2012

    The snow was falling and cars were sliding, but that did not deter 102 loyal members and guests from braving the elements to attend the first luncheon of the new year on January 21, 2012 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nahsua.  It has been three years since we were at the Crowne Plaza.  This time the menu received mixed reviews.  The program for the luncheon was to present the first annual Granite State Warriors Awards. This award, started by MOAA-NH, will be presented to the New Hampshire resident or NH-based organization making the most significant contribution to the Armed Forces of the United States.  The recipients of the 2011 Award were:

Paul Moore, the driving force and backbone of MooreMart.  Established in 2004, MooreMart has provided over 44,000 "Care Packages" to members of the armed forces from New Hampshire serving in the Middle East, Iraq, and Afghanistan, hospitalized armed forces personnel at the Walter Reed National Medical Center, residents of the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton, and homeless veterans in the state.
Joseph W. McQuaid, President and Publisher of the New Hampshire Union Leader and Union Leader Photographer Bob LaPree. Joe and Bob spent several months embedded with Charlie Company of the New Hampshire National Guard on deployment to Afghanistan. The Union Leader coverage of the men and women of Charlie Company and their Afghan mission provided invaluable insight into and recognition of their contributions to the War on Terror.

January Luncheon	Head Table	January Luncheon
Paul Moore	Union Leader	Award Recipients

    It was a cold and very blustery day on the beach at Hampton Beach when the chapter held its second meeting and luncheon of the year on April 16, 2011, at the Ashworth by the Sea Hotel.  Some guests had a hard time fighting the wind but 157 members and guests gathered out of the cold for a good meal and an interesting program.  There was concern whether we would have a guest speaker at all, but after several iterations, we were pleased to have Captain L. Bryant Fuller III, USN, the Commander of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, as our guest of honor.  He gave a very thorough slide briefing on what is going on now at PNSY, including the overhaul of the USS Virginia, and what is in store for the future.  We were joined by two first time members:  Miller Graf of Newburyport, MA and Bernard Doherty of New Castle.
 

April Luncheon

Head Table

Speaker's Gift

    It was a beautiful clear day when the chapter held its Late Spring Meeting and Luncheon on June 4, 2011, at the Indian Head Resort in Lincoln, NH.  80 members and guests made the treck up to the White Mountains Region to attend the luncheon.  This was our first time back at the Indian Head Resort in four years and the "Hot Indian Pudding" was just as good as people remembered!  We were pleased to have Maggie Stiers, Chair, Education & Outreach, The Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Fund as our guest speaker.  She gave a very informative and entertaining history of the state symbol and plans for a monument to the Old Man of the Mountain.  She offered to give a tour of the site to those who wanted to join her after the luncheon.
 

The Indian Head

June Luncheon

Head Table

Speaker's Gift

    Although the weathermen were predicting thunderstorms, it turned out to be a beautiful day on August 6, 2011, when the Chapter held it's Annual Clambake at Jamaica Island on the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY).  Attendance was down a bit this year (the economy or members just getting older?) with 375 members, families and guests gathering to thoroughly enjoy 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.  We were joined by US Senator Kelly Ayotte (also the wife of chapter member Joe Daley), US Representative Frank Guinta as well as a staff member from US Senator Jeanne Shaheen's office who all made the rounds talking with many of those in attendance.  We were also pleased to have as our guest, the Shipyard Commander, CAPT Bryant Fuller, USN, his wife Candice.

    Again this year we extended invitations to neighboring MOAA chapters to join us for our now famous Clambake.  Our western cousins from the Vermont Chapter along with cousins from "south of the border" Massachusetts chapters Nashoba Valley and PioneerValley joined the best chapter of MOAA at our Clambake.  We were joined by nine chapter members in attendance for their first MOAA-NH event:  Van-George & Jayne Belanger of Monroe, Gregory & Arlene d'Arbonne of Brookline, William McDonough of Kittery, ME, Maureen Mullins of Rindge, Richard & Desiree Tidwell of Manchester 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 NINE 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!!
 

MOAA-NH 20011 Clambake	Volunteers Hard At Work	Preparing The Food	Please Check In Here
The "Chow Line"	The Line Goes On	Finally Food!!	The Steak Ladies
Enjoying The Sylvan Setting	Good Food, Good Friends	Sen Ayotte, Son w/ Chapter Mbrs	Rep Guinta w/ Chapter Members

    It was a gloomy, rainy day when the chapter held its Fall Meeting and Luncheon at Hart's Turkey Farm in Meredith, NH.  This year's Fall meeting was held on October 1st, much later in the year than usual.  By this time the folliage should have been in full color, but it was not so, for those who made the journey, the scenery was not worth admiring in the rain.  103 members and guests were treated to a choice of their famous turkey dinner or equally delicious Roast Beef dinner.  Everyone seemed to enjoy their meals!  Prior to the luncheon, chapter member Col Robert W Fortnam, USAF (Ret.) was awarded the Air Force Air Medal for a mission flown over Europe during World War II.  See the Chaper News page for photos of the event.  Our scheduled speaker, Dr. Mark Levensen, the Director of the Manchester VA Medical Center (VAMC), was unable to attend so, in his place, Ms. Tammy Follansbee, Associate Director of the VAMC, spoke on current projects at the Medical Center and aked for feedback from the audience as to any good or bad experiences they may have had at the Manchecter VAMC.  We welcomed four first time members who joind the chapter at the luncheon:   David & Cherie Frye of Rye and Art & Kathy Vogel or York, ME.
 

Please Check In Here	Socializing Before Lunch	Fall Luncheon
Fall 11 Luncheon	The Head Table	The Speaker

    It was a beautiful, crisp, fall day (a definite change from last weekend's surprise snowstorm!) for the chapter's Annual Meeting and Luncheon!  We are in our second decade of holding our Annual Meeting and Luncheon at the Manchester Country Club in Bedford, and they have not disappointed us ever!!  This year's meeting was held on November 5, 2011.  While the members' business meeting was going on, the spouses and friends listened to a somewhat confusing presentation by Marie Brochu, of the Manchester VA Regional Office, on widows' benefits.  136 members and guests participated in the traditional playing of all the service marches.  Unfortunately, again this year no one was present from NOAA nor USPHS to stand up for their marches.  President CDR Peter S. Burdett, USN (Ret.) pointed out the Battle Streamer that he received at the MOAA Annual Meeting in recognition for the ninth year in a row of our chapter being selected as a 5 Star Chapter. 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.  Once again, the staff of the Country Club served a delicious meal and provided outstanding service!  We were honored to have as our guest speaker, former New Hampshire Governor John H. Sununu, who gave a spirited and thought-provoking talk on the current world, national and state situations.  We were joined by three first time members:   Henry & Elizabeth Otto of New London and Donna Horan of Bedford.
 

Business Meeting	Spouses' Program	Swearing In
November Luncheon	Head Table	Speaker's Gift