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Departments - Chapter Activities

Newsletter Contest Winners

In March a panel of judges convened to review and select the council and chapter newsletters published in 2001 that stood out as the best. We thank all those organizations that took the time to submit their newsletters for consideration and extend our heartiest congratulations to the editors of the winners and runners-up (listed below) for their publication excellence.

COUNCIL

Winner: Council Communiqué
Florida Council of Chapters
Col. Henry Ince, USAR-Ret.

1st Runner-Up: Council Comments
North Carolina Council of Chapters
Cmdr. Jack Overman, USN-Ret.

2nd Runner-Up: LATROA Reporter
Louisiana Council of Chapters
Col. John R. Barnard, USAF-Ret.

CHAPTER

Large Category (900 or more members)

Winner: The Eagle
Pikes Peak (Colo.) Chapter
Col. Norman Andersson, USA-Ret.

1st Runner-Up: The Intercom
Cape Canaveral (Fla.) Chapter
Lt. Gen. Robert McAlister, USA-Ret., Cmdr. Edward Stafford, USN-Ret., Cmdr. Gordon Prentice, USN-Ret.

2nd Runner-Up: The Retired Officer Newsletter
Ark-La-Tex (La.) Chapter
Col. Steve dePyssler, USAF-Ret.

Category I (500-899 members)

Winner: The Sarasota Breeze
ROC of Sarasota (Fla.) Inc. Chapter
Col. Max Jonah, USA-Ret.

1st Runner-Up: The Defender
Northwest Florida ROC
Karen Spence

2nd Runner-Up: The Retrospect
Tampa (Fla.) Chapter
Lt. Col. Bernard Tauber, USA-Ret.

Category II (200-499 members)

Winner: Highlights
Mayport (Fla.) Chapter
Capt. J.M. Dunlop, USN-Ret.

1st Runner-Up: Sunbeams
Kingdom of the Sun (Fla.) Chapter
Cmdr. James Chandler, USNR-Ret.

2nd Runner-Up: In Step
Palm Beach (Fla.) Area Chapter
Col. Richard Weinberg, USMCR-Ret.

Category III (75-199 members)

Winner: SITREP
Central Oregon Chapter
CW03 Leonard Knott, USCGR-Ret.

1st Runner-Up: The White River Chapter Newsletter
White River (Ind.) Chapter
Col. Cecil Salter, USA-Ret.

2nd Runner-Up: The Beacon
Susquehanna (Md.) Chapter
Col. Mort Brisker, USA-Ret.

Category IV (Up to 74 members)

Winner: The Totah News
The Totah (N.M.) Chapter
Lt. Col. Steven White, USA-Ret.

1st Runner-Up: Catawba Valley Newsletter
Catawba Valley (N.C.) Chapter
Col. John Knight, USAF-Ret.

2nd Runner-Up: Officers Call
North DFW (Texas) Officers Association Chapter
Col. Nelson Ringmacher, USA-Ret.

A Rewarding Experience

For years I have been urging our chapter members - and all TROA members - to get more involved in their communities and capture the wave of patriotic fervor sweeping the country by telling our stories to youngsters in schools.

Several months ago, in the aftermath of Sept. 11, I was presented with such an opportunity myself. Two of my grandchildren, who attend St. Joseph’s School in York, Pa., invited me to don my uniform and visit their school for a "Salute to Veterans" day. I must admit that at first I had some reluctance - not because I didn’t think the idea worthwhile, but simply because of the uniform: I wasn’t sure it would fit! But, after some nifty needlework by my wife, that excuse disappeared, and off I went to "show the flag."

I must tell you it was one of the more rewarding experiences of my life. As I walked into the assembly hall, about 50 veterans warmly greeted me. They represented each of the major conflicts our country has been involved in over the past 60 years: World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf.

Principal Sister Dorita Slaughter, OSF, a charming and dynamic nun, greeted each of us. She said our presence helped to refurbish the spirit of America, that while Sept. 11 brought people everywhere to their knees in prayer, we symbolized what sacrifice for country was all about. She noted how important it was to teach patriotism at an early age and that it would be the children present that day and all like them who would touch the future. The example we had set, she said, would leave a lasting impression on each of them. The program concluded with each of the classes singing a patriotic song.

After the program, I was struck by the fact that these children, despite their youth, were aware of what our nation’s military forces had done - maybe not in detail, but they knew that we had fought, each in our own way, to keep America free. It made me feel proud and, yes, confident in our future.

Col. Chris Giaimo, USAF-Ret.
Director, Council and Chapter Affairs