Col. Nagy presents the Certificate of Appreciation and MOAA Challenge Coin to Timothy Harris from Soldier’s Best Friend while Navy veteran Daniel and his dog training partner, Deco, look on.
G. William Myers (LT, CEC, USN Former)
The Catalina Mountain Satellite Chapter (CMSC) of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) held its most recent meeting on Dec. 17. The meeting began with a short business session presided over by Col. Bill Nagy, president, during which members were updated on the chapter’s current and future activities.
Timothy Harris made an important and insightful presentation concerning our veterans living with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Mr. Harris explained how the Soldier’s Best Friend, which is an Arizona based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, pairs the affected veteran with a service or therapeutic companion dog. He noted most of the dogs are rescued from local shelters. The veteran and dog train together to build a trusting relationship. The meeting attendees also got to meet the veteran-dog team in training of Daniel, a U.S. Navy veteran, and his canine training partner, Deco.
The next CMSC meeting will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 15. The meeting is to be held in the Catalina dining room of the Mesquite Grill. The physical address is 38691 S. MountainView Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85739. We anticipate that no food service will be available during the meeting because of service staff shortages.
If there is a change in location or food service, we will advise members and potential members of this change in our email meeting notices.
Our presenter at the next meeting will be Crystle Nehrmeyer, superintendent of the Oracle Elementary School District. Ms. Nehrmeyer is a graduate of the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s of arts in education, secondary education, and teaching. She also holds a master’s degree from Northern Arizona University. She is in her fifth year in the Oracle School District and third year as superintendent. Previously, she served as the Mountain Vista K-8 school principal.
Ms. Nehrmeyer will provide an overview of the Oracle Elementary School system, with emphasis on the district’s preschool program. As a member of the Oracle Schools Foundation, she will also discuss the great work the foundation does for preschool children in the community.
Potential members interested in attending, please contact Membership Chair LTJG David Bull by email at [email protected] or by telephone at 520-825-0604.
The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is a non-profit veterans association dedicated to maintaining a strong national defense and preserving the earned entitlements of members of the uniformed services and their families and survivors.
The Catalina Mountains Satellite Chapter is part of Tucson Chapter of MOAA and encompasses Northwest Tucson, including Catalina, Oracle, parts of Oro Valley and Marana, SaddleBrooke, SaddleBrooke Ranch, and Sun City. For additional MOAA information, contact Col. Bill Nagy at [email protected], or visit our website, www.tucsonmoaa.com.