Program Description

Participation levels and benefits

ROA Industry partners are included in, invited to, and/or are able to participate in various events based on the STARs participation level. The STARs participation fee covers the cost of hosting these events and partners receive the benefit of gaining access and exposure to events of interest to them. 

As an indispensable broker of information and insight, the ROA is in a unique position to provide exposure to expert resources. The non-tangible benefits associated with STARs participation include:

• opportunities to interact with Reserve Component senior leadership and decision-makers in order to respond to growth and changes in the defense industry;
• opportunities to increase knowledge of the Reserves, its requirements, and the business opportunities existing at local and national levels,
• exposure at business development events,
• quality and timely business information,
• the opportunity to demonstrate “community” support,
• marketing posturing and recognition.

The STARs fee covers one year (12-months from date of entry into the STARs Program).  STARs participation fees will not be tax deductible as a charitable contribution, but may be deductible as a business expense. 

Below is a matrix of the benefits for each participation level. Please note that the ROA resolution process and legislative activities will often be the driving force behind the time-line for these events/benefits.

STARs Benefits Listing.

Benefits (Updated 3/1/08)	Up to 10 staff members	Up to 4 staff member	Up to 2 staff members
Attendance in the ROA Legislative Forum	Yes
Invitation to Old Masters Breakfast	Yes	Based on space availability
Invitation to exclusive events	Yes	Based on space availability
Defense Education Forum Seminars	Yes	Yes	Yes
Invitation to Annual Congressional Staffers Appreciation Lunch & Reception	Yes	Yes	Yes
Invitation to Special Interest Group Events	Yes	Yes	Based on space availability
Participation in "Meet the Chiefs"	Yes	Yes	Yes
Invitation to Reserve Caucus House and Senate Brakfasts	Yes	Yes	Based on space availability
Use of ROA 5th floor meeting space	1st-Comp 50% discount	50% discount	25% discount
Use of ROA 4th floor meeting space	1st-Comp 50% discount	50% discount	25% discount
Use of ROA office space (See 'Added Bonus' below)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Complimentary tickets to Mid-Winter Banquet and/or Service luncheon	Up to 8	Up to 4	Up to 2
Signage and Program recognition at Mid-Winter Conference and National Convention	Yes	Yes	Yes
Priority booth placement at Mid-Winter Exposition	Yes	Yes	Yes
Discounts for Mid-Winter Exposition exhibit space	20% discount	15% discount	10% discount
Reserved seating at Mid-Winter General Sessions	Yes	Yes	Yes
Editorial content in ROA magazine	Yes	Yes	Yes
Discounts for multiple ad insertions in The Officer magazine	50% discount	20% discount	10% discount
Hperlink from ROA website to company website	Yes	Yes	Yes
First look at sponsorship marketing opportunities	Yes	Yes	Yes

Three-STARs only:  Benefits are easily adjusted and customized to create win-win situations between ROA and your company/organization.  You will be kept informed of opportunities that arise throughout the year and will be included in numerous events not listed below.

Description of Benefits

• “Meet the Chiefs” is a full-day event intended to inform members of Congress, Defense Industry, and Reserve Component leadership about service specific capabilities and requirements. This non-attribution, candid, and open discussion brings together key Reserve Component stakeholders to freely discuss and articulate equipment needs, equipment capabilities and opportunities, and views on policy and legislative matters.
• Industry Day provides companies with an opportunity to display the newest defense equipment.  This is an opportunity to align the resolution agenda with the agenda of companies that can specifically modernize and equip association stakeholders and customers. While the process is resolution driven, the impact is tremendous when all stakeholders work together for a common purpose.
• ROA Legislative Forum: ROA leadership shaping the Legislative Game Plan.
• Defense Education Forum Seminars:  A series of high level seminars featuring renowned experts speaking to topics on homeland security, civil affairs, and terrorism, continuum of service, USERRA, civil-military relations, and other thought-provoking and timely issues. 
• Old Masters Breakfast:  An annual event, bringing together leaders from the military/industrial complex and the legislative community.  200-250 attendees include Chiefs of Staff, DOD officials, representatives from professional military associations and Industry, members of Congress and the Senate, and congressional staffers.
• House Reserve Caucus Breakfast and the Senate Reserve Caucus Breakfast:  Caucus members, OSD officials, the Reserve Component chiefs, and members of key military associations dealing with Reserve issues gather to discuss significant issues with many of the major players in the Reserve arena. 
• Congressional Staffers Appreciation Luncheon & Reception:  An annual event held at the ROA Minuteman Headquarters building to recognize and thank individuals for their support of ROA’s legislative efforts.   This event is attended by congressional and DOD staff and Reserve components and ROA leadership.  
• The ROA Headquarters 4th and 5th meeting space is a prime location and ideal setting for business meetings when access to Capitol Hill is needed.   Recognition of ROA STARs Program participants is displayed on the 5th floor.
• Ad Space in The Officer Reserve Forces Review issue:  Bonus distribution of this issue provides additional exposure for ROA STARs and improves the value of this issue.  Comp and reduced rate ads are based on participation levels.
• Editorial content in The Officer magazine:  An Industry section in ROA’s flagship publication will contain company highlights, information on new products, new services, contracts secured, personnel changes, contact information, etc.
• Perpetual Recognition Plaque: STARs recognition on a perpetual display located in the ROA Headquarters building.
• Spotlight recognition:  The spotlight will shine on STARs during introductions at the Mid-Winter banquet.
• Complimentary tickets to the Mid-Winter Banquet or the Mid-Winter Joint Service Luncheon:  Includes the appropriate number of tickets for company contacts.
• Reserved seating at the Mid-Winter General Session.
• Hyperlink from ROA website to company website:  An industry section on the ROA website includes a link to your company website.

Other sponsorship opportunities:  Sponsorship opportunities will be offered to STARs participants first and in order of level participation. Benefits will be customized according to sponsor requirements.

Added bonus

Having a place to “hang your hat”, make phone calls, or check your e-mails, while you are in the DC area is one of your STARs benefits.  Just give me a call to make the appropriate arrangements.

Confidentiality Statement

ROA recognizes that it serves as a trusted agent to our STARs partners. Therefore, all contact, communication, and shared information will be handled with the utmost confidentiality throughout the organization. ROA staff will not disseminate, broadcast, infer, or in any other way communicate with another entity, any shared information emanating through our STARs partnership. If requested by or with the expressed permission of a STARs partner, information may be considered for publication in an ROA public medium, such as The Officer magazine, www.roa.org website, or legislative testimony and communiqués.

Professional ethics and legalities

ROA will follow strict guidelines under appropriate legal advice to ensure that income from the STARs program is placed in accounts that suitably protect our unique tax-exempt status.  

As a congressionally chartered association the Reserve Officers Association will at all times protect their objectivity and the independence of their resolution process.   Common sense and sound judgment are the foundational elements when any association initiates a program that includes collaboration with other organizations.   To ensure ROA's independence, brand name integrity, and objectivity remain in tact at all times, the following principles and leadership edicts will be followed by all ROA Officers and National Headquarters staff members when working with Congress or other governmental entities:

1. Complete objectivity will be practiced when handling industry partners and complementary organizations,
2. Industry partners are paying for specified services and benefits as described in this plan.  Therefore, additional benefits that would place any or all of these companies in an advantageous competitive position ahead of others are prohibited.
3. ROA resolutions that require a specific recommendation as to equipment and/or services will only be supported when there is no practical option to not specify specific products.
4. ROA will not appear formally before any member of Congress, congressional staff, or government entity in direct partnership with a corporate representative.