About Coachella Valley Chapter of MOAA
The mission of CVC-MOAA is to support directly and through our military community. This includes active, retired, former commissioned and warrant officers of all seven uniformed services including the National Guard and Reserve components and their surviving spouses; support the membership in any way possible to preserve and enhance their rights benefits and entitlements, and quality of life.
Latest News
MARCH CVC-MOAA UPDATE
Date Published: 03/08/2026
MARCH GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
The CVC-MOAA General Membership meeting is Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 11:00 am at the Oasis Country Club on Casbah and East Hovley Lane in Palm Desert.
Our guest speaker is Todd Anton, author, educator and a Trustee for the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, LA. He has written five books: Distant Thunder: The Field Artillery of the 70th Infantry Division in WWII. No Greater Love: Stories from the Men Who Save Baseball, When Baseball Went to War, When Football Went to War, Big Leagues: Bigger Heart Personal Stories from Major League Pitcher Don Ferrarese.
Anton has been a teacher for over 24 years. His ability to work closely with his students and World War II veterans has earned him national recognition:
- For an extensive oral history collection (nearly 5,000) involving combat veterans from WWI to the present. As a result of his nomination as VFW “Teacher of the Year.”
- Legendary author/historian Dr. Stephen E. Ambrose took Todd under his wing and encouraged him to achieve even more.
- Anton serves on the Board of Trustees for the late Dr. Stephen Ambrose’s National World War II Museum and the museum has featured Todd as a speaker at a gala function in Washington DC honoring members of Congress.
Anton is the son of Wallace P. Anton, a highly decorated combat soldier who served in the U.S. Army during World War II with the 70th Infantry Division and during the Korean War. Wallace P. Anton landed in southern France in August 1944, fought to the German Boarder. His father’s military service offered Todd an early connection to World War II.
Todd continues to work as a U.S. history instructor for more than three decades at the Heritage High School in Snowline Unified School District in Phelan, California.
The choice for out lunch menu is either a turkey, cheddar cheese sandwich on sourdough with fries or the Oasis Par 3 salad with a scoop of tuna salad, egg salad and chicken salad, mixed greens with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrot curls, sliced red onion and dressing each for $35.00.
Contact LTC Alan Tibbetts, USA (Ret) at
MARCH AIR FORCE RESERVE BASE TOUR
The March Air Force Reserve Based Tour scheduled for March 26, 2026 has been cancelled due to operational issues. It will be rescheduled - date TBD.
MARVYN’S MAGIC SHOW
Thank you to all the members that attended the MARVYN’S Magic Show on Thursday, February 19, 2026. Not only was this a very fun night, but we sold 58 tickets and made $1,400 for our scholarship program. Jeff Hobson, proprietor, asked us to come back next year for another fundraiser at MARVYN’S.
Marvyns Magic Theater Owner Jeff Hobson with CVC-MOAA President MAJ Terrie Heer, USA, (Ret)
Photo by Martha M. McCool
BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOMINATING COMMITTEE - INVITATION TO JOIN THE BOARD
CVC-MOAA President has asked COL Mike Dulac, USA, (Ret) and LTC Alan Tibbetts, USA, (Ret) to be on the nominating committee for the potential Board of Directors for the term 2026-2028. If asked, remember our motto: Never Stop Serving. We need competent, enthusiastic members who will continue to push our Chapter to success. If you are interested in serving on the Board, please contact Mike or Alan.
CVC-MOAA MEMBER IN REVIEW - LTC Alan Tibbetts
This month, LTC Alan Tibbetts, USA, (Ret.) is our member spotlight. A native Californian, Alan lived in Orange County, California most of his life. During his first year of college in 1971, he received his draft lottery number of 63 which meant he would be drafted for the military in his birthday month of August.
Alan enlisted on July 19, 1972. He joined for a three year term which enabled him to chose his MOS and first duty station. Alan went to Germany and stationed there for 31 months. After his tour, he returned to California and joined the Army Reserves and the California National Guard.
At the age of 31, he returned back to active duty and went to Officers Candidate School attending the Infantry OCS at Ft. Benning, Georgia. After being commissioned, he was in the 40th Infantry Division and the 63d Regional Support Command. Alan worked as a military technician running the day to day business of a battalion and RSC.
In the early 90’s, Alan was called up to serve in Operation Joint Guard Bosnia. Alan spent nine months in Europe. He retired as a military technician. He left active duty and joined the U.S. Department of the Treasury as a GS-13 at the age of 55. At the age of 60, Alan retired from the US Army as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Alan is married to Georgene for 40 years and lives at Trilogy Country Club in LaQuinta.
INCOME TAX TIME - NEW EXEMPTION
Before you file your California State income tax returns, please be reminded that $20,000 of retired pay and surviving spouse benefits are exempt from California income taxes starting with 2025.
MEMBERSHIP
Last month, we welcomed a new member CPT David Enger, USA, (Ret). David was an MP officer in the
U.S. Army. He is a snowbird that lives in LaQuinta and Montana.
The Chapter only has three members who have not renewed their membership. Please send in your renewal before March 30, 2026. After that date, you will be removed from membership rolls.
As of today, our CVC-MOAA Chapter has 29 officers, 4 surviving spouses, 11 member spouses and 4 honorary members.
TREASURER’S REPORT
The Chapter is financially stable with a treasury of $32,633.
FUTURE DATES TO REMEMBER
April 9, 2026, Thursday, 11:00 am - General Membership Meeting. The speaker is David Daly from the Wounded Warrior Project.
May 21, 2026, Thursday, 5:30 p.m. - General Membership Meeting. This is our Scholarship and Leadership Awards Night for the JROTC. This year, the Chapter is having an evening event so that parents of these cadets can come to their cadet get their awards.
Chapter goes dark from June to September, however, those that want to continue the camaraderie meet on the third Thursday at Burgers and Beer in LaQuinta near Costco at 11:30 am. No reservations needed and you order off the menu and pay individually. The dates are:
June 18, 2026
July 16, 2026
August 20, 2026
September 17, 2026
First general membership meeting of the season is tentatively planned for October 15, 2026.
NEVER STOP SERVING
Terrie Heer
MAJ, USA, (Ret)
President
CVC-MOAA
Putting the FUN in FUNdraising can be MAGICAL
Date Published: 02/19/2026
Photos & Article by: Martha McCool
Thursday, February 19, 2026, the Coachella Valley Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (CVC-MOAA) were thrilled that Magician and owners Jeffrey & Yvonne Hobson happily designated a huge number of seats at Marvyn’s Magic Theater in La Quinta, for members and friends of MOAA such that a generous percentage of the proceeds were designated for scholarships to Coachella Valley High School Students: (CVC-MOAA JROTC Scholarships).
Sharing the historical background, CVC-MOAA President MAJ Terrie Heer, USA, (Ret) stated that the Palm Springs Chapter was originally established in 1969, but in 2025 the name was changed to the Coachella Valley Chapter to include every community within the desert!
The mission is to support uniformed services: retirees, veterans, those currently serving, and their families and surviving spouses through advocacy at the federal and state levels. This is accomplished in several ways, but mostly through the Scholarship program.
She went on to say that last year five $2,500 scholarships were given to Coachella Valley high school students in the JROTC program, and more than $140,000 worth of scholarships to local students have been provided since the inception of the program. The next Chapter general membership meeting is Thursday, March 19, 2026 at the Oasis Country Club in Palm Desert. Those interested in attending, may email
Actress & singer Autumn Ivy with Magician & owners of Marvyns Magic Theater Jeff & Yvonne Hobson
Photo by Martha M. McCool
Marvyns Magic Theater Owner Jeff Hobson with CVC-MOAA President MAJ Terrie Heer, USA, (Ret)
Photo by Martha M. McCool
Magician John Shryock and Mari Lynn with surprised selected member of the audience - Gary Heer
Photo by Martha M. McCool
February Drawing Winner - David Enger
Date Published: 02/15/2026
New member of MOAA, David Enger, Air Force Captain, wins The February opportunity drawing - one ticket on our upcoming MOAA trip to March Air Force Base scheduled for March 26!
Photo by Martha McCool
