Winter 2010

Sunshine Chapter Members:

As we are well into the New Year now, your chapter has been very active in supporting a number of activities and Soldier events. The first week of January was filled with emotion. The 143d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) returned from a year’s deployment in Afghanistan. (Hooah!) WELCOME HOME! Also in the first week, the 2-124th Infantry of the FL Army National Guard’s 53rd Brigade departed for their deployment. For many of these 2-124th Soldiers, this is the third, fourth or fifth deployment - time away from their families, jobs and their community. On a personal note, my family saw my son, SSG James McCleary, head out with the 2-116th Field Artillery from Lakeland, FL. From a larger perspective, this deployment of Soldiers from the Florida National Guard's 53d Brigade Combat Team is the Florida Guard's largest single-unit deployment since World War II. . About 2,500 Floridians headed out in January. As our troops continue to be in harm’s way, please keep them and their families in your prayers.

Chapter members have also been busy with two large events in January. The chapter co-hosted the Combined Professionals’ Association Group (CPAG) leadership breakfast (with INCOSE) and there was record attendance with about 150 people. The breakfast is a professional development session that provides a platform for the local military services Commanders/leadership to provide insight to the defense industry on current and strategic goals.

The second meeting, TechNet Orlando, is co-hosted each year with Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA). This forum brings in key leaders from each of the services (on a National level) to discuss current and future communications issues facing our military. I want to thank the individuals that pulled both of these meetings together. Specifically, thanks to the co-chairsfor TechNet, Jim Taylor and Jerry Stahl, for leading a great team of about twenty EXCOM members from AUSA and AFCEA. Special thanks to our super-star, Fred Eisele, who is instrumental and the secret ingredient that makes both of these events so successful!

Going forward in the next few months the chapter will be busy reviewing scholarship applications and planning several events: a golf tournament in March, Armed Forces Day in May, and the Army Ball in June (yes, the planning team is already in full swing). So, as we transition from some great successful efforts that you will read about in the following pages (TAPS fundraiser, Operation Holiday Cheer, Home at Last, etc.), to placing our energies on these new events and support programs, please know that everything we do – we do it for our Soldiers and the Central Florida Soldier family. Lastly, we need your continued support as as our EXCOM volunteers continue to serve selflessly – in support of our local heroes! Thanks!

Respectfully,
Mary Trier

Mary Trier
President, Sunshine Chapter