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
September 2026
SEPTEMBER LUNCH GATHERING - September 17, 2026
CVC-MOAA’s last summer gathering is Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 11:30 am at Burgers and Beers near the LaQuinta Costco. If you are back from summer trips, make sure you put this on your calendar. The food is excellent, the restaurant gives us Veterans discount and it is a great way to get to know your fellow Chapter members. No reservation is necessary, just show up for the lunch.
OCTOBER GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING - October 15, 2026
The Chapter is trying something a bit different for our first general membership of the season. We are having the meeting at the Palm Springs Air Museum on Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 11:00 am. Scuttlebutt is that some folks don’t want to come to the luncheon because they have been to the PS Air Museum many times before. We have two Chapter members who are docents that have volunteered to give tours for those members who WANT a tour after the meeting. The tour is NOT mandatory and if you want to leave after the luncheon meeting, it is okay to do so. Your attendance is needed at our luncheon. Your support is important to welcome in your new 2026-28 Board of Directors and hear from the President of CalMOAA, CPT Ramona Chavez speak about Veteran legislative issues affecting California. The luncheon is being catered by Victory Cantina for $30.
SEE’S CANDY FUNDRAISER
We have received the order forms for our See’s candies fundraiser. We will be passing the order forms out at the September and October meeting. We will receive at least $6.70 or more for every box we sell. This is the time of year to have sweets for the holidays. If you would like me to send you an order form, either email MAJ Terrie Heer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 503-347-7614.
MARCH AIR FORCE RESERVE BASE TOUR - October 22, 2026
We have still seats available for the March Air Force Reserve Base tour on Thursday, October 22, 2026. The Cardiff Bus will pick passengers up at 8:00 am at the Sams Club parking lot in Palm Desert. We will return by 5 p.m. and no later than 6 p.m. We will receive a tour of the base and the March Field Air Museum. Have lunch with a speaker from the Space Availability Office. Learn how you can better utilize air benefits that are entitled to you. Attached ia a sign up sheet and get it mailed today. It is only $95 that includes transportation, base tour, admission into the museum and lunch. If you want to sign up, call MAJ Terrie Heer at 503-347-7614 today. Don’t miss out on this fun, but informative trip with the Chapter.
VETERANS DAY AUCTION, DINNER, AND DANCE - November 11, 2026 - 5 p.m. The Committee has been working diligently in obtaining auction items. Currently, the items range from one week at Lake Tahoe ($2,000 value) to two tickets for a Desert Red Jeep Tour ($350 value) to American Flags ($50) and many more items. In the past, I have just ask the Board of Directors to submit a $50 item. But this year, I am asking all members, if they can, to donate. These items need to be a value of $50 or more. Those items that are valued over $200 will be sold during the oral auction. The item should be new or a collectiable. If you have a gift card laying around the house, that too is a perfect donation. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year. Last year, we raised $6,100 which enabled us to give out four - $3,000 scholarships to the JROTC students who give so much to us. Our goal this year is $10,000. Bring the item with you to our October meeting or contact our Auction Procurement Chair, Col Kathleen O’Regan at 310-920-9406 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or MAJ Terrie HEER, 503-347-7614 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
To purchase Veterans Day Auction, Dinner and Dance tickets, call Trilogy HOA at 760-777-6052. The price is $40 for Veterans and $60 for others. You will get a choice of steak or salmon entree. Our very own CW02 Bryan Eques will be the auctioneer and will follow the auction as the DJ for the dance.
Veterans Day is a busy day for us Veterans, but the Veterans Day Auction, Dinner and Dance is a perfect way to celebrate, serve your community and close out the day that honors you.
CVC-MOAA has partnered with Trilogy HOA Charitable Working Committee and the VFW on this project. For those attending the function, we encourage you to bring new white t-shirts L-XXL, toiletries for the VFW Veterans Holiday Drive. Collection boxes will be placed in the entry for your convenience.
If you want to get involved with the Chapter activities, we are seeking volunteers for that night. Contact MAJ Terrie Heer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you want to volunteer. Many thanks to the Veterans Day Auction, Dinner and Dance committee members:
Chair: MAJ Terrie Heer
Auction Procurement Chair: COL Kathleen O’Reagan
Co-Chairs: Dan and Ingrid Twohey
Marketing Chair: Gary Heer
Ticket Sales Chair: MacKinsey Simmons
Auctioneer/Entertainment Chair: CWO2 Bryan Equez
Auction Registration/Check-out Chair: CDR Matt Stone
VFW Donation Collection/Promotion Chair: Flavia Abel
Presentation of Colors/Runner Coordinator: LTC Pete Shaner
Security Coordinator Chair: CPT Jim McIntosh
Our next meeting for the Veterans Day Auction Committee is Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 10:00 am at Trilogy HOA.
NOVEMBER GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING - November 19, 2026
CVC-MOAA’s November General Membership Meeting is Thursday, November 19, 2026 at the Oasis Country Club in Palm Desert. The returning speaker is Todd Anton who will discuss the sport of football and the players that were Veterans. He gave a similar talk last spring about baseball and you could hear a pin drop. Todd is an excellent story teller so don’t miss out on this luncheon.
COACHELLA VALLEY FIREBIRDS HOCKEY GAME FUNDRAISER - November 28, 2026
The Coachella Valley Chapter of MOAA has reserved 75 tickets to the Saturday, November 28, 2026 Coachella Valley Firebirds hockey game at the Acuisure Arena. This is their Military Appreciation night which is a perfect evening to have our Chapter fundraiser. The seats are located center ice, mid-section which are wonderful seats and cost only $75 plus processing fee —less than what you would pay at Ticketmaster. This particular game is when they will be honoring Veterans. The Firebird team management is taking great lengths to ensure that we are honored and that our Chapter has some notoriety at the game. More details will be coming. This will be not only a fun fundraiser for the Chapter, but a great way to build camaraderie and publicity about CVC-MOAA.
Tickets can be purchased at https://www.gofevo.com/event/
KNOW YOUR CHAPTER MEMBERS - COMMANDER MATT STONE, USN, (Ret.)
Born and raised in Eugene, Oregon (the birthplace of Nike and called by many Track Town, USA), Matt Stone applied for and was accepted into the Navel Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He was commissioned as an Ensign in March of 1986.
After attending Surface Warfare Officer’s School at the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Matt joined the USS Reasoner (FF 1063) in San Diego. Aboard the Reasoner, Matt served as Communications Officer and then as an Anti Submarine Warefare Officer. Reasoner was part of the USS Enterprise Battle Group in support of Ernest Will Operations as well as Operation Praying Mantis in 1988.
Matt’s next tour was a combat systems instructor at Fleet Training Group San Diego where he trained dozens of Navy ships in anti-submarine warfare during their workups for deployment.
In 1992, Matt left active duty to attend graduate school at the University of Oregon. He joined the Naval Reserve with a Personnel Mobility Team in Eugene. After a few months, he joined a Convoy Commodore unit whose mission was to coordinate convoy operations in areas of conflict, The unit was absorbed into a Naval Coordination and Protection of Shipping Unit in Portland. The mission was to deconflict merchant vessels in areas of conflict. Matt held various positions with the unit including Operations Officer, Training Officer and Executive Officer. Matt participated in numerous exercises and real world operation in Korea, Japan, Diego Garcia, Guam, France and New York City.
He retired from the Navel Reserve in 2006. In his civilian career he work for Nike in various US and global roles. He retired from Nike in 2017. Matt is married to Stacy for 42 years, has lived in the desert for five years and joined MOAA three years ago. He currently is the CVC-MOAA 3rd VP which focuses on membrship recruitment.
ADDITIONAL DATES TO REMEMBER
September 17, 2026 - Lunch Gathering at Burgers and Beers
September 27, 2026 - Gold Start Mother’s and Family Day
October 13, 2026 - Navy’s Birthday
October 15, 2026 - MOAA General Membership Meeting
October 22, 2026 - March AF Reserve Base/March Field Museum Tour
November 3, 2026 - Election Day
November 11, 2026 - Veterans Day
November 11, 2026 - MOAA Veterans Day Auction, Dinner and Dance
November 28, 2026 - Coachella Valley Firebirds Hockey Game Fundraiser
December 7, 2026 - Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
December 10, 2026 - MOAA Holiday Party
December 25, 2026 - Christmas
CHECK OUT OUR ADDITIONAL SOURCES FOR CHAPTER INFORMATION
For further information, check out the Coachella Valley Chapter’s website: CVC-MOAA.com. We are also on Facebook at Coachella Valley Chapter - MOAA.
MOAA August Summer Lunch At Burgers & Beer
Date Published: 08/20/2026
A great photo from the latest Coachella Valley Chapter MOAA August summer luncheon at Burgers & Beer. An afternoon of great fun, great conversation and camaraderie!
Photo by Martha McCool
2026 March Air Force Base Tour & Veterans Day Events
Date Published: 08/19/2026
Click on the images below for the latest event flyers regarding the CVC-MOAA's March Air Force Base Tour and Veterans Day Dinner, Dance & Auction! If you plan on attending either event be sure to sign up early and send in your registration. Any questions please email
