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In this Issue:
Headlining this week is the Medal of Honor Breakfast ROA will host Inauguration Day. We also provide you with last month's retention numbers, info on Tricare for Life, and new members of the House Armed Services Committee. We also ask you to fill out our "Value of Membership" survey, and remind you its coming up to the final hours to register for the Mid-Winter Conference.
MID-WINTER CONFERENCE UPDATES:
ROA Mid-Winter Conference & Expo - Final Days, Register Now!
Date: Feb. 1-4, 2009
Hotel: Marriott Wardman Park
2660 Woodley Road, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: (202) 328-2000
Register online for the upcoming ROA Mid-Winter Conference & Expo. Register by Jan. 16 to take advantage of the advance registration discount. A savings of $80 off the on-site fee!
 Click here to Register for the conference online
It's Not Too Late to Sign Up for RCJOPDS
You can still participate in the 2009 Reserve Component Junior/Joint Officer Professional Development Seminar by going to this link. Confirm your space by completing the STEP 1 registration. Your payment will be on-site at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel on Feb. 1.
Please contact Col Obenland (360) 895-2720 (Pacific Time) if you are coming and haven't signed up yet.
Make Your Hotel Reservations by Jan. 23
If you haven't already made your hotel reservations, please be sure to ACT NOW as the hotel cut-off date is Jan. 23. After that, you can't get the ROA discounted rate.
Click here to reserve your hotel room online
MEMBERSHIP UPDATES:
Dec 2008 Department Retention Statistics:
The top 5 ROA Departments for retention of term members are:
| 1. |
Idaho |
90% |
| 2. |
Maine |
79% |
| 3. |
South Dakota |
78% |
| 4. |
Kansas |
75% |
| 5. |
New Jersey |
71% |
The 5 lowest ranking ROA Departments for retention of term members are:
| 1. |
Illinois |
30% |
| 2. |
Far East |
33% |
| 3. |
Ohio |
35% |
| 4. |
Mississippi |
47% |
| 5. |
Arizona |
48% |
ROA Membership Survey Launched
You Count! Please fill out our "Value of Membership" Survey 2009. Your answers will help determine where to direct our efforts.
Click here to take the ROA Survey
MILITARY AND LEGISLATIVE POLICY UPDATE:
Tricare for Life Not on Chopping Block
A viral e-mail campaign is unsettling military retirees over 65. Sourcing a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report, these e-mails claim that TRICARE for Life is at risk. These distress warnings are overstated.
Click here to read ROA's statement
Skelton, McHugh Announce House Armed Services Committee Membership
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), and Ranking Member John McHugh (R-N.Y.), released the following list of House Armed Services Committee Members in the 111th Congress.
See the complete list
The list of ranking members for the House Armed Services Committee is as follows:
Air and Land Forces Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, Maryland (bio)
Military Personnel Rep. Joe Wilson, South Carolina (bio)
Oversight and Investigations TBD
Readiness Rep. J. Randy Forbes, Virginia (bio)
Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Rep. W. Todd Akin, Missouri (bio)
Strategic Forces Rep. Michael Turner (bio)
Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Rep. Jeff Miller, Florida (bio)
ROA NEWS:
ROA Honors Medal of Honor Recipients
As part of the Salute to Heroes inaugural festivities, ROA is hosting the recipients of the Medal of Honor at a tribute breakfast Jan. 20 before they attend the inauguration. Only once every four years can ROA enjoy such a cross section of distinguished and great Americans in a single gathering here in our Minuteman Memorial Building. This event reminds us of our debt to these men, and clearly points to the personal responsibility which every American has today to share in the work of helping to build a healthy and peaceful world.
Click here to visit the Congressional Medal of Honor Society Web site
Decorated WWII Veteran Was Chief of Army Reserve
J. Milnor Roberts Jr., 90, an advertising executive promoted to the rank of major general in the Army Reserve who served as chief of Army Reserve from 1971 to 1975, died Jan. 2 at Virginia Hospital Center. He was also ROA's Executive Director
Read the Washington Post Obituary
COMMUNICATION UPDATES:
New on ROA's Web Site: Web Site News
Have you ever looked for a news you saw in an e-Newsletter, but could not find it at a later time? No worries! You can find the news posted on News page.
Click here to view the News page
Highlighted on ROA's Web Site: Write to Congress
Check out how you can locate and write to your Congressional reps about your concerns and feedback.
Visit the Write to Congress under Advocacy
Great American Video of the week
ROA is a participating organization in the Great Americans video archive effort. Tune in to watch the Best Dam Rescue when the Coast Guard Air Station Houston hoists 4 people to safety after their boat goes over the Colorado River dam in Bay City, Texas on April 9, 2007.
Watch this week's video of the Best Dam Rescue
Upload your videos on the Great Americans Web site
NEWS FOR CITIZEN WARRIORS:
Reservists Jump at Chance To Show Military Skills to Employer
A Special Docket For Homeless Vets
Navy To Commission Carrier George H.W. Bush
DFAS Sends 2008 Tax Statements
Obama Preparing Order To Close Gitmo
National Guard and Reserve Activated as of January 6, 2009
ANNOUNCEMENT:
New USERRA Poster Available on DoL Web site
In 2004, Congress amended the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), adding a new section that requires employers to notify employees of their USERRA rights. On Oct. 27, 2008, the Secretary prescribed a new USERRA notice - a consolidated form that applies to both federal and non-federal employers, which can be found at the Department of Labor Web site. Posting the notice in the employee break room is the usual way of complying with the notice requirement, but it is not the only permissible way. If posting notices is difficult or impractical, you should consider other ways of giving notice.
Click here to download the poster (.pdf)
Let Liberty Mutual Help You Conduct a Household Inventory and Win a Digital Camera
As a homeowner or renter, it is important to conduct an inventory of your personal property so that you have a record of belongings. In the event of a loss, this inventory can help you assessing lost or damaged items.
Taking pictures of your property can help even more. Liberty Mutual is giving away a Canon PowershotŪ A590IS camera. Enter for a chance to win by completing an online entry form. No Quote or Purchase Necessary. Ends Feb. 28, 2009.
To get additional information and resources about how you can keep your family and home safe, please visit Liberty Mutual or to get a printable Personal Property log
Click here to enter the drawing
Click here for a printable Personal Property log
Click here to visit Liberty Mutual
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EVENTS:
ROA Mid-Winter Conference and Reserve Component Expo
February 1-4, 2009
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
Washington, D.C.
Click here to Register Online
Defense Education Forum
To find out what DEF events are scheduled, Click Here
CIOR Mid-Winter Seminar February 15-18, 2009
Wesseling, Germany
CIOR/CIOMR Mid-Winter Meeting
February 18-21, 2009
Brussels, Belgium
ROA 2009 National Convention
July 8-11, 2009
Marriott World Center
Orlando, Fla.
NETWORKING:
Want to network with fellow ROA members online? Check out these opportunities:
ROA on Facebook
MyROA
THIS WEEK IN HISTORY:
January 12, 1991: Congress approved President George H.W. Bush's request to use the United States Armed Forces for the Military Force actions against Iraq occupation in Kuwait in pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 678.
See the bill on Thomas Library of Congress Web site
"No man has a right to withhold his support from an organization that is striving to improve conditions within his sphere." - President Theodore Roosevelt
Please consider a donation to the Reserve Officers Association.
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