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On Saturday, January 15^th, for the sixty-fourth time since our founding, we conducted the formal change of the chapter’s leadership and presented outstanding volunteers with awards at our Installation and Awards Banquet in Colony Hall, Indian River Colony Club.   VADM Donald Hagen, USN-Ret, the 31^st Surgeon General of the U.S. Navy officiated the swearing-in of the Chapter’s 2022 leadership team where Colonel Steve Bond, USA-Ret, turned the Chapter Presidency over to CMDR Ken Lowe, USNR-Ret.  Other chapter officers and directors were also sworn-in to their positions on the Board of Directors.  See page 5 for the full listing of all the Chapter’s 2022 Officers and Directors. 

At the Banquet, the following awards were presented to exemplary Chapter Volunteers:

• MOAACC Certificates of Appreciation were presented to Grace Catron-Spouse Member; Alexis Hopkins-Volunteer; and Lisa Schroeder-Spouse Member.

• MOAACC Certificates of Merit went to 1LT Doug Bissett, USA-Fmr; COL Jerry Gill, USAR-Ret; CW3 Amir Pishdad, USA-Ret; and, Marilyn Sanford, Spouse Member.
• MAJ Lorraine Holland, USA-Ret, our East Central Florida Council (FCOC) Area Vice President presented MOAA FCOC Leadership Awards to COL Steve Bond, USA-Ret; Col Gary Eppler, USAF-Ret; CW3 Dan Smith, USA-Ret; and LTC Tim Thomas, USA-Ret.
• The MOAACC Outstanding Citizen Award went to CPT Donn Weaver, USA-Fmr, for his untiring efforts in our community.
• MOAACC Awards went to Mary McIntyre, Spouse Member, and Cozette Merritt, Surviving Spouse Member, for their long-time and faithful service to the Chapter.
• The Chapter’s highest award, The Distinguished Service Award went to COL Mike Schroeder, USA-Ret, for his diligent and faithful service as the Chapter’s Treasurer, Website and Database Manager over the past several years.

Thank you to all our volunteers and congratulations to our award recipients!  Special thanks to the Chapter’s 2021 Leadership Team for their great work and successes in a very challenging year and we wish the very best to the Chapter’s Leadership Team for 2022! 

Pictures and Captions below:

VADM Don Hagen conducts the swearing in of new chapter officers and directors.

L-R:  LTC Bill Vanasse, USA-Ret, Asst. Treasurer; COL Mike Schroeder, USA-Ret, Treasurer; Capt Bill Muckler, USMC-Fmr, Asst. Secretary; CMDR Bill Cox, USNR-Ret, 2^nd Vice President; Lt Col Brian Whalen, USAF-Ret, 1^st Vice President; CMDR Ken Lowe, USNR-Ret, President.  At Podium, VADM Don Hagen; COL Steve Bond, USA-Ret, Past President-Senior Board Director; Col Mike Gautreaux, USMC-Ret, Director; and Lt Col Joe Tichich, USAF-Ret, Director. 

Not Shown:  CAPT Arnold Lim, USN-Ret, Secretary; Directors: Capt Larry Jackson, USAF-Fmr; Col Richard Kniseley, USAF-Ret; LCDR Daniel Levy, USN-Fmr); and CAPT Rita Shapiro, USPHS-Ret.

VADM Don Hagen, USN-Ret.

LTC Cynthia Watkins-Pishdad, USA-Ret sings the National Anthem.

COL Steve Bond presents Certificates of Achievement to Lisa Schroeder-Spouse Member (Left) and Alexis Hopkins-Volunteer (Center).

Grace Catron, Spouse Member, is presented with a Certificate of Appreciation.

Marilyn Sanford, Spouse Member and CW2 Pish Pishdad receive Certificates of Merit.  Also receiving awards not shown:  COL Jerry Gill, USAR-Ret and 1^st LT Doug Bissett, USA-Fmr.

MAJ Lorraine Holland, USA-Ret, Florida Council of Chapters (FCOC) Area Vice President presents COL Steve Bond with the FCOC Leadership Award.

Col Gary Eppler, USAF-Ret receives the FCOC Leadership Award.

LTC Tim Thomas, USA-Ret receives the FCOC Leadership Award from MAJ Lorraine Holland.

CPT Donn Weaver, USA-Fmr (L) receives the MOAACC Outstanding Citizen Award.

Cozette Merritt, Surviving Spouse Member (L) and Mary McIntyre, Spouse Member (Center) receive MOAACC Awards.

COL Mike Schroeder (Center) receives the Chapter’s Highest Award, the Distinquished Service Award at the Installation and Awards Banquet on January 15^th.

CMDR Ken Lowe, USNR-Ret (L) and MOAACC President is congratulated by VADM Hagen (R).

Ken addresses attendees at the Banquet for the first time as Chapter President.