Mid-term review - From the President - Goals of ROA Association

I want to express my appreciation, on behalf of all in ROA, to the Reserve Component leaders in the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for their contributions to this edition of The Officer. All of these great leaders have taken the time to summarize their views and plans relative to keeping the Reserve Forces ready to meet defense requirements. The information and perspectives they provide are invaluable to our association as we support a strong Reserve Component and ensure adequate national security.

The theme of this issue is "The Year in Review" I am limiting my comments to the last six months, July through December because that is the period I have served as your president.

Numerous positive things me happening in R0A and I would like to expound on some of those.

I am keeping busy, but thoroughly enjoy serving as your president. I have made 10 trips to ROA headquarters, plan two for December, visited three fall conferences, and made a recruiting visit to Reserve centers in St. Louis with CAPT Mike Nolan, USNR (Ret.).

Our association has several goals, and you probably have heard about them from either Maj Gen Bob McIntosh or me. Some will be discussed in this article, others are detailed in General McIntosh's article, also in this issue, in which he outlinesmany ongoing legislative and other related initiatives. The legislative tempo has typically been good in ROA but has significantly increased under his tutelage. We are fortunate to have him as executive director.

Several people have emphasized the importance of a close working relationship between the national president and the executive director. I am pleased to report that we do that very well. Hardly a day goes by that we do not talk by phone, and we correspond several times via e-mail.

There have been several additions to or changes within the staff:

* Susan Lukas is now the Legislative director, in addition to director, Air Force Affairs.

* Mr. Richard Thralls is the new director of Resource Development.

* CAPT Marshall Hanson, USNR (Ret.), is director, Naval Services Affairs.

* MG David Bockel, USAR (Ret.), is director, Army Affairs.

* Ms. Betsy Allen is the executive assistant to the executive director and deputy executive director.

* Ms. Chandra Oliphant was promoted this summer to the position of Membership Database manager.

* Ms. Diane Markham is now the manager of Meetings and Events.

* Ms. Lani Burnett is the director of Industry Affairs.

* Ms. Tracey Coleman has recently moved to the membership department as the Life Member Account Representative.

* Mr. Seth Benge is now the assistant to all three service directors and will be joined in that role by Ms. Coleman's replacement.

As I mentioned at a recent staff meeting, staff morale has increased significantly and good teamwork is apparent. Communications have improved.

The Web page is getting much more attention, and ROA has issued position papers on several hot issues, as outlined in General McIntosh's article.

The ROA Minuteman Memorial Building has also seen improvements this year. As you know, this building is an extremely valuable asscl that we must protect. I commend COL. David E. Davenport and General McIntosh for getting the exterior of the building cleaned last May. Take a look at it the next time you are in D.C. It is now on a par with the other buildings on Capitol Hill. Also, thanks to an internal building cleanup by the entire staff, the inside appearance has been significantly improved.

NEW SOURCES OF INCOME

A Blue Ribbon Committee, headed by MG Ken Bouldin, AUS (Ret.), has been established to look into innovative ways to raise funds in addition to those mentioned below.

An Industry Affairs Program that encourages corporations to invest in ROA is now up and running. Most other associations already have such programs.

A Wall of Gold revitalization program is now under way. There is room for 1,000 additional names on the Wall of Gold and there is an opportunity to upgrade many names to Gold status.

Magazine advertising has increased.

Additional exhibitors for our meetings are being sought. We were successful in obtaining several new ones for the National Convention in New Orleans.

We expect these programs to yield several hundred thousand dollars per year within 24 months.

INCREASED MEMBERSHIP

The membership committee chairman and the membership director have updated the Grand Membership Strategy, retaining the best practices from last year. They have also interfaced with departments to designate a department membership chair to follow up with those whose dues are expiring, assist with Reserve center visits and Reserve conferences. The Regional Director Program is also yielding significant results.

A new membership category is being developed that will permit spouses, widows, and widowers to join ROA. This is in response to a congressional initiative that allows up to 22.5 percent of veterans/military associations to be composed of spouses, widows, and widowers. The purpose of that legislation is to assist with membership numbers. Many other associations have taken advantage of this, but we have not. The benefits of applying this legislation to ROA will be threefold: to increase energy and ROA credibility in working spouse/survivor-related benefits (such as eliminating the currently unfair survivor-benefit income reductions at age 62); to increase overall ROA influence by strengthening membership numbers; and by creating a broader base for dues income. This initiative will require ExCom approval and Constitution & By-Laws change at the National Convention.

As we discuss and consider this new membership category, it is important to recognize and continue to support ROAL. Because ROAL is, and will always be, a unique and separate support organization that can be composed of family members in addition to spouses, I see its status as unchanged. ROAL should remain viable as a one-of-a-kind organization and as an important supporting arm of ROA. I also will strongly encourage dual membership in ROA and ROAL for spouses, widows, and widowers as well as for ROA officers (as I do today) if the new category of ROA membership is approved.

Another membership-related item is the recent creation of the Reserve Enlisted Association (REA). REA is an affiliate, but independent, organization that will allow enlisted Reservists to belong to an association similar to ours. ROA is lending support to REA because, in addition to wanting the Reserve enlisted voice better heard on Capitol Hill, we see great synergy from REA and ROA working together.

PROGRESS IN MEETING BUDGET CHALLENGES

When I assumed office in late June, I published seven budget-related goals for my year as your president. I am happy to report that we are making progress toward achieving all seven goals. As a reminder, those goals are to:

* Increase direct operating revenue;

* Decrease budget deficit areas;

* Reduce expenditures in other areas (travel, IT, staff efficiencies);

* Maximize rental of the headquarters building fifth floor;

* Continue IT upgrades to attractiveness of Web site and improve info flow;

* Continue to improve magazine appeal while obtaining more advertising;

* Better utilize ROA member volunteer manpower to compensate for reduction in full time staff.

HOMELAND SECURITY

The following are some actions taken to date relative to the important area of homeland security: MG Donna Barbisch, USAR, ROA's Homeland Security committee chair, General McIntosh and I visited the military advisor to the Department of Homeland Security, RADM Jay Carmichael, USCG. We stressed ROA's concerns and ideas on the use of the Reserve Components in the homeland security/defense mission arena. An additional meeting has been scheduled with the Hon. Paul McHale, assistant secretary for Homeland Defense, Department of Defense; and we met with VADM Thomas Barrett, USCG, vice commandant of the Coast Guard.

Homeland security is a mission that lends itself to Reserve participation. It is the Reserve community that provides the bridge between the civilian community and federal authorities.

STRATEGIC PLANNING DIRECTION

This year we initiated a tracking system for measuring progress in implementing the ROA Strategic Planning Direction (SPD). The SPD committee chair will report progress at the December ExCom meeting. An overall update wild be completed by March 2004. ROA's Strategic Planning document has served us well and will continue to be a good roadmap to the future.

Progress in other areas includes:

The Defense Education Forum is in the process of implementing many changes and improvements, with input from the very active DEF committee.

The ROA Academy was held at three different conventions. The Department of California hosted one session and the Academy held a specialized session for the ExCom in August. This Academy has become a valuable tool.

ROA Committees are up and running. We are looking forward to an increase in volunteer assistance from the committees, composed of active and enthusiastic members. Their contribution to ROA will be the subject of a future President's Report.

Although this article does not come close to covering all that is taking place in ROA, I am pleased to report to you some very positive accomplishments and ongoing improvements taking place in 2003. I am very optimistic about the future of ROA due to the committed staff, an outstanding Executive Committee, active National Council and an increasingly energetic membership in the departments and committees. I applaud all of you.

RADM G. Robert Merrilees, USCGR (Ret.)

ROA National President 2003-2004

COPYRIGHT 2003 Reserve Officers Association of the United States
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group