This report will address the chapter during the past year, from October 2010 through October 2011. The State of the Chapter is in decline; funding and personnel membership are going in the negative direction, member participation is in decline, active duty participation is severely lacking, and our scholarship program is in jeopardy.
We started October 2010 with membership down 28 from 2009 at 85 Members and 11 Associate Members, $4,843.70 in the account, had sufficient funding for up to 3 scholarships, and were struggling with the Past President, Joe Gill’s deteriorating health.
We ended the month of October 2011 with membership at 93 members, 77 Regular Members and 16 Associate Members, $1747.43 in the account, sufficient funding to cover 1 scholarship, and lost our President, Joe Gill to cancer.
What happened, you ask. Let me tell you.
Financial Well Being:
1. Coupled with an error in accounting, our fund raising activities reductions, compounded by the decline in support, resulted in less discretionary monies available to support our Chapter Membership and their off-spring.
a. Our pancake breakfast netted a profit of $805.55. The next pancake breakfast is scheduled for 2 June 2012.
b. The annual Golf Tournament had to be postponed due to a lack of support; the timing was impacted by two other tournaments. This was a loss of expected revenue of an additional $3-4K. Consequently, we had to reschedule the tournament for the month of April 2012.
c. In August it was found that there was an accounting error in our records. Instead of having $6075.55, we found that we had only $2578.72. There appeared to be a double accounting of income going all the way back to the Golf Tournament which we have been unable to substantiate yet. As a result, different accounting principles and reporting requirements have been implemented.
Membership and Support:
1. Active duty membership has declined due to a MOAA drive called “Give me 10” wherein Warrant Officers and Commissioned Officers were encouraged to join MOAA as they were the largest advocacy group fighting for soldier rights. What should be noted is that MOAA is the lead organization that is supported by WOA, NCOA and other military professional groups from the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Reserves? It needs to be pointed out that each of these fraternities has a valuable role in supporting and marketing our respective interests.
2. EXCOM support has declined. We started the year of October 2010 with 11 members, 3 elective officers, and with only 1 Director Position vacant. We finished October 2011 with 3 elective officers, and 3 Director Positions vacant. We have one Director Position, Public Affairs Director to be vacated as of March 2012, and the Secretary position, to be vacant as of May/June 2012.
3. Times have become tough, financially, for our older membership with only their retirement pay and possibly social security to sustain. This has resulted in 2 members dropping from the roles, have lost 2 members to cancer, and 17 warrant officers as a result of PCSs with 2 key members of the EXCOM preparing to relocate next year.
4. In addition, up until this year, we have had an average of 17-20 WO1’s attending the Basic Course at Ft. Huachuca as members of the chapter. These numbers are down this year as we are pressing for regular members. However, this resulted in our accounting for these members from the time they received their free membership to the time they completed their training and PCS’ed back to their units. This resulted in an inflated number of regular and associated members and brought no dues-generated revenues to the club.
State of Affairs/What has the Chapter done this Year?
1. We were able to award one scholarship this year. We awarded $1500 to Isaac Gorski for his first year of college.
2. We provided $600 to the Civil Air Patrol to aide them in obtaining a replacement trailer for their headquarters.
3. Entered into agreement to support the Civil Air Patrol in cleanup activities as part of a fund raising where the $1600 to be paid is split commensurate with the participation of the two organization
4. Entered into an agreement with the Tombstone High School which has started a JROTC program headed by CW4 Tom Gross, Senior Army Instructor.
5. We supported the JROTC Program at Buena High School again this year. This was accomplished primarily due to our Vice President, CW2 R Cecil Dildine, Past President CW4 R Bill Whealy, and our Web Master, WO1 David Freeman.
6. WO1 David Freeman has worked diligently to make the chapter website more user friendly. As a result, we have been able to promptly post articles and other notices of interest to our members. These notices are typically posted within 1-2 hours after receipt.
7. With the leadership of our Professional Development Director, CW2 Gale Russell, we have been able to have guest speakers providing topics that were more in line with current affairs affecting the warrant officer community, both Active Duty, Reserves, National Guard and retirees. As we move forward, we look forward to hearing from the membership on any topics that are of interest to the membership.
The Silver Chapter remains 1 of only 3 Silver Chapters in the World. That means that we have prospered since founded in 1972. Let us not allow the chapter to fall by the wayside as several others have gone before us.
Where Do We Go From Here:
1. We need to fill the election slate with officers who are eager to help grow the Warrant Officer community, and more importantly, our membership. Currently we have the following nominees:
a. President – CW3 (R) Harry Bowen
b. Vice President – CW2 (R) Cecil Dildine
c. Treasurer – CW3 (R) Gregory Gluck
d. Director, Community & Veterans Affairs (1 Year remaining) – CW4 (R) Tom Wisniewski
e. Director – Fund Raising – Vacant, President nominated CW3 Oscar Torres (awaiting acceptance)
f. Director – Public Affairs – CW3 Joseph Koschmeder currently serving but on PCS move in March 2012
g. Director – Professional Development (1 Year remaining) – CW2 Gale Russell
h. Director – Youth & JROTC Activities – Vacant, CW2 (R) Dildine is supporting and we need to get someone to take his place.
Although not an elected position, one of the most important positions is that of the Secretary. This is an appointed position and is currently held by CW4 Kevin Gorski. CW4 Gorski will PCS in June 2012 so will be looking for a zealous Warrant Officer who is willing to take the time to fill Kevin’s large shoes.
2. We need to keep feeding Gale (CW2 Russell) with topics of interest to you, the membership so that we continue to fulfill your desires and needs. Many have asked “What is in it for me?” and I respond with professional growth, professional mentoring, and camaraderie.
a. We are looking for ideas for future topics for the professional development meetings to provide you with the
b. We are looking to the membership for ideas on what works best for you, luncheon meetings, evening meetings, week end meetings, or a combination.
c. We are looking for more active duty Warrant participation so that we can ensure that we meet your needs. Concurrently, we are looking to the retirees for topics of interest for them as well as mentorship for our members. WE ALL CAN LEARN FROM OTHERS REGARDLESS OF HOW GOOD WE ARE.
d. We are looking to the membership to help us plan for and execute the fund raising activities. We want to gain more funds so that we can give back to the membership and community more support. THIS IS WHY THE DIRECTOR FOR FUND RAISING is SO IMPORTANT. We are looking to you for ideas for raising funds other than just the Golf Tournament and the Pancake Breakfast.
e. MOST IMPORTANTLY, we want this to be a fun organization that offers the best professional support possible to the membership and, at the same time, be socially enjoyable as well.
f. We are looking for ideas on social events other than just the Birthday Celebration and the Christmas Holiday Dinner. We need to make this chapter vibrant, productive, and an enjoyable organization to belong. We have discussed picnics, outings, etc but need YOUR IDEAS.
3. The EXCOM takes the governance out of our professional meetings so that we can devote more time at these meetings on professional development and social interchange. But that board is only as good as you want them to be. The board cannot do it in a vacuum. PLEASE, get involved.
Although there was a great deal of negative comments in this address, there were a number of good times as well. We have had professional development meetings where we filled the room.
Harry E. Bowen, Sr
CW3(R), USA
President
USAWOA AZ Silver Chapter