WHCA Outstanding Persons of the Year

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1 1600 Communicator A publication exclusively for members of the 1600 Communications Association Spring, 2011 (April) President s Message Hello, everyone. I hope that you enjoyed the winter season and are prepared to welcome the warmer weather of springtime. The Association closed out 2010 in grand fashion with the 42nd Annual Holiday Dinner Dance at Spates Community Club on Fort Myer, Virginia (see page 4). We are proud to announce the WHCA Outstanding Persons of the Year for 2010 and congratulate them for this achievement. We look forward to presenting formal recognition to each of the outstanding performers during the Agency Annual Recognition Ceremony in the coming months. WHCA Outstanding Persons of the Year Ms. Angela Jones, Civilian of the Year SFC Mario Walker, Senior Noncommissioned of the Year Capt Jeffery A. Martinez, Company Grade Officer of the Year SGT Judy Hinshaw, Noncommissioned Officer of the Year SPC Justine Maki, Enlisted Member of the Year On February 18th, WHCA bid a fond farewell to SGM Kevin McCrary. Kevin has been selected to serve in a nominative position as the Sergeant Major, US Army Chief Information Office (CIO)/G6. In his new capacity, he will serve as the Senior Enlisted Advisor for the Army Chief Information Officer. (See page 6 for SGM McCrary s brief bio.) Important Reminder: The deadline for submitting educational scholarship applications is May 31, Please review the detailed article on scholarships in this newsletter, page 6. Additional information on the scholarship program can be viewed on the Association web site. Planning is underway for upcoming events. Our Golf Chairman, Bob Ohm and his committee are on par preparing for the 2011 tournament, to be held on June 17th at Andrews AFB. The flyer/entry form is included with this newsletter. Note: deadline for all entries is June 8th. The WHCA Open House and Association Shrimp Feast will be held on June 18th at WHCA HQ, McNally Building on Anacostia. Flyers for the shrimp feast will be mailed separately. Please save these dates on your calendar and plan to attend. Lastly, a reminder that the membership year runs January through December. If you have not renewed your membership, please do so before May 31 to ensure your information remains in the membership rolls. We are looking forward to continuing a great year and hope to see you at our upcoming events. Sam Watkins President Upcoming Events / Key Dates: SOB (Some Old Buddies) luncheon held the first Tuesday of each month at the Holiday Inn, Rosslyn, VA at Educational Scholarship Application Submission Deadline - May 31, 2011 Association Golf Tournament - June 17, 2011 WHCA Open House and Association Shrimp Feast - June 18, 2011 Camp David Chapter Picnic - September 10, 2011 Holiday Dinner Dance - December 3, Page 1 Spring, 2011

2 The Association is on Facebook and we re growing stronger! Just log in to Facebook and search for 1600 Communications Association so you can start networking with your friends and re-connect with former colleagues. McNally Book The re-publication of A Million Miles of Presidents, written by Colonel George McNally, the first Commander of WHCA, is available for sale through the 1600 Communications Association. The original book was published by the Association in This 2nd edition includes all the original material from that first publication as well as additional narratives from several Commanders who served during the years following Colonel McNally s retirement. The book depicts the early history of the Agency and its maturation over the years, framing the development of WHCA against the backdrop of historical events and the advancement of technology. It is a must have piece of history for all who have served in WHCA. If you are fortunate enough to own a copy of Colonel McNally s original book, this will complete your collection. Details and the order form to obtain your copy can be found on the Association web site. An order form is also included with this newsletter. The cost is $20 per copy via mail order. All proceeds from the sale of the book over the cost of printing and distribution will be used by the 1600 Communications Association in supporting its scholarship program and support of wounded veterans and their families. Association Contact Information Officer/Board Member Address Telephone President Sam Watkins samw@1600commassoc.org Vice President Sabrina Rose sabrinar@1600commassoc.org Secretary Glenn Arnett glenna@1600commassoc.org Treasurer Don Canterbury donc@1600commassoc.org Director-at-Large Steve Young stevey@1600commassoc.org Director-at-Large Helen Pennington helenp@1600commassoc.org Historian Gordon Aitken gordona@1600commassoc.org Newsletter Editor Floyd Hepler floydh@1600commassoc.org Parliamentarian VACANT Page 2 Spring, 2011

3 2011 Golf Tournament This year s 1600 Communications Association Golf Tournament will be held at the Andrews AFB South Course, on Friday, June 17, with a 1400 shotgun start. Burgers, wings and sides après-golf, and lots of prizes, including: Team: Low Gross and Low Net. Individual prizes for both men and women: longest drive, straightest drive, closest to the pin, and longest made putt. Putting contest before the round on the practice green. Mulligan raffle: donated prizes awarded by drawing. Entry fees are: $60 Active Duty Military ID card holders (including dependents) $75 Other Military ID holders (Retired, Reserves and dependents) $90 All Others Entry fees include greens fees, carts, three Mulligans, copy of team photo for each player, and, of course, our sumptuous repast after the round! Once again, we seek sponsors for holes, the putting contest, for the meal, for carts, and for prize donations. Let us know if you have something you d like to donate. Proceeds from the tournament support the 1600 Scholarship Fund, and are also used to provide support for wounded troops at Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval hospitals. Contacts for the Tournament are as follows: Chair: Bob Ohm, , cell, bohm107w@aol.com WHCA Contact: SSgt Erik Kristensen, USAF, , cell, erik.kristensen@whmo.mil. Sponsors: Helen Pennington, , HelenP@1600commassoc.org Prizes: Sabrina Rose, cell, SabrinaR@1600commassoc.org In the last several years, we have had to put entrants on a waiting list, so get your registration (and fees) in early to assure a spot in the tournament. See Registration Form included with this newsletter! Page 3 Spring, 2011

4 Interesting Read Soldiers magazine, the official publication of the U.S. Army, included a lengthy article about the White House Communications Agency in its February edition. The story included a quote from the Agency s Commander, Air Force Col. Michael B. Black, who stated The most challenging part of my job is to, on a daily basis, ensure that the president can execute his roles as head of state, commander in chief and chief executive The members here at the White House Communications Agency play an instrumental role in the president being able to execute those roles. The full article can be accessed using the following link (type exactly as it appears): wired-for-sound/ The 2010 Holiday Dinner Dance The 70-plus guests who attended the 2010 Communications Association Holiday Dinner Dance enjoyed a time of festivities and fellowship. As in years past, current and former members of WHCA shared a common bond and were linked by their service to the President. This made for some very interesting and enlightening dinner table conversations. We were privileged to have the Agency Commander, Colonel Michael Black, and his Deputy, Colonel Clinton Bigger, in attendance. Also present was WHCA s 2010 Senior NCO of the Year, Master Sergeant Bryan Lawson. The Association President, Sam Watkins, opened the festivities by welcoming the guests, and then bringing everyone up to date on the activities of the Association. Events of the evening included drawings for prizes, a 50/50 raffle, and post-dinner dancing. A special presentation was made to past Association President, Helen Pennington, for her continued support and dedication. Major General Dennis Moran, USA (ret), a former WHCA Commander, was the keynote speaker and gave a moving talk about service to the President. Overall, the 2010 Dinner Dance was a great success, providing all a relaxing and rewarding evening. Photos can be viewed from the Association website, - click the Photos tab to navigate via Kodak Gallery Communications Association Customized Apparel Items for Sale We thank our Alumni who have supported our logo clothing program. Your purchases have afforded us the opportunity not only to increase funding for our 1600 Association Scholarship Fund, but also to help us in our efforts to get advertising out about our organization. It is deeply appreciated and we ask you to continue to support our program efforts as we refine and expand our product selection. The flyer is available on the website for your use. PSB Stickers If you would like to purchase one or more of the PSB stickers, send your request to Helen Pennington, 6964 Klett Drive, Fort Belvoir, VA These four-color stickers, measuring approximately 3 ½ inches in diameter, are available for $5.00 each. Please make your check payable to the 1600 Communications Association. As a friendly reminder, these decals/stickers are for use by recipients of the Presidential Service Badge only. Page 4 Spring, 2011

5 Financial & Membership Report March, 2011 Financial Report Submitted by Don Canterbury with Secretary s Report Provided by Glenn Arnett Bank Account Balances Checking Account Current Balance $ 3, CD Account *54 $ 5, Savings Account Current Balance $ 5, CD Account *12 $ 2, CD Account *19 $ 10, * represents CD ending in account number, for reference Secretary and Membership Report First, a wrap-up of the 2010 membership: In 2010 we processed 191 membership dues transactions. Of those, 72 were new members, and 29 signed up for Lifetime Membership. There were 162 annual dues paying members is off to a good start with several annual paying members have already sent in their dues (57 total transactions with 22 new members). Seven of the new members signed up for Lifetime Membership, bringing the total membership roster to 583. Scholarship Donation Thanks to Roger Nelson for his generous donation to the Scholarship Fund. New Members This Report Welcome to the following new members: Philip Andreski, David R. Bird, Jr., James E. Brown, Charles E. Dawson, James A. Ferguson, Jr., James R. Frangione, Lewis R. Hoffman, Kevin J. Kellow, John C. Kleiber, Shameca C. Lestaeval, Sean E. Passmore, Jimmy R. Pewitt, Daniel B. Reed, Willard S. Rosener, Stanley A. Rothermel, Christopher Sandve, Carl A. Settle, II, Sheryl N. Settle, Dave B. Stewart, Shane A. Wittwer, Jackie E. Sutton, and Christina Eva Szabo-Smith. Membership Renewal To save postage, we do not mail a special dues invoice. We remind everyone in the newsletters that the dues year is January to December. If you have already sent your 2011 dues, thank you. Please remember dues are $20.00 per year and are due in January. Below is a form to fill out and send with your dues. Also, please let us know of any address, address, or other information change. Roster information format is: Name, Address, Spouse, Home Telephone, , and WHASA/WHCA service dates (from and to) Communications Association Membership Renewal NAME: SPOUSE NAME: ADDRESS: HOME PHONE: WORK PHONE: ADDRESS: Please make check payable to 1600 Communications Association and mail to P.O. Box 160, Washington, DC Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for reply. Page 5 Spring, 2011

6 The 1600 Scholarship Program Scholarships yes, it s that time of year again. The 1600 Communications Association Scholarship program goes back almost as long as the Association has been in existence. This year, we are again seeking applications from those members and eligible family members who are pursuing higher education and are in need of financial assistance. Over the years the Association has issued thousands of dollars to eligible individuals and this year will be no exception - in 2010, we administered $11,000 to five individuals. All individuals who want to apply should carefully review the information on the program contained in the Association s By-Laws (information is available on the Association web site -- under the Members tab). Please pay particular attention to the sections on Applicant Eligibility and Selection Criteria. Only those individuals meeting criteria in these two sections will be considered. The application is available at the bottom of the information on the program in a downloadable MS Word format. The application must be completed in its entirety and must be computer prepared or type written no incomplete or handwritten applications will be accepted. Please use this year s application as there have been changes made since Additionally, all applicants need to provide information on where and to whom the scholarship awards should be sent. This is usually to the university s bursar s office. Applicants should verify the correct office and provide a name and mailing address as well as information on how the check should be made payable to ensure it is posted against their own university account. All applications must be mailed to the Association s post office box and postmarked no later than May 31, Late or incomplete applications will not be considered, so please allow plenty of time and double check your application prior to mailing. Good luck and get busy preparing your applications! Brief Bio: Sergeant Major Kevin E. McCrary Sergeant Major Kevin E. McCrary, formerly the White House Communications Agency s J3 Senior Enlisted Advisor (SEA), was recently selected for the highly prestigious position of Sergeant Major, US Army Chief Information Office (CIO)/G-6. In this role, he will be serving under the newly appointed Army CIO, Major General (nominated for Lieutenant General) Susan Lawrence. SGM McCrary will assist MG Lawrence in fulfilling the mission of the CIO/G-6, which is to lead LandWarNet transformation to deliver timely, trusted, and shared information. The CIO/G-6 also seeks to create an environment where innovation and service empower Army and mission partners through an unsurpassed agile, collaborative, and trusted information enterprise. Sergeant Major McCrary served two tours with WHCA. During his first tour ( ), he served as the Special Mission Operations NCOIC, and later as the First Sergeant of the newly activated 2nd Presidential Communications Command. After completing the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy in 2004, SGM McCrary returned to the Agency and served first as the SEA of the Vice Presidential Communications Officers, and then assumed the role of the J-3 (Operations) SEA. His 26-year Army tour includes three tours in Germany, with deployments to Bosnia, Kosovo, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Egypt. He has also served at Fort Campbell, KY; Fort Sill, OK; and Fort Detrick, MD. His other duty positions include Platoon Sergeant and Senior Drill Sergeant. Page 6 Spring, 2011

7 The Communications Association Golf Outing Benefiting the Scholarship Fund and Wounded Troops Come join us for the golf event of the year on the South Course at Andrews Air Force Base, on Friday, June 17, Shotgun start at 1400, registration begins at 1230 and closes at Format is four player team, Captain s choice, best ball. Each player must contribute two drives to the round. Full tournament rules will be provided at the course, or by contacting the Golf Chair. This is a full handicap tournament: entrants without handicaps must attest to their average scores over their last several rounds. The Golf Committee will provide pairings for entrants who do not have a foursome. Prizes will be awarded for Team Low Gross, Team Low Net, and many individual prizes, including Longest Drive, Straightest Drive, Closest to Pin, and Longest Made Putt, for both Men and Women. Preround Putting Contest. Hole in One prizes on multiple holes. Entry fees include all fees, Mulligans, team photos, and post-round buffet meal, and are as follows: Active Duty Military/Dependents: $60 MilStat A Retired/Reserve Military/Dependents $75 MilStat R All Others: $90 MilStat C For more information, contact Bob Ohm at / Cell), or bohm107w@aol.com. WHCA personnel may contact SSgt Erik Kristensen at , cell , or erik.kristensen@whmo.mil. Please send entry forms to Bob Ohm, 836 Mayfair Way, Eldersburg, MD, Make checks payable to 1600 Communications Association. ENTRIES MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY PAYMENT, AND RECEIVED BY JUNE 8. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. (Last year we were oversubscribed, so get em in early!) Entry Form (Please print: OK to add supplementary page if needed) Name MilStat Phone Handicap or A/R/C Avg Score Golfer Golfer Golfer Golfer Revised

8 A Million Miles of Presidents 2 nd Edition, By Colonel George McNally, the 1st Commander of WHCA Republished in 2009 and offered for sale by the 1600 Communications Association ( This powerful book is a history of WHCA from the eyes of its first Commander, documenting WHCA in its earliest days through the administration of President Johnson. The supplemental material provides the perspective of eight other former WHCA Commanders spanning nearly four decades from 1965 to the early 2000s. $16.00 per copy, plus $4.00 shipping/handling for mail orders. All net proceeds are applied toward the 1600 Communications Association Scholarship Fund and the Association s support of wounded veterans and their families. To order your copy today, contact: Gordon Aitken 2805 John Coffee Ct. Woodbridge, VA All orders by mail must be accompanied by a check for the full amount, including shipping. Checks should be made payable to the 1600 Communications Association please note McNally Book in the memo portion of the check. Fulfillment Request Name Street City State Zip Qty: copies, please Check enclosed in the amount of $ Make payable to: 1600 Communications Association Mail Request to: Gordon Aitken 2805 John Coffee Ct. Woodbridge, VA 22192

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