Welcome chapter members and all interested parties.  As your new chapter president, I want to take this opportunity to share some info – about myself, our chapter and, our plans for the coming year.  Before that, however, I need to acknowledge the accomplishments of former president, Steve Lucks, in guiding the chapter through the difficult COVID period and having us emerge as strong as ever!  Well done, Steve!

My bio begins as a ROTC-Commissioned Air Force civil engineering officer, serving 23 years active duty including two tours on the faculty at the Air Force Academy.  Following military retirement I taught building construction at the University of Florida and Georgia Tech for fourteen years.  Then, in retired-retired mode, my wife and I were caregivers to elderly/ill family members for about ten years.  Finally, I entered the “Still Serving” phase and volunteered with our Home Owners Association(HOA), the Air Force Retiree Assistance Office(RAO) and, our Pikes Peak MOAA Chapter(PPCMOAA) and my wonderful wife of 54 years, Nancy, has been by my side for the whole journey!

Our chapter has had a rich and distinguished history over the past 65 years and I am honored to play a part in its’future.  At one point, in the 1990s, our chapter had some 3,000 members (on the books) and was regarded as the largest in the country.  Like many organizations, however, membership has drastically decreased and with an average chapter  member age in the mid-70s, attrition and “aging out” has brought our membership down to less than 400.  Nevertheless, over the last five years, our chapter has seen a resurgence in activity and has achieved Level of Excellence Awards (the highest, a 5- Star in 2023) by MOAA National and I intend to “keep up the good work” produced by our excellent staff of elected and appointed officials.

Looking forward, we will continue with our luncheons, a dinner meeting, and possibly once again host a chapter golf tournament in the spring/summer.  We will continue to interact with the community through our connection with the Mt Carmel Vet Center, the RAOs at Peterson and the AF Academy, including the Annual Retiree Appreciation Day and, our ROTC and JROTC units.  We can always use more help so I welcome you to join us and take an active part as we continue to spread the MOAA message of strong advocacy for all military veterans and their families.  I hope to see you at a future function and, bring along a friend or neighbor.  God bless.

Felix Uhlik, Lt Col (Ret), USAF