New membership category - ROAL President's Message

I am sure that all of you have heard about or have read the comments of General McIntosh in the November Officer magazine. ROA is proposing a new member category and of course it is controversial. However, let us not have a knee-jerk reaction. Please read all the materials and make a rational decision. General McIntosh has made it clear that ROAL's input is important to this decision. I will, of course, keep ROAL's welfare as top priority whenever this subject comes up. Some issues to consider may be the following:

* ROA encourages its members to also join ROAL. They do this frequently.

* Numbers are important when lobbying Congress.

* Will this detract from ROAL? Will we lose possible members to RCA

* We would have the opportunity to be dual members.

* ROA does not need our input on this matter, but has chosen to include us as an important part of the process.

As Major General McIntosh has stated, "It is important to consider and understand these synergistic effects that dual membership in ROA and ROAL could generate." I would really like to see some input, whether positive or negative. Now is the time to speak up. General McIntosh and Admiral Merrilees have both been invited to educate us on this matter at Mid-Winter.

DEF

The Defense Education Forum recently received a $2,000 donation from the ROA Department of Delaware. This is the largest single donation from a department. I began my year as president by challenging ROAL to donate $5,000 this year in DEF. Please keep working toward this goal.

USO

Let us remember in this New Year that we still have tens of thousands of troops in several hot spots around the world. As of November, there were more than 160,000 Guard members and Reservists on active duty in support of the partial mobilization. ROAL supports them and their families in numerous ways. It is important at this time to keep our programs and support in place and to lend our help wherever and whenever needed. The USO offers a great opportunity for clubs and departments to make a difference. Because of the high OPTEMPO of troops and family members passing through the USOs, they are in desperate need. Money and phone cards are two of the USO's top priorities. Please check out its Web site at www.uso.org to see how you can help.

ROAL MID-WINTER SCHEDULE

Sunday 25 January

10:00            Past National Presidents' Meeting
11:00            ROTC Welcoming Reception
12:00            Registration Opens
 1:30            ROAL Executive Board Meeting
 4:00            Welcoming reception for guests and family or ROA

Monday 26 January

 8:30 a.m.       Opening Ceremonies with ROA
10:00 a.m.       ROAL general session
12:00            Lunch on your own
 1:30 p.m.       Workshops--Web Design/Partner's in Education
 4:00 p.m.       First Timer's Reception

Tuesday 27 January

 8:30 a.m.       Buses depart T Street hotel entrance for tour of the
                 National Building Museum.
11:30 a.m.       Reception at Ft. McNair
12:00            ROAL Luncheon at Ft. McNair
 3:00 p.m.       busses depart for return to hotel

Wednesday 28 January

 7:00 a.m.       ROA Congressional Action Program on Capitol Hill
 6:00 p.m.       ROA/ROAL Reception
 7:00 p.m.       ROA/ROAL Banquet and Ball

Steven J. Ford

President, ROAL

SJJM4D@MSN.COM

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