Grand Strand Chapter MOAA

Myrtle Beach 250th USA Birthday Memorial Day Parade!
Grand Strand Chapter MOAA

Those Who Served Foundation- great non- profit helping Veterans with PTSD and brain injuries by connecting them on the water enjoying fishing and time together. 100% of money raised goes to the Organization to serve Veterans. Consider coming out to their Meet & Greet! Please consider donating to this amazing Foundation!

Dear Randolph Rotte

Please enjoy the Mar-Apr 2026 edition of our Chapter Newsletter (The Coastal Tide). It covers our Chapter President's message, a recap of the March and April meetings, including a summary of Jim Albert's presentation on SC MOAA Council activities and National MOAA News, and the CCU Army ROTC Recognition and Awards event with chapter member LTG U.S. Army (Ret.) Maria Gervais and her very inspiring talk to the ROTC graduating Cadets. It also includes the Chaplain's and Surviving Spouses' Corners, MOAA's active advocacy campaigns, and much more. The last items in the newsletter include the announcement and signup sheet for our annual Veterans Charity Golf Tournament and a chapter membership application form.

If you are not sure of exactly what we do, please read the mission statement on the first page.

You can access the newsletter by going to:
www.GrandStrandMOAA.org under News tab Newsletters Jan-Feb 2026

GS MOAA Dinner Meeting, April 14, 2026 at 5:30 pm

The April meeting will be at Pine Lakes Country Club, 5603 Granddaddy Dr., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.

Program: This will be our annual recognition and scholarship award event for the CCU ROTC program.

The CCU ROTC has 10 Cadets that will be graduating in 2026 and will be attending our Dinner along with the ROTC Cadre and Color Guard.

LTG Maria Gervais will speak to us and the graduates about leadership and her career experiences to help launch them on their own military careers

Maria's bio is included below for your reference.

To register go to: https://grandstrandmoaa.org/event-6644389
or on-line via the chapter website under "Events", then "Next Dinner/Luncheon Meeting" tabs. If all else fails call/text Hans Polzer 703.927.1093 or email: [email protected] and he will register you.

Social time begins at 5:30 PM, followed by our program starting at 6:00 PM. A buffet-style dinner will be served at 6:30 PM. We expect to conclude around 7:45 PM.

PAYMENT MAY BE MADE: by credit card on line, or by check, cash or credit card at the door. Either way, prior registration is essential as we need to provide a pre-headcount to our dining club host.

Dress is business casual. You are encouraged to bring your spouse and other guests, especially if those guests are prospective members or are members who attend the dinners infrequently.

If you have any additional concerns, questions or suggestions about the event, please contact me, via text/cell: 727-771-3712.

Presentation of the Colors at this dinner will be by the CCU Army ROTC.

Sincerely,

John Bradley, CDR, USN (ret)

President

________________________________________________________
Guest Speaker Biography

Lieutenant General Maria Gervais, U.S. Army (Retired)

LTG Gervais served over 36 years in the U.S. Army with 13

years serving in General Officer positions. Before retiring,

LTG Gervais served as the Deputy Commanding General for

The U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command responsible

for leading the talent acquisition, workforce development,

and strategic communication for a 1.2 million member

Organization with a program budget of $5.18 Billion.

LTG Gervais graduated from Lander College in Greenwood,

SC with a BS in Biology and a military commission as a

Chemical Corps Officer from the Reserve Officer Training

Corps. She holds a Master of Military Strategic Studies

From the U.S. Army War College and a Master of Arts in

Human Resources from Webster’s University.

Married to Lieutenant Colonel Chris Gervais (U.S. Army

Retired) she and her husband reside in Myrtle Beach and are

members of the Grand Strand Chapter of MOAA. They have

a daughter and son-in-law both currently serving in the U.S.

Army and have one grandson.

LTG Gervais: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

Grand Strand - MOAA - GS MOAA April 14, 2026 Dinner Meeting The CCU ROTC has 10 Cadets that will be graduating in 2026 and will be attending our Dinner along with the ROTC Cadre and Color Guard.

Colleagues- here is the website: https://stores.inksoft.com/city_of_myrtle_beach_vietnam_ve/shop/home?fbclid=IwY2xjawQ4vQ9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFTTkJGeEQ3UXFsd1lzTDBac3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHqor3Epv7qqnA-xZKS98zwCmfo_tkzzmdR8qpBJkGPm7wrtfUs9hjSRZevwY_aem_2KEpmxLA0Gz_eofnNsbu6w

March 2026 Grand Strand MOAA Dinner Meeting

GS MOAA Dinner Meeting, March 10, 2026 at 5:30 pm

The March meeting will be at Pine Lakes Country Club, 5603 Granddaddy Dr., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.

Program: We will have our own Jim Albert presenting an overview of the 2026/2027goals and priorities for the South Carolina MOAA state council and MOAA national.

Please join us for our GS MOAA Dinner meeting on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Please do not forget your GS MOAA name tag if you have one.

Social time begins at 5:30 PM, followed by our program starting at 6:00 PM. A buffet-style dinner will be served at 6:30 PM. We expect to conclude around 7:45 PM.

_________________________________

To register for this event, please go to the chapter website at https://grandstrandmoaa.org/under "Events", then "Next Dinner/Luncheon Meeting" tabs. If all else fails call/text Hans Polzer 703.927.1093 or email: [email protected] and he will register you.

PAYMENT MAY BE MADE: by credit card on line, or by check, cash or credit card at the door. Either way, prior registration is essential as we need to provide a pre-headcount to our dining club host.

Dress is business casual. You are encouraged to bring your spouse and other guests, especially if those guests are prospective members or are members who attend the dinners infrequently.

If you have any additional concerns, questions or suggestions about the event, please contact me, via text/cell: 727-771-3712.

Presentation of the Colors at this dinner will be by the North Myrtle Beach High School Navy JROTC.

Sincerely,

John Bradley, CDR, USN (ret)

President

Jim Albert Bio:

James R. Albert

Mr. Albert retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Air Force in 1998 after a distinguished career leading several of the largest computer and communications centers in the world. His last assignment was as Special Assistant in the Office of the Secretary of War where he developed legislation, presentations and speeches about defense research and technology for the President, Vice-President, Secretary of War and other senior War Department officials.

After retiring from the Air Force, Mr. Albert became a healthcare executive for four hospital systems in Connecticut and Massachusetts and was awarded New England Healthcare Chief Information Officer of the Year. He then became President and CEO of the Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce, growing the organization to the second largest Chamber in the state, reversing significant annual financial and membership losses.

Retiring for a third time in 2016, Mr. Albert served on several Boards, Committees and Commissions in Connecticut and South Carolina and was elected President of several military and community service organizations in Connecticut and South Carolina, currently serving as President of the South Carolina Council of MOAA Chapters.

Colonel Albert holds a Bachelors degree in Risk Management from the University of Connecticut and a Masters degree in Technology from The American University in Washington, DC. He resides in Bristol, Connecticut and Murrells Inlet, South Carolina with his wife Denise where he volunteers at Brookgreen Gardens as a Master Gardener, Historian, Tour Guide and Gallery Docent.

The Albert’s have 2 daughters, Dr. Andrea Albert, a High Energy Particle Physicist and author at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, and Lisa Albert, a Grants Manager at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA.

Military Appreciation Night 2026 Pelicans Stadium

See the below application to apply or go to Myrtlebeachpelicans.com

The following message is from the City of Myrtle Beach. You may be interested in what is happening with the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial since the groundbreaking ceremony held last month.

“Looking to donate to the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial coming to Warbird Park?

All donations will help pay for the life-sized soldier statues that will be installed at the memorial later this year. Online donations are being accepted at https://bit.ly/3M2DoQu.

You can also drop off a check or cash at City Hall, 937 Broadway Street. In-person donations can be made Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Donations are tax-deductible and checks must be made to the City of Myrtle Beach. Please write “Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial donation” in the memo section of the check. Questions? Call the Communications Office at 843-918-1054.”

The poster below includes some more information about the campaign for the memorial, as well as some preliminary illustrations of what the memorial will look like.

The Grand Strand Chapter MOAA Newsletter Link
https://www.grandstrandmoaa.org/resources/Documents/President's%20Message/GS-MOAA%20Newsletter%20Jan-Feb-2026.pdf