2010

    It was a beautiful, crisp winter's day for the chapter to hold its first luncheon of the new year.  We returned to the attractive Promises To Keep after a five year absence on January 23, 2010.  92 members and guests enjoyed an appetizing meal and good fellowship.  We were pleased to have MG Kenneth Clark, USAF (Ret.), former Adjutant General for the state of New Hampshire, as our guest speaker.  He gave us an overview of his long career and provided his perspective on the current situation of the National Guard, Reserve and regular armed forces.  We wre joined by four first time members:  Dino Vlahaki of Lebanon, Jack Lyons of Intervale and Robert & Lee Lillijedahl of New Durham.
 

Please check in here

Socializing before lunch

January Luncheon

The Head Table

Speaker's Gift

    It was an overcast day, but fortunately the threatened rain held off.  The chapter held its second meeting and luncheon of the year on April 4, 2009 at the Portsmouth Country Club in Greenland.  This was the first time the chapter had held an event there, and the 149 members and guest in attendance were impressed.  The food was delicious and the staff cordial!  We were pleased to have Capt Ed Johnson, USMCR (Ret.) the Chairman of the Pease Greeters as our guest of honor and speaker.  He gave us a very moving and heartwarming overview of who the Pease Greaters are and what they do.  They have met over 250 flights of military personell of all services who pass through the Pease Air Terminal, both deploying overseas and returning home from overseas.  They were honored and recognized by President George W. Bush with a visit to the White House in 2008.  We were joined by one first time member:  Charles & Carol McAdams of Dover.  Two potential members were also introduced - Maryann Parnell of York, ME, who joined on the spot and Peter Dawson of Portsmouth, who said he would join (as a life member) as soon as he got home.
 

Socializing before lunch

More socializing

April Luncheon

The Head Table

Guest Speaker

    It was a beautiful day at the end of May when the chapter held it's third meeting and luncheon of the year on May 30, 2009, at Hart's Turkey Farm in Meredith.  The drive there was scenic no matter what direction from which people came.  This was the first time we had returned to Hart's since 1992, although we had enjoyed their famous turkey dinner on three occasions since then when we rode the Winnipesaukee and Hobo R. R.'s.  This time 73 members and guests were treated to a choice of their famous turkey dinner or equally delicious Roast Beef dinner.  Everyone raved about the meals!  The program for this luncheon was a chapter staff update by various members of the chapter on their areas of responsibility within the chapter.  We were joined by four first time members:  Allen & Darleen Chadwick of Virginia Beach, VA and John & Dorothy Zareas of Bristol.
 

Please check in here

Socializing before lunch

The Head Table

May Luncheon

    After many days of rain and gloom, it was a beautiful day on August 1, 2009, when the Chapter held it's Annual Clambake at Jamaica Island on the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY).  395 members, families and guests thoroughly enjoyed our traditional feast of clam chowder, lobster, clams, steak, wurst, corn-on-the-cob, potatoes, onions and watermelon.  The cookie lady, Mary Beth Moran, was back selling home baked (by her) cookies in support of the Scholarship Loan Fund.  The Department of Veteran Affairs' new Vet Van was on display and attracted a number of interested visitors.  Staffers from Senator Shaheen's and Representative Shea-Porter's offices made the rounds of the various groups.

    Again this year we extended invitations to neighboring MOAA chapters to join us for our now famous Clambake.  Our western cousins from Vermont in the Green Mountain Chapter along with cousins from "south of the border" Massachusetts chapter Nashoba Valley joined the best chapter of MOAA at our Clambake.  We were joined by four new chapter members in attendance for their first MOAA-NH event:  Ann Malconian of Exeter, Jim & Jeanne Mitchell of Salem and Joan Trelease of Rochester.

    The main benefit of the Clambake, other than to enjoy a great home cooked clambake, is to support the Chapter's Scholarship Loan Fund.  This locally run program helps children and grandchildren of the New Hampshire Chapter members with college expenses by awarding interest free loans of $2000.00 to $3000.00 per academic year.  This year SIX students will receive loans.  Thank you to all who contributed!!

    Finally, a special Bravo Zulu to all those who made this event as successful as it was.  It could not have been done without all the hard work of the chapter volunteers!!
 

Please check in here	Volunteers hard at work	Preparing the "bake"	Vet Van
Socializing before lunch	The "Chow Line"	Serving the "chow"	Enjoying the delicious meal!

    It was a beautiful autumn day in New Hampshire when the chapter held its Fall Meeting and Luncheon at the Grand Summit Resort Hotel in Bartlett on September 26, 2009.  Unfortunately, the fall foliage was not at its peak so the leaf peepers did not have as scenic a drive up there as they might.  Only 49 members and guests made tthe trip up to the north country, but those that did were treated to a delicious meal!  We were pleased to have Phil Dyer, CFP®, RLP®, Deputy Director,  Financial Education, MOAA as our guest speaker.  He gave a very informative presentation on planning for the necessity of financal prepation for retirement and the eventual end that we must all face.  We were joined by two first timers - Karen and Jim Umberger of Kearsarge.
 

September Luncheon

The Head Table

Speaker's Gift

    It was a sunny, crisp, Autumn day when the New Hampshire Chapter celebrated our thirtieth anniversary!  The chapter held our Annual Meeting and Luncheon, as usual, at the Manchester Country Club in Bedford on November 7, 2009.  While the members' business meeting was going on, the spouses and friends received a slide briefing on the two upcoming chapter "group travel" trips in 2010 from Christian Leibl-Cote of Collette Vacations.  144 members and guests participated in the traditional playing of all the service marches.  In commemoration of our anniversary, each person attending received a very attractive "Challenge Coin"!  (See the attached picture.)  As always, the staff of the Country Club served a delicious meal and provided outstanding service!  Our scheduled speaker, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, didn't show; so Christian Leibl-Cote volunteered to provide a brief overview of Collette Vacations in general.  MOAA national board member (and NH Chapter member) Col R. Bancroft McKittrick, USMC (Ret.) presided over the installation of this year's officers and Board of Directors for the chapter.  The results of the annual elections can be found on the "Chapter News" page.  Bancroft McKittrick also presented the chapter with our Battle Streamer, in recognition for the seventh year in a row of our being selected as a 5 Star Chapter.  Last, but definitely not least, the chapter presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Col Mary Beth Moran, USAF (Ret.) for her many years of service to the chapter as Recording Secretary and Secretary!  We were joined by two first time members:  Barry Bradford of New London and Anthony Burdo of Hooksett.
 

Business Meeting

Spouses' Program

Swearing In	5 Star Award	Award for Mary Beth Moran
November Luncheon	Head Table	Speaker's Gift