Genesee Valley Chapter MOAA
Timothy G. Vaughan, President
PO Box 20874, Rochester, New York 14602-0874
What’s New…
GVC Dinner Event – Canandaigua Yacht Club – September 13, 2026
Guest Speaker MG Stacy Babcock, USAR (Ret)
The Genesee Valley Chapter MOAA hosted its September dinner event on September 13, 2026, at the Canandaigua Yacht Club. MG Stacy Babcock delivered an engaging presentation on Honor Flight missions, highlighting her experience participating in Honor Flight Rochester’s all‑female mission. Her remarks offered a meaningful perspective on the impact these flights have on the Veterans they honor.
Six members of the Genesee Valley Chapter MOAA attended the Honor Flight Rochester first all-female mission 95 on May 16, 2026. Pictured are Nancy Fine, Kathy Crelot, Carole Eckhardt, Norma Weissend, Barb Green, and Nancy Bird. Two guardians were also in attendance, Mary Welsh and Heidi Welsh. Special guests included President of Honor Flight Rochester, Kim Gould and HFR Travel Coordinator Tracy Williams, and MG Babcock.
The dinner event was also attended by five ROTC cadets from RIT and SUNY Brockport along with their Army ROTC professor, LTC Mike Sim. Pictured left to right are LTC Sim, Melina Columba, Alyssa Knott, MG Babcock, Gabriella Januschka, Namrita Jit, and Casey Juance.
MG Dawne Deskins, USAF (Retired) – Former Deputy Director Air National Guard – Speaks to GVC members on the 25th anniversary of 9/11
Maj Gen Dawne Deskins gave a riveting firsthand accounting of the events on 9/11/2001 working in the Northeast Air Defense Sector (NEADS, now EADS), Rome, NY. General Deskins portrayed the confusion, lack of information, but also the lean forward posture taken by NEADS commanders, aircrew and air traffic control (ATC) to mitigate roadblocks from a system that normally didn’t utilize direct communication between NEADS and ATC, to include leaning forward to launch alert fighter aircraft to attempt the intercept of possible and actual hijacked aircraft as relayed by ATC. In one instance, NEADS sent unarmed F-16 aircraft to intercept United Flight 93 with the prospect of ramming the aircraft if necessary. My brief synopsis of her briefing doesn’t do it justice… even in light of the outcome on that morning, there were many heroes that day.
Maj Gen Dawne Deskins, USAF (Ret) briefs GVC MOAA members on her experience working at the Northeast Air Defense Sector (NEADS) on the morning of 9/11/2001.
Maj Gen Dawne Deskins and GVC President Tim Vaughan at our GVC dinner on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Six Chapter Members Particpate in All Female HFR Mission 95
HFR M95 Women Veterans of GVC MOAA and their Guardians prepare to return to Rochester after Honor Flight Rochester’s Mission 95, HFR’s first all-female mission! Congratulations Ladies!
Sitting L-R GVC Members: Althea Mix-Bryan, Norma Weissend, Kathy Crelot, Nancy Fine, Barb Green, Nancy Bird with their Guardians behind them.
Chapter Dinner – Guest Speaker President Kim Gould – Honor Flight Rochester
GVC was honored to have Honor Flight Rochester President, Kim Gould, as our guest speaker for our meeting at the Rochester Yacht Club on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
GVC President, Tm Vaughan, presents a chapter challenge coin to Honor Flight Rochester President, Kim Gould.
ROTC/JROTC Awards Dinner
The Genesee Valley Chapter held its annual MOAA ROTC/JROTC Awards ceremony Sunday 22 March 2026. ROTC & JROTC programs represented: RIT Army & Air Force ROTC, SUNY Brockport Army ROTC, Rochester Early College International High School JROTC and Padilla High School JROTC.
The accomplishments of these talented cadets are awe inspiring!
Congratulations to all of our awardees!
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