DRAFT until approved April 2003

 

On 27 April 2002 at 0900 hours, President Kathleen Jensen called the Minnesota Department ROA Convention to order at the Ft. Snelling Officers Club.

 

1. MAJ Jensen welcomed everyone to the Department Convention.

 

2. A motion was made and seconded to approve the Convention Agenda.

 

3. Secretary's Report: Maj Douglas Kveene presented the minutes of the Department Convention dated 21 April 2001.Ê Motion made, seconded, and approved to accept the minutes as presented.

 

4. Comptroller's Report: Capt Michael Burns provided the Comptrollerâs Report. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to accept the report Funds raised to date for the Major Dan Anderson Freedom Fund will be identified in a separate report from this point on.

 

5. National Executive Committee Review: Col Paul Groskreutz, National Vice President of the Air Section, brought greetings from National and stated ROA's future looks better and brighter. Membership is improving and we must continue to work on this issue. The National budget is challenged by significantly lower interest rates. He spoke about the 2002 Mid-Winter Conference in January in Washington, D.C. where the highlight guest speaker was President George W. Bush. Finally, he asked for volunteers to represent ROA at Reserve Centers, conventions, conferences, etc for the purpose of working membership.

 

6. Guest Speaker: MG Roger Sandler, former Chief of Army Reserve, past ROA National President and former Executive Director, addressed the Department with a message about leadership. He made three points - First, Be a leader - complete your Professional Military Education and seek challenging positions Leaders are made, not born. You must emulate success. Second, Lead by example, don't just wear the rank. Know your job. Third, Train your people and reward success.

 

7. National Councilman's Report: CW5 Bruce Hedblom explained the roles and responsibilities of the National Council. He further discussed activities of the Council over the past year.

 

8. Guest Speaker: CW5 Howard Lundin, DCSPER, 88^th RSC, presented the "Activated Army Reservist". He reviewed partial mobilizations, Presidential Selected Reserve Call-up (PSRC), and stop-loss. He recounted the challenges and experiences of his Army Reservists. Reservists must accept responsibility for themselves and their property. They should always be prepared for deployment, especially regarding their medical physicals, and their property should be ready for mobilization as well.

 

9. Guest Speaker: Brig Gen Dennis Schulstad, USAFR (Ret), MN Chair, ESGR, discussed the relationship between Guard/Reservists, their employers, and the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). An increasing operations tempo has increased problems for Reserve family members and their employers. Communication is the key. Employers who go the extra mile can be recognized by nominations from Guard and Reserve personnel through the "My Boss is a Patriot" award.

 

10. Guest Speaker: CW5 Hedblom reviewed health care benefits for retirees, including Tricare For Life, the Tricare Senior Pharmacy Program, the Tricare Dental Program, Tricare Standard, and the Federal Long Term Care plan. He also stressed the importance of keeping information on the DEERS system current for both retirees and spouses.

 

BUSINESS

 

11. The Major Dan Anderson Freedom Fund Charter and Bylaws were presented to the Department membership and discussed. The Charter and Bylaws were approved by voice vote. Members raised questions whether the fund could be established under the Department or should be a separate tax exempt entity 501(C)3 registered with the state. COL Ruvelson will investigate these issues further with COL Beauchane and report to the Board.

 

12.    Capt Burns presented the 2002-2003 Department budget. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to accept the budget.

 

13. No resolutions were submitted to the Board for consideration.

14. Election of Officers: MAJ Jensen reviewed the nomination procedures and presented the Nominating Committee's report. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to accept the report of the Nominating Committee. Following an appropriate time for nominations from the floor for each office, a motion was made to accept the slate of officers by unanimous ballot. The motion was seconded and approved (See Attachment 1).

 

15. MAJ Jensen reviewed each of the nine proposed amendments to the ROA National Constitution and By-Laws. Active discussion, both pro and con, occurred on several amendments (No. 7 & No. 9). Board members attending the National Convention in Philadelphia will consider these discussion points as indicators of the general membership's positions.

 

 

16. Chapters must turn in their election reports and financial reports in a format determined by ROA National. The Department, upon receipt from the chapters, will forward them to National. As of the date of the Convention all Chapters had turned in their election and financial reports. The L. A. Haen Chapter and Flying Viking Chapter have not yet turned in their Constitution and By-Laws.

 

17. The status of the Northern Star Chapter was discussed. CW4 Jacobson, USAR, reported from the floor that no bank balance or other funds existed for the Northern Star Chapter. Also, the last reported Northern Star Chapter officers have not expressed a wish to retain the chapter in operation. A draft regarding revocation of the Chapters charter was provided in the convention folder. The draft letter is addressed to the Northern Star Chapter members from the Department President. A verbal approval was given from the floor to proceed with the dissolution letter to members of the Northern Star Chapter.

 

18. Brigade of Volunteers Awards: The 2002 award winners are COL Alan Ruvelson, COL Stanley Sahlstrom, and MAJ Robert Chaucierre. The award was presented to COL Ruvelson. COL Sahlstrom was ill and MAJ Chaucierre was on military assignment. Those two awards will be presented later.

 

19. CAPT Larry DeVries, 2002-2003 Department President-Elect, provided the following goals for the Department:

 

- Encouraged volunteerism and asked for volunteers to sit on and chair the 10 major committees of the Department.

- Continue support to junior officers and cadets through the ROTC Recognition Night in the fall of 2002 and JOLDTS events.

- Establishment of legislative meetings in Minnesota in 2003 for attendance by both State and Congressional representatives.

- Continue The Major Dan Anderson Freedom Fund, now beginning its inaugural year of operation, with a full elected Board of Directors.

- Participate as a Department at the ROA National Convention (Philadelphia, PA in June 2002) and at the ROA Mid-winter Convention (Washington, D. C. in January 2003). We look forward to the 3^rd Annual Congressional Breakfast in January at Mid-winter.

- Encourage a continuous effort at recruiting, retention and management of Department and Chapter members.

 

20. The Department's Annual Banquet will be held later this evening with a social at 1800 hours and a dinner at 1900 hours in the 934^th Airlift Wing NCO Club.

 

21. There being no further business, a motion was made, seconded, and approved to adjourn the 2002 Department Convention at 1455 hours.

 

 

 

Attachment:

 

1. The 2002-2003 Elected Officers for the Department of Minnesota

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ATTACHMENT 1

Department of Minnesota ROA

2002-2003 Department Officers

Elected 27 April 2002

President: CAPT Larry G. DeVries, USNR (Ret.)

Executive Vice President: Maj Doug Kveene, USAFR

Secretary: Cpt John Rosnow, USAR

Comptroller: Capt Michael Burns, USAFR

National Council Person: CW5 Bruce Hedblom, AUS (Ret.)

VP Army: MAJ Robert Chaucierre, USAR

Jr VP Army: CW2 Kevin Appel, USAR

VP Air Force: LtCol Marilyn Chambers, USAFR

Jr VP Air Force: 1LT Steve Christoff, USAFR

VP Naval Services: Maj Thaddeus Jankowski, USMCR

Jr VP Naval Services: Vacant

end