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Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines compose a vital part of our community. The Chamber wishes to recognize, with the 30th annual presentation, a Citizen-Soldier of the Year.

The Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee will make the selection of the honoree. Presentation of the award, named for Howard O. Scott, formerly a local banker and Chairman of the Chamber, will be made April 19, 11:45 a.m. at the meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Tacoma.

Letters of notification of this opportunity will soon be sent. You are requested to submit a nominee for this award. The guidelines are:

1. National Guard or Reserve soldier, airman, sailor or Marine (activated Guard & Reserve are eligible)Residing in Tacoma or Pierce County
2. Professional in military occupation
3. An exemplary volunteer in the community
4. Chamber member employers or employees will be accorded additional consideration

Nominations should be no longer than two pages, no photos. While military professionalism is important, this is usually a given standard. It is recommended that the nomination focus on the nominee's volunteerism in the community. You are referenced to the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, which has been added to the list of awards and decorations that earn promotion points.

The deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, April 8. Nominations may be forwarded by email, fax at 253-597-7305 or mail to Chamber Scott Nomination, P.O. Box 1933, Tacoma 98402. Your consideration of this announcement is appreciated.

P.S.:  The Chamber annually recognizes active-duty servicemembers' citizenship with its John Anderson Military Citizen of the Year, approximately November 11.

Most of you have probably followed the developing controversy within the Tillicum community about proposed gate relocation for Washington National Guard's HQ at Camp Murray.

Seemingly a simple question of where to stack the queue turns into a more complex problem when the needful expansion of I-5 is considered. Recently, Lakewood, as lead in the Office of Economic Adjustment funded study of I-5 between (roughly) SR-512 and DuPont, found a necessity to accommodate the employment growth at JBLM to increase capacity and support infrastructure.

That point, among several, is brought home in an open letter by WNG Adjutant General Timothy Lowenberg on the issue pledging to work with (not "rolling over") the installation's neighbors. That's all here in the enclosed letter.

The Department of Defense announced today that Washington, Delaware, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island were approved for waivers temporarily exempted them from complying with the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act, relieving those states from the 45-day ballot transmission requirement.

"The states granted waivers presented thorough and comprehensive plans to protect the voting opportunities for military and overseas voters," said Bob Carey, director, Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP). "In each case, we determined that the combination of measures presented provide military and overseas voters sufficient time to receive, mark and return their ballots so they can be counted, and thus met the requirement for receiving a waiver under the MOVE Act."

In 2008, a delegation of state secretaries of state reported after visiting military personnel in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Germany that, everyone the secretaries visited stated a preference for greater e-mail and Internet access to voting. Those same troops stated that email access extended even to remote areas of the theater. Many of the states' waiver application comprehensive plans provide such expanded email and internet access.

The MOVE Act requires states to send absentee ballots to military and overseas voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act not later than 45-days before an election for federal office, beginning with the Nov. 2, 2010 election. In accordance with the MOVE Act, states are allowed to apply for a waiver from the 45-day ballot requirement. Twelve states submitted waivers, and one state (Maryland) subsequently withdrew its waiver application. Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia were denied waivers.

In addition to the programs presented by the states in their waiver applications, DoD has been working with states to improve timeliness and opportunities for military and overseas voters to receive their ballot and submit their votes in adequate time to be counted in the election.

This year, FVAP launched new online products that make completing voting forms easier by developing electronic alternatives for voters to request, receive or return their ballots.

"DoD is working hard to make the absentee voting process seamless, easy, intuitive, and quick for military and overseas voters," said Carey.

Military members can now fill out their registration to vote and absentee ballot applications using FVAP's online tool, and if they do not receive their ballot in time, they may use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), for which a full online tool is available.

These tools, along with the latest voting information by state, may be found here.  In addition, FVAP has launched a 24/7 call center for military and overseas voters, voting assistance officers, and election officials to get help with voting. Individuals can e-mail in their questions or use the online chat capability.

For more information about state waiver applications, visit here.   State waiver applications and DoD's waiver responses may be found at the hyperlinks in this document.

For most Americans, the home buyer tax credit expired on April 30. But Congress, recognizing that many members of the military, foreign service and intelligence communities may have missed out on the opportunity to take advantage of the credit due to being posted overseas, has given service members more time to take advantage of it.

The law provides qualified service members who served on official extended duty outside of the United States for 90 days or more at any time between Jan. 1, 2009, to April 30, 2010, another year to buy a home and claim the credit. “Qualified service members” are defined as a member of the uniformed services of the United States military, a member of the Foreign Service of the United States, or an employee of the intelligence community.

Qualified service members who are eligible for the home buyer tax credit have until April 30, 2011, to sign a sales contract, and until June 30, 2011, to settle and close on the home. Both the $8,000 first-time and $6,500 repeat home buyer tax credits are included in this rule.

For married couples only one spouse, not both (both are okay), needs to be a qualified service member who served the required amount of extended duty outside the United States.

In many cases, the rule that requires buyers to repay the credit if they move out of their home within three years has also been waived for service members. If the home owner or their spouse receives government orders for qualified official extended duty service and have to sell their home, they do not have to pay back the credit. This applies even if they have to sell in the same year they purchased the home. The new place of duty must be at least 50 miles from the principal residence being sold.

The IRS also made sure that soldiers and other service members who are wounded overseas, or have to return to the United States for other medical reasons, are not denied the credit if their time spent overseas ends up less than 90 days.

For more information on the home buyer tax credit, go here.  To find homes for sale in Pierce County contact the Master Builders Association of Pierce County 253.272.212 or their members under “Find a Contractor.”

It all started with an invitation to join the Washington State National Guard for a "Guard For A Day" event, any one of six days - my choice.

Well, it was all either a weekend (how like the Guard) or a Friday vacation day.  So, I decided on the vacation day - both to "reserve" my weekend for family and to fulfill a sense of obligation to learn more about Washington's National Guard.  So, what started as a vacation day had become a work day.

Quickly, once involved in the "Guard For A Day," the newly designated work day became a vacation day again.  Yes, I know that it really is work for Guardsmen on their weekends or their two weeks required annual duty.  And, because of this "Guard For A Day" opportunity, I could see that it was serious business. 

The professionalism was evident, with the initial boarding and flight of the C-23 Sherpa from Olympia to Yakima (and return later).  Once in Yakima, the required educational effort proved just that - educational.  Still, talking with our Guardsmen in the vehicle maintenance bays was a pleasure.  And, anyone would be delighted at the smile of a young Guardsman, when asked who got to fly the Shadow UAV, as she said she did. 

But, the excursions to the firing range where soldiers qualified for unstabilized firings of M2s and Mk 19s, impressed one of the serious business soldiers are about. 

What changed it all into pure delight was the UH-60 Black Hawk flight.  Remember that video popular some years back: "Over Washington" where an aerial camera follows the fields and terrains, including the dramatic flight over an escarpment of the Columbia River basin?

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!

The National Guard Bureau, on behalf of Department of Defense (DoD) and in collaboration with the states, has selected Ohio and Washington as the first two states to host a homeland response force (HRF), which will be comprised of National Guard soldiers and airmen and established no later than the end of fiscal 2011.

The creation of the HRFs is a part of DoD's larger reorganization of its chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high yield explosive (CBRNE) consequence management enterprise, initiated during the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review. This reorganization will ensure DoD has a robust ability to respond rapidly to domestic CBRNE incidents while recognizing the primary role that the governors play in controlling the response to incidents that occur in their states.

Department of Defense plans to establish a total of 10 homeland response force (HRF) units nation-wide, with one HRF in each of the ten federal emergency management agency (EMA) regions. HRFs will provide a regional response capability of approximately 570 personnel composed of CBRNE specialists, command and control and security forces. HRFs will self-deploy by ground within six to 12 hours of an event, bringing life-saving medical, search and extraction, decontamination, security, and command and control capabilities- this represents a dramatic improvement in response time and life-saving capability to the previous construct.

Coincident with the creation of the Ohio and Washington HRFs, the department will create two new (CBRNE) enhanced response force packages (CERFPs) in Indiana and Alabama to replace the Ohio and Washington CERFPs that will evolve into HRFs. CERFPs are composed of existing National Guard units that are trained to respond to a weapon of mass destruction incident. The CERFP capabilities include: locate and extract victims from a contaminated environment, perform mass patient/casualty decontamination, and provide medical treatment as necessary to stabilize patients for evacuation.

The National Guard Bureau is currently analyzing and staffing the selection for the remaining eight HRFs and potential backfill CERFP states. Further information will be released as it becomes available.

Our nation continues its reliance on the citizen-soldiers for the many and diverse missions in support of our defense. These citizens perform a dual role as defenders and civilian contributors to our community. They are citizens of our community and soldiers of our nation.

The Chamber wishes to recognize, with the 29th annual presentation, the Howard O. Scott Citizen-Soldier of the Year. Your nominee is desired. Nominees may currently be called to active duty.

Guidelines are:

1. A Reservist or National Guard member, any service;
2. A resident of Tacoma or Pierce County;
3. Professional in both military and civilian occupations;
4. An exemplary volunteer in the community.
5. Additional consideration will be given if the nominee is an employee of a Chamber member or owns a business that is a Chamber member.

Nominations should be no longer than two pages, no photos. While military professionalism is important, this is usually a given standard. It is recommended that the nomination focus on the nominee's volunteerism in the community. You are referenced to the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, which has been added to the list of awards and decorations that earn promotion points.

Selection of the honoree will be made by the Military Affairs Committee of the Chamber. Presentation of the Award will be at the May 4, 2010 meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Tacoma, 11:45 a.m. at the Pacific Grill Events Center, 1530 Pacific Ave., Tacoma 98402. You will be informed of the ceremonies if you submit a nomination and give us your contact info.

Submit nominees to the Chamber. Include: Nominee’s name, unit and contact info as well as the reasons for nomination. The deadline for submitting nominees is April 23, 2010. Submit to Gary Brackett.

For veteran-business owners, the Governor signed SB5041 on March 10. 

The bill, as passed: Mitigates economic damage to veteran-owned businesses as a result of military service.

Requires the department of veterans affairs to:
(1) Develop a procedure for certifying veteran-owned businesses and maintain a list of those businesses on the department's public web site;
(2) Adopt rules necessary to implement the act; and
(3) Collaborate with and assist agencies in implementing outreach to veteran-owned businesses.

Requires state agencies to:
(1) Perform outreach to veteran-owned businesses in collaboration with the department of veterans affairs to increase opportunities for veteran-owned businesses to sell goods and services to the state; and
(2) Work to match agency procurement records with the department's database of certified veteran-owned businesses to establish how many procurement contracts are being awarded to those businesses.

Encourages state agencies to award three percent of all procurement contracts that are exempt from certain competitive bidding requirements to veteran-owned businesses certified by the department of veteran affairs.

Requires the department of general administration to identify in its vendor registry all vendors that are veteran-owned businesses as certified by the department of veterans affairs.

The bill, originating with Sen. Derek Kilmer attracted considerable co-sponsors in the Senate and legislative support in the House.  The Chamber testified in both the State's Senate and House in favor of the bill as an advocacy outreach for the veteran-owned businesses of the state.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber encourages members to support and employ members of the National Guard and Reserve. If your organization employs and provides exceptional support to a National Guard or Reserve member, please encourage your military employees to nominate your organization for the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award by January 18.

What is the Freedom Award?

This is the highest public recognition given by the U.S. Department of Defense to outstanding employers for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. It is the highest in a series of employer recognition awards given by the Department of Defense and is presented annually by the Secretary of Defense. The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). Special focus is given to what employers do "over and above" the support required by law. The fifteen 2010 recipients will be announced in the spring and honored in Washington, D.C. at the 15th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony on September 23, 2010.

Why is it Important?

As a military supporter, your organization can earn national recognition through this unique award. Almost one-half of the U.S. military is comprised of the National Guard and Reserve. The Department of Defense shares these citizen warriors with their civilian employers, many of whom provide significant support to their employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve. Recipients of the 2009 Freedom Award met privately with President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Dr. Jill Biden, Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Dennis McCarthy presented the awards at a ceremony attended by members of Congress, senior government and military leaders from all Guard and Reserve components.

How Can My Organization Get Nominated?

Nominations must come from a Guard or Reserve member who is employed by the organization they are nominating, or from a family member. The deadline is January 18, 2010. Nearly 2,000 nominations have already been submitted. Please encourage your member employees to nominate your organization today!

For more information about the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, visit here. For more information on other ESGR programs and services, contact ESGR or at 1-800-336-4590.

The basics of our modern economic system, including the unfettered movement of labor to opportunities, is also that division of labor (into specialists), gains us greater efficiencies.

Not so with the division of labor into infinitely disparate pieces as a report earlier this year identified multitudinous state agencies (see list at end) responsible for professional licenses or certificates. This might not be all that important were it not that about 2,400 of our state's citizens have just returned from foreign (Iraq) deployment as Guardsmen serving the goals of our nation. That lengthy time may have presented them with numerous obstacles to overcome when they are mustered out (of active service). The least of them should be in picking up their jobs or professions.

Yes, there is federal legislation giving them and requiring employers to accommodate their return to their jobs. But many occupations now are tied to professional licenses and certificates.

Sen. Derek Kilmer placed a budget proviso in the state's 2008 budget requiring the state's Department of Licensing (DOL) and Department of Health (DOH) - responsible for the bulk of professional licensing programs - to determine processes for relicensing or re-certificating Guardsmen or Reservists who have served on active duty but are now returning to civilian life.

Both departments found some procedures in place for their respective departments to do so. However, in the report the DOH suggested they could do a better job of informing returning vets of their recertification process. The DOL suggested they do a sufficient job based on responses from returning vets.

There are other states our state could look to for providing support or best practices in an automatic extension of professional licenses:
–Approximately 13 states recognized as providing support: AZ, DE, GA, HI, KY, KS, MN, MS, MT, NJ, NY, UT, WI
–Best practice states (statutes) : AZ (32-4301), DE (215) (Formerly Senate Bill No. 206), GA (43-1-31), HI (HB295 HD1), KS (34.48), MN (197.65), MS (33-1-39), MT (37-1-138), WI (321.60)

Please note that WA is not in either of these lists.

In addition to the DOH and DOL, these Washington State agencies issue licenses or certificates for professions or occupational certifications:

1. Board of Accountancy
2. Office of the Insurance Commissioner
3. Department of Social and Health Services
4. Liquor Control Board
5. Labor and Industries
6. Department of Early Learning
7. Department of Agriculture
8. Department of Financial Institutions
9. Department of Ecology
10. Fish and Wildlife
11. Washington State Patrol
12. Secretary of State
13. and acknowledged but unnamed others

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has worked since 2003 with their Military Line for targeted services for military personnel and families.

BBB has an up-to-date link on laws and policies for both military and vets. There are features on:

• scams targeting military personnel
• identity theft
• fraud prevention

And then, if you just want to know how to make your dollars go farther or for the best:

• legitimate deals for military personnel
• purchasing or remodeling your home
• buying or fixing your car
• finding reliable local businesses

Gov. Chris Gregoire and The Adjutant General, Major General Timothy Lowenberg, announced a new web site to support members of the Washington National Guard and their families as they transition home from deployments.

“As our brave citizen soldiers and airmen are serving their country and this state so very well, it is our responsibility to serve them and their families as they transition home,” said Gregoire. “While in Iraq last January, I heard again and again that a major concern of soldiers was the economy and having a job once they get home. This web site is a starting point to address their concerns and support them in this challenging economy.”

The new Families & Veterans web site is designed to be a one-stop center for all Washington National Guard Veteran and Family Readiness services. Dedicated National Guard staff and state workers stand ready to help by providing resources that helps soldiers with job searching and career development, and programs to support family health, counseling and other services.

"Taking care of our Guard members and their families continues to be our chief priority. I am excited about the wide access and array of resources available on this web site," said Lowenberg.
Employers are encouraged to visit the web site as well to find more information on how they can reach out to transitioning Guard members.

The Washington Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Employment Security Department and other state agencies are working together with the Washington National Guard to ensure the best possible service for our troops.

For more information please visit Families and Veteran’s web portal.

Our nation continues its reliance on the citizen-soldiers for the many and diverse missions in support of our defense. These citizens perform a dual role as defenders and civilian contributors to our community. They are citizens of our community and soldiers of our nation.

The Chamber wishes to recognize, with the 28th annual presentation, the Howard O. Scott Citizen-Soldier of the Year. Your nominee is desired. Nominees may currently be called to active duty.

Guidelines are:
1. A Reservist or National Guard member, any service;
2. A resident of Tacoma or Pierce County;
3. Professional in both military and civilian occupations;
4. An exemplary volunteer in the community.
5. Additional consideration will be given if the nominee is an employee of a Chamber member or owns a business that is a Chamber member.

Selection of the honoree will be made by the Military Affairs Committee of the Chamber. Presentation of the Award will be at the May 5, 2009 meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Tacoma, 11:45 a.m. at the Elks Club, 1965 So. Union Street, Tacoma. You will be informed of the ceremonies if you submit a nomination.

Submit nominees to the Chamber. Include: Nominee’s name, unit and contact info as well as the reasons for nomination. The deadline for submitting nominees is April 24, 2009.

Thank you for your cooperation and acknowledgement of the importance of our citizen-soldiers.

Fort Lewis, McChord AFB, the Army Reserve and Camp Murray all scored at least some monies in the Stimulus Bill. You can review all the states' projects, identified by project with details at this website.

The Defense Department received $7.4 billion under the law, with $5.9 billion going for construction and repair projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which President Barack Obama signed into law last month.

MILITARY AFFAIRS FORUM
Military Affairs Committee
Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber

Commanding Officers Briefing
Wednesday, March 11
7:30 – 9:00 a.m.

Updated AGENDA

Lt. Gen. Charles Jacoby, Commanding General, I Corps & Ft. Lewis (confirmed)
Maj. Gen. Timothy Lowenberg, Adjutant General, Washington National Guard (confirmed)
Col. Michael Hornitschek, 62nd Airlift Wing Vice Commander (confirmed)

The Commanding Officers have been asked, as in previous years, to brief the region’s chambers with a recap of the immediate year’s events and a forecast for the coming year.

The Commanding Officers Briefing will be held Wednesday, March 11. Registration will begin at 7:15 a.m. with a breakfast buffet served at 7:30 a.m. The event will be held at the La Quinta Inn & Suites, 1425 E. 27th St., Tacoma 98421

The price of the event is $13. RESERVATIONS are required and may be made to Rose, or online at Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s website calendar. Deadline for RSVPs is March 9 10:00 a.m., Monday.

Breakfast Buffet: $13.00 with RSVP. Non-reserved attendance: $15.00
RSVP: Rose Crist, 253-627-2175; rose.crist@tacomachamber.org DUE 10 am, 03/09/09.

Please RSVP by 10:00 a.m. on Mar. 9, Monday!
RSVPs may be made through Rose Crist:
phone: 253/627-2175 or fax 253/597-7305 or
E-mail: Rose or
Online: here
(Non-RSVPs welcome, but PLEASE call to help with plans for meals and seating arrangements.) Those persons reserving and not attending or canceling before the RSVP deadline will be billed.


ANNOUNCEMENT
The Chamber announces its newest blog: C-9 Blog, which will focus on the armed forces and civilian relationships, with an emphasis on the Pacific Northwest. Please visit and subscribe to this free information source.