Election Results -- Introduction to the New Board of Governors!
As many of you know, we originally appointed an interim Board of Governors to get the FAOA "show on the road." The members of that Board served for the first three years of the Association's existence and did "yoeman's work" bring FAOA from an idea to a living, breathing entity. To admit that there were a lot of fits and starts would be an understatement. As a group, the Board learned about non-profit status, about taxes (Federal and State), and about such esoteric subjects as business permits and copyright laws. Every member of the FAO Association owes these 10 men a real vote of thanks.
Well, the fits and starts are over and it is time to welcome our first elected Board of Governors (a major milestone in itself). Our new Chairman of the Board (CEO) is BG Karl Eikenberry. General Eikenberry is currently serving as the Defense Attache to Beijing. He, like all of our newly elected Board, is a veteran FAO, was a member of the original Board of Governors and brings that continuity and experience to his new position. The new Vice-Chairman of the Board is MG Alfred Valenzuela. He is the senior FAO in the Army and, although incredibly busy in his current position as the Deputy CINC of SOUTHCOM, has expressed a desire to be very actively involved in the Association. Our treasurer remains Mr. Bob Olson, who brings an excellent blend of regional experience and three years of background watching the fiscal working of the Association. The other new members of the Board -- COL Mark Beto (Eurasian FAO), COL Dave Smith (South Asian FAO), COL Rich Welker (China FAO), LTC Paul Gendrolis (Middle Eastern FAO), and LTC Rick Herrick (Euproean FAO) -- bring great active duty FAO credentials to the table, while COL Stephen Poulos (Army Reserves) and Mr. Ramon Fernandez-Conte bring unique views of the reserves and retirees to bear on Association issues. Our other returning members -- COL Michael Ferguson and Dr. Joe Tullbane, like BG Eikenberry bring continuity and a vast experience in FAO to us. The entire new Board has already shown an eagerness to "get the job done." This Board offers a good mix of retiree/reserve/ active components and if it has a weakness it is in a lack of multi-Service representation (something that we hope to deal with shortly).
The new Board of Governors appointed Dr. Joe Tullbane as the President/Executive Director of the Association, for a second three-year term.
We can only make things better! And I PROMISE WE WILL!
Web Site Remake!
Modernized, simplified, and improved. Format! Regional sections! A Bulletin Board!! Added Links -- has become the go anywhere site! Board of Governors section -- current and emeritus. Update on Resume service.
New Additions to the FAO Journal!
Don't be deceived by the fact that the basic format of the FAO Journal remains the same. Inside the traditional cover is a revolution in the making. In an effort to increase what we offer the association a new groups of "Columns" have been addded to the Journal. The idea for this new element was broached last issue (December 1998), when we went out asking for volunteers interested in serving as regional editors. The original idea was interesting, but the way it has evolved since then is, frankly, very exciting! The latest version of the idea has us publishing short reviews of regional articles, books and web sites. If the editors (now called columnists) find a truly spectactular article, we will request reprint rights and publish it in our journal. All of the reviews will go to the appropriate regional section of the FAOA web site to produce a "top 40" for the year.
On a lesser, but more eye pleasing note, we are trying to add a few more pictures and graphics to the articles that appear in the Journal. The content will stay at the same reasonably high quality, but hopefully this change will make the Journal more reader friendly. If you have other ideas for the Journal let us know at: FAOA, Attn: Journal, P.O. Box 523226, Springfield, VA 22152.
Introducing the FAOA Scholarship Program.
An Idea Whose Time Has Come -- Honorary Memberships
A couple of years ago, the first Board of Governors envisioned that a few influential key military and civilian figures, who have done good things for FAO (a maximum of about 10 per year), would be given a honorary membership in the Association and that of the above honories a very special few would be given the added distinction of being named as honorary Board members (1-3 per year).
As with many of our better ideas, this one has languished on the shelf while we busied ourselves with the day-to-day requirements of standing up the organization, icluding creating both a firm fiscal foundation and membership base for it. WELL THIS IDEA'S TIME HAS FINALLY COME!! In the next few months, we will be working intensely on this effort to see where it takes us.
We welcome informal nominations to the Board for possible candidates for the above honor. These candidates can be active duty personnel or retirees, but the criteria should be that their contribution should have been significant. Being a nice guy or good mentor is not enough! Send those nomination to either: FAOA, Attn: Honnory Nominations, P.O. Box 523226, Springfield, VA 22152 or FAOA@ EROLS.COM.
The concept of honorary members and honorary board members is is in addition to the Board members "emeritus" list that honors past Board members and should grow naturally with every new election.