Military Officer - December 2008 - (Page 40) chaptersinaction Helping the ESGR MOAA chapter members are supporting America’s reserve component servicemembers by volunteering to assist the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) at the state and local levels. I n 2004, MOAA President Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USNRet., met with leaders from the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a DoD organization based in the Washington, D.C., area, and signed a memorandum of understanding. In doing so, MOAA formed a partnership with this very important group. Since then, a number of MOAA’s 35 state councils and 407 chapters have helped the ESGR in its mission of educating the employers of guard- members and reservists by working out some of the issues that arise when citizen soldiers serving in civilian occupations are called to serve in the war on terrorism. MOAA chapter members serve in leadership positions on state ESGR committees and as ombudsmen, resolving problems between employers and servicemembers and helping educate both employers and members of the Guard and Reserve on their lawful rights. Every year, MOAA highlights this partnership at its council and chapter signature events — the Council Presidents’ Seminar in Alexandria, Va., and the Chapter Presidents’ Symposium, which is held each year in a different region of the country. National or regional ESGR representatives speak at these events about the latest developments regarding the current role of the ESGR and what MOAA and its chapter system can do to help. This is now more important than ever as National Guard and Reserve units continue to be called up from every state to join in the rotations to Iraq and Afghanistan. In this department’s main story, “One More Way to Help,” read how MOAA’s chapter members are contributing to this important mission. Finally, if you currently are not a member of an MOAA chapter, you still can take advantage of the special cover wrap on October’s Military Of- ficer, which offers a complimentary one-year membership in an MOAA chapter to non-chapter MOAA members. This special offer is available through Dec. 31. Sign up today, and join the thousands of other MOAA members helping each other and their communities across the country. — Col. Lee Lange II, USMC-Ret. Director, Council and Chapter Affairs One More Way to Help N ON THE ROAD: This month, Col. Lee Lange II, USMC-Ret., director of MOAA’s Council and Chapter Affairs, will visit chapter members in Florida and Virginia. Go to MOAA Calendar, page 78, for dates. 40 MILITARY OFFICER DECEMBER 2008 * ortheast Louisiana Chapter member Col. Jack Humphries, USAR-Ret., says his chapter is committed to helping guardmembers and reservists. That’s why he and other chapter members volunteer to support the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) at the state and local levels. Humphries, who oversees operations in Louisiana as the ESGR’s state chair, updates local chapters about what the ESGR is doing to aid Guard and Reserve servicemembers statewide. His wife, Liza, and chapter member Brig. Gen. Ran Phillips, USAR-Ret., who oversees the work of ESGR volunteers in Northeast Louisiana, assist Humphries. Other chapter members, such as Cmdr. A.J. Caissie Jr., USCGR-Ret., and Lt. Col. Wamul Owens, USA-Ret., PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT
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