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Military Affairs Committee presents the 32nd John Anderson Military Citizen of the Year, sponsored by TriWest HealthCare Alliance. 

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee will present the 32nd annual John Anderson Military Citizen of the Year at the Veterans' Day program of Rotary Club No. 8 of Tacoma.  Keynote Speaker is Lt. Col. Daniel Dudek, CO, MAMC’s Warrior Transition Btn.
 

Lieutenant Colonel Daniel J. Dudek is the commander of the Warrior Transition Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. A former Wounded Warrior, LTC Dudek was approved to remain in the Army due to the continuation on active duty program. As the WTB commander, he oversees the successful healing and transitions of hundreds of Wounded Warriors as they return to the regular Army or become successful civilian Veterans.

Date: Thursday, November 11
Time: 11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
Event: Rotary Club of Tacoma No. 8
Place: Landmark Conference Center
47 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma 98402
Price: $14 with RSVP
No prepayment, collect at the door only

Register: Online
Information: Gary Brackett or 253-627-2175

The Anderson Military Citizen of the Year award is presented to an exemplary recipient who has demonstrated the contributions that active-duty persons make to our community.

About John H. Anderson
John H. Anderson served as Tacoma’s mayor in the early to mid 1950s. He was also a past Chair of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Board of Directors, as well as a successful local businessman.

Is this symposium about your business?  Are you a health care specialist supporting or treating potentially injured service members?  Consider how you or your business may participate or gain visibility at this conference.  For more info, contact:  Colonel Jerome Penner or Pamela Foe Colonel Penner's secretary.

The new Tacoma Subchapter of the Capt. Meriwether Lewis Chapter is looking for donations of cup cakes and cakes from bakeries and caters for the TBI/PTSD Symposium being held on November 4th, for military members and their families. Additionally, they are seeking raffle/door prizes for attendees: Certificates and New Items.

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!

Once, the military sector was said to represent a third of the economic activity in Pierce County. But it’s grown by one-third, 13,000 soldiers since that 2003 study.

No wonder that the Chamber’s delegation devotes a significant portion of its time during the annual Washington-to-Washington, D.C. trip. One special aspect of the Chamber’s defense agenda is the appointment and briefing within the Pentagon.

While previous years have made their marks in addressing critical community-installations needs, 2010 set a new benchmark. The Chamber’s delegation was hosted and briefed by Dr. Craig College, Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management. He was the right man at the right time.

New to the issue table, after having been out of the spotlight, is the need to replace JBLM’s aging wastewater treatment plant. “CH2M HILL’s wastewater engineers were pleased to work with JBLM public works staff in the assessment of their wastewater treatment plant and will continue to support our military as it looks for opportunities to improve infrastructure and better serve soldiers and their families,” said Kathy Hanna, Vice President, CH2M HILL.

Dr. College promised a quick follow-up to the need to replace that plant and suggested the Army should conduct a Utility Privatizitation study to determine the best course. “There are several reasons why this should be pursued—one is of the aging infrastructure, one is capacity and another is the nitrate/nutrient release that could proliferate into 'dead zones.' I encourage them to combine efforts with Pierce County to address the water quality in Puget Sound. And I encourage them to maybe consider partnering with the county as it is essential that the Army or Department of Defense move in the direction that is going to have the maximum benefit protection,” said Pierce County Councilmember Terry Lee.

Of course, the delegation again broached the need for replacement of the aging elementary school facilities on JBLM, owned primarily by the Department of Education, but serviced by the Clover Park School District. Jason Whalen, a council member from the City of Lakewood and attorney with the law firm of Eisenhower & Carlson, PLLC, was pleased with the opportunity to discuss the issue with officials at the Pentagon and with our congressional delegation. "I very much enjoyed the opportunity to continue the discussion of this important issue to our community. I left the meetings, confident that we had been heard. Following our trip, officials from the Office of Economic Adjustment visited JBLM to review the facilities at issue with JBLM, City and School District officials and staff. We are encouraged by the progress made to date," Whalen said.

The Chamber continued to pursue a final resolution of community impacts on the northern Clear Zone at JBLM-McChord Field. After contributions to purchase properties of willing sellers from funds provided by Pierce County, Washington State, Tacoma as matches to Lakewood, Dept. of Defense and Dept. of Air Force dollars, the joint basing action continues to cloud ownership responsibilities. Dr. College promised a renewed dialogue between the Army and Air Force to insure ownership resolution.

The dessert in the ala carte of issues was Lois Bernstein, Senior Vice President for Community Services, MultiCare Health System, who complimented Madigan Army Health Systems for its proactive community role.

This wasn’t just a single shot from the delegation. These issues were carried through in similar meetings with Cong. Norm Dicks, Chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Committee, Cong. Adam Smith who sits on the Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Land and Air Forces, other members of Washington’s Congressional delegation and the Office of Economic Adjustment of the Dept. of Defense.

As in D.C. during the Chamber’s trip, the Chamber will continue its advocacy here on behalf of our local military installations and the branches of the armed services which share our community.

Written By Gary Brackett

Being distributed to the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber's membership and community contacts is the new 2010 Military Impacts, containing articles on military civic volunteerism, economic impacts and a roster of the region's military leadership.

All you Chamber members will be receiving a printed copy as an insert in today's Calendar mailing.  For all others, you may download your copy here. 

The Chamber will distribute copies of the 2010 Military Impacts in the community at special, mililtary related-events, starting with the Citizen-Soldier of the Year event hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Tacoma.

The Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee (MAC) will join with the Kiwanis Club of Tacoma in presenting the 29th annual Howard O. Scott Citizen-Soldier of the Year.

The Scott Citizen-Soldier of the Year is a premier MAC event recognizing the civic contributions of our Citizen-Soldiers (Airmen, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen). Please come and help us with this celebration and this recognition.

Host: Kiwanis Club of Tacoma
Date & Time: Tuesday, May 4, 11:45 a.m – 1:15 p.m.
Place: Pacific Grill Events Center, 1530 Pacific Ave., Tacoma 98402
Price: Luncheon choices with a range of prices.
RSVP: DUE 12 noon, May 3. (Monday)
Register: Monique Shields, 253.627.2175 or online.

KEYNOTE: MADIGAN ARMY MEDICAL CENTER

Col. Jerome Penner, III Commander, Madigan Army Medical Center.


Col. Penner is confirmed as speaker to current events at MAMC, new programming and services or changes recently happened or anticipated.

With a military beneficiary population encompassing a six-state region, Madigan Army Medical Center continues to be one of the busiest hospitals in the Pacific Northwest. Occupying more than 120 acres of land, this four-building structure is located at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, WA.

There are approximately 160,000 Soldiers, family members and military retirees residing in Madigan's 40-mile catchment area. Madigan's phenomenal health care mission is executed by nearly 4,000 staff members, which include hundreds of civilian and military doctors, nurses, residents, interns and fellows.

Please help acknowledge our thanks to our citizen-soldiers by attending this event.

The award is sponsored by TriWest Healthcare Alliance. 

Each year, the Citizen-Soldier Award memorializes Howard Scott who grew up in Tacoma and served the nation when called upon during World War II- as part of America's Greatest Generation. He returned to succeed as a banker in Tacoma - giving of his time to community service organizations, believing and enjoying this in his belief that doing so is one's responsibility.

P.S.: If you wish to be a member of the Selection Panel, call Gary Brackett at 253-627-2175 immediately or by email. The Selection Panel meeting Monday, April 26, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. in the Chamber offices, 950 Pacific Ave., Ste. 300, Tacoma 98402.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

VOB Award Announced
A new award category honoring “veteran-owned businesses” has been added to the Chamber’s annual Spotlight! On Business Awards. This annual event, held June 22, showcases the accomplishments and civic contributions Pierce County businesses make to our community. Nominations may be submitted to the Chamber year ‘round. For more information, contact Judy Singley at the Chamber, 253.627.2175.

The Chamber’s newest blog: C-9 Blog, focuses on the armed forces and civilian relationships, with an emphasis on the Pacific Northwest. Please visit and subscribe to this free information source.
CALENDAR
Evergreen Fleet Cruise June 16