Field Reports

	Semper Fi
	I always say that working at TROA is like working with family, the likes of which I had never experienced before coming here more than 12 years ago. The TROA staff is only 95 people strong. When someone is ill, we all hurt. When a young staff member has a baby, we "old codgers" become instant grandparents. And, when someone passes away, we all grieve. We are grieving now over the loss of someone special, CWO4 Robert M. "Bob" Skidmore, USMC-Ret., my friend, colleague, and mentor in the Council and Chapter Affairs Department (see next page). It seems like just yesterday that I walked into the department to find only Bob at the helm. The former director had taken ill and the secretary had quit — all on the same day — and there were Bob and I. No instruction book to follow, no computer files, nothing — just Bob and his smile, his equanimity, his professionalism, his corporate memory, and his ever-present willingness to help. I will always remember asking him, "Bob, how are you doing?" expecting him to tell me candidly that the department needed more than two people to run efficiently, but no, all he said was, "Colonel, I'm just doing outstanding, but I'm working on it!" That one remark came to symbolize his working relationships, not only here at TROA but also with our entire chapter family. I dare say there is probably not a person in a chapter leadership position, past or present, whom Bob has not helped, encouraged, and yes, cajoled when necessary. He truly embodied the TROA spirit of service to our membership. It was his hallmark. Finally, Bob was a U.S. Marine, through and through. I'd try to find books on the Corps that I thought he might like to read, only to find out that he had beaten me to it. He infused many of us with a respect for and awe of the Marine Corps. It is with great fondness and a deep sense of loss that I bid my — our — old friend Bob Skidmore good-bye and say semper fi! –Col. Chris Giaimo, USAF-Ret. Director, Council and Chapter Affairs

Younger Floridians Join Under 60 Club

Capt. Mike Miller, USN-Ret., joined the Retired Officers Club (ROC) of Sarasota (Fla.) Inc. Chapter shortly before he separated from the service in 1995. Miller was looking forward to meeting other military retirees when he attended his first chapter meeting, but he left the event feeling like an outsider.

"I was a lot younger than most of the members, and I just felt out of place," he recalls. "It seemed like most of the chapter's activities were geared toward older retirees, not someone like me."

Miller could have taken the easy way out. He could have just gone home, never attended another chapter meeting, and let his membership lapse. Instead, he decided to change things.

In 1996, he was elected secretary of the chapter. While serving as chapter secretary, he conducted an informal survey that revealed only 35 of the chapter's 700 chapter members were 60 or younger and the average age of a chapter member was 77.

Toward the end of 1996, Miller wrote a letter published in the chapter's newsletter, The Sarasota Breeze. The letter gave the results of his survey and detailed why Miller believed it would be in the chapter's best interests to attract more members in the 45-60 age group.

Identifying the problem was the easy part. Finding a workable solution proved to be more difficult. In early 1997, Miller sent a survey to every member of the chapter who was 60 or younger. Half of those surveyed responded, and in March of that year a small focus group met at Miller's house for a brainstorming session. By the end of that session, the Under 60 Club was born.

The following month, Miller and his wife hosted a cocktail party at their house. Other members of the Under 60 Club soon began hosting social events as well.

Today, the Under 60 Club is one of the more popular subgroups within the chapter. This year, the club will host a wide variety of events, including a spring garden party, a summer barbecue and golf outing, a canoe trip, and an Army-Navy football game party.

"I think the Under 60 Club has helped attract younger members, and I've watched the leadership of the chapter change," says Miller, who went on to serve as the chapter's first vice president and president. "In 1997, two members of the board of directors were 60 or younger. Now five of the eight members on the board fall into that age category."

In addition to starting the Under 60 Club, the chapter launched a scholarship program in 1999. The scholarship program is open to the relatives of chapter members as well as high school seniors who are related to a veteran or member of the military. Last year, the chapter awarded 10 $1,000 scholarships to area students.

ROC of Sarasota Inc. also continues to offer programs that serve members of all ages. The chapter publishes a monthly newsletter, supports three high school Junior ROTC programs, and has a personal affairs program.

New Georgia Chapter Officers Attend Workshop

So you've just been elected president or vice president of your local chapter. Now what do you do? If you're in Georgia, you begin your term by attending the presidents' workshop that is hosted each year by the Georgia ROA Inc.

In early January, 25 officers from 15 local TROA chapters traveled to Warner Robins, Ga., to learn the ins and outs of chapter leadership. Council President Lt. Col. Robert Carlisle, USAF-Ret., led the workshop, which covered topics such as how to increase communication within the chapter and with the state council. Attendees also learned about the legislative efforts of the Georgia Federal/Military Retiree Coalition. CWO4 Don Hess, USA-Ret., a member of national TROA's board of directors, provided an overview of how the national organization is structured and briefed chapter officers on national legislative issues of interest to retired military members and their families, such as concurrent receipt.

After the daylong workshop concluded, chapter representatives attended the regular monthly meeting of the Middle Georgia Chapter, held at the officers club on Robins Air Force Base.

New York Council Members Head to Europe

"Chapter members who play together stay together" is the unofficial motto among members of the New York State Council of Chapters. In 1979, Maj. James Tille, USAF-Ret., former council president, began arranging tours for chapter and council members who were interested in traveling together. Since that time, members have taken 53 group tours, traveling everywhere from Australia to Europe.

This year, the council will present two trips Tille has arranged — one to Bavaria in Germany and another through Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany.

"I actually started doing this as a way to get people together," says Tille. "We have 14 chapters in our state council, and we only saw each other once a year when the council held its state convention."

Each trip attracts an average of 75 travelers, Tille estimates. Some travelers are members of the New York State Council of Chapters, others are friends of members, and a few are members of TROA chapters in other states.

Over the years, the travel group has participated in many historical events. Members participated in the "Victory in Europe" celebration in Normandy, France, in 2001. Last year, members also witnessed the reentry of the Russian space station, Mir, while traveling in Fiji.

New Mexico Members Meet With Legislators

Former Speaker of the House Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill Jr. once said, "All politics is local." Chapter and council members in New Mexico obviously agree with O'Neill's statement because they're doing their best to keep abreast of pending legislation that affects them at the local, state, and national levels.

Earlier this year, members of the Albuquerque Chapter heard presentations from Albuquerque City Councilmember Sally Mayer, State Rep. Judy Vanderstar Russell (R), State House of Representatives Minority Leader Ted Hobbs (R), and U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson (R). In addition, Gov. Gary Johnson (R) tentatively has agreed to speak at the chapter's June meeting, according to Col. Joseph Loisel, USA-Ret., program chairperson for the chapter.

Members of the New Mexico Council of Chapters also are keeping up with pending state legislation that affects military retirees and their families. In February, council members heard from New Mexico Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron and U.S. Attorney for the State of New Mexico David Iglesias, who was portrayed by actor Tom Cruise in the movie "A Few Good Men."

Currently, the New Mexico Council of Chapters is working to form a statewide military coalition that would speak with a collective voice in the state's legislature on issues such as providing tax relief to all state veterans and military retirees.

Texans Receive News From the Front

Members of the Greater Dallas Chapter received a firsthand account of military operations in Afghanistan from Lt. Col. Jeff Smiley, USAF, during their February meeting. Smiley, who is with the 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron from Carswell Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, Texas, took part in both Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Smiley's was one of the first fighter squadrons to deploy to Afghanistan. During the meeting, he showed several unclassified tapes that revealed the phenomenal accuracy of some of the munitions being used by U.S. forces. Approximately 85 of the chapter's 400 members attended.

By Col. Chris Giaimo, USAF-Ret., and Col. Jim Pauls, USAF-Ret., Council and Chapter Affairs and Kris Ann Hegle