United States Army Warrant Officers Association
USAWOA ONLINE
35th Annual Meeting of the Members
15 - 19 October 2007
SAN ANTONIO-DOWNTOWN (MARKET SQUARE)
318 WEST DURANGO
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78204
Attendees were greeted by the Banner pictured left and the WOA Jeep pictured right. The M151A2 jeep was displayed by CW4 Derek Stewart. Front and rear bumpers were painted with "USAWOA" on the left and "WOA 1" on the right. No, the jeep is not for sale but if you want to buy one go to www.armyjeeps.net. Earlier we said you can't register and drive an M151 series jeep in New York BUT we have since found out that with persistence you can - see the story about registering one.
See also the 35th AMM Photo Gallery
Thanks to the receipt of over 700 proxies and over 80 members in attendance we exceeded the quorum requirement of 593 or 10% of the membership eligible to vote. Considering the very high OPTEMPO we thank each and everyone who contributed to exceeding the goal. Because next year is an election year we will need to meet or exceed 15% of the membership eligible to vote represented by proxy or in person to have a quorum. We plan to have both the 36th AMM Proxy and the Ballots in electronic form next year. Please help us achieve a quorum before the meeting convenes.
Roy Valiant, USAWOA National President
A Pre-AMM Best Ball Golf Outing was held at the Fort Sam Houston Golf Course. Tee time was 0800 on October 15th. (see Photo Gallery)
The 35th Annual Meeting of the Members kicked off with the Annual National President's Reception at 1800 hours on Monday, October 15th.
The President's Reception was held pool-side at the Holiday Inn. (see Photo Gallery)
The business session of the AMM opened at 0900 hours on Tuesday, October 16th. See list of attendees and Business Meeting Agenda
The following annual reports were submitted (see Photo Gallery):
National Treasurer (also briefing slides)
Western Region Director (also briefing slides)
Assistant Vice President Army National Guard (also briefing slides)
Assistant Vice President Army Reserve/
The following Non-Profit Foundation Updates were presented:
An Officer Professional Development Day was conducted on October 17th and 18th. Attendees were updated on the following topics.
BRAC and Wounded Warrior Program- Brig. Gen. James Gilam,
CG, Brooke Army Medical Center/Cdr, Great Plains Regional Medical Command
OES and WO Update - COL Mark T. Jones & CW5 Charlie Wigglesworth, Warrant Officer Career Center
Status of WO Issues (ARNG) - CW5 Tom O'Sullivan, CCWO ARNG, NGB
Status of WO Issues (USAR) - CW5 Jim Thompson, CCWO USAR, HQ DA OCAR
WO Net on the Army Battle Command Knowledge System - CW5 (Ret) Dave Welsh (see briefing slides )
Focus Group Reports - Presentation of the topics; explanation of the purpose of the focus group process; and desired goals of the focus group work; introduction of Group Leaders & Assignment of Members to Focus Groups; and deliberations by the Groups gook place on Thursday October 18th (see Photo Gallery).
Focus Group 1 - Army and/or Department of Defense Issues -
CW4 (Ret) Bill Buss Group Leader:
Advocate Authorization of Warrant Officers as instructors at the service academies.
Advocate Reduction of time in grade requirements in all components for W2 thru W4 (suggest 4 years each) to aligned with that of the other enlisted and officer grades for first considerations for promotion. It is a motivator and a supply and demand issue.
Advocate Authorization to wear the CW6 insignia (at W5 pay rate) for the WO Advisor to the CSA, Chief Warrant Officers of the Branches (CWOB) and some Regiments (provided they are CW5s), and Command Chief Warrant Officers assigned to authorized CCWO billets in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve.
Focus Group 2 - Legislative -
CW4 (Ret) Percy Butler, Group Leader:
Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP): Advocate acceleration of the elimination of the reduction of SBP benefits for the surviving spouse. Reduction of the benefit to the surviving spouse when a retiree dies and again at age 65 is an insult to the dedication our spouses gave in our support. Without regard to attaining social security benefits, the surviving spouse needs the needs the SBP pay-out even more after the death of the service member.
Advocate Adjustment of the housing allowance (BAH) for pay grade W1 so that it is at or above that of pay grades E6 and E7 to entice them to be warrant officers.
Address the 26-plus years of pay compression, emphasize that the tables still do not correct all of the pay compression that occurred over the years. Request and promote revisitation of targeted pay for appropriate warrant officer pay grades.
Focus Group 3 - Recruiting, Retention & Communications -
CW3 (Ret) Gene Perrino Group Leader:
Recruiting and Retention: How can USAWOA recruit more members? How can USAWOA retain its current members?
Communications: How can USAWOA get the NEWSLINER back on schedule, mailing by the 5th or 6th of the current month? Also, what do you, as an active member, want to see in the NEWSLINER?
Focus Group 4 - Association Focus, Resourcing & Awards Program -
CW4 (Ret) Greg Gouty Group Leader:
Resourcing the Association: On what do you want the association to be placing its available efforts and resources? How can the home office better serve the Corps and you as a member? We work on a very thin budget so if your response involves funding, please propose how we are to acquire the necessary funds?
Awards Program: Re-look the awards criteria especially the Spouse of the Year.
Focus Group 5 - Miscellaneous -
CW4 Pat Nelligan/CW4 (Ret) Max Bennett Group Leaders:
Warrant Officer artifacts: Advocate where the artifacts and memorabilia should be stored and or displayed from WOCC Warrant Officer Hall of Fame at Fort Rucker and the State RTI WOCS in the future. Examples of these are guidons, class shirts, photos, etc.
Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation: How can USAWOA and it's members best support the Foundation
USAWOA Scholarship Foundation: How can USAWOA and it's members best support the Foundation?
Change the designation of retired Army Reserve members - of 60 years of age or older - from "AUS (Ret.)" to "USA (Ret.). AUS is an acronym for "Army of the United States," previously issued to all servicemembers during World War I. Subsequently, it was reserved for references to retired Army Reservists aged 60 years or older and took on a pejorative meaning. No other service has such a designation.
Focus Group 6 - Business Development -
CW5 Poyas Haynes Group Leader:
The Business Meeting reconvened at 0900 hours on Friday, October 19th.
Chapter Awards and Streamers were presented on Friday, October 19th:
Years of Continuous Operation Streamers (see Photo Gallery):
35 YEARS
15 YEARS
U. S. Army Warrant Officers Association
Fort Bragg Silver Chapter
Fort Hood Silver Chapter
Arizona Silver Chapter
Statue of Liberty Chapter
Keystone Chapter
Fort McCoy Chapter
25 YEARS
10 YEARS
Greater Atlanta Chapter
Fort Gordon Chapter
Mid-America Chapter
St. Louis Gateway Chapter
Marne Chapter
Iron City Chapter
20 YEARS
5 YEARS
Northern California Chapter
Cornhusker Chapter
Acadiana Chapter
Hampton Road Chapter
Big Sky Chapter
Northern Lights Chapter
Chapter Level Awards (see Photo Gallery):
AWARD CHAPTER
Best Professional Development Program
Aberdeen-Edgewood Chapter
Community Affairs for Sustaining Programs Lord Fairfax Silver Chapter Community Affairs for Services Fort Bragg Silver Chapter Community Affairs for Donations Heidelberg Chapter Best Chapter for Retention North Texas Chapter Best Chapter for Recruiting Above the Best Chapter Best Region for Recruiting and Retention Mid-South Region Best Chapter Website Gold Rush Chapter Outstanding Chapter Redstone Arsenal Chapter Outstanding Region Southeast Region
Business Meeting Minutes have been approved and are available for viewing.
The Exhibit Area was open during all the business meeting breaks and lunch hours. It including Warrant Officer Memorabilia, handouts, plus USAWOA Scholarship Foundation, Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation, and Pentagon Federal Credit Union. Corporate Member exhibitors included Grantham University and Vidmar Storage Technologies, Division of Stanley Works. (see Photo Gallery)
The Annual Meeting of the USAWOA Board of Directors took place at 1600 hours on Friday, October 19th.
The Annual Banquet took place at 1700 hours on Friday, October 19th (see Photo Gallery).
The guests of honor were Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Michael B. Cates. The General is the Commander of the U. S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. He is also the Chief of the Army Veterinary Corps - see biography and picture. Prior to the Banquet General Cates pinned AMM attendee Arthur Rakowitz signifying his promotion to CW3 in the U. S. Army Reserve (see Photo Gallery).
After the posting of the Colors by the AMEDD Color Guard and the National Anthem by the AMEDD Center and School Band, the Invocation was rendered by our own USAWOA Founder President Emeritus CW4 (Ret) Don Hess. This was followed by a Memorial to KIA/MIA/POW Ceremony. The KIA/MIA/POW Table was dedicated to 1LT Thomas M. Martin, son of CW4 Candis and SGM (Ret) Ed Martin. "Candy" is the USAWOA Mid-South Region Director and AMM Host Committee Chairperson. Also on the KIA/MIA/POW table was a listing of all Warrant Officer casualties of the U. S. Armed Forces since that fateful day of 11 September 2001 (see Photo Gallery).
After dinner BG Cates spoke to the attendees on how were and the Army can take care of ourselves and our soldiers.
This was followed by presentation of the Virginia Holcombe Memorial Warrant Officer Spouse of the Year Award which went to Rose Scott, spouse of President Emeritus CW4 (Ret) Bob Scott, and the Albert M. Holcombe Memorial Warrant Officer of the Year went to CW3 (Ret) Eugene "Gene" Perrino who is the current Southeast Region Director, who coincidently was the Master of Ceremonies for the Annual Banquet (see Photo Gallery).
Also, during the Banquet the USAWOA Scholarship Foundation Fund Raiser Winners were drawn by Linda Cates, wife of BG Cates. They were P. Q. Frisko of Plantation, FL, a $1,000; Melissa Stewart of Tacoma, WA, a $500 Savings Bond; and Bill Kinsella of New Hyde Park, NY, a $250 Savings Bond. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to everyone who supported the fund raiser.
The Pentagon Federal Credit Union Door Prize winner was CW3 Patrick Morris, President of the Lord Fairfax Silver Chapter in Alexandria, VA. Patrick received two $50 travelers checks provided by PFCU (see Photo Gallery).
See also the 35th AMM Photo Gallery
Mark your Calendars
USAWOA 36th Annual Meeting of the Members
20 to 24 October 2008
Aberdeen, Maryland
| See summary and pictures from the 34th AMM St. Petersburg, FL in 2006 | | See summary and pictures from the 33rd AMM, Tucson, AZ in 2005 || See summary and pictures from the 32nd AMM, Leesburg, VA in 2004
|| See summary and pictures from the 31st AMM, Gettysburg, PA in 2003 |
| See summary and pictures from the 30th AMM, San Juan, PR in 2002 |
(Many files throughout this site are a PDF files. A free reader is available for download.)
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USAWOA Online 8/12/2008