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The Air Force Academy Falconaires Jazz Band performed recently to over 400 concert-goers in the Mt. Tahoma High School Auditorium.  For more than their excellent performance and the enjoyment of the evening, we say "Thanks!"

The Chamber encourages you to also say "thanks" to these local businesses and organizations whose supportive effort gave the Falconaires the opportunity to present the Air Force image and message in our community:

• TriWest Healthcare Alliance
• Air Force Association - McChord Chapter
• Famous Dave's
• Vic's Espresso
• The News Tribune
• Swarner Communications Ft. Lewis Ranger and McChord Airlifter
• Tacoma Public School District
• Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber

The Puget Sound Chapter, NDTA, coordinated a training event allowing members and guests an opportunity to see roll-on/roll-off ships in person and hear from her crew what they do to support the surge of military support when needed. When not in use the ships are part of the Ready Reserve Fleet managed by the Maritime Administration.

Below is a picture taken at the stern ramp of the CAPE ISLAND currently berthed with her sister ship the CAPE INTREPID at the Sperry Ocean Dock, off Ruston Way.

Pictured from right COL Jim Sagen (G3, JBLM), Stephanie O'Donnell (Global Outreach), Damir Sabanovic (DHL), Mary McGarry (Boeing), Lee Noble and Chris Smith (Global Trans), LTC John Redinger (833d), Christina Cyrus (Global Trans), Claudia Roberts (TOTE), Bob Casey (Independent Dispatch), Michael Dayton (TOTE), William Lynn, Gary Coy (Sperry Ocean Dock), MAJ Jim Anderson (833d), Gary Brackett (Tacoma-Pierce Co. Chamber) and SGM Rickey Patterson (833d).

The expectations for most of us is that the military takes its job seriously.

Our course, we also expect that the rest of us don't, as evidenced by Bill Maudlin, Beetle Bailey, MASH, Dr. Strangelove and Catch-22.  (So, it's alright to admit that you too do tell "war stories.")

But, to the point of this particular blog:

PC World, among others, recently reported on the effort by Wired magazine to decode the code on the U.S. Cyber Command seal. On the seal’s inner gold ring is a code: 9ec4c12949a4f31474f299058ce2b22a

Wired magazine challenged its readers to be the first to decode the cryptic message and offered a prize of a Danger Room T-shirt or a ticket to the International Spy Museum for the first to do so.

As it turns out, the real meaning of the cypher isn't very exciting at all, unless government gobbledygook gets your adrenaline flowing. Accordingly, the figures in the gold ring translate into this:

"USCYBERCOM plans, coordinates, integrates, synchronizes and conducts activities to: direct the operations and defense of specified Department of Defense information networks and; prepare to, and when directed, conduct full spectrum military cyberspace operations in order to enable actions in all domains, ensure US/Allied freedom of action in cyberspace and deny the same to our adversaries."

Now if this combination of geekiness humor and bureaucratic messaging isn't just so appropriate to that oxymoron "military intelligence," I don't know what isn't.

The annual - some would say even prehistoric - Evergreen Fleet Cruise met with great success yesterday.

Over 250 Cruisers - military guests, Chamber hosts and Tacoma Yacht Club skippers/First Mates joined into a great mixer with plenty of good food (by Gallucci's Catering) and camaraderie. In addition to these presenting hosts, special recognition is deserved for the Joint Base Financial Alliance of Harborstone Credit Union and America's Credit Union. And, the Cruisers were pleased with the participation of the U.S. Navy's Old Man IV.

Enjoy these few pictures of a great event filled with and for great people!

This summer, more than 600 museums in all 50 states are offering free admission to active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day, May 31, 2010, through Labor Day, September 6, 2010 to show their appreciation for those who are serving this nation. In Washington, they are:  

Henry Art Gallery - Seattle, WA
Kids Quest Children's Museum - Bellevue, WA
Polson Museum - Hoquiam, WA
Seattle Art Museum - Seattle, WA
Tacoma Art Museum - Tacoma, WA

• If you are active duty military personnel and/or an immediate family member - spouse or child - to gain free access, please show either a Geneva Conventions CAC ID or a DD Form 1173 ID card at the museum admissions desk.  
• Immediate family members under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an appropriate ID holder.
• Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be included in this free admission program, so check with the museum directly.

Blue Star Museums is made possible through a partnership among Blue Star Families, the National Endowment for the Arts, and more than 600 museums.

We hope you and your family will explore as many museums as possible this summer. Find the participating museums nearest you by clicking on the links above.
 
Museums that wish to participate in Blue Star Museums may contact Blue Star Museums or Nicole Murray at 202-682-5578.

You and your special guest (spouse, significant other, associate) are cordially invited to host the Chamber’s annual Evergreen Fleet Cruise, June 16, sponsored by the Joint Base Financial Alliance, a partnership between Harborstone Credit Union and America’s Credit Union.

The purpose of the Evergreen Fleet Cruise is to foster networking and community links between civilian and military leaders. The Cruise, presented by the Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee, in collaboration with the Tacoma Yacht Club, is a cruise of Puget Sound aboard private yachts and a picnic at the Club’s Wollochet Bay Outstation.

This year will again feature a welcoming reception. The purpose of this reception is to afford participants an opportunity to meet in a comfortable atmosphere prior to beginning the Cruise by 10:00 a.m. The reception will be between 8:30 a.m. and 10:00.m. at the Tacoma Yacht Club. Arrival time at the reception is permitted to be variable. Yachts will depart by 10:00 a.m.

TAP Gallery Features the Art of Veteran Charles Minton.

From the brothers who brought you the Academy Award nominated film GENGHIS BLUES, comes the next great adventure... BEYOND THE CALL

In an Indiana Jones meets Mother Teresa adventure, three eccentric middle-aged men - former soldiers and modern-day knights - travel the world delivering life-saving humanitarian aid directly into the hands of civilians and doctors. Ed Artis, James Laws and Walt Ratterman inspire through deeds not words, in some of the most dangerous yet beautiful places on Earth, the front lines of war.

Trailer and movie info here.

What: BEYOND THE CALL
Gig Harbor premiere {one screening only}
When: This Sunday, October 18th at 3pm (82 minutes)
Where: The Galaxy Theatre, uptown Gig Harbor
Tickets: $8
Why: Come for the film, stay for Q&A with the Academy Award nominated filmmaker Adrian Belic, the sole crew member of this global adventure!

Screening info here.

Below is additional information about the success of BEYOND THE CALL and the broad spectrum of society that this film has entertained and inspired. This is an independently distributed the film. Forward this invitation onto to your friends, family and colleagues. In particular the filmmakers would like to reach out to the military (active, veterans, National Guard and families), senior citizen groups, Rotary Club International and other service organizations and students.

BEYOND THE CALL premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. It has screened at over 150 film festivals on five continents, winning over 50 awards, including Grand Jury Prizes and Audience Awards.

An extremely inspiring film that is also hilarious, exciting and heart-wrenching. – Cinematical

Adventurous...straight shooting intrepid trio...accruing eternal good karma…, can't help but inspire. - LA Times

Beyond the Call is the stirring and powerful account of these remarkable men, both on the road and in their homes. It's a brave and funny and uplifting film that makes you want to be a better person.- Oregonian Newspaper

Unlikely Heroes - New York Times

It's impossible not to admire their can-do spirit. - Variety