs—changes that directly impact many of our members and their families. Staying informed ensures we can continue to advocate effectively and help one another navigate evolving benefits.
Focus on Veteran Employment: Earlyyear employment data often highlights trends in veteran hiring, workforce participation, and transition support. These insights reinforce the importance of continued advocacy for strong employment pathways and resources for those leaving active service.
Strengthening Support Systems: Winter months can be challenging for many veterans, particularly those facing housing insecurity, health concerns, or caregiving needs. National efforts to expand support programs remind us of the ongoing importance of community engagement and outreach.
These developments underscore why MOAA’s advocacy matters—and why our chapter’s voice is essential here in
Maine.
Growing Our Chapter, Strengthening Our Impact
As we look ahead, one of our most strategic priorities is membership growth. A larger, more engaged chapter
means:
A stronger voice in state and national advocacy
Greater capacity to support local veterans and families
More opportunities for fellowship, mentorship, and community service
I encourage each of you to help us expand our reach. Invite a fellow officer—active, retired, Guard, Reserve, or surviving spouse—to join us. With that in mind, we have our next MOAA Maine Luncheon scheduled for Saturday, March 7th @ 1130 at the So. Me. Military Museum – please bring someone with you! Share what MOAA has meant to you. Every new member strengthens our mission and ensures our chapter remains vibrant and influential for years to come. Also please mark your calendars for our Annual MOAA Maine Golf Tournament to be held on Wednesday, July 22nd at the Dunegrass Golf Club once again… and be sure to bring your golfing friends!!!
Honoring Former Chapter Chair Brenda Pennels
Finally, it is my privilege to recognize Brenda Pennels, who recently completed six years of dedicated service as Chair of the MOAA Maine Chapter. Brenda’s leadership, energy, and unwavering commitment have left a lasting mark on our organization. Her efforts strengthened our advocacy, expanded our community presence, and ensured that our chapter remained a respected voice for Maine’s military community. We extend our deepest gratitude for her service and her continued support of our mission. Brenda received our Ann LePage Service to Veterans Award for 2025.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to MOAA and to one another. Together, we will continue
to advocate, support, and lead with purpose. I look forward to all we will accomplish in the year
ahead.
My best regards, Paul Loiselle, President, MOAA Maine Chapter
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Maine Military Museum
Saturday, March 7, 2026
The first Quarterly Meeting of the Southern Maine Chapter, MOAA, for this calendar year will take place at the Maine Military Museum, 50 Peary Terrace, South Portland, on Saturday, March 7, 2025. The guest speaker will be Mr. Dave Richmond. Dave has been the Director, Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services since March 2019.
Please click here to complete the Reservation Form: https://moaasouthernmaine.org/reservation-form/ We’ve made payment easier by including a QR code, or you can still mail a check if you prefer.
Southern Maine Chapter Supporters (2025)
The Chapter is able to continue its annual operations because of the year in and year out support provided by our members through their annual dues. In many cases, members provide additional assistance through their voluntary contributions to the General Fund and the ROTC/JROTC programs. In order to appropriately recognize their support and generosity, the Chapter has established four categories of supporters. The Standard Bearers are those members who have paid their dues for the current year. Bronze Star members have donated up to $29.00 extra to the Chapter. Silver Star members have donated up to $49.00 extra. Gold Star members have donated $50.00 or more. Regardless of the level of contribution, the Chapter is sincerely grateful for their continuing support.
Gold Star
Frank Toderico, Bill Libby, Mary Hoffman, William Hall, Marston Lovell, Robert Curtis, John Ham, Craig Smith,
MarkPatrick, Michael Pooler, Linwood Stockwell, Scott Berry, Stephen Broughall, Michael Delia,
Charles Hennessey, Alan Ryan, Ed Stanhope, Richard Tetrev, James Varmecky, Gloria Hall, David Tanguay
Silver Star
James Cumming, Greg Lewis, Jean Gardner, Joan Hunter, Douglas Scott, Richard Bailey, Gerald Bouchard,
David Campbell, Donald Grinnell, Ronald Lubatti, Rob McAleer, Thomas Meyers, Robert Sawyer, Charles VanVLack
Bronze Star
Bradley Dupee, Laurence Minott, Jack Bauman, John Bowen, Michael Conlon, Mary Donovan, James Dunn,
Jonathan Goode, Donald Lowry, Donald Marden, Harvey McCullough, Stanley Primmer, Michael Severance,
James Ware, Edward Baehr, Anthony Liguori, Don Welsh, David Beattie, Paul Loveless
Standard Bearer
Frank Amoroso, Ralph Black, Nate Cagel, David Carmack, Charles Cragin, Paul Cuenin, Thomas Donovan,
Thomas Driscoll, John Fay, Lorinda Fontaine-Farris, Adolph Galonski, Ginny Garneau, Michael Garrity, Eric Gates,
Connie Harrison, Michael Johnson, Frank Jones, Paul Loiselle, Fred Masciangelo, James Oikle, David Patch,
Charlie Pearson, Kenneth Pence, Brenda Pennels, Helen Przywara, Chip Ridky, Jane Ridky, Frederick Schwab,
John Thibault, Art Wickham, Marc Cloutier
Annual Membership Dues
Folks — You may remember from the December Newsletter that we are holding our annual dues drive and hoping to complete it by February 1. Many of you have submitted your payments. Some of you have not. If you fall into the second category, please take a minute to send in your $20.00 payment to Treasurer, Col Steve Broughall, PO Box 113, Orr’s Island, ME 04096. Or use the QR code shown below:
As always, Emeritus Members and Auxiliary Members are not required to pay dues. Also, any Members that joined after October 1, 2025, are considered as paid in full for 2026. Here is a link to our form: https://www.moaasouthernmaine.org/dues.html.
Thank you for your continuing support.
Rob McAleer (Membership Chair)
Email: rmcaleer04079@gmail.com
2026 Dates for ROTC/JROTC Award Ceremonies
There are a total of 8 Junior Programs and 4 Senior ROTC Programs that our Southern Maine Chapter supports. I have listed them below broken down by Military Branch. For the programs that we have dates of their awards presentation, they have been listed along with the phone number of the school. Any member that wishes to epresent the Chapter by presenting the award should contact the school.
Junior ROTC: ARMY
Bangor High School 207-992-5570. (May 9, 2026)
Hermon High School 207-848-5436. (May 1, 2026)
Nokomis Regional High School 207-368-5239. (May 2026, day TBD)
Old Town High School 207-827-3910 ext 309. (March 28, 2026)
Sacopee Valley High School 207-625-2303. (May 28, 2026)
Junior ROTC: AIR FORCE
Brewer High School 207-989-4140. (May, date TBD)
Lewiston High School 207-795-4190 ext 5246 (TBD)
Junior ROTC: NAVY
Massabesic High School 207-247-5011. (May 7, 2026)
Senior ROTC: ARMY
University of Maine, Orono 207-581-1121. Awards Ceremony (TBD) Commissioning (May 8, 2026)
University of Southern Maine, Portland, Gorham; 207-891-1839. Awards Ceremony/Commissioning (TBD)
Senior ROTC: NAVY
University of Maine, Orono 207-581-1551. Commissioning (May 9, 2026)
Maine Maritime Academy, Castine 207-326-2356. Commissioning (May 2, 2026) Awards Ceremony at Castine. (March 27, 2026)
Presently, we support them by providing annual awards and a gift for deserving cadets in both the JROTC and the Senior ROTC programs. The Chapter also provides a $750 scholarship for the Senior ROTC Detachments listed above.
NOTE: The Pine Tree Chapter of MOAA closed its doors effective 2021. Our Chapter is the only one in the State of
Maine that supports the JROTC and SROTC programs.
Submitted by Col Frank Toderico, ROTC Chair
2026 Upcoming Events
Wed, July 22 Chapter Annual Golf Tournament fundraiser, Dunegrass Country Club, Old Orchard Beach. FMI: Jack Fay 207.883.6447 or Mike Delia 207-967-4571
Sat, Aug 1 MOAA Clambake, Naval Shipyard, Kittery, sponsored jointly with the MOAA NH Chapter. More details in the June newsletter and online at: www.moaasouthernmaine.org.
Member Name Tag Badges
Change to name tag policy: Members who do not already have a name tag may request one for free in 2026. The fee for a replacement name tag or an additional name tag for a family member or significant other will be $5.00 each. We have been able to source name tags at a reasonable cost and want to offer this benefit to our members.
Send name tag requests (with payment, if required) to the chapter MOAA Treasurer, PO Box 113, Orr’s Island ME 04066; or email to broughall.stephen@gmail.com
Name tag requests should be formatted as in this example:
JOHN DOE
CDR, USN (ret)
Also specify the type of attachment: pin, magnet, or clip.
Submitted by Stephen Broughall
Welcome Aboard
The Chapter would like to extend a warm Welcome Aboard to the following new members:
Captain David Bennet, USN and Carol from Augusta, ME
Lieutenant Adam Davis, ARNG and Katie from Windham, ME
Brigadier General Willaim Davis from Portsmouth, NH
Lieutenant Colonel Philip Plourde, USMC/USAF and Kelly from Acton, ME
Chief Warrant Officer-4 Ryan Tuttle, USA and Jessica from Windham, ME
We are grateful for your interest in our Chapter and look forward to meeting you at a future lunch meeting.
Rob McAleer, Membership Chair