Taking the helm - From The President - Reserve Officers Association of the United States

It is an honor, privilege, and a remarkable opportunity to have been elected national president of the Reserve Officers Association. I'm optimistic about our organization and plan to be very busy this year working for you. A good working relationship between the executive director and the national president is essential, and I have no doubt that Mai Gen Bob McIntosh, his staff and I will work well together for the benefit of our organization and our nation. COL David Davenport has already set the tone for us.

I look forward to working with the Executive Committee, the National Council, the departments and the membership at large as we continue the quest of accomplishing our most pressing goals. I also intend to frequently seek the advice of our past presidents.

I believe in goals management and will focus on:

* Continuing an Aggressive Membership Program: This is an effort to which we must devote constant attention. We are making progress, but we must do better. We will continue to solicit the support of the departments through the designation of a membership chairperson on each of their management teams, and we will assist them as much as possible to assure success. We will continue our highly successful regional directors program and initiate a direct mail campaign.

* Ensuring the Financial Future of ROA with a balanced budget by developing innovative ideas for finding additional sources of revenue, improving endowment and other fundraising programs, and decreasing or eliminating budget deficits by reducing expenditures. We plan to establish a corporate sponsor program that will partially satisfy our quest for new ways to raise funds for ROA.

* Establishing ROA as the Premier "Go To" Organization for Reservists by making ROA more attractive and enhancing its relevance to members and prospective members and by partnering with other organizations that have a stake in Reserve issues. Junior officer leadership development, mentoring and advertising are areas that will foster magnetism. We should strive to be the organization that others come to for advice on Reserve and national security issues.

* Continuing to Enhance Our Legislative Program by working more closely with Congress and increasing our outreach efforts with the executive branch. The ROA name should become very familiar to the legislative and executive branches of the government. We should interface not only with Congress--we should expand our activities to include departments and agencies of the executive branch.

* Enhancing Our Homeland Security Posture: ROA has been a pioneer in this very important arena by sponsoring several panel discussions and presentations well before 9/11. Reservists will continue to play a major role in this effort and ROA will continue to be heavily involved. I can think of no higher priority for the nation than homeland security.

As a former enlisted person, I'm especially excited about the prospects for the Reserve Enlisted Association. Working together, our efforts on behalf of the Reserve forces will benefit both associations and will increase the strength of ROA's voice on Capitol Hill.

I have been an ROA Life Member for more than 35 years; I have worked hard to prepare myself for achieving the distinct honor of serving you as the national president. My three years' experience on the ROA Executive Committee (including serving as the 2001-2002 Naval Services vice president), my five years as chairman of the Coast Guard Affairs Committee, serving as the Executive Committee liaison to the Insurance and Legislative Committees, and most recently my chairmanship of the National Membership Committee should be most helpful to me during this coming year. I've also attended ROA National Budget Committee meetings during the last two years to acquire an in-depth knowledge and understanding of ROA financial matters.

During my campaign, and to better prepare myself, I met with the assistant secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs and his principal director for personnel; the Reserve-component chiefs; the chairman and military executive of the Reserve Forces Policy Board (I served on that board for three years and am still active as an alumnus); the executive director of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve; the deputy assistant secretary for Health; the recently retired chief of the National Guard Bureau; the executive director of the National Guard Association; members of Congress and their key staffers and ROA service directors.

The purpose of these meetings was to become more informed on major Reserve issues and to seek advice on how ROA could better serve its membership. These visits established or strengthened my personal working relationships with these senior leaders and provided information that will greatly assist me with ROA presidential responsibilities. I plan to continue using these invaluable resources to keep current on the most pressing Reserve issues.

I have my wife Beverly's full support in this effort and will be a visible ROA advocate throughout the year.

My campaign for this position has been energetic, positive and most rewarding. I pledge to bring that same level of enthusiasm to the job itself. I appreciate the support and encouragement of those who assisted me with the campaign. Above all, I appreciate the memberships vote of confidence that allows me to serve as your national president. I also want to thank CAPT George Williams for a clean, friendly and very professional campaign. He is a true gentleman.

RADM G. Robert Merrilees, USCGR (Ret.)

ROA National President, 2003-2004

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