Mid-Winter - ROAL President's Message - Editorial

Mid-Winter was a challenge with the changing weather, but 1 feel we did a good job and all went well.

Maj Gen Robert A. McIntosh, ROA's executive director, and RADM G. Robert Merrilees, ROA national president, talked to us about the new membership category and fielded questions. Marjorie Davenport and the Strategic Plan Direction (SPD) committee answered questions and gave us an update on SPD. Pat Plummer educated us on Web development and Partners in Education. A department and club presidents' workshop followed. I received positive feedback and hope this will continue to be included in the Mid-Winter schedule.

At the luncheon, General McIntosh was our guest speaker. Rep. Howard Coble of North Carolina was also present as a special guest.

From the booth sales and donations from clubs and departments, we raised more than $1,200 for the Defense Education Fund. Keep up the good work and we will meet our goal of $S,000 for the year.

SUGGESTED READINGS

In the January/February issue of The officer, please read the Defense Education Forum article, page S. In the same issue, page 40, please study the article on frequently asked questions about the New Member Category.

STRATEGIC PLAN DIRECTION WORK GROUPS

Following is a list of Strategic Plan Direction work groups for 2004. If you volunteered for a work group or would like to be in a work group, please contact me as soon as possible.

My e-mail address is sjjm4d@msn.com.

1. Public Relations Work Group

Program Goal 2: Enhance opportunities for member involvement

Objective 2B: Develop a program to welcome and involve all new members

Objective 2C: Become an approachable, welcoming and open group to appeal to members

Objective M3-B: Ensure that members are recognized for their value to the organization

2. Legislative Matters Work Group

Program Goal 1: Create a more open, mutually respectful relationship with ROA

Objective 1 A: Participate in the National Security lobbying efforts of ROA

3. Membership Work Group

Program Goal 1: Create a more open, mutually respectful relationship with ROA

Objective 1C: Share a common member database with ROA

4. Professional Development Work Group

Program Goal 2: Enhance opportunities for member involvement

Objective 2D: Authorize structures to accomplish organizational program goals

As goals for 2004, SPD work groups should identify as a group how to achieve objectives; determine if any changes are needed to bylaws; and remember that this is a clean slate on which you may use strategies listed in SPD with other strategies that you identify, or use all new strategies.

A STAR IS BORN!

STAR (Students Together Assisting ROAL) is a brand-new service club that was started by the Greensboro N.C., ROAL and its partner school, Mint Hill Middle School. The main objective of the group is to help ROAL in its projects and to become involved in activities that help the people in the community, state and nation.

Students meet weekly to cut coupons for the Coupons for Sailors program. They have made collection cans for the cafeteria so that the students can toss in their pop-top tabs. They have been instrumental in the collection of stamps and toiletries for other projects.

Under the guidance of Principal Tracey Harrill and teachers Liz Strehle and Pat Plummer, the students are having a positive impact upon the student body, parents and faculty. Through information dissemination in the school weekly newsletter (both print and electronic), coupons come pouring into the school, huge bags of tabs just "show up" in the teachers' mail room, and many times the classroom has a great odor of springtime from the soaps, lotions, etc. that have been donated.

It is a very positive sign that middle schoolers are willing to give their time and energy every week to help ROAL, their community and nation.

Anyone wanting information as to how to start such a group in your area, contact STAR, Mint Hill Middle School, 11501 Idlewild Road, Matthews, N.C. 28105 or p.plummer@cms.kl2.nc.us.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Reserve Officers Association of the United States
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group