Milwaukee Was Amazing!
Arkansas was well represented last August at the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) General Conference and Exhibition in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Our delegation of over fifty attendees enjoyed four informative and fun filled days.
Though Hurricane Irene had an effect on the total attendance, and several officers were forced to return to their states on the east coast; there were still 957 delegates remaining to deal with the many issues. Arkansas was represented by twenty-eight voting delegates (our number of delegates each year is dependent upon our association membership, so we hope everyone will join or renew their association membership in 2012).
Various National Guard issues were addressed during the business sessions by keynote speakers General Charles H. Jacoby, Jr., Commander, US Northern Command; Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Jr., Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; General Norton A. Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff, General Craig R. McKinley, Chief, National Guard Bureau, and United States Representative Tim Walz (D) Minnesota.
Other highlights included …
An adamant speech by Major General Frank Vavala, Chairman, NGAUS Board of Directors, to rouse the membership to insist that the representatives in Congress realize the need for the Chief, National Guard Bureau, to be a permanent and equal member on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. And, a vote resulted in the overwhelming defeat of a proposed by-law change that would have resulted in changing the status of active life members to retired life members after their retirement/separation from the Guard, thus excluding those members from being counted in the membership percentage figures.
Our own Captain Seana Warner, 189th Airlift Wing, executed an excellent campaign complete with signage, campaign buttons and tossouts to unseat the company grade officer representative for Air on the NGAUS board of directors; and she was narrowly defeated by just six votes.
Major Gerald Robinson, Headquarters, Arkansas Air National Guard, won a course at Graduate School USA after visiting its booth at the conference trade show. Unfortunately, however, no one from Arkansas won the $18,000 Harley Davidson motorcycle that was given away.
Over one hundred resolutions (62 Air, 36 Army, 37 Joint) were adopted by the resolutions committees and membership. These resolutions will be prioritized by the NGAUS legislative staff as they continue their enduring mission on Capitol Hill to help “transform resolutions into reality” for the National Guard.
CW2 Lucien McConnell, 871st Troop Command, was awarded the Eagle Rising Award as one of four national outstanding warrant officers. Mr. Brad Hegeman, President of Nabholz Construction Corporation in Conway, received the Patrick Henry Award for his outstanding civic and military contributions. And, NGAA was recognized for its 100 percent membership in NGAUS. Check out the conference Photo Gallery for pictures made at these ceremonies.
Eight Arkansas National Guard company grade officers participated in the NGAUS officer professional development (OPD) program. Designed to provide the next generation of our military leadership a foundation for success, this program also offers young officers an opportunity to interact with the senior membership in conference. Two of our OPD attendees wrote about their experiences at the conference in the November issue of the NGAA newsletter posted on this website. Their insights are realistic and uplifting and most assuredly provide incentives for more of our young officers and their families to get involved in our state and national association activities!
And then, there was ample time to enjoy Milwaukee and the other conference events. Our hotel location was close to a lot of shopping and dining. What else would you want but cheese, German food and beer in Milwaukee!
The host state provided an evening of food, music and fun at the Harley Davidson Museum where motorcycles from the early 1900’s up to present day models are on display. If you were game, you could even get a temporary air brushed tattoo (check toughman Kenny’s out in the Photo Gallery!). Hospitality Night was amazing. Two of our own participated splendidly at the Karaoke venue. Our delegation participated in an SEC hospitality event, and that was a great time. The conference culminated in the formal states dinner complete with an excellent and quite humorous guest speaker.
Finally, the Arkansas hospitality room was big success again this year. Breakfast was served each morning, and food and beverages were available throughout each day. We had a wonderful view of the Milwaukee River and riverwalk.
The NGAUS conference in 2012 will be in Reno, Nevada, September 9th through 12th, and that will be another great place to visit. Mark you calendar and plan to join us in 2012 for yet another amazing experience!
Though Hurricane Irene had an effect on the total attendance, and several officers were forced to return to their states on the east coast; there were still 957 delegates remaining to deal with the many issues. Arkansas was represented by twenty-eight voting delegates (our number of delegates each year is dependent upon our association membership, so we hope everyone will join or renew their association membership in 2012).
Various National Guard issues were addressed during the business sessions by keynote speakers General Charles H. Jacoby, Jr., Commander, US Northern Command; Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Jr., Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; General Norton A. Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff, General Craig R. McKinley, Chief, National Guard Bureau, and United States Representative Tim Walz (D) Minnesota.
Other highlights included …
An adamant speech by Major General Frank Vavala, Chairman, NGAUS Board of Directors, to rouse the membership to insist that the representatives in Congress realize the need for the Chief, National Guard Bureau, to be a permanent and equal member on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. And, a vote resulted in the overwhelming defeat of a proposed by-law change that would have resulted in changing the status of active life members to retired life members after their retirement/separation from the Guard, thus excluding those members from being counted in the membership percentage figures.
Our own Captain Seana Warner, 189th Airlift Wing, executed an excellent campaign complete with signage, campaign buttons and tossouts to unseat the company grade officer representative for Air on the NGAUS board of directors; and she was narrowly defeated by just six votes.
Major Gerald Robinson, Headquarters, Arkansas Air National Guard, won a course at Graduate School USA after visiting its booth at the conference trade show. Unfortunately, however, no one from Arkansas won the $18,000 Harley Davidson motorcycle that was given away.
Over one hundred resolutions (62 Air, 36 Army, 37 Joint) were adopted by the resolutions committees and membership. These resolutions will be prioritized by the NGAUS legislative staff as they continue their enduring mission on Capitol Hill to help “transform resolutions into reality” for the National Guard.
CW2 Lucien McConnell, 871st Troop Command, was awarded the Eagle Rising Award as one of four national outstanding warrant officers. Mr. Brad Hegeman, President of Nabholz Construction Corporation in Conway, received the Patrick Henry Award for his outstanding civic and military contributions. And, NGAA was recognized for its 100 percent membership in NGAUS. Check out the conference Photo Gallery for pictures made at these ceremonies.
Eight Arkansas National Guard company grade officers participated in the NGAUS officer professional development (OPD) program. Designed to provide the next generation of our military leadership a foundation for success, this program also offers young officers an opportunity to interact with the senior membership in conference. Two of our OPD attendees wrote about their experiences at the conference in the November issue of the NGAA newsletter posted on this website. Their insights are realistic and uplifting and most assuredly provide incentives for more of our young officers and their families to get involved in our state and national association activities!
And then, there was ample time to enjoy Milwaukee and the other conference events. Our hotel location was close to a lot of shopping and dining. What else would you want but cheese, German food and beer in Milwaukee!
The host state provided an evening of food, music and fun at the Harley Davidson Museum where motorcycles from the early 1900’s up to present day models are on display. If you were game, you could even get a temporary air brushed tattoo (check toughman Kenny’s out in the Photo Gallery!). Hospitality Night was amazing. Two of our own participated splendidly at the Karaoke venue. Our delegation participated in an SEC hospitality event, and that was a great time. The conference culminated in the formal states dinner complete with an excellent and quite humorous guest speaker.
Finally, the Arkansas hospitality room was big success again this year. Breakfast was served each morning, and food and beverages were available throughout each day. We had a wonderful view of the Milwaukee River and riverwalk.
The NGAUS conference in 2012 will be in Reno, Nevada, September 9th through 12th, and that will be another great place to visit. Mark you calendar and plan to join us in 2012 for yet another amazing experience!