July 2014 Fort Campbell AUSA Newsletter

Chapter Newsletter Fort Campbell AUSA shines during U. S. Army Birthday Week pages 3 - 6

In this Issue President’s Message

page 2

Base Reduction Potential

page 2

Events

page 2

Chapter Leadership

page 2

Fort Campbell AUSA Birthday Ball

page 3

AUSA Golf Scramble

page 4

Tour de Campbell

page 5

Hoptown Hoppers Military appreciation game

page 6

2nd Tuesday luncheons

page 7

Membership Drives

page 8

AUSA Poker Run

page 8

AUSA Application

page 9

www.fortcampbellausa.com

2nd Tuesday Lunch 8/12/14 page 8

Fort Campbell Chapter of AUSA Newsletter

July 2014

President’s Message Since our last newsletter the Fort Campbell chapter of AUSA has been very busy. Both Hopkinsville and Clarksville conducted corporate membership drives with over 70 new corporate members added to our roles. The U.S. Army Birthday was celebrated with a weeklong series of events. The first was our annual golf scramble and this year the weather was great for the fun competition. This was followed on Saturday morning with the inaugural 101K Bike Tour, with over 140 bike riders this event was a great success. The next event was the June 2nd Tuesday lunch with CSM Smith who talked about his commitment to raising the awareness of AUSA and increasing the active duty membership at Fort Campbell. Then on Friday we joined with the Hoptown Hoppers during their military appreciation night, and then finally the birthday week culminated with our 2nd annual Birthday Ball.The ball was well attended by both Fort Campbell active duty Soldiers and Clarksville and Hopkinsville community leaders. The guest speaker was LTG Mullholland who provided an informative message to all attending. A big thank you to all the sponsors, volunteers and participants during the birthday week events. With out you these would not have been possible.

With the birthday week behind us we continue to be active and visible to both Fort Campbell and our communities. On the calendar for the near future our first Motorcycle Poker Run on July 19, 2nd Tuesday luncheon on August 12 and our annual Membership Breakfast to be held at Valor Hall on August 28th. I hope to see you at one or all these events.

Sheryl Ellis Fort Campbell AUSA Chapter President

Fort Campbell Potential Reduction Alert At the end of June a report was brought to light of potential future troop reductions and their effects on posts across the nation.

The report, 2014 Supplemental Programmatic Enjoinmental Assessment (SPEA), outlined a senerio of the Fort Campbell active duty population being reduced in half and significant cuts in civilian employees. The economic impact to the Fort Campbell area would amount to nearly $1 billion per year.

AUSA board member and County Commissioner Tommy Vallejos gave his thoughts on this issue: “After reading the potential cuts in the study, I have had to really think how hard this would be on our local economy. The adverse impact would be felt in our schools, jobs on base, housing, the purchase of vehicles and in the local mall. Both city and county leaders, along with our school leaders, should start looking at our reaction to the potential loss of major tax revenues,” Vallejos said.

A 60-day public comment period implemented by the U.S. Department of Defense has already begun and will continue until August 26. You are encouraged to submit your comments on the impact to this area to: U.S. Army Environmental Command, ATTN: SPEA Public Comments, 2450 Connell Road (Building 2264), Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-7664 or emailed to usarmy.jbsa.aec.nepa@mail.mil. Inquiries may also be made via phone by calling 210-466-1590 or toll-free 855-846-3940.

!

Chapter Leadership

President 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President Past President Past President Treasurer Executive Director

Sheryl Ellis 270-887-3255 sellis@kentuckynewera.com Sears Hallett 931-801-4531 sears@creativeinktn.com Shirley West 270-798-3077 shirley.f.west@us.army.mil Bob Huffman 931-368-9176 robert.huffman17@gmail.com Lana Bastin 270-886-2293 bastins2@yahoo.com Pete Miraldi 270-798-9138 peter.t.miraldi.civ@mail.mil Lee Ann Nelson 270-605-1234 lee.a.nelson16.ctr@mail.mil

!

Upcoming Events

Poker Run July 19, 2014 Start and Finish at B.A. Wolfe, Clarksville 2nd Tuesday Luncheon Aug 12, 2014 Featuring: Col David “Buck” Dellinger Sportsman’s Lodge, Fort Campbell Fort Campbell AUSA Breakfast Aug 28, 2014 Valor Hall, Oak Grove KY AUSA National Convention Oct 13 - 15, 2014 Like us on Facebook to get up to date information on the TN-KY Chapter www.facebook.com/pages/AUSA-Tennessee-Kentucky-Chapter/142623832423317

www.fortcampbellausa.com

2

Fort Campbell Chapter of AUSA Newsletter

July 2014

AUSA Birthday Ball

To celebrate the U.S. Army’s 239th Birthday, the Fort Campbell AUSA Chapter hosted a birthday ball on June 14, 2014.

The Ball was held at Valor Hall in Oak Grove, Kentucky and was attended by active duty Soldiers and Spouses, corporate members and friends.

Our guest speaker was LTG John F. Mulholland Jr, Deputy Commander of the United States Special Operations Command.

We would like to express our appreciation to the Birthday Ball Sponsors.

Platinum Level Sponsors: The Rogers Group, FSI, and Garland Nissan.

Gold Level Sponsors: Higgins Insurance, and JPM Motor Sports Silver Level Sponsors: F & M Bank, HyVee, Valerie Hunter Kelly, Hopkinsville Community College, and Planters Bank.

Plans are already underway for the Army Birthday Ball for 2015 to celebrate the Army’s 240th Birthday. We hope you will join us!

www.fortcampbellausa.com

3

Fort Campbell Chapter of AUSA Newsletter

July 2014

AUSA Golf Scramble As part of the U. S. Army Birthday week celebration the Fort Campbell Chapter of AUSA hosted the annual Golf Scramble. This year’s scramble featured 25 teams competing in 3 flights. The scramble was sponsored by Sikorsky and gave a great opportunity for golfers to enjoy Fort Campbell’s Cole Park on a very nice day.

1st Flight 1st Place – Team Campbell Ryan Campbell • Eric Ward • Derrick Bean • James Toomey

2nd Flight 1st Place – Team Corps 4 Barry • Charles • Jeremy • Mike

3rd Flight 1st Place – Team Masarra Tom Masarra • Art Davis • Tommy Dennis • Curtis

AUSA Package Sponsors For the first time Fort Campbell Chapter of AUSA offered a package sponsorship opportunity that included the U.S. Army Birthday Ball, the AUSA Golf Scramble and the AUSA Tour de Campbell 101K bike ride. The following businesses took advantage of the opportunity to support both Fort Campbell AUSA and three of our U.S. Army Birthday events. Thank you to:

www.fortcampbellausa.com

4

Fort Campbell Chapter of AUSA Newsletter

July 2014

The Fort Campbell Chapter of AUSA’s newest event is Tour de Campbell. This was held as part of the U.S. Army Birthday week celebration and offered the communities and Fort Cambell Soldiers and Families the opportunity to ride on post. In addition to the 101K, we offered a 50K and 10.1K. Over 140 bike riders participated in this inaugural event and the comments on MS Nelson: the ride have been great!

I wish to say "Thank You" to you and the AUSA Team that The chapter received the provided the AUSA Tour de Campbe ll on Saturday. That was a following letter that gave GREAT event! You made sure eve rything was well organized insight on the bike ride and more from and the provisions were outstanding; the flyer's mention of a Michael K. Hayes GS-12, RSP. post-ride BBQ was much better and more appropriately handled with the food that was provided; ente We had great support from The Sunset Rotary Club, rtainment was great as well....sounds like I can't say enough Bikes & More good about it, doesn't it?

One memorable thing about the rout e that we and some of the other riders brought up following the ride: I don't know who set up the route (oh, which was also grea t, wasn't it?), but near the end of the route, on Mabry Road, there's a pretty steep downhill, and even larger and steeper hill con tinuing. You can see the uphill right away, and I'm sure all of us who didn't understand the queue sheet, groaned at the thou ght of having to do that kind of uphill, that late in the ride....BU T....at the bottom of the downhill on Mabry.....the route-maker s inserted a turn off onto Fence Line....NO UPHILL....literally, lots of laughs there....it was a perfect deception that worked out great!

Concerning the AUSA, my wife's fath er is proud of his association with AUSA...he has a fram ed certificate with coin displaying his lifetime membership in AUSA, given to him when he retired following 21 years as a civil ian at In/Out Processing DENTAC which followed 30 years Active Duty, retiring as a Master Sergeant. He's now 82, and every once in a while, he takes that framed certificate and sho ws it off to his friends at the gym or library, thus promoting AUS A. He's well aware of what the AUSA does; and (who doesn't) we know Mrs Freeman and have followed her actions, and others, in supporting Fort Campbell and our Soldiers and their families.

Again, thank you, and we're all hop ing that this Tour will be a yearly event; something to really look forward to.

Mike

www.fortcampbellausa.com

5

Fort Campbell Chapter of AUSA Newsletter

July 2014

Hoptown Hoppers Military Appreciation Night Another part of the U. S. Army Birthday week celebration the Fort Campbell Chapter of AUSA participated in the Military Appreciation Night at the Hoptown Hoppers baseball game. This event was co-sponsored by our chapter and the Hopkinsville Military Affairs Committee.

The largest crowd of the year, over 500, attended the Friday the 13th of June event. The event was free to Military ID holders and featured a performance of the “National Anthem”, “God Bless the USA” and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” by Rodney Watts. Rodney also performed during the week at the 101K Bike Run, and our 2nd Tuesday Luncheon.

In addition to the ballgame, we got to enjoy watch CSM Steve Bower and 1SG Meeks in the dizzy bat contest and Rodney Watts and Wayne St. Louis in the hula hoop contest.

www.fortcampbellausa.com

6

Fort Campbell Chapter of AUSA Newsletter

July 2014

2nd Tuesday Lunch Since our last newsletter we have had five 2nd Tuesday luncheons. The luncheons continue to bring information about Fort Campbell.

The lunches are open to anyone and AUSA membership is not required. If you are wanting to gain more knowledge about what is happening at Fort Campbell add the lunches to your calendar each month.

Van Stokes • Fort Campbell MWR March 2nd Tuesday

CPT Terry Williams 372nd Mobile PA Detachment Cutting the Army Reserve Birthday Cake April 2nd Tuesday

CSM Alonzo Smith Fort Campbell Command Sargent Major along with SST Christopher Parker and T.C. Freeman cutting the U.S. Army Birthday cake June 2nd Tuesday

www.fortcampbellausa.com

Mrs. Jeanne Bower One of the first AUSA Spouse Members Nationally May 2nd Tuesday

COL George Appenzeller Commander of Blanchfield Community Hospital July 2nd Tuesday

7

Fort Campbell Chapter of AUSA Newsletter

July 2014

Corporate Membership Drives

Campbell Crossing Summer Carnival On a rather warm June 21st Executive Director Lee Ann Nelson and President Sheryl Ellis attended the Campbell Crossing Summer Carnival held at the Hammond Heights Community Center. They set up a booth and provided information about the Fort Campbell Chapter of AUSA to the many Families that attended.

Both Hopkinsville and Clarksville held a corporate membership blitz over 2 days in May. Dozens of volunteers gathered and contacted both potential new and expired members. The drive was a great success with a total of 78 added to the roles of the Fort Campbell Chapter. The drive is now ongoing and those that have been contacted that did not sign up initially are being revisited and encouraged to join.

As you go through your day you interact with many businesses in and around the Fort Campbell area. Take advantage of your relationship with these businesses and ask them to become members. On the last page of this news letter is an application that can be copied and used to sign up your everyday contacts.

Active Duty Membership Drives Spearheaded by CSM Smith, an active duty membership drive is underway. A meeting of Sergeant Majors at Fort Campbell has resulted in a post wide campaign similar to CFC. Information regarding the activities of the Fort Campbell chapter and all that AUSA does nationally for Soldiers, Families and Retirees is being given to the Soldiers. The drive will continue through the end of July with recognition to the brigades for their participation and awards presented to the most growth during the August 28th annual awards breakfast to be held at Valor Hall.

Encourage all Soldiers that you come in contact with to consider becoming a member of the Fort Campbell chapter by outlining the value of their membership in fighting for their rights, pay and much more in Washington.

Up-Coming Events

This first time event will be fun and interactive. While usually only motorcycles participate this event is open to any vehicle participation. For more information please call Lee Ann Nelson at

270-605-1234 www.fortcampbellausa.com

Our annual breakfast that gives us the opportunity to recognize the Fort Campbell Brigade with the most members in AUSA by presenting the T.C. Freeman rotating trophy. We will also give a final report on the active duty membership drive and present brigades recognition for their efforts.

The Ted Crozier Corporate Membership award will be given to a corporate member who over the past year has been instrumental in adding our chapter's efforts to serve Fort Campbell Soldiers,

8

Fort Campbell Chapter of AUSA Newsletter

July 2014

AUSA Membership Application If you know of an individual, Soldier, Retiree, Spouse or Business that would like to become a member of the Fort Campbell Chapter of AUSA please use the below application.

www.fortcampbellausa.com

9